nRF52840 wireless mesh network set up

[Rorisang]

Hi, all. I am in need of serious help. I need to set up a wireless mesh network using the nRF52840 SoC. It must have 9 nodes and be capable of multi-hopping. I need to set up the mesh in a building with obstacles and  each nodes may need to relay packets to other nodes to help with the communications. I also need help with logging the latency and packet delivery ratios. Is it possible to detect the dynamic routing within the mesh?  I am only a beginner and i have done the examples successfully but i simply cannot do the mesh-it seems out of my league for now and so i need help. I have even gone through the You Tube videos but they have no code and mostly show only the 'blinky examples'. Please help. I tried  to contact other developers on the forum who wanted the same solutions but they have not responded and so i decided to contact the general community. Thank you in advance. 

P.S. I am new to this and so please be more plain in your explanations.

[David Edwin]

I assume you used the nRF5x SDK for Mesh ? You need to be specific with the question otherwise it is hard to help. . Get started with the nRF5x SDK for Mesh with the getting started section for Mesh.

Use the documentation and if you have questions, make the question specific and there will be help. It is easier to help if the questions are specific.

[Rorisang]

Hi, David. I hope i will be clearer now.

I am trying to set up a nine router/node wireless mesh network using the nRF52840 SoC. I am stuck in that i do not know how to program the chips so that they can connect to each other and communicate. I have downloaded the SDKs and can only do the easy 'blinky' examples. My knowledge is limited as i have a physics background.

[Rorisang]

The nRF5 SDK for Mesh now requires the nRF5 SDK to compile.

This is what the documentation says.

[David Edwin]

Yes, you do need to the nRF5 SDK , extract it and you should be able to compile it. Make sure you extract it at the same folder level as the Mesh SDK.

[Rorisang]

Hi, David. Thanks a lot for the help. I have managed to set up the client, server and provisioner examples on the three boards. I do not know if i did it the correct way:

I copied the (extracted) folders from the Mesh SDK into the (extracted) nRF5 SDK and the code compiled without any errors. I did not have any app. that could extract the two files simultaneously into a single folder and combine them accordingly.

Now, if i may ask, how do i send packets/adverts between 2 or more routers (nRF52840 's)?

[David Edwin]

Is your example now working ? If you press the button on the client , then the lights on the server should light up. You should use the Quick start guide for this.

Then you can use the pyACI interface, the serial interface to mesh and a python script on the PC to play with sending and receiving messages in an interactive way. this is a good way to learn.

Then you can look at the reference API and the example code to understand the C APIs for the Mesh.

Edit (added):

You can use the pre-compiled hex files in bin\merged\ospace\examples to do the serial or other examples

[Rorisang]

My example is not working. When i press the button 1 and 3 on the client only the LED 1 and LED 2 switch on while buttons 2 and 4 switch those off.

When i press button 1 on server, LED1 switches on while button 4 switches on all the LEDs on the server. They blink 3 times and switch off.

What am i doing wrong?

[David Edwin]

Use the Quick start guide to run the mesh first , then the pyaci and then do the examples yourself (links are in my previous post)

[Rorisang]

Done. I have ran through the dimming examples and using RTT viewer i was able to connect to each one of the nodes in succession and send 0/1 to turn on and off  LED1. How do i constantly turn on/off the LED?

[David Edwin]

Have you done the pyACI / serial , they should allow python script control for the Mesh Models so you can send on and off commands in a more programmable fashion.

[Lukas_Simma]

Hi 

For range and other tests i also need a permanent on and off toggle so i modified the proxy_client code a little bit.

I make a copy of the proxy_client folder, rename the folder proxy_client_toggle and add to main.c some app_timer code. The timer handler is executed every 2000ms. The Handler call the same method what the button event handler is doing to switch on and off the server(s). 

See my_test1_timeout_handler(...) in attached main.c file.

....\nrf5_SDK_for_Mesh\examples\light_switch\proxy_client_toggle\src

Fullscreen 64285.main.c Download

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 * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
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 */

 // Toggle on and off every 2000ms
 // search for Modified ....
  
