I'm trying to use UUIDs as identifiers for specific beacons (using phones in this case). I understand that major and minor are used to do this, but I'd rather use the UUID, or the identifier string.
With that being said, is there anyway to scan for beacons regardless of UUIDs with the CLBeacon API?
On Android you can scan for all UUIDs. On iOS you cannot. See:
http://developer.radiusnetworks.com/2013/10/21/corebluetooth-doesnt-let-you-see-ibeacons.html
On iOS, CoreLocation limits you to monitoring for at most 20 different UUIDs. Ranging does not have a limit of 20, but you still must know the UUIDs ahead of time.
As far as I know, there is no restriction in monitoring iBeacon regions with different UUID. You can do something like:
NSArray *uuids = [NSArray arrayWithObjects:#"####-####-###1", #"####-####-###2", nil];
for (NSString *uuidString in uuids) {
CLBeaconRegion *region = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:[[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:uuidString] identifier:identifier];
region.notifyOnEntry = entry;
region.notifyOnExit = exit;
region.notifyEntryStateOnDisplay = YES;
[_locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:region];
}
You just need to make sure you check for the UUID in you locationManager's delegate methods. You can use something like this:
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didDetermineState:(CLRegionState)state forRegion:(CLRegion *)region {
if ([region isKindOfClass:[CLBeaconRegion class]]) {
CLBeaconRegion *beaconRegion = (CLBeaconRegion *)region;
NSLog(#"ProximityUUID:%#", beaconRegion.proximityUUID);
NSLog(#"ProximityMajor:%#", beaconRegion.major);
NSLog(#"ProximityMinorD:%#", beaconRegion.minor);
}
}
You should see that the delegate method is called with different UUIDs.
Hope this helps.
Related
I am developing an application to find a beacon. But i have a problem that is i can only find a beacon which I have defined in code but i want to find beacon dynamically which i dont know the UUID. And is that possible to find a beacon without location service? Here is my just code i do not get any error.. I just want to access region without location service ON..
NSUUID *beaconUUID = [[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:#"D57092AC-DFAA-446C-8EF3-C81AA22815B5"];
NSString *regionIdentifier = #"us.iBeaconModules";
CLBeaconRegion *beaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:beaconUUID identifier:regionIdentifier];
self.locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
if([self.locationManager respondsToSelector:#selector(requestAlwaysAuthorization)]) {
[self.locationManager requestAlwaysAuthorization];
}
self.locationManager.delegate = self;
self.locationManager.pausesLocationUpdatesAutomatically = NO;
[self.locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:beaconRegion];
[self.locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:beaconRegion];
No, you can not use iBeacons without the location services.
The reason behind is this is probably has to do with privacy, since with iBeacons you can track someones location. Thus if the user turned of the location services it means they do not want you app to track their location.
You could of course use the bluetooth stack to detect you iBeacons but to my knowledge you will have to pair with the beacon first before you can detect its presence.
I am working on iBeacon transmitter and receiver. I have successfully completed the transmitter part but the other part the receiver is not recognising the transmitted signal. Can any body please help me identify where i went wrong? Is there anything more I have to add in .plist. I have tried stackoverflow answers but sorry to tell that nothing worked.
#import "ViewController.h"
#interface ViewController ()
#end
#implementation ViewController
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
// Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib.
// Initialize location manager and set ourselves as the delegate
self.locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self.locationManager.delegate = self;
// Create a NSUUID with the same UUID as the broadcasting beacon
NSUUID *uuid = [[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:#"A77A1B68-49A7-4DBF-914C-760D07FBB87B"];
// Setup a new region with that UUID and same identifier as the broadcasting beacon
self.myBeaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:uuid identifier:#"xx.xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx"];
// Tell location manager to start monitoring for the beacon region
[self.locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:self.myBeaconRegion];
// Check if beacon monitoring is available for this device
if (![CLLocationManager isMonitoringAvailableForClass:[CLBeaconRegion class]]) {
UIAlertView *alert = [[UIAlertView alloc] initWithTitle:#"Monitoring not available" message:nil delegate:nil cancelButtonTitle:#"Ok" otherButtonTitles: nil];
[alert show];
return;
}
}
- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning
{
[super didReceiveMemoryWarning];
// Dispose of any resources that can be recreated.
