Two-way communication (BS2 - Desktop Computer)

eyyYo

Hello!
Im new to this thing with microcontrollers, but im catching on quick! Now i have been woundering a thing for a time now. How do you create a two way communication with a desktop·computer (Using BS2-IC)?
I want BS2 do do some things when i send a message to it, from my desktop computer. I also want my desktop computer do do some things when BS2 send a message. I have achieved to send a message to the computer, but havent been able to find documentation on how to send from pc->bs2.

Thank you in advance. /Adam

allanlane5

If you've connected to the BS2 with a serial cable, the BS2 can 'talk' to the computer's serial port with:

MAIN:
SEROUT 16, 16468, [noparse][[/noparse]"Hi there!", CR]
PAUSE 500 ' Pause 500 mSec, so BS2 doesn't 'flood' you
GOTO MAIN

On the PC, you'll have to open the serial port, or use the Debug window, or use Hyperterm to open the serial port.

eyyYo

Yes, i know [noparse]:)[/noparse] I have done that. But whats the commands/check to do on the BS2 for a revieved "message"?

like: (maybe crappy syntax and stuff, im just making example)
IF REC_MSG = "open pin5" THEN
out5 = 1
endif

so, when the computer sends (etc) "open pin5", the BS2-module will open pin5

the computer programming i think i can figure out on my own (never used serial port in programming, though)

Steve Joblin

SEROUT is used to send messages from the BS2 out to another device... SERIN is used to receive messages from another device to the BS2.

neoteric

I'm no expert, but maybe can help.

SERIN 16,baud,[noparse][[/noparse]WAIT("Turn On Pin 5"),SPSTR 75]··


FOR x = 0 TO 74
·GET z,temp
·'do whatever you are going to do here'
Next

SERIN is the command to get data from the PC
16 is the communications pin (stamp to pc)
baud is the appropriate baud rate for the stamp you are using· (9600 for basic stamp, I believe)
Wait is the command to wait for a particular string
Get takes each character retrieved from the Serin, and reads it as a variable.

Definitely look at the SERIN in the help file.

allanlane5

The simplist thing to do would be:

SERIN 16, I9600, [noparse][[/noparse]DEC MyVal]
IF MyVal = 1 THEN
' Do something here
ENDIF
IF MyVal = 2 THEN
' Do something here...
ENDIF

And you'd send something like:

fprintf(serport, "1\n"); // This sends a "1" in a way the 'DEC' modifier will accept it.

or

fprintf(serport, "2\n"); // etc.

JSWrightOC

To elaborate on what allenlane5 said, you could also do this

Main:
SERIN 16, I9600, [noparse][[/noparse]DEC MyVal] 'note that this limits you to 0-9
BRANCH MyVal, [noparse][[/noparse]DoSomething0, DoSomething1, DoSomething2]

DoSomething0:
RunSomeCommand
GOTO Main

DoSomething1:
RunSomeOtherCommand
GOTO Main

DoSomething2:
RunThisAndThat
GOTO Main

etc.

BRANCH will let you branch to up to 256 locations based on the value of MyVal. The labels consume no program space (I think?) and the execution would be faster than using IF...THEN loops.

Martin Hebel

If you want a fancier interface, you can check out StampPlot. It has several tutorials that will show you such things as putting a checkbox on the screen that you can read from the BASIC Stamp for a GUI interface.

http://www.stampplot.com

-Martin

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StampPlot - GUI and Plotting Software
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Electronic Systems Technologies