Question

I have a need: Build a system that allows a offline terminal(it´s a PC) to connect to a server. to do this, we decided to upload the data to a android 3G smartphone and, by network, send the data to the server, retrieve the response and send to terminal. See the scheme below:

GOING
TERMINAL –(?)–> Android App –(HTTP)–> Server

BACK
Server — (HTTP) –> Android App –(?)–> Terminal

We have some constraints:

1 – The terminal becomes locked until the android send the response from server (It´s a sync message)
2 – We have only text content.
3 – The place where the terminal is connected does not have network signal.
4 – We have to provide a minimum security level possible.
5 – The terminal app will be developed using PHP.

So, my question is: i have to connect the terminal to pc to send and retrieve information from a android phone. Should i use bluetooth or build a wi-fi network (with android phone built-in feature) to connect them?

Did someone have this problem?

Answer 1

I decided to use Bluetooth, because it’s easier create a client-server app with bluetooth than develop a “Wi-fi point” programatically and the bluetooth dongle is cheaper than a wi-fi module in old computers.