Either I'm doing something wrong or the latest versions of iOS and Android no longer allow this functionality.
I am using (https://github.com/katzer/cordova-plugin-background-mode.git) in conjunction with the native BLE plugin for Ionic 3.
I need to maintain (or find and connect) to pair bluetooth devices in the background but it seems that iOS especially will severe the background BLE connection after a period of time (like 10-15 minutes). I know that iOS stops background activity after 10 minutes, but the katzer plugin is suppose to allow for BTLE processes to continue in the background.
Here is what I am trying to keep the BLE connection alive. I need to be able to connect or detect a disconnect from BLE so I can report in to my server the last known geolocation of the device.
this.backgroundMode.enable();
this.backgroundMode.on("activate").subscribe(() => {
this.backgroundMode.disableWebViewOptimizations();
console.log('backgroundMode activate');
window.setTimeout(() => {
this.bleLoop()
}, 60000)
});
Where bleLoop() is a function that does a scan for new devices to connect to.
Has ANYONE been able to get BLE working to connect to new devices or call the disconnect callback in the background using ionic 3?
Related
I have a BLE module that i'm trying to update the firmware in, but having a lot of problems connecting the recommended update software (ISupdater). All I get is 'connect failed' message. There seems to be no troubleshooting information available, so I hope that someone has run into the same issues and solved it.
For the hardware setup, I'm connecting to a PC via a USB-USART serial adapter board. I have the 3.3V, GND, reset switch, mode switch, USART connection from the RN4870 BLE module connected as per the microchip connection diagrams (https://microchipdeveloper.com/ble:rn4870-app-example-fw-upgrade). I have verified many many many times that my connections are correct.
Connection Diagram
To test the BLE connection and data transfer I have mobile devices (iOS and Android) with the recommended apps (SmartData, mBIoT). I can see the BLE broadcast in the bluetooth lists, and I can connect to it to use the apps.
For the RN4870 module, I'm able to connect to CoolTerm software to test that I'm getting communication between the terminal and a mobile device. I'm able to send and receive data on the CoolTerm terminal, and on the mobile device apps, so that suggests to me that the USART adaptor is working correctly, and so is the BLE module.
In CoolTerm, I'm able to enter the CMD mode for the RN4870 module to set and read settings of the module, so I can check and set the baudrate to the default 115200.
If I use a BM70 module (which is the same hardware as RN4870 but different firmware), i can't enter any CMD mode, or do any sort of reset. The data is still able to be sent and received, so that confirms the baud rate is correct.
When I attempt to connect to either BLE module using the ISUpdate software that is recommended in the update steps to use as the firmware updater, I'm not able to connect to the module to update the firmware. I've tried many times to get the software to connect, many different ways, without success, and it's frustrating to no end.
I've updated the MCP2200 drivers to the latest ones from the microchip website, as well as using the latest versions of the CoolTerm and ISupdater. I've also tried previous versions, but still they all have 'connect failed'
ISupdater Image
has anyone got any solutions to the issue?
PC: Windows 10, 64-bit
BLE Modules: RN4870, BM70
CoolTerm Version: v1.8.0 (build 861)
ISUpdater Version: v4.0.0.207
IS187x_102_BLEDK3v1.11_UIv1.01 for Windows 10
Mobile Apps: SmartData, LightBlue for iOS, LightBlue for Android, mBIoT
Hmm, well it turns out that the USB-USART serial adaptor (although confirmed to be working correctly) seemed to be the problem.
At first, I only had the 1 adaptor, and I had to borrow a different adaptor. After swapping this FTDI232 USB-USART Serial adaptor, the connection was made first try, and I was able to update the firmware. I have now purchased a new adaptor.
So, if you are having the same trouble, try using a different adaptor.
I'm trying to establish a connection between my PC running Ubuntu and my iPhone via Bluetooth automatically when it becomes available, after being manually paired beforehand. I've seen this to be possible with certain peripherals, mainly audio. For example, my phone will automatically connect to a Bluetooth speaker when it is turned on and Bluetooth is active on my phone; another example is my phone automatically connects to my car's radio system via Bluetooth when I turn the car on.
I'm not able to connect my phone to my PC without first initiating the connection from the smartphone's Bluetooth menu. I'm thinking that I could possibly write an application for the PC to attempt to connect to the device every few minutes or something, but it seems that the phone needs to be the device to initiate the connection.
