esp-idf/examples/bluetooth/esp_ble_mesh/ble_mesh_coex_test

Example of BLE Mesh and TCP Server/Client Coexistence

This example introduces how to test the basic functions of BLE Mesh data interface and TCP Server/Client Coexistence. BLE Mesh data interface is GAP scanning and advertising.

There are two working modes here:

• In automatic mode, the program coordinates three development boards working through a synchronization mechanism.

• In manual mode, you will work with three development boards via commands

Test Preparation

• Before running the test, you need to prepare a router and three ESP32 development boards. This Example of BLE Mesh and TCP Server/Client Coexistence has the following three items, and any of the three development boards is for running one specific item.

  • ble_dev : Run only the BLE program.
  • coex_dev: Run BLE and Wi-Fi program.
  • wifi_dev: Run only the Wi-Fi program.

Note: If you want better performance in BLE and WiFi coexistence, you should use a development board with PSRAM that could run a coexistence program. Such as ESP32_LyraT, ESP32-WROVER-B and etc.

• The following structure shows the parameters you need to configure. And usually, there are two methods for configuration, i.e. configuring during initialization or configuring with the command env.

coex_test_env_t test_env = {
#if defined(CONFIG_EXAMPLE_MANAUL)
    .ap_ssid = CONFIG_EXAMPLE_WIFI_SSID,
    .ap_password = CONFIG_EXAMPLE_WIFI_PASSWORD,
#endif
#if defined(CONFIG_EXAMPLE_COEX_ROLE)
    .ap_ssid = CONFIG_EXAMPLE_WIFI_SSID,
    .ap_password = CONFIG_EXAMPLE_WIFI_PASSWORD,
#endif
    .test_port = "8080",
    .server_ip = "192.168.3.32",
    .duration = "120000",
    .is_start = false,
};

Run Test Case Manually

Configure to Manual Mode via Example Configuration --->run mode (manual)

The meaning of the numeric argument of the command run_tc is as follows:

id	case name	description
0	wifi_tcp_tx_throughput	Test the case of Wi-Fi tcp tx, which will create a tcp client that will continuously send data to the tcp server.
1	wifi_tcp_rx_throughput	Test the case of Wi-Fi tcp rx, which will create a tcp server that will continuously receive data from the tcp client.
2	ble_adv	Test the case of BLE advertising.
3	ble_scan	Test the case of BLE Scan.

Case 1: tcp tx + scan

1. wifi_dev: run_tc -w 1
2. coex_dev: env -s -k server_ip -v 192.168.3.34 run_tc -w 0 -b 3
3. ble_dev : run_tc -b 2

Case 2: tcp rx + scan

1. coex_dev: run_tc -w 1 -b 3
2. wifi_dev: env -s -k server_ip -v 192.168.3.34 run_tc -w 0
3. ble_dev : run_tc -b 2

Case 3: tcp tx + adv

1. wifi_dev: run_tc -w 1
2. coex_dev: env -s -k server_ip -v 192.168.3.13 run_tc -w 0 -b 2
3. ble_dev : run_tc -b 3

Case 4: tcp rx + adv

1. coex_dev: run_tc -w 1 -b 2
2. wifi_dev: env -s -k server_ip -v 192.168.3.34 run_tc -w 0
3. ble_dev : run_tc -b 3

Run Test Case By Automation

Configure to Automatic Mode via Example Configuration --->run mode (auto)

Coexistence device configuration

1. Select a development board as coexistence role by Example Configuration --->select role (run device as coex role)
2. Select a test case by Example Configuration --->select case .

• There are four types of cases:
  • TCP TX and BLE ADV: The TCP client will be created on the coexistence device, and bluetooth will start advertising when the Wi-Fi is running tx throughput program.
  • TCP RX and BLE ADV: The TCP server will be created on the coexistence device, and bluetooth will start advertising when the Wi-Fi is running rx throughput program.
  • TCP TX and BLE SCAN: The TCP client will be created on the coexistence device, and bluetooth will start scanning when the Wi-Fi is running tx throughput program.
  • TCP RX and BLE SCAN: The TCP server will be created on the coexistence device, and bluetooth will start scanning when the Wi-Fi is running rx throughput program.

Bluetooth device configuration

1. Select a development board as bluetooth role by select role (run device as bluetooth role)

Wi-Fi device configuration

1. Select a development board as bluetooth role by select role (run device as wifi role)

Coexistence Configuration

In theory, the performance of BLE and Wi-Fi coexistence will drop to half of the performance in BLE Only mode or Wi-Fi Only mode.

• ESP32 working frequency:

  • Component config ---> ESP32-specific ---> CPU frequency (240 MHz)

• ESP32 external PSRAM

  • Component config ---> ESP32-specific ---> Support for external, SPI-connected RAM
  • Devices that do not support PSRAM cannot open this option!

• ESP32 coexistence mode

  • Component config ---> Wi-Fi ---> WiFi/Bluetooth coexistence performance preference (Balance)