ANCS Sample doesn't work after rebooting iOS Device

[Nori]

I'm testing ble_app_ancs experimental sample.

It seems working first connection. But after rebooting iOS Device, or Turn Off/On bluetooth function on iOS Device, ANCS does't work.

After delete bonding both evaluation board and iOS Device, it works again. Is there any infomation about this issue?

Testing Environment

iOS Device iPod touch 5th Gen. iOS 7.0.3 iPhone 5 iOS 7.0.3

BLE Board nrf6310 Rev 1.4 nrf6350 Rev 2.0 PCA10004 Rev 2.1.0 Softdevice 6.0.0-5beta

[Paul]

Hi Ole, how can I write the CCCDs on reconnection? I've no idea how to do this and where.

Also, how do I use whitelisting when advertising? I couldn't find any mention in ble_advdata.c/.h.

Thanks again.

[Ole Morten]

Whitelisting is not part of the advertising data, but of the advertising parameters. Take a look at ble_app_proximity which uses whitelisting.

As for writing CCCDs, this can be done with the ble_ancs_c_enable_notif* functions.

[Paul]

Hi Ole,

Thanks again for your help. I am now halfway there...

I have changed the following code in on_ble_evt from:

case BLE_GAP_EVT_AUTH_STATUS:
apple_notification_setup();
break;

to:

case BLE_GAP_EVT_CONN_PARAM_UPDATE:
case BLE_GAP_EVT_AUTH_STATUS:
apple_notification_setup();
break;

This causes alerts to work after Bluetooth is turned off (on the iPhone) and back on again.

However, alerts still do not work after the iPhone has been turned off and back on again!

(although turning Bluetooth off (on the iPhone) and back on, will start it working again).

I'm not sure why yet, but perhaps it is because after a reboot of the iPhone, there are no events for BLE_GATTC_EVT_CHAR_DISC_RSP or BLE_GATTC_EVT_DESC_DISC_RSP.

I am using the following to check for events:

extern uint16_t live_event;
void ble_evt_dispatch(ble_evt_t * p_ble_evt)
{
live_event = p_ble_evt->header.evt_id;
...

and

uint16_t live_event = 0;
int main(void)
{
...
...
...
    while (true)
    {
        if (live_event != 0)
        {
            char text[20];
            sprintf(text, "%04x \r\n", live_event);
            simple_uart_putstring((const uint8_t *) text);	
            live_event = 0;
        }
}

How can I re-enable notifications after an iPhone has been turned off and back on?

[Ole Morten]

Can I recommend re-reading point 2. in my answer? The easiest workaround is most likely to start a timer when the first service discovery fails, to retry after some seconds, when the iOS device is fully up and running.

[Paul]

Hi Ole,

I found that I had to keep my code mentioned above:

case BLE_GAP_EVT_CONN_PARAM_UPDATE:
case BLE_GAP_EVT_AUTH_STATUS:
apple_notification_setup();
break;

and, add the following:

ble_ancs_c_t * timer_p_ancs;

void timer_service_discovery(void)
{
    service_disc_req_send(timer_p_ancs);
}

static void event_discover_rsp(ble_ancs_c_t * p_ancs, const ble_evt_t * p_ble_evt)
{
    if (p_ble_evt->evt.gattc_evt.gatt_status != BLE_GATT_STATUS_SUCCESS)
    {
        // ignore failure - retry in one second
        //handle_discovery_failure(p_ancs, p_ble_evt->evt.gattc_evt.gatt_status);

        timer_p_ancs = p_ancs;
        // call function timer_service_discovery in 1000ms, don't repeat
        start_new_timer(timer_service_discovery, 1000, false);
...

This seems to allow notifications after bluetooth has been turned off and on, AND after the iPhone has been turned off and on.

Please let me know if you think this is a suitable work-around, or what needs changing and where about in the source.

Thank you for all your help so far, Paul.