I want to implement bluetooth communication on my final bachelor project, but I'm having a lot of doubts.
One of the requisites of this project is to have a Java application that can talk to the micro via Bluetooth. After a lot of research, I've found one that I think it's very good with a SPP profile, but I still have a lot of questions about it:
All the bluetooth on a PC implements the SPP profile stack?
If you need to develop a Java application that runs on every PC that implements the SPP stack, how would you do it?
We started by trying to use BlueCove and JavaBluetooth.org API, the first one runs great but I don't know if it's just on my PC and the second one sends an error (Stack not initialized). Which one would you use, and why?
We decided to buy this bluetooth module, from Sparkfun, any comments for those of you who already use it?
Thanks
I used a similar product for my senior design project from Sparkfun (RN-41): http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10559
It worked right out of the box as a simple UART. This allowed my team and I to develop a simple C# application that used the .NET SerialPort class (System.IO.Ports) to communicate between an MSP430 and the PC application we were developing. If streaming data is all you care about, these Bluetooth modules work great. Java implements a similar SerialPort class for RS-232 communications. Don't forget that Bluetooth was developed to replace a serial cable.
I hope this answer helps! Good luck.
I personnally achieved to use the Sparkfun's bluesmirf devices to communicate with my own Java application (an Eclipse plug-in). I tested it successfully under Windows, MacOS & Linux based systems.
I used the RXTX Java library to connect to the corresponding serial port once the Bluetooth devices were paired. Under Linux I even achieved to configure rfcomm to automatically pair the Bluetooth devices on demand.
From my experiment I encountered some stability issues... Sometimes it simply fails to connect to the given port even if it exists or refuse to reconnect on it. Sometimes it hangs the whole system...
I never found any good solution to fix those issues that seems to be completely system dependent. I would be interested if any one achieved to use it properly...
Related
I am just learning about embedded systems and checking about wifi modules. I see in the datasheet they mention about a core processor that is integrated with rf SoC. I also see another processor on the MCU called application processor. I am confused about its purpose. What is it used for? Can someone please clarify? For reference, I was reading about the ATSAMW25 module.
Typically, devices that include wireless technologies (whether its Bluetooth/BLE, WiFi, LoRa, etc) include both the hardware required to manage the wireless connectivity and then separate hardware for running the higher-level application of the system. Frequently, managing the wireless protocol is intensive enough that it is best done with its own small processor running its own firmware to deal with connectivity and sending data over the link and might include a fair amount of proprietary firmware from the vendor (ie, Microchip in your example). To enable programmers to write their own code for the system, these protocol processors are paired with application processors, ones for whom the development tools and documentation are more openly available to developers for implementing whatever they want to do with the module. By separating the two operations (wireless/protocol and application), the code developers implement has less chance of causing fundamental problems for the wireless connectivity (like, application code hanging causes entire WiFi networks to fail) and the proprietary aspects of the system can be better protected (or another way, more documentation can be provided to developers without signing an NDA as the application processor is more "open" while the details of the wireless implementation are usually not).
In the case of the module youre looking at, the wireless hardware is all inside the ATWINC1500 and is accessed via SPI and some other GPIO by the SAMD21G (the application processor). All the code you write for the module end up running on the SAMD21G with some library/driver support to implement the wireless functions (which under the hood, are implemented by talking to the ATWINC1500). The ATWINC1500 simply runs the code the vendor (Microchip) wrote to actually do all the wireless protocol work and provides an interface for another processor (in this module, the SAMD21G) to control it.
I am working on a project that requires me to use TI's MSP430F5529 launch pad, CC3100 Booster Pack and CC3100XX Emulator.
The project I would like to do is have the MSP430 log sensor data and to transmit it to a PC wirelessly(Without Internet). I am a beginner in using MCU,s but I can handle the datalogging part. I do not know how to get started with the communication part.
Can someone please direct me to where I could get some good reference material to get this project off the ground and if possible better insight on what I need to do to get started.
Thank you all in advance.
We've got two WinCE devices that need to talk to each other, they don't have WiFi or Bluetooth so I think a wired USB connection is our best chance. I've been reading up on using ActiveSync and serial over USB, but all the articles are geared towards talking between a WinCE device to a full Windows box, never between two WinCE devices.
If we can get ActiveSync working, that's fine, the other option is just to open COM ports on both sides and write our own communications protocol.
Given the project timelines, writing any sort of device driver isn't an option, this needs to be something that is built in to WinCE.
We are building WinCE for both devices, so I can make any modifications necessary at that level.
Is there a way to get these two guys talking to each other?
If you can't write your own driver then your fastest route is probably to get a USB to serial converter for both devices and then connect them via serial.
Obviously, you'll need to choose one that has support for Windows Mobile. I think FTDI based adapters should work.
Once that's working you just use the built-in serial API to read and write data.
Hope this is the right place to ask - assuming so as it is related to programming.
I am looking for some hardware (say a dongle) that would open up an API for my computer to a SIM card. Does that exist anywhere?
