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Cellular API

CellularInterface class hierarchy

Note: Some functions, variables or types have been deprecated. Please see the class reference linked below for details.

The CellularInterface class provides a C++ API for connecting to the internet over a Cellular device.

Getting started

  1. Choose an Mbed board that supports cellular, such as the UBLOX-C027 or MTS-DRAGONFLY.

  2. Clone mbed-os-example-cellular. Follow the instructions in the repository.

    1. Compile the code.
    2. Flash the board.

    You see output similar to the excerpt below:

mbed-os-example-cellular
Establishing connection ......

Connection Established.
TCP: connected with echo.mbedcloudtesting.com server
TCP: Sent 4 Bytes to echo.mbedcloudtesting.com
Received from echo server 4 Bytes


Success. Exiting

Basic working principles

You can use and extend a cellular interface in various different ways. For example,

  • Using AT commands to control sockets in an existing IP stack built into the cellular modem.

  • Using a PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) pipe to pass IP packets between an Mbed OS supported IP stack and cellular modem device.

mbed-os-example-cellular uses PPP or AT mode depending on the modem. We can summarize this particular design as follows:

  • It uses an external IP stack, such as LWIP, or on-chip network stacks such as when the modem does not support PPP.
  • The easy cellular connection uses standard 3GPP AT 27.007 AT commands to set up the cellular modem and to register to the network.
  • After registration, the driver opens a PPP pipe using LWIP with the cellular modem and connects to the internet. If AT only mode is in use, then modem-specific AT commands are used for socket data control.

CellularInterface class reference

Public Types
typedef mbed::Callback< void(nsapi_error_t result, SocketAddress *address)> hostbyname_cb_t
 Hostname translation callback (for use with gethostbyname_async()). More...
Public Member Functions
virtual void set_credentials (const char *apn, const char *uname=0, const char *pwd=0)=0
 Set the cellular network credentials. More...
virtual void set_plmn (const char *plmn)=0
 Set the plmn. More...
virtual void set_sim_pin (const char *sim_pin)=0
 Set the PIN code for SIM card. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t connect (const char *sim_pin, const char *apn=0, const char *uname=0, const char *pwd=0)=0
 Attempt to connect to a cellular network with a PIN and credentials. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t connect ()=0
 Attempt to connect to a cellular network. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t disconnect ()=0
 Stop the interface. More...
virtual bool is_connected ()=0
 Check if the connection is currently established. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t get_ip_address (SocketAddress *address)=0
 Get the local IP address. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t get_netmask (SocketAddress *address)=0
 Get the local network mask. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t get_gateway (SocketAddress *address)=0
 Get the local gateway. More...
virtual CellularInterfacecellularBase ()
 Return pointer to a CellularInterface. More...
virtual CellularInterfacecellularInterface ()
 Return pointer to a CellularInterface. More...
virtual void set_default_parameters ()
 defined(DOXYGEN_ONLY) More...
virtual void set_as_default ()
 Set network interface as default one. More...
virtual const char * get_mac_address ()
 Get the local MAC address. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t get_ipv6_link_local_address (SocketAddress *address)
 Get the IPv6 link local address. More...
virtual char * get_interface_name (char *interface_name)
 Get the network interface name. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t set_network (const SocketAddress &ip_address, const SocketAddress &netmask, const SocketAddress &gateway)
 Configure this network interface to use a static IP address. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t set_dhcp (bool dhcp)
 Enable or disable DHCP on connecting the network. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t gethostbyname (const char *host, SocketAddress *address, nsapi_version_t version=NSAPI_UNSPEC, const char *interface_name=NULL)
 Translate a hostname to an IP address with specific version using network interface name. More...
virtual nsapi_value_or_error_t gethostbyname_async (const char *host, hostbyname_cb_t callback, nsapi_version_t version=NSAPI_UNSPEC, const char *interface_name=NULL)
 Translate a hostname to an IP address (asynchronous) using network interface name. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t gethostbyname_async_cancel (int id)
 Cancel asynchronous hostname translation. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t add_dns_server (const SocketAddress &address, const char *interface_name)
 Add a domain name server to list of servers to query. More...
virtual void attach (mbed::Callback< void(nsapi_event_t, intptr_t)> status_cb)
 Register callback for status reporting. More...
void add_event_listener (mbed::Callback< void(nsapi_event_t, intptr_t)> status_cb)
 Add event listener for interface. More...
void remove_event_listener (mbed::Callback< void(nsapi_event_t, intptr_t)> status_cb)
 Remove event listener from interface. More...
virtual nsapi_connection_status_t get_connection_status () const
 Get the connection status. More...
virtual nsapi_error_t set_blocking (bool blocking)
 Set asynchronous operation of connect() and disconnect() calls. More...
virtual EthInterfaceethInterface ()
 Return pointer to an EthInterface. More...
virtual WiFiInterfacewifiInterface ()
 Return pointer to a WiFiInterface. More...
virtual MeshInterfacemeshInterface ()
 Return pointer to a MeshInterface. More...
virtual EMACInterfaceemacInterface ()
 Return pointer to an EMACInterface. More...
Static Public Member Functions
static CellularInterfaceget_default_instance ()
 Get the default cellular interface. More...

