Value-Added Software Services
Software API:
An interface that defines the ways by which an application program may request services from libraries and/or operating systems. Provides not only the underlying
drivers required but also a rich set of user-friendly, intelligent and integrated interfaces, which speeds development, enhances security and offers add-on value for Advantech platforms.
It plays the role of catalyst between developer and solution, and makes Advantech embedded platforms easier and simpler to adopt and operate with customer applications.
Software APIs
Control
General Purpose Input/Output is a flexible parallel interface
that allows a variety of custom connections. It allows users
to monitor the level of signal input or set the output status to
switch on/off a device. Our API also provides Programmable
GPIO, which allows developers to dynamically set the GPIO
input or output status.
SMBus is the System Management Bus defined by Intel
®
Corporation in 1995. It is used in personal computers and
servers for low-speed system management communications.
The SMBus API allows a developer to interface a embedded
system environment and transfer serial messages using the
SMBus protocols, allowing multiple simultaneous device
control.
I
2
C is a bi-directional two wire bus that was developed by
Philips for use in their televisions in the 1980s.
The I
2
C API allows a developer to interface with an embedded
system environment and transfer serial messages using the I
2
C
protocols, allowing multiple simultaneous device control.
Monitor
A watchdog timer (WDT) is a device that performs a specific
operation after a certain period of time if something goes wrong
and the system does not recover on its own.
A watchdog timer can be programmed to perform a warm boot
(restarting the system) after a certain number of seconds.
GPIO
Watchdog
SMBus
Hardware
Monitor
The Hardware Monitor (HWM) API is a system health
supervision API that inspects certain condition indexes, such as
fan speed, temperature and voltage.
I
2
C
Hardware
Control
The Hardware Control API allows developers to set the PWM
(Pulse Width Modulation) value to adjust fan speed or other
devices; it can also be used to adjust the LCD brightness.
Display
Power Saving
The Brightness Control API allows a developer to interface with
an embedded device to easily control brightness.
Brightness
Control
CPU Speed
Make use of Intel SpeedStep technology to reduce power power
consumption. The system will automatically adjust the CPU
Speed depending on system loading.
The Backlight API allows a developer to control the backlight
(screen) on/off in an embedded device.
Backlight
System
Throttling
Refers to a series of methods for reducing power consumption in
computers by lowering the clock frequency. These APIs allow the
user to lower the clock from 87.5% to 12.5%.
Software Utilities
The BIOS Flash utility allows customers to update the flash
ROM BIOS version, or use it to back up current BIOS by
copying it from the flash chip to a file on customers’ disk. The
BIOS Flash utility also provides a command line version and
API for fast implementation into customized applications.
The embedded application is the most important property of
a system integrator. It contains valuable intellectual property,
design knowledge and innovation, but it is easily copied! The
Embedded Security ID utility provides reliable security functions
for customers to secure their application data within embedded
BIOS.
The Monitoring utility allows the customer to monitor system
health, including voltage, CPU and system temperature and fan
speed. These items are important to a device; if critical errors
happen and are not solved immediately, permanent damage may
be caused.
The eSOS is a small OS stored in BIOS ROM. It will boot up in
case of a main OS crash. It will diagnose the hardware status,
and then send an e-mail to a designated administrator. The
eSOS also provides remote connection: Telnet server and FTP
server, allowing the administrator to rescue the system.
Flash Lock is a mechanism that binds the board and CF card
(SQFlash) together. The user can “Lock” SQFlash via the Flash
Lock function and “Unlock” it via BIOS while booting. A locked
SQFlash cannot be read by any card reader or boot from other
platforms without a BIOS with the “Unlock” feature.
BIOS Flash
eSOS
Embedded
Security ID
Flash Lock
Monitoring
All product specifications are subject to change without notice
Last updated : 9-May-2011
ADVANTECH [ Advantech Co., Ltd. ]
