Blackberry>Bluetooth>Prop

T Chap

Recently I was testing out a method to send a .eeprom to a Blackberry, then connect the Blackberry the the Vinculum connected to the Prop for purposes of updating the program in areas where there was not computer access. The only way to get the Vinculum to work was if I created a folder on the Blackberry using a Mac, and dragged the .eeprom to the folder from the Mac as well. But using this method is no different than using a USB drive to load the program off. The Vinculum did not see files that were downloaded via email.

I see an option on the Blackberry that allows a file to be sent from it using Bluetooth, so that the Prop could get the update from this method. I have no experience with Bluetooth, and was wondering if anyone knew if this was viable. One issue may be that the Prop will need to take a short pause every 64 or 128 bytes to write the page to the eeprom. The other issue is that I can't locate any info on the Blackberry as far as data out on on the Bluetooth ie baud etc. Due to the pause required, this may mean some flow control is required, and I have no idea if the Blackberry/Bluetooth protocol allows the Prop to tell it to wait between some amount of bytes being sent out.

I was going to buy the Parallax Easy Bluetooth if this is possible. Any thoughts on this idea?

Mike Green

You can't use the built-in bootloader / EEPROM updater with a wireless connection. The timing constraints are too tight.

You can always write your own updater that runs when the Prop is reset and manages its own protocol including flow control. You'd need a 64K byte EEPROM. Your updater would run, check for the presence of a connection. If none, it would just load and run the program in the 2nd 32K of the EEPROM. If there was a connection, it would attempt to download an update to the 2nd 32K of the EEPROM (and verify it).

T Chap

Thanks Mike

Yes I would use my own loader and just copy 64 or 128 bytes at a time to a spare eeorm, run check sum and if ok then copy to the main boot eeprom. I am just wondering about how to get the Blackberry to send out the bytes as requested by the Prop using some method of flow control. The good thing is that you can send a .eeprom to the Blackberry and then Send via Bluetooth, so maybe this will be a good way to update programs remotely.

StefanL38

@Mike:

what do you think about this module

Bluetooth RS232 adapter serial transparent mode Serial speed up to 921.6kbps - CTS/RTS flow control, DTR/DSR for loop-back & full transfer

Would a module like that have a chance to connect with a propeller?

921.6kbaud is very fast. CTS/RTS DTR/DSR are supported.

Or is there a general problem in the bluetooth-protocol that it allows time-gaps where the transmitting is interrupted and that causes the propeller to loose contact?

best regards

Stefan