NG_HCI (4) | Special files and drivers | Unix Manual Pages

NG_HCI (4) | Special files and drivers | Unix Manual Pages | :man▋

The Bluetooth system provides a point-to-point connection (only two Bluetooth units involved), or a point-to-multipoint connection. In the point-to-multipoint connection, the channel is shared among several Bluetooth units. Two or more units sharing the same channel form a "piconet". One Bluetooth unit acts as the master of the piconet, whereas the other unit(s) acts as slave(s). Up to seven slaves can be active in the piconet. In addition, many more slaves can remain locked to the master in a so-called parked state. These parked slaves cannot be active on the channel, but remain synchronized to the master. Both for active and parked slaves, the channel access is controlled by the master.

Multiple piconets with overlapping coverage areas form a "scatternet". Each piconet can only have a single master. However, slaves can participate in different piconets on a time-division multiplex basis. In addition, a master in one piconet can be a slave in another piconet. The piconets shall not be frequency-synchronized. Each piconet has its own hopping channel.

Time Slots

The channel is divided into time slots, each 625 usec in length. The time slots are numbered according to the Bluetooth clock of the piconet master. The slot numbering ranges from 0 to 2^27 -1 and is cyclic with a cycle length of 2^27. In the time slots, master and slave can transmit packets.

SCO Link

The SCO link is a symmetric, point-to-point link between the master and a specific slave. The SCO link reserves slots and can therefore be considered as a circuit-switched connection between the master and the slave. The SCO link typically supports time-bounded information like voice. The master can support up to three SCO links to the same slave or to different slaves. A slave can support up to three SCO links from the same master, or two SCO links if the links originate from different masters. SCO packets are never retransmitted.

ACL Link

In the slots not reserved for SCO links, the master can exchange packets with any slave on a per-slot basis. The ACL link provides a packet-switched connection between the master and all active slaves participating in the piconet. Both asynchronous and isochronous services are supported. Between a master and a slave only a single ACL link can exist. For most ACL packets, packet retransmission is applied to assure data integrity.

HOST CONTROLLER INTERFACE (HCI)

The HCI provides a command interface to the baseband controller and link manager, and access to hardware status and control registers. This interface provides a uniform method of accessing the Bluetooth baseband capabilities.

The HCI layer on the Host exchanges data and commands with the HCI firmware on the Bluetooth hardware. The Host Controller Transport Layer (i.e., physical bus) driver provides both HCI layers with the ability to exchange information with each other.

The Host will receive asynchronous notifications of HCI events independent of which Host Controller Transport Layer is used. HCI events are used for notifying the Host when something occurs. When the Host discovers that an event has occurred it will then parse the received event packet to determine which event occurred. The next sections specify the HCI packet formats.

HCI Command Packet

#define NG_HCI_CMD_PKT 0x01
typedef struct {
u_int8_t type; /* MUST be 0x1 */
u_int16_t opcode; /* OpCode */
u_int8_t length; /* parameter(s) length in bytes */
} __attribute__ ((packed)) ng_hci_cmd_pkt_t;

The HCI command packet is used to send commands to the Host Controller from the Host. When the Host Controller completes most of the commands, a Command Complete event is sent to the Host. Some commands do not receive a Command Complete event when they have been completed. Instead, when the Host Controller receives one of these commands the Host Controller sends a Command Status event back to the Host when it has begun to execute the command. Later on, when the actions associated with the command have finished, an event that is associated with the sent command will be sent by the Host Controller to the Host.

`Read_BD_ADDR`
	To obtain BD_ADDR of the Bluetooth unit.
`Read_Local_Supported_Features`
	To obtain the list of features supported by Bluetooth unit.
`Read_Buffer_Size`
	To determine the maximum size of HCI ACL and SCO HCI data packets (excluding header) that can be sent from the Host to the Host Controller. There are also two additional return parameters that specify the total number of HCI ACL and SCO data packets that the Host Controller can have waiting for transmission in its buffers.

As soon as HCI initialization has been successfully performed, HCI control application must turn on "inited" bit for the node. Once HCI node has been initialized all upstream hooks will receive a NGM_HCI_NODE_UP Netgraph message defined as follows.
#define NGM_HCI_NODE_UP 112 /* HCI -> Upper */
typedef struct {
u_int16_t pkt_size; /* max. ACL/SCO packet size (w/o hdr) */
u_int16_t num_pkts; /* ACL/SCO packet queue size */
u_int16_t reserved; /* place holder */
bdaddr_t bdaddr; /* bdaddr */
} ng_hci_node_up_ep;

