buffer address 2 contains a zero or
Please note that a short packet may contain between 1 and 253 data bytes, while a long packet may contain between 257 and 508 data bytes. A minimum value of 257 exists on a long packet so that the COUNT is expressable in eight bits. This leaves three exception packet lengths which do not fit into either a short or long packet; packet lengths of 254, 255, or 256 bytes. If packets of these lengths must be sent, the user must add dummy bytes to the packet in order to make the packet fit into a long packet.
Once the packet is written into the buffer, the microcontroller awaits a logic "1" on the TA bit, indicating that a previous transmit command has concluded and another may be issued.
Each time the message is loaded and a transmit command issued, it will take a variable amount of time before the message is transmitted, depending on the traffic on the network and the location of the token at the time the transmit command was issued. The conclusion of the Transmit Command will generate an interrupt if the Interrupt Mask allows it. If the device is configured for the Command Chaining operation, please see the Command Chaining section for further detail on the transmit sequence. Once the TA bit becomes a logic "1",
the microcontroller may issue the "Enable Transmit from Page fnn" command, which resets the TA and TMA bits to logic "0". If the message is not a BROADCAST, the COM20020 automatically sends a FREE BUFFER ENQUIRY to the destination node in order to send the message. At this point, one of four possibilities may occur.
The first possibility is if a free buffer is available at the destination node, in which case it responds with an ACKnowledgement. At this point, the COM20020 fetches the data from the Transmit Buffer and performs the transmit sequence. If a successful transmit sequence is completed, the TMA bit and the TA bit are set to logic "1". If the packet was not transmitted successfully, TMA will not be set. A successful transmission occurs when the receiving node responds to the packet with an ACK. An unsuccessful transmission occurs when the receiving node does not respond to the packet.
The second possibility is if the destination node responds to the Free Buffer Enquiry with a Negative AcKnowledgement. A NAK occurs when the RI bit of the destination node is a logic "1". In this case, the token is passed on from the transmitting node to the next node. The next time the transmitter receives the token, it will again transmit a FREE BUFFER ENQUIRY. If a NAK is again received, the token is again passed onto the next node. The Excessive NAK bit of the Diagnostic Status Register is used to prevent an endless sending of FBE's andNAK's. If no limit of
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