multiprotocol OpenThread 'CLI' sample - How to replace UART console interface with BLE interface?

[Sanju]

Hi,

The 'nRF Connect' SDK (v1.4.99-dev1) sample OpenThread CLI is programmed to receive 'ot' commands from UART console. When configured with multi-protocol support, the app also offers access to a few READ properties, over BLE, such as Device Name & Appearance (value:833 Heart Rate Sensor.)

Is there any way to replace the app's UART console with 'BLE' - i.e. instead of receiving 'ot' commands from UART console, make the OpenThread CLI app receive 'ot' commands from Bluetooth interface (e.g. from 'nRF Connect for Mobile') ?

Regards,

Sanju

[Vidar Berg]

Hi Sanju,

I have not tested it myself, but it looks like it should be possible if you enable CONFIG_SHELL_BT_NUS as in the NUS shell transport. Attached below is a modified version of the CLI example where I have tried to enable the BT shell. It may serve as a starting point.  I have not verified that it actaully works with the host test scripts (link)

cli_ble.zip

Regards,

Vidar

[Sanju]

Hi Vidar,

I tried your modified version of the OpenThread CLI example (built with NCS v1.4.99-dev1 SDK.) It doesn't work (like the 'NUS Shell Transport' example.)
After execution of step no.5 (described in 'Testing using shell_bt_nus') i.e. opening a new PuTTY session, setting the Connection Type to Raw and the Destination Address to 127.0.0.1:8889), the 'bt_nus_shell.py' script throws following error:
"Starting BLESerial failed. Error: Timeout. Target device not found"

Regards,
Sanju

[Vidar Berg]

Hi Sanju,

I've been meaning to try this out myself, but have not had the time for it yet. However, just looking at the image you posted it seems the problem is that it's not finding any devices named "BT_NUS_Shell". Is CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME set to "BT_NUS_Shell" in your project?

Regards,

Vidar

[Sanju]

Hi Vidar,

CONFIG_BT_DEVICE_NAME was set to "NCS DUT" in prj.conf
I changed it to "BT_NUS_Shell" and rebuilt the sample and retried 'Testing using shell_bt_nus'. Yet the test script threw the same "Target device not found" error. When checked with 'nRF Connect for Mobile' app, found that the device still advertised with device name "NCS DUT". The updated CONFIG_BT_DEV_NAME in 'prj.conf' doesn't seem to override the default device name. Hence updated (reconfigured) the same in subsys/bluetooth/host/Kconfig. 

I successfully tested the newly built sample!
Thank you very much!

Regards,
Sanju

[Vidar Berg]

Hi Sanju,

Thank you for the update. I'm glad to hear that it works. With regards to the CONFIG_BT_DEV_NAME setting, are you using the  'overlay-minimal_multiprotocol.conf' overlay by any chance? This overlay also defines the device name, and it will thus override the setting in prj.conf if applied.

[Sanju]

Hi Vidar,

I had tried extension 'overlay-minimal_multiprotocol.conf' with OpenThread CLI sample earlier but had removed it from "Additional CMake options" in SES and then "Ran CMake", before proceeding with your custom modifications.

Regards,
Sanju

[Vidar Berg]

Hi Sanju,

So the device name setting was not being overriden by the overlay at least. If you try to import the project again, please try selecting the "Clean Build Directory" option from the import menu and see if the prj.conf setting gets applied then.

Regards,

Vidar