#include <stdint.h>
#include <string.h>

/* HAL */
#include "boards.h"
#include "simple_hal.h"
#include "app_timer.h"

/* Core */
#include "nrf_mesh_configure.h"
#include "nrf_mesh.h"
#include "mesh_stack.h"
#include "device_state_manager.h"
#include "access_config.h"
#include "sdk_config.h"
#include "mesh_adv.h"
#include "nrf_sdh.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_ble.h"
#include "nrf_sdh_soc.h"
#include "ble_conn_params.h"
#include "ble_hci.h"
#include "proxy.h"

/* Provisioning and configuration */
#include "mesh_provisionee.h"
#include "mesh_app_utils.h"
#include "mesh_softdevice_init.h"

/* Models */
#include "generic_onoff_client.h"

/* Logging and RTT */
#include "log.h"
#include "rtt_input.h"

/* Example specific includes */
#include "app_config.h"
#include "nrf_mesh_config_examples.h"
#include "light_switch_example_common.h"
#include "example_common.h"

#define APP_STATE_OFF                (0)
#define APP_STATE_ON                 (1)

#define APP_UNACK_MSG_REPEAT_COUNT   (2)

#define DEVICE_NAME                     "nRF5x Mesh Switch"
#define MIN_CONN_INTERVAL               MSEC_TO_UNITS(150,  UNIT_1_25_MS)           /**< Minimum acceptable connection interval. */
#define MAX_CONN_INTERVAL               MSEC_TO_UNITS(250,  UNIT_1_25_MS)           /**< Maximum acceptable connection interval. */
#define SLAVE_LATENCY                   0                                           /**< Slave latency. */
#define CONN_SUP_TIMEOUT                MSEC_TO_UNITS(4000, UNIT_10_MS)             /**< Connection supervisory timeout (4 seconds). */
#define FIRST_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY  APP_TIMER_TICKS(100)                        /**< Time from initiating event (connect or start of notification) to first time sd_ble_gap_conn_param_update is called. */
#define NEXT_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY   APP_TIMER_TICKS(2000)                       /**< Time between each call to sd_ble_gap_conn_param_update after the first call. */
#define MAX_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_COUNT    3                                           /**< Number of attempts before giving up the connection parameter negotiation. */

// Modified
#define my_test1_cycle_ms         2000
APP_TIMER_DEF(m_my_test1_timer);

/* Forward declaration */
static void gap_params_init(void);
static void conn_params_init(void);

static void on_sd_evt(uint32_t sd_evt, void * p_context)
{
    (void) nrf_mesh_on_sd_evt(sd_evt);
}

NRF_SDH_SOC_OBSERVER(mesh_observer, NRF_SDH_BLE_STACK_OBSERVER_PRIO, on_sd_evt, NULL);

static generic_onoff_client_t m_clients[CLIENT_MODEL_INSTANCE_COUNT];
static bool                   m_device_provisioned;

/* Forward declaration */
static void app_gen_onoff_client_publish_interval_cb(access_model_handle_t handle, void * p_self);
static void app_generic_onoff_client_status_cb(const generic_onoff_client_t * p_self,
                                               const access_message_rx_meta_t * p_meta,
                                               const generic_onoff_status_params_t * p_in);
static void app_gen_onoff_client_transaction_status_cb(access_model_handle_t model_handle,
                                                       void * p_args,
                                                       access_reliable_status_t status);

const generic_onoff_client_callbacks_t client_cbs =
{
    .onoff_status_cb = app_generic_onoff_client_status_cb,
    .ack_transaction_status_cb = app_gen_onoff_client_transaction_status_cb,
    .periodic_publish_cb = app_gen_onoff_client_publish_interval_cb
};

static void provisioning_complete_cb(void)
{
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Successfully provisioned\n");

    /* Restores the application parameters after switching from the Provisioning service to the Proxy  */
    gap_params_init();
    conn_params_init();

    dsm_local_unicast_address_t node_address;
    dsm_local_unicast_addresses_get(&node_address);
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Node Address: 0x%04x \n", node_address.address_start);

    hal_led_mask_set(LEDS_MASK, LED_MASK_STATE_OFF);
    hal_led_blink_ms(LEDS_MASK, LED_BLINK_INTERVAL_MS, LED_BLINK_CNT_PROV);
}

/* This callback is called periodically if model is configured for periodic publishing */
static void app_gen_onoff_client_publish_interval_cb(access_model_handle_t handle, void * p_self)
{
     __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_WARN, "Publish desired message here.\n");
}

