BLE OTA by BLE connection not by DTM mode

[Johnnywen]

Hi Asbjørn，

As I mentioned in case 352770

We are in same question as the  initial question issued by our colleague RongLinQin. As I mentioned, we want to conduct BLE OTA no based on DTM mode but using BLE connection. we can not do anything for Soft Device, so just try to implement it on app layer, but still fail to do that.

So, we are not sure  if you could help give some instructions about how to do that on app layer if Nordic do not want to change anything in soft device for that.

Thanks a lot

Wen Jun

[Johnnywen]

I would like to give some more information, what I mentioned is BLE OTA testing,that is, RF performance testing, not means DFU, thanks.

[Kenneth]

I can see you are working on the nRF5 SDK, unfortunately I think it's unlikely we will do changes at this time in the softdevice controller that allow what you request. If you are already in contact with Nordic in other ways (e.g. e-mail or teams) then I suggest you continue discussion there.

Kenneth

[Johnnywen]

Hi Kenneth,

As I mentioned, we are checking this issue in ticket 352770 

And Nordic engineer request to create a new ticket for it,

If Nordic can not make change in soft device , is it possible Nordic help to give some instruction for how to implement it on app layer, as I believe our request is very useful for vendors based on nRF52840 to develop product and so have a request for BLE OTA testing(not based on DTM mode but BLE connection)

Thanks.

Wen Jun

[Kenneth]

Hello,

It's not possible for the application to override this, the problem in this case is that Rohde & Schwarz are violation of BT core spec, from volume 6, Part B, chapter 5 it says:

"only one Link Layer control procedure shall be initiated in the Link Layer at a time per connection per device. A new Link Layer control procedure shall not be initiated until any previous Link Layer control procedure initiated by the same device on the same connection has completed."

You should reach out to Rohde & Schwarz and ask them to change their test, it is possible to do this other ways than violation of spec, but it must be implemented by Rohde & Schwarz.

Kenneth

[Johnnywen]

Hi Kenneth,

Thanks for your information.

Actually, we have already checked it with R&S several months ago,

Here I would like to put their comments for your reference.

Looks like they already discussed it with Nordic team and not sure if you have the same page for this issue?

As it is not possible to implement it on app layer as you said, if Nordic can make any change in soft device for it as I believe many vendors have this request like doing BLE OTA testing not by DTM mode but BLE connection.

Could you please help double check it?

Many thanks.

==> Comments from R&S for your reference,

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The 'Connection mode' measurement on the CMW platform uses the LL_Feature_Req/Rsp as the mechanism to perform receiver (PER) measurements.
So, we are using this measurement mode as a way of allowing customers to test RF performance OTA.
However, in order to allow this mode of operation to work means ‘bending the rules’ of the Core Specification – I.e. it has been done by design and not by accident.

If we didn't do this then the measurement would not be possible.

Other devices don't have a issue with this approach.

We have already discussed it with the Nordic engineering team

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