Software interface

Anybus CompactCom 40-series, Software Application Interface

The CompactCom 40 series software interface is designed to be network protocol independent, allowing the host application to support all major networking systems using the same software driver, without loss of functionality.

To provide flexibility and room for expansion, an object oriented addressing scheme is used between the host application and the Anybus module. This allows for a very deep level of integration.

Anybus CompactCom 40-serie Software architecture

The software interface of the CompactCom provides a structured way to access:

• Process & Parameter Data Exchange
• Device diagnostics
• Network and system events
• File exchange

Anybus host application software driver

To speed up the development process, HMS supplies free source level (C-language) software drivers. These drivers act as “glue” between the Anybus module and the host application, thus separating low level communication tasks from the host software environment.

The driver is designed to exploit the flexibility and versatility of the Anybus CompactCom host interface concept to a maximum. A layered software approach provides a high level of abstraction towards the host system, and multiple messages can be buffered and handled simultaneously.

Anybus CompactCom Driver model

The Driver supports parallel, SPI and serial host applications interfaces, and can either be polled cyclically or operate as an interrupt driven service. Potential targets include high performance applications which need a high degree of network functionality and flexibility
The driver requires porting to the host system environment

File Exchange

The modules of Anybus CompactCom 40 series have a built-in file system. It is accessed from the network using FTP. The host application can read and write files in the system via API calls to the driver.
In addition to the general storage and exchange of files and data between the network and the host application, the file system contains three predefined and reserved folders.

Anybus CompactCom File exchange

• Virtual File Systeem (VFS)
  VFS supports the storage of files and data that is used by the module itself. This directory includes for example the web pages presented when the module is approached by a browser.
• Application
  This folder provides access to the optional 'external' file system within the host application. The physical file storage and management is handeled by the host application via the driver.
• Firmware
  This folder is reserved for the storage of firmware updates.

Protocols that do not support FTP have no direct access to the file system. In this case, an application-specific solutions can be implemented, with a specific protocol format, getting aacces to the file system via the host application. This is in any case necessary if on-line downloading of firmware is important.