What is SFBP?

Simple Field Bus Protocol is an open protocol designed to be well suited for communication among devices for control of equipments, such as in automation, building automation, domotica, and a plurality of custom devices such as heating controllers, washing machine controllers and so forth. The SFBP is lightweight, simple and quite efficient. It can run over any RS232 or, better, over a RS485; it can fit on small controllers such as the Atmel ATMega8.

What application are best suited for SFBP?

SFBP can link up to 127 units in a master-to-master configuration. It could run over bus, star and mixed (bus+stars) networks because it does not defines the underlying physical layer, as the TCP/IP does. You may think it also for via radio links.
It is not deterministic, because it is based on a CSMA/CD like, well known mechanism (Ethernet do also use CSMA/CD). Nevertheless it can be used for soft real-time applications due to its connected packets which ensures a response within a defined time slice.
While the current official SFBP has been used with application that do use a baud rate of 19200 bps, SFBP by its own does not specify any baud rate.

Can I use SFBP for my own projects?

Yes! You are free to implement your own SFBP code for your device, in addition you can make changes to the protocol even though in this case it will not adhere with the official version and incompatibility may arise. You are encouraged to submit us any change or suggestions related to the protocol, then it could be added to the official protocol after an evaluation.

Anyway if you wish to add the SFBP to your device let us know and join the community (it's free).

Why should I use SFBP, among other protocols?

SFBP works fine, it's easy to implement, it's free and open. You are not required to register nor to subscribe and neither to pay anything! That's all.

Where are specifications?

Click on the "document" menu above, or you also can click here.

Links and users

NSC controllers

Sacchy (website soon available)

Hexel

BYBUS srl

If you implemented the SFBP into your device, please let us know so that we can add your name/company here.