ClearOne StreamNet Integration - Manual (Page 12)

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Controlling Legacy AV Devices
d
rIver
P
aSS
t
hrough
(S
erIal or
IP)
Generally, when controlling an AV source device such as a media server or Sirius tuner the integrator will
want to use the drivers which already exist for their third party controller. StreamNet makes this simple and
convenient. The serial ports on any StreamNet device can be configured to transparently pass serial traffic to/
from any controller. In this way the existing driver can be used and no additional hardware is required to add
a serial port. And of course if the driver uses Internet Protocol (IP) to control the device this can be done just
as easily.
StreamNet Soft Adapters (SSA)
Another StreamNet feature which greatly simplifies control is the StreamNet Soft Adapter. Adapters are
small pieces of software written in the LUA programming language and executed on devices throughout the
StreamNet system. Soft adapters convert proprietary protocols of third party devices into standard StreamNet
protocol. This eliminates the complexity caused by multiple protocols from multiple vendors. Since the Soft
Adapters are executed by an “interpreter”, different Adapters may be selected by the integrator during system
configuration from a large number of standard adapters or the integrator may write a custom adapter to
perform any desired function.
Source Adapters (Drivers)
Source Adapters are software translators (drivers) which standardize the control of third party AV source
devices. Source Adapters take the myriad of device control interfaces and translate them to the common
language of StreamNet.
For example, media servers from different vendors may have very different and complex proprietary interface
protocols; but, Source Adapters can make them all operate exactly the same from the controller’s point of
view. Source Adapters may use IR, Serial, of Internet Protocol (IP) to control the AV source device.
The integrator may choose from a number of standard Source Adapters or the integrator may elect to write a
custom driver. If the integrator prefers to take advantage of existing drivers on third party controllers, StreamNet
devices can transparently pass serial communications to/from the AV device or learned IR codes can be
triggered by command.
Source Adapters run on devices with AV source services or Stream Proxy Services, such as a MediaLinX or
SpeakerLinX.
Display Adapters (Drivers)
Some StreamNet devices also support Display Adapters to translate controls for the video display device.
Control Adapters (GPIO Drivers)
Some Adapters can provide an interface to lighting systems or HVAC systems, or the Adapter may have
multiple unrelated functions. A custom Soft Adapter may perform multiple functions simultaneously. These
types of Adapters are called Control Adapters or GPIO drivers. GPIO Adapters can run on any StreamNet
device that has a GPIO service which supports Adapters; a ControLinx is a typical example. Control Adapters
can be custom written to perform nearly any conceivable control task.
The control messages themselves will be described in later chapters as the StreamNet ASCII Protocol.
A
dApter
(
computing
) – W
ikipediA
“In computing, an adapter is a hardware device or software component that converts
transmitted data from one presentation form to another. The data presentation can be, for
example, a message sent between objects in an application or a packet sent through a
network.”