RE: Re: Context parameters within Message Bodies

[Ian B]

Ah, I may be one step ahead of you here then. I have just ordered an
embedded Ethernet development kit which I am hoping will enable me to add
Ethernet as the native interface for my new devices. It will use the
Realtek
chip found on your average 7 quid network card so I am hoping the cost per
project will not be huge and certainly bring it into the region you are
looking at below. We shall see.

Whilst serial (485) is still a very cheap interface as far as a networked
medium goes it is not supported in 99% of homes. This applies even to my
own
where I have a 100Mbit Ethernet pretty much everywhere but not a serial
cable anywhere save to HV and the phone logger. The watering etc. use
dedicated cables and not a serial link.

This and feedback from various sources have led me towards Ethernet. I
think
this could fit into a 16k Atmel chip costing around a fiver so it still
counts as a low end device in my book.

I am hoping that new devices will come in around the price point you are
looking at but in small quantities. This obviously depends on the
capabilities and interactive stuff with screens etc. will push the price
up.
Something like my I/O controller will come in at the lower end of the
scale.

What do you think?

Ian


>-----Original Message-----
>From: mark_harrison_uk2 [mailto:<a
href="/group/xAP_developer/post?postID=KjYh-5bUcdrgAkZpYrXdTacB7toxt_M-iDTzwgab9YWnMYVEA8bhsqBgH4k3Lwe-2LpGgS1UGcsgzQ-7">mph@a...</a>]
>Sent: 30 November 2003 20:47
>To: <a
href="/group/xAP_developer/post?postID=tPivGXz6rjbQJ5tRsE4xAYZOQmJ4K4UcxRm-utiwx-O7s6VqS5dc9YTUqMr4Ptg0Wob5WZY8Hbck9TLeY9sdrGuIZw">xAP_developer@xxxxxxx</a>
>Subject: [xAP_developer] Re: Context parameters within Message Bodies
>
>
>OK - I should have explained better :-)
>
>I can see a situation where the logic is actually interpreted in
>something like an ethernet<->serial xAP bridge.
>
>On the serial side, we have PIC devices which are basic input /
>output type telemetry modules.
>
>On the ethernet side we have more sophisticated stuff, including all
>the PC-based applications we have today.
>
>The hybrid-bridge in the middle MIGHT be a PC, but is equally likely
>to be something, say, Rabbit-based.
>
>However, rather than simply passing the same xAP messages from one
>side to another, it could process them, and take into account
>state... thus leading IT to be the "rules engine".
>
>With any decent volumes, a Rabbit-based device could hit a £100 price
>point today. In the next couple of years, we'll see the power of
>devices at that price point go up, and likewise the cost of devices
>at that power point go down.
>
>Such a device would be a FRACTION of the cost of a Homevision, and
>compared to anything comparable would blow it out of the water.
>
>Mark
>
>--- In <a
href="/group/xAP_developer/post?postID=tPivGXz6rjbQJ5tRsE4xAYZOQmJ4K4UcxRm-utiwx-O7s6VqS5dc9YTUqMr4Ptg0Wob5WZY8Hbck9TLeY9sdrGuIZw">xAP_developer@xxxxxxx</a>,
"Ian B" <Ian@M...> wrote:
>> >Yes I agree (been there - got the T shirt)... but what you are
>saying is
>> >that end nodes ultimately will be receiving compiled scripts
>(xAPscripts)
>> >telling them how to interpret the various schemas - sort of
blows
>the small
>> >pic based end nodes out of the water. Where, and who is
developing
>> this......
>>
>> I second this as from experience xAP has pushed me towards ever
>more capable
>> processors to keep up with even the relatively simple tasks.
>>
>> My ideas around the house have a lot to do with networking
>(Ethernet) small
>> nodes at the moment and to be honest the vast majority of folks
>interested
>> in HA maybe won't have a PC on 24/7. To keep our appeal as wide as
>possible
>> we should keep the hardware requirements as low as possible
>wherever we can.
>>
>> Don't get me wrong as I also believe the PC/Linux/etc. has a place
>in this
>> somewhere. I remember how lost I was when my own server went down
>for a
>> fortnight with a blown motherboard and power supply.
>>
>> Ian
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
><a
href="/group/xAP_developer/post?postID=6Ve-I7GKOFMgH-3DY2YrEqOWNbChgVQ408-bmIUDVbIRTVO7LZZP8LMcXBUnn9qse8dO4_I6HsGZV-G3zxdOdPm9yTdEFrs2JeBi02ucPKW1wA">xAP_developer-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx</a>
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to <a href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/";>http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/</a>
>
>
>