A low-cost embedded web-server for an institutional e-learning strategy

Author

Ocaya, Richard Opio ; Katashaya, Steven Rwabona

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Univ. of Free State, Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa

Volume

1

fYear

2011

fDate

8-10 April 2011

Firstpage

59

Lastpage

63

Abstract

A TCP/IP based scientific instrument control and data distribution system is presented as part of a low cost e-learning strategy of a learning institution to offer remote collaborative science experimentation. The system uses an IEEE 802.3 full-duplex Medium Access Controller (MAC) and Physical Layer Device connected to transducers and actuators for control, data acquisition, distribution and logging over a TCP/IP network. The hardware comprises of a PIC18O620 and ENC28J60 server interconnected with PC terminals via a network hub. The software comprises the firmware written in C and Javascript, and a simple client web browser written in the Visual Basic .NET framework. The article addresses some concerns about secure access while emphasizing the figures of performance such as round-trip and inter-sample times. Finally, sample outputs of two networked PCs in a typical application to Newton´s law of cooling experiment are presented.

Keywords

IP networks; Internet; access protocols; computer aided instruction; file servers; firmware; groupware; transport protocols; C language; ENC28J60 server; IEEE 802.3 full-duplex medium access controller; Javascript; MAC; PIC18O620 server; TCP/IP based scientific instrument control; Visual Basic .NET framework; actuator; client Web browser; data acquisition; data distribution system; data logging; firmware; institutional e-learning strategy; low-cost embedded Web-server; physical layer device; remote collaborative science experimentation; transducer; Browsers; Collaboration; Hardware; IP networks; Protocols; Servers; Software;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Electronics Computer Technology (ICECT), 2011 3rd International Conference on

Conference_Location

Kanyakumari

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-8678-6

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-8679-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICECTECH.2011.5941560

Filename

5941560