Creating and Securing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Applications

Course details

Bluetooth Low Energy is the dominant local wireless connection between devices, connecting device to device without needing a larger Wi-Fi network. Its low power consumption still lets it reach the same range as its Bluetooth predecessors, but it can work in a wider range of generally battery-powered devices. Like all networking approaches, BLE has a complex stack of layers for managing information through application, networking, and transmission. Join instructor Israel Gbati as he shows you how to build software and firmware into your devices for stable and reliable communications. This course is an ideal fit for developers building and supporting devices that need local communications connectivity.

Learning objectives
Plan your BLE approach for specific project situations.
Manage access and attributes through GAP and GATT.
Establish a development workflow for software and firmware development.
Protect your applications and their data from hostile attacks.
Optimize your project for efficient power consumption.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - The power of BLE applications
02 - What you should know

1. Introduction to the BLE Landscape

03 - What is BLE
04 - Key benefits of BLE
05 - BLE vs. Bluetooth classic
06 - BLE vs. other IoT protocols
07 - Core BLE concepts
08 - Understanding BLE device roles
09 - The role of the central device
10 - BLE market and typical use cases
11 - Recap of introduction to the BLE landscape

2. Understanding the BLE Architecture

12 - Module introduction
13 - Controller vs. host - Two main parts
14 - Understanding BLE stack splits (SoC and dual-chip)
15 - The BLE controller
16 - PHY options - 1M, 2M, and coded PHY
17 - The link layer (LL) - Managing the radio state
18 - Link layer (LL) states - From standby to connection
19 - Packets and channels
20 - The host controller interface (HCI) - The standard bridge
21 - Recap of understanding the BLE architecture

3. GAP - Advertising, Discovery, and Connections

22 - Module introduction
23 - What is GAP
24 - GAP advertising mechanisms
25 - Advertising packet types
26 - Advertising data fields
27 - Understanding connection parameters
28 - Recap of GAP - Advertising, discovery, and connections

4. GATT - Structuring Your BLE Data

29 - Module introduction
30 - Introduction to GATT and ATT
31 - The GATT hierarchy - Services, characteristics, descriptors
32 - Understanding UUIDs - Standard and custom
33 - The GATT server - Implementing data on the peripheral
34 - The GATT client - How centrals interact
35 - Characteristic properties - Defining data access
36 - Exploring Standard BLE Profiles and Services
37 - Recap of GATT - Structuring your BLE data

5. Setting Up the Development Environment

38 - Overview of the development board
39 - Setting up Arduino
40 - Setting the board package and BLE library
41 - Getting the BLE scanner app

6. Hands-On BLE Peripheral Development

42 - Project sketch setup
43 - Initializing and naming the peripheral
44 - Starting advertising
45 - Testing the BLE advertising sketch
46 - Generating a 128-bit UUID
47 - Creating a custom service
48 - Testing the custom service
49 - Defining a characteristic and its properties
50 - Adding the characteristic and advertising data
51 - Testing the characteristic and advertising data
52 - Defining the pins and char for the BLE chat application
53 - Implementing the chat logic
54 - Testing the chat application
55 - Testing the notify property

7. Designing Effective BLE Peripherals

56 - Module introduction
57 - Key design considerations for peripherals
58 - Power consumption optimization, part 1
59 - Power consumption optimization, part 2
60 - Balancing range vs. data rate trade-offs
61 - Accounting for environmental considerations
62 - Recap of designing effective BLE peripherals

8. Fundamentals of BLE Security

63 - Module introduction
64 - Understanding common threats and risks
65 - The security manager
66 - Core security concepts
67 - Understanding pairing methods, part1
68 - Understanding pairing methods, part2
69 - LE SC vs. legacy pairing
70 - Recap of fundamentals of BLE security

Conclusion

71 - Next steps in your BLE journey