Serial reading in multiple bytes and integer values

serial_read_integers.ino

/*
http://www.baldengineer.com/blog/2012/07/30/arduino-multi-digit-integers/
 
 */
unsigned int controllerInputVal=0;  // Max value is 65535
char incomingByte;
char controllerInput;

void setup()
{
  // start serial port at 9600 bps:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for Leonardo only
  }

  pinMode(2, INPUT);   // digital sensor is on digital pin 2
  //  establishContact();  // send a byte to establish contact until receiver responds 
}

void loop()
{

}

/*
  SerialEvent occurs whenever a new data comes in the
 hardware serial RX.  This routine is run between each
 time loop() runs, so using delay inside loop can delay
 response.  Multiple bytes of data may be available.
 */
void serialEvent() {

  if (Serial.available() > 0) {   // something came across serial
    controllerInputVal = 0;         // throw away previous integerValue
    controllerInput = '0';
    int byteCount = 0;

    while(1) {            // force into a loop until 'n' is received
      incomingByte = Serial.read();
      byteCount++;

      if (incomingByte == '\n') break;   // exit the while(1), we're done receiving
      if (incomingByte == -1) continue;  // if no characters are in the buffer read() returns -1

      if (byteCount == 1) {
        controllerInput = (char) incomingByte; 
      } 
      else {
        controllerInputVal *= 10;  // shift left 1 decimal place
        controllerInputVal = ((incomingByte - 48) + controllerInputVal);  // convert ASCII to integer, add, and shift left 1 decimal place
      }
    }

    setController(controllerInput ,controllerInputVal);
  }

}

void setController(char input, int val) {
  Serial.print("controller val: ");
  Serial.println(input);
  Serial.println(val*2);   // Do something with the value
}

//
//void establishContact() {
//  while (Serial.available() <= 0) {
//    Serial.print('A');   // send a capital A
//    delay(300);
//  }
//}