iOS and Wi-Fi Direct | Apple Developer Forums

My question is fairly straight forward - can iOS create a Wi-Fi Direct group that can be joined by non-iOS devices? No. The peer-to-peer Wi-Fi implemented by ... GlobalNavOpenMenu GlobalNavCloseMenu AppleDeveloper SearchDeveloper Cancel AppleDeveloper Discover Design Develop Distribute Support Account Cancel DeveloperForums Searchbykeywordsortags SubmitSearch Clearsearchquery AdditionalinformationaboutSearchbykeywordsortags SupportedSearches:KeywordsearchkeywordSingletag[iOS]MultipletagswithOR[iOS]OR[macOS]OR[Xcode]MultipletagswithAND[iOS][macOS][Xcode]Keywordsandtags[iOS][macOS]keywordUsernamesandprofilesuser:appleseed Ask Profile ▲ Signin Createaccount Searchbykeywordsortags SubmitSearch Clearsearchquery AdditionalinformationaboutSearchbykeywordsortags SupportedSearches:KeywordsearchkeywordSingletag[iOS]MultipletagswithOR[iOS]OR[macOS]OR[Xcode]MultipletagswithAND[iOS][macOS][Xcode]Keywordsandtags[iOS][macOS]keywordUsernamesandprofilesuser:appleseed     You’renowwatchingthisthreadandwillreceiveemailswhenthere’sactivity.Clickagaintostopwatchingorvisityourprofile/homepagetomanageyourwatchedthreads.   You’vestoppedwatchingthisthreadandwillnolongerreceiveemailswhenthere’sactivity.Clickagaintostartwatching. Myquestionisfairlystraightforward-caniOScreateaWi-FiDirectgroupthatcanbejoinedbynon-iOSdevices?TheonlyinformationIcanfindrelatingtoiOSdirectpeerconnectivityishttps://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/MultipeerConnectivity/Reference/MultipeerConnectivityFramework/index.htmlMorespecifically,"TheMultipeerConnectivityframeworkprovidessupportfordiscoveringservicesprovidedbynearbyiOSdevices..."BasedonthisIwouldsayno,buttechnicallyspeaking,thereshouldbenolimitationforWi-FiDirectasitisanopenstandard,andappslikeAirDropalreadyuseit. Network   Postnotyetmarkedassolved UpvotepostofSchwayne DownvotepostofSchwayne 181k views Asked by Schwayne Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard AnswerthisQuestion AddaComment Answers   Myquestionisfairlystraightforward-caniOScreateaWi-FiDirectgroupthatcanbejoinedbynon-iOSdevices?No.Thepeer-to-peerWi-FiimplementedbyiOS(andrecentversionsofOSX)isnotcompatiblewithWi-FiDirect.NoteJustasanaside,youcanaccesspeer-to-peerWi-FiwithoutusingMultipeerConnectivity.TheunderlyingtechnologyisBonjour+TCP/IP,andyoucanaccessthatdirectlyfromyourapp.TheWiTapsamplecodeshowshow.BasedonthisIwouldsayno,buttechnicallyspeaking,thereshouldbenolimitationforWi-FiDirectas[...]appslikeAirDropalreadyuseit.AirDropdoesnotuseWi-FiDirect,butrathertheBonjour+TCPbasedpeer-to-peerWi-Fidiscussedabove.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn"TheEskimo!"AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com" Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Postnotyetmarkedassolved Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   "AirDropdoesnotuseWi-FiDirect,butrathertheBonjour+TCPbasedpeer-to-peerWi-Fidiscussedabove."Howdoesitdothiswhenthetwodevicesneednotbeonthesamenetwork?Thisistheproblemwe'retryingtosolve:there'snoinfrastructureWi-Finetwork.Ourperipheralcanhostanetwork,butwe'dliketoavoidmakingtheuserleaveourapptogotoSettingstoconnecttoourperipheral.ItseemstheWiTapsamplecoderequiresallinstancestobeonthesamenetworkalready,isthatcorrect? Posted by JetForMe Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   UpvotereplyofJetForMe DownvotereplyofJetForMe AddaComment   