University of Houston
Department of Computer Science

In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science

Navin Boppuri
will defend his thesis

Remote Monitoring and Control using an Internet Enabled Device


Abstract

Embedded devices are used to control, monitor or assist an operation. They are used in cars, cameras and computer components among other equipment. An embedded device may be connected to the Internet to achieve global remote access, which means, that these devices can be monitored and/or controlled thousand of miles from their original location.

In this thesis, the capabilities of such an Internet enabled embedded device for remote monitoring and control are demonstrated. Initially, the tools used and the steps involved in “Internet enabling” an embedded device are discussed. Once the device is on the Internet, the device is used to monitor remote data from a Global Positioning System Receiver and control a Direct Current Motor remotely. A simple web browser is used as a client of this device. Wireless devices like the cellular phones are now connected to the Internet using the Wireless Access Protocol. This opens up a completely new client interface, which is demonstrated, by using a wireless device like the cellular phone, as a client of the Internet enabled device.

Linux is the operating system on the embedded device. Server side cgi scripts written in ‘C’ and java servlets along with HTML and WML pages are used to provide an easy client interface to the user. A custom multithreaded server developed in Java serves GPS data. Shared libraries written in ‘C’ are used to communicate with the GPS receiver and the D.C. Motor that are connected to the embedded device.

Date: Monday, November 27^th, 2000

Time: 4:30 PM

Place: 550 PGH

Faculty, students, and the general public are invited.
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Olin Johnson