A computer network enables more flexible architecture to embedded systems. For example, multiple devices on a network can communicate with each other and share resources and information. In some system connected in a network, it is not necessarily that every node device has the same functionality. Expensive, or rarely used function can be separated from the device and shared as a special function device in a network.
Embedded System and Computer Network
Another example with a network is simple applications, like telnet client and WEB server. These applications make it possible to know the system status remotely.
WEB Server System Overview
This implementation adds a network interface to the embedded system which already has 3D graphics rendering function, and builds a WEB server to know system status and 3D rendering status in real-time. The web server accepts HTTP request from a web client on the LAN and returns the response to it.
Web server and browser on the LAN
Internet Protocol Suite
To build the WEB server, the Internet Protocol Suite is implemented on the embedded system. The Internet Protocol Suite consists of four layers, the Application Layer, the Transport Layer, the Internet Layer, and the Link Layer.
Application Layer – HTTP
- Application Layer uses HTTP(HyperText Transfer Protocol) in this implementation.
Transport Layer – TCP
- Transport Layer uses TCP(Transmission Control Protocol) in this implementation.
Internet Layer – IP
- Internet Layer uses IP(Internet Protocol in this implementation.
Link Layer – Ethernet
- Link Layer uses 10M/100Mbps Ethernet in this implementation.