Chapter 16 - Serial Endpoint Providers
This chapter describes how you can use serial endpoint providers to transfer data between devices connected to a modem or printer port. Open Transport supports asynchronous serial data communication between client applications through these ports. This chapter provides information about Open Transport functions and options that are specific to serial endpoint providers. You need this information only if you have a specific need to use serial communication.Serial endpoints provide low-level support for communicating with serial devices that cannot be accessed through the Communications Toolbox or Printing Manager; for example, a scientific instrument or a printer that does not support QuickDraw. Before you decide to use a serial endpoint, you should determine whether it is the appropriate solution for your communications needs.
To get the most out of this chapter, you should already be familiar with the concepts and application interfaces described in the chapters "Introduction to Open Transport," "Providers," "Endpoints," "Option Management," and "Configuration Management" in this book. For information about the Macintosh serial port hardware, including circuit diagrams and signal descriptions, see Guide to the Macintosh Family Hardware, second edition. The Open Transport serial interface software modules are based on the UNIX STREAMS standard. For more information about STREAMS, see UNIX System V Release 4: Programmer's Guide: STREAMS. The Open Transport API is based on the XTI standard as documented in X/Open CAE Specification: X/Open Transport Interface (XTI).
This chapter begins with a brief summary of key concepts in serial data communication, then describes how you can use serial endpoint providers to
The section "Using General Open Transport Functions With Serial Endpoints," beginning on page 16-14 describes serial-specific information relating to functions described in the "Endpoints" chapter of this book and the section "Using Options to Change Serial Communications Settings," beginning on page 16-11 describes the options you can specify when you configure a serial endpoint provider. The reference section describes those constants, options, and
- configure a serial port
- send and receive data through a serial port
- interpret serial communication status information
OTIoctlfunction commands available to users of Open Transport serial endpoint providers.
Chapter Contents
- About Serial Endpoint Providers
- About Serial Communication
- DTR and CTS Signals
- Asynchronous and Synchronous Communication
- Handshaking Methods for Flow Control
- Using Serial Endpoints
- Opening and Closing Serial Endpoints
- Sending and Receiving Data
- Using Serial-Specific Commands
- Using Options to Change Serial Communications Settings
- Setting Flow-Control Handshaking
- Obtaining Status Information About the Serial Port
- Using General Open Transport Functions With Serial Endpoints
- Obtaining Endpoint Data With Serial Endpoints
- Using Endpoint Functions With Serial Endpoints
- Serial Endpoint Providers Reference
- Constants
- Options
- Protocol Level
- Serial Options
- Serial-Specific Commands