Serial data not parsed correctly

Question

The code I have works for the most part but when I send data via bluetooth received over software serial, too quickly, it is not parsed correctly.

I'm a bit stuck with what can be done to a void the incorrect formatting, since it works correctly if I send data slowly.

I could have a buffer to not send data more than once every set amount of time, but more responsiveness is preferred.

I am sending a string "center:255,0,255;" it saves the command in a char array untill it sees the ":", then it saves the red in a char array breaking on "," then same for the blue and green. when it reaches the ";" it send the four arrays to print to a console. Later it the data will be used to light specific leds based on the command, but when I send data too quickly it gets parsed incorrectly, for example:

command: center
red:195
green:0
blue:255
command: center
red:208
green:0center:221
blue:0,255
command: center
red:246
green:0
blue:255

the 'green:0center:221' isnt correct, its either not seeing the "," or seeing the ";" too soon. Not sure how to avoid it.

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
SoftwareSerial mySerial(6,7); // RX, TX 
void setup() { 
 Serial.begin(9600);
 mySerial.begin(57600); //required when using the hm-10 with an arduino nano
 mySerial.listen();
} 
void loop() {
 while (mySerial.available () > 0) {
 processIncomingByte (mySerial.read ()); 
 }
}
const unsigned int MAX_INPUT = 50;
void processIncomingByte (const byte inByte) {
 static int parse_the_string = 0;
 static char command [MAX_INPUT];
 static char red [MAX_INPUT];
 static char green [MAX_INPUT];
 static char blue [MAX_INPUT];
 static unsigned int input_pos = 0;
 switch (parse_the_string) {
 case 0:
 switch (inByte) {
 case ':':
 command [input_pos] = 0; // terminating null byte
 input_pos = 0;
 parse_the_string ++; 
 break;
 default:
 if (input_pos < (MAX_INPUT - 1))
 command [input_pos++] = inByte;
 break;
 }
 break;
 case 1:
 switch (inByte) {
 case ',': // end of text
 red [input_pos] = 0; // terminating null byte
 input_pos = 0;
 parse_the_string ++; 
 break;
 default:
 if (input_pos < (MAX_INPUT - 1))
 red [input_pos++] = inByte;
 break;
 }
 break;
 case 2:
 switch (inByte) {
 case ',': // end of text
 green [input_pos] = 0; // terminating null byte
 input_pos = 0;
 parse_the_string ++;
 break;
 default:
 if (input_pos < (MAX_INPUT - 1))
 green [input_pos++] = inByte;
 break;
 }
 break;
 case 3:
 switch (inByte) {
 case ';': // end of text
 blue [input_pos] = 0; // terminating null byte
 // terminator reached! process input_line here ...
 process_data (command, red, green, blue);
 input_pos = 0;
 parse_the_string = 0; 
 break;
 case '\r': // discard carriage return
 break;
 default:
 if (input_pos < (MAX_INPUT - 1))
 blue [input_pos++] = inByte;
 break;
 } // end of switch
 break;
 default:
 break;
 }
}
void process_data (const char * command, const char * red, const char * green, const char * blue)
 {
 // for now just display it
 Serial.print ("command: ");
 Serial.println (command);
 Serial.print ("red:");
 Serial.println (red);
 Serial.print ("green:");
 Serial.println (green);
 Serial.print ("blue:");
 Serial.println (blue);
 }

Answer 1

Set higher baud rate for Serial and in Serial Monitor. It slows down the processing and the mySerial buffer overflows.

• Jordan Klaers: thats embarrassing, how simple >_< Thank you so much