Android BLE Advertising Example 2024: A Guide to Building Connected Apps

Android BLE Advertising Example 2024 delves into the world of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising, a powerful tool for building connected Android applications. BLE advertising allows devices to broadcast information, enabling seamless communication between mobile devices and nearby peripherals. From smart home devices to fitness trackers, BLE advertising plays a crucial role in enhancing user experiences and simplifying interactions.

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This guide provides a comprehensive overview of BLE advertising, covering its fundamentals, implementation, and practical applications. We will explore the necessary tools and libraries, guide you through setting up your development environment, and provide step-by-step instructions for creating your own BLE advertising application.

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Through practical examples and code snippets, you’ll learn how to customize advertising data, handle events, and implement advanced techniques for secure and efficient communication.

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Introduction to Android BLE Advertising

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has emerged as a popular wireless communication technology, particularly in the realm of mobile devices. Android, being a prominent mobile operating system, provides robust support for BLE communication, enabling developers to create innovative applications that leverage the benefits of this technology.

BLE advertising is a key feature of BLE communication, allowing devices to broadcast information about themselves to nearby devices. This information can include various details such as device name, service UUIDs, and manufacturer data. In the context of Android development, BLE advertising plays a crucial role in enabling discoverability and interaction between devices.

Real-World Scenarios

• Beacon-based location services:BLE advertising is widely used in beacon-based location services, where devices can broadcast their location and other relevant data to nearby smartphones.
• Smart home automation:BLE advertising allows smart home devices, such as smart lights, thermostats, and door locks, to advertise their availability and capabilities to nearby smartphones, enabling seamless control and automation.
• Wearable devices:Fitness trackers, smartwatches, and other wearable devices utilize BLE advertising to broadcast data such as heart rate, activity levels, and notifications to paired smartphones.
• Proximity-based interactions:BLE advertising can facilitate proximity-based interactions, such as unlocking a car door using a smartphone or triggering a notification when a user approaches a specific location.

Setting Up the Development Environment

To embark on the journey of Android BLE advertising development, it is essential to have the right tools and libraries in place. This section will guide you through setting up the development environment and incorporating the necessary components.

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Required Tools and Libraries

• Android Studio:The official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. Download and install it from the official website.
• Android SDK:The Android Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the necessary tools and libraries for building Android apps. Android Studio comes bundled with the SDK, but you may need to install additional components based on your project requirements.
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) API:The Android BLE API provides a set of classes and methods for interacting with BLE devices, including advertising. This API is part of the Android SDK.

Setting Up Android Studio

1. Launch Android Studio:Open Android Studio and create a new project. Select “Empty Compose Activity” as the template for your project.
2. Add BLE Permissions:In the `AndroidManifest.xml` file, add the following permissions to access Bluetooth functionality:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />

1. Include BLE Libraries:In your `build.gradle` (Module: app) file, add the following dependency to include the BLE API:

implementation 'androidx.core:core-ktx:1.10.1'
implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-runtime-ktx:2.6.2'
implementation 'androidx.activity:activity-compose:1.8.2'
implementation platform('androidx.compose:compose-bom:2023.03.00')
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-graphics'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-tooling-preview'
implementation 'androidx.compose.material3:material3'
implementation 'androidx.compose.material:material-icons-core'
implementation 'androidx.compose.material:material-icons-extended'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-text-googlefonts'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-text'
implementation 'androidx.compose.foundation:foundation'
implementation 'androidx.navigation:navigation-compose:2.7.4'
implementation 'androidx.compose.material:material'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-tooling'
implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-viewmodel-compose:2.6.2'
implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-livedata-ktx:2.6.2'
implementation 'androidx.navigation:navigation-compose:2.7.4'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-text-googlefonts'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-text'
implementation 'androidx.compose.foundation:foundation'
implementation 'androidx.navigation:navigation-compose:2.7.4'
implementation 'androidx.compose.material:material'
implementation 'androidx.compose.ui:ui-tooling'
implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-viewmodel-compose:2.6.2'
implementation 'androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-livedata-ktx:2.6.2'
implementation 'androidx.navigation:navigation-compose:2.7.4'

These dependencies will ensure that your project has access to the necessary libraries for BLE advertising development. Remember to sync your project after making changes to the `build.gradle` file.

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Building a Simple BLE Advertising Application

Let’s dive into building a basic Android application that demonstrates the core functionalities of BLE advertising. This application will showcase how to configure and initiate BLE advertising using the Android API.

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Application Design

• User Interface (UI):The application’s UI will consist of a simple layout with buttons or controls to start and stop BLE advertising.
• Functionality:The application will have two main functions:
  • Start Advertising: Initiates BLE advertising with predefined advertising data.
  • Stop Advertising: Terminates the ongoing BLE advertising process.

