SIG finalises Bluetooth mesh networking

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The mesh capability – based on Bluetooth Low-energy, using its Advertising packages – enables many-to-many device communications and is, says the SIG, optimised for creating large-scale device networks.

For example, the technology is suited for building automation, sensor networks and other potential IoT systems where tens, hundreds, or thousands of devices need to reliably and securely communicate with one another.

“By adding support for mesh networking, the Bluetooth member community is continuing a long history of focused innovation to help new, up-and-coming markets flourish,” said Mark Powell, executive director for Bluetooth SIG.

“In the same way the connected device market experienced rapid growth after the introduction of Bluetooth Low Energy, we believe Bluetooth mesh networking can play a vital role in helping early stage markets, such as building automation and wireless sensor networks, experience more rapid growth.”

According to the SIG, Bluetooth mesh enables self-healing networks with no single points of failure, has the ability to support thousands of nodes with industrial-level performance, and also provides “industrial-grade security” for protection against attacks.

The new mesh networking specification, as well as the tools required to qualify Bluetooth products with mesh networking support, will be available at the Bluetooth website.

Mesh networking, via Bluetooth, has been available from specific companies for a while, CSRmesh for example, but the significance of today’s announcement will be its enabling multi-vendor interoperability.

“Time and time again it has been shown that markets flourish when multi-vendor interoperability exists,” says the SIG. “Bluetooth mesh delivers proven, global interoperability that assures products from different vendors work together.”

mesh-2-300x268One area that should benefit, for example, is smart buildings.

“Within the building automation market, there is a growing focus on connected lighting and the role it can play as a platform for providing automation services throughout a facility,” said Szymon Slupik, president and CTO of Silvair and chairman of the mesh working group within the Bluetooth SIG.

“A smart lighting platform built on top of Bluetooth mesh networking can also support asset tracking, point of interest, and way-finding services. These value-added capabilities are part of why we believe Bluetooth is an ideal technology for enabling a mesh network.”

Silicon Labs is already implementing the 1.0 specification on existing silicon with three software packages.

For context, the 0.9 version of the Bluetooth mesh specification was released in November 2016.

See alsoBluetooth 5 signals second-generation beacons

See alsoSilicon Labs pushes ZigBee mesh networks in the home

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