HCI FLOW CONTROL

HCI layer performs flow control on baseband connection basis (i.e., ACL and SCO link). Each baseband connection has ""connection handle"" and queue of outgoing data packets. Upper layers protocols are allowed to send up to ( num_pkts - pending) packets at one time. HCI layer will send NGM_HCI_SYNC_CON_QUEUE Netgraph messages to inform upper layers about current queue state for each connection handle. The NGM_HCI_SYNC_CON_QUEUE Netgraph message is defined as follows.
#define NGM_HCI_SYNC_CON_QUEUE 113 /* HCI -> Upper */
typedef struct {
u_int16_t con_handle; /* connection handle */
u_int16_t completed; /* number of completed packets */
} ng_hci_sync_con_queue_ep;

HOOKS

This node type supports the following hooks:

`drv`	Bluetooth Host Controller Transport Layer hook. Single HCI packet contained in single .Vt mbuf structure.
`acl`	Upper layer protocol/node is connected to the hook. Single HCI ACL data packet contained in single .Vt mbuf structure.
`sco`	Upper layer protocol/node is connected to the hook. Single HCI SCO data packet contained in single .Vt mbuf structure.
`raw`	Raw hook. Every HCI frame (including HCI command frame) that goes in or out will be delivered to the hook. Usually the Bluetooth raw HCI socket layer is connected to the hook. Single HCI frame contained in single .Vt mbuf structure.

BLUETOOTH UPPER LAYER PROTOCOLS INTERFACE (LP CONTROL MESSAGES)

`NGM_HCI_LP_CON_REQ`
	Requests the lower protocol to create a connection. If a physical link to the remote device does not exist, this message must be sent to the lower protocol (baseband) to establish the physical connection.
`NGM_HCI_LP_DISCON_REQ`
	Requests the lower protocol (baseband) to terminate a connection.
`NGM_HCI_LP_CON_CFM`
	Confirms success or failure of the `NGM_HCI_LP_CON_REQ` request to establish a lower layer (baseband) connection. This includes passing the authentication challenge if authentication is required to establish the physical link.
`NGM_HCI_LP_CON_IND`
	Indicates the lower protocol (baseband) has successfully established incoming connection.
`NGM_HCI_LP_CON_RSP`
	A response accepting or rejecting the previous connection indication request.
`NGM_HCI_LP_DISCON_IND`
	Indicates the lower protocol (baseband) has terminated connection. This could be a response to `NGM_HCI_LP_DISCON_REQ` or a timeout event.
`NGM_HCI_LP_QOS_REQ`
	Requests the lower protocol (baseband) to accommodate a particular QoS parameter set.
`NGM_HCI_LP_QOS_CFM`
	Confirms success or failure of the request for a given quality of service.
`NGM_HCI_LP_QOS_IND`
	Indicates the lower protocol (baseband) has detected a violation of the QoS agreement.

NETGRAPH CONTROL MESSAGES

This node type supports the generic control messages, plus the following:

`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_STATE`
	Returns current state for the node.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_INIT`
	Turn on "inited" bit for the node.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_DEBUG`
	Returns an integer containing the current debug level for the node.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_SET_DEBUG`
	This command takes an integer argument and sets current debug level for the node.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_BUFFER`
	Returns current state of data buffers.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_BDADDR`
	Returns BD_ADDR as cached in the node.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_FEATURES`
	Returns the list of features supported by hardware (as cached by the node).
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_NEIGHBOR_CACHE`
	Returns content of the neighbor cache.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_FLUSH_NEIGHBOR_CACHE`
	Remove all neighbor cache entries.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_CON_LIST`
	Returns list of active baseband connections (i.e., ACL and SCO links).
`NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_STAT`
	Returns various statistic counters.
`NGM_HCI_NODE_RESET_STAT`
	Resets all statistic counters to zero.
NGM_HCI_NODE_SET_LINK_POLICY_SETTINGS_MASK
	Sets current link policy settings mask. After the new ACL connection is created the HCI node will try set link policy for the ACL connection. By default, every supported Link Manager (LM) mode will be enabled. User can override this by setting link policy settings mask which specifies LM modes to be enabled.
NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_LINK_POLICY_SETTINGS_MASK
	Returns current link policy settings mask.
NGM_HCI_NODE_SET_PACKET_MASK
	Sets current packet mask. When new baseband (ACL or SCO) connection is created the HCI node will specify every packet type supported by the device. User can override this by setting packet mask which specifies packet types to be used for new baseband connections.
NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_PACKET_MASK
	Returns current packet mask.
NGM_HCI_NODE_SET_ROLE_SWITCH
	Sets the value of the role switch. Role switch is enabled when this value is not zero. This is the default state. Note that actual role switch at Bluetooth link level will only be performed if hardware supports role switch and it was enabled.
NGM_HCI_NODE_GET_ROLE_SWITCH
	Returns the value of the role switch for the node.

SHUTDOWN

This node shuts down upon receipt of a NGM_SHUTDOWN control message, or when all hooks have been disconnected.

HISTORY

AUTHORS

BUGS

Created by Blin Media, 2008-2013

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CONTENTS

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION TO BLUETOOTH