Adverting is started, stopped and started ... over and over

[paul0208]

Hi,

My advertising initial is as follow.

  manuf_specific_data.data.p_data = (uint8_t *) m_beacon_info;
  manuf_specific_data.data.size   = APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH;

  // Build and set advertising data.
  memset(&advdata, 0, sizeof(advdata));

  advdata.name_type     = BLE_ADVDATA_NO_NAME;
  advdata.flags   = flags;
  advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &manuf_specific_data;

  // Initialize advertising parameters (used when starting advertising).
  memset(&m_adv_params, 0, sizeof(m_adv_params));

  m_adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_NONCONNECTABLE_NONSCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
  m_adv_params.p_peer_addr   = NULL;  // Undirected advertisement.
  m_adv_params.filter_policy   = BLE_GAP_ADV_FP_ANY;
  m_adv_params.interval  = NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL;
  m_adv_params.duration  = 0;     // Never time out.

  err_code = ble_advdata_encode(&advdata, m_adv_data.adv_data.p_data, &m_adv_data.adv_data.len);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&m_adv_handle, &m_adv_data, &m_adv_params);

But, 10~11 packet are sent and stop.
After 7~8 sec. resent advertisement packet again.... and 10~10 packet send, 7~8 sec stop...

What is the problem?

BR
Paul

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi Paul,

I do not see anything here that should cause advertising to stop. Can you share all your advertising related code, or perhaps the whole application?

Einar

[paul0208]

Hi,

I attached full source file here.

/**
 * Copyright (c) 2014 - 2021, Nordic Semiconductor ASA
 *
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
 * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
 *  list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form, except as embedded into a Nordic
 *  Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit in a product or a software update for
 *  such product, must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
 *  conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other
 *  materials provided with the distribution.
 *
 * 3. Neither the name of Nordic Semiconductor ASA nor the names of its
 *  contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
 *  software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * 4. This software, with or without modification, must only be used with a
 *  Nordic Semiconductor ASA integrated circuit.
 *
 * 5. Any software provided in binary form under this license must not be reverse
 *  engineered, decompiled, modified and/or disassembled.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS
 * OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
 * OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASA OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
 * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
 * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
 * GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
 * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 */
/** @file
 *
 * @defgroup ble_sdk_app_beacon_main main.c
 * @{
 * @ingroup ble_sdk_app_beacon
 * @brief Beacon Transmitter Sample Application main file.
 *
 * This file contains the source code for an Beacon transmitter sample application.
 */

#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdarg.h>

#include "nordic_common.h"
#include "nrf.h"
#include "nrf_sdh.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_soc.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_ble.h"
#include "nrf_log.h"
#include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
#include "nrf_log_default_backends.h"
#include "nrf_log_internal.h"
#include "nrf_ble_qwr.h"
#include "nrf_gpio.h"
#include "nrf_gpiote.h"
#include "nrf_pwr_mgmt.h"
#include "nrf_delay.h"
#include "nrf_drv_gpiote.h"
#include "nrf_drv_saadc.h"
#include "nrf_drv_twi.h"
#include "nrfx_twi.h"
#include "ble_hci.h"
#include "ble_gap.h"
#include "ble_advdata.h"
#include "ble_advertising.h"
#include "ble_conn_params.h"
#include "bsp_btn_ble.h"
#include "boards.h"
#include "app_timer.h"
#include "app_uart.h"
#include "app_util_platform.h"
#include "nrf_log.h"
#include "nrf_log_ctrl.h"
#include "nrf_log_default_backends.h"

#include "def.h"
#include "decl.h"


#define APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG    1      /**< A tag identifying the SoftDevice BLE configuration. */

#define NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL  MSEC_TO_UNITS(500, UNIT_0_625_MS)  /**< The advertising interval for non-connectable advertisement (100 ms). This value can vary between 100ms to 10.24s). */

