ACTOHOST.HTM

1. ACTO RS-232 COMMUNICATION CHANNEL

The ACTO analyser is a master processor: this means that the interface functions are controlled by the ACTO analyser only when it is in the specific state in the menu tree.Moreover, in the current release ACTO is not sending error codes to the PC because the PC is a slave unit used only as remote terminal and disk unit.

The ACTO analyser has two modes of working through the serial port:

- RS-232 consolle mode

- Host-computer link mode

The RS-232 consolle mode allows to use a PC, with the ACTOPC software, as a remote terminal of the ACTO. Il allows to store and to read work-list and method files in the PC. In this case, the RS-232 link is set by default to:

57600 Baud

8 Bits

1 Stop bit

No parity

In the host-computer link mode, the communication between the ACTO and the host-computer follows a binary frame protocol described in the following pages. The RS-232 link with the host-computer is set to:

Baud rate: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 57600

8 Bits

1 Stop bit

No parity

The working mode is set in the SERVICE MENU, EDIT PARAMETERS (F5, F1):

Printer mode (0=int./1=ext.PC/2=ext.loc.):p:

Remote consolle enable (0=no, 1=yes) :c:

Baud rate (for host computer only) :bbbbb:

c: 0 for host-computer mode

1 for RS-232 consolle mode

bbbb: selectable baud-rate, only for host-computer mode

300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 57600

THE RS-232 CABLE

THE 25-M TO 9-F ADAPTOR

ACTO

Analyser DB25-M

DESCR.

RS-232 DB25-F

RS-232 DB25-M

DESCR.

RS-232 DB9-F

TXD

RXD

CTS

DTR

GND

RXD

TXD

DTR

CTS

GND

RXD

TXD

DTR

CTS

GND

2. RS-232 HANDSHAKES

The ACTO CTS input signal (pin 5) enables ACTO transmission .

The ACTO DTR output signal (pin 20) enables PC transmission.

3. DEFINED CONSTANTS

MAXMET 32 Number of on-line chemistries on ACTO

MAXMET2 64 Total number of chemistries on ACTO (32+32)

NSAMPLES 63 Total number of samples (patients on ACTO)

NPATIENTS 463 Total number of patients on PC files

DATA STRUCTURES

4. SAMPLES STRUCTURE

Record length: 512 bytes

FIELD

TYPE

LENGTH

bytes

DESCRIPTION

Code

PcRecord

Urgency

Tests

Test2

Results

Cognome

Nome

Nascita

Sesso

AddrVia

AddrCap

AddrCitta

AddrProv

Telefono

Descr1

Descr2

Descr3

Spare

13 char

1 int

1 u.char

8 u.char

64 float

20 char

3 char

1 char

30 char

6 char

20 char

10 char

12 char

30 char

12 char

256

Sample ID code/name

Pointer to PC pat. file record

Urgency flag (0/NZ)

64 bit-fields for 32+32 tests

64 bit-flags for test executed

64 results of 4-byte IEEE float

Patient Family Name

First Name

Date of Birth

Sex

Address

Post Code

Town

Province/State

Telephone number

Description 1 Field

Description 2 Field

Description 3 Field

Spare

ACTO patients: array of NSAMPLES sample records

Pc patients: array of NPATIENTS sample records

ACTO.PT2 Patients file: NPATIENTS records of 512 = 237056 bytes

Initialization value of results: -99999999999.999 = null result

5. METHODS STRUCTURE

Pos

FIELD

TYPE

LENGTH

bytes

DESCRIPTION

----

128

Type

Filters

IncTime

IncTime2

StabTime

MeasTime

NStd

NCtls

Flags

--------

ReagPos

NWash

StdPos

CtlPos

SampVol

ReagVol

Reag2Vol

DilFlag

Unit

Factor

ValStd

BlankMin

BlankMax

MinVal

MaxVal

LinVal

Spare

Dilution

DepLimit

Name

Code

IncTime3

Reag3Vol

CalcMode

MinCtl1

MaxCtl1

Curve Std

Curve OD

u.int

int

byte

-----

byte

int

byte

float

-----

float

char

int

byte

float

----

Method Type

Method Filters

Incubation Time

Reagent 2 Incubation Time

Stabilization Time

Measure Time

N. of Standards

N. of Controls

bit0: Blanks used in calc.

bit1: Factors automat.stored

Reagent Position

N. of Washes

Position of Standard

Position of Control

Sample Volume

Reagent Volume

Reagent 2 Volume

Predilution 0=no/1=dil/2=dil+recalc

Unit

Factor

Value of the Standard

Minimum value of the Blank

Maximum value of the Blank

Min. Test Limit Value

Max. Test Limit Value

Linearity Value

------------------------------------

Dilution Rate

Substrate Depletion Limit

Method Name

Method Code

Reagent 3 incubation time

Reagent 3 volume

1=lin.regr/2=polilinear/3=cubic spl.

