RS232 Software Handshaking: xon/xoff / ext/ack

RS232 serial data can use software based handshaking in the form of XON / XOFF and EXT / ACK to control the data flow.

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Serial Data standards: Serial data standards RS422 RS449 RS485 20 mA current loop

The most common method of handshaking that is used with RS2332 is to employ the hard wired option. However it is also possible to use software codes embedded within the data, thereby saving the use of the additional lines required for hardware handshaking.

The RS232 software handshaking option is particularly useful for applications where data needs to be sent over telephone lines. Here it is possible to control the data flow simply using the data only and this makes it possible to send data without he need for the additional lines.

There may also be instances where it is more convenient to use software methods to effect the handshaking.

When implementing RS232 software handshaking two of the commonly used methods are XON/XOFF and EXT/ACK.

X-ON / X-OFF

The X-ON X-OFF operates by sending the control characters along the data line from the equipment receiving the data. The "X" in the name means "transmitter," so XON and XOFF are commands for switching a transmitter on or off, respectively.

When X-ON is received at the transmitting end data transmission is started.

Once the input buffer on the terminal or printer starts to become full the X-OFF character is sent to stop the data. When sufficient space appears in the buffer X-ON can be sent to the transmitter to resume the data flow.

The actual character or signal for XON is the same bit configuration as the ASCII Ctrl-Q keyboard combination. The XOFF character or signal is the Ctrl-S character.

EXT / ACK

A second method is called EXT/ACK. Using this method the data is separated into blocks and after each block has been sent the control code ETX is transmitted to show the end of this block of text.

Once the data has been accepted and there is sufficient space in the input buffer the ACK or acknowledgement control code is sent. Once this has been received, the next block of data is sent.

Other codes

Other codes are also used within what is effectively software control of an RS232 communications link. These codes are used for a variety of purposes from indicating tabs, form feeds as well as providing audible 'bell' warnings.

These codes are naturally focussed on some of the older teletypes that used two wire RS232 links.

Control Codes Names

RS232 Control Codes
Code Name	Function
NUL	Null (blank)
SOH	Start of header
STX	Start of text
ETX	End of text
EOT	End of transmission
ENQ	Enquiry
ACK	Acknowledgement
BEL	Bell (Audible)
BS	Backspace
HT	Horizontal tab
LF	Line feed
VT	Vertical tab
FF	Form feed
CR	Carriage return
SO	Shift out
SI	Shift in
DLE	Data link escape
DC1	Device control 1
DC2	Device control 2
DC3	Device control 3
DC4	Device control 4
NAK	Negative acknowledgement
SYN	Synchronous idle
ETB	End of transmission block
CAN	Cancel
EM	End of medium
SUB	Substitute
ESC	Escape
FS	File separator
GS	Group separator
RS	Record separator
US	Unit separator
DEL	Delete

Although not all of the codes are used these days because many are intended for use by the older teletype equipments, the same processes are valid for modern equipment. This set of codes are known as control codes, which even gives rise to the 'CTRL' key on today's keyboards. Additionally the idea of software handshaking, although it was not so widely used in the early days, is now well established and usually the preferred method of implementing control of communications systems in view of the flexibility offered by processors.