#define APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH  0x17       /**< Total length of information advertised by the Beacon. */
#define APP_ADV_DATA_LENGTH     0x15       /**< Length of manufacturer specific data in the advertisement. */
#define APP_DEVICE_TYPE         0x02       /**< 0x02 refers to Beacon. */
#define APP_MEASURED_RSSI       0xC3       /**< The Beacon's measured RSSI at 1 meter distance in dBm. */
#define APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER  0x0059       /**< Company identifier for Nordic Semiconductor ASA. as per www.bluetooth.org. */
#define APP_MAJOR_VALUE   0x01, 0x02     /**< Major value used to identify Beacons. */
#define APP_MINOR_VALUE   0x03, 0x04     /**< Minor value used to identify Beacons. */
#define APP_BEACON_UUID   0x4b, 0x33, 0xc0, 0xbf, \
                          0x54, 0x13, 0x00, 0x02, \
                          0x00, 0x11, 0x22, 0x33, \
                          0x44, 0x55, 0x66, 0x77    /**< Proprietary UUID for Beacon. */

#define DEAD_BEEF         0xDEADBEEF     /**< Value used as error code on stack dump, can be used to identify stack location on stack unwind. */

#if defined(USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES)
#define MAJ_VAL_OFFSET_IN_BEACON_INFO   18     /**< Position of the MSB of the Major Value in m_beacon_info array. */
#define UICR_ADDRESS      0x10001080     /**< Address of the UICR register used by this example. The major and minor versions to be encoded into the advertising data will be picked up from this location. */
#endif

static ble_gap_adv_params_t m_adv_params;      /**< Parameters to be passed to the stack when starting advertising. */
static uint8_t    m_adv_handle = BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_HANDLE_NOT_SET; /**< Advertising handle used to identify an advertising set. */
static uint8_t    m_enc_advdata[BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_DATA_SIZE_MAX];  /**< Buffer for storing an encoded advertising set. */

/**@brief Struct that contains pointers to the encoded advertising data. */
static ble_gap_adv_data_t m_adv_data =
{
  .adv_data =
  {
  .p_data = m_enc_advdata,
  .len  = BLE_GAP_ADV_SET_DATA_SIZE_MAX
  },
  .scan_rsp_data =
  {
  .p_data = NULL,
  .len  = 0

  }
};

APP_TIMER_DEF(m_app_timer_id);
APP_TIMER_DEF(m_led_off_timer_id);

int hostConnected = 0;
int moduleId = TAG_MODULE;
static int idle_cnt = IDLE_CNT;

static uint8_t m_beacon_info[APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH] =    /**< Information advertised by the Beacon. */
{
  APP_DEVICE_TYPE,   // Manufacturer specific information. Specifies the device type in this
     // implementation.
  APP_ADV_DATA_LENGTH, // Manufacturer specific information. Specifies the length of the
     // manufacturer specific data in this implementation.
  APP_BEACON_UUID,   // 128 bit UUID value.
  APP_MAJOR_VALUE,   // Major arbitrary value that can be used to distinguish between Beacons.
  APP_MINOR_VALUE,   // Minor arbitrary value that can be used to distinguish between Beacons.
  APP_MEASURED_RSSI  // Manufacturer specific information. The Beacon's measured TX power in
     // this implementation.
};


/**@brief Callback function for asserts in the SoftDevice.
 *
 * @details This function will be called in case of an assert in the SoftDevice.
 *
 * @warning This handler is an example only and does not fit a final product. You need to analyze
 *  how your product is supposed to react in case of Assert.
 * @warning On assert from the SoftDevice, the system can only recover on reset.
 *
 * @param[in]   line_num   Line number of the failing ASSERT call.
 * @param[in]   file_name  File name of the failing ASSERT call.
 */
void assert_nrf_callback(uint16_t line_num, const uint8_t * p_file_name)
{
  app_error_handler(DEAD_BEEF, line_num, p_file_name);
}

