amened ble connection parameter (battery-saving) fix that was causing performance issues; updated firrmware date in mymesh; ui update for audiobook player; audiobook player now lkeeps playing on exit unless you pause it so background audio is enabled

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #define FIRMWARE_VER_CODE 8
 
 #ifndef FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE
-#define FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE "13 Feb 2026"
+#define FIRMWARE_BUILD_DATE "14 Feb 2026"
 #endif
 
 #ifndef FIRMWARE_VERSION

examples/companion_radio/main.cpp

@@ -840,11 +840,22 @@ void handleKeyboardInput() {
     AudiobookPlayerScreen* abPlayer =
       (AudiobookPlayerScreen*)ui_task.getAudiobookScreen();
 
-    // Q key: if book is open, player handles it (stop & go to file list)
-    //         if on file list, exit player entirely
+    // Q key: behavior depends on playback state
+    //   - Playing: navigate home, audio continues in background
+    //   - Paused/stopped: close book, return to file list
+    //   - File list: exit player entirely
     if (key == 'q') {
       if (abPlayer->isBookOpen()) {
-        ui_task.injectKey('q');
+        if (abPlayer->isAudioActive()) {
+          // Audio is playing — leave screen, audio continues via audioTick()
+          Serial.println("Leaving audiobook player (audio continues in background)");
+          ui_task.gotoHomeScreen();
+        } else {
+          // Paused or stopped — close book, show file list
+          abPlayer->closeCurrentBook();
+          Serial.println("Closed audiobook (was paused/stopped)");
+          // Stay on audiobook screen showing file list
+        }
       } else {
         abPlayer->exitPlayer();
         Serial.println("Exiting audiobook player");

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/Audiobookplayerscreen.h

@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 //   FILE_LIST mode:  W/S = scroll, Enter = open, Q = exit
 //   PLAYER mode:     Enter = play/pause, A = -30s, D = +30s,
 //                    W = volume up, S = volume down,
-//                    [ = prev chapter, ] = next chapter, Q = stop & exit
+//                    [ = prev chapter, ] = next chapter,
+//                    Q = leave (audio continues) / close book (if paused)
 //
 // Library dependencies (add to platformio.ini lib_deps):
 //   https://github.com/schreibfaul1/ESP32-audioI2S.git#2.0.6
@@ -820,7 +821,7 @@ private:
     // Transport controls drawn — footer is at fixed position below
 
     // ---- Footer Nav Bar ----
-    drawFooter(display, "A/D:Seek W/S:Vol", "Q:Back");
+    drawFooter(display, "A/D:Seek W/S:Vol", (_isPlaying && !_isPaused) ? "Q:Leave" : "Q:Close");
   }
 
 public:
@@ -889,6 +890,16 @@ public:
   }
 
   bool isAudioActive() const { return _isPlaying && !_isPaused; }
+  bool isPaused() const { return _isPaused; }
+  bool isBookOpenAndPaused() const { return _bookOpen && (_isPaused || !_isPlaying); }
+
+  // Public method to close the current book (stops playback, saves bookmark,
+  // returns to file list). Used by main.cpp when user presses Q while paused.
+  void closeCurrentBook() {
+    if (_bookOpen) {
+      closeBook();
+    }
+  }
 
   void enter(DisplayDriver& display) {
     if (!_bookOpen) {
@@ -1036,11 +1047,8 @@ public:
       return false;
     }
 
-    // Q - stop and exit to file list
-    if (c == 'q') {
-      closeBook();
-      return true;
-    }
+    // Q - handled by main.cpp (leave screen or close book depending on play state)
+    // Not handled here - main.cpp intercepts Q before it reaches the player
 
     return false;
   }

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/M4BMetadata.h

@@ -450,7 +450,6 @@ public:
       }
 
       if (frameSize == 0 || pos + 10 + frameSize > tagEnd) break;
-      }
 
       uint32_t dataStart = pos + 10;
 

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp

@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class HomeScreen : public UIScreen {
   AdvertPath recent[UI_RECENT_LIST_SIZE];
 
 
-void renderBatteryIndicator(DisplayDriver& display, uint16_t batteryMilliVolts) {
+void renderBatteryIndicator(DisplayDriver& display, uint16_t batteryMilliVolts, int* outIconX = nullptr) {
     // Use the BQ27220 fuel gauge SOC register for accurate percentage.
     // Falls back to voltage estimation if the fuel gauge returns 0.
     uint8_t batteryPercentage = board.getBatteryPercent();
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ void renderBatteryIndicator(DisplayDriver& display, uint16_t batteryMilliVolts)
     int iconX = display.width() - totalWidth;
     int iconY = 0;  // vertically align with node name text
 
+    if (outIconX) *outIconX = iconX;
+
     // battery outline
     display.drawRect(iconX, iconY, iconWidth, iconHeight);
 
@@ -160,6 +162,45 @@ void renderBatteryIndicator(DisplayDriver& display, uint16_t batteryMilliVolts)
     display.setTextSize(1);  // restore default text size
   }
 
