Main Content

BLE Receive

Receive data using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol

expand all in page

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

  • BLE Receive block

Libraries:
Simulink Support Package for Android Devices / Communication

Description

The BLE Receive block allows your Android mobile device to receive data or instructions from 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

Output

expand all

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

Note

The data output by the BLE Receive block is not processed. For information about the content of the data array, see GATT Characteristics.

Data Types: int8

This port shows the size of the data received from the BLE connection in bytes.

Data Types: uint8

Parameters

expand all

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.

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 Receive block mask and select from the available peripheral devices and characteristics.

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 specify the custom service UUID value as a character array.

ServiceCharacteristic
Generic AccessDevice Name
Appearance
Peripheral Privacy Flag
Reconnection Address
Peripheral Preferred Connection Parameters
Generic AttributeService Changed
Glucose serviceGlucose Measurement
Glucose Measurement Context
Glucose Feature
Record Access Control Point
Health Thermometer serviceTemperature Measurement
Temperature Type
Intermediate Temperature
Measurement Interval
Heart Rate serviceHeart Rate Measurement
Body Sensor Location
Heart Rate Control Point
Blood pressure serviceBlood Pressure Measurement
Intermediate Cuff Pressure
Blood Pressure Feature
Running Speed and CadenceRSC Measurement
RSC Feature
SC Control Point
Sensor Location
Cycling Power serviceSensor Location
Cycling Power Measurement
Cycling Power Vector
Cycling Power Feature
Cycling Power Control Point
Location and NavigationLocation and Navigation Characteristic
Navigation
Position Quality
LN Feature
LN Control Point
Environmental SensingMagnetic 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 serviceBody Composition Feature
Body Composition Measurement
Weight ScaleWeight Scale Measurement
Weight Scale Feature
Continuous Glucose Monitoring ServiceCGM Measurement
CGM Feature
CGM Status
CDM Session start Time
Indoor PositioningIndoor Positioning Configuration
Latitude
Longitude
Local North Coordinate
Local East Coordinate
Altitude
Uncertainty
Location Name
Pulse Oximeter ServiceRecord Access Control Point
PLX Spot-Check Measurement
PLX Continuous Measurement
PLX Features
Fitness Machine ServiceTreadmill 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

Select the characteristic for the given BLE service when operating in the Peripheral (Server) mode. See Service for the available characteristics, and their parent services, that can be accessed using the BLE Send block depending on the connected BLE device and available services.

When Specify by UUID is enabled, you can specify the custom characteristic UUID as a character array.

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

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

Select the characteristic available from the selected Peripheral Device. See Service for the available characteristics, and their parent services, that can be accessed using the BLE Send block depending on the connected BLE device and available services.

Enter the data size to be received from the remote device.

Enter the time frequency at which to receive data.

Version History

Introduced in R2017b

See Also

External Websites