Usage

To bring up the network interface:

  1. Instantiate an implementation of the CellularInterface class.
  2. Call the connect(pincode, apn) function with a PIN code for your SIM card and an APN for your network.
  3. Once connected, you can use Mbed OS network sockets as usual.

Cellular example: connection establishment

This example establishes connection with the cellular network using Mbed OS CellularInterface.

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2017 ARM Limited. All rights reserved.
 * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the License); you may
 * not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an AS IS BASIS, WITHOUT
 * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

#include "mbed.h"
#include "common_functions.h"
#include "CellularNonIPSocket.h"
#include "CellularDevice.h"
#include "UDPSocket.h"
#include "CellularLog.h"

#define UDP 0
#define TCP 1
#define NONIP 2

// Number of retries /
#define RETRY_COUNT 3

NetworkInterface *iface;

// Echo server hostname
const char *host_name = MBED_CONF_APP_ECHO_SERVER_HOSTNAME;

// Echo server port (same for TCP and UDP)
const int port = MBED_CONF_APP_ECHO_SERVER_PORT;

static rtos::Mutex trace_mutex;

#if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE
static void trace_wait()
{
    trace_mutex.lock();
}

static void trace_release()
{
    trace_mutex.unlock();
}

static char time_st[50];

static char* trace_time(size_t ss)
{
    snprintf(time_st, 49, "[%08llums]", Kernel::get_ms_count());
    return time_st;
}

static void trace_open()
{
    mbed_trace_init();
    mbed_trace_prefix_function_set( &trace_time );

    mbed_trace_mutex_wait_function_set(trace_wait);
    mbed_trace_mutex_release_function_set(trace_release);

    mbed_cellular_trace::mutex_wait_function_set(trace_wait);
    mbed_cellular_trace::mutex_release_function_set(trace_release);
}

static void trace_close()
{
    mbed_cellular_trace::mutex_wait_function_set(NULL);
    mbed_cellular_trace::mutex_release_function_set(NULL);

    mbed_trace_free();
}
#endif // #if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE

Thread dot_thread(osPriorityNormal, 512);

void print_function(const char *format, ...)
{
    trace_mutex.lock();
    va_list arglist;
    va_start( arglist, format );
    vprintf(format, arglist);
    va_end( arglist );
    trace_mutex.unlock();
}

void dot_event()
{
    while (true) {
        ThisThread::sleep_for(4000);
        if (iface && iface->get_connection_status() == NSAPI_STATUS_GLOBAL_UP) {
            break;
        } else {
            trace_mutex.lock();
            printf(".");
            fflush(stdout);
            trace_mutex.unlock();
        }
    }
}

/**
 * Connects to the Cellular Network
 */
nsapi_error_t do_connect()
{
    nsapi_error_t retcode = NSAPI_ERROR_OK;
    uint8_t retry_counter = 0;

    while (iface->get_connection_status() != NSAPI_STATUS_GLOBAL_UP) {
        retcode = iface->connect();
        if (retcode == NSAPI_ERROR_AUTH_FAILURE) {
            print_function("\n\nAuthentication Failure. Exiting application\n");
        } else if (retcode == NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
            print_function("\n\nConnection Established.\n");
        } else if (retry_counter > RETRY_COUNT) {
            print_function("\n\nFatal connection failure: %d\n", retcode);
        } else {
            print_function("\n\nCouldn't connect: %d, will retry\n", retcode);
            retry_counter++;
            continue;
        }
        break;
    }
    return retcode;
}