/**@brief Function for initializing the Advertising functionality.
 *
 * @details Encodes the required advertising data and passes it to the stack.
 *  Also builds a structure to be passed to the stack when starting advertising.
 */
static void advertising_init(void)
{
  uint32_t    err_code;
  ble_advdata_t advdata;
  uint8_t     flags = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAG_BR_EDR_NOT_SUPPORTED;

  ble_advdata_manuf_data_t manuf_specific_data;

  manuf_specific_data.company_identifier = APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER;

#if defined(USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES)
  // If USE_UICR_FOR_MAJ_MIN_VALUES is defined, the major and minor values will be read from the
  // UICR instead of using the default values. The major and minor values obtained from the UICR
  // are encoded into advertising data in big endian order (MSB First).
  // To set the UICR used by this example to a desired value, write to the address 0x10001080
  // using the nrfjprog tool. The command to be used is as follows.
  // nrfjprog --snr <Segger-chip-Serial-Number> --memwr 0x10001080 --val <your major/minor value>
  // For example, for a major value and minor value of 0xabcd and 0x0102 respectively, the
  // the following command should be used.
  // nrfjprog --snr <Segger-chip-Serial-Number> --memwr 0x10001080 --val 0xabcd0102
  uint16_t major_value = ((*(uint32_t *)UICR_ADDRESS) & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16;
  uint16_t minor_value = ((*(uint32_t *)UICR_ADDRESS) & 0x0000FFFF);

  uint8_t index = MAJ_VAL_OFFSET_IN_BEACON_INFO;

  m_beacon_info[index++] = MSB_16(major_value);
  m_beacon_info[index++] = LSB_16(major_value);

  m_beacon_info[index++] = MSB_16(minor_value);
  m_beacon_info[index++] = LSB_16(minor_value);
#endif

  manuf_specific_data.data.p_data = (uint8_t *) m_beacon_info;
  manuf_specific_data.data.size   = APP_BEACON_INFO_LENGTH;

  // Build and set advertising data.
  memset(&advdata, 0, sizeof(advdata));

  advdata.name_type     = BLE_ADVDATA_NO_NAME;
  advdata.flags   = flags;
  advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &manuf_specific_data;

  // Initialize advertising parameters (used when starting advertising).
  memset(&m_adv_params, 0, sizeof(m_adv_params));

  m_adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_NONCONNECTABLE_NONSCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
  m_adv_params.p_peer_addr   = NULL;  // Undirected advertisement.
  m_adv_params.filter_policy   = BLE_GAP_ADV_FP_ANY;
  m_adv_params.interval  = NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL;
  m_adv_params.duration  = 0;     // Never time out.

  err_code = ble_advdata_encode(&advdata, m_adv_data.adv_data.p_data, &m_adv_data.adv_data.len);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&m_adv_handle, &m_adv_data, &m_adv_params);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for starting advertising.
 */
static void advertising_start(void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code;

  err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_start(m_adv_handle, APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  err_code = bsp_indication_set(BSP_INDICATE_ADVERTISING);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing the BLE stack.
 *
 * @details Initializes the SoftDevice and the BLE event interrupt.
 */
static void ble_stack_init(void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code;

  err_code = nrf_sdh_enable_request();
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  // Configure the BLE stack using the default settings.
  // Fetch the start address of the application RAM.
  uint32_t ram_start = 0;
  err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_default_cfg_set(APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG, &ram_start);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  // Enable BLE stack.
  err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_enable(&ram_start);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing logging. */
static void log_init(void)
{
  return;
  ret_code_t err_code = NRF_LOG_INIT(NULL);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  NRF_LOG_DEFAULT_BACKENDS_INIT();
}

/**@brief Function for initializing LEDs. */
static void leds_init(void)
{
  return;
  ret_code_t err_code = bsp_init(BSP_INIT_LEDS, NULL);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing timers. */
static void timers_init(void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code = app_timer_init();
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for initializing power management.
 */
static void power_management_init(void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code;
  err_code = nrf_pwr_mgmt_init();
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}


