A Comparative Study on Client Server Technology and Web Technology in

Design and Implementation of an Embedded System Used for Monitoring and

Controlling of Physical Parameters
Siddhartha Baruah1
Anjana Kakoty Mahanta2
Kanak Ch Sarma3
Gauhati University, India
[email protected] , [email protected], [email protected]
1

Abstract monitoring and controlling from the different client

installations [3]. Basic objective of the system is to provide
monitoring and controlling of temperature and humidity to
Intranet and Internet users [4]. Both technologies work in a
System developed for the stated study is a different manner. In client server technology users
microcontroller based embedded system for monitoring and continuously receive the updated values of sense temperature
controlling of parameters like temperature and humidity. and humidity as per constant request of client to server for
It can be implemented using simple client server technology updated values. whereas Internet users using the web
as well as web technology. Users belong to the technology will avail the same implemented in a three tire
organizational domain can use their own Intranet for system of web browser, web server and embedded server.
monitoring and controlling of parameters designed on Due to stateless nature of web Internet users will not receive
simple client server technology whereas users beyond the continuous updated data. Users of the system must send a
scope of Intranet can use Internet interface designed using HTTP request from web browser to web server then same
web technology. Both the technologies are having its own will be forwarded to embedded server for retrieving the
advantages as well as disadvantages. This paper explores updated values. Both types of users can set the values of
the technological implications of the system using client temperature and humidity through their respective front ends
server as well as web technology. at which necessary control will be initiated by controller
Embedded hardware circuit is fabricated in to two board through relays. Internet users opting for setting new
separate digital circuits connecting two COM ports of values for controlling temperature and humidity will be
Embedded server. First circuit will monitor temperature authenticated after entering the password for same.
and humidity and display same in LCD. Application pro- Authenticated process is implemented through installing Mail
gram executed in computer reads COM port and display server. Hardware control will be initiated when sense values
the same in monitor and store in database. Second digital of temperature and humidity will exceed the set values stored
circuit will provide necessary hardware control of devices in limit value table . System can generate report and graph
for controlling of temperature and humidity automatically. of recorded temperature and humidity as per request of users.
It is implemented through relay based on the user entered
set value of temperature and humidity which is stored in
database of computer. Developed system enable its both
2. Hardware Configuration of Boards and
Intranet as well as or Internet users for monitoring and Experimental Setup
setting new values of temperature and humidity through
the respective front end. Basic hardware design consist of two circuits monitoring
board and controlling board are interconnected with
1. Introduction Embedded server through two COM ports COM1 AND
COM2. Both the boards are based on Atmel 89S52
Microcontroller based embedded systems designed microcontroller[5]. ADC0809 is used in monitoring board for
for monitoring and controlling of parameters like temperature conversion of analog transducer values to digital value [6].
and humidity is very essential in some industrial as well as Transducer here stands for temperature and humidity
research setups [1,2]. In view of limitations of standalone sensor[7]. Diagram along with its nomenclature of different
embedded systems for controlling and operating from the items as given in the Figure 1 will explain the intended
place of its installation, interconnection of same with TCP/ purpose of same.
IP networks can provide a broad interactive use for Monitoring board will continiously sense the
parameters(Temperature, Humidity) and make it available at

Copyright © 2009 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 EMBEDDED SERVER
(Computer with database + Application
to send / receive data to/from database)

Figure 1. Hardware configuration of boards with Embedded Server

COM1 port. Program designed in Visual Basic will read the initiated. Limit value table is used to to store these control
comport and store the sense values in the Database server values which may be modified by user through interactive
designed in My sql. Clients on the same LAN can front as required. As soon as the sense value will cross the
continiously display the sense values . This is implemented limit value control signal will be passed through the COM2
by sending request to embedded server at a regular interval port to which controlling board is connected. Controlling
for updated values based on client server technology. board is responsible for carrying out necessary control by
Necessary front end designed in clients of LAN will enable switching on/off some hardware device(such as coolers,
users for continious monitoring of same. System will dryers ) which are connected through relays of controlling
continiously check the sense values against some stored board. Internet users not belonging to the LAN where
limit values of parameter at which necessary control will be embedded server is connected. It can access updated values

