esp_ble_gattc_get_descr_by_char_handle error after thousands of hours (IDFGH-9970)

[dgrnbrg]

Answers checklist.

• I have read the documentation ESP-IDF Programming Guide and the issue is not addressed there.
• I have updated my IDF branch (master or release) to the latest version and checked that the issue is present there.
• I have searched the issue tracker for a similar issue and not found a similar issue.

General issue report

After several weeks of interaction with a BLE client device, it seems that the esp-idf ble stack fails to map the descriptor to the characteristic handle. The code just connects to a BLE server, issues 4 writes to another characteristic, and then requests to be notified on another. This code works for dozens of devices for weeks to months, but eventually the notify never works again.

I have another app on the iphone that can also connect to the BLE server using the same commands, and that continues to work as normal, even when the esp cannot connect.

This is the log when it doesn't work correctly:

[16:21:56][D][esp32_ble_client:048]: [1] [3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6] Found device
[16:21:56][D][esp32_ble_tracker:214]: Pausing scan to make connection...
[16:21:56][I][esp32_ble_client:064]: [1] [3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6] 0x00 Attempting BLE connection
[16:21:57][I][ble_sensor:031]: [entrance_id_internal_parser] Connected successfully!
[16:21:57][D][ble_client.automation:050]: Connection established with 3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6
[16:21:57][I][esp32_ble_client:196]: [1] [3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6] Connected
[16:21:57][D][entrance_id_connect:063]: connecting
[16:21:57][D][ble_client.automation:063]: Found characteristic 0000FFF2-0000-1000-8000-00805F9B34FB on device 3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6
[16:21:57][D][esp32_ble_tracker:246]: Starting scan...
[16:21:57][D][2410_ble_auth:072]: password for 3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6 = HiLink
[16:21:57][D][ble_client.automation:029]: Write type: ESP_GATT_WRITE_TYPE_NO_RSP
[16:21:58][D][memory:025]: Free Heap Size: 78484 bytes
[16:21:58][D][entrance_id_connect:086]: completed ble connection process, waiting for updates...
[16:21:58][D][entrance_id_notify:109]: registered for notify, handle = 8, status = 0
[16:21:58][W][esp32_ble_client:215]: [1] [3F:A4:9D:4B:00:D6] esp_ble_gattc_get_descr_by_char_handle error, status=10

This is the log when it works correctly:

[16:35:15][D][esp32_ble_client:048]: [0] [9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA] Found device
[16:35:15][D][esp32_ble_tracker:214]: Pausing scan to make connection...
[16:35:15][I][esp32_ble_client:064]: [0] [9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA] 0x00 Attempting BLE connection
[16:35:15][I][ble_sensor:031]: [computer_area_id_internal_parser] Connected successfully!
[16:35:15][D][ble_client.automation:050]: Connection established with 9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA
[16:35:15][I][esp32_ble_client:196]: [0] [9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA] Connected
[16:35:15][D][computer_area_id_connect:043]: connecting
[16:35:15][D][ble_client.automation:063]: Found characteristic 0000FFF2-0000-1000-8000-00805F9B34FB on device 9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA
[16:35:15][D][esp32_ble_tracker:246]: Starting scan...
[16:35:16][D][2410_ble_auth:072]: password for 9E:AE:BB:4B:70:EA = HiLink
[16:35:16][D][ble_client.automation:029]: Write type: ESP_GATT_WRITE_TYPE_NO_RSP
[16:35:16][D][computer_area_id_connect:086]: completed ble connection process, waiting for updates...
[16:35:16][D][computer_area_id_notify:109]: registered for notify, handle = 8, status = 0

Is there some part of the ble api that may be causing this information to disappear from the esp32 but still be available with similar code on iphone?

[esp-zhp]

How should I reproduce the issue? Can you reliably reproduce the issue on your end?