The only information that I need for what I'm trying to do ultimately is that the devices can pair successfully. Essentially I'm trying to build a sort of proximity trigger between my phone and my PC without using Wi-Fi and GPS - I can't use these for some specific reasons.
Is there any way to make this happen?
Yes this should be doable as long as you use the Background Processing feature for iOS apps. In the example I'll give below, we'll have the PC be the peripheral and the phone be the central, but you can really have it working either way. You will need to do the following:-
First initial connection needs to be performed in the foreground (this is due to iOS's background limitations).
On the iOS side, you need an application that acts as a central that scans and connects to the remove device (check this example as a starting point).
Upon connection, you need to bond with the PC. Bonding is important as it will prevent you from having to do the pairing again in the future. However, pairing/bonding is managed by the iPhone's OS so you cannot write it in your application, so the workaround is to have an encrypted characteristic on the PC side that will force the iPhone to bond (this is covered later).
On the PC side, you need to have a BlueZ script that acts as a peripheral that is always advertising. You can do this using bluetoothctl (check the examples here and here).
Before you start advertising, you need to have a GATT server on the PC side (to do this, check this example).
When registering characteristics, ensure that one of them has the encrypt-read property (you can find a full list of the properties here).
Now when you attempt to read this characteristic from the iOS side, the two devices should bond (make sure that your PC is bondable which you can do this via these commands).
Once the devices are paired, your iOS app needs to be working in the background constantly scanning and attempting to connect to the same peripheral (have a look at this and this example).
You can find more useful information at the links below:-
Getting started with Bluetooth Low Energy
The Ultimate Guide to CoreBluetooth Development
How to manage Bluetooth devices on Linux using bluetoothctl
I am making application that will run specific activity when detected an bluetooth iBeacon (not when connected because iBeacon is just transmiting signal)
I have multiple iBeacons each one will start different activity so the application need to recognize each beacons by MAC Address/UUID
My Application are now able to scan iBeacon device
but to make them start activity and recognize each one. I don't know how to start
I used the code from here (not my project)
https://github.com/danasf/hm10-android-arduino/tree/master/Android/BT4LEDTest
I didn't change his code much so it should be similar to my current code (if I post all my code it's exceed 30000 char limit)
for specific device, you will get list of available device nearby apart from it you will get information like mac as each device as unique mac id
You can start activity from service once you get onConnectionStateChange callback where Bluetooth device is connected.
or
you can broadcast event for successful connection event and 'onreceive()' start activity.
I have a BLE thermometer and I'd like to record the data from it as the monitoring application (available for both Android and iOS) that comes with it doesn't do it, it merely displays the data on the screen for a limited time.
I tried all BLE apps on both Android (I have a Nexus5 with Android 4.4) and iOS 7.1 iPad with but, while some discovered the device, none of them could display any data because all try to connect to the sensor whereas the sensor returns 0 for kCBAdvDataIsConnectable.
Is this possible? It must be because its own app does it, but I'm not too familiar with BLE and I may be missing something. I was surprised that none of the apps in the App/Play store had the feature of "listening" what a device sends without connecting. But then again, I'm not very familiar with BLE.
A few pointers are appreciated.
I am trying to find a clever way to keep a BLE app active in the background on iOS 6, without breaking any of Apple's rules. I plan to use the phone as a peripheral device and another BLE circuit as the central. My app will automatically be opened when a user arrives to a building using geofencing. After that the iPhone will connect to the first BLE central device it sees (the device will be in its white list). The user will then be able to move throughout the building switching to different BLE "nodes".
My question is: What do I need to do in the background when a user is stationary at their desk so that the app does not get suspended due to memory resources?
My idea is based on this solution for a separate problem: There could potentially (not regularly) be 10-50 users in an area with only a few BLE "nodes" and I read at bluetooth.org that I could setup a dynamic connection system, basically rotating connections through all the users.
My idea is to setup a similar dynamic system where the central device (not the iPhone) disconnects the device on regular intervals (30-40 minutes) and then the iPhone will reconnect.
Is this something that some feasible? Is this against the iOS development guidelines? I was unable to find anything explicit about this. I have also asked on the iOS developer forum, but unfortunately it is not as popular as this site.
Thanks in advance!
Xcode -> Project target -> Capabilities -> Enable background mode
Check Uses Bluetooth LE Accessories
Capabilities
Also enable the following key in .plist file
Required background modes
App communicates using CoreBluetooth
Plist