Updating advertising data (manuf. spec. data) in SDK15

Question

Hello guys! And girls 
 
 My project is working as expected in SDK14.2. I'm updating adv data (manuf. spec. data) without any problem with this function static void advertising_data_update(uint8_t adv_manuf_byte)
{
 ret_code_t err_code;

 ble_advertising_init_t init;
 ble_advdata_manuf_data_t adv_manuf_data;
 uint8_array_t adv_manuf_data_array;
 uint8_t adv_manuf_data_data[1];
 adv_manuf_data_data[0] = adv_manuf_byte;

 memset(&init, 0, sizeof(init));

 init.advdata.name_type = BLE_ADVDATA_FULL_NAME;
 init.advdata.include_appearance = false;
 init.advdata.flags = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAGS_LE_ONLY_GENERAL_DISC_MODE;
 init.advdata.uuids_complete.uuid_cnt = sizeof(m_adv_uuids) / sizeof(m_adv_uuids[0]);
 init.advdata.uuids_complete.p_uuids = m_adv_uuids;

 adv_manuf_data_array.p_data = adv_manuf_data_data;
 adv_manuf_data_array.size = sizeof(adv_manuf_data_data);
 adv_manuf_data.company_identifier = APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER;
 adv_manuf_data.data = adv_manuf_data_array;
 init.advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &adv_manuf_data;

 init.config.ble_adv_whitelist_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_slow_enabled = false;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_slow_interval = 0;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_slow_timeout = 0;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_interval = APP_ADV_INTERVAL;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_timeout = APP_ADV_TIMEOUT_IN_SECONDS;
 
 err_code = ble_advdata_set(&init.advdata, NULL);
 APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code); 
} But in SDK15 the function ble_advdata_set() has been deprecated. The migration guide is says to use ble_advdata_encode() and sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure() instead. So I changed it to something like this static void advertising_data_update(uint8_t adv_manuf_byte)
{
 ret_code_t err_code;

 ble_advertising_init_t init;
 ble_advdata_manuf_data_t adv_manuf_data;
 uint8_array_t adv_manuf_data_array;
 adv_manuf_data_data[0] = adv_manuf_byte;

 memset(&init, 0, sizeof(init));

 init.advdata.name_type = BLE_ADVDATA_FULL_NAME;
 init.advdata.include_appearance = false;
 init.advdata.flags = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAGS_LE_ONLY_LIMITED_DISC_MODE;
 init.advdata.uuids_complete.uuid_cnt = sizeof(m_adv_uuids) / sizeof(m_adv_uuids[0]);
 init.advdata.uuids_complete.p_uuids = m_adv_uuids;
 
 adv_manuf_data_array.p_data = adv_manuf_data_data;
 adv_manuf_data_array.size = sizeof(adv_manuf_data_data);
 adv_manuf_data.company_identifier = APP_COMPANY_IDENTIFIER;
 adv_manuf_data.data = adv_manuf_data_array;
 init.advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &adv_manuf_data;

 init.config.ble_adv_whitelist_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_high_duty_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_directed_enabled = false;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_enabled = true;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_interval = APP_ADV_INTERVAL;
 init.config.ble_adv_fast_timeout = APP_ADV_FAST_DURATION;

 //err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_stop(m_advertising.adv_handle);
 //APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
 
 err_code = ble_advdata_encode(&init.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_advertising.adv_handle, &m_adv_data, NULL);
 APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
 
 //err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_start(m_advertising.adv_handle, APP_BLE_CONN_CFG_TAG);
 //APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
} And of course... it's not working. :) I'm getting a very strange error at sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure() --> app: ERROR 12801 [Unknown error code] Any idea why? What I'm doing wrong? What I have to change to get this working like in the SDK14.2?

Koenig Patrick · Answer

I found a solution that seems to work fine. Once you have started the advertising, just use ble_advdata_encode to encode your data and write it to the buffer used when you first called sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure . Do not call the sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure function again, only encode the data. Your advertising data will be updated every time you do this. This might not be the recommend way for doing this, but I did not encounter any errors yet.

Spirit · Answer

Guys, I don't know if you already seen that, but... in the SDK15.1 the Advertising module has a new function - ble_advertising_advdata_update ;)

Spirit · Answer

Nguyen Hoan Hoang You provide a good "workaround", not a solution ;)

Alexander · Answer

I got it working. I ditched the advertising module and followed the migration guide. I use 2 advdata buffers and switch between them when updating advdata. I also switch to boradcaster advertising when connected and updating works then too. 
 status peripheral_advdata_update(uint8_t * advdata_buffer_p, uint8_t len)
{
 ret_code_t ret;

 increment_advdata_buffer();
 set_advdata_buffer(advdata_buffer_p, len);

 ret = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&adv_handle, &adv_data_buffer.adv_data, NULL);
 if (ret != NRF_SUCCESS)
 {
 NRF_LOG_INFO("adv_update error: 0x%02X", ret);
 return BLE_WSI_STATUS_SOFTDEVICE_INVALID_STATE;
 }
 else
 {
 NRF_LOG_INFO("using buffer %d", adv_data_buffer.idx);
 return BLE_WSI_STATUS_SUCCESS;
 }
} status peripheral_advertising_init(uint32_t interval, uint32_t duration, uint8_t * advdata_buffer_p, uint8_t len)
{
 ret_code_t ret;
 increment_advdata_buffer();
 set_advdata_buffer(advdata_buffer_p, len);

