Introduction

Reference Documents

[RD1]
Central Control System Development Standards;

Detector Control Software Interface

The DCS Interface, dcsif, defines the CII request/reponse interface for DCS type of applications.

This document serves merely to provide an overview of the DCS interface. The CII MAL generates the structures (classes) for the interface and are not described in this document.

In the following “JSON Serialisation Format” is referenced as “JSF” and “Simple Parameter Format” as “SPF”.

The DCS state machine is defined in this diagram.

In SCXML format, here.

Interfaces

class dcsif.DcsCmds

DCS Request/Response Interface.

Abort() → String.

Abort an on-going initialisation procedure or data acquisition.

Returns

A string with information about the execution of the request.

Return type

String

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Execute(dcsif::Method) → String.

Execute an operation in the DCS application.

Parameters

method (dcsif::Method) – Structure containing name and parameters for the method invocation.

Returns

A string with information about the execution of the request.

Return type

String

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

GetConfig(parameters) → String.

Query the entire or selected configuration parameters.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Optional (may be empty). May be used to specify the parameters to query in JSF or SPF.

Returns

The status of the parameters requested in JSF.

Return type

String/JSF.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

GetDiagnostics() → String.

Request to produce a status of the condition of the system for diagnostics purposes. The information provided is context specific. This is typically used by the system operators to retrieve the diagnostics to be submitted for troubleshooting purposes.

Returns

Report with the diagnostics (status) of the system. Format is context specific.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

GetDpData() → String.

Deprecated – will be removed from ICSV4.

GetSetup(parameters) → String.

Query the entire or selected setup parameters.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Optional (may be empty). May be used to specify the parameters to query in JSF or SPF.

Returns

The status of the parameters requested in JSF.

Return type

String/JSF.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Ping() → String.

Request the DCS to send a reponse to indicate it is alive and functioning.

Returns

Format: “OK:<ISO 8601 timestamp>”.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

ReadPars(parameters) → String.

Query parameters of the associated camera or dectector contol electronics. Used for engineering purposes.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Optional (may be empty). May be used to specify the parameters to query in JSF or SPF.

Returns

The status of the parameters requested in JSF.

Return type

String/JSF.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Recover() → String.

Request the DCS to attempt to recover when in Error State.

Returns

Information about execution of the request.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Scan() → String.

Scan parameter name space of the associated camera or detector control electronics. Used for engineering purposes.

Returns

The status of the parameters requested in JSF.

Return type

String/JSF.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

SetConfig(parameters) → String.

Set one or more configuration parameters.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Parameters to set in JSF or SPF.

Returns

Status of the execution of the request.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Setup(parameters) → String.

Set one or more setup parameters.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Parameters to set in JSF or SPF.

Returns

Status of the execution of the request.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Start(properties) → String.

Start the image acquisition of the associated camera or detector control electronics.

Parameters

parameters (dcsif::StartProperties) – Properties for starting the image acquisition.

Returns

Status of the execution of the request.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

WritePars(parameters) → String.

Write one or more parameters. Used for engineering purposes.

Parameters

parameters (str) – Parameters to set in JSF or SPF.

Returns

Status of the execution of the request.

Return type

String.

Raises

dcsif::ExceptionErr – On error.

Data Structures

class dcsif.StartTriggerTypes

Possible options for trigger the start of the data acquisition. The values defined are:

  • Signal: Start acqusition based on a hardware signal, usually a TTL signal fed into the camera/detector electronics.

  • AbsTime: Start acquisition based on an absolute point in time.

  • Custom: Start acquisition based on a context specific method.

  • None: Start acquisition immediately upon receiving the Start Request.

class dcsif.ExceptionErr

DCS Exception class thrown in case an error is encountered while handling a request.

code: int

Exception (error) code allocated to the specific exception; 0 if no code is allocated.

desc: str

Description of the exception (diagnostics).

class dcsif.Method

DCS Exception class thrown in case an error is encountered while handling a request.

name: str

Name of method to execute.

parameters: str

Input parameters for the method invocation. suggested format is in JSF or SPF.

class dcsif.StartProperties

Defines the conditions for starting the image acquisition.

absTime: double

Absolute point in time given as seconds since epoch for when to start the image acquisition.

customTrigger: str

Name of context specific trigger (method) to trigger/start the image acquisition.

info: str

Free format information (context specific) to submit with the request.

trigger: StartTriggerTypes

Type of trigger (method) to apply.