/* Acknowledged transaction status callback, if acknowledged transfer fails, application can
* determine suitable course of action (e.g. re-initiate previous transaction) by using this
* callback.
*/
static void app_gen_onoff_client_transaction_status_cb(access_model_handle_t model_handle,
                                                       void * p_args,
                                                       access_reliable_status_t status)
{
    switch(status)
    {
        case ACCESS_RELIABLE_TRANSFER_SUCCESS:
            __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Acknowledged transfer success.\n");
            break;

        case ACCESS_RELIABLE_TRANSFER_TIMEOUT:
            hal_led_blink_ms(LEDS_MASK, LED_BLINK_SHORT_INTERVAL_MS, LED_BLINK_CNT_NO_REPLY);
            __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Acknowledged transfer timeout.\n");
            break;

        case ACCESS_RELIABLE_TRANSFER_CANCELLED:
            __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Acknowledged transfer cancelled.\n");
            break;

        default:
            ERROR_CHECK(NRF_ERROR_INTERNAL);
            break;
    }
}

/* Generic OnOff client model interface: Process the received status message in this callback */
static void app_generic_onoff_client_status_cb(const generic_onoff_client_t * p_self,
                                               const access_message_rx_meta_t * p_meta,
                                               const generic_onoff_status_params_t * p_in)
{
    if (p_in->remaining_time_ms > 0)
    {
        __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "OnOff server: 0x%04x, Present OnOff: %d, Target OnOff: %d, Remaining Time: %d ms\n",
              p_meta->src.value, p_in->present_on_off, p_in->target_on_off, p_in->remaining_time_ms);
    }
    else
    {
        __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "OnOff server: 0x%04x, Present OnOff: %d\n",
              p_meta->src.value, p_in->present_on_off);
    }
}

static void node_reset(void)
{
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "----- Node reset  -----\n");
    hal_led_blink_ms(LEDS_MASK, LED_BLINK_INTERVAL_MS, LED_BLINK_CNT_RESET);
    /* This function may return if there are ongoing flash operations. */
    mesh_stack_device_reset();
}

static void config_server_evt_cb(const config_server_evt_t * p_evt)
{
    if (p_evt->type == CONFIG_SERVER_EVT_NODE_RESET)
    {
        node_reset();
    }
}

static void button_event_handler(uint32_t button_number)
{
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Button %u pressed\n", button_number);

    uint32_t status = NRF_SUCCESS;
    generic_onoff_set_params_t set_params;
    model_transition_t transition_params;
    static uint8_t tid = 0;

    /* 
	 * Button 1: ON, Button 2: Off, Client[0]
     * Button 2: ON, Button 3: Off, Client[1]
     */

    switch(button_number)
    {
        case 0:
        case 2:
            set_params.on_off = APP_STATE_ON;
            break;

        case 1:
        case 3:
            set_params.on_off = APP_STATE_OFF;
            break;
    }

    set_params.tid = tid++;
    transition_params.delay_ms = APP_CONFIG_ONOFF_DELAY_MS;
    transition_params.transition_time_ms = APP_CONFIG_ONOFF_TRANSITION_TIME_MS;
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Sending msg: ONOFF SET %d\n", set_params.on_off);

    switch (button_number)
    {
        case 0:
        case 1:
            /* Demonstrate acknowledged transaction, using 1st client model instance */
            /* In this examples, users will not be blocked if the model is busy */
            (void)access_model_reliable_cancel(m_clients[0].model_handle);
            status = generic_onoff_client_set(&m_clients[0], &set_params, &transition_params);
            hal_led_pin_set(BSP_LED_0, set_params.on_off);
            break;

        case 2:
        case 3:
            /* Demonstrate un-acknowledged transaction, using 2nd client model instance */
            status = generic_onoff_client_set_unack(&m_clients[1], &set_params,
                                                    &transition_params, APP_UNACK_MSG_REPEAT_COUNT);
            hal_led_pin_set(BSP_LED_1, set_params.on_off);
            break;
      }

    switch (status)
    {
        case NRF_SUCCESS:
            break;

