Most of the systems produced by the company incorporate one or more microprocessors. Some systems use full-fledged computers, and the others use tiny single chip modules. For example, the MAGI hardware has all the features of desk top PC. So any software programming can be easily done using a regular keyboard, mouse and a video monitor. One can load any OS, Windows or Linux. The software involved in MAGI like systems consists of drivers for the boards inserted in the back plane and the application software.

Examples of systems using a single chip module are TSPIGII, ANDAS, PFOG and WOFSNet. The processor unit has to be programmed either via a serial port, network or in-circuit programming. Only the programs necessary for the for system application are loaded. The following figure shows the software functions programmed in ANDAS system.

• periodically wake-up from power saving mode 
• measure acceleration, pressure, temperature, and three strains from the ANDAS Sensing Element
• compose a data frame using simple ANDAS RF Protocol
• use modified Freescale SMAC (Simple Media Access Controller) software to send this data frame over the RF link
• wait for an acknowledgment from the ANDAS Host (USB Host)
• go to sleep

This basic loop repeats roughly 30 times per second providing nearly a real-time response from the MSA. The different software modules used, and their interaction are shown in following figure.

The ANDAS Host firmware performs the following two major tasks:

• Receive the data from the MC13193 transceiver and store it in a RAM buffer 
• Handle the USB module communication with a computer (Laptop or Desktop), decode and provide the data from the RAM buffer

  Indirectly, the Host firmware communicates with the MSA and retrieves the latest MSA measurement data; and stores it in a data buffer in RAM. The data can be independently read by the PC application via the USB link. The different software modules used, and their interaction are shown in follwing figure:



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