Serial Protocol - RapidConnect : Startup Synchronization

There are four startup scenarios that requires synchronization between the Host and Module:

1. Simultaneous Host and Module startup, with the Host completing first.
2. Simultaneous Host and Module startup, with the Module completing first.
3. Unilateral hardware/software reset of Module, requiring application reconfiguration.
4. Unilateral hardware/software reset of the Host, requiring re-synchronization of all attribute states and the application Event Cache.

In each case, the Host and Module will perform a Startup Synchronization sequence to synchronize their data and communication states with one another, prior to the Module initiating any automatic network operations. During this phase, the Host is required to configure support for the application endpoints, clusters and attributes.

Upon startup, the Host must issue the Host Startup Ready command. On receiving the Startup Sync Request command will be sent from the Module to the Host(see figure 1 for an alternate sequence). The Host may then enter the Startup Synchronization sequence to perform the aforementioned configuration of the endpoints, clusters and attributes. The Startup Sync Request command from the Module will include information on which application configurations may be restored from external flash and which the Host must reconfigure.

The Host completes the phase by sending the Startup Sync Complete command to the Module.

This page provides illustrated examples of the Startup Synchronization sequence.

Startup Synchronization Sequence

The diagrams in this section illustrate the Startup Synchronization sequence.

Figure (1) illustrates the expected Startup Synchronization sequence following the first power up of the Module from its factory default state. In this diagram, the Configuration and Updates phase from the previous figure has been expanded to show key operations performed by the Host.

 Figure 1: First Time Startup Configuration Sequence

Figure (2) illustrates the sequence when the Module initializes before the Host (described in scenario (2)). In this scenario the Module starts sending Startup Sync Request periodically(every 5 seconds) to ensure that the Host receives the message even if the Host starts up slower than the Module. You can see in the figure, the Host Startup Ready command is sent after the Startup Sync Request. The Module is required to send a final Startup Sync Request after receiving the Host Startup Ready command. The Host can now start the Configuration sequence.

Upon the Host completing synchronization (by performing all necessary configurations and updates) it will transmit the Startup Sync Complete command to the Module, at which point the Module will initiate the full application, i.e., commence network activities, etc.

 Figure 2: Startup Synchronization Request Retries

Figure (3) illustrates the Startup Synchronization sequence after power up of a configured Module (i.e., subsequent to the state achieved in the previous figure 2). The application device type does not need to be defined as it is preserved in non-volatile memory. All configured endpoints, clusters and attributes are stored in volatile memory and must be re-configured after any soft or hard reset of the Module.

 Figure 3: Subsequent Startup Configuration Sequence

Figure (4) is a flow chart of how the Host may implement its startup sequence to synchronize with the Module.

 Figure 4: Host Startup Configuration Flow Chart