Description of a flexible software architecture for remote control of instruments with RS232, USB and GPIB interfaces

Abstract

This paper presents architectures for remote control of different conventional interfaces other than the RJ45 Ethernet port. Instruments equipped with local control interface, such as the RS232 serial port, GPIB port or recently USB port, can beneficed a new life, if they are remotely piloted. They will be reusable in remote laboratories. The field of remote control of instruments and remote and virtual laboratory design is in permanent evolution. Particularly with the need for implementation of the eLearning in science and technology require learning through practical work. This article proposes, through software and hardware architecture flexible and easy to implement the possibility to control and operate remote instruments with interfaces other than Ethernet RJ45 port. The remote control is possible by developing flexible web interfaces in HTML and JavaScript languages with the use of AJAX technique as means of communication network. An instrument can be remote controlled via an independent web interface. It is integrated in a web page as a simple hyperlink. It can be represented by their facial image with clickable areas in an HTML page with other activities (one or more practical work for example).