> What I need to do is to exchange data
> (either one-way OR two-way) between a Handheld and a
> Desktop computer.
This question is more suited to comm-dev-forum.
Since Palm OS and most desktops support various IrDA protocols, this should
be possible, provided you have an IrDA transceiver on your desktop (or
laptop). Palm OS supports:
- IrOBEX
- used for "beaming" vCards, apps, etc
- always listening for incoming objects (as long as Beam Receive is
on)
- use the Exchange Manager to access
- IrCOMM
- used for IR HotSync and other virtual serial cable applications
- only available within an IrCOMM-enabled app
- use the (New) Serial Manager to access
- IrLAP, IrLMP, and IrTTP (TinyTP)
- used for games, BeamBooks, and other apps that need fast two-way
comms
- only available within an app that uses the IR Library
- use the IR Library to access
Note that IrLAP, IrLMP, and IrTTP are often collectively referred to as
"IrDA", but this term really refers to the standards organization
(www.irda.org) that defined all of these protocols and many more, much as
the term "JPEG" is commonly used to refer to the JFIF file format.
Palm OS doesn't support IrLAN, IrLPT, or other protocols defined by IrDA
without third-party software. IrCOMM wasn't included in Palm OS 3.0 (when IR
hardware was added to the device). It was added via a download at some
point, and later in the ROM. For details, search the archives of this forum
and comm-dev-forum for "IrCOMM".
Many versions of Windows support many of the same protocols Palm OS does.
I'll leave you to find out the details. :) The same goes for Mac OS and
Linux. Where the desktop OS doesn't provide a particular protocol, there is
usually third-party software that does. I've used Extended Systems' hardware
and software to beam objects from a Palm device to a PC running Windows NT
4.0 and back.
--
Danny @ Palm
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