Monday, July 29, 2013

Android Application Bluetooth Low Energy Scanner

After installing the Android 4.3 on Nexus-4, one can write the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) programs on Android platform. As still no official samples are available from LG/Google on the SDK samples, I tried to dig through available the Java-docs for new SDK and write  an Android-App for scanning all BLE devices available in vicinity.

To use this application, we need following:

  • Any Android with 4.3 installed and have BLE HW support ( that means the mobile phone should support Bluetooth 4.0)
  • For getting list of scanned devices, we have two options:
    • Have real BLE devices (like BLE dongles, chips, SoC, etc)
      • We need to have a firmware image that allows us to start the discoverability on the device.
    • Have another Android 4.3 phone with BLE enabled and discovery enabled

I have TI's CC2540DK-MINI development kit  and NordicSemi's   nRF51822 Development kit. TI's kit comes with a KeyFrob and USB-based-BLE-devices and USB-based firmware loader.  For current project, I am using TI's kit's KeyFrob as my BLE device (that I am scanning from Android phone).

I have loaded the project code to the  project site.
You can try the same application using the Android application download link

Here is screen shot



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20 comments:

  1. jomar@honsi.orgJuly 30, 2013 at 2:01 AM

    Excellent. Will try it on a on a Galaxy S4 with Android 4.3 tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mahadevan Gorti Surya SrinivasaJuly 30, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    But keep in mind that Android phones might not reply to BLE-scanning. If you have BLE devices and are discoverable, that is more preferable. Today I tried with iPhone-5 today, can't disvover it (even though that iPhone was made discoverable). Will do more trials and keep posted here

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownJuly 30, 2013 at 10:02 AM

    Nice, on your comment about trying on an iPhone-5, I presume you used the sample application that makes the iPhone act as a BLE device, because turning ON bluetooth in Settings does not make it a BLE beacon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. jomar@honsi.orgJuly 30, 2013 at 1:46 PM

    Works fine on my S4/Android 4.3

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mahadevan Gorti Surya SrinivasaJuly 30, 2013 at 8:03 PM

    @MohanDoss
    Thanks for your comment. Most probably all smart phones may/maynot respond BLE-scanning requests. I will try the BLE-scanning for HTC-One today.

    @Jomar,
    Thanks for trying on S4/Android 4.3. I will keep updating this app over the coming weeks for more on GATT/etc.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 8, 2013 at 2:49 PM

    Thanks for the excellent information about android apps.the setting on bluetooth i really want to know about that.Thanks for sharing this valuable post.

    android apps

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownAugust 16, 2013 at 8:39 PM

    I can't get enough apps, I'm always downloading the newest ones and experimenting with making my own. I've had an idea for an app in my head for the longest time but I had no idea where to even start. I am very inexperienced in android application development, so I've been researching online what the best methods are. would you use a mobile based social network, where you meet up with strangers who have something in common with you and make connections?

    ReplyDelete
  8. ejaAugust 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM

    I installed JB 4.3 on my Nexus 10, and patched with the BLE enabler.
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2387107

    This works, I am testing with a TI BLE Sensortag and the nRF51822-EK.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownSeptember 20, 2013 at 1:59 AM

    HI Mahadev,

    Do you have any luck scanning the ios device.. Alos please check the below link which talks something similar to this..

    https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?can=2&start=0&num=100&q=&colspec=ID%20Type%20Status%20Owner%20Summary%20Stars&groupby=&sort=&id=58725#makechanges

    ReplyDelete
  10. senkayOctober 9, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Hi Mahadevan,

    We are an Australian company. Just wondering how could we get in touch with you reg an interesting project with BLE. You can write to us sensar [ at ] gmail dot com. Thanks in advance.. Senti.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownOctober 25, 2013 at 8:30 PM

    Can you give BLE android project?
    do reference!
    thanks! from Taiwan!

    my email is komlllcf@hotmail.com
    your link is OK,but apk install error!

    ReplyDelete
  12. UnknownNovember 6, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    Can you please send project code for reference
    My email id is saurabhathavale02@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownNovember 10, 2013 at 11:35 PM

    I have just downloaded your app and installed on my nexus 4 phone But when i click on scan device it does not scan another nexus 4 phone.

    ReplyDelete
  14. srinivasJanuary 11, 2014 at 3:50 PM

    hi Mahadevan,

    Can u able end source code to my mail id srinivas4a2@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownFebruary 6, 2014 at 3:17 AM

    Hi,

    Right now I am going to do my masters project which is related with ble scanning and It would be very helpful if you can send me your source code. I now it is private but I an stuck that is why asking you if you could help me.

    My email is jgarach9@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJuly 3, 2014 at 2:10 PM

      You can use this app for scanning BLE Devices.
      Here is Link :: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.macdom.ble.blescanner

      Delete
  16. kaila bhaveshFebruary 12, 2014 at 5:48 PM

    i m not able to get any device .

    there is no device available in ble device list.
    i m using samsung s3 with 4.3 and htc one with 4.3.

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownJune 30, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownJune 30, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    Is there a way to get the source code for this? would love to have this as as template.

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownJuly 28, 2015 at 1:37 PM


    videocon Recharge Rs.83 ,get Talktime Rs. 63 & 10 Local V2V Mins. Mins Valid for 28 days.

    ReplyDelete

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