Multi-Tech Systems BL-Series manual Flow Control Commands, Hardware Flow Control &E4

MultiModemBL User Guide

5.4.9Flow Control Commands

Flow control refers to the techniques used by computer devices to stop and restart the flow of data to and from each other. Flow control is necessary so that a device does not receive more data than it can handle. In the case of the MultiModem, there is a need for flow control in both directions. As illustrated on the next page, flow control for data passing from your computer to the modem is called Modem-Initiated Flow Control and flow control for data passing from the modem to your computer is called Computer/Terminal-Initiated Pacing.

The MultiModem supports both hardware and software Modem Initiated Flow Control. On the Computer/Terminal-Initiated Pacing side, it supports hardware and software flow control, and a special version used by Hewlett-Packard compatible systems called ENQ/ACK Pacing. The modem allows hardware and software pacing to be passed through the modem to the other end of the link so that your computer or terminal can control data start/stop activity through your modem.

This is called Xon/Xoff Pass-Through. To state it simply, “Flow Control” is something the modem does to the computer, while “Pacing” is something the computer does to the modem.

Modem-Initiated Flow Control

Modem	RS-232/V.24
	Data Flow

Computer

or

Terminal

Computer-Initiated Flow Control Pacing

Modem

RS-232/V.24

Data Flow

Computer

or

Terminal

Figure 5-2. Flow Control and Pacing

Hardware Flow Control &E4

With Hardware Flow Control, the modem uses its RS-232C interface to control the flow of data from the computer or terminal to which it is attached. The CTS (Clear to Send) signal on Pin 5 of the RS- 232C interface is brought low to stop the flow of data, and is brought high to restart it. When you select Hardware Flow Control as your Modem Initiated Flow Control method, you will also be selecting it for Pacing.

The difference between the two, however, is that Modem-Initiated Flow Control uses the Pin 5 CTS output signal, while Pacing uses the Pin 4 RTS input signal.

Modem commands are used to select the method of flow control used by the modem when its error correction capabilities are used. These commands are covered in Section 5.4.9. If neither method is selected, the modem defaults to no flow control (&E3).

Xon/Xoff Flow Control &E5

Xon/Xoff is the most commonly used method of flow control. Under this method, control characters known as “Xon” and “Xoff” are inserted by the modem into the data to start and stop the flow of data from the computer or terminal to which the modem is attached. Xoff, which is a Control-S, stops the flow of data, and Xon, which is a Control-Q, restarts it. With regard to Binary Data, Xon/Xoff flow control is not recommended because an Xoff character may be part of the data and would trigger an Xoff of the modem or software package, which would halt data flow.

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