/**@brief Function for handling the idle state (main loop).
 *
 * @details If there is no pending log operation, then sleep until next the next event occurs.
 */
static void idle_state_handle(void)
{
  if (NRF_LOG_PROCESS() == false)
  {
  nrf_pwr_mgmt_run();
  }
}

/**@brief   Function for handling app_uart events.
 *
 * @details This function receives a single character from the app_uart module and appends it to
 *  a string. The string is sent over BLE when the last character received is a
 *  'new line' '\n' (hex 0x0A) or if the string reaches the maximum data length.
 */
static uint8_t uart_data_ring_buf[UART_MAX_DATA_LEN];
static uint16_t wr_ptr = 0, rd_ptr = 0;

void uart_event_handle(app_uart_evt_t * p_event)
{
  return;

  switch (p_event->evt_type)
    {
    /**@snippet [Handling data from UART] */
    case APP_UART_DATA_READY:
      {
      uint8_t ch;
      UNUSED_VARIABLE(app_uart_get(&ch));
      //app_uart_put (ch);
      uart_data_ring_buf[wr_ptr ++] = ch;
      if (wr_ptr == UART_MAX_DATA_LEN)
        {
         wr_ptr = 0; 
        }
      }
      break;

    /**@snippet [Handling data from UART] */
    case APP_UART_COMMUNICATION_ERROR:
      NRF_LOG_ERROR("Communication error occurred while handling UART.");
      APP_ERROR_HANDLER(p_event->data.error_communication);
      break;

    case APP_UART_FIFO_ERROR:
      NRF_LOG_ERROR("Error occurred in FIFO module used by UART.");
      APP_ERROR_HANDLER(p_event->data.error_code);
      break;

    default:
      break;
    }
}

void
uart_rx_handler (void)
{
  uint8_t ch;
  if (wr_ptr != rd_ptr)
    {
    ch = uart_data_ring_buf [rd_ptr ++]; 
    DBG ("%c", ch);
    if (rd_ptr == UART_MAX_DATA_LEN)
      {
       rd_ptr = 0; 
      }
    }
}

/**@brief Function for initializing the UART. */
static void uart_init(void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code;

  app_uart_comm_params_t const comm_params =
  {
  .rx_pin_no  = DBG_UART_RX_PIN,
  .tx_pin_no  = DBG_UART_TX_PIN,
  .rts_pin_no   = 0,
  .cts_pin_no   = 0,
  .flow_control = APP_UART_FLOW_CONTROL_DISABLED,
  .use_parity   = false,
  .baud_rate  = UART_BAUDRATE_BAUDRATE_Baud115200
  };

  APP_UART_FIFO_INIT(&comm_params,
       UART_RX_BUF_SIZE,
       UART_TX_BUF_SIZE,
       uart_event_handle,
       APP_IRQ_PRIORITY_LOWEST,
       err_code);

  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}

static void 
app_timer_event_handler (void * p_context)
{
  nrf_gpio_pin_clear (OP_LED_1_PIN);

  app_timer_start(m_app_timer_id, APP_TIMER_TICKS(APP_TIMER_INTERVAL), NULL);
  app_timer_start(m_led_off_timer_id, APP_TIMER_TICKS(1), NULL);
}

static void 
led_off_timer_event_handler (void * p_context)
{
  nrf_gpio_pin_set (OP_LED_1_PIN);
}

static 
void lis2dw_int_handler(nrf_drv_gpiote_pin_t pin, nrf_gpiote_polarity_t action)
{
  idle_cnt = IDLE_CNT;
}

static void
lis2dw_interrupt_port_ini (void)
{
  ret_code_t err_code;

  err_code = nrf_drv_gpiote_init();
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  // This is because the IN event requires the HF clock to be running, i.e. adding about 250uA.
  // The PORT event on the other hand does not require the HF clock to be running and
  // is therefore better suited for low power applications. 
  nrf_drv_gpiote_in_config_t in_config = GPIOTE_CONFIG_IN_SENSE_HITOLO(false);  // port interrupt, not IN_Event
  in_config.pull = NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN;

