C code for laser communication

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Hi Just wondering if any one has any experience of writing a code in C/C++ for data transmission between PCs using laser. I am not looking for anything overy complicated, just want to have a 'starting' code or a template if you will to build upon.
I am attempting to accomplish data transmission and incorporate a data detection/correction mechanism, preferably based on Hamming codes. If you have the experience or have come across anything like this please help me out - my web serch didn't result in anything useful, not at least for a C beginner that I am.
Advance thanks,
Joao

[From "solution"]
Thanks for the prompt reply. Yes - apologies for the confusion. The question does sound hardware-related but it's the software that I'm more worried about. I am attempting to do wireless transmission of data using a laser beam from a pointer (as you have mentioned) to be received at the other end by a photo-resistor. Never mind the hardware though (not at least at this point), I am looking for a C code that enables the transmission of data from one PC to another with an incorporated error detection/correction mechanism. I am a beginner in the C language, so just wondering whether you or indeed anyone else can provide me with a 'starting' C code/template?
Many thanks,

Posted 3-Aug-12 7:03am

figueira j

Updated 3-Aug-12 7:16am

lewax00

v2

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lewax00 3-Aug-12 13:07pm

Using laser how? Via fiber optic cables? A servo pressing a button on a laser pointer with a photoresistor on the other end? You're asking a question that appears to relate to hardware, but you haven't stated what the hardware is.

figueira j 3-Aug-12 13:26pm

Thanks for the prompt reply. Yes - apologies for the confusion. The question does sound hardware-related but it's the software that I'm more worried about. I am attempting to do wireless transmission of data using a laser beam from a pointer (as you have mentioned) to be received at the other end by a photo-resistor. Never mind the hardware though (not at least at this point), I am looking for a C code that enables the transmission of data from one PC to another with an incorporated error detection/correction mechanism. I am a beginner in the C language, so just wondering whether you or indeed anyone else can provide me with a 'starting' C code/template?
Many thanks, .

pasztorpisti 3-Aug-12 13:33pm

We have to know the hardware because the whole solution depends on it. If your data flow is just one way (half duplex connection) then you can put in some error detection and can tweak the transfer parameters (baudrate) but the chance of an uncorrectable error on the other side will never be zero. All you can do is to provide an error correction scheme that is good enough to keep the probability of a fatal error below an epsilon value.

figueira j 3-Aug-12 13:39pm

Many thanks for your informative reply. It is a half duplex connection I am wishing to establish so that error detection, and correction (to the highest possible extent) can be incorporated. I was considering the Hamming code as a good option. Do you agree with this as being a good choice and now that I have (hopefuly) clarified the hardware setting (short-distance it will be) can you please guide me to a suitable starting code in C?
Thanks a lot,

pasztorpisti 3-Aug-12 13:41pm

We still don't know the features of your hardware so we couldn't send you code even if we wanted... :-)

figueira j 3-Aug-12 13:44pm

Could you please advise me as to what specifications for the harware need to be fully clarified before I can move on to 'code hunting'? Many thanks,

pasztorpisti 3-Aug-12 13:49pm

If you want to program it then for example its programming interface is very important. :P Your hardware seems to be a custom hardware. You probably won't find code for it.

pasztorpisti 3-Aug-12 13:51pm

I'm afraid you might need a driver as well... Maybe the driver is the code you are about to write but that won't be easy!

figueira j 3-Aug-12 13:33pm

Thanks for the reply. But I'm looking for something more specific to the problem at hand.

Albert Holguin 11-Aug-12 22:30pm

Your question is what is not specific enough.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Aug-12 13:48pm

Not enough information.
--SA

JackDingler 3-Aug-12 16:48pm

What interfaces your laser to your computer?

Is it driven by the Tx line of a serial port?

Volynsky Alex 11-Aug-12 8:06am

Good question!!

3 solutions

Solution 2

It might be overkill for what you're doing, but you could look into using TCP[^], it has some basic error checking and recovery built in, and there should be plenty of support for it in C (this[^] has some sample code, though I don't have any experience in using TCP directly so I have no idea if it's any good, but Google turned up over 61 million results for "tcp in c").

Posted 3-Aug-12 7:28am

lewax00

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Aug-12 13:48pm

This is not an overkill at all!

For a long time, I tried hard to convince people to eliminate all those trash controller communication methods like COM/Serial ports, FireWire and anything based on PCI cards from embedded systems. Working with TCP is the best, and you can implement decent push technology and inversion of control, not wasting resources and CPU on idiotic polling. Probably, another viable option is USB, but I would strongly prefer Ethernet.

People argued that Ethernet-based controllers are cheaper, but this is the fictional saving. If you get rid of everything but Ethernet, you can purchase cheaper industrial PCs in a really small form-factor, without unwanted connectors and save a lot more, not even mentioning much greater savings on software development and software quality gains. Truly, the miser pays twice!

--SA

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Aug-12 13:50pm

I voted 5, but, to be fair, this is not really an answer; at the same time, this is not your fault, because it needs a lot more information on OP's goals, hardware, etc., to get any real advice. As for now, the question simply makes too little sense.
--SA

lewax00 3-Aug-12 13:55pm

Thanks. The best I can tell is he's more concerned about the transmission protocol, and off the top of my head TCP was the first one I could think of with any sort of error checking. But I agree, more details are needed for a more appropriate answer.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 3-Aug-12 13:59pm

Of course. You are very welcome.
--SA

Solution 4

Please visit the Site To learn Fundamentals of C Programming online video tutorials in Tamil. It is very useful for the Beginners.

Posted 11-Aug-12 0:16am

collectiva

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Volynsky Alex · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-03T07:58:00

Hi Joao,
here you can see several scenarios of data from one computer to another (implemented in language C):
http://cboard.cprogramming.com/networking-device-communication/98174-c-program-client-server.html[^]
http://www.tenouk.com/Module41a.html[^]

Here you can find Hamming code in C language:
http://prabhakargouda.hubpages.com/hub/hamming-code-in-C[^]
http://www.sourcecode4u.com/categories/computer-networks/39-c-program-to-implement-hamming-code[^]
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/programming-9/mplementing-hamming-code-in-c-lang-831713/[^]
http://www.programmingforums.org/thread30491.html[^]
or here (from the "R.H. Morelos-Zaragoza, The Art of Error Correcting Coding, Wiley, 2002" book):
the-art-of-ecc.com/2_Short/hamming.c[^]

I hope that this will help you