Hi,

first, consider that I'm new to GPS/mapping/AVL stuff.

We want to build a very simple app which will receive GPS data from vehicle and store it into a MS SQL Server database.

Easy? I think so.

Then, we want to build another app to access maps and view vehicle moving. We expect less than 10 workstations viewing it.

It looks very simple.

We bought Mappoint 2006 but, after few hours of experiencing it, of searching informations over Internet, we are not sure we made the right choice.

Do we?

Including this forum, where should we look for informations to help us building that kind of Client/server app.

Thanks

Hi,

The first part is of course a communication module that receive via some medium, parse, sort, do whatever with the data and store it in a database. This will be no problem I guess.

I think you want to write a server application that owns the database and gives information to several client applications that have mappoint embedded. In that case you can connect the clients all to this server application with a TCP session. If you use dotNet is is very simple. If not it is depending language / components etc. BTW I should not use SQL or similar commands over the TCP session but a mutch higher level with an own written protocol. Then you can do anything you want in a later stage. Not much extra work and a lot of fun

Then there rest the client applications wit embedded mappoint. It is also simple, and there is this forum for. But you mention you have searched on some things already with mappoint but failed. Can you please tell what you where search non and what failed ? Then we can answer more preceise on the problems you have.

I'm sure we make your day good

Thanks Wilfried,

your right, we'll write a server that handle receiving gps data and "broadcast" it to listening clients thru TCP or UDP port.

Before asking for more questions, I'll take a look at articles, FAQ, ....

This forum is really interesting.

I'm almost new to every thing in those technologies so before asking boring questions, I'll to find by myself.

I've build a very small app in VB using Mappoint control. But to deploy in a multiple users environment, I'm not sure where to start.

For the moment, I'm looking for:
- license type and cost to distribute mappoint on client workstations
- accessing maps located on a server.
- integrate those products with others (ex: call taking) (not really a problem. Our call system will put data into SQL database used for GPS tracking or something like that)
- use MTM Nad83 projection
- design our own territories
- using more "regional" maps instead of North America
- viewing vehicle movments (GPS)
- adding Playback features
- ...

Thanks again

Hi,

For the licence you need a mappoint licence per installed client.

For the broadcase. Dont use UDP. UDP is unreliable by design. Depending on several factors you can have lost packets, double packets and even corrupted packets. the only advantage of UDP is that it respect packet boundaries. (There are other advantage not to mention of importance here).

Use TCP and keep it simple. Have a TCP server handling all requests. All Clients have a persistent TCP connection to the server. Server handles request from each client and send nececary data back.

For the protocol (there exists a lot but..) you can designe your own. Advantage is that it is save against hackers and that you can design it exacly for your needs. If you think carefully over it will not be difficult.

You can also use the dotNet messaging queue. I never used it. But it can maybe have some advantages.

So, if I want to keep it very very simple, I should:

- build a TCP-IP client/server app. The server will receive gps data, put it in a database for future usage and "broadcast" gps data to each client.
- on the client side, I will put the client side of this app and also install mappoint. When i will get gps data, with the mappoint control, i will be able to locate it on the map.

My first impression was to put mappoint on the server. The server will put gps stuff on it and clients get a refresh map every...map update.

But, like I wrote in the beginning, this is all new for me

Hi,

Mappoint has to run local on each client. In your case the server only delivers data. You can also use the server for calculations on the map. This can save lot of recourses on the client.

Wilfried,

what if MapPoint Fleet Edition and do we need it if we want to build an app to show vehicles moving on a map?

Hi,

I have read there where 2 editions, but did not study it because I'm waiting for Europe edition. But I think it is the same. Each client will need a licence.

There is no problem showing complete fleets on a map.

I have done a very similar thing in a web app before. I used Google Maps for my vehicle tracker. All you need is a Google Maps key (free of charge) and a very simple AJAX script for updating your map. I you were to embed this simple web app into another application you can alway embed an Explorer control into your app.

This is all assuming that these workstations have internet access.