  err_code = nrf_drv_gpiote_in_init(LIS2DW_INT1_PIN, &in_config, lis2dw_int_handler);
  APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

  nrf_drv_gpiote_in_event_enable(LIS2DW_INT1_PIN, true);
}

/**@brief Function for initializing buttons and leds. */
static void 
port_init(void)
{
  nrf_gpio_cfg_input(MODULE_ID_PIN, NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOPULL );
  moduleId = nrf_gpio_pin_read (MODULE_ID_PIN);

  nrf_gpio_cfg_output(OP_LED_1_PIN);
  nrf_gpio_cfg_output(OP_LED_2_PIN);

  nrf_gpio_pin_clear (OP_LED_1_PIN);
  nrf_gpio_pin_clear (OP_LED_2_PIN);
}

void 
tx_power_set (int tx_power)
{
  sd_ble_gap_tx_power_set(BLE_GAP_TX_POWER_ROLE_ADV, m_adv_handle, tx_power);
}

/**
 * @brief Function for application main entry.
 */
int main(void)
{
  // Initialize.
  log_init();
  port_init();
  uart_init ();

  timers_init();
  leds_init();
  power_management_init();
  ble_stack_init();
  advertising_init();

  sd_power_dcdc_mode_set (NRF_POWER_DCDC_ENABLE);

  app_timer_create(&m_app_timer_id, APP_TIMER_MODE_SINGLE_SHOT, app_timer_event_handler);  
  app_timer_start(m_app_timer_id, APP_TIMER_TICKS(1), NULL);

  app_timer_create(&m_led_off_timer_id, APP_TIMER_MODE_SINGLE_SHOT, led_off_timer_event_handler);  

  // Start execution.
  NRF_LOG_INFO("Beacon example started.");
  DBG ("Start AIoT Tag\n");
  DBG ("Advertising started !!\n");

  advertising_start();

  tx_power_set (0);
  DBG ("Power is set to 0\n");

  if (0)
    {
    lis2dw_init ();

    // LFCLK on for power saving
    NRF_CLOCK->EVENTS_LFCLKSTARTED = 0;
    NRF_CLOCK->TASKS_LFCLKSTART = 1;
    while (NRF_CLOCK->EVENTS_LFCLKSTARTED == 0);

    lis2dw_interrupt_port_ini ();
    }
  // Enter main loop.
  for (;; )
    {
    idle_state_handle();
    uart_rx_handler ();
    }
}


/**
 * @}
 */

[paul0208]

I remove all uart part and did test, but same result.

[Einar Thorsrud]

Hi,

I do not see anything in your code that explains the described behavior where the device sends a short burst of advertising packets, then pausing for some seconds before sending a burst again.

Have you checked (for instance by enabling logging) to see if the device resets and that is how advertising is re-started? If not, can you check? Also, what else have you learned by debugging?

If you don't make progress, perhaps you can make a project that reproduce this on a DK so that I can test on mye end?

[paul0208]

Hi,

I'm testing on nrf52840 DK board, not custom board.
I insert the LED blink test part in next of port_init(); call as follow.

  for (int i = 0; i < 5; i ++)
    {
    nrf_gpio_pin_toggle (OP_LED_1_PIN);
    nrf_delay_ms (100);
    }
  nrf_gpio_pin_clear (OP_LED_1_PIN);

After starting the DK board, I found only once executed this. so, It looks no reset is occurred during running.

I am testing on s140_nrf52_7.2.0_softdevice.hex.

[paul0208]

I have change 

#define NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL  MSEC_TO_UNITS(500, UNIT_0_625_MS) to

#define NON_CONNECTABLE_ADV_INTERVAL  MSEC_TO_UNITS(50, UNIT_0_625_MS)

500 to 50

then, no stop...

But I want  every 1 sec period advertisement for battery saving.