Scribd
Upload
58 views11 pages

Communication Protocals

The document discusses various communication protocols used in embedded systems, including their types, advantages, and disadvantages. It describes inter-system protocols like USB, UART, and USART, as well as intra-system protocols such as I2C, SPI, and CAN.

Uploaded by

rcharle18
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
58 views11 pages

Communication Protocals

The document discusses various communication protocols used in embedded systems, including their types, advantages, and disadvantages. It describes inter-system protocols like USB, UART, and USART, as well as intra-system protocols such as I2C, SPI, and CAN.

Uploaded by

rcharle18
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Communication Protocols in Embedded

Systems
Types, Advantages & Disadvantages
Communication Protocols are a set of rules that allow two or
more communication systems to communicate data via any physical medium.
The rules, regulations, synchronization between communication systems,
syntax to be followed and semantics are all defined by the term protocol.
Protocols can be implemented by both hardware and software or combination
of both. Analog and digital communication systems use various
communication protocols widely. In addition, each protocol has its own
application area.

Communication Protocols in Embedded Systems


Embedded System is an electronic system or device which employs both
hardware and software. A processor or controller takes input from the physical
world peripherals like sensors, actuators etc., processes the same through
appropriate software and provides the desired output.

In this case, the components have to communicate with each other to provide
the anticipated output. Each communicating entity should agree to some
protocol to exchange information. Many different protocols are available for
embedded systems and are deployed depending upon the application area.
Fig. 1 – Introduction to Communication Protocols

In general, the communication protocols is associated with physical layer


describing the signals incorporated, signal strength, hand shaking mechanism,
bus arbitration, device addressing, wired or wireless, data lines etc.

The processes such as system configuration, selection of baud rate and


transmitting & receiving data is associated with application layer.

Types of Communication Protocols in Embedded


Systems
Communication protocols are broadly classified into two types:

• Inter System Protocol


• Intra System Protocol
Fig 2 – Classification of Communication Protocols

Inter System Communication Protocols


Inter system protocols establish communication between two communicating
devices i.e. between PC and microprocessor kit, developmental boards, etc. In
this case, the communication is achieved through inter bus system.

Fig. 3 – Inter System Communication Protocols

Types of Inter System Communication Protocols


Inter system protocol can be categorized into:

• USB Communication protocols


• UART Communication protocols
• USART Communication protocols

USB Communication Protocols


Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a two-wired serial communication protocol. It
allows 127 devices to be connected at any given time. USB supports plug &
play functionality.
USB protocol sends and receives the data serially between host and external
peripheral devices through data signal lines D+ and D-. Apart from two data
lines, USB has VCC and Ground signals to power up the device. The USB pin out
is shown in Figure 4 below.

Fig. 4 – USB Pin Out

Data is transmitted in the form of packets where two devices communicate


each other. Data packets compose of 8 bits (byte) with LSB (Least Significant
Bit) transmitted first.

USB associates NRZI (Non Return to Zero Invert) encoding scheme to transmit
data with sync field to synchronize the host system and receiver clock signals.

In USB, data is transferred in three different speeds such as:


Fig. 5 – USB speeds

Advantages of USB Communication Protocol


The advantages of USB Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Fast and simple.


• It is of low cost.
• Plug and Play hardware.

Disadvantages of USB Communication Protocol


The disadvantages of USB Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Needs powerful master device.


• Specific drivers are required.

UART Communication Protocols


Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) is not a communication
protocol but just a physical piece of hardware which converts parallel data into
serial data. Its main purpose is to transmit and receive data serially.

UART is also two-wired i.e., the serial data is handled by Tx (Transmitter) and
Rx (Receiver) pins.

UART transmits data asynchronously, which induces that no clock signal is


associated in transmitting and receiving data. Instead of clock signal, UART
embed start and stop bits with actual data bits, which defines the start and
end of data packet.

When receiver end detects the start bit, it starts to read the data bits at specific
baud rate meaning both transmitting and receiving peripherals should work
under same baud rate. UART works under half duplex communication mode
meaning it either transmits or receives at a time.

