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1. Introduction
BLE-mesh connects multiple Bluetