I take it that you:

want to make a [b]project[/b] that allows you to [b]control[/b] a [b]web camera[/b] using an 8051 controller.

First of all, what kind of webcam will you use?

A parallel port camera might be a good choice. I bought an Alaris Weecam from Ebay.ca. USB data is more difficult to understand than Parallel port data.

The 8051 can directly work with RS-232 serial ports. If you want to use any other port, you must (modify the board you have, if any, and) add more components to the circuit board.

Also, with USB, speed can be a factor. If you don't want to worry about speed as much, go for a parallel port webcam and try to interface with it.

If you were to use an 8051 to control a web cam, you will need to understand the data format of the web cam. You need to know what bits it expects, and the order. You will most likely need to know the speed of the data transmission, and go in sync with it or depend on a clock that dictates the speed to the rest of the system, by pulsing logic highs and logic lows at fixed intervals.

Let me ask this. In what way would you want to control the webcam on an 8051?