4-12 Driver / Utility Specifications Rev.A
Confidential
Software standardizationWhen a device control object is created, it is necessary to choose the interface (API) between the
POS application software and the device control module. EPSON has joined an industry-wide
and worldwide effort to standardize and spread the use of APIs. The standardized software
usesan OCX driver, which is modularized software divided into two lev els: the Control Object
(CO) and Service Object (SO).
A separate CO exists for each class of device, while a separate SO exists for each individual
device. For example, software that uses a TM-U950 needs a general POS printer CO and a
specific TM-U950 SO. If the TM-U950 printer were replaced by a TM-U375 printer, the TM-
U950SO would have to be replaced by a TM-U375 SO, but the rest of the software, including the
POS printer CO would remain the same. In ot her words, to switch from one printer to an other
requires only a change in the SO.
EPSON softwareThe software products (OCX drivers) that EPSON offers to enable such an OPOS system are
called the EPSON OPOS ADK. The EPSON OPOS ADK provides the OCX driver and much
more. EPSON also provides custom tools to support the construction and developmen t of an
OPOS application software development environment.