Journal Articles
| Browse in : |
All
> Journals
> CVu
> 012
(9)
|
Note: when you create a new publication type, the articles module will automatically use the templates user-display-[publicationtype].xt and user-summary-[publicationtype].xt. If those templates do not exist when you try to preview or display a new article, you'll get this warning :-) Please place your own templates in themes/yourtheme/modules/articles . The templates will get the extension .xt there.
Title: C Programmers Guide To Serial Communications
Author: Martin Moene
Date: 20 June 2010 08:52:00 +01:00 or Sun, 20 June 2010 08:52:00 +01:00
Summary:
Body:
C Programmers Guide To Serial Communications
From ASCII to XMODEM, via KERMIT!
by Joe Campbell. Howard W. Sams & Co. ISBN:0-672-22584-0 $22.95
Review by Martin Houston.
As the title suggests this is a book for anybody interested in serial (RS232) communications from a programmers or technically literate users point of view. The book starts with actually explaining fundamental principles of serial communication such as the ASCII character set and principles of serial communication. Joe Campbell has a great knowledge of his subject and presents reasons why things are the way they are rather than just dry facts. This approach makes even 'dull' parts of the subject interesting reading.
This 655 page book covers just about everything anyone would need to know about RS232 serial communications on microcomputers. I found the history of serial technology fascinating. The whole business of MARK, SPACE, START & STOP is made much clearer when the historical development of the concepts is properly traced (and it is historical - serial communications is based on ideas little different from 100 years ago!).
The Xmodem & Kermit protocols are explained and special attention is given to explaining error checking such as CRC. The book covers what the pins on an RS232 interface actualy do and fully documents the entire Hayes Smartmodem command set.
On the C programming side the book concentrates on the design & implementation of a terminal emulation & file transfer program. The program is designed to be portable - communicating with the serial hardware through a 'virtual UART'. A listing of the complete program suitable for the IBM PC is provided in an Appendix of the book.
In conclusion this book is a mine of very useful information about serial communications & how to program them. It is very readable and a worthy addition to any C programmers library.
Notes:
More fields may be available via dynamicdata ..