Week 1 FYP 2

Week 1

Date: 03/02/2014 (Monday)

Title: Redefine the methods to create the system 

The first week is about redefine the methods to create the system. After further research, i found that there are few changes need to be made. First, the website need to have fixed internet protocol (IP) address. Fixed IP address means that the address of the website is fixed. The system needs fixed IP address in enabling it to sent data to the website to be updated (from the database to website). Well, the cost of buying fixed IP address from the telecommunication company is quite expensive. Below is the price of the fixed IP address provided by Telekom Malaysia (TM): 

Due to the cost, i was unable to purchase the fixed IP address. So i decided to use another method to simulate the functionality of the website. I will use WampServer to transform the computer into a web server. Web server is either the hardware (the computer) or the software (the computer application) that helps to deliver web content that can be accessed through the Internet. By applying this method, i will able to display fully functional website in the browser without using fixed IP address. WampServer is free and can be downloaded from http://www.wampserver.com/en/

Without using fixed IP address, i will have to use another method to simulate the connectivity of the phone to access the website. I can't develop an android application because the application will need a website with fixed IP address to function. The other method that i will use is by using wireless router. Wireless router can connect the phone to the computer in a single IP address and will enable the phone to access to the website which being hosted by the computer.

The other changes will be the barcode scanner. I will only able to purchase normal laser barcode scanner to scan the Universal Product Code (UPC). The cost to buy a scanner which can scan both UPC and Quick Response code (QR code) is expensive. So, i will use QuickMark software that can scan the QR code  by using the computer's camera.

After further understanding, here are the final hardware and software that will be use in this project :

Hardware :

1. Laser barcode scanner  (to scan UPC)
2. Wireless router (to simulate the connectivity of the phone to the website)

 Software:

1. MySQL query browser (to construct the database)
2. Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 Express (to create the program)
3. Notepad++ (to write the coding for the website by using php language)
4. WampServer (to transform the computer into  a web server)
5. QuickMark (to scan QR code)