Not used

8 floats Curve Standard Value

8 floats Curve Optical Density

Total

160

Array of MAXMET2 method elements. Record length: 160 bytes

For field description, see METHOD FIELDS page M-4

6. PROFILES

Array of 4 char: every profile is defined by 32 bit-fields

Profiles[16][4]

7. METHODS FILE

- Methods 64 x 160 = 10240 bytes

- Profiles 16 x 4 = 64 bytes

- File length 10304 bytes

COMMANDS TO PC

8. BASIC COMMANDS TO PC

BASIC COMMANDS TO PC

DURING

EXEC.

USED BY MACRO COMMAND

SEND A METHOD

SEND PROFILES

WRITE METHODS REQUEST

RECEIVE A METHOD

RECEIVE PROFILES

READ METHODS REQUEST

READ WORKLIST REQUEST

RECEIVE MODE

RECEIVE A PATIENT

SEND A PATIENT

SEND MODE

SEND A RESULT

WRITE A PATIENT REQUEST

READ A PATIENT REQUEST

SEND KINETIC BUFFER

YES

SEND METHODS

LOAD METHODS

LOAD WORK-LIST

SEND ACTO-CREATED PATIENTS

SEND RESULTS

9. MACRO COMMANDS TO PC

MACRO COMMANDS TO PC

REMOTE CONSOLLE ENABLED

R.C.DISABLED

SEND METHODS

RECEIVE METHODS

LOAD WORK-LIST

SEND ACTO PATIENTS

SEND RESULTS

CHEMISTRIES MENU F3 F1

CHEMISTRIES MENU F3 F2

WORK-LIST MENU F2

RESULTS MENU F3 F2

RESULTS MENU F3 F1/F2

F6 F1

F6 F2

F6 F3

F6 F4

F6 F5

When the remote consolle is disabled (0) in EDIT PARAMETERS (User manual SERVICE S-2), the HOST can use the macro commands from all the high-level menus (MAIN, WORK-LIST, CHEMISTRIES, RESULTS, SERVICE) with the F6 Fn command (see upper table).

10. BASIC COMMANDS PROTOCOL

Where defined, the checksum is calculated as the unsigned integer (modulo 16 bits) sum of all the concerned bytes, seen as unsigned integers.

Communication codes:

ESC = 1BH

NO_ERROR ACK = 06H

ERROR NACK = 15H

SEND METHODS FROM ACTO TO PC

11. SEND A METHOD

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_METHOD

PC < ACTO byte Method Number (1 ... MAXMET2)

PC < ACTO byte nn = length in bytes of Method structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO nn bytes of data (Method structure)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

12. SEND PROFILES

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_PROFILES

PC < ACTO int (lsb-msb) nn = length in bytes of Profiles structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO nn bytes of data (Profiles structure)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

13. WRITE METHODS REQUEST

PC < ACTO ESC

PC < ACTO WRITE_METHODS

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

SEND METHODS FROM PC TO ACTO

14. READ METHODS REQUEST

PC < ACTO ESC

PC < ACTO READ_METHODS

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

15. RECEIVE A METHOD

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO RECEIVE_METHOD

PC < ACTO byte Method Number (1 ... MAXMET2)

PC < ACTO byte nn = length in bytes of Method structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC > ACTO nn bytes of data (Method structure)

PC > ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn data bytes

16. RECEIVE PROFILES

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO RECEIVE_PROFILES

PC < ACTO int (lsb-msb) nn = length in bytes of Profiles structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC > ACTO nn bytes of data (Profiles structure)

PC > ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn data bytes

SEND WORK-LIST FROM PC TO ACTO

17. READ WORKLIST REQUEST

PC < ACTO ESC

PC < ACTO READ_WORKLIST

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

18. RECEIVE MODE

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO RECEIVE_MODE

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC > ACTO 3 bytes of Date dd/mm/yy (yy = year - 1900)

PC > ACTO byte select panel: 0 for Panel 1, 1 for Panel 2

PC > ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the 4 data bytes

19. RECEIVE A PATIENT

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO RECEIVE_PAT

PC < ACTO byte Patient Number (1 ... NSAMPLES)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) nn length in bytes of Patient structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC > ACTO nn bytes of data (Patient structure)

PC > ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn + 2 bytes

(2 bytes struct.length + nn bytes data)

SEND ACTO PATIENTS FROM ACTO TO PC

20. SEND A PATIENT

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_PAT

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) Patient number on PC (1 ... NPATIENTS)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) nn length in bytes of Patient structure

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO nn bytes of data (Patient structure)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the nn + 4 bytes

