[Dr Nick]

Hi Everybody,
Been a while since i've been here last but now i'm finnally in the (never ending ) process of learning a language (C).
Anyway, I am looking for a way to create a program to act as a bridge between an ethernet port and a modem (telephone) port on a computer basicly acting as a dialup server. First of all i need to know if this task is even possible. If it is, i'm guessing i can't do this with the standard stdio.h lybrary so if anyone knows one to us that would be very helpful. Other than that any comments or helpful suggestions would be great!

Thanks

[jaeusm]

Why would you want to use the modem at all, then? Why not cut out the middle man and just use a socket directly?

[Dr Nick]

huh?? Maybe i didn't explain enough, heres the story:

I have a new cell phone that when you intstal it's usb drivers on a computer and connect the phone via usb, the computer recognises it as a modem. I do not subscribe to any dialup services, I have broadband cable going to my home. I want to set up some way for me to be able to call my home # through the cell phone connected to the laptop and be able to acces my home internet connection anywhere I have cell coverage and only be charged basic airtime. I am looking for a way to make a program to relay my internet connection comming in the ethernet port and output it to the modem port.

There, is that clear enough?

[jaeusm]

I'm not 100% sure about the feasibility of your project, but I know similar things have been done using cell phones as modems.

As for writing a program to forward data between two resources, that's quite simple. Since this is a network oriented programming project, I'd use Java, but C will work. If you've never done any socket programming, start learning. However, before you proceed in that direction, spend time researching similar projects on Google to get an idea about the feasibility. I briefly searched "cell phone modem" and got a few results on the first page that were similar projects (but not exactly the same) to yours. If you need direction with socket programming, post back here.

[Dr Nick]

Well, I have read a little in socket programming but didn't think that would suit the task seeing as there isn't a program at the other end that my program needs to connect to. But I will forllow your advice and hope it helps .

[jaeusm]

Originally posted by Dr Nick
Well, I have read a little in socket programming but didn't think that would suit the task seeing as there isn't a program at the other end that my program needs to connect to.

There certainly is a program at the other end! TCP/IP Sockets are the logical abstraction for sending/receiving data over a network connection. In other words, if you want to send or receive data over a network connection, you will do so through a socket. Your web browser is using a socket to send/receive data from this very website. The "program at the other end" is the web server you are communicating with.

So, as far as your project is concerned, you would not be relaying data to the ethernet port. You would be relaying data to a socket, and receiving data from it.