Gamekit API

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

Hi!

This time I´ll try to post my question very clear because I think I messed up last time.

1 - I want to connect several iPhones using Gamekit via Bluetooth.

2 - I don´t want to use GKPeerPickerController (I want to implement a custom picker myself). Thus, I have to use GKSession and GKSessionDelegate.

3 - I´ve tried (with no result) with this methods:

GKSession *currentSession=[[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:@"test" displayName:@"XXX" sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];

[currentSession peersWithConnectionState:GKPeerStateAvailable];

¿Any idea?

I do really need to get this solved.

Thanks in advance

ZunePod · February 2010

This should shine some light on it:

iPhone Bluetooth Programming

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

ZunePod;172394 said:
This should shine some light on it:

iPhone Bluetooth Programming

Thanks 4 the quick reply but that tutorial (which was indeed the one I followed to learn something about bluetooth connection in the iPhone) uses GKPeerPickerController. The problem is that the vast majority of the tutorials related to bluetooth use that picker (but is up to you whether use it or not)

I want to connect to or more pickers without using that interface.

Help! :-)

ZunePod · February 2010

I can't think why you wouldn't want to use that one, it makes things easier.

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

ZunePod;172419 said:
I can't think why you wouldn't want to use that one, it makes things easier.

I may be understanding things wrong. With that dialog you can see all the peers available for connecting. When you click in one of them, you connect with that peer, and to see again all the peers available you need to show again that dialog in order to connect to other one. Is this that way or you can select all the peers you want to connect with? I don´t think so...

So the reason why I do not want to use that dialog is because I want to connect to several peers available at the same time without having to show that dialog every time I want to connect to a peer.

I don't know if I am explaining myself... :-)

ZunePod · February 2010

Yep, that's out of my knowledge, I'll try to find out for you.

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

ZunePod;172428 said:
Yep, that's out of my knowledge, I'll try to find out for you.

I'd really be very thankful if yo did so :D

Regnits · February 2010

iPhoneSpain;172376 said:
Hi!

This time I´ll try to post my question very clear because I think I messed up last time.

1 - I want to connect several iPhones using Gamekit via Bluetooth.

2 - I don´t want to use GKPeerPickerController (I want to implement a custom picker myself). Thus, I have to use GKSession and GKSessionDelegate.

3 - I´ve tried (with no result) with this methods:

GKSession *currentSession=[[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:@"test" displayName:@"XXX" sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];

[currentSession peersWithConnectionState:GKPeerStateAvailable];

¿Any idea?

I do really need to get this solved.

Thanks in advance

I hope with "several" you mean less than 4. Bluetooth on the iPhone can't handle any more than that (see here.).

Anyways, here's a step by step guide:
1. Init the session, just like you did.
2. Set the delegate and the isAvailable property.
3. Set the data receiver.


self.curSession = [[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:nil displayName:nil sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];
self.curSession.delegate = self;
self.curSession.available = YES;
self.curSession.disconnectTimeout = 0;
		
// Set data handler.
[self.curSession setDataReceiveHandler:self withContext:nil];

4. Fire up a second device.
5. Wait.
6. The delegates method "didChangeState" should be called. The state should be "GKPeerStateAvailable". Once there, connect to that peer, using the GKSession's "connect" method.


- (void)session:(GKSession *)session peer:(NSString *)peerID didChangeState:(GKPeerConnectionState)state {
	
	// Retain new session.
	self.curSession = session;
	
	// Do stuff depending on state.
	switch (state) {
		case GKPeerStateAvailable:
			[session connectToPeer:peerID withTimeout:0];
			break;
	}
}

7. Wait (the first connection can take up to 30 seconds, your bluetooth icon should be blinking in the process).
8. The delegates method "didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer" should be called. Accept the connection there using the sessions "acceptConnectionFromPeer" method.


- (void)session:(GKSession*) session didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer:(NSString*) peerID {
	
    [session acceptConnectionFromPeer:peerID error:nil];
}

9. Again, "didChangeState" will be called, this time with "GKPeerStateConnected".
10. Boom, you are done.

Don't forget to handle the other delgates methods, e.g. disconnecting the peer in "connectionToPeerFailed". Also, disconnect all peers and release the Bluetooth session before quitting the app.

And, if for the love of god you just can't get it to work, try restarting the device. Sometimes BT just stopped working for me.

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

Yeah it worked!!!!!! :-)

Thanks a lot. I am really impressed that you have taken a little bit out of your time to get this solved 4 me. I am a bit new posting in forums an all this stuff and when I come across people as helpful as you really blows me away :-).

One more question by the way...

How can I get the name of the iPhone whoose peerID is X? I mean...the only info I have about the iPhone I am hooked up with is the peerID, isn´t it? I would like to show the iPhone name as usual...

You know something about this?

Regnits · February 2010

Try looking at the GKSession Class Reference, there is a method called "displayNameForPeer:" which does exactly what you want.

