RDPWin

RDP - Actuator Configuration

Enhanced Movie Interface (RU Module) Required

Actuator Topics
Configuration Hardware Requirements Installation	Monitor The Process Actuator.htm#Upgrades

Actuator Topics

Configuration

Hardware Requirements

Installation

Monitor

The Process

Actuator.htm#Upgrades

Configure the Actuator's communication settings and movie system settings.

General Settings

RDP Folder

The location of the RDP Resort that the interface accesses. To change the Resort use the Browse button to select a different folder.

Client ID

The unique number assigned to every user in the system. The range for this setting is 10200 to 10209. Normally it is not necessary to change this value from the default of 10201.

Communication Settings

Communication Port

Review the serial port used on the local computer to communicate with the remote system over a RS232C link. Only ports installed on the system are displayed in the drop-down list.

Baud Rate

Displays the modulation rate and relates to the speed at which the messages between the two systems are transmitted. The baud rate here must match the baud rate used by the remote device.

Parity

The parity bit provides a small amount of error checking helping to detect errors during data transmission. Parity can be "Even", "Odd" or "None". RDP recommends a Parity setting of either "Even" or "Odd". The parity setting here must match the parity used by the remote device.

Data Bits

The standard length of data bits per byte of data transmitted. The possible values for this setting are "7" or "8". The data bits setting must match the data bits used by the remote device.

Stop Bit

The standard number of stop bits per byte. The possible values for this setting are "1" or "2". RDP recommends that this remain at the default of "1". The stop bit must match the stop bit used by the remote device.

Message Framing

Define how each stream of transmitted data is structured so the receiving device can determine the beginning and end of the message. The "STX ETX" selection is the most common framing type in serial connections and is employed by all the in room entertainment systems supported by RDP. Prior to transmission the Start-of-Text character is added to the beginning of the data stream and the End-of-Text character is appended to the end of the data stream. The result is <STX><Data Message><ETX>.

Message Protocol

Indicate how the receiving station responds when a data messages arrives. Normally an acknowledgement character <ACK> is sent in response to a successful receipt of a data message. In cases where characters are lost during transmission, the negative acknowledgement character <NAK> is transmitted to the sender. The "ACK NAK" setting for Message Protocol is the most common type in serial communications and is used by all the in room entertainment systems supported by RDP.

Some serial devices require that the Enquiry character <ENQ> be sent prior to sending the data message. Receipt of the acknowledgement character <ACK> from the receiver is required before the data message is transmitted by the sender. In this case select the "ENQ ACK NAK" option.

Error Checking Method

Prior to transmitting a data message, the sender may compute an error control character or characters to include in the transmission. This is commonly known as the Block Check Character (BCC) or the Longitudinal Redundancy Check (LRC). Upon receipt of a message, the receiver uses the same method as the sender to compute the error control character(s). When the computed error control character(s) does not match the received character(s), the <NAK> character is transmitted to the sender to indicate a portion of the message was lost during transmission.

Note: RDP recommends contacting RDP Support prior to changing this setting.

Port Handshaking

The handshaking protocol for serial port transmission of data controls the flow of data between the PC and the remote serial device at the hardware level.

Note: RDP recommends this be set to "None" or "Request to Send".

Enquiry Max Attempts:

Indicate the number of times the <ENQ> character is transmitted without receiving either an <ACK> (acknowledgement) or <NAK> (negative acknowledgement). The default setting is "3".

Note: RDP does not recommend changing this setting. Contact RDP Support with any questions.

Enquiry ACK Timeout

The time in seconds that the program waits after sending an <ENQ> without receiving an <ACK> or <NAK> before attempting to send the <ENQ> again. The default is "2" seconds.

Message Max Attempts

The number of times the data message is transmitted without receiving either an <ACK> (acknowledgement) or <NAK> (negative acknowledgement). The default is "3". RDP does not recommend changing this setting.

Message ACK Timeout

The time in seconds that the program waits after sending a data message without receiving an <ACK> or <NAK> before attempting to send the data message again. The default is "2" seconds.

Movie System Settings

System Type

Define which movie system with which the program works.

Maximum Names

Prior to checking-out a reservation the movie system will first ask RDP for a listing of names of guests checked-in to the room. This setting specifies the maximum number of names for RDP to include in the response to the movie system's request. The default is "8" and RDP does not recommend changing this setting.

