Abstract and Result should be accompanied with the report in a separate paper.
Abstract
Remote
Information Validation & Display (RIVD) System Development
The objective of the project is to read a number from a terminal, which is located at a remote point, and subsequently validate the number by accessing a database in a central computer. A message is then relayed to the display in the remote terminal depending on the validity of the number. The design also caters for multiple terminals linked to the central computer using modems depending on the distance.
The receiving path consists of a 4x4 keypad, which is
used to enter the number, and the number is then coded into its respective
binary format. This encoded information routes via an UART to a RS232 level
converter, thus dispatching it to the communication port of the computer where
the validation process is taken place.
The transmitting path consists of a link to UART from
the central computer and subsequently to a LCD, which displays the number
validated and respective message.
The design comprised of two phases:
1.
Design of the RIVD, its PCB layout and construction.
2.
Writing
of the programs in C to read remotely entered numbers and to display a message
in the remote LCD.
After working on the project for a
considerable period, I achieved the objectives of the project. I am pleased with
the attained success and the challenges which I overcame. In this project, I was
able to incorporate a GUI developed by Visual Basic 6 with externally built
hardware and make it perform to the specifications. The project provided me with
a strong background for similar tasks I might undertake in the field of
electronics together with software development to incorporate more features and
controls to such systems in the future. I was able to place myself in an almost
real situation of electronic product design and implementation and learn the
steps involved in such a process. Specific to my project, I was able to bring to
life the idea of entering a number via a keypad, relaying it to a PC serial
port, validating it on a database and displaying a message accordingly. The
associate timing function scenario in data transmission and receiving described
in this report, are quite feasible and are synchronized with software control.
I learned that various problems could occur
when interfacing the serial communication system with a PC. In my case, timing
was a very critical factor. However, the RIVD can handle these time intensive
applications and speed up its’ operation if provided with a suitable external
hardware.