Figure 2. Experimental setup

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
of sensor through browser. Web server IIS, Internet Web on which control action is initiated i.e. when sense value
Client run the client program anywhere from the web for exceeds or equal to set value. User can make necessary
displaying interactive front-end for monitoring and change of set value in limit value table through front end
controlling through browser. The program is implemented when required. This software enable its user to generate
in C#.NET [8]. Experimental setup used for implementation report on recorded temperature and humidity for a particular
of the system developed given in Figure 2. LAN/Intranent day as well as generate graph of same based on choice of
indicate the Network where Embedded server is installed user in the interactive front end . Fourth module for Internet
with monitoring and controlling boards. This Intranet is users IIS web server with .NET framework is installed and
connected to Internet backbone to make it accessible from web application is implemented in C#.NET for web server
anywhere. Mailserver and Webserver is necessary for and browser . Internet user (client) from browser send HTTP
Internet users of the system. request to Web server for getting updated values of
temperature and Humidity or control data for change of new
3. Functionality of Different Software Modules set values of temperature and humidity. Next Web server
send request to Embedded server for retrieving updated
Four different software programs execute simultaneously values from database or setting new values in the databases
for monitoring and controlling of temperature in the present of temperature and humidity for initiating control
work. Software burnt in to the microcontroller of the implementing a three tire model of web browser , web server
monitoring board read sensor data (temperature and and database server. Functionality of above software
humidity) obtained from ADC and converted into appropriate modules can be expressed in following functional diagram
form of display in LCD and make it available in RS232 port of Figure 3.
attached in the circuit. Software is implemented in C language
and carryout necessary calibration before display. Software 4. Some Issues of the System Implementing
burnt into the microcontroller of controller board is from LAN and Web
responsible for running appropriate hardware devices
through relay when specific conditions as defined in the It is already mentioned that developed system can
database are met. Software in the embedded server function from both LAN and Internet/Web. Some advantages
continiously retrieves the sense data of temperature and as well a shortcomings has been observed during its
humidity through RS232 port and stores the same in implementation. To look into these issues it is necessary to
Temperature and Humidity tables of the database with consider client server as well as web technology which is
corresponding date and time. This program is implemented based on TCP/IP model. In basic TCP/IP model to establish
in Visual Basic 6 and interact with database server connection TCP software on server execute a process called
implemented in Mysql. It also store user entered set value passive open enabling clients to establish connection on
of temperature and humidity in two different tables based request. As clients always initiates a TCP connection by

Figure 3. Functional diagram of the system developed

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
sending request to server , so client is said be active open from dabase. In case modification of controlling value it will
in contrast to passive open of server. In the System modify appropriate table of database. Here request response
implemented from LAN ,as soon as client issues an active model is governed by a protocol called HTTP in both client
open request , local TCP software provide IP address and and server. HTTP by nature is stateless .When HTTP client
TCP part of the destination server application. TCP software prepares the request for webpage , on HTTP server , server
on client uses this information to open a connection with interpret such request to pass response to client . After
remote server[9]. sending the requested page server will release the connection.
In LAN/Intranet implementation as client send Unlike VB client implemented in LAN it is a thin client
continious request to server at regular interval which enable governed by stateless HTTP protocol , so for updated value
its clients for monitoring of updated values of temperature user have to send another request, hence the continious
and humidity in frontend of monitor. Continious appearance appearance of values in the front like Intranet not possible.
of values in monitor occur as after connection establishment This phenomena is shown in following Figure 4.
server gets request for updated data at regular interval from Interactive front end as displayed in monitor is shown in
client At the same time it also make it feasible for graph Figure 5 ( for Intranet) and in Figure 6 ( for Internet ).
representation of temperature and humidity without any One significant advantage of web based solution is that it is
distortion. Client in LAN works as a fat client . Visual Basic plateform independent. An application from webserver can
implementation in client can send request at regular interval be viewed as web browser from any other OS. As far as
making continious display possible. In Web implementation security issues are concerned, web implementation performs
interactive front designed for browser send request to user authentication through a mailserver in case user wants
webserver which indeed awaits passively. User using a to change the control values of humidity and temperature.
browser request for a webpage to web server. Web server In LAN implementation same can be achieved by assigning
application is built in C#.NET will retrieve appropriate data user authentication at update button of Figure 5.

