User guide

Application Device
A LONWORKS device that runs an ISO/IEC 14908-1 application (OSI Layer 7). The application may
run on a Neuron Chip or Smart Transceiver, in which case the device is called a “Neuron hosted”
device.
Application Image
Device firmware that consists of the object code generated by the Neuron C compiler from the user’s
application program and other application-specific parameters, including the following:
• Network variable fixed and self-identification data
• Network variable device interface data
• Program ID string
• Optional self-identification and self-documentation data
• Number of address table entries
• Number of domain table entries
• Number and size of network buffers
• Number and size of application buffers
• Number of receive transaction records
• Input clock speed of target Neuron Chip or Smart Transceiver
• Transceiver type and bit rate
Application Program
The software code in a L
ONWORKS device that defines how it functions. The application program,
also referred to as the application, may be in the device when you purchase it, or you may load it into
the device from application image files (.APB, .NDL, and .NXE extensions) using the LonMaker tool
or other network management tool. The application program interfaces with the ISO/IEC 14908-1
firmware to communicate over the network. It may reside completely in the Neuron Chip or Smart
Transceiver, or it may reside on an attached host processor (in a host-based device).
Binding
Process of connecting network variables. Binding creates logical connections (virtual wires) between
L
ONWORKS devices. Connections define the data that devices share with one another. Tables
containing binding information are stored in the device’s non-volatile memory, and may be updated by
the LonMaker tool or the ISI protocol.
Changeable-Type Network Variable
A network variable that has a type and length that can be changed to that of another network variable
type of equal or smaller size. You can use changeable-type network variables to implement generic
functional blocks that work with different types of inputs and outputs.
Channel
The physical media between devices upon which the devices communicate. The ISO/IEC 14908-1
protocol is media independent; therefore, numerous types of media can be used for channels: twisted
pair, power line, fiber optics, IP, and RF, and other types.
Commissioning
The process in which the LonMaker tool or other network management tool downloads network and
application configuration data into a physical device. For devices whose application programs are not
contained in ROM, the network management tool also downloads the application program into
non-volatile RAM in the device. Devices are usually either commissioned and tested one at a time, or
commissioned and then brought online and tested incrementally.
22 Appendix A – Glossary