Howdoesitdothiswhenthetwodevicesneednotbeonthesamenetwork?ViaanApple-specific(notWi-FiDirect)peer-to-peerWi-Fiprotocol.ItseemstheWiTapsamplecoderequiresallinstancestobeonthesamenetworkalready,isthatcorrect?No.Althoughdon’ttakemywordforit,tryityourself:grabtwoiOSdevicesNotetheonlyrequirementisthattheyeachmustbenewenoughtohaveaLightningconnector.Peer-to-peerWi-FisupportisnottiedtotheLightningconnector,it'sjustahelpfulcoincidencethatthehardwarethatsupportspeer-to-peerWi-FialsohappenstohaveaLightningconnectorandthusit'saneasywaytoidentifythatsupport.oneach,forgettheinfrastructureWi-Finetworkoneach,disableBluetooth(whichimplementsadifferentformofApple-specific,Bonjour+TCP/IPpeer-to-peernetworking)oneach,runWiTapandstarta‘game’Thisistheproblemwe'retryingtosolve:there'snoinfrastructureWi-Finetwork.Ourperipheralcanhostanetwork,butwe'dliketoavoidmakingtheuserleaveourapptogotoSettingstoconnecttoourperipheral.Ah,thisisthefirstmentionofnon-Applehardwareinthisthread.Thesituationwithnon-Applehardwareismorechallengingbecausethepeer-to-peernetworkingprotocols(bothWi-FiandBluetooth)arenotdocumentedforthird-partyuse.Youroptions:InatypicalhomeaccessorysetupyouwanttheaccessorytojointhesameinfrastructureWi-Fiasalltheotherdevicesinthehome.AppleexplicitlysupportsthisviatheWirelessAccessoryConfiguration(WAC)mechanism.ThisletsaniOSdevicepassitsWi-FiconfigurationtotheaccessorysothattheaccessorycanjointhesameWi-FinetworkastheiOSdeviceiscurrentlyon.YoucanlearnmoreaboutthisinWWDC2014Session701"DesigningAccessoriesforiOSandOSX".https://developer.apple.com/videos/WACispartofMFi.HomeKitaccessories,alsocreatedundertheaegisofMFi,havetheirownsetofcapabilities.Letmeknowifyou’reinterestedinthatangle.Mostotheradhocandpeer-to-peerWi-Fiscenariosdonothavegoodsolutions.Youcangenerallymakethingswork,butittendstobeamanualprocess.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn"TheEskimo!"AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com" Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Postnotyetmarkedassolved Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   Isthere(orwilltherebe)supportfor"ad-hoc"Airplay(audio)today?(i.eliketheAppleTVguestmode) Posted by dankey Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofdankey Downvotereplyofdankey AddaComment   HiEskimo,Itriedtousewi-fidirectwithWi-Tapasyououtlinedinyourpreviousmessagebuthavediscoveredaproblemwithit.Afterabout1minuteofnotappingoneitherdevice,tapsarenolongerbeingreceived.Ifyoukeeptappingeverysecondorsothereisnoproblemandthedatacontinuestobesentandreceived,howeveronceyoustopthisrepeatedtappingtheproblemoccursafterabout5seconds.Weseetheexactsameissuewithourownpeertopeerproductafterweupdatedittousewi-fidirect.Afterabout45secondsofnoactivity(ienotransmissionofanydatafromeitherdevice),dataisnolongerbeingreceived.Ifwesenda"keep-alive"packeteveryseconditworkscontinously.Ifwechangethekeep-alivedelayto5secondsitfails.TherearenoerrorsreturnedfromtheNSStreamwritemethodorviatheNSStreamhandleEvent:callbackineitherWi-Taporourapp.AmImissingsomething?Iamabouttofileabugreport.Thanks Posted by Ynot Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   UpvotereplyofYnot DownvotereplyofYnot AddaComment   HI,Thisthreadisveryinteresting!Inmycase,I'mdeveloppingadevicethatIwouldliketoconnecttoveryeasilywithoutanyinfrastructure.AtthebegginingIthoughofBluetoothbutthespeedoftheconnectionisn'thighenough.SoIthoughofWifiDirect(P2P).WithAndroidit'spossiblebutIwouldliketocontrolmydevicealsowithiOS!WhatIunderstandfromtheanswerofEskimoisthatit'snotpossible?"Thesituationwithnon-Applehardwareismorechallengingbecausethepeer-to-peernetworkingprotocols(bothWi-FiandBluetooth)arenotdocumentedforthird-partyuse."Isthereanysolution?Thanksalotforyourdocumentedanswers!Marc Posted by mmopty Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofmmopty Downvotereplyofmmopty AddaComment   WhatIunderstandfromtheanswerofEskimoisthatit'snotpossible?Thingshaven’tchangedsinceIpostedthat.IfyouraccessoryisbuiltundertheaegisofMFi,youcangetprettyreasonablespeedsoutofclassicBluetooth.Ifnot,BluetoothLEistheonlyoption,andyou’recorrectinsayingthatit’squiteslow.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn"TheEskimo!"AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com"DTSwillcloseforthewinterholidaysattheendofbusinessonWed,23Dec2015andre-openonMon,4Jan2016. Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   Thankyouforyourpromptanswer!TheotherproblemwithBluetoothistherangewhichisveryshort...WifiDirectcouldsolvethis!Marc Posted by mmopty Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofmmopty Downvotereplyofmmopty AddaComment   Thanksfortheinformation.MyproblemwithMultipeerisWiFifiletransferisslow.Igetonly16megabitspersecondoniPhone6Sand7mbpsoniPhone5.(ACandNWifitheoreticallimitsare1300and450mbps)WouldtheBonjour+TCPmethodbefasterthanMultipeer? Posted by johnfrommadison Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofjohnfrommadison Downvotereplyofjohnfrommadison AddaComment   MyproblemwithMultipeerisWiFifiletransferisslow.There’stwopotentialissueshere:Peer-to-peerWi-Fihastojumpthroughlotsofhoopstoworkatall,andthatslowsthingsdown.MultipeerConnectivitywastunedforlatency,notbandwidth.WouldtheBonjour+TCPmethodbefasterthanMultipeer?Myguessisthatitwon’thelpalot,butIrecommendthatyouavoidguessingandsimplytestityourself.CreatingasimpleBonjour+TCPperformancetestisarelativelysmalltask,andit’lldefinitivelyanswerthisquestion.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn“TheEskimo!”AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com" Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   weareinthesameboat:nonapplehardwareboxunderlinuxwantstotalktoiOSoverapeertopeerwifilinksimilartohowWiTapisdoingit,withoutusinginftrastructurewifiorconvertingeithertheboxortheiOSdeviceintoahotspot.bluetoothisnotavailableinourbox.isitpossiblethesedays(early2017)?Mike Posted by somethingelse Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofsomethingelse Downvotereplyofsomethingelse AddaComment   isitpossiblethesedays(early2017)?Nothinghaschangedinthepeer-to-peernetworkingspace,otherthanthefactthatI’vedocumentedthecurrentstateofaffairsinQA1942iOSWi-FiManagementAPIs.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn“TheEskimo!”AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com" Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Postnotyetmarkedassolved Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   Thanksfortheexplanation.CanyoupointmetoadocumentthatgivestheAPIonhowtostreamvideofromaMFIcertifiednon-AppledevicetoaniOSdevice?NoneoftheBTprofileslistedinsection2.2ofhttps://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/BluetoothDesignGuidelines.pdfseemtosupportvideostreamingoranythingclosetothe24MbpsclassicBTmaxdatarate(isthereaspecialprofiletogethigherdatarate)?https://developer.apple.com/hardwaredrivers/BluetoothDesignGuidelines.pdfAlso,theaccessoryservicetypeslistedintheHomeKitspecdon'tmentionavideocameraaccessory(https://developer.apple.com/reference/homekit/hmservice/accessory_service_types?language=objc) Posted by arvindsn Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Upvotereplyofarvindsn Downvotereplyofarvindsn AddaComment   CanyoupointmetoadocumentthatgivestheAPIonhowtostreamvideofromaMFIcertifiednon-AppledevicetoaniOSdevice?ThegeneralAPIfortalkingtoMFidevicesistheExternalAccessoryframework.It’spossiblethatMFimighthaveeasierintegrationpointsforvideoaccessoriesbutIcan’tspeaktothat;otherfolkshereinDTSsupportMFiaccessorydevelopment.Ifyouwantadefinitiveanswerhere,youshouldopenanMFitechsupportincident.ShareandEnjoy—Quinn“TheEskimo!”AppleDeveloperRelations,DeveloperTechnicalSupport,CoreOS/HardwareletmyEmail="eskimo"+"1"+"@apple.com" Posted by eskimo  Copytoclipboard Sharethispost CopiedtoClipboard   Postnotyetmarkedassolved Upvotereplyofeskimo Downvotereplyofeskimo AddaComment   Thanks,alsocanyoucommentontheHomeKitaccessorytypenotmentioningavideocameraaccessorytype.PerWWDC2016talkitappearsthatgettingavideostreamfromHomeKitaccessoryissupported.Anysamplecodeorpointertodetailsonhowitisdonewillbeuseful.WillalsofiletheticketonMFI. 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