Harold Hallikainen wrote:
> I'm wondering about a cheap and dirty way to get a Windoze GUI for PIC
> projects. Is there any way to direct a URL request from a browser to a
> COMM port? Say, instead of the http:// or file:// prefix, we did a com1://
> prefix (perhaps a URL of com1://mydevice/analog?chan=1). Instead of
> sending the request out to the specified IP address over ethernet, it'd
> send the GET or POST request out the specified EIA232 port. Our PIC would
> just respond to the request. The mydevice in the above URL would be
> meaningless, though perhaps the PIC device could ignore requests not
> addressed to it (not respond), allowing other devices on a tri-state or
> open collector EIA232 bus to respond. I've done "open collector" EIA232
> buses by having a pull-down to -12 and a diode between the driver and the
> bus. Any device can drive the bus positive (space condition), and the bus
> idles at -12V (mark condition). This would be a master/slave arrangement,
> since no device gets on the bus unless asked for a response, so contention
> would not be an issue.
> 
> So, any "wedge" or something that can be put on a Windoze machine so a URL
> prefix of com1: com2: etc. would work?
> 
> Just kicking around the idea.
> 
> THANKS!
> 
> Harold

If I understand you correctly, you might meet your needs with a 
Lantronix Xport.  It is a web server in a RJ45 connector with network on 
one side and a serial port on the other.

It can repsond to wiggles on the serial port and send data to you over 
the network. It can even send an email.  The host machine gets a comm 
port redirector program that allows you to configure the device like a 
remote comm port.  An eval board is around $50 or $60US.

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