Actuator Check Interval

The number of seconds to wait before checking the RDP database and informing the movie system of reservations that have checked-in and checked-out. The minimum is "2" seconds and the maximum is "30" and the default is "10" seconds.

Send "A" Folio Transactions

During folio review and checkout operations the movie system requests folio transactions from RDP. When this check box is checked transactions that have a Pay Flag with a value of "A" will be included. Transactions with a Pay Flag of "I" (Individual Portion) are always sent to the movie system.

Send "B" Folio Transactions

During folio review and checkout operations the movie system requests folio transactions from RDP. When this check box is checked transactions that have a Pay Flag with a value of "B" will be included. Transactions with a Pay Flag of "I" (Individual Portion) are always sent to the movie system.

Post Credit Card Payment

During a checkout operation if this check box is checked the program will charge the guest's credit card the Individual Portion Balance Due amount. If Send "A" Folio Transactions or Send "B" Folio Transactions are sent to the movie system then a separate credit card charge is submitted for each of type when the Folio-A Balance Due and Folio-A Balance Due is greater than zero.

First Character of Transaction ID

A transaction consists of a request and one or more responses. When RDP initiates communication with the movie system the RDPVideoCheckout program includes a unique four character alpha-numeric identifier a part of the message. Some movie systems require a special letter as the first character of the Transaction ID. Please enter that character here. As an example, properties that use OnCommand's "Mux Box" need to use "H" as the first character.

Set Inhibit Message

This message inhibits or restricts the purchase or movies and other services at check-in time for the room if the credit limit is zero. The RDPActuator program is configured to optionally send the Inhibit message after sending the check-In message.

The Inhibit message prevents purchase of movie system services. RDP sends this message if the credit limit is 0.00. However there is not a way to un-inhibit or un-restrict the purchase of movie system services.
If the RO sub-record exists in Table CW and the credit limit field is changed to zero in RDPWin a record is added to the actuator file (message type = 'R0', module code = 'RU') when RDPActuator finds this record it will send the Inhibit message to the movie system.

If the R1 sub-record exists in Table CW and the credit limit field is changed to a non-zero value in RDPWin a record is added to the actuator file (message type = 'R1', module code = 'RU') when RDPActuator finds this record it will send the Un-Inhibit (unrestrict) message to the movie system.

Print Folio

To print the folio after completing an express checkout request check the box. You must select a Folio Report click the Browse button to select the desired report file. RDP recommends using the standard Folio-ABI.rpt report. The folio is sent to the designated default printer for the computer running the RDPVideoCheckout program.

Field Locations

The field locations specify for RDP where to locate and extract each field from the data message that is received from the movie system.

Transaction ID

Configure where the transaction identification number falls in the communications between the Actuator and RDP as well as the length of the field (number of characters).

For example, when Start is "1", then the TransID is located in the first position of the message such as 00091820XCKO in which case 0009 is the transaction identification number.

See Transaction ID for definition.

Sequence Number

Configure where the Sequence Number falls in the communications between the Actuator and RDP as well as the length of the field (number of characters).

For example, when Start is "5", then the Seq# is located in Position 5 of the message such as 00091820XCKOin which case 1820 is the unique sequence number.

See Sequence Number for definition.

Verb

Configure where the starting number of the Verb (the action RDP will take such as check-in) is located in the communications between the Actuator and RDP as well as the length of the field (number of characters).

For example, when Start is "8", then the Verb is located in Position 8 of the message such as 0009182XCKO in which case XCKO represents a request to check out from the Video Check-out System.

See Verb for definition.

Error Code

When the movie system receives a message from RDP that it cannot carry out it sends an error message with an error code to indicate the error type.

Room Number

The room number that pertains to the message received from the movie system.

Revenue Code

Included in POST messages. RDP uses the Revenue Code to look up in Table PU the transaction code to use for the charge posting.

Charge Description

Use of the Charge Description field from the movie system is optional. If not using the charge description sent from the movie system the description from Table PU for the specified Revenue Code is placed on the folio transaction.

Charge Amount

The amount to charge the guest for the specified charge when processing "POST" requests.

Res Number

The specific account or reservation number that pertains to the message received from the movie system.

Balance

Is the total guest balance due amount. This must match what the balance due is in RDP for the guest. If this amount does not match the check-out does not proceed.