Re: Networked 8x calcs :)
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Re: Networked 8x calcs :)
At 02:51 PM 10/30/97 PST, you wrote:
>>Okay, I have this strange idea for creating a network for the TI-8x
>>graphing calculator series. I am picturing a small box where 4-5
>people
>>connect their calcs via a link cord to it. From there, they all enter
>a
>>game and begin playing against each other. Is this possible or even
>>feasable to be done? NETBIOS networks basically do the same thing as
>what
>>I just suggested. The only thing that we would find difficult to
>program
>>is the synchronization of the packet protocol. What do you think?
>>Possible? Worth the effort?
>>
>I have been toying around with this idea for a while. Basically it would
>require a box with each calc having an "IN" line (to calc) and an "OUT"
>line (to hub). Since linkports have 2 lines, this is not a problem. The
>hub would connect the OUT line from 1 calc to the IN line of all except
>the sending calc, so 1 woud send to 2,3,4; 2 would send to 1,3,4; etc.
>The sending calc would wait for silence, and then transmit a "reserve"
>signal for a few milliseconds. after this, it would check the IN line to
>see if anyone else is putting out a reserve signal. If this happens, all
>calcs stop trying to send for a random amount of time. If there is no
>collision, the sending calc would then send a synch signal and then the
>packet, which I would imagine to be start:to:from:size:data:CRC:end. The
>protocol used in the data segment would be different for each game. How
>does this sound?
Sounds pretty good. You must have been thinking on this for a while. I
know the protocol part is pretty simple to figure out, but what I want to
know is, how many people will make the device and is it really worth the
effort?
Thomas J. Hruska -- thruska@tir.com
Shining Light Productions -- "Meeting the needs of fellow programmers"
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/8504
http://shinelight.home.ml.org
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