Hi Guys,

Does any one have an idea how I could port a web based e-voting system application (phpv5/mysqlv5) into a micro-controller device like the one used long time ago during the national identification exercise.

Also I need idea on how to develop a gsm gateway for this application.

Many Thanks as I look forward to you guys contributions

Allta!

what kind of device is this?

If its a custom made micro-controller I don't think you can port anything into it much less php which is a server based technology. Iam guessing the device you're talking is one of those unless of course you can tweak with its interface. So yes what kind of controller device is it?

Do you guys remember those siemens equipments used during the national identification exercise in Nigeria sometimes ago. Yea, that's the one I'm talking about.

What we have on ground is a server-client apps, you guys know now. But I'm sure there is a way someway to port that php/javasccript/html codes into those kinds of devices. c0dec what do you think?

Doesn't this device have a name? 

Anyway, since your application is a client-server system, what you need on your micro-controller system is a web browser. If the system supports Linux, then you can set up a minimal Linux configuration with X-windows and Mozilla Firefox or another lightweight Linux browser. But you will need to connect each e-voting client to a standard server than runes Apache, PHP and MySQL.

Seun:

Doesn't this device have a name?

Seun, you're making look like I don't understand myself. Didn't you participate in the last National Identification Exercise? It's that Siemens Point of Sale Equipment I'm talking about.

Abi everyone else, I think I know what I'm referring to just like you guys do too.

I just want to know if any developer out here could help suggest ways to go about this project. From the Technical Point of View, all I need is a php capable browser to be implemented on such micro-controller equipment. Someone suggest that I code with C# another said J#.

Another part to this project is the GSM gateway that will allow people cast their votes via their mobile phones. I'm sure one could get that done by porting the application into .NET framework of Microsoft. (Maybe form PHP to ASP.NET or something) Although I'm aware how difficult it could be sometimes to migrate between several coding frameworks, but what matter most is getting the design done from Elicitation Requirements. Now how do I move ASP.NET Apps to a WAP App.

My Head is begining to smoke up, can anyone help me get out of this complex mess.

Cheers! and Seun i'm sure you know what I'm talking about now.

Many Thanks

Allta

Allta as for your GSM gateway I think you should visit the site below for more info.

http://www.kannel.org/

Without knowing the exact name of the system you have in mind, we cannot verify whether or not our suggested solutions will work on it. Can you give us a link to the manufacturer's website? You are not paying us to help you, so the lest you can do is give us all the information we need to be able to help you. I will show no further interest in this thread if you do not provide this information; I am sure that others wil be able to help you!

Many thanks Demmy, Kannel is a brilliant tool that I just got to know today. Have you used it before. I guess this is one of the things I'm looking for, at least from the group

Seun, I will quote my self again as regards the name of the equipment:

Siemens Point of Sale Equipment

It doesn't have to be siemens though, but any Point of Sale Equipment will do. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, you can however correct me if I'm wrong somewhere. All I'm referring to is that Siemens POS Device used for the last National Identification Exercise.

Let me say that I felt bad when you said would not show any futher interest. I though we're all out here to help and teach each other, and what did you mean by:

You are not paying us to help you

I found this statement offensive, anyway all I want is someone to discuss the development I've been batling with for months now. I don't understand what else you required from me. As per the device, all I know is this: it's a siemens POS device, I'm sure you all remember that device used for National Identification Exercise sometimes ago.

Still Expecting Contributions Guys! Come on! Come All! I'm sure I can learn a lot from everyone. Demmy Thanks for the info, I will see through Kannel.

Allta

man, Seun na wa for u. why do u like bringing up money issues? i thought you had an open-source spirit.

well, honestly alita, i'm clueless as per your project. the internals of the siemens P.O.S was probably coded by siemens themselves. well... google should turn up something.

Thanks c0dec,

As for Siemens POS, yea they did code those themselves ofcourse; that's exactly what I'm looking for: HOW TO CODE THOSE POSes.

Hope this helps

Many Thanks

Allta( Not Alita, c0dec)

That was what I meant in my first reply when I said custom. Those devices cannot be re-coded easily by anyone unless of course you know what you're doing.

