Introduction Note: Note: BCI uses ether the ASTM E1381 protocol (VITEK® and VITEK® 2 only) ors ‘own bioMériaux communications protocol. Tis specification only describes the bioMerieux communications protocol VITEK® 2 Systems and OBSERVA® do not support the ASTM E1381 protocol for BCI Communication. For information on the ASTM £1381 protocol, see the ASTM £1381 ‘documentation or the CLSI® standard LISA. The bioMérieux communications protocol works with BCI to ensure an accurate data flow between a bioMérieux computer and insttuments and a host (IS) computer. tis responsible for establishing sessions, data transfer, ‘and error detection, Basic Message Content BorSpocteaton + Either computer can begin a session by transmiting the ASCII control character . Ifthe computer receiving the inguiry is ready to receive data, it responds with the acknowledgment character SACK> It is not feady,'sonds a character. Sossions ond when one of the computers receives an character. Data tranefer between the host and bioMéreux computa takes place using communications messages (data packets). A communications massage bogins with the ASCII start character ‘Subsequent records begin with the ASCII record separator character lor the group separator , The records contain the text of the message. A checksum must follow the separator, + Communicatons messages end with the character, * TBS LRRO ILRI ARERR BS SL FREE RAR HS record per packs. + Records canbe terminated wit the ASCII carage retuine feed charactors . Each record type has a fixed format as shown in ‘he folowing diagram. 7Basic Message Content bioMérioux Communications Protocol 22 sx eR oF Rs oR oF Rs oR OF Rs oR oF GS cman CRLF em oR LF Figure 2-1: BCI Protocol Records and Characters Record! charactor TX (GRIF) TX (GRIF) RS (ORE) 6s (cr) Table 2-1: Record and Character Descriptions Description ‘Signal the start of amassage packet. Itiea singe character recor that expacts no sbonee rom the target computer. ‘Signals tho ond ofa message packet tis also single charactor record that expects novesponsa rom the target computer “This racord consis specifle messago information of up to 89 printable ASCH! characters per record. There can be ary numberof character, Checksum are caleslato by adcing the values of appropiate charactors, tunating ‘ho most sgifeant part of te eeu leaving an B-DK number), and eanvering Ie valu 0 wo ASC characters representing the hexadecimal value of the number. An or is always expactod in response to tis cor ype ‘S00 the topic fora descrton ofthe chacksum This the tne request character recetng computers. establishes a sesson between the sanding and BCI SpocieatonbioMésiun Communications Protocol Table 2-1: Record and Character Descriptions (Continued) Recordi charactor Description TEOT (GRLF) | The sencing computer sends this charac tote recdver to signal the end ofthe ACK Upon eosipt ofa recor, this charactarie went to ndiatesuccessfl transmission of he cata packets alo used by tho receiver to respond to recto an , AK THis slgnalsanagalveresporse whena session isnot poss orwhena: ransmission ear was detected by a Bad enecesum or pry eror Basic Message Content BO Spoctoatan 7Terminolosy bore Communications Protocol Terminology ‘Table 2-2 lists basic and bioMéoux-specific terms and concepts used throughout this specification Table 2.2: Terms and Descriptions Descrition Seeson ‘Appleations level message Communications oval message Reo Packet ‘A session consis of a conredtin bebveen te host anda bieMéreux compte. Data vansferin a single session can ony go none ection al atime. The intiator ofthe session the snd and the other computers te cower. The ASC ine requost character stars the session, signals te and ofthe message and session. “The bioMérieux computer wil never sand more than one applications level message per aession, bul ean receive more than ane per session, ‘An appctions level message contains patent, specimen, and exam demographics and ress. It must always be complete so hal No recelving applications layer can process the mossago corey. The appleatons level raesage starts ith mit and ends th eer the next mt (there are multiple ‘spplcations lel messages por session) orwin an , zz or “The cemmunatons yer sends an applications level message tough one or ‘more eammunsaton lvel messages. The communieatons layer aves the Applications message no 1.920-cnaracter blocks and sends each block onsecatvely.Adcing the ASCII contalcharaciors , , , and SETA iar ve aseeapael rans dnurleonsage.ASa¥FE Beaming and fond ofa communications lovel mossage and ostalish contl of ransmission fos, VITEX® 2 PC and OBSERVA® camot process appeation massages ‘antanng mare than 1,220 characters ‘Acommuniations level massage alvays has an indicating he star ofthe message and one cnaracter nto records fom one to 80 characters long. The character mars the beginning of ransmission eror contol infomation. In order'o handle transmission errs effectvly there is alvays one character na communications level message ‘Acommuricatons leva message ands of one or more records. Al records begin with one ofthe folowing ASCII conto characters; , , or €GS>. A record contains to 80 ASCII eneracters, Each record type can be terminated by te new tne sequence . “The new Ine sequen is optional and notinclded inthe size of the record ‘records associated wih a rocors aro called a packel. lho ond of@ packet, he sending computer wais forte recover o sens an acknowiadgrent that recewed the packs a BCT SpoctcatonbioMésiunx Communications Procol Communications Protocol Table 2-2: Torms and Descriptions (Continued) Term Deserption Feld ‘felis discrete unt of information such a a patent name, sox, or primary physician. Each felis preceded by a code tet describes the ype of fel ond ‘aso mpl its length. Al elds end wi one to tree user-defnec terminating ‘haracers (chosen from a sbea of ASC charactors). Each els has 8 maxim Tonath in charactor, BC wil accopt dala Nat less than ox aqua ote maxim umber of allowable characters, Most fle that are ongar than the number of Soneant charactors are runcated andthe tx este, The only exception sho exam ID (el), whic is tuncated and right usiiod Communications Protocol Communications Level Message Exchange Protocol + The session-oriented protocol used for commurication between the host and bioMérieux computer permits transmission in one direction at atime, AA session is estabished in a given direction and must end before the ination of another session, This creates a haf-duplex communication + Either computer can initiate a session by sending the ASCII line request character . When the receiving computer gets the ortho + BCI uses a “last master delay” protocol where the BCI computer waits before transmission of another , This prevents BCI from Continuously controling the line, The time isin seconds and can be defined by the user. + The bioMérieux computer expects the host to implement e last master delay time allowing the bioMérieux computer to request the line between ‘each host downloaded message. + All sessions end when the initating computer sends the ASCII end of ransmission character , Protocol Examples Inthe following examples, mtxx refers to the beginning of a generic ‘applications level massage, The Xs which fllow represent the rest of the ‘application message. BOrSpocteaton 7Communications Protec bioMérioux Communications Protocol Example 1: Successful Transmission by the Host Computer In this example, the hast computer initiates a session by sending an ‘ to and receiving an from the bioMérioux computer. The host then begins transmitting data records . The bioMérieux ‘computer sends an for evary checksum record received correctly. This example shows only a single applications level and 3 in the session, ‘communications level message transi o_ << —— se =~ _s—? SET "=e Computer = on Figue 25: Mutplo Applicaton Messages ina Session Example 5: Transmission Collision ‘Acolison occurs when both computers try lo establish a session ‘simultaneously. When this happens, the bioMérieux computer drops its request and responds tothe host with an to an , It should walt or a specified time and try again, The computer reports @falure after a user specified number of unsuccess(ulattempls. a wir bioMéreux Hose | ene» computer bier << ene | 220 Report Fate tive Acknowledgement fo an Inquiry Example 7: Transmission Failure — No Response to an Inquiry |When neither computer receives an or to an , it ‘should wait fora specified time and try again. Alter a user specified umber of unsuccessful atlempis, it should report a fare. Wating [ een ==) Wang eeNoe g | baru Host ENG Wattng ‘computer computer opt lure Figure 2.8: No Response to an Inquity BospecteaonCommunications Protec bore Communications Protocol Example 8: Transmission Failure — Faulty Checksum with Literal Protocol When a checksum is incorrect, the receiving computer responds to the ‘checksum record with a . Upon receiving thi, the sender Fetransmits the entire data packet. Ithe checksum fails again, the ‘sender ties again. The sender abandons the transmission and logs an error after a set number of unsuccessul attempts, Figure 29: Fauty Checksum with Litera Protocol Example 9: Faulty Checksum with Alternate Protocol ‘The bioMérieux computer will accept transmissions inthis format from te host computer Iallows the host to repeat an alternate protocol to a record 8 . This is a signal tothe host that the bioMérieux computer is encing the current session 1 conedtions it Ngo ma” _ cossmmmememmsemessce: ae! ‘Host ERS ESB CREE ERE apna aoooneO bbioMérioux sae ety Lit Reaches a et core tne cor ne acco Figure 2-14: End of Transmission Alternate Communications Protocol To accommodate some LIS computers, BCI provides an alternate ‘communications protocol and uses a diferent and checksum sequence, ‘When a checksum Is incorrect and one ofthe computers receives a ‘or no response, the retransmission begins with an . ‘The is sent immecialaly after the checksum record instead of after receipt of an , BorSpocteaton