Specifications

without worrying about handling the threads related to handling the network protocol.

The operating system would then handle the stack management and the protocol layers.

Keeping this in mind research was conducted looking for existing embedded solutions

with network interfaces and in turn the appropriate microcontroller would be chosen.

4.2.3 Embedded networking solutions

The results of the search focused on solutions that could provide a hardware

development platform with a TCP package included and possibly an operating system.

The search also attempted to find products that were available at a reasonable cost due

to the purchase limitations of the thesis. It also had to consider the legal ramifications of

the package since the long term aim of the product is to have something that can be

manufacture in large numbers and sold. The ideal solution was to find a hardware

product that could be legally manufactured or at least a design that could easily be

modified to the custom requirements of the project.

Ethernut [9] is an open source Atmel microcontroller based project. This project is open

source with respect to hardware and software. The hardware provides both the

microcontroller and network interface. All the schematics and PCB’s of the

development board are provided for use with their software. The designs are available

for free and it is legal to use and reproduce them without charge.

Atmel[11] themselves provide a development package called @WebTM TCP/IP. It

works on their 8051 line of processors and they provide the TCP/IP stack libraries. No

operating system is required or provided. The network physical layer and PCB design is

not provided therefore this would have to be implemented.

Rabbit semiconductors [5] also provide a development board with their own micro-

controller, physical layer and software. The development environment provided is for

Dynamic C. The development boards are purchase out of the United States, and the

design is not freely available.

JKmicrosystems[12] combine an embedded x86 processor with DOS and they provide

TCP/IP libraries. Development kits are available but at a cost.

There are many more different types of solutions available but they are not available at

a reasonable cost when considering the cost limitations of the product. All the retail