Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing communications

1. A system, comprising:

a controller adapted to:

provide a start condition system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential start characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential start characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received;

provide an end condition system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential end characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential end characters one of said set of end condition parameters, and

wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions; and

wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a set of system functions adapted for use by a customer application program to access and control said serial communications port via each of a Freeport protocol, a predefined master protocol, and a predefined slave protocol.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a parameter system function that dynamically configures send parameters for said message.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a configuration system function that dynamically configures receive parameters for said message.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a transmission system function that initiates sending said message.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a transmission system function that initiates sending said message, said transmission system function adapted to generate an error message if said message is not sent.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a transmission system function that initiates sending said message, said transmission system function adapted to identify a starting location of a transmit buffer that stores said message.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a reception system function that initiates reception of said message.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a reception system function that initiates reception of said message, said reception system function adapted to generate an error message if said message is not received.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a reception system function that initiates reception of said message, said reception system function adapted to identify a starting location of a receive buffer that stores said message.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a reset system function that resets a receive buffer adapted to store said message.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a message system function that defines a length of said message.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide a configuration system function that disables said programmable logic controller from recognizing said plurality of predetermined sequential start characters.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to permit dynamic parameterization from a user program.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to provide explicit parameterization and control of a UART's Request-To-Send and Data-Terminal-Ready signals.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify where length information will be embedded within a customer's protocol.

17. A method, comprising:

via a controller, enabling a customer application program to access and control a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said controller adapted to:

provide a system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via said communications port, said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received;

provide a system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of end condition parameters; and

wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions; and

wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising

computer-implementable instructions for activities comprising:

via a controller, enabling a customer application program to access and control a serial communications port connected to a programmable logic controller (PLC), said controller adapted to:

provide a system function that allows a user to define a start condition via a set of start condition parameters, said set of start condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of a beginning of a message transmitted via said communications port, said message preceded by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of start condition parameters, wherein the transmitted message includes the sequential start characters, and wherein the predetermined sequential start characters determine whether the message is received; and

provide a system function that allows a user to define an end condition via a set of end condition parameters, said set of end condition parameters comprising a parameter that causes a recognition of an end of said message, said message followed by a plurality of predetermined sequential characters, said plurality of predetermined sequential characters one of said set of end condition parameters; and

wherein said controller is adapted to permit a customer to specify multiple, different character sequences, that include don't-care characters, to satisfy a series of different start and/or end conditions; and

wherein a don't care character is a set of bits adapted to represent a symbol indicative of a lack of preference for any particular alternative of a predetermined set of alternatives.