Arduino program that allows me to change state through comm port? - arduino

Question

new here! been recommended many times to come here for help so here I am.
I'm supposed to write a program that allows me to change the rate of a blinking LED light through the comm port. I'm sure this is easy but I've honestly got no clue as I am behind in this class.
anything would help really, i honestly want to learn how to do this, not just come here and get the answer.
thanks in advanced!
// global variables
#include <EEPROM.h>
unsigned long ms_runtime;
int state;
// possible values 0 -> 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 0
int one_ms_timer;
// define all timers as unsigned long (they are incremented every 100ms = 0.1s)
unsigned long timer1;
unsigned long button_dbnc_tmr = 0;
// timer1 is used for blinking LED
const int LED1 = 13;
// function prototypes
void read_memory(void);
void update_memory(void);
void comm_control(void);
void led_control(void);
void turnoff(void);
void flash_1s(void);
void flash_2s(void);
void flash_3s(void);
void timers(void);
void setup()
{
read_memory();
pinMode(LED1, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
//initialize uart
}
void loop()
{
static bool allow_change;
static int counter;
timers();
comm_control();
led_control();
}
void led_control()
{
switch (state)
{
case 0:
turnoff();
break;
case 1:
flash_1s();
break;
case 2:
flash_2s();
break;
case 3:
flash_3s();
break;
}
}
void turnoff()
{
digitalWrite(LED1, LOW);
}
void flash_1s()
{
if (timer1 < 10)
digitalWrite(LED1, HIGH);
else
{
digitalWrite(LED1, LOW);
if (timer1 >= 20)
timer1 = 0;
}
}
void flash_2s()
{
if (timer1<20)
digitalWrite(LED1, HIGH);
else
{
digitalWrite(LED1, LOW);
if (timer1 >= 30)
timer1 = 0;
}
}
void flash_3s()
{
if (timer1<30)
digitalWrite(LED1, HIGH);
else
{
digitalWrite(LED1, LOW);
if (timer1 >= 40)
timer1 = 0;
}
}
void read_memory()
{
timer1 = EEPROM.read(one_ms_timer);
timer1++;
EEPROM.write(one_ms_timer, timer1);
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void update_memory()
{
EEPROM.update(timer1, one_ms_timer);
}
void comm_control(void);
{
char comm_reveier = serial_read;
if (
)
}
void timers(void)
{
if (millis() > (ms_runtime + 1))
{
ms_runtime = ms_runtime + 1;
one_ms_timer++;
}
else if (ms_runtime > millis())
ms_runtime = millis();
if (one_ms_timer > 99) //every 100 ms
{
one_ms_timer = 0;
button_dbnc_tmr++;
timer1++;
}
}

Answer 1

Load the Standard Firmata library on your Arduino board. Then use a library of your choice to build your comm prog. An overview of these can be found here.

Answer 2

Assuming you are using the Arduino IDE, this code sample should give you the general idea of what you need to do:
// pins for the LEDs:
const int ledPin = 13;
// Default blink rate
int rate = 1000;
void setup() {
// initialize serial:
Serial.begin(9600);
// make the pins outputs:
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
// if there's any serial available, read it:
while (Serial.available() > 0) {
// look for the next valid integer in the incoming serial stream:
int rate = Serial.parseInt();
}
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(rate); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
delay(rate); // wait for a second
}