// ============================================================================
//
// = CONTEXT
//    TANGO Project - Keithley Electrometer Support Library
//
// = FILENAME
//    CommunicationLink.h
//
// = AUTHOR
//    X. Elattaoui
//
//
// $Author: xavela $
//
// $Revision: 1.3 $
//
// $Log: not supported by cvs2svn $
// Revision 1.2  2008/02/11 16:55:04  xavela
// xavier : for DDC part
// - integration mode OK (tests done with K_486)
//
// - TODO: DDC/SCPI
// integration time for ScanServer compatibility.
// report config for all DDC
// add configuration in SCPI start command
//
// Revision 1.1  2007/07/09 13:20:35  stephle
// initial import
//
//
// ============================================================================

#ifndef _COMMUNICATION_LINK_H_
#define _COMMUNICATION_LINK_H_

#include <string>

// ============================================================================
// DEPENDENCIES
// ============================================================================


/**
 *  \addtogroup Communication Management
 *  @{
 */

/**
 *  \brief Abstract class to manage a specific communication bus
 *
 *  \author Xavier Elattaoui
 *  \date 11-2006
 */

class CommunicationLink
{
public :
	
	/**
	* Initialization. 
	*/
	CommunicationLink (std::string& communication_link_name);
	
	/**
	* Release resources.
	*/
	virtual ~CommunicationLink (void);

	/**
	*  \brief Send command (data) as string to hardware.
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual void write(std::string)	= 0; 
	
	/**
	*  \brief Gets hardware response as string.
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual std::string read(void)	= 0;

	/**
	*  \brief Performs a write read operation as string.
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual std::string write_read(std::string cmd_to_send) = 0;

	/**
	*  \brief Returns the Gpib SRQ line state : used here to know if Keithley 
  *           device is ready after an integration cycle.
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual bool isSRQLineUp(void);

	/**
	*  \brief Clear a specific device (same as reset *RST).
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual void clear(void);

  /**
	*  \brief Trigg device on the gpib bus.
	*
	*  \throws Tango::DevFailed
	*/
	virtual void trigger(void);


protected :
	std::string _communication_Device_name;

};

/** @} */	//- end addtogroup

#endif // _COMMUNICATION_LINK_H_