HTTP request for Request to retrieve

updated data or updated data or
setting Control value setting control value
Web Server & Embedded/
Web Browser
ASP.NET Database server
application

Send HTTP response to web Send updated / new set

browser with updated values / values to web server
new set values

Figure 4. Information Exchange in the stated three tire model

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 Figure 5. Interactive front-end from Intranet displayed in monitor

Figure 6. Interactive front-end from Internet displayed in monitor

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
5. Performance and Conclusion [4] S. Baruah , A. Kakoti Mahanta, , K.C. Sharma, “Web Enable
Multichannel Embedded System For Monitoring and Controlling
Temperature and Humidity”, International Journal of Emerging
Performance of any system depends on accuracy. In Technologies and Applications in Engineering, Technology and
developed system performance is monitored in two levels, Sciences”(IJ-ETA-ETS),ISSN:0974-3588 Amoghsiddhi Education
accuracy and smooth operation. Accuracy indicate how Society, Sangli -416 415MH, India., July 08 –December 08 pp 91-
closely the sensor can measure the real world values. 100.
Acceptable result is observed on monitoring. Performance
of the remote clients of Intranet and Internet depends on [5] National semiconductor corporation, ADC 0809 data sheet, 8-
Network speed which is directly dependent on bandwidth bit Microprocessor compatible A/D converters with 8-channel
multiplexer, national Semiconductor data book, October 2002 up-
allotted and network traffic. Allotment of fixed channel for
Internet user can provide a seamless online performance. dates. http://www.national.com/mpf/DC/ADC0809.html
Developing same using 16 bit or higher microcontroller in
[6] ST Microelectronics data book, March, 2002 publication.http:/
embedded linux plateform will enhance the performance and
/www.st.com
enable it for inclusion of features like scheduling with
priority concept. [7] National Semiconductor Corporation, LM35 datasheet, preci-
sion centigrade temperature sensors, Atmel data book, November
6. References 2000 update. http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM35.html

[1] A Review of PC-Based Data Logging and Recording Techniques [8] Joel Murach, Anne Boehm, Murach’s ASP.NET 2.0 web
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/2693 programming with C# 2005, SPD, Mumbai, 2005

[2] Muhammad Ali Mazidi and Janice Gillispe Mazidi, The 8051 [9] Grisha Spasov, Nikolay Kakankov, “CGI based applications
microcontroller and embedded systems, Pearson education ltd., for distributed systems for monitoring Temperature and Humid-
India, 2007. ity” Proceedings of 5th International conference on Computer
Systems and Technologies-CompsysTech‘2004, Rousse, Bulgeria,
[3] S. Baruah , A. Kakoti Mahanta, K.C. Sharma, “A LAN based pp 1-6, ISBN 954-9641-38-4.
PC Interactive Embedded System for monitoring and controlling
Temperature.”, Proceedings of 2008 International Conference on
Embedded Systems and Applications, WORLDCOMP’08 14th -
17th July, 2008, Las Vegas Nevada, U.S.A.pp.133-139

Authorized licensed use limited to: Velammal Engineering College. Downloaded on March 04,2010 at 04:28:38 EST from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.