Fig. 6 – UART Frame

Example: Emails, SMS

USART Communication Protocol


Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (USART) is
identical to that of UART with only added functionality synchronous. That is,
the transmitter will generate a clock signal which will be recovered at the
receiver end from the data stream transmitted without knowing baud rate
ahead.

UART works under full duplex communication mode meaning it can transmit
and receive data at same time.

USART encompass the abilities of UART, which enables application of both


depending on the applications area.
Fig. 7 – USART Frame

Example: Telecommunications

Advantages of UART/ USART Communication Protocol


The advantages of UART/ USART Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Clock signal is not required


• Cost effective
• Uses parity bit for error detection
• Requires only 2 wires for data communication

Disadvantages of UART/ USART Communication Protocol


The disadvantages of UART/ USART Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Doesn’t support multiple master slave functionality


• Baud rate of communicating UART should be within 10 percent of each
other

Intra System Communication Protocols


The Intra system protocol establishes communication between components
within the circuit board. In embedded systems, intra system protocol increases
the number of components connected to the controller.

Increase in components lead to circuit complexity and increase in power


consumption. Intra system protocol promises secure access of data from the
peripherals.

Types of Intra System Communication Protocols


Intra system protocol can be categorized into:

• I2C Protocol
• SPI Protocol
• CAN Protocol

I2C Communication Protocols


Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) is a serial communication protocol developed by
Philips Semiconductors. The main purpose of this protocol is to provide
easiness to connect peripheral chips with microcontroller. In embedded
systems, all peripheral devices are connected as memory mapped devices to
the microcontroller.

I2C necessitates two wires SDA (Serial Data Line) and SCL (Serial Clock Line)
to carry information between devices. These two active wires are said to be
bidirectional.

I2C protocol is a master to slave communication protocol. Each slave is been


provided with unique address. In order to establish communication, master
device initially sends the target slave address along with R/W (Read/Write)
flag. The corresponding slave device will move into active mode leaving other
devices in off state.

Once the slave device is ready, communication starts between master and
slave devices. One bit acknowledgment is replied by the receiver if transmitter
transmits 1 byte (8 bits) of data. A stop condition is issued at the end of
communication between devices.
Fig. 8 – Start and Stop Condition of I2C Communication Protocols

Advantages of I2C Communication Protocols


The advantages of I2C Communication Protocols are as follows:

• Provides good communication between onboard devices which are


accessed infrequently
• Addressing mechanism eases master slave communication
• Cost and circuit complexity does not end up on number of devices

Disadvantages of I2C Communication Protocols


The biggest disadvantage of I2C Communication Protocols is its limited speed.

Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Communication Protocols


SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) is one of the serial communication protocol
developed by Motorola. It is a 4-wire protocol namely MOSI
(Master Out Slave In), MISO (Master In Slave Out, SS (Slave Select), and
SCLK (Serial Clock).

As I2C protocol, SPI is also a master to slave communication protocol. In SPI,


the master device first configures the clock at a particular frequency.
Furthermore the SS line is used to select the appropriate slave by pulling the
SS line low where it is normally held high.

The communication is established between the selected slave and the master
device as soon as appropriate slave device is selected.
SPI is a full duplex communication protocol. SPI doesn’t limit data transfer to
8 bit words.

Fig. 9 – SPI Communication Protocols

Advantages of SPI Communication Protocols


The advantages of SPI Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Faster than asynchronous serial communication protocol.


• Support multiple slaves connectivity.
• Universally accepted protocol and low cost.

Disadvantages of SPI Communication Protocol


The disadvantages of SPI Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Requires more wires than other communication protocols.


• Master device should control all slave communications (slave-slave
communication is impossible).
• Numerous slave devices leads to circuit complexity.
Controller Area Network (CAN) Communication Protocol
CAN (Controller Area Network) is a serial communication protocol developed
by the Robert Bosch for intra vehicular communication. It requires two wires
CAN High (H+) and CAN low (H-) for data transmission.

CAN protocol is based on a message oriented communication protocol.

Advantages of CAN Communication Protocols


The advantages of CAN Communication Protocols are as follows:

• Low cost and reliable


• Shows robust performance
• Secured and fast protocol

Disadvantages of CAN Communication Protocol


The disadvantages of CAN Communication Protocol are as follows:

• Automotive oriented
• Bit complex protocol

You might also like