Would anyone know anything about dialling into a PC modem and sending commands via mobile phone?

Ultra_Extreme · 27 Sep 2011 at 17:23

Bizzarre i know, but i need to know if there is any way, software hardware whatever, to enable a person to dial into a modem equipped PC plugged into a landline and offer some kind of output to the user. Lets say display a number or message so that as a key on the phone was pressed this would in some way be interpereted onscreen in realtime?

It sounds vague but is something i have been asked to investigate for a proposed business venture.

Swanster · 27 Sep 2011 at 22:02

I don't see why not. Back when regular dial-up modems were popular, you could run software on the PC that would act as an answer phone (complete with keypad/tone activated voice menus).

I guess a starting point would be to look at the voice extensions to the AT protocol (to talk to a serial modem). Wiki, as ever, seems to have some details.

Berserker · 27 Sep 2011 at 23:27

If I'm interpreting your question right, that sounds rather like what Prestel used to do (there's still a working Prestel emulator hiding in a corner of the Science Museum). Wiki has a page on the subject if you need to look for it.

But I may have misjudged you, because it isn't clear what screen you intended for things to be displayed on - the phone's, or the PC's?

Ultra_Extreme · 28 Sep 2011 at 05:07

thanks for the reply guys, the purpose would be so that a phone hidden in a pocket could be used to notify a PC user of an event as it happens. This could be from any location in the world many of which would not have data or wireless internet

lookitsjonno · 29 Sep 2011 at 12:31

cant you use an sms api?

Zaf · 1 Oct 2011 at 10:43

As above...

You could get a Falcom GSM modem attached to a computer/server which would display the SMS message to x amount of PC users.

And it would be dead easy to create a panic button type app for Android mobile phones using Google Appinventor.

If you still want to go down the dialing into a landline 56k modem you can get terminal apps for Android phones which should let you send AT commands.

Ultra_Extreme · 2 Oct 2011 at 12:04

its only latency im concerned about needs to be button press and millisecs to reciept i dont see SMS cutting it?

Ultra_Extreme · 2 Oct 2011 at 12:08

thats the reason i want to be dialled in i mean if you were on the phone and said 'NOW!' that would be pretty low latency, i wanna hijack this to send a yes/no signal where there is no web service.

Zaf · 2 Oct 2011 at 17:15

But in that case you would have to be always connected, you would also need multiple pstn lines for this to work for more than one person to use it.

I really can't see you creating an instant yes/no service that will work all over the world.

...thinking more about it you could do it with an ISDN line and Cisco router but would need bespoke software writing.

Ultra_Extreme · 4 Oct 2011 at 09:30

Thanks for the input zaf, i need a way of prototyping the plan at low cost, but in theory has potential to generate £4k per day from even one user so ultimately bespoke hardware/software possible. Problem is need to know the tech would suffice

teaboy5 · 5 Oct 2011 at 00:11

Would love to know what your at here!!

Are you trying to use this in a country were internet and mobile comm's might get cut off?

Ultra_Extreme · 6 Oct 2011 at 14:45

teaboy5 said:
Would love to know what your at here!!

Are you trying to use this in a country were internet and mobile comm's might get cut off?

nothing that exciting, just need the edge on events occuring from zones with poor internet. You might not believe it but when you get 2 20/20 cricket teams playing each other in the middle of india, or in the west indies, there are several million people trading tens of millions of pounds based on wickets falling.

More than this they are using SKY tv as a guide. Needless to say that sky TV suffers significant delay on 'live' transmissions, being ahead of the market in events such as these can yeild large sums. But of course you need fastest possible information.

James_200sx · 6 Oct 2011 at 16:28

Are you on about using a dial-up connection to a PC to exchange data.

Possibly about cricket so that you can place bets in 3rd worlds bet's to make lots of money.

Have a look at vb.net com ports and modem command strings.

Zaf · 7 Oct 2011 at 00:15

Just use a satellite phone to be fair

Ultra_Extreme · 7 Oct 2011 at 11:25

stellite phone will be same lag as broadcast? Anyone got any numbers? will do some research.

Zaf · 7 Oct 2011 at 11:49

Ultra_Extreme said:
stellite phone will be same lag as broadcast? Anyone got any numbers? will do some research.

It should be couple of seconds faster but would need testing, you can pick them up for couple of hundred and air time is about $30 a month.

Will be much cheaper option than developing a new system/product