}
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion *)region
{
// We entered a region, now start looking for our target beacons!
self.statusLabel.text = #"Finding beacons.";
[self.locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:self.myBeaconRegion];
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didExitRegion:(CLRegion *)region
{
// Exited the region
self.statusLabel.text = #"None found.";
[self.locationManager stopRangingBeaconsInRegion:self.myBeaconRegion];
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager
didRangeBeacons:(NSArray*)beacons
inRegion:(CLBeaconRegion*)region
{
// Beacon found!
self.statusLabel.text = #"Beacon found!";
CLBeacon *foundBeacon = [beacons firstObject];
// You can retrieve the beacon data from its properties
//NSString *uuid = foundBeacon.proximityUUID.UUIDString;
//NSString *major = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", foundBeacon.major];
//NSString *minor = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", foundBeacon.minor];
}
#end
You need to ask the permission to use the bluetooth.
Use requestAlwaysAuthorization (for background location) or requestWhenInUseAuthorization (when foreground).
You also need the NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription or NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription key in Info.plist with a message to be displayed in the prompt to the user like "I need your permission to access bluetooth" or whatever.
In previous system versions, it will automatically notify the user to authorize when the location service is being used. In iOS 8, Apple has updated the authorization strategy, which requires to call the function to request user's authorization. The corresponding SDK has also provided alternative function.
1.requestAlwaysAuthorization
Firstly, the notification content is required. When calling the function, the system will push this paragraph of text to the user if he/she has not authorize the App to use the service. You may need to add the following key to Info.plist:
NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription
Meanwhile, a written desciption should be added, without which calling the function will be invalid. Secondly, call the authorization function.
[locationManger requestAlwaysAuthorization];
Just a side thought to try and debug the issue (Although from your code everything seems to be written correctly).
First, lets see if you got some error while initialising your listener. To do that, lets implement these delegates and see if you get some error here:
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didFailWithError:(NSError *)error
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager monitoringDidFailForRegion:(CLRegion *)region withError:(NSError *)error
Second, implement below delegate to check if location manager started monitoring your region. You can NSLog your region' UUID and identifier just to be doubly sure.
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didStartMonitoringForRegion:(CLRegion *)region
Next, if you get above call back then everything seems fine on your listener. Try couple of things now:
Is your broadcaster is really broadcasting?
If yes, is it broadcasting the same UUID your listener is expecting.
If yes, try switching off listener and broadcaster. Reboot the device and then switch on broadcaster followed by listener.
I have experienced, Location management not work instantaneously. For instance, once you detected the region entry, if you got out of the region you may not get immediate call back and then if you enter the same region again without getting exit call, you will not receive entry call. I've seen #3, working in many situations.
Also, a tip that I am not remembering where I got from :). Start ranging your beacons along with monitoring. Sometimes this gives better results.
I'm trying to access the major and minor values for the closest beacon within the didEnterRegion delegate. However, when printing the values to the console they return null
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion *)region {
if ([region isKindOfClass:[CLBeaconRegion class]]) {
CLBeaconRegion *beaconRegion = (CLBeaconRegion *)region;
int major = [beaconRegion.major intValue];
int minor = [beaconRegion.minor intValue];
NSLog(#" Major %# Minor %#", beaconRegion.major, beaconRegion.minor);
}
}
The region monitoring callback you have implemented will not tell you the individual identifiers of the beacons you detect. If you want to get the identifiers for individual beacons detected, you have to use the beacon ranging APIs as #Larme says in his comment. The callback for ranging includes a second parameter that is an array of all beacons seen.
You have to differentiate between Monitoring and Ranging iBeacons. Only successfully ranging iBeacons provides you with the Major/Minor IDs.
Looks like you are not initializing the BeaconRegion with minor and major values
While initializing the beacon region you need to use
initWithProximityUUID:major:minor:identifier:
instead of
initWithProximityUUID:identifier:
If you do not want to initialize minor and major values into regions, then you may want to call didRangeBeacons method as mentioned in the comments.
you're trying to get region's major and minor values. but you say that want to get the beacon's values.
it depends on which beacon brand you're using but there must be a method that returns the beacons array the device has found. generally the first object of the array is the closest one.
in that method you can get the beacon's values.
an example code:
- (void)beaconManager:(ESTBeaconManager *)manager didRangeBeacons:(NSArray *)beacons inRegion:(ESTBeaconRegion *)region
{
if([beacons count] > 0)
{
// beacon array is sorted based on distance
// closest beacon is the first one
ESTBeacon* closestBeacon = [beacons objectAtIndex:0];
NSString* theMajor = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#",closestBeacon.major];
}
}
Setup locationManager (remember to configure plist for iOS 8 to add in these 2 values NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription, NSLocationWhenInUseUsageDescription).
