User's Manual

XTend™RFModule‐ProductManual
©2013DigiInternatonal,Inc. 41
API Operation
By default, XTend RF Modules act as a serial line replacement (Transparent Operation) - all UART
data received through the DI pin is queued up for RF transmission. When the module receives an
RF packet, the data is sent out the DO pin with no additional information.
Inherent to Transparent Operation are the following behaviors:
• If module parameter registers are to be set or queried, a special operation is required for
transitioning the module into Command Mode [refer to p17].
• In point-to-multipoint systems, the application must send extra information so that the
receiving module(s) can distinguish between data coming from different remotes.
As an alternative to the default Transparent Operation, API (Application Programming Interface)
Operations are available. API operation requires that communication with the module be done
through a structured interface (data is communicated in frames in a defined order). The API
specifies how commands, command responses and module status messages are sent and received
from the module using a UART data frame.
API Frame Specifications
Two API modes are supported and both can be enabled using the AP (API Enable) command. Use
the following AP parameter values to configure the module to operate in a particular mode:
• AP = 0 (default): Transparent Operation (UART Serial line replacement)
API modes are disabled.
•AP = 1: API Operation
•AP = 2: API Operation (with escaped characters)
Any data received prior to the start delimiter is silently discarded. If the frame is not received
correctly or if the checksum fails, the data is silently discarded.
API Operation (AP parameter = 1)
When this API mode is enabled (AP = 1), the UART data frame structure is defined as follows:
Figure3‐01. UARTDataFrameStructure:
MSB=MostSignificantByte,LSB=LeastSignificantByte
API Operation - with Escape Characters (AP parameter = 2)
When this API mode is enabled (AP = 2), the UART data frame structure is defined as follows:
Figure3‐02. UARTDataFrameStructure‐withescapecontrolcharacters:
MSB=MostSignificantByte,LSB=LeastSignificantByte
Escape characters. When sending or receiving a UART data frame, specific data values must be
escaped (flagged) so they do not interfere with the UART or UART data frame operation. To escape
an interfering data byte, insert 0x7D and follow it with the byte to be escaped XOR’d with 0x20.
Start Delimiter
(Byte 1)
Length
(Bytes 2-3)
Frame Data
(Bytes 4-n)
Checksum
(Byte n + 1)
0x7E MSB LSB API-specific Structure 1 Byte
Start Delimiter
(Byte 1)
Length
(Bytes 2-3)
Frame Data
(Bytes 4-n)
Checksum
(Byte n + 1)
0x7E MSB LSB API-specific Structure 1 Byte
Characters Escaped If Needed