I see absolutely no problem with a student using the Internet to help with their education.

In exactly the same way that you or I would look for data sheets, application notes, other's experience or whatever for using some hardware chip.

After all, God invented Google for this very purpose. The student who can use every tool at her disposal is going to go far.

Yes, it is clearly a homework project. I would guess that it is a team project, and actually requires each member of the team to work together. Nobody here has given them ready-made solutions.

It will be very interesting to see the quality of the finished project (that Rajesh has promised to post in a few days time)

David.