On 7/19/08, Bob Blick <bobblick@ftml.net> wrote:
> I actually think a datalogger that can be a minimal client and also have
> a simple webserver for configuration is a great idea if it could be done
> on a PIC or other small microcontroller. And cellphone networks are
> everywhere.

Not exactly, in short, for example (one of hundreds possible variants):

1. PIC based very cheap devices connect through ZigBee to some hub.
This could be solar cell & battery based. ZigBee does not eat much
current.

2. The hub that has ZigBee, GSM/CDMA module (US$15) with internet plan
(US$10/month) and a PIC microcontroller (US$5) capable to consume web
services. Again solar cell & battery based.

3. A remote PHP or ASP.NET web server exposing the web services. The
server is not simple. The server is massive web host. The _key point_
is that MS or other company is expected to expose such services to
their online docs.

So, a user will need to buy a number of the PIC based devices to
aqiure data, then the hub and internet plan. That's it, all the data
is going to remote data center, and the user sees the aquired data in
his on-line docs on his monitor ( be it Google docs or MS Live Office
docs) with all the available charts or whatever other software packs.

It's time to learn how to consume web services using PICs, guys.

Thanks.
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