This commit also introduces API change for disconnect(). disconnect() will
now return LORAWAN_STATUS_DEVICE_OFF for successfull disconnect.
* LoRaWANStack::handle_tx() can be called with NULL buffer when length is 0.
This commit fixes the case where user has provided NULL buffer and length
is > max_possible_size.
handle_tx() now always returns LORAWAN_STATUS_PARAMETER_INVALID if given
buffer is NULL pointer and length > 0.
General error checking is added and some asserts are added for events.
Baseline is changed to use a single set of data structures that simplifies the
code in the LoRaWANStack and Mac layer. We are now following certian rules for naming
data structures.
- All structures visible outside their domain are prefixed as 'lorawan_'
- All mac structures are prefixed as 'loramac_'
- All subsystem or module strucutures carry their name in prefix, like 'mcps_'
PHY layer still have legacy camel case data structures which will be entertained
later while we will be simplifying PHY layer.
Test cases are also updated with the new data structure naming conventions.
One major difference from the previous baseline is the removal of static buffer
from mcps indication. And we do not copy data from stack buffer to rx_msg buffer.
This saves at least 512 bytes.
It may look like now that if we have received something but the user have not read
from the buffer, then the buffer will be overwritten and we will lose previous frame.
Yes, we will. But the same will happen even if we would have copied the buffer into rx_msg
because then the rx_msg gets overwritten. So we decide to abandon copying the buffer at
multiple locations. We inform the user about reception, if the user doesn't read and
the data gets overwritten, then so be it.
Channel planning was distributed over LoRaWANStack and LoRaMac previously.
We now centralize it by allocating the service to its own class.
Thus making the workflow consistent, i.e.,
Request for channel plan = Application->Interface->stack->Mac->ChannelPlan
Major change apart from adding the channel plan subsystem are the API changes
in LoRaMac class.
MAC layer is now a class rather than being a blob.
In addition to that Mac commands are now being handled in
a seperate subsystem (a class of its own). In future we
will do the same with othe sublayers of MAC like MLME, MCPS etc.
The drive behind this exercise is to make MAC and supporting layers
into an object oriented system.
Major bug fixes include:
- last join time inclusion in band parameters
- disabling rx2 window if we missed the slot already
- MLME uplink schdule hook
- nbRep according to spec
- maintaining datarate after successful joining
- suppressing MLME requests if MAC is in TX_DELAYED state
- Uplink dwell time verification
Some missing features are implemented. Details are as follows.
Support for LinkCheckRequet:
An application API is added, add_link_check_request() to delegate a
request for Link Check Request MAC command.
* Application provides a callback function that needs to be called on reception of
link check response.
* Mac command is piggybacked with data frames.
This API makes the sticky MAC command stick with the application payloads until/unless
the application un-sticks the said mac command using remove_link_check_request() API.
Handling fPending bit:
If in the Downlink, we get the fPending bit set in fctrl octet,
we attempt to send an empty message back to Network Server to
open additional Receive windows. This operation is independent
of the application. An RX_DONE event is queued bedore generating
the said empty message. Specification does not mention what can be the
type of that empty message. We have decided it to be of CONFIRMED
type as it gives us an added benefit of retries if the corresponding
RX slots are missed.
Radio event callbacks as Mbed callbacks:
radio_events_t structure has been carrying C-style callbacks which was
inherited from the legacy code. These callbacks has now been changed to
Mbed Callbacks that makes sure that we can be object oriented from now
on.
Application should be able to add some optional callbacks if it needs to.
Ofcourse there is a penalty of 8-12 bytes per callback, but there can be
certain needs of the application that needs to be met for example setting
up a link check request etc.
We have introduced a structure that contains callbacks for the application use.
- 'events' callback is mandatory, user must assign it. Because this callback brings
state changes for the application. We cannot segregate this into individual handlers
because of RAM penalty.
- Other calbacks (none of them are implemented yet are optional).
Example of using the API is provided with doxygen
Receive API should return the length of data written to the user buffer
as the Posix APIs suggest rather than sending the pending length of data
back.
That has actually been a typo mistake which actually wnt in even with doicumentation :)
The EventQueue thread in LoRaMac.cpp is disbanded and the LoRaWAN
protocol is redesigned to store a pointer for an application
provided EventQueue. It means that now the stack runs in the
same thread as application. Application provided EventQueue is used
to defer ISRs from radio driver and timer callbacks as well as the
application events are queued to the same event loop.
This class is the doorway for the user application into the
Mbed-OS implementation of LoRaWAN protocol. It implements LoRaWANBase
and hence would work with any stack implementation underneath, ensuring
seemless portability for applications.
It takes a pre-constructed object of LoRaRadio and delegates it in the
downward direction. Before calling connect() user must call initialize() function
in order to initialize stack and mac layers.
connect() APIs can be used to either provide relevent keys and connection method at
runtime or compile time (using Mbed config system).
enable_adaptive_datarate() and disable_adaptive_datarate() are used to turn on/off
automatic rate control. Otherwisem set_datarate() could be used to set a particular
data rate on the current channel.
set_confirmed_msg_retries() is valid only for CONFIRMED messages. It means that the stack will
retry for a given number of times before timing out.
set_channel_plan() and get_channel_plan() are used to set or get a particular channel plan.
These APIs are particularly useful in case of ABP (activation by personalization). Because
in case of OTAA(over the air activation), by default the stack takes in a CF List (carrier frequency list)
sent by the base station in conjunction with Network server. This list overwrites all user configured
channels or channel plan. set_channel_plan() can be used to set a single channel as well by setting the
parameter for number of channels to 1.
remove_channel_plan() or remove_channel() are used to remove a currently active channel plan or a specific
channel.
send() and receive() APIs follow posix design except the socket descriptor is replaced with port number here.
lora_event_callback() API is used to set a callback function from the application side which is used by the stack
to inform user of particular events like CONNECTED, DISCONNECTED, CRYPTO_FAILURE, TX_TIMEOUT etc.
Hasnain Virk
Kimmo Vaisanen