Here's a question guys!

I have never worked with any application which comminicates with "the outside world".

I've been tasked with investigating a project which will do a load of data collecting and analysis (no problem so far) and then "broadcast" some of it across an "intranet" made up of about 40 computers with the instructions that I should use the TCP/IP protocol.

Now i'm guessing that Winsock will be involved here, but before I launch myself into massive research what i'm really looking for is a little help on the PROCEDURES involved.

The data being "broadcast" can be converted to any necessary format.

The problem is that different computers on the Intranet will want/need slightly different parts of the data. (Is any of this making sense).

Here's an analogy...

The "host" computer will be monitoring the company coffee machines and recording every cup of coffee bought and by whom.

Then each computer on the Intranet will enquire as to what it's "owner" has purchased through the day.

It will be a "real-time" application and data will be requested around every 5-10 seconds by the "slave" machines.

Can someone give me an idea of where to start on this. I don't want to waste a load of time going down completely the wrong road.

Where should I be looking guys!!!!

Thanx in advance.


Pigmy


ps. I hope this made at least SOME sense to somebody!!!!