+  // ---- Audio background playback indicator ----
+  // Draws a small music note (♪) to the left of the battery icon when an
+  // audiobook is playing or paused in the background.
+  void renderAudioIndicator(DisplayDriver& display, int batteryLeftX) {
+    bool playing = _task->isAudioPlayingInBackground();
+    bool paused  = _task->isAudioPausedInBackground();
+    if (!playing && !paused) return;
+
+    display.setColor(DisplayDriver::GREEN);
+
+    // Position: just to the left of the battery icon with a 3px gap
+    // Note is 5px wide x 8px tall
+    int x = batteryLeftX - 8;
+    int y = -1;
+
+    if (playing) {
+      // Draw a ♪ eighth note:
+      //   Stem: vertical line on the right side
+      display.fillRect(x + 4, y + 0, 1, 7);  // stem
+      //   Flag: two pixels angling off the top of the stem
+      display.fillRect(x + 5, y + 1, 1, 1);
+      display.fillRect(x + 5, y + 2, 1, 1);
+      //   Note head: filled oval at bottom of stem
+      display.fillRect(x + 1, y + 5, 3, 2);  // head body
+      display.fillRect(x + 0, y + 6, 1, 1);  // head left
+    } else {
+      // Paused: draw the same note but with pause bars overlaid
+      // Note shape (same as above)
+      display.fillRect(x + 4, y + 0, 1, 7);
+      display.fillRect(x + 5, y + 1, 1, 1);
+      display.fillRect(x + 5, y + 2, 1, 1);
+      display.fillRect(x + 1, y + 5, 3, 2);
+      display.fillRect(x + 0, y + 6, 1, 1);
+      // Small pause indicator: two dots to the left of the note
+      display.fillRect(x - 2, y + 2, 1, 3);
+      display.fillRect(x - 4, y + 2, 1, 3);
+    }
+  }
+
   CayenneLPP sensors_lpp;
   int sensors_nb = 0;
   bool sensors_scroll = false;
@@ -217,7 +258,11 @@ public:
     display.print(filtered_name);
 
     // battery voltage
-    renderBatteryIndicator(display, _task->getBattMilliVolts());
+    int battLeftX = display.width();  // default if battery doesn't render
+    renderBatteryIndicator(display, _task->getBattMilliVolts(), &battLeftX);
+
+    // audio background playback indicator (♪ icon next to battery)
+    renderAudioIndicator(display, battLeftX);
 
     // centered clock (tinyfont) - only show when time is valid
     {
@@ -1247,4 +1292,16 @@ void UITask::addSentChannelMessage(uint8_t channel_idx, const char* sender, cons
   
   // Add to channel history with path_len=0 (local message)
   ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->addMessage(channel_idx, 0, sender, formattedMsg);
+}
+
+bool UITask::isAudioPlayingInBackground() const {
+  if (!audiobook_screen) return false;
+  AudiobookPlayerScreen* player = (AudiobookPlayerScreen*)audiobook_screen;
+  return player->isAudioActive();
+}
+
+bool UITask::isAudioPausedInBackground() const {
+  if (!audiobook_screen) return false;
+  AudiobookPlayerScreen* player = (AudiobookPlayerScreen*)audiobook_screen;
+  return player->isBookOpen() && !player->isAudioActive();
 }

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h

@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ public:
   bool isOnNotesScreen() const { return curr == notes_screen; }
   bool isOnSettingsScreen() const { return curr == settings_screen; }
   bool isOnAudiobookPlayer() const { return curr == audiobook_screen; }
+
+  // Check if audio is playing/paused in the background (for status indicators)
+  bool isAudioPlayingInBackground() const;
+  bool isAudioPausedInBackground() const;
   uint8_t getChannelScreenViewIdx() const;
 
   void toggleBuzzer();

src/helpers/esp32/SerialBLEInterface.cpp

@@ -133,18 +133,6 @@ void SerialBLEInterface::onConnect(BLEServer* pServer) {
 void SerialBLEInterface::onConnect(BLEServer* pServer, esp_ble_gatts_cb_param_t *param) {
   BLE_DEBUG_PRINTLN("onConnect(), conn_id=%d, mtu=%d", param->connect.conn_id, pServer->getPeerMTU(param->connect.conn_id));
   last_conn_id = param->connect.conn_id;
-
-  // Request relaxed connection parameters to reduce BLE radio wake-ups.
-  // Slave latency of 4 lets the ESP32 skip up to 4 intervals when idle,
-  // effectively sleeping ~800ms between radio events.
-  esp_ble_conn_update_params_t conn_params;
-  memcpy(conn_params.bda, param->connect.remote_bda, sizeof(esp_bd_addr_t));
-  conn_params.min_int  = 0x30;   // 48 * 1.25ms =  60ms
-  conn_params.max_int  = 0xA0;   // 160 * 1.25ms = 200ms
-  conn_params.latency  = 4;      // skip up to 4 intervals when idle
-  conn_params.timeout  = 400;    // 400 * 10ms = 4s supervision timeout
-  esp_ble_gap_update_conn_params(&conn_params);
-  BLE_DEBUG_PRINTLN("Requested conn params: interval=60-200ms, latency=4, timeout=4s");
 }
 
 void SerialBLEInterface::onMtuChanged(BLEServer* pServer, esp_ble_gatts_cb_param_t* param) {