RF Software Development Kit (RF SDK)

RF Software Development Kit (RF SDK) is a programmer's tool for building RF data collection applications for PSC, Symbol, LXE, and Intermec, portable data terminals. Using any Windows development environment that supports ActiveX controls, you can develop sophisticated RF client/server applications using the TCP/IP protocol.

The RF SDK allows Visual Basic, Foxpro, PowerBuilder, and Access programmers the ability to rapidly develop RF based client/server applications for the PSC Falcon terminals. RF SDK uses the TCP/IP protocol to communicate between the server application running on the host and the included DOS client that runs on the Falcon terminal. RF SDK is designed to handle up to 50 RF terminals simultaneously per server. A Windows client is included to allow the developer to test the application quickly in a simulator environment. RF SDK supports all the popular radios including Cisco Aironet, Lucent's (Agere) Orinoco, Proxim's RangeLAN 2, and Symbol's Spectrum24.

With the RF SDK, programmers now have an easy way to implement RF solutions within their favorite development environment, thereby reducing learning curve and minimizing customer support time. An application developed with the RF SDK ActiveX controls will communicate with the DOS client software that resides on each Falcon RF terminal. The DOS client executable software is provided as part of the RF SDK (the TCP library for the Falcon terminal is also included).

A Windows client was created for testing purposes to simulate a DOS terminal communicating with the RF Server. Once testing and debugging are complete, your application can be loaded on the Falcon portable for final testing. This utility is a helpful aid for developers as it reduces testing time and minimizes hardware configuration for testing purposes.

Partial Listing of RF SDK Functions:

  • RF Server Controller:
    ListenForConnectionRequest:
    The ListenForConnectionRequest method is used to set the RF Server control in listen mode.
  • Controller Close:
    Sets the listen mode of the RF Controller to off. Client terminals will no longer be able to connect new sessions.

RF Server Application:

  • RF Display:
     After sending all the necessary commands to build the screen on the client terminal to the RFInitializeScreen structure, call RFDisplay. The client will receive this command and paint the screen with the completed structure.
  • RF Edit:
     After instructing the client on how to format the screen and how to terminate it, give control to the client for a response.
  • RF ScannerTextBox:
     Allows entry of data from the scanning device only (nRow As Integer, nCol As Integer, nLen As Integer, sText As string, sMask As String).
  • KeyboardTextBox:
     Allows entry of data from the keyboard only (nRow As Integer, nCol As Integer, nLen As Integer, sText As string, sMask As String).
  • ScannerKeyboardTextBox:
     Allows entry of data from the keyboard or scanner (nRow As Integer, nCol As Integer, nLen As Integer, sText As string, sMask As String).
  • RFSessionParseBuffer:
     Since there may be multiple responses buffered back to the application control from a screen we provide the RFSessionParse-Buffer method to extract various individual responses (Token As Integer, Buffer As String).
  • RFEnd:
    Terminates the client terminal connection.

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RF SDK Product Components

The RF SDK is made up of the following four components:

  • RF Server
    The RF Server is a Winsock compliant application. Its function is to listen for requests from any of the Falcon terminals. When one of the Falcons makes a request, the Server responds by starting a session for the application. From this point forward, all communication is between the application and the Falcon.
  • Server Application
    The Server Application provides you all the functions you need to send and receive data to and from a Falcon. When adding this Windows object into your development environment, it becomes your Radio Frequency Library. You can use its Properties, Methods and Events to design your client terminal screens for data collection.
  • DOS Based Client for Falcon
    The DOS based client handles the Falcon terminal interaction between the user and the application running on a Server. It is this ‘thin' client that makes the initial request for a connection to the Server and maintains the interaction with the Falcon terminal operator.
  • Windows Client
    Three Window's clients are included, all of which run on the PC Server. A Small Windows Client, Large Windows Client, and No-Keyboard Windows Client are provided to simulate different terminals. These Windows clients are used to quickly test and debug an application without having to load a Falcon terminal each cycle.

Product Configurations

  • RF SDK Developer Edition:
     This includes everything you need to create and test your application (includes RF Server and Windows client for testing).
  • RF SDK Run-time:
     A Run-time license is required for each server installation (site) and includes the RF Server and a five user client license for portable terminals.
  • Additional 5 User Client Licenses:
    Additional client licenses can be purchased in blocks of 5 users.

Terminal Compatibility

RF SDK is compatible with the entire PSC Falcon product line including the Falcon 615/655 vehicle mount terminals, and the Falcon 315/325/335 portable terminals. RF SDK also offers 3rd party terminal support for Intermec Janus, Antares; Symbol 3XXX, 6XXX; LXE 1320, 1380, 1390, 2325, 2330; Norand 6400.

RF Network Compatibility

RF SDK supports all the popular radios including BreezeCOM's BreezeNET PRO.11, Lucent's WaveLAN II, Proxim's RangeLAN 2, and Symbol's Spectrum24

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