Thread (14 messages) 14 messages, 3 authors, 2026-02-20

[PATCH BlueZ v2 02/12] doc/btmon: Add dedicate sections for timestamp and frame number

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STALE242d

From: Luiz Augusto von Dentz <luiz.dentz@gmail.com>
Date: 2026-02-20 17:31:34
Subsystem: the rest · Maintainer: Linus Torvalds

From: Luiz Augusto von Dentz <redacted>

This adds sections for how timestamp and frame numbers are generated
and explaim the difference between a frame number and a line number.
---
 doc/btmon.rst | 35 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+)
diff --git a/doc/btmon.rst b/doc/btmon.rst
index e51001921ab1..de05a5fcd6df 100644
--- a/doc/btmon.rst
+++ b/doc/btmon.rst
@@ -442,6 +442,41 @@ Example of protocol layering in ACL data::
             Authentication requirement: Bonding, MITM, SC (0x2d)
             Max encryption key size: 16
 
+Timestamp Notes
+---------------
+
+When reading btsnoop files with ``-t`` or ``-T``, timestamps reflect the
+wall-clock time recorded in the btsnoop file. The precision depends on
+the source:
+
+- **Live capture** (``btmon`` monitor channel): Microsecond precision
+  from the kernel.
+- **btsnoop files**: The btsnoop format stores timestamps as
+  microseconds since epoch, so full microsecond precision is
+  preserved. Trailing zeros in the display (e.g., ``14:38:46.589000``)
+  indicate the original capture source had millisecond granularity.
+
+The default timestamp mode shows seconds elapsed since the first
+packet in the trace, which is useful for measuring intervals between
+events without needing to know the absolute time.
+
+Frame Numbers vs Line Numbers
+-----------------------------
+
+btmon assigns sequential **frame numbers** (``#N``) to HCI packets.
+These are stable identifiers for specific packets regardless of output
+formatting. However, when processing btmon text output with tools like
+``grep`` or ``sed``, the relevant unit is **line numbers** in the output
+file. The two are unrelated:
+
+- A single frame may produce many output lines (header + decoded
+  fields).
+- Frame numbers only apply to HCI traffic (``<`` and ``>``). MGMT
+  (``@``) and system notes (``=``) do not have frame numbers.
+- When referencing specific packets, prefer frame numbers (``#487``)
+  over line numbers, as frame numbers are stable across different
+  terminal widths and formatting options.
+
 Practical Reading Guide
 -----------------------
 
-- 
2.52.0
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