Creating Webservice for h/w interfaced windows application

[deegeorge]

Hi,

I have a VB.NET windows application that uses a modem to Send and Receive SMS real time. This executable is constantly running, and it uses the COM port to which the modem is connected as a part of its resource. The Send SMS feature/function of the executable needs to be exposed as a web service. The problem I am facing at present is that the webservice cannot access the same COM port since the executable is already using it. Is there a way for the service to access the resources of the executable so that the same COM port can be used by both the applications?
I would be very grateful for any suggestions on how to solve this, as this issue needs to be resolved at the earliest.
Thanks in advance

Regards,
Meera