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

Yeah I had already found it!

Thanks one more time :-)

iPhoneSpain · February 2010

Hi again!

I have some problems when connecting more than two devices. Imagine three iPhones (1, 2 and 3).

- I fire up 1.
- I fire up 2. Then method didChangeState is called into GKPeerStateAvailable case. As I call connectToPeer, then didChangeState is called again into GKPeerStateConnected this time. Everything is OK. Two devices connected.

The problem is when I fire up 3. didChangeState is always called into GKPeerStateAvailable but sometimes it connects (didChangeState is called again into GKPeerStateConnected) once and then when I fire it up again it never connects.... But if I switched off devicew 2, then 1 and 3 can connect.

¿is it only possible to connect to devices with Gamekit? I don't think so...

So somebody can figure out what's happening?

Thanks again

intomo · November 2010

Thanks for all this. It was very helpful.

I've got bluetooth working just fine.
Am I correct in assuming that this doesn't work over WIFI?
I do all the same with my interface with BT turned off, and I do not see any available peers.

In order to connect over WIFI, must I then use Bonjour directly?
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

lxx719 · April 2011

Now I have the same question, but it has been years since the discussion.
I want to know if you still work with it.
I don't like the GKPeerPickerController default UI. But without it, I can't detect weather the bluetooth is open, because I want to communication just with bluetooth other than wifi. How can I implement it. Using BT, we know the found people is around, while he can be anywhere by wifi.
Thank you!!

iPhoneSpain;172376 said:
Hi!

This time I´ll try to post my question very clear because I think I messed up last time.

1 - I want to connect several iPhones using Gamekit via Bluetooth.

2 - I don´t want to use GKPeerPickerController (I want to implement a custom picker myself). Thus, I have to use GKSession and GKSessionDelegate.

3 - I´ve tried (with no result) with this methods:

GKSession *currentSession=[[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:@"test" displayName:@"XXX" sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];

[currentSession peersWithConnectionState:GKPeerStateAvailable];

¿Any idea?

I do really need to get this solved.

Thanks in advance

lxx719 · April 2011

Now I have the same question, but it has been years since the discussion.
I want to know if you still work with it.
I don't like the GKPeerPickerController default UI. But without it, I can't detect weather the bluetooth is open, because I want to communication just with bluetooth other than wifi. How can I implement it. Using BT, we know the found people is around, while he can be anywhere by wifi. or there is any API to open bluetooth and communicate with BT?
Thank you!!

Regnits;172834 said:
I hope with "several" you mean less than 4. Bluetooth on the iPhone can't handle any more than that (see here.).

Anyways, here's a step by step guide:
1. Init the session, just like you did.
2. Set the delegate and the isAvailable property.
3. Set the data receiver.
self.curSession = [[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:nil displayName:nil sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];
self.curSession.delegate = self;
self.curSession.available = YES;
self.curSession.disconnectTimeout = 0;
		
// Set data handler.
[self.curSession setDataReceiveHandler:self withContext:nil];
4. Fire up a second device.
5. Wait.
6. The delegates method "didChangeState" should be called. The state should be "GKPeerStateAvailable". Once there, connect to that peer, using the GKSession's "connect" method.
- (void)session:(GKSession *)session peer:(NSString *)peerID didChangeState:(GKPeerConnectionState)state {
	
	// Retain new session.
	self.curSession = session;
	
	// Do stuff depending on state.
	switch (state) {
		case GKPeerStateAvailable:
			[session connectToPeer:peerID withTimeout:0];
			break;
	}
}
7. Wait (the first connection can take up to 30 seconds, your bluetooth icon should be blinking in the process).
8. The delegates method "didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer" should be called. Accept the connection there using the sessions "acceptConnectionFromPeer" method.
- (void)session:(GKSession*) session didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer:(NSString*) peerID {
	
    [session acceptConnectionFromPeer:peerID error:nil];
}
9. Again, "didChangeState" will be called, this time with "GKPeerStateConnected".
10. Boom, you are done.

Don't forget to handle the other delgates methods, e.g. disconnecting the peer in "connectionToPeerFailed". Also, disconnect all peers and release the Bluetooth session before quitting the app.

And, if for the love of god you just can't get it to work, try restarting the device. Sometimes BT just stopped working for me.

intomo · April 2011

Did you implement the class that you are doing that in as a GKSessionDelegate? Otherwise your delegate methods aren't going to fire.

@interface SessionConnector : NSObject <GKSessionDelegate>{

	GKSession *_session;

}

@property (nonatomic, retain) GKSession *session;

Also, do all your devices have BT turned on?
Do you have more than 1 device?

I have used GameKit on 3 devices and I've gotten it to work fine.

