What is the purpose of the "void mlme_poll_ind (mlme_poll_ind_t * p_ind)" function in the 802.15.4 Library.

[lorv]

Hello,

I am currently developing a small Star network for the nRF52840 dongle using plain 802.15.4 protcol with the IEEE802.15.4 Library provided by the nRF5 SDK.

I use a non-beacon enabled PAN. I am not sure on how to handle indirect messages. It is my understanding that the PAN Coordinator handles indirect messages automatically by puting them in the transaction queue and sending them out when a mlme-poll request from a node is receiveid. Am I right in that assumption? If so then I don't get the purpose of the

void mlme_poll_ind (mlme_poll_ind_t *  	p_ind)

function. The Library API states that it's purpose is to notify the next higher layer that a mlme-poll request has been received, but why is that even necessary if the MAC layer handels the request on it's own? I also don't see who should call this function?

Any clearification is much appretiated.

Cheers, lorv

[Edvin]

Hello lorv,

There are two types of devices in this stack, FFD and RFD (Full Function Device and Reduced Function Device).

Basically, FFDs will relay/forward messages in the network, while the RFDs will not. This function, mlme_poll_ind is intended for the RFDs. They will not forward the packets. I asked one of our engineers working closer with the 802.15.4 drivers, and he said that this function is probably written for debug purposes. This function would be a call from the MAC layer to the application layer, but as I said, only for debugging purposes. Nothing you need to handle in your application.

Best regards,

Edvin

[lorv]

Hello Edvin,

thanks a lot that clarifies things!

Cheers