/**
 * Opens:
 * - UDP or TCP socket with the given echo server and performs an echo
 *   transaction retrieving current.
 * - Cellular Non-IP socket for which the data delivery path is decided
 *   by network's control plane CIoT optimisation setup, for the given APN.
 */
nsapi_error_t test_send_recv()
{
    nsapi_size_or_error_t retcode;
#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == TCP
    TCPSocket sock;
#elif MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == UDP
    UDPSocket sock;
#elif MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == NONIP
    CellularNonIPSocket sock;
#endif

#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == NONIP
    retcode = sock.open((CellularContext*)iface);
#else
    retcode = sock.open(iface);
#endif

    if (retcode != NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == TCP
        print_function("TCPSocket.open() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
#elif MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == UDP
        print_function("UDPSocket.open() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
#elif MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == NONIP
        print_function("CellularNonIPSocket.open() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
#endif
        return -1;
    }

    int n = 0;
    const char *echo_string = "TEST";
    char recv_buf[4];

    sock.set_timeout(15000);

#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == NONIP
    retcode = sock.send((void*) echo_string, strlen(echo_string));
    if (retcode < 0) {
        print_function("CellularNonIPSocket.send() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
        return -1;
    } else {
        print_function("CellularNonIPSocket: Sent %d Bytes\n", retcode);
    }

    n = sock.recv((void*) recv_buf, sizeof(recv_buf));

#else

    SocketAddress sock_addr;
    retcode = iface->gethostbyname(host_name, &sock_addr);
    if (retcode != NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
        print_function("Couldn't resolve remote host: %s, code: %d\n", host_name, retcode);
        return -1;
    }

    sock_addr.set_port(port);

#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == TCP
    retcode = sock.connect(sock_addr);
    if (retcode < 0) {
        print_function("TCPSocket.connect() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
        return -1;
    } else {
        print_function("TCP: connected with %s server\n", host_name);
    }
    retcode = sock.send((void*) echo_string, strlen(echo_string));
    if (retcode < 0) {
        print_function("TCPSocket.send() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
        return -1;
    } else {
        print_function("TCP: Sent %d Bytes to %s\n", retcode, host_name);
    }

    n = sock.recv((void*) recv_buf, sizeof(recv_buf));
#else

    retcode = sock.sendto(sock_addr, (void*) echo_string, strlen(echo_string));
    if (retcode < 0) {
        print_function("UDPSocket.sendto() fails, code: %d\n", retcode);
        return -1;
    } else {
        print_function("UDP: Sent %d Bytes to %s\n", retcode, host_name);
    }

    n = sock.recvfrom(&sock_addr, (void*) recv_buf, sizeof(recv_buf));
#endif
#endif

    sock.close();

    if (n > 0) {
        print_function("Received from echo server %d Bytes\n", n);
        return 0;
    }

    return -1;
}

int main()
{
    print_function("\n\nmbed-os-example-cellular\n");
    print_function("\n\nBuilt: %s, %s\n", __DATE__, __TIME__);
#ifdef MBED_CONF_NSAPI_DEFAULT_CELLULAR_PLMN
    print_function("\n\n[MAIN], plmn: %s\n", (MBED_CONF_NSAPI_DEFAULT_CELLULAR_PLMN ? MBED_CONF_NSAPI_DEFAULT_CELLULAR_PLMN : "NULL"));
#endif

    print_function("Establishing connection\n");
#if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE
    trace_open();
#else
    dot_thread.start(dot_event);
#endif // #if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE

#if MBED_CONF_APP_SOCK_TYPE == NONIP
    iface = CellularContext::get_default_nonip_instance();
#else
    iface = CellularContext::get_default_instance();
#endif

    MBED_ASSERT(iface);

    // sim pin, apn, credentials and possible plmn are taken automatically from json when using NetworkInterface::set_default_parameters()
    iface->set_default_parameters();

    nsapi_error_t retcode = NSAPI_ERROR_NO_CONNECTION;

    /* Attempt to connect to a cellular network */
    if (do_connect() == NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
        retcode = test_send_recv();
    }

    if (iface->disconnect() != NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
        print_function("\n\n disconnect failed.\n\n");
    }

    if (retcode == NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
        print_function("\n\nSuccess. Exiting \n\n");
    } else {
        print_function("\n\nFailure. Exiting \n\n");
    }

#if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE
    trace_close();
#else
    dot_thread.terminate();
#endif // #if MBED_CONF_MBED_TRACE_ENABLE

    return 0;
}
// EOF

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