Share the GPS using GpsTools and GpsGate

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License	Pro + GpsGate OEM
Version	GpsTools 2.20 (or later) GpsGate 1.10 (or later)

Share the GPS using GpsTools and GpsGate

GpsTools and GpsGate enables you to write GPS applications that can run at the same time as other applications sharing one signle GPS. This can be very useful when for example developing an application that is a complement to a mapping or navigation program.

You can think of GpsGate as a program that turns a GPS into a shared "multi-GPS" and you can think of GpsTools as a toolkit for programmers who want to develop their own GPS applications in Visual Studio.

The standard way to access a GPS is by using a serial port. GpsGate provides virtual serial ports which emulates GPS receivers. Applications connecting to those virtual ports think they have connected to a real GPS (exclusivly).

GpsTools can make use of GpsGate in a very clever way. It can detect if GpsGate is installed and use GpsGate in that case. For detailed information on how this is done see NmeaParser.PortEnabled (Method 4 - GpsGate Direct and Method 1 - Auto detection).

GpsTools uses GpsGate API to start GpsGate and get access to GPS data, this is done without any use of virtual serial ports. This takes away some configuration from the end user and makes the whole solution simpler to use and more robust.

Note that GpsTools handles all calls to GpsGate API. Applications that wants to use GpsGate without GpsTools can do that by accessing GpsGate API directly, or by using the virtual serial ports created by GpsGate.

GpsTools can be used to acces GPS data from a normal HTML page in Internet Explorer. In this case it is particular well suited to use GpsGate, since it enables several opened browser windows to share the GPS at the same time.

The end user must also have a valid GpsGate license or your application must call License.GateLicense to install a valid GpsGate Express license.

You can bundle your application based on GpsTools Pro with GpsGate Express for a low fixed price. Using this solution your application can co-exist with other GPS applications and run at the same time using the same GPS. This will be experienced as a great benefit to your users/customers.

GpsGate Express has two virtual ports which any 3rd party GPS application can connect to. And GpsGate API, which any number of GpsTools based or other GpsGate API enabled application can connect to. In most cases this means you can share the same GPS with two other GPS applications. For an unlimited number of virtual ports GpsGate Standard is required.

Distribution GpsGate must be installed as a separate application on the end users computer/device. Those links can be used for the latest version of GpsGate:

Windows:
http://franson.biz/gpsgate/download.asp?section=oem&partner=generic&platform=winxp

Pocket PC:
http://franson.biz/gpsgate/download.asp?section=oem&partner=generic&platform=ppc

More reading:
Pricing for Pro + GpsGate OEM license
GpsGate Express features
NmeaParser.PortEnabled
License.GateLicense

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