 adv_params.interval = interval;
 adv_params.duration = duration;
 memset(adv_params.channel_mask, 0, 5); /*Advertising on all the primary channels */
 adv_params.max_adv_evts = 0;
 adv_params.filter_policy = BLE_GAP_ADV_FP_ANY;
 adv_params.primary_phy = BLE_GAP_PHY_AUTO;
 adv_params.scan_req_notification = 1;
 if (!m_periph_params.is_connected)
 {
 adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_CONNECTABLE_SCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
 NRF_LOG_INFO("Connectable adv");
 }
 else
 {
 adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_NONCONNECTABLE_SCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
 NRF_LOG_INFO("Unconnectable adv");
 }
 if (m_periph_params.is_advertising)
 {
 ret = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&adv_handle, &adv_data_buffer.adv_data, NULL);
 }
 else
 {
 ret = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&adv_handle, &adv_data_buffer.adv_data, &adv_params);
 }
 
 NRF_LOG_INFO("adv_init: 0x%02X", ret);
 return ret;
} 
 This works good for me. I need to keep track of if advertising is ongoing or not myself and if i want to change interval or such I have to do that manually. But it isn't to much work.

Koenig Patrick · Answer

My Update Function is only performing an update on the manufacturer specific data section of the advertising data (basicly I am copying new data to the array), then I am calling ble_advdata_encode to reencode the data. 
 static void advertising_init(void)
{
 ret_code_t err_code;
 //ble_advdata_t advdata;
 ble_advdata_t srdata;

 ble_uuid_t adv_uuids[] = {{BLE_UUID_DEVICE_INFORMATION_SERVICE, BLE_UUID_TYPE_BLE}};

 // Build and set advertising data.
 memset(&advdata, 0, sizeof(advdata));

 advdata.name_type = BLE_ADVDATA_FULL_NAME;
 advdata.include_appearance = false;
 advdata.flags = BLE_GAP_ADV_FLAGS_LE_ONLY_GENERAL_DISC_MODE;

 adv_manuf_data.data.p_data = adv_manuf_data_data;
 adv_manuf_data.data.size = 9;
 adv_manuf_data.company_identifier = 0x0054; 
 advdata.p_manuf_specific_data = &adv_manuf_data;

 memset(&srdata, 0, sizeof(srdata));
 srdata.uuids_complete.uuid_cnt = sizeof(adv_uuids) / sizeof(adv_uuids[0]);
 srdata.uuids_complete.p_uuids = adv_uuids;

 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 = ble_advdata_encode(&srdata, m_adv_data.scan_rsp_data.p_data, &m_adv_data.scan_rsp_data.len);
 APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

 // Set advertising parameters.
 memset(&adv_params, 0, sizeof(adv_params));

 adv_params.primary_phy = BLE_GAP_PHY_1MBPS;
 adv_params.duration = APP_ADV_DURATION;
 adv_params.properties.type = BLE_GAP_ADV_TYPE_CONNECTABLE_SCANNABLE_UNDIRECTED;
 adv_params.p_peer_addr = NULL;
 adv_params.filter_policy = BLE_GAP_ADV_FP_ANY;
 adv_params.interval = default_advertising_interval;

 err_code = sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure(&m_adv_handle, &m_adv_data, &adv_params);
 APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
} 
 void update_advertising_data(void)
{

 ret_code_t err_code;

 memcpy(&adv_manuf_data_data[0], (uint8_t*) &data, sizeof(data));

 err_code = ble_advdata_encode(&advdata, m_adv_data.adv_data.p_data, &m_adv_data.adv_data.len); 

 APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

} 
 I am calling the init function once at the beginning of the program, then I am only calling the update function while the program is running. If a connection is closed, I am just restarting the advertising, without changing the configuration.

UssamaNayyer · Answer

Can you please tell me...What is "data" parameter in memcpy(&adv_manuf_data_data[0], (uint8_t*) &data, sizeof(data)) function???

tesc · Answer

Hi, 
 Rob C said: I'd like to see Nordic weigh in on this. 
 Unfortunately there are issues with ble_advertising_advdata_update() , for SDK v15.x and SoftDevice v6. 
 If you set the "permanent" parameter to true it will try to reuse the original buffer, but that is not allowed when advertising is ongoing. This is a known issue. The workaround is to stop advertising, then update the data, then start advertising again. 
 You can use it with "permanent" of false at any time if you manage double buffering yourself. If you use a single buffer then you will still have to do the drill of stop advertising, update data, start advertising. 
 If you use sd_ble_gap_adv_set_configure() directly for updating the advertising data you also need to use double buffering or stop advertising, update data, start advertising. 
 So yes, essentially you have two options: 
 
 Stop advertising, then change data, then start advertising again. 
 Use double buffers, which you handle yourself. 
 
 Regards, Terje

Updating advertising data (manuf. spec. data) in SDK15

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