#property (strong, nonatomic) CLLocationManager *locationManager;
self.locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self.locationManager.delegate = self;
[[UIApplication sharedApplication] cancelAllLocalNotifications];
// Needed for iOS 8
if([self.locationManager respondsToSelector:#selector(requestAlwaysAuthorization)]) {
[self.locationManager requestAlwaysAuthorization];
}
Then call startRangingItem:
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion *)region{
if ([region isKindOfClass:[CLBeaconRegion class]]) {
[self startRangingItem];
}
}
- (void)startRangingItem {
CLBeaconRegion *beaconRegion = [self beaconRegionWithItem];
[self.locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:beaconRegion];
}
- (CLBeaconRegion *)beaconRegionWithItem{
NSUUID *iPadTransmitterUUID = [[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:#"AAAAAAAA-BBBB-CCCC-DDDD-EEEEEEFFFFF1"];
CLBeaconRegion *beaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:iPadTransmitterUUID identifier:#"Transmitter1"];
return beaconRegion;
}
Then in didRangeBeacons:***
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didRangeBeacons:(NSArray *)beacons inRegion:(CLBeaconRegion *)region{
CLBeacon *testBeacon = [beacons objectAtIndex:0];
NSLog(#"Inside didRangeBeacons Major %# Minor %#", testBeacon.major, testBeacon.minor);
}
***Please note that this didRangeBeacons method will only run in background for 5 seconds once the user enter the region. It will stop ranging after 5 seconds. If you want to continue ranging, the user needs to launch the app. (forcing the didRangeBeacons to run in background is possible, but it might get rejected by apple)
I am writing both Android and iOS apps which need to find BLE beacons around the device.
When I run my code from Android, it finds several beacons in the room I am in.
I have 8 beacons.
When I run the beacon code from iPhone, it returns a list of exactly 0 beacons.
Here is my code:
- (void)viewDidLoad
{
[super viewDidLoad];
// Do any additional setup after loading the view.
self.locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self.locationManager.delegate = self;
[self initRegion];
[self locationManager:self.locationManager didStartMonitoringForRegion:self.beaconRegion];
}
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didStartMonitoringForRegion:(CLRegion *)region {
[self.locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:self.beaconRegion];
}
- (void)initRegion {
NSUUID *uuid = [[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:BEACONUUID];
self.beaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:uuid identifier:BEACONIDENTIFIER];
[self.locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:self.beaconRegion];
}
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion *)region {
NSLog(#"Beacon Found");
[self.locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:self.beaconRegion];
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didExitRegion:(CLRegion *)region {
NSLog(#"Left Region");
[self.locationManager stopRangingBeaconsInRegion:self.beaconRegion];
self.beaconFoundLabel.text = #"No";
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didRangeBeacons:(NSArray *)beacons inRegion:(CLBeaconRegion *)region {
CLBeacon *beacon = [beacons lastObject];//<== is always 0
self.beaconFoundLabel.text = #"Yes";
self.proximityUUIDLabel.text = beacon.proximityUUID.UUIDString;
self.majorLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", beacon.major];
self.minorLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%#", beacon.minor];
self.accuracyLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%f", beacon.accuracy];
if (beacon.proximity == CLProximityUnknown) {
self.distanceLabel.text = #"Unknown Proximity";
} else if (beacon.proximity == CLProximityImmediate) {
self.distanceLabel.text = #"Immediate";
} else if (beacon.proximity == CLProximityNear) {
self.distanceLabel.text = #"Near";
} else if (beacon.proximity == CLProximityFar) {
self.distanceLabel.text = #"Far";
}
self.rssiLabel.text = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"%ld", (long)beacon.rssi];
}
In my didRangeBeaconsInRegion, the beacons NSArray always comes up with 0 objects.
Though I have 8 objects. And i've downloaded several apps that are not mine, and they all see several of my beacons.
Why doesn't my code see any of my beacons?
Here is what I do whenever I'm setting up an iBeacon app.
Not all these things are necessary, but it will
work
keep your user happy
(maybe most importantly) keep Apple happy
iOS 8+ Only
First things first: if you're using iOS 8, you need to make sure you actually have access before using CLLocationManager.
