BLE Send

Send data using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol

Add-On Required: This feature requires the Simulink Support Package for Android Devices add-on.

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Libraries:
Simulink Support Package for Android Devices / Communication

Description

The BLE Send block transmits data or instructions from your Android^® mobile device to a nearby device or sensor using the Bluetooth^® Low Energy (BLE) protocol.

Central Mode

A BLE device configured in the central mode scans and detects nearby BLE devices and determines their available services. After scanning, a BLE device operating in the central mode can connect to any of the discovered BLE devices.

When you set the Mode of the devices to Central (Client), you must scan and detect nearby BLE devices. To start BLE Setup wizard, click Scan. When the wizard completes, select a Peripheral Device and Characteristic found during the scan and detection.

Peripheral Mode

A BLE device configured in the peripheral mode advertises its presence to other devices, broadcasting minimal information on the service supported and identity of the device. This allows BLE devices configured in the central mode to scan and detect nearby BLE devices and determine their available services.

When you set the Mode of the device to Peripheral (Server), you must specify the Service and Characteristic of your device. Other devices with the same service and characteristic then receive the data sent from your Android mobile device.

Service and Characteristic

BLE data exchange is based on the Generic Attributes (GATT) profile, which defines a hierarchical data structure. GATT consists of a service, such as Heart Rate service, that can contain several characteristics, such as Heart Rate Measurement or Body Sensor Location. Universally Unique ID (UUID) defines both services and characteristics allowing different BLE devices to identify the services and characteristics of the connected device.

When a BLE device operates in peripheral mode, the available services provided by the device are advertised to any listening BLE devices operating in the central mode. Only when the BLE central device establishes the connection to the BLE peripheral device are the characteristics within the service made available. Many services and associated characteristics are already available as standards, including the Heart Rate service.

You can optionally specify your own or custom services and characteristics using your own UUIDs for the service and characteristics. To enable custom UUID specification, select the Specify using UUID parameter.

Ports

Input

Port1 — Input data

N-by-1 array

The block accepts data as an N-by-1 array.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | Boolean

Parameters

Mode — Set the BLE mode of your device

Peripheral (Server) (default) | Central (Client)

Set the BLE hardware of your device to either peripheral or central mode. In the Peripheral (Server) mode, you must specify the Service and Characteristic of your device. Other devices then receive the data sent from your Android mobile device with the same service and characteristic.

When you set the Mode of the devices to Central (Client), you must scan and detect nearby BLE devices before selecting the peripheral device and characteristic.

Service — BLE service name

Heart Rate Service (default) | ...

Select the service broadcast by the BLE device when operating in the Peripheral (Server) mode. Available services that can be broadcast from the device are listed in the following table. When Specify by UUID is enabled, you can write a specific UUID value for the characteristic as a character array.

Service	Characteristic
Generic Access	Device Name
	Appearance
	Peripheral Privacy Flag
	Reconnection Address
	Peripheral Preferred Connection Parameters
Generic Attribute	Service Changed
Glucose service	Glucose Measurement
	Glucose Measurement Context
	Glucose Feature
	Record Access Control Point
Health Thermometer service	Temperature Measurement
	Temperature Type
	Intermediate Temperature
	Measurement Interval
Heart Rate service	Heart Rate Measurement
	Body Sensor Location
	Heart Rate Control Point
Blood pressure service	Blood Pressure Measurement
	Intermediate Cuff Pressure
	Blood Pressure Feature
Running Speed and Cadence	RSC Measurement
	RSC Feature
	SC Control Point
	Sensor Location
Cycling Power service	Sensor Location
	Cycling Power Measurement
	Cycling Power Vector
	Cycling Power Feature
	Cycling Power Control Point
Location and Navigation	Location and Navigation Characteristic
	Navigation
	Position Quality
	LN Feature
	LN Control Point
Environmental Sensing	Magnetic Declination
	Elevation
	Pressure
	Temperature
	Humidity
	True Wind Speed
	True Wind Direction
	Apparent Wind Speed
	Apparent Wind Direction
	Gust Factor
	Pollen Concentration
	UV Index
	Irradiance
	Rainfall
	Wind Chill
	Heat Index
	Dew Point
	Magnetic Flux Density - 2-D
	Magnetic Flux Density - 3-D
	Barometric pressure Trend
Body Composition service	Body Composition Feature
	Body Composition Measurement
Weight Scale	Weight Scale Measurement
	Weight Scale Feature
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Service	CGM Measurement
	CGM Feature
	CGM Status
	CDM Session start Time
Indoor Positioning	Indoor Positioning Configuration
	Latitude
	Longitude
	Local North Coordinate
	Local East Coordinate
	Altitude
	Uncertainty
	Location Name
Pulse Oximeter Service	Record Access Control Point
	PLX Spot-Check Measurement
	PLX Continuous Measurement
	PLX Features
Fitness Machine Service	Treadmill Data
	Cross Trainer Data
	Step Climber
	Stair Climber
	Rower Data
	Indoor Bike Data
	Supported Speed Range
	Supported Inclination Range
	Supported Resistance Level Range
	Supported Heart Range
	Supported Power Range

Characteristic — BLE characteristic from selected service

Heart Rate Measurement (default) | ...

Select the characteristic for a given BLE service when operating in the peripheral (server) mode. See Service for the available characteristics, and their parent services, provided by the BLE Send block. When Specify by UUID is enabled, you can write a specific UUID value for the characteristic as a character array.

Specify using UUID — Specify service and characteristic using UUID

off (default) | on

When enabled, specify the BLE service and characteristic using Universally Unique ID (UUID) values.

Peripheral Device — Devices available through BLE

no devices (default)

Select an available peripheral device or sensor found using the BLE scan app. If you cannot see any devices listed, click Scan to detect new BLE devices within range of your mobile device.

Scan — Discover devices and characteristics

button (default)

Discover devices and characteristics of nearby Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices and sensors and connect them to your Android mobile device.

1. Connect your Android device to your development computer. If you have not previously connected and configured your Android device, see Hardware Setup.

2. Configure the model to use your connected Android. For more information, see Run Model on Android Devices.

3. Set the Mode of the BLE Receive block to Central (Client).

4. To open the BLE Setup wizard, click the Scan button.

5. The BLE Setup wizard allows you to upload the BLE Scanner Android app onto your Android device. The BLE Scanner Android app then scans for nearby BLE devices.

6. Follow the instructions provided in the BLE Scanner Android app to scan for BLE devices. The BLE Scanner Android app temporarily connects to the devices to gather their available services and characteristics as part of the scanning process.

7. After exiting the BLE Scanner Android app, confirm you can see BLE devices in the BLE Setup wizard. Close the wizard.

8. Re-open the BLE Send block mask and select from the available peripheral devices and characteristics.

Characteristic — BLE characteristic from peripheral device

no characteristic (default)

Select the characteristic available from the selected Peripheral Device. See Service for the available characteristics, and their parent services, provided by the BLE Send block.

Version History

Introduced in R2017b