Can multiple phones connect to one mesh node?

[Karl1]

Hello developers. 

I successfully ran the Mesh project with Light Switch example on nRF52840 devices. And I have 2 questions about this. 

Question 1: How can I access from different phones the same device? At which layer (or part of the code) should I look? Or, is it even possible?

I read and experienced that in a BLE connection, only one device (phone) can connect to a board. But Mesh is built on a different communication stack, therfore I am wondering if this is possible.

Question 2: Is the nRF52840 with whom I interact with the phone called "proxy node"? If yes, then every node from the Mesh can be at some point a proxy node, correct?

Thank you in advance! 

[Edvin]

Hello,

When a phone connects to a mesh node, it is actually just a BLE connection. 

 

I read and experienced that in a BLE connection, only one device (phone) can connect to a board.

 Is that the reason you went with a mesh node, or do you already have a mesh network that you need to work with?

It is not true that you can only connect one central (phone) to a peripheral/slave/"device". Please check out the SDK\examples\ble_peripheral\experimental\ble_app_multiperipheral. 

Q2: Yes, as long as it supports BLE. Most examples from our Mesh SDK does, but not all Mesh nodes supports this. 

BR,

Edvin

[Karl1]

Edvin said:

do you already have a mesh network that you need to work with

I have a mesh network, made of light switches and bulbs (just like in the example). But that's what I wanted to know - How I can integrate the mesh functionality & being able to connect with any mesh node,  simultaneously from multiple phones. 

Edvin said:

It is not true that you can only connect one central (phone) to a peripheral/slave/"device".

Ok, so I was just looking at the wrong example. Thanks for explaining! And what differs between the examples? Is it the advertising intervals? Or the connection event handler? After a connection is established, the board just continues to advertise? 

I suppose multiple things differ. 

Edvin said:

Yes, as long as it supports BLE.

OK, I understand. Thanks a lot! 

[Edvin]

I am not sure how to do this with the Mesh SDK. I suggest you check out the multiperipheral example, and look at how it starts advertising again after the connection. See if you can implement the same in the Mesh SDK. It is not exactly the same, because advertisements are set up and used differently, because the mesh communication is using advertisements as well.

BR,

Edvin