Java VB communication

I have a system, where my VB program sends strings to a Java server. Now I have been using BufferedInputStream to read character form the socket. But I want to read the whole string sent my the VB program. How can I read the complete string sent by VB? I need something like DataInputStream which works perfectly for Java to Java communication. Currently, I send a special character after each string (in the VB program) so when the Java server get that charater it understands that a string has been completed. Now what I am thinking it that it won't work when multi machines are sending data to the same port. The java program might now get all charaters serially from the same PC. SO I need to get the whole string sent by the VB program. Any suggestions?

Hi Anam,
Welcome to javaranch, Please read our naming policy and re register with a proper name.

The naming policy is very confusing. It asked my username but also said something like ", name" after it. I wasn't sure if it wanted my username or my real name. Why not just povide another field for Real name? ALso why not modify the system so that we can edit profiles?
[This message has been edited by anam (edited November 15, 2001).]

When you click register you are taken to a page with
<center>
<h2>For your user name, use a first name,
a space and a last name.</h2>
No commas or underscores, and the last name must be more than one letter. Obviously fictitious names or improperly formatted names may be locked out.
</center>

You have to click accept to get the the profile form. How much clearer does this need to be?
[This message has been edited by Carl Trusiak (edited November 15, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Carl Trusiak (edited November 15, 2001).]