Serial Tcp device (Tcp client mode)

I am looking for a device, a variant of Serial Tcp device server which
can open a tcp connection to a server on a specified port and transfer
data back and forth between serial port and our server whenever a
request starts on the serial port.
The device should close the tcp connection after 30 seconds of
inactivity.

The device should configure its network interface using a dhcp server
on the network. The serial port baud rates should also be configurable
like other Serial Tcp device servers.

Note: The serial port is connected to a Pos terminal using 3 wires - Tx
Rx and Gnd. The device will have to poll on the serial port for data.
It cannot rely on DCD, DTR or DSR for presence of data.

POS terminal <-> Serial Tcp device (Tcp client mode) <-> Internet <->
Transaction Server

I need a quite a few of these devices, 300 to start with. Do you guys
know of any such device?

Pratik wrote:
> I am looking for a device, a variant of Serial
 > Tcp device server which can open a tcp connection
 > to a server on a specified port and transfer data
 > back and forth between serial port and our server
 > whenever a request starts on the serial port.

Sounds like a neat opportunity!

While this isn't a difficult spec, your requirements are pretty 
special-purpose.  Consider adapting an existing product like 
http://www.picoweb.net, which is designed to be tailored - by far the 
fastest / easiest option since its ready to go except for code tweaks. 
And it'd be easy to adapt if you want to customize the physical 
interfaces, etc.

If space is a concern, you could look at building one with the Lantronix 
X-Port or Digi's Digi-Me MCU-in-an-ethernet-jack units.  The development 
time would be low, but the cost would be higher.  Similarly, something 
like a RabbitSemiconductor.com module or many similar products could be 
used to quickly design your own, but the size will be larger.

Richard

On 2005-01-13, Pratik <pratikk@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am looking for a device, a variant of Serial Tcp device
> server which can open a tcp connection to a server on a
> specified port and transfer data back and forth between serial
> port and our server whenever a request starts on the serial
> port. The device should close the tcp connection after 30
> seconds of inactivity.
>
> The device should configure its network interface using a dhcp
> server on the network. The serial port baud rates should also
> be configurable like other Serial Tcp device servers.
>
> Note: The serial port is connected to a Pos terminal using 3
> wires - Tx Rx and Gnd. The device will have to poll on the
> serial port for data. It cannot rely on DCD, DTR or DSR for
> presence of data.
>
> POS terminal <-> Serial Tcp device (Tcp client mode) <->
> Internet <-> Transaction Server

The company I used to work for makes widgets that do that:

  http://www.comtrol.com/products/catalog.asp?product=dmrts

I think it will meet your requirements right out of the box. If
not, there's a software development kit available with which
you can write a custom application to put into flash.

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  .. I wonder if I
                                  at               ought to tell them about my
                               visi.com            PREVIOUS LIFE as a COMPLETE
                                                   STRANGER?

Hi Pratik,

"Pratik" <pratikk@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1105629785.110089.177390@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> I am looking for a device, a variant of Serial Tcp device server which
> can open a tcp connection to a server on a specified port and transfer
> data back and forth between serial port and our server whenever a
> request starts on the serial port.
> The device should close the tcp connection after 30 seconds of
> inactivity.
>
> The device should configure its network interface using a dhcp server
> on the network. The serial port baud rates should also be configurable
> like other Serial Tcp device servers.
>
> Note: The serial port is connected to a Pos terminal using 3 wires - Tx
> Rx and Gnd. The device will have to poll on the serial port for data.
> It cannot rely on DCD, DTR or DSR for presence of data.
>
> POS terminal <-> Serial Tcp device (Tcp client mode) <-> Internet <->
> Transaction Server
>
> I need a quite a few of these devices, 300 to start with. Do you guys
> know of any such device?

Take a look at the iConnector device from http://www.connectone.com - it is
a small neat gadget that has a serial port connection and can dial out via
normal or GPRS modems and provides a simple interface for Http, FTP, email
etc. One feature, called SerialNET, appears to provide a transparent serial
interface over the Internet but I haven't used that portion yet.

Works great for me, used on our headless SBC-based controller to FTP files
and send email,  and is about US$90 in single pieces although I heard
several feature specific versions are coming out for about US$45 each. BTW,
I am not associated with them - just a customer.

Good luck.

Harnek
Axel Systems (SGP)

S. Harnek <harnek@magix.com.sg> wrote:
> Take a look at the iConnector device from http://www.connectone.com - it is
> a small neat gadget that has a serial port connection and can dial out via
> normal or GPRS modems and provides a simple interface for Http, FTP, email
> etc. One feature, called SerialNET, appears to provide a transparent serial
> interface over the Internet but I haven't used that portion yet.

There is the uNetserial device that is alot like the iConnector for about 
$35. www.nchip.com


-M