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Aaron Koning wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid1319fbba0607301707n39bf7ddfk9aa518d52137125c@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">I think you are spot on Bob! Do you have a web server in
mind?</blockquote>
All,<br>
<br>
Some more thoughts.<br>
<br>
To tell the truth, I think I prefer to develop on a plain old PC
architecture. I've done some stuff with Java on the PALM, with Win on
an IPAQ, and they all came up short in the end for one reason or
another.<br>
<br>
I think the route to go with something like this, is NOT to use a
specific portable OS, but rather concentrate on using a Micro PC of
some sort (the OQO with Linux, comes to mind) and use the same old
tools we've been using for everything else. My database of choice for
the storage, at least for points, would be MYSQL, much lower overhead
for storage and retrieval. The Mapping side is a different story, but
speed and simplicity would be the order of the day. While there's no
reason a Spatial database couldn't be used for the mapping, I would
suspect that the management of the mapping data might be easier with
static SHP files in the near term. Although using a Regular PC OS
would help with database up keep in the syncing process as well.<br>
<br>
Also, don't forget, for a well rounded out system, the MapServer on the
portable device should able to update it's Datasets for the mapping
side of things in a cascading manner every time the Home and Field
machines sync themselves. It's not just the collected data you need to
worry about. One good example of why this is a good idea to implement,
would be when you have a group of folks all capturing data in the same
general area, where each needs to see what the other has been doing. A
live system would work very well for this, but even manually syncing
things every day would show what each operator had captured the
previous day. The same situation occurs when multiple groups are using
the same system but depend on one another for the data they are
capturing in performing their respective business function(s).<br>
<br>
Lastly, and more related to a live updating system, would be the
Communications aspects between the servers. In an always on system
where there is a high level of wireless connectivity, each user should
be able to view every other users input items as they become
available. This will require some thought as well, since the
communication will need to go in both directions. Think about two or
three field personnel capturing data in a grid pattern next to each
other and being able to see the input of the others as it occurs. The
data should still be plotted in real time on the portable device even
if it's only manually synced as well, while the communications between
server can be controlled a bit easier in this manner, the same
requirements will exist.<br>
<br>
The reasoning behind my preference for concentrating on a regular OS
(Not portable specific) would be that these micro portables are only
going to get smaller and more plentiful in the future. There is also
the notion that lessons learned from the building of things in the
described process would help those that want to ignore the advice and
develop on the portable specific OS anyway. :c)<br>
<br>
bobb<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote
cite="mid1319fbba0607301707n39bf7ddfk9aa518d52137125c@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite"> What are the options for web servers on the Windows
Mobile platform? ApacheCE is a fairly dated project that ported Apache
1.x to WindowsCE. Does anyone know if there is a newer Apache port for
Windows Mobile or does compiling Apache from source work well on
Windows Mobile? What about PHP?
<br>
<br>
Also, anybody have experience with PostgreSQL and PostGIS on Windows
Mobile?<br>
<br>
Aaron<br>
<br>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 7/30/06, <b
class="gmail_sendername">Bob Basques</b> <<a
href="mailto:bob.b@gritechnologies.com">
bob.b@gritechnologies.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">All,<br>
<br>
I'm more inclined to go with some sort of Web Based Syncing of the data
<br>
collection.<br>
<br>
My first thought was to use a WebServer on the device that handles the<br>
data collection as a standalone device, and also the communications with<br>
a main database server. This is just a starting point for conversation
<br>
however. But it's all dealing with automating things to the fullest<br>
extent. Having the Webserver on the mobile device handle the<br>
communications with the main Database server instead of having the user<br>
worry about it. All the user sees is whether the Web servers have had
a
<br>
connection yet and were able to sync with each other. This type of<br>
system would work with a automatic wireless connection or a manual<br>
syncing process.<br>
<br>
I would also propose having a auto-tracking map where most, if not all,
<br>
of the input is done via a spatial interface. This seems to be the<br>
easiest type of interface to use for such things and doesn't add to the<br>
training aspects appreciably.<br>
<br>
bobb<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Tyler Mitchell wrote:
<br>
> I've also done some Pocket PC (windows) based mobile computing<br>
> applications a few years ago. This was on the IPAQ (before HP took<br>
> over Compaq) and was a forestry field data collection from surveys
of
<br>
> waste left over after logging. We sold a few copies of it.<br>
><br>
> The weakest link was the database connectivity (and some general<br>
> annoyances with the Embedded VB environment). I ended up sync'ing
<br>
> with an Access db on the client PC through ODBC. It worked pretty<br>
> well, but had these weak links that were not the easiest for new
users<br>
> to handle. It was certainly not a cross platform or flexible
solution
<br>
> but filled the gap.<br>
><br>
> Also, the platform was very slow. I found populating drop-down
lists<br>
> with more than a few values was slow. This was on the oldest model,<br>
> 266Mhz processor though :) Anyway, all that just introduce a bit
of
<br>
> what I've done.<br>
><br>
> I think that having a cross platform solution is ideal, but I'm<br>
> thinking it's going to be tough due to the hardware and PC sync'ing<br>
> issues. It seems there are some solutions out there that allow
<br>
> sync'ing with the Microsoft ActiveSync using an open source
protocol<br>
> (I forget the name). There also appear to be some issues with<br>
> PDA->USB->Networking with windows host PCs due to
drivers. I'm
<br>
> curious if anyone has worked through that. It'd be ideal to avoid
the<br>
> 'sync' problem and get straight into tcp/ip connectivity to
databases<br>
> or via rsync.<br>
><br>
> Any thoughts on this? Others have similar issues?
<br>
><br>
> Tyler<br>
><br>
>
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</blockquote>
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-- <br>
+--------------------------------------------<br>
| Aaron Koning<br>
| Information Technologist<br>
| Prince George, BC, Canada.<br>
+--------------------------------------------<br>
|
<a href="http://datashare.gis.unbc.ca/fist/">http://datashare.gis.unbc.ca/fist/</a><br>
| <a href="http://datashare.gis.unbc.ca/gctp-js/">http://datashare.gis.unbc.ca/gctp-js/</a><br>
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