        case NRF_ERROR_NO_MEM:
        case NRF_ERROR_BUSY:
        case NRF_ERROR_INVALID_STATE:
            __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Client %u cannot send\n", button_number);
            hal_led_blink_ms(LEDS_MASK, LED_BLINK_SHORT_INTERVAL_MS, LED_BLINK_CNT_NO_REPLY);
            break;

        case NRF_ERROR_INVALID_PARAM:
            /* Publication not enabled for this client. One (or more) of the following is wrong:
             * - An application key is missing, or there is no application key bound to the model
             * - The client does not have its publication state set
             *
             * It is the provisioner that adds an application key, binds it to the model and sets
             * the model's publication state.
             */
            __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Publication not configured for client %u\n", button_number);
            break;

        default:
            ERROR_CHECK(status);
            break;
    }
}

static void rtt_input_handler(int key)
{
    if (key >= '0' && key <= '3')
    {
        uint32_t button_number = key - '0';
        button_event_handler(button_number);
    }
}

// Modified
// Permanent toggle test
bool last_send_light_state = false;
static void my_test1_timeout_handler(void * p_context)
{
  // button 0 = on 
  // button 1 = off
  if (last_send_light_state == false) {
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "\nmy_test1_timeout_handler send ON\n");
    button_event_handler(0);
    last_send_light_state = true;
  } else {
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "\nmy_test1_timeout_handler send OFF\n");
    button_event_handler(1);
    last_send_light_state = false;
  }
}

static void models_init_cb(void)
{
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Initializing and adding models\n");

    for (uint32_t i = 0; i < CLIENT_MODEL_INSTANCE_COUNT; ++i)
    {
        m_clients[i].settings.p_callbacks = &client_cbs;
        m_clients[i].settings.timeout = 0;
        m_clients[i].settings.force_segmented = APP_CONFIG_FORCE_SEGMENTATION;
        m_clients[i].settings.transmic_size = APP_CONFIG_MIC_SIZE;

        ERROR_CHECK(generic_onoff_client_init(&m_clients[i], i + 1));
    }
}

static void on_conn_params_evt(ble_conn_params_evt_t * p_evt)
{
    uint32_t err_code;

    if (p_evt->evt_type == BLE_CONN_PARAMS_EVT_FAILED)
    {
        err_code = sd_ble_gap_disconnect(p_evt->conn_handle, BLE_HCI_CONN_INTERVAL_UNACCEPTABLE);
        APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
    }
    else if (p_evt->evt_type == BLE_CONN_PARAMS_EVT_SUCCEEDED)
    {
        __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Successfully updated connection parameters\n");
    }
}

static void conn_params_error_handler(uint32_t nrf_error)
{
    APP_ERROR_HANDLER(nrf_error);
}

static void mesh_init(void)
{
    uint8_t dev_uuid[NRF_MESH_UUID_SIZE];
    uint8_t node_uuid_prefix[NODE_UUID_PREFIX_LEN] = CLIENT_NODE_UUID_PREFIX;

    ERROR_CHECK(mesh_app_uuid_gen(dev_uuid, node_uuid_prefix, NODE_UUID_PREFIX_LEN));
    mesh_stack_init_params_t init_params =
    {
        .core.irq_priority       = NRF_MESH_IRQ_PRIORITY_LOWEST,
        .core.lfclksrc           = DEV_BOARD_LF_CLK_CFG,
        .core.p_uuid             = dev_uuid,
        .models.models_init_cb   = models_init_cb,
        .models.config_server_cb = config_server_evt_cb
    };
    ERROR_CHECK(mesh_stack_init(&init_params, &m_device_provisioned));
}

static void gap_params_init(void)
{
    uint32_t                err_code;
    ble_gap_conn_sec_mode_t sec_mode;