CLLocationManager *locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
locationManager.delegate = self;
// You can either use requestAlwaysAuthorization, or requestWhenInUseAuthorization
[self.locationManager requestAlwaysAuthorization];
You'll also need an entry for NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription in your plist (again, iOS 8 only )
iOS 7+
Your App's pList
Regardless you're using iOS 8 or 7, you should add the following to your plist file (you need to decide if you'll use background or not).
Note: The below is in the form of KEY : KEY TYPE : VALUE for string, and KEY : KEY TYPE : [ Value1, Value2... ] for Arrays:
NSLocationUsageDescription : String : "Gimmie access to your location or else..."
NSBluetoothPeripheralUsageDescription : String : "Gimmie access to your blue tooth or else"
// Optionally supply if you need background modes. I don't believe you need this either if you plan to turn these options on using the Capabilities section of your App's Settings (see below section)
UIBackgroundModes : Array : [ location, bluetooth-central ]
UIApplicationExitsOnSuspend : Boolean : NO
Your App's Project Settings (Capabilities)
this section has been removed as this can cause your app to be rejected (as noted by #heypiotr in the comments)
Final Thoughts
A final suggestion would be to try moving [self locationManager:self.locationManager didStartMonitoringForRegion:self.beaconRegion] into your viewDidAppear.
Here is an example of what I typically do ( which works quite well for me ).
-(void)viewDidAppear:(BOOL)animated {
[super viewDidAppear:animated];
[self initLocationManager];
[self initBeaconRegion];
[self startMonitoring];
}
-(void)initLocationManager {
self.locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self.locationManager.delegate = self;
// Not necessary, but I like to do it.
if( ![CLLocationManager locationServicesEnabled] ) {
[self.locationManager startUpdatingLocation];
}
// Only necessary if you're in iOS 8. Checking for existence though to support iOS 7
if( ![CLLocationManager authorizationStatus] != kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorized ) {
if ([CLLocationManager respondsToSelector:#selector(requestAlwaysAuthorization)]) {
[self.locationManager performSelector:#selector( requestAlwaysAuthorization )];
}
}
}
-(void)initBeaconRegion {
NSUUID *uuid = [[NSUUID alloc] initWithUUIDString:kYOUR_UUID_HERE];
self.beaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:uuid identifier:kYOUR_IDENTIFIER_HERE];
// Change this to whatever you want....
self.beaconRegion.notifyEntryStateOnDisplay = YES;
self.beaconRegion.notifyOnEntry = NO;
self.beaconRegion.notifyOnExit = YES;
}
# pragma mark -
# pragma mark Monitoring Beacons
# pragma mark -
-(void)startMonitoring {
// Monitor Beacon signals around me and report them back to me
[self.locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:self.beaconRegion];
}
The last part ( placement in viewDidAppear ) may or may not help - it all depends I guess on too many factors to consider in a stackoverflow response.
Hope that helps and good luck!
Final Edit
Forgot one more thing that may help. There are some helpful methods that you can implement that can help you debug the issue further. Here is an example of a few of them:
#pragma mark Authorization Status Changed
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didChangeAuthorizationStatus:(CLAuthorizationStatus)status {
if( ![CLLocationManager locationServicesEnabled] ) {
NSLog(#"Couldn't turn on ranging: Location services are not enabled.");
} else {
NSLog(#"Location services ARE enabled.");
}
if( [CLLocationManager authorizationStatus] != kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorized ) {
NSLog(#"Couldn't turn on monitoring: Location services not authorized.");
} else {
NSLog(#"Location services ARE authorized.");
}
}
#pragma mark -
#pragma mark CLLocationManager Errors
#pragma mark -
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager didFailWithError:(NSError *)error {
NSLog( #"FAIL ERROR: %#", [error description] );
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager *)manager rangingBeaconsDidFailForRegion (CLBeaconRegion *)region withError:(NSError *)error {
NSLog( #"RANGE BEACONS ERROR: %#", [error description] );
}
First check with the other app like.Locate app add your UDID and check this app is showing your iBeacon. if not then there is a problem with apple IOS sometimes. then remove the app. Restart the app. it will work for you.
We had similar problem before, make sure your iBeacon device respond the scan request from iOS with a response DOES not contain manufacturer specific field.
Please check this note from apple
Before attempting to monitor any regions, your app should check whether region monitoring is supported on the current device. Here are some reasons why region monitoring might not be available:
The device doesn’t have the necessary hardware to support region
monitoring.
