iv
Asynchronous and Synchronous Communications 11
Word Formats 12
Bit Rate and Baud Rate 13
System Support for Low-level Protocols 14
The Format 15
The Need for Accurate Timing 15
Autodetecting the Bit Rate 17
Autodetecting a COM Port 18
Binary Data 18
Text Data 19
ASCII Hex 22
Application-specific Protocols 24
!
Flow Control 26
Buffers 27
Event-driven Programming and Polling 28
Acknowledgments 29
Error Checking 29
"
Device Manager 31
Port Resources 36
Serial Servers 37
"
Drivers 38
Identifying Ports 39
GUIDs for COM Ports 39
COM Port Numbering 40
INF Files 40
Options for Application Programming 41