Implementing BLE Advertising

1. Create an `AdvertisingService` Class:Create a new class called `AdvertisingService` that extends `Service`. This class will handle the logic for BLE advertising.
2. Initialize Bluetooth Adapter:Inside the `AdvertisingService` class, obtain a reference to the Bluetooth adapter using `BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter()`. Check if the adapter is available and enabled.
3. Create an `AdvertiseSettings` Object:Create an `AdvertiseSettings` object to specify advertising parameters, such as the advertising mode, timeout, and transmit power.
4. Create an `AdvertiseData` Object:Create an `AdvertiseData` object to define the advertising data that will be broadcast. This data can include the device name, service UUIDs, and other relevant information.
5. Create an `AdvertiseCallback` Object:Create an `AdvertiseCallback` object to handle advertising events, such as start, stop, and scan responses.
6. Start Advertising:Use the `BluetoothAdapter.getBluetoothLeAdvertiser().startAdvertising()` method to initiate BLE advertising with the configured settings, data, and callback.
7. Stop Advertising:To stop advertising, call the `BluetoothAdapter.getBluetoothLeAdvertiser().stopAdvertising()` method.

Code Snippet

// In AdvertisingService.kt
import android.app.Service
import android.bluetooth.BluetoothAdapter
import android.bluetooth.le.AdvertiseCallback
import android.bluetooth.le.AdvertiseData
import android.bluetooth.le.AdvertiseSettings
import android.content.Intent
import android.os.IBinder

class AdvertisingService : Service() 

    private val bluetoothAdapter: BluetoothAdapter? = BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter()
    private var advertiser: BluetoothAdapter.BluetoothLeAdvertiser? = null

    override fun onBind(intent: Intent): IBinder? 
        return null
    

    override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int 
        // Check if Bluetooth is available and enabled
        if (bluetoothAdapter == null || !bluetoothAdapter.isEnabled) 
            // Handle Bluetooth not available or disabled
            return START_STICKY
        

        // Create AdvertiseSettings object
        val settings = AdvertiseSettings.Builder()
            .setAdvertiseMode(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_MODE_LOW_LATENCY)
            .setTxPowerLevel(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_HIGH)
            .setTimeout(0) // Set timeout to 0 for continuous advertising
            .build()

        // Create AdvertiseData object
        val data = AdvertiseData.Builder()
            .setIncludeDeviceName(true) // Include device name in advertising data
            // Add other advertising data fields as needed
            .build()

        // Create AdvertiseCallback object
        val callback = object : AdvertiseCallback() 
            override fun onStartSuccess(settingsInEffect: AdvertiseSettings) 
                // Advertising started successfully
            

            override fun onStartFailure(errorCode: Int) 
                // Advertising failed to start
            

            override fun onStopSuccess() 
                // Advertising stopped successfully
            
        

        // Start advertising
        advertiser = bluetoothAdapter.bluetoothLeAdvertiser
        advertiser?.startAdvertising(settings, data, callback)

        return START_STICKY
    

    override fun onDestroy() 
        super.onDestroy()
        // Stop advertising
        advertiser?.stopAdvertising()
    

Customizing Advertising Data: Android Ble Advertising Example 2024

BLE advertising data packets follow a specific structure and format, allowing devices to broadcast various information to nearby scanners. This section delves into the structure of advertising data and explores how to customize it with different information and formats.

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Advertising Data Structure

BLE advertising data packets consist of multiple advertising data fields, each with a specific type and length. The most common fields include:

• Flags:Indicate the type of device (e.g., limited discoverable, general discoverable) and the supported features.
• Service UUIDs:List the UUIDs of the services offered by the advertising device.
• Device Name:The name of the advertising device.
• Manufacturer Data:Custom data defined by the manufacturer of the advertising device.
• Service Data:Data associated with a specific service UUID.

Customizing Advertising Data Fields

The `AdvertiseData.Builder` class in the Android BLE API provides methods for adding different data fields to the advertising packet. Here are some examples:

• Include Device Name:

data.setIncludeDeviceName(true)

• Add Service UUIDs:

data.addServiceUuid(ParcelUuid(UUID.fromString("your_service_uuid")))

• Add Manufacturer Data:

data.addManufacturerData(manufacturerId, byteArrayOf(0x01, 0x02, 0x03))

By customizing these data fields, you can tailor the information broadcast by your BLE advertising device to meet specific requirements.

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Handling Advertising Events

BLE advertising involves various events that occur during the advertising process. These events provide valuable information about the advertising status and can be used to trigger actions in your Android application. This section explains how to register event listeners and handle these events.

