How to Change Advertise Period to Some Seconds by Lib AltBeacon or by Native Instruments in Android?
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How to Change Advertise Period to Some Seconds by Lib AltBeacon or by Native Instruments in Android?

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Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to adjust the advertise period to a specific duration using Lib AltBeacon or native instruments in Android. In beacon technology, the advertise period, also known as the transmission interval, is the time interval between consecutive transmissions of the beacon’s identifier. By default, this interval is set to 100ms, but you can modify it to suit your needs. In this article, we’ll explore the step-by-step process for changing the advertise period using both Lib AltBeacon and native Android instruments.

Why Change the Advertise Period?

Before we dive into the technicalities, let’s understand why you might want to adjust the advertise period. Here are some scenarios where modifying the advertise period can be beneficial:

  • Power conservation**: By increasing the advertise period, you can reduce the power consumption of your beacon, making it last longer on a single battery charge.
  • Improved performance**: In environments with multiple beacons, reducing the advertise period can help prevent collisions and improve overall performance.
  • Customized experience**: By adjusting the advertise period, you can tailor the beacon’s behavior to your specific use case, such as detecting proximity or monitoring movement.

Using Lib AltBeacon

Lib AltBeacon is a popular Android library for working with beacons. It provides a simple and intuitive API for configuring and interacting with beacons. To change the advertise period using Lib AltBeacon, follow these steps:

  1. First, add the Lib AltBeacon library to your Android project. You can do this by adding the following dependency to your build.gradle file:
  2. dependencies {
    implementation 'org.altbeacon:android-beacon-library:[version]'
    }

  3. Next, create an instance of the BeaconTransmitter class and set the advertise period using the setAdvertisePeriod() method:
  4.     BeaconTransmitter beaconTransmitter = new BeaconTransmitter(this, adapter);
        beaconTransmitter.setAdvertisePeriod(500); // Set advertise period to 500ms
      
  5. In the above code, this refers to the current context, and adapter is an instance of the BluetoothAdapter class.
  6. Finally, start the beacon transmission using the startAdvertising() method:
  7.     beaconTransmitter.startAdvertising();
      

Using Native Android Instruments

If you prefer not to use a third-party library, you can modify the advertise period using native Android instruments. This approach requires working with the Android Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) API. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Create a BluetoothAdapter Instance

To interact with the BLE adapter, you need to create an instance of the BluetoothAdapter class:

BluetoothAdapter bluetoothAdapter = BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter();

Step 2: Create a BluetoothLeAdvertiser Instance

Next, create an instance of the BluetoothLeAdvertiser class, which is responsible for advertising the beacon’s identifier:

BluetoothLeAdvertiser bluetoothLeAdvertiser = bluetoothAdapter.getBluetoothLeAdvertiser();

Step 3: Set the Advertise Period

To set the advertise period, you need to create an instance of the AdvertiseSettings class and set the txPower and advertiseMode properties:

AdvertiseSettings advertiseSettings = new AdvertiseSettings.Builder()
    .setAdvertiseMode(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_MODE_LOW_LATENCY)
    .setTxPowerLevel(AdvertiseSettings.ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_HIGH)
    .setConnectable(true)
    .setTimeout(1000)
    .build();

In the above code, we’re setting the advertise mode to low latency, transmission power to high, and enabling connectivity. You can adjust these settings according to your requirements.

Step 4: Create an AdvertiseData Instance

Create an instance of the AdvertiseData class, which represents the data to be advertised:

AdvertiseData advertiseData = new AdvertiseData.Builder()
    .addServiceUuid ParcelUuid.fromString("0000abcd-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb"))
    .setIncludeDeviceName(true)
    .build();

In the above code, we’re adding a service UUID and enabling device name inclusion. You can customize the advertise data according to your needs.

Step 5: Start Advertising

Finally, start the advertising process using the startAdvertising() method:

bluetoothLeAdvertiser.startAdvertising(advertiseSettings, advertiseData, advertisementCallback);

In the above code, advertisementCallback is an instance of the AdvertiseCallback class, which provides callbacks for advertising events.

Conclusion

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve covered the steps to modify the advertise period using both Lib AltBeacon and native Android instruments. By adjusting the advertise period, you can optimize the performance and power consumption of your beacon-based Android application. Remember to consider the implications of modifying the advertise period on your specific use case and adjust the settings accordingly. Happy coding!

Library/Instrument Advantages Disadvantages
Lib AltBeacon Easy to use, high-level API, supports multiple beacon types Dependent on third-party library, limited customization options
Native Android Instruments Highly customizable, low-level API, better performance Steeper learning curve, more complex implementation

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this article with your fellow developers and Android enthusiasts!

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Here are 5 Questions and Answers about “How to change advertise period to some seconds by lib AltBeacon or by native instruments in Android?” in HTML format:

Frequently Asked Question

Get the answers to the most frequently asked questions about changing advertise period to some seconds by lib AltBeacon or by native instruments in Android.

Can I change the advertise period of AltBeacon to seconds?

Yes, you can change the advertise period of AltBeacon to seconds by using the `setAdvertiseMode` method and specifying the interval in milliseconds. For example, to set the advertise period to 5 seconds, you would use `beaconTransmitter.setAdvertiseMode(5000);`.

How do I calculate the advertise period in milliseconds?

To calculate the advertise period in milliseconds, simply multiply the desired interval in seconds by 1000. For example, if you want to set the advertise period to 3 seconds, you would calculate 3 x 1000 = 3000 milliseconds.

Can I use native Android instruments to change the advertise period?

Yes, you can use native Android instruments to change the advertise period by using the `BluetoothAdapter` and `BluetoothLeAdvertiser` classes. Specifically, you can use the `setAdvertisingInterval` method to set the advertise period in milliseconds.

What is the minimum advertise period allowed by Android?

The minimum advertise period allowed by Android is 100 milliseconds. Attempting to set a shorter interval will result in an error.

Are there any limitations to changing the advertise period?

Yes, there are limitations to changing the advertise period. For example, some devices may not support certain intervals, and changing the interval too frequently can cause performance issues. Additionally, some devices may have restrictions on the maximum advertise period, so be sure to check the device’s documentation for specific limitations.

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