serial port : Java Glossary

• Unbundled Serial port support arrived with the JDK 1.2 javax.comm.SerialPort, aka JavaComm aka Java Communications API. You can read up on how it works in a JavaWorld article. Sun has dropped the Windows reference implementation of JavaComm.
• SerialIO.com has implemented a commercial implementation of JavaComm. They have also created the SerialPort package. It handles various platforms including Linux. It lets you also get at virtual ports. It handles USB and Bluetooth as well.
• The commercial version of PortIO seems to have disappeared.
• Take a look at Trent Jarvi’s RXTX which comes free with source code for Linux, Irix, SunOS, and other Unixes.
• JavaWorld article.
• Kevin Timm and Mark are working on an WIN/OS2/Linux serialport class.
• You might think you could solve your serial problem with a USB⇔Serial converter. The catch is Sun has no USB support.
• jUSB handles USB.
• javax.usb as the Java Community Process assigned the task of coming up with an official Java USB API. The main class in javax.usb. UsbHostManager.
• JMF supports USB webcams.

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