Posting Data to Server Via http Request

Introduction

In the ever-expanding world of IoT (Internet of Things), the ability to connect devices to the internet and allow them to send data to a web server is essential for creating dynamic, interactive systems. Whether you’re building a smart home, a remote monitoring system, or an automated device, HTTP requests are key to enabling communication between your devices and servers. This tutorial will walk you through a simple project where you will learn how to post data from the Blink Board to a server. Along the way, we’ll explore key concepts like Wi-Fi connectivity, HTTP requests, and working with web servers.

By the end of this guide, you will have the knowledge to create your own IoT devices capable of interacting with a web server. With this foundation, you can expand your project to send actual sensor data, control devices remotely, or build more complex systems.

Objectives

• Connecting the Blink Board to a Wi-Fi network
  Learn how to connect the Blink Board to your Wi-Fi, enabling it to access the internet.
• Understanding HTTP Requests
  Understand how to send HTTP requests to interact with a server.
• Setting Up a Simple Web Server
  Learn how to set up a basic server that will receive data from your Blink Board.
• Controlling Outputs Remotely
  Control digital outputs (e.g., LEDs, motors) remotely through commands sent to the server.

Hardware Requirements

• Blink Board (or a compatible microcontroller such as ESP8266/ESP32)
• LCD Display (to display status updates from the server)
• 12V/24V Power Supply (depending on the power requirements of your setup)
• FTDI Adapter (to upload code to your Blink Board)

Circuit Diagram

CONNECTING 20by4 I2C LCD WITH BLINKBOARD

Lcd will show

The first step is to connect your Blink Board to a Wi-Fi network. This will allow the board to send data to the internet and interact with the web server.After successfully connecting to the internet, you will get an Ip address which you will type in your browser

Understand HTTP Requests

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the protocol that underpins communication between clients (like your Blink Board) and web servers. When you create an IoT device that needs to interact with a web service or remote server, HTTP requests are the method by which your device can send and receive data. Whether you’re fetching data from a server, posting new information, or controlling remote devices, HTTP is the backbone of this communication.

HTTP requests typically follow a client-server model, where:

The server processes that request and sends back an HTTP response.

The client (Blink Board) sends an HTTP request to the server.

• GET: Used to retrieve data from the server.
• POST: Used to send data to the server

This project demonstrates how to handle an HTTP GET request and send a response back to the client.It introduces you to the basics of IoT and how to interact with a web server using the Blink Board. You learned how to connect to Wi-Fi, send HTTP requests, and use a simple server to control outputs. This foundation opens the door to countless applications, from remote device control to data logging, automation and a momentary switch.

With this basic understanding, you can now start building more advanced IoT systems, integrating sensors, and adding more functionalities to your projects.