The idea would be that I can then use my existing SIM card on its existing network/contract and with a bit of code, send/receive calls and texts. I figured that if a phone can be programmed to do it why can't a computer? I just need the hardware.
Any suggestions if this kind of thing is possible? Even by maybe integrating a phone?
You can use AT commands with any modem or phone, whose driver exposes a modem port when you connect it to a computer. Plug in the phone or modem, and go to Windows Device Manager, and look under "Modems" and see what you've got. From "properties" of the Modem, you can see which COM port it is on.
AT commands are an older method of communicating with a modem. There is a standard set of commands for GSM/GPRS/3G/4G devices available from 3GPP.org, here. Manufacturers add their own proprietary commands for more obscure functions. Many but not all of these are in the public domain.
Some newer plug-in modems may appear as a network adapter (you can see this in Windows), due to their drivers. In this case, you can use the following interfaces:
on Vista: NDIS, proprietary interfaces
on Windows 7 and 8.x Desktop apps: Windows Mobile Broadband API
on Windows 8.x, in the Metro/app area: Windows.Networking and MobileBroadband APIs.
on Windows 10, UWP, there are UWP APIs here. But they do not give as much functionality as the Desktop APIs.
On Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, if the appropriate drives are present it is possible to use the new MBIM interface via the desktop Mobile Broadband DeviceServices API. Mobile Broadband Interface Model spec available here.
On Linux, use AT commands via the serial port.
I'm a bit puzzled by your requirement to make (voice?) calls via a phone connected to a computer. Do you mean Skype? In this case, of course, you wouldn't need any interface for making calls, you would just open an IP connection over a data session - which can be done via any of the above interfaces.
(added this comment as an answer, as there was more information)
I use this GSM device: http://www.mikroe.com/click/gsm2/ connected to a basic UART like: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/718?gclid=CIj1xOzbur4CFUVbfgodCpQASQ
Then use AT COMMANDS.
I also use a piece of software called QNavigator to inspect the modem/gsm: http://www.soselectronic.com/?str=1329
I have a project which the information from the microcontroller (drop rate changes of dextrose like sending notification "nearly empty" or "Sudden change of drop rate. Drop rate of 15 automatically return to 14") would display in an application in a computer. I am thinking of using ZigBee and it would be responsible for transferring the information but I am new with the technology.
Does anyone could help me how to program the ZigBee module? I have seen some articles saying that it could be programmed in eclipse CDT. I am bit confused how to get start.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Use USB Explorer device (or similar) to enter a serial terminal session on the receiving XBee.
Type ATMY to get the receiving XBee's address. Write it down.
Put the sender in the USB Explorer and type ATDL plus the receiver's address, like "ATDL798A728"
Type ATWR to save this setting.
Attach sender XBee's UART (TX and RX pins) to microcontroller.
Plug receiving XBee into USB Explorer attached to computer.
Run Processing sketch or similar to read from the serial port.
The two XBees will run by default in 'transparent mode,' which pipes data coming into one UART out of the other UART, exactly like a wire. So when your microcontroller writes data into the sender XBee, it will come out of the receiving XBee and be read (and displayed or whatever you need) by your software.
It really depends on how much configuration your installation can handle. Is this a one off installation, or a "system" of products you want to make that have to be able to work together in whatever configuration they're bought?
As already explained, xbee modules that have the whole radio + stack already setup and working for serial data are simple to use for the trivial case of you sending out a few pre-paired setups form the lab, or even site installation by an expert.
If your embedded devices have to find each other automatically, then you'd need a way to get the embedded microcontroller to get the modules discover each other, make a connection, and then have the application code in the embedded microcontrollers talk to each other and identify what they need to do with each other.
In this case, you probably would be better off with the (upfront much more complex and likely expensive) design where the zigbee stack is inside the embedded controller, so your application code can use it properly to control connectivity.
The TI zigbee pro evaluation kit is very comprehensive, and seems great to me so far. It sounds like you're at the point where you need to spend some money and get some experience with real modules, just to get a feel for the technology. Though be warned, you may need IAR embedded workbench to work with these long term, and that's pretty expensive software!
Alternatively, Atmel have a pretty interesting looking zigbee implementation with their "bitcloud" software platform (free zigbee pro stack!! woo! and they have a free ARM toolchain!) but I've found the getting started info around the bitcloud stuff is really lacking, and while I can get the code setup and compiling, I'm not confident to buy enough of their evaluation gear for a zigbee pro mesh network to test it in real life yet.
PS: if you're getting started with short range wireless, i can't recommend this book highly enough. http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Short-Range-Wireless-Cambridge-Series/dp/0521760690/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336091059&sr=8-2
It contains very good introduction to the different technologies available, and the strengths and weaknesses of all of them (and wireless in general) Plus it will leave you in a good position to start understanding the features you really need for the system you're designing.
some of the zigbee/xbee modules simply behave as wireless serial, no programming required just turn them on. Others require programming. It depends on what your needs really are. the ones that behave like wireless serial have an AT command set if I remember right so you can adjust some things, like for example if you want more than two (more than one wireless point to point connection) you can specify which two talk to each other...