Syndicate data from your embedded devices

This instructable will show you how to take data output from a USB temperature logger and syndicate it on the web using syndicit.com. Once your data is saved at syndicit.com you can share it on the web as a spreadsheet, live Google Earth feed, RSS feed, and more.

USB temperature logger:
http://www.instructables.com/id/EV9KA88GBMEQZJJOR5/

You can still participate if you don't have an data feed of your own. You can mix and match existing feeds to create your own custom feed. Tag stuff just like instructables.com & enjoy all the ajaxy web2.0 goodness.

Step 1 Stuff you'll need

Data source:
A USB temperature logger will be used in this demonstration, but any data source can be used. Information on the USB temperature logger is available here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/EV9KA88GBMEQZJJOR5/

SyndicitGATE:
SyndicitGATE is a very simple (Windows) Visual Basic program with 2 functions. It includes the functionality of the sample program included with the USB temperature logger: it uses MSCOM32.OCX to send a request for data through the USB port. The response (a temperature measurement in this case) is put into a HTTP POST request and sent to syndicit.com using mswinsock.OCX. (You will need both of these common Windows files for syndicitGATE to work. You should already have them, if not, consult Google.) Source and compiled executable are included in the project archive.
***Note: trialexsays: You mention you need the file "MSCOM32.OCX" - I think this should read "MSCOMM32.OCX". I also needed to go and find the file "COMDLG32.OCX"*****

Syndicit.com account:
Go to syndicit.com and register for an account. This is my experimental site for embedded device data syndication. Free to use, though you have to agree that any data you syndicate is placed in the public domain.

Comments

[thermoelectric]

were on google earth is this?

[ian]

Updated the source slightly to fix a data packet clearing problem when the device fails.

[fungus amungus]

Cool stuff. More computery than the stuff I end up making and not something that I'm likely to do, but nicely documented.

[trialex]

Awesome project. Still working through it but seems like an excellent way to broadcast data. You mention you need the file "MSCOM32.OCX" - I think this should read "MSCOMM32.OCX". I also needed to go and find the file "COMDLG32.OCX"

[ian]

Thanks trialex, I added that note to the instructable. The common dialog OCX is used in the (unimplemented) 'log to CSV file' feature.