Hi there, this is a problem that has bugged me for a while, and with my limited knowledge in programing I have been unable to make a start at trying to make something here.

What i want is to make a web interface that I can use to control Windows Media Player 10 on a Multimedia PC in my home from a web browser on another device, for example my PSP.

I have tried several programs that work by running a server program on the multimedia PC with an accessible web interface from the web browser on the other device...

However, I would like to make a web page to run in my own webserver that I can completely code from scratch. (Maybe a PHP page?) that when accessed from my PSP (or other computer over the internet) will show my music/playlists/current playing track and allow me to pause/play/stop/previous track/next track the multimedia PC.

**I DO NOT WANT TO STREAM THE MEDIA ONTO THE PSP OR OTHER DEVICE**

I just want it to be a remote control, over the internet.

Could anybody possibly help me out with some code/tutorials/guides to get started? thanks

Any more details required just say so in a reply to this and i'll tell you what I can.

Hello.

There are a few ways to do it, but either way it's not the easiest task; since this is a Windows operating system, it would be best if you create an ASP.NET application that runs on IIS. This ASP.NET application can consume a web service you create. The web service can control the media player.

However, a web service might not be the simplest solution. If you're running the ASP.NET website from the same computer as the Windows Media Player, you can give sufficient access to ASP.NET to open WIndows applications and execute commands.

Here's a start on how to open that process: http://searchvb.techtarget.com/vsnetATEAnswers/0,293820,sid8_gci951948_tax293672,00.html

I don't think you will be able to use the existing Windows Media Player as it is. You will most likely need to create your own media player in C# using the WMP control. This will take you only a few hours. It doesn't need a GUI, just an interface that the ASP.NET application can interact with.

Hmm, this has gone above my head already. For a start I don't know what ASP.NET is compared to ASP, nor do I know what IIS is. I'm afraid my knowledge is limited somewhat in most areas of "programming" as I'm only a first year university student, I havn't yet started doing any real work, although i have played around somewhat with C++ at home i would require specific guidlines in order to help me with the basis of coding this. Unless anyone can provide that help i might have to put this into a permenant state of suspension. Thanks

How about upgrading to Window Media Center Edition and getting the remote control that comes with it?
Frances

I'm in the process of doing that, but I specifically want to control this via my PSP because of the range and also the detailed information it can return while not at the PC. Guess this is a losing battle, i'm not actually all that bothered about using it, it's more for the purposes of learning but would be nice if i got something to work too.

Excellent, thank you!

you might be able to use any of the bill's softwares to remote your pc via web browers.

 Have a look on this: www.pcanywehere.com

Regards

Liridon Shala

Hi. I was researching for a project and I stumbled upon this thread. I have a computer that performs and monitors tests on laptop computers (cpu time, battery life, etc.). The system for that is done but the client wants to be able to do these tests over the web with a web browser. He wants to be able to run new tests, monitor test progress, read logs, etc., pretty much everything that he can do with the existing system. Is Web Services the way to go? Is there a framework or libraries or other technologies specifically for this kind of system? I have no background in developing web service by the way. I hope someone can point me to the right direction. Thanks!

P.S. Bob Rother, the link you posted no longer exists. Do you remember the title of the article? Thanks.

It depends, as if you use a webservice, then you would have to decide if the user can access a global webservice i.e. on the internet somewhere, then the webservice would be able to control all the children (the laptop monitoring application) each child would wait for commands from the webservice, basically each child would either keep reading an xml feed or just listen on a certain port. then you would need to create a client for the webservice or the parent, the client would simply send commands to the webservice, and the webservice decides on what to do and forward the commands to the children or child.
Let me know if that doesnt make sense, or you want me too explain a little deeper.

Hi Adam, thanks for the prompt reply. Can you explain a little deeper as I still can't grasp how to implement this. Thanks.

This has gone a bit off topic of my original question so I am leaving this topic. If anyone has any more information on my original question, email me at  alias_neo_1[at]hotmail{dot}com. Bye and Thanks.