GPIO-Controlled Network Connection

This example demonstrates how to use a GPIO to control a network connection to a remote server. Once the network connection is open, data can be automatically streamed between Gecko OS and the remote server.

Features Demonstrated

• ioconn.* variables

Method

The Gecko OS ioconn feature makes it easy for an MCU, or blackbox electronic system with a serial output, to add network communication with a remote server. A GPIO is assigned as the ioconn.control_gpio . Toggling the ioconn control GPIO makes and breaks the network connection to the remote server.

The remote server used in the demonstration is the Silabs test TCP echo server, located online at test.zentri.com . The TCP echo server simply echoes any messages back to the client.

A computer, connected via USB to the evaluation board, takes the part of the MCU host system.

To set the level of the ioconn control GPIO high, various techniques are possible. In this demonstration, a switch is used to connect a logic high (3.3V) to the ioconn control GPIO pin. In an actual implementation, the host system toggles the ioconn control GPIO.

This demonstration uses the user LED GPIOs on the module for the ioconn control and status GPIOs. The LEDs are configured so that:

• User LED1 turns on when the ioconn control GPIO is asserted
• User LED2 turns on when a connection with the remote server is established

This demonstration works on a Mackerel, Moray or Medusa evaluation board.

Setup

Connect the switch between the IOC_CTRL and VDD_3V3, using eval board pins as indicated below:

Connect the module via USB to your computer and open a serial terminal console. See Getting Started .

The following assumes that the module is in the default state. To return to the default state, perform a factory reset .

Set up the local Wi-Fi network parameters.

set wlan.ssid <YOUR_SSID>
set wlan.passkey <YOUR_PASSKEY>
set wlan.auto_join.enabled 1

Set the wlan parameters for your local Wi-Fi access point
Remember to substitute correct values for your local Wi-Fi
Set up automatic network join

Configure the ioconn variables.

set system.indicator.gpio softap -1
set system.indicator.gpio network -1
gdi 1 none
set ioconn.control_gpio 1
set ioconn.enabled 1
set ioconn.local_port 5000
set ioconn.protocol tcp
set ioconn.remote_host test.zentri.com
set ioconn.remote_port 50007
gdi 4 none
set ioconn.status_gpio 4

save
reboot

Remove system.indicator.gpio setting for IOC_CTRL GPIO
Remove system.indicator.gpio setting for IOC_STATUS GPIO
Required if IOC_CTRL GPIO already in use
Set the GPIO to initiate connection
Enable GPIO-controlled connection
Specify local port
Specify protocol
Specify host to connect to
Specify port on host

Set the connection status GPIO

Save
Reboot - changes are initiated at boot time

Performing a GPIO-Controlled Host Connection

When the IOC_CTRL GPIO is low, the stream_list command does not list any TCP client network stream:

> stream_list
! # Type  Info

Assert the module IOC_CTRL GPIO by setting the switch to ON.

The stream_list command lists the new TCP client network stream:

> stream_list
! # Type  Info
# 0 TCPC  107.170.222.80:50007 (22316)

While the IOC_CTRL GPIO is still asserted, send a message to the server:

write 0 16
hello IoT world!

Send message to stream 0 (server). Specify length of message
Enter the message on the next line

Success

Now check if a message has been received in reply:

read 0 1000

Read up to 1000 bytes from stream 0 (tcp test server)

hello IoT world!

The server's response echoes the message sent.

De-assert the ioconn control GPIO by setting the switch to OFF.

Once again, the stream_list command does not list any TCP client network stream:

> stream_list
! # Type  Info

Using Stream Mode

A typical use of the GPIO Controlled Network Connection feature is to allow a device to stream data to and from a server. To demonstrate this, put the module in stream mode:

set bus.mode stream
save
reboot

Set the bus mode to stream
Save
Reboot to bring up in stream bus mode.

The module terminal console can no longer send commands to Gecko OS. Try typing at the terminal. There is no response. Characters you type are transparently streamed to the network, which is currently not connected. See Serial Interface, Stream Mode .

Now assert the ioconn control GPIO by setting the switch to on.

All characters received from the remote server appear automatically on the console.

Now type some characters into the module terminal console. Typed characters are echoed (after round-trip network latency) by the Silabs test server.

Supporting Gecko OS Editions and Versions

• Gecko-OS-2.0+

Change Log