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 WiConnect and the remote server.

Features Demonstrated

• ioconn.* variables
• gpio_alias variable

Method

The WiConnect 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 ACKme 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 either a Mackerel or Moray evaluation board.

Setup

Connect the switch between the following pins on the module, depending on your evaluation board:

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

Set up aliases for the ioconn variables.

For the AMW004-E03 Mackeral evaluation board:

set gpio.alias 22 IOC_CTRL
set gpio.alias 21 IOC_STATUS

Set the alias 'IOC_CTRL' for GPIO22 (user LED1)
Set the alias 'IOC_STATUS' for GPIO21 (user LED2)

For the AMW006-E03 Moray evaluation board:

set gpio.alias 16 IOC_CTRL
set gpio.alias 13 IOC_STATUS

Set the alias 'IOC_CTRL' for GPIO16 (user LED1)
Set the alias 'IOC_STATUS' for GPIO13 (user LED2)

Configure the ioconn variables.

gdi IOC_CTRL none
set ioconn.control_gpio IOC_CTRL
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 IOC_STATUS none
set ioconn.status_gpio IOC_STATUS

save
reboot

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

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

If all goes well, the module terminal console displays something like the following:

> Resolving host: test.zentri.com
[2014-11-21 | 03:40:51: Opening: test.zentri.com:50007]
> Connecting (TCP): 107.170.222.80:50007
[2014-11-21 | 03:40:52: Opened: 0]

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.

The WiConnect response is similar to the following:

> [2014-11-21 | 03:42:13: Closed: 0]

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 WiConnect. 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:

> Resolving host: test.zentri.com
[2014-11-21 | 03:40:51: Opening: test.zentri.com:50007]
> Connecting (TCP): 107.170.222.80:50007
[2014-11-21 | 03:40:52: Opened: 0]

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 ACKme test server.

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