Anyway Allta, concerning the kannel gsm gateway I've watched a friend installed it for a radio station here to manage their audience's SMS send ins. I believe you can achieve the same thing with just ordinary (fast) computer workstation with WAP setup to manage SMS if thats what you want. But I'll check further to see what I can come up with.

my bad, Allta - i guess i've got dead pixels

hope u find this interesting.
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5214

Allta, what u're requesting is a liitle bit on the tight side, those devices where hard coded into the chipset of those devices, u'lld have to know how to handle assembly language and 'C' to do those stuffs. but what i fink you can do is you use gprs or wap enabled devices in place of that, its cheaper and more frenzy. all u av to do it to make a wap(xml) site that spools from a php/mysql application.. your results are fully online realtime. the semens thingy was manual. as in all collated results was taking to a larger memory device and then transferd which was more labour.

To my very understanding, it is very very easy. How?
Develop your application and you then patner with Siemens.
Siemens will then etch d code into the device, alas! It is as easy as that
Unless there is open device, which can allow custom applications(programming), and the programming language will be base on the device (d Programming language will be machine specific), so you will need to learn the language from scratch. Other option may be available to make work easier..

But those devices you are talking of: the codes, OS, programs were etched into the device during production (manufacturing) ...

hey, am trying to recount what my lecturer taught me in school.....

hear your self abacus, partner with siemens. Shey na beans.. since when did multinationals start to involve themselves in micro mini projects.. 1 it would not add the the development of the company in anyway and it would also be giving our friend here to much stress and a dream that may not come true. just use a simple wap/gprs device would do the trick and even more..
"trust me, i know what i'm doing saying"

If you don't know the specific exact name and features of the device you are dealing with, how can you code for it?

Hi Allta,
If you are talking about developing a custom uController based e-voting system which can be interfaced to a GSM network, then drop me a [email=emmanuel@firmtech.co.za]mail[/email].

The firmware would be written in assembler and communication with the GSM network could be accomplished using SMS DU-Format.

Kind regards,
Emmanuel

now we are talking, thats the spirit, like i said earlier on . it as to be coded in assembly, in to the firmware, but hope its not taking u to another level

Timmy u know am saying the same thing, as for going to siemens.. I agree it is not feasible. Let us agree with Emmanuel. If only Emmanuel can talk more about the technology, so that guys like us can learn more on this board. I happened to do some assembly language back then in school. I mixed c + assembly language, and qbasic + assembly language, Actually interesting but time wasting. Emmanuel, can u please talk about the technology.

Thanks
abacus

I've just come accross this thread now. If I understand your question, I think you want to develop an E-Voting system where votes will come in through GSm phones and your micro-controller device.

I think for the microcontroller device, you need to know the exact device you're programming and get the manufacturers documentation. A lot will depend on if the manufacturer equiped the equipment with a programable interface and the procedure for programing such an interface, the output fomats and all. Long and short, you need to know the exact device.

As for the WAP/SMS gateway, I don't think it will be worthwhile developing a gateway except if that is the main project. You can use Kannel that someone mentioned before. I've used it before and it works perfectly with serverside script engines including PHP.

I've gone through the whole thread, and I'm wondering why the need for a separate equipment like a POS system.  A good ole computer can do what you want perfectly.  All in all, you can do it at much lower cost, considering the prices of computer equipment today.

Are you trying to develop a proprietary system that you could mass-produce and resell?

Otherwise, simply code in WML, and data from your web server can be routed to cellphones via the service provider's gateway. 

Maybe there's something I'm missing about your objective.

I visited http://www.kannel.org/ posted by demmy.

Can somebody answer this for me...

For a cellphone to interract with a website, it has to use the service provider as gateway. In other words:

cellphone <------> gateway (phone company) <-------> webserver

Is kannel replacing the phone company as gateway? I.e.

cellphone <------> gateway (kannel) <-------> webserver

Gr8 idea! U r discussing an embedded systems project that wl b interfaced with protocols. D nature of d microcontroller inside d device wl determine d language 2 b used; assembly/C. U need collabo 2 get this done.