Re: How to Interface to USB


"Robert Marquardt" <robert_marquardt@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:435470a2$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Mocacius wrote:
>
>> I posted this in Activex.Writing and was told this might be a better
>> place for it, so here it goes...
>>
>> -----
>>
>> Using Delphi5. I'm writing an OCX to track a vehicle position from live
>> GPS
>> data. I was using a serial GPS and had no problems, I was reading the
>> data,
>> processing it, etc.. However, a client needs to use this with a GPS
>> connected through the USB port, and I don't know how to read the data
>> from
>> it. Is there any specific information, on how to get data from the USB
>> port? Are there any controls that I may need to get/license to let me
>> communicate with the USB? What can I do?
>>
>> I am really desperate, so any information, help, suggestions would be
>> great!
>
> There is no USB port at all. At least not on software level.
> You can only talk to specific devices. It is just like ethernet where you
> also would not dream of talking to the ethernet port.
>
> Many GPS receivers do have driver which installs a virtual COM port which
> works like a real one. Without more information about the device it is
> impossible to tell more. Please tell the prcise name of the device.
> The device can have a custom driver which is only accessible through
> DeviceIoControl calls. Without documentation from the manufacturer there
> is no way to tell.

That's not what I wanted to hear (device-dependent) :-( I was hoping that
there would be a way to interface to *any* USB GPS device the client would
decide to use, without knowing the specific device apriori. I also have
seen that many devices instal/use a virtual com port, but again, I can't
know that before hand, so..

In any case, all this input is greatly appreciated it. Even knowing that
you can't do something is very useful.

Thanks,
*M*


.

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