“In all BLE and IoT communications peripheral devices such as beacons advertise information while central devices such as smartphones initiate connection and receive information.”
Bluetooth Low Energy Technology has been around since 2010 when the low power-consuming BLE specification was added with Bluetooth 4.0. Unlike Bluetooth Classic, the Bluetooth specification we use for streaming music, sending files, etc., Bluetooth Low Energy is used for sharing a small amount of advertising data, sensing applications, localization indoor navigation, etc.
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), post-2016 when Bluetooth 5.0 specification was launched, has emerged as a key technology in the realm of the Internet of Things (IoT) due to its low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and ability to facilitate seamless communication between devices.
In Bluetooth Smart or BLE device communications, we need to be familiar with the terminology of peripherals and centrals. It is crucial to our understanding of how BLE works in an IoT setup and how we can optimize BLE applications.
What are BLE Peripherals and Centrals?
Bluetooth Low Energy is a wireless communication technology built on Bluetooth 4.0 specification that enables short-range communication between devices with minimal energy consumption. BLE devices operate in two primary roles: peripheral and central. Peripheral devices, also known as Bluetooth Smart devices or beacons, are typically small, low-power devices that broadcast data to nearby central devices. On the other hand, central devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or gateways, are responsible for initiating connections and receiving data from peripheral devices.
BLE Broadcaster and Observer
A peripheral device is distinct from a BLE Beacon which acts as a BLE broadcaster device. A broadcaster doesn’t require a radio receiver and connection with a central device. It is simply used to broadcast information and BLE devices in the vicinity can discover and access that information. A broadcaster does not offer bi-directional communication unlike a peripheral or central.
Similarly, an observer device can discover the advertising devices but cannot initiate a connection with the advertiser. An observer doesn’t require a transmitter and doesn’t offer bi-directional communication.
The communication between peripheral and central BLE devices is governed by the Generic Attribute Profile (GATT), which defines how data is organized and exchanged. GATT operates on top of the Attribute Protocol (ATT), which is responsible for data transfer between BLE devices. The GATT profile is structured around the concept of services and characteristics. Services are collections of related characteristics that encapsulate specific functionalities, while characteristics represent a piece of data and its properties. This hierarchical structure allows BLE devices to define and exchange data in a standardized manner.
BLE Slave and Master Connections
Depending upon the advertising packet as discovered by the central device, it can identify whether it can initiate a connection with the peripheral or the broadcaster. When a BLE peripheral device is connected with a BLE central device, it acts as a slave in that connection. The central device in this connection acts as the master.
In BLE communication protocols, the slave and master roles are defined within the link layer and the peripheral and central roles are defined in the Generic Access Profile (GAP) layer.
BLE and the Internet of Things
In the context of IoT, Bluetooth Low Energy plays a crucial role in enabling seamless connectivity between various IoT devices. With the proliferation of IoT applications, BLE has become a popular choice for implementing IoT solutions due to its low power requirements and compatibility with a wide range of devices. BLE enables IoT devices to communicate with each other, collect and transmit data, and interact with central devices such as smartphones or IoT gateways.
Since smart devices like smartphones and tablets are ever present now and come with BLE specifications along with Bluetooth (dual mode), they offer a plethora of opportunities in IoT applications with their big screens and cloud connectivity.
When integrating BLE with IoT, it's essential to consider the communication protocols that facilitate efficient data exchange and interoperability. MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a widely used protocol for IoT communication, as it provides a lightweight, publish-subscribe messaging transport that is well-suited for low-bandwidth, high-latency, or unreliable networks. Leveraging BLE to connect IoT devices and MQTT for communication, you can establish a robust and scalable IoT ecosystem, allowing for real-time data exchange and remote device control. Remote device control can be used in healthcare for remote patient monitoring and in smart homes for security and smart lighting as well as controlling smart appliances.
Applications of Bluetooth Low Energy
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and BLE beacons have various applications in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain.
Here are 10 IoT applications of BLE and BLE beacons:
1. BLE beacons are used for indoor positioning systems, enabling location-based services within buildings and facilities.
2. In retail, BLE beacons are utilized for proximity marketing, personalized customer experiences, and inventory management.
3. Smart Beacon devices are employed for asset tracking, patient monitoring, and wayfinding in healthcare facilities.
4. BLE beacons are used for industrial automation, asset tracking, and environmental monitoring in industrial settings.
5. These beacons are also applied for monitoring environmental conditions, tracking assets, and optimizing agricultural processes in smart farming.
6. BLE beacons are utilized for location-based content delivery and interactive experiences in entertainment venues.
7. BLE beacons are used for supply chain management and fleet monitoring in logistics and transportation operations.
8. BLE smart beacons enable smart office solutions such as space utilization tracking, indoor navigation, and environmental monitoring.
9. BLE beacons and sensors are employed for energy usage monitoring, equipment maintenance, and environmental sensing in smart energy management systems.
10. Beacons can be leveraged for public safety applications, crowd management, and location-based information dissemination in public spaces.
To summarize, Bluetooth Low Energy technology has revolutionized the way IoT devices communicate and interact with each other. The roles of peripheral and central BLE devices, coupled with the GATT profile, form the foundation for efficient and standardized data exchange. When integrated with IoT, BLE enables seamless connectivity and data exchange, while communication protocols such as MQTT enhance the interoperability and scalability of IoT solutions.
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