Apple

Like for many other subsystems, iOS only exposes certain functionality to the app developer through its APIs. In general, if it’s not publicly documented in the API, then that means the app has no control over it.

From: bluetooth-dev-bounces+carles.cufi=email@hidden [mailto:bluetooth-dev-bounces+carles.cufi=email@hidden] On Behalf Of Rhonda Smithbey
Sent: 14. februar 2012 17:02
To: 'Joakim Linde'
Cc: email@hidden
Subject: RE: Getting started with Bluetooth LE apps

Hi Joakim,

Thanks for the reply. But if you don’t mind, could you clarify this a little more for me? There are a 2 pages in the Bluetooth 4.0 Core spec listing HCI commands specific to LE (section “3.19 LE CONTROLLER REQUIREMENTS”). And from what I can tell, there are only a few equivalent commands in the iOS Bluetooth Framework. So all the rest of the HCI commands are not accessible via the framework? For instance, what if I wanted to set a random address to the controller? I don’t see where I could do something like that in the framework.

Thanks again!

Rhonda

From: Joakim Linde [mailto:email@hidden]
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 1:50 AM
To: Rhonda Smithbey
Cc: email@hidden
Subject: Re: Getting started with Bluetooth LE apps

Hi Rhonda,

We do recommend using Xcode on a Mac for developing iOS Apps. The Core Bluetooth framework provides a nice and simple interface to GATT layer in the Bluetooth LE stack. The HCI and SMP levels are below GATT in the stack so we take care of that for you as part of the Core Bluetooth framework.

Thanks,

Joakim

On Feb 13, 2012, at 1:33 PM, Rhonda Smithbey wrote:

Hello everyone!

I am a software developer who has recently started developing apps that use Bluetooth low energy, as well as iOS development. I am very familiar with legacy Bluetooth (Bluetooth specification 2.1 and lower), but have a few questions regarding setting up the iOS IDE, and how much access I have to the Bluetooth stack via the iOS Bluetooth API.

I hope someone on this mailing list can give me some direction with the following:

1. I’ve been researching the hardware and IDEs that are needed to develop for iOS. Is it true that I will need to buy a Mac and Xcode? Are there any reliable IDEs that can be used for iOS development that will run in Windows?

2. I’ve done a lot of research (via Google) and from what I can tell the iOS 5 Bluetooth Core Framework does not include anywhere near the full list of LE-related HCI commands listed in the Bluetooth Core specification. It also doesn’t appear to support any commands to allow me to control the Security Manager. So where is the API that would allow me to control those levels of the stack?

3. If the core framework doesn’t give me access to the HCI and SMP levels, is it true that I have use a private framework (like BTstack) to get HCI and SMP access? And would that require jailbreaking the iPhone?

4. What type of connections are made via the calls listed in the Bluetooth Core Framework reference? Are they HCI level commands?

Thank you in advance for your assistance with my questions.

Rhonda Smithbey