(2 b. pat.number + 2 b. struct.length + nn bytes data)

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

SEND RESULTS FROM ACTO TO PC

21. SEND MODE

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_MODE

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO 3 bytes of Date dd/mm/yy (yy = year - 1900)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the 3 data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

22. READ A PATIENT REQUEST

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO READ_PATIENT

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO int (lsb-msb) Patient PC Number (1 ... NPATIENTS)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the 2 data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

23. WRITE A PATIENT REQUEST

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO WRITE_PATIENT

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO int (lsb-msb) Patient PC Number (1 ... NPATIENTS)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the 2 data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

24. SEND A RESULT

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_RESULT

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO int (lsb-msb) Patient Number (1 ... NPATIENTS)

PC < ACTO byte Method Number (1 ... MAXMET2)

PC < ACTO byte Write Mode (0=no write req, NZ=write req)

PC < ACTO float (lsb-msb) Result

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the 8 data bytes

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

25. SEND KINETIC BUFFER

Maximum length of the buffer is KINE_LEN.

PC < ACTO ESC

ACTO flushes the serial input

PC < ACTO SEND_KINE_BUFF

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR (if ERROR, abort)

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) Buffer length (nn bytes)

PC < ACTO nn/4 float (4 bytes lsb-msb) Optical Densities Array

PC < ACTO int (lsb - msb) checksum of the (2 + nn) bytes

(2 bytes buffer length + nn bytes of data)

PC > ACTO NO_ERROR/ERROR

MACRO COMMANDS TO PC

26. SEND METHODS FROM ACTO TO PC

@ row 1: "DUMP METHODS FROM ANALYSER TO PC"

Loop from method 1 to method MAXMET2:

@ row 2: "Meth. xx"

SEND A METHOD xx

Abort on error

@ row 3: "Profiles"

SEND PROFILES

Abort on error

@ row 4: "Disk write"

WRITE METHODS REQUEST

@ row 6: On error: "Transmission error"

27. LOAD METHODS FROM PC TO ACTO

@ row 1: "LOAD METHODS FROM PC TO ANALYSER"

@ row 2: "Disk read"

READ METHODS REQUEST

Loop from method 1 to method MAXMET2:

@ row 3: "Meth. xx"

RECEIVE A METHOD xx

Abort on error

@ row 4: "Profiles"

RECEIVE PROFILES

Abort on error

@ row 6: On error: "Receive error"

Else: "Do you want to save permanently (0 = no, 1 = yes) ?"

28. LOAD WORK-LIST FROM PC

@ row 9: "Work-list loading"

RECEIVE MODE

Abort on error

@ row 10: "Disk read"

READ WORKLIST REQUEST

Abort on error

Loop from patient 1 to NSAMPLES:

@ row 11: "xx"

RECEIVE A PATIENT xx

Abort on error

@ row 13: If no-error "Work-list loading completed"

else "Computer not connected"

else "Receive error"

29. SEND ACTO PATIENTS TO PC

@ row 9: "Transmit ACTO-created patients to PC"

Loop from patient 1 to NSAMPLES:

@ row 11: "xx"

SEND A PATIENT xx

Abort on error

@ row 14: If no-error "Transmission completed"

else "Computer not connected"

else "Transmission error"

30. SEND RESULTS TO PC

@ row 9: "Transferring results"

SEND MODE

Abort on error

Loop from patient 1 to NSAMPLES:

@ row 18: "xx"

READ A PATIENT REQUEST

Loop on existing results:

SEND A RESULT patient xx, method mm

Abort on error

WRITE A PATIENT REQUEST

@ row 20: If no-error "Transmission completed",

else "Computer not connected",

else "Transfer error patient xx"

31. BASIC COMMANDS HEX CODES

Hex Code

Command

ESC + 80H

ESC + 81H

ESC + 82H

ESC + 84H

ESC + 85H

ESC + 87H

ESC + 88H

ESC + 89H

ESC + 8AH

ESC + 8BH

ESC + 8CH

ESC + 8DH

ESC + 8EH

ESC + 8FH

ESC + 90H

ESC + 91H

SEND_KINE_BUFF

SEND_METHOD

SEND_PROFILES

RECEIVE_METHOD

RECEIVE_PROFILES

WRITE_METHODS

READ_METHODS

RECEIVE_PAT

SEND_RESULT

RECEIVE_MODE

SEND_PAT

SEND_MODE

READ_WORKLIST

WRITE_WORKLIST

WRITE_PATIENT

READ_PATIENT

32. KEYBOARD FUNCTION KEYS

Hex Code	Function key
E0H	F1
E1H	F2
E2H	F3
E3H	F4
E4H	F5
E5H	F6
E6H	F7
E7H	F8
E8H	F9
E9H	F10