The user denied the app the authorization to use region monitoring.
The user disabled location services in the Settings app.
The user disabled Background App Refresh in the Settings app, either for the device or for your app.
5.The device is in Airplane mode and can’t power up the necessary hardware.
In iOS 7.0 and later, always call the isMonitoringAvailableForClass: and authorizationStatus class methods of CLLocationManager before attempting to monitor regions. (In OS X v10.8 and later and in previous versions of iOS, use the regionMonitoringAvailable class instead.) The isMonitoringAvailableForClass: method tells you whether the underlying hardware supports region monitoring for the specified class at all. If that method returns NO, your app can’t use region monitoring on the device. If it returns YES, call the authorizationStatus method to determine whether the app is currently authorized to use location services. If the authorization status is kCLAuthorizationStatusAuthorized, your app can receive boundary crossing notifications for any regions it registered. If the authorization status is set to any other value, the app doesn’t receive those notifications.
Apple link goes here
I'm trying to use CoreLocation to get multiple iBeacons as specified by my iOS app- the idea is that if they're in range, it'll notify me for each one as it finds them.
The problem is that in the didEnterRegion and didExitRegion methods, I have to provide a CLBeaconRegion object. There's one of these for every iBeacon, and if I was just using one iBeacon, I could just use that one, but since there are several, I need to know how to find each CLBeaconRegion from those methods.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding how this works; if so, please let me know.
- (void)getForUUUIDs:(CDVInvokedUrlCommand *)command
{
//Get an array of UUID's to filter by
self->locationUUIDs = [self getArgsObject:command.arguments];
self->locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self->locationManager.delegate = self;
scanCallback = command.callbackId;
for(NSInteger i = 0; i < [locationUUIDs count]; i++) {
NSString *identifier = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"BLERegion %d",i];
CLBeaconRegion *thisRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:[[locationUUIDs allKeys] objectAtIndex:i] identifier:identifier];
[self->locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:thisRegion];
}
}
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion*)region
{
[self->locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:????];
}
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didExitRegion:(CLRegion*)region
{
[self->locationManager stopRangingBeaconsInRegion:????];
}
Ranging on the same region that fired the monitor entry/exit event is extremely simple:
- (void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didEnterRegion:(CLRegion*)region
{
[self->locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:(CLBeaconRegion *)region];
}
This will start ranging on the exact same region you used to start monitoring. Note that there is a region parameter passed to the callback. That Region parameter will include the same UUID that you set up before.
One other point: while there is nothing wrong with starting ranging when you enter a region and stopping ranging when you exit a region, there is really no need to do this. Just start ranging the same time you start monitoring. Because ranging won't do anything when the iBeacon isn't visible, the end result will be almost identical. The only difference is you will probably get your first ranging callback one second sooner if you set it up ahead of time. There is no extra drain on battery or system resources.
The added benefit of setting it up ahead of time is that you don't have to do the casting of the CLRegion object -- you have the original object to begin with. And you don't have to implement the monitoring callback methods, so your code is simpler. Like this:
- (void)getForUUUIDs:(CDVInvokedUrlCommand *)command
{
//Get an array of UUID's to filter by
self->locationUUIDs = [self getArgsObject:command.arguments];
self->locationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
self->locationManager.delegate = self;
scanCallback = command.callbackId;
for(NSInteger i = 0; i < [locationUUIDs count]; i++) {
NSString *identifier = [NSString stringWithFormat:#"BLERegion %d",i];
CLBeaconRegion *thisRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:[[locationUUIDs allKeys] objectAtIndex:i] identifier:identifier];
[self->locationManager startMonitoringForRegion:thisRegion];
[self->locationManager startRangingBeaconsInRegion:thisRegion];
}
}
your region is specified by a uuid
self.beaconRegion = [[CLBeaconRegion alloc] initWithProximityUUID:uuid
identifier:identifier];
All your beacons must share that uuid. So when you range your beacons, you can get them in that method (CLLocationManagerDelegate).
-(void)locationManager:(CLLocationManager*)manager didRangeBeacons:(NSArray*)beacons inRegion:(CLBeaconRegion*)region
{
for (CLBeacon *beacon in beacons) {
NSLog(#"Major : %#", beacon.major);
NSLog(#"Minor : %#", beacon.minor);
}
}
The attributes major and minor are here to differentiate your beacons.