Bluetooth Low energy & Mesh Networking
Bluetooth has been one of those standard applications that has really helped us get things connected especially in the body of area networks and get our local things put together but classic Bluetooth was really designed to replace cables and it covers many protocols needs increasing new versions.
Power consumption was not always the primary issue with technology and it was not always suitable for wireless boards on a battery that only needs to send a few bytes of information.
This is when Bluetooth low energy comes in which also known as BLE some people refer to it as Bluetooth Smart and it was contrived to consume as low power as possible. At the moment there are 3 versions called 3.0, 4.1, and 4.2 that have been released, and version 5 will be coming soon.
Now, when you think about different versions the big difference is that 4.1 devices can really act as a hub and an end-point at the same time. In 4.0 devices really have one roll, where a master device can command to several slave devices but cannot be a slave device and master device at once.
Devices 4.1 have the increased flexibility by allowing a device to behave like a master and slave at the same time. Devices 4.2 have increased the packet size from 39 bytes to 257 bytes for what is known as the PDU or Packet Data Unit.
It has implemented some better security algorithms and has IPD which helps the device connect directly to unit and gives it its IP address which is unique and is going to make things a lot easier.
Mesh Networking
“A mesh network is a network topology in which each node relays data for the network. All mesh nodes cooperate in the distribution of data in the network. Mesh networks can relay messages using either a flooding technique or a routing technique. With routing, the message is propagated along a path by hopping from node to node until it reaches its destination”
Certain Apps like FireChat has reached the top 10 among social networking apps in 124 countries with million plus installs. What is different about this app is that FireChat allows you to communicate to others (peer-to-peer) without WiFi connectivity or any kind of cellular network range.
App like these and also products like goTenna Mesh are based on mesh networking. goTenna Mesh is an off-grid, mobile, long-range consumer-ready mesh network. The device pairs with your smartphone to enable communication even when you don’t have service. It does not require towers, routers and satellites, which means these products can work just about anywhere you can imagine.
How does a Wireless Mesh Network work?
Wireless mesh networks, are an emerging technology that may bring the dream of a seamlessly connected world into reality.
Wireless mesh networks can easily, effectively and wirelessly connect entire cities using inexpensive yet making use of the existing technology. Traditional networks rely on a small number of wired access points or wireless hotspots to connect users. In a Wireless Mesh Network (WMN), the network connection can possibly be spread out among hundreds of wireless mesh nodes that can relay information to each other to share a common network across a large blanketing an enormous area.
How does WMN help you and your business in the near future?
By the year 2020, almost all businesses on the planet are going to have to have an online presence. People are already getting used to being your customers on the web, preferring ‘online’ shopping more than on-store shopping. In the near future, experts believe, buying and selling is going to shift its face completely. Considering all of these substantially real possibilities, you as an entrepreneur may want to have internet available to you all the time, while you are active. All or at least most of your decisions will have to ultimately be based on the information you get on your mobile devices via internet. WMN or Wireless Mesh Networking can make it all look seamless, one smooth transition into the future, if you will!
