Industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) are used to acquire sensor data that need real-Time processing, therefore they require predictable behavior and real-Time guarantees. To be cost effective, IWSNs are also expected to be low cost and low power. In this context, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is a promising technology, as it allows implementing low-cost industrial networks. As BLE is a short-range technology, a multihop mesh network is needed to cover a large area. Nevertheless, the recently published Bluetooth mesh networking specifications do not provide support for real-Time communications over multihop mesh networks. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes the multihop real-Time BLE (MRT-BLE) protocol, a real-Time protocol developed on top of BLE, that allows for bounded packet delays over mesh networks. MRT-BLE also provides priority support. This paper describes in detail the MRT-BLE protocol and how to implement it on commercial-off-The-shelf devices. Two kinds of performance evaluation for the MRT-BLE protocol are provided. The first one is a worst case end-To-end delay analysis, while the second one is based on the experimental results obtained through measurements on a real testbed.

Multi-Hop Real-Time Communications over Bluetooth Low Energy Industrial Wireless Mesh Networks

Leonardi, Luca;Patti, Gaetano;Lo Bello, Lucia
2018-01-01

Abstract

Industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) are used to acquire sensor data that need real-Time processing, therefore they require predictable behavior and real-Time guarantees. To be cost effective, IWSNs are also expected to be low cost and low power. In this context, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is a promising technology, as it allows implementing low-cost industrial networks. As BLE is a short-range technology, a multihop mesh network is needed to cover a large area. Nevertheless, the recently published Bluetooth mesh networking specifications do not provide support for real-Time communications over multihop mesh networks. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes the multihop real-Time BLE (MRT-BLE) protocol, a real-Time protocol developed on top of BLE, that allows for bounded packet delays over mesh networks. MRT-BLE also provides priority support. This paper describes in detail the MRT-BLE protocol and how to implement it on commercial-off-The-shelf devices. Two kinds of performance evaluation for the MRT-BLE protocol are provided. The first one is a worst case end-To-end delay analysis, while the second one is based on the experimental results obtained through measurements on a real testbed.
2018
Bluetooth low energy; industrial wireless sensor networks; real-Time; wireless mesh networks; Computer Science (all); Materials Science (all); Engineering (all)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/360419
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