HTH

lxx719;328710 said:
Now I have the same question, but it has been years since the discussion.
I want to know if you still work with it.
I don't like the GKPeerPickerController default UI. But without it, I can't detect weather the bluetooth is open, because I want to communication just with bluetooth other than wifi. How can I implement it. Using BT, we know the found people is around, while he can be anywhere by wifi. or there is any API to open bluetooth and communicate with BT?
Thank you!!

lxx719 · April 2011

GKSessionDelegate is used to create a session and communicate. I just want to open the BT in the code and search people around. or let the user to open BT by GKPeerController. When BT is close, the iOS will show a default dialog to allow the user to open the BT, and then the default pick and connect dialog appears. I don't want to select a user to connect. How could I design the dialog and just let the user to open BT? This is a APP, so I can't open every BT in every device!
Thank you every much.

intomo;328939 said:
Did you implement the class that you are doing that in as a GKSessionDelegate? Otherwise your delegate methods aren't going to fire.
@interface SessionConnector : NSObject <GKSessionDelegate>{

	GKSession *_session;

}

@property (nonatomic, retain) GKSession *session;
Also, do all your devices have BT turned on?
Do you have more than 1 device?

I have used GameKit on 3 devices and I've gotten it to work fine.

HTH

intomo · April 2011

I don't think the SDK allows you to turn on BT except manually via the Settings panel on each device.
This is or security.
You certainly can't do it through GameKit.
And GameKit will not be able to see any devices where BT is not turned on.

HTH

lxx719;329263 said:
GKSessionDelegate is used to create a session and communicate. I just want to open the BT in the code and search people around. or let the user to open BT by GKPeerController. When BT is close, the iOS will show a default dialog to allow the user to open the BT, and then the default pick and connect dialog appears. I don't want to select a user to connect. How could I design the dialog and just let the user to open BT? This is a APP, so I can't open every BT in every device!
Thank you every much.

lxx719 · May 2011

Thanks for your reply!

intomo;329360 said:
I don't think the SDK allows you to turn on BT except manually via the Settings panel on each device.
This is or security.
You certainly can't do it through GameKit.
And GameKit will not be able to see any devices where BT is not turned on.

HTH

zero_ · September 2011

Regnits;172834 said:
I hope with "several" you mean less than 4. Bluetooth on the iPhone can't handle any more than that (see here.).

Anyways, here's a step by step guide:
1. Init the session, just like you did.
2. Set the delegate and the isAvailable property.
3. Set the data receiver.
self.curSession = [[GKSession alloc] initWithSessionID:nil displayName:nil sessionMode:GKSessionModePeer];
self.curSession.delegate = self;
self.curSession.available = YES;
self.curSession.disconnectTimeout = 0;
		
// Set data handler.
[self.curSession setDataReceiveHandler:self withContext:nil];
4. Fire up a second device.
5. Wait.
6. The delegates method "didChangeState" should be called. The state should be "GKPeerStateAvailable". Once there, connect to that peer, using the GKSession's "connect" method.
- (void)session:(GKSession *)session peer:(NSString *)peerID didChangeState:(GKPeerConnectionState)state {
	
	// Retain new session.
	self.curSession = session;
	
	// Do stuff depending on state.
	switch (state) {
		case GKPeerStateAvailable:
			[session connectToPeer:peerID withTimeout:0];
			break;
	}
}
7. Wait (the first connection can take up to 30 seconds, your bluetooth icon should be blinking in the process).
8. The delegates method "didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer" should be called. Accept the connection there using the sessions "acceptConnectionFromPeer" method.
- (void)session:(GKSession*) session didReceiveConnectionRequestFromPeer:(NSString*) peerID {
	
    [session acceptConnectionFromPeer:peerID error:nil];
}
9. Again, "didChangeState" will be called, this time with "GKPeerStateConnected".
10. Boom, you are done.

Don't forget to handle the other delgates methods, e.g. disconnecting the peer in "connectionToPeerFailed". Also, disconnect all peers and release the Bluetooth session before quitting the app.

And, if for the love of god you just can't get it to work, try restarting the device. Sometimes BT just stopped working for me.

Hi,

very interesting thread.
I've my own piece of code in a test app that make only voice chat.
It works very well also in backgroud, but if i receive a call when it finish voice chat is not funcitionally
I've notice that GKStateDisconnet is not be called during the call.
I must work on didEnterFore/Background method?
Or there are some other optional delegate method of GKSession that may help me?

Thank's.

fhsjaagshs · December 2011

I was having issues with this kind of Bluetooth connection. I came across this thread. Here's my situation:

I have these methods written into my app delegate. I also have the GKPeerPickerController in a viewController.

It worked well when I used an older version of my app that did not have the app delegate with the code from this forum. As soon as I used two devices with the same version of my app (with the app delegate having the code from this forum), the GKPeerPickerController says "waiting for /Device name" for five minutes. No connection dialogue.

How can I: make the code from this forum (when implemented in the AppDelegate) work with a GKPeerPickerController that is in one of my view controllers?

brunner · March 2012

Could somebody post the hole code?

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