AIMB-585 User Manual 744.1 IntroductionThe mission of Advantech Embedded Software Services is to "Enhance quality of lifewith Advantech platforms and Microsoft® Windows® embedded technology." Weenable Windows® Embedded software products on Advantech platforms to moreeffectively support the embedded computing community. Customers are freed fromthe hassle of dealing with multiple vendors (hardware suppliers, system integrators,embedded OS distributors) for projects. Our goal is to make Windows® EmbeddedSoftware solutions easily and widely available to the embedded computing commu-nity.4.2 Value-Added Software ServicesSoftware API: An interface that defines the ways by which an application programmay request services from libraries and/or operating systems. Provides not only theunderlying drivers required but also a rich set of user-friendly, intelligent and inte-grated interfaces, which speeds development, enhances security and offers add-onvalue for Advantech platforms. It plays the role of catalyst between developer andsolution, and makes Advantech embedded platforms easier and simpler to adopt andoperate with customer applications.4.2.1 Software API4.2.1.1 ControlGPIOGeneral Purpose Input/Output is a flexible parallel interfacethat allows a variety of custom connections. It allows users tomonitor the level of signal input or set the output status toswitch on/off the device. Our API also provides Programma-ble GPIO, which allows developers to dynamically set theGPIO input or output status.SMBusSMBus is the System Management Bus defined by Intel Cor-poration in 1995. It is used in personal computers and serv-ers for low-speed system management communications. TheSMBus API allows a developer to interface a embedded sys-tem environment and transfer serial messages using theSMBus protocols, allowing multiple simultaneous device con-trol.
