Prof. Lucia Lo Bello, PhD

Publication type:  Journal Article

Authors: L. Leonardi, G. Patti, L. Lo Bello

Journal: IEEE Access

Volume: 6

Pages: 26505-26519

Date: May 2018

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.

Open Access

Keywords: Bluetooth Low Energy; Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks; Real-time Networks; Wireless Mesh Networks

Publisher: IEEE

ISSN: 2169-3536

DOI:  10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2834479

URL:  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8355905/

Status: published

Cite as:
 L. Leonardi, G. Patti, L. Lo Bello, "Multi-Hop Real-Time Communications Over Bluetooth Low Energy Industrial Wireless Mesh Networks", IEEE Access, vol. 6, pp. 26505-26519, May 2018