Advertising Events, Android Ble Advertising Example 2024

The `AdvertiseCallback` class defines several methods for handling advertising events. The most common events include:

• `onStartSuccess()`:Called when advertising starts successfully.
• `onStartFailure(errorCode)`:Called when advertising fails to start. The `errorCode` parameter indicates the reason for failure.
• `onStopSuccess()`:Called when advertising stops successfully.

Registering Event Listeners

To handle advertising events, create an instance of `AdvertiseCallback` and register it with the `BluetoothAdapter.getBluetoothLeAdvertiser().startAdvertising()` method. The callback object will receive notifications for the corresponding events.

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Handling Advertising Events

In the callback methods, you can implement the desired logic based on the event type. For example, in the `onStartSuccess()` method, you can update the UI to indicate that advertising has started. In the `onStartFailure()` method, you can display an error message to the user.

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Code Example

// In AdvertisingService.kt
val callback = object : AdvertiseCallback() 
    override fun onStartSuccess(settingsInEffect: AdvertiseSettings) 
        // Advertising started successfully
        // Update UI or perform other actions
    

    override fun onStartFailure(errorCode: Int) 
        // Advertising failed to start
        // Handle the error based on errorCode
    

    override fun onStopSuccess() 
        // Advertising stopped successfully
        // Update UI or perform other actions
    

By handling advertising events, you can ensure that your application reacts appropriately to changes in the advertising status and provides a seamless user experience.

Advanced Advertising Techniques

BLE advertising offers several advanced techniques that can be leveraged to enhance the advertising process and tailor it to specific use cases. This section explores some of these advanced techniques and their implementation.

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Advertising Intervals and Power Levels

• Advertising Intervals:The advertising interval determines how frequently the advertising device broadcasts its data. By adjusting the interval, you can control the power consumption and scan frequency. For example, a shorter interval can increase the likelihood of being detected by nearby scanners, but it will also consume more power.

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• Power Levels:The transmit power level affects the advertising signal strength and the range of the advertisement. Higher power levels result in a stronger signal but also consume more power. You can choose the appropriate power level based on the desired range and power budget.

Advertising Filters

• Advertising Filters:BLE devices can use advertising filters to selectively advertise to specific scanners. This allows you to control which devices can receive your advertisements. For example, you can filter advertisements based on the scanner’s address, service UUIDs, or other criteria.

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Code Examples

// Set advertising interval
val settings = AdvertiseSettings.Builder()
    .setAdvertiseMode(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_MODE_LOW_LATENCY)
    .setTxPowerLevel(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_HIGH)
    .setConnectable(true)
    .setTimeout(0) // Set timeout to 0 for continuous advertising
    .setAdvertiseInterval(500, 1000) // Set interval between 500 and 1000 milliseconds
    .build()

// Set advertising power level
val settings = AdvertiseSettings.Builder()
    .setAdvertiseMode(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_MODE_LOW_LATENCY)
    .setTxPowerLevel(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_MEDIUM) // Set medium power level
    .setConnectable(true)
    .setTimeout(0) // Set timeout to 0 for continuous advertising
    .build()

// Set advertising filter
val filter = AdvertiseFilter.Builder()
    .setDeviceAddress(targetDeviceAddress) // Advertise only to the specified device
    .build()

By implementing these advanced techniques, you can fine-tune your BLE advertising strategy and optimize it for your specific needs.

Conclusion

By mastering BLE advertising, you gain the ability to create innovative Android applications that seamlessly connect with the world around them. From simple notifications to complex data exchange, BLE advertising empowers developers to build engaging and interactive user experiences.

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This guide equips you with the knowledge and tools to unlock the potential of BLE advertising, enabling you to develop cutting-edge applications that redefine the boundaries of connectivity.

Helpful Answers

What are the benefits of using BLE advertising in Android applications?

BLE advertising offers several advantages, including low power consumption, wide device compatibility, and simplified communication protocols. It allows for efficient data exchange between devices, enabling a wide range of use cases.

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How secure is BLE advertising?

While BLE advertising offers basic security features, it’s essential to implement additional measures for data privacy and device authentication. Encryption and authentication mechanisms can help protect sensitive information transmitted through BLE advertising channels.

Can I use BLE advertising to create real-time communication between devices?

BLE advertising is primarily designed for broadcasting information, not for real-time communication. For real-time data exchange, consider using BLE connections or other communication protocols.

What are some examples of real-world applications using BLE advertising?

BLE advertising finds applications in various domains, including smart home automation, fitness tracking, proximity-based services, and beacon-based navigation.