Database - how would you employ one in this scenario?

robjf · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:09

Evening boys and girls, got a scenario.

Theres an event im involved in which is basically 26 mile night hike/run in the cotswolds with several checkpoints around the route. Each one has several laptops, with 3g cards in them, kindly provided at a very special price by vodaphone. There are approximately 50 teams of 4 (about that) who run the route. Currently there is an access database which all of the laptops upload batch files too with the times every half hour (i think) so that the teams where abouts can be monitored, and then final times can be calculated when they return.

How would you do this, is there an easier way, i doubt it will be changed but im curious as to how you guys would do it?

Rob

Beansprout · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:47

I'd use a proper database like MySQL for a start

But if it works alright, no need to fiddle

oneilldo · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:48

You could have a web page, give them each a username and password and they could enter the times into a web form every time they need to upload. This could have a MySQL, MSSQL backend and use PHP,JSP etc for front end stuff. The benefit of thise is that you could also relay to them on the same website their position, relating to other members that had already added their times etc. You could also show cumalative time etc more easier. I suppose the above could also be done with a access DB. As its 3g couldnt the laptops upload when they get info instead of every 30 mins?

Diskbox · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:57

you`re using 3g? ok, so the connections are made at half hour intervals? to what? straight to server.

i`m currently develeoping a system that uses gogole maps, and sms. could use gprs. using an sms gateway to allow me to conenct to mysql database, which then updates markers on the maps. all pretty much automated. markers are generated from data stored inthe databse, and can be used to display the markers for each user etc. so in your case, each team.

timestamps could be used along with gps data, if each team had a gps bluetooth device to pinpoint their current locations and the times.

routes could be plotted roughly based on marker positions. all accessible form a nice clean web interface

robjf · 9 Feb 2006 at 19:05

See this is why i think they should start looking into other solutions as the batch uploading is now more or less unnecessary as the connections could be permanently on.This is going to be the first year using 3g, in previous years old nokias have been used, connecting useing WAP and some remote programe. Its all v technical though, the guy who makes all the databases is an absolute genius lol. (geek is more appropriate)

GPS is also un-needed as the checkpoints are preplanned, and times not being attched to a location, but too a fixed place (eg CP1, CP2 etc). this is so we can get times between checkpoints etc.

happytechie · 9 Feb 2006 at 19:06

I'd use a web service to give me a layer over a google maps page showing the correct area with the locations of the various teams displayed much like diskbox would. the API interface to google maps is fairly straightforward and as a developer you get a certain number of hits a day for free.

I'd use a .net 2.0 web service written in C# with a SQL Server backend but wither a PHP/MySQL or J2EE Java beans on Oracle would work just as well.

A soa will definiterly be the way forward, using google maps would save you writing all the map display and http access stuff.

HT

Diskbox · 9 Feb 2006 at 19:12

so what excatly does the system do?
just keeps track of the teams? why the heck do they lug around laptops? pda`s would be more sensible and a constant connection.