    BLE_GAP_CONN_SEC_MODE_SET_OPEN(&sec_mode);

    err_code = sd_ble_gap_device_name_set(&sec_mode,
                                          (const uint8_t *) DEVICE_NAME,
                                          strlen(DEVICE_NAME));
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}

static void conn_params_init(void)
{
    uint32_t               err_code;
    ble_conn_params_init_t cp_init;
    ble_gap_conn_params_t  gap_conn_params;

    memset(&gap_conn_params, 0, sizeof(gap_conn_params));
    gap_conn_params.min_conn_interval = MIN_CONN_INTERVAL;
    gap_conn_params.max_conn_interval = MAX_CONN_INTERVAL;
    gap_conn_params.slave_latency     = SLAVE_LATENCY;
    gap_conn_params.conn_sup_timeout  = CONN_SUP_TIMEOUT;

    err_code = sd_ble_gap_ppcp_set(&gap_conn_params);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    memset(&cp_init, 0, sizeof(cp_init));
    cp_init.p_conn_params                  = &gap_conn_params;
    cp_init.first_conn_params_update_delay = FIRST_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY;
    cp_init.next_conn_params_update_delay  = NEXT_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_DELAY;
    cp_init.max_conn_params_update_count   = MAX_CONN_PARAMS_UPDATE_COUNT;
    cp_init.start_on_notify_cccd_handle    = BLE_GATT_HANDLE_INVALID;
    cp_init.disconnect_on_fail             = false;
    cp_init.evt_handler                    = on_conn_params_evt;
    cp_init.error_handler                  = conn_params_error_handler;

    err_code = ble_conn_params_init(&cp_init);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
}

static void initialize(void)
{
    __LOG_INIT(LOG_SRC_APP | LOG_SRC_ACCESS, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, LOG_CALLBACK_DEFAULT);
    __LOG(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "----- BLE Mesh Light Switch Client Demo -----\n");

    ERROR_CHECK(app_timer_init());
    hal_leds_init();

#if BUTTON_BOARD
    ERROR_CHECK(hal_buttons_init(button_event_handler));
#endif
    uint32_t err_code = nrf_sdh_enable_request();
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);
#if defined S140 // todo remove that after S140 priority fixing
    softdevice_irq_priority_checker();
#endif

    uint32_t ram_start = 0;
    /* Set the default configuration (as defined through sdk_config.h). */
    err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_default_cfg_set(MESH_SOFTDEVICE_CONN_CFG_TAG, &ram_start);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    err_code = nrf_sdh_ble_enable(&ram_start);
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(err_code);

    gap_params_init();
    conn_params_init();

    mesh_init();
}

static void start(void)
{
    rtt_input_enable(rtt_input_handler, RTT_INPUT_POLL_PERIOD_MS);
    ERROR_CHECK(mesh_stack_start());

    if (!m_device_provisioned)
    {
        static const uint8_t static_auth_data[NRF_MESH_KEY_SIZE] = STATIC_AUTH_DATA;
        mesh_provisionee_start_params_t prov_start_params =
        {
            .p_static_data    = static_auth_data,
            .prov_complete_cb = provisioning_complete_cb,
            .p_device_uri = NULL
        };
        ERROR_CHECK(mesh_provisionee_prov_start(&prov_start_params));
    }

    const uint8_t *p_uuid = nrf_mesh_configure_device_uuid_get();
    __LOG_XB(LOG_SRC_APP, LOG_LEVEL_INFO, "Device UUID ", p_uuid, NRF_MESH_UUID_SIZE);

    hal_led_mask_set(LEDS_MASK, LED_MASK_STATE_OFF);
    hal_led_blink_ms(LEDS_MASK, LED_BLINK_INTERVAL_MS, LED_BLINK_CNT_START);
}

int main(void)
{
    initialize();

    // Modified
     APP_ERROR_CHECK(app_timer_create(&m_my_test1_timer, APP_TIMER_MODE_REPEATED, my_test1_timeout_handler));

    execution_start(start);

    // Modified
    APP_ERROR_CHECK(app_timer_start(m_my_test1_timer, APP_TIMER_TICKS(my_test1_cycle_ms), NULL));

    for (;;)
    {
        (void)sd_app_evt_wait();
    }
}

See button_event_handler(uint32_t button_number)

button_number   / behavior 
  0  /   send ON to Client[0]      same as Button 1 is pressed
  1  /   send OFF to Client[0]    same as Button 2 is pressed
  2  /   send ON to Client[1]      same as Button 3 is pressed
  3  /   send OFF to Client[1]    same as Button 4 is pressed

/*
* Button 1: ON, Button 2: Off, Client[0]
* Button 2: ON, Button 3: Off, Client[1]
*/

Hope that helps.....

[Rorisang]

Working on those now. Thanks very much for your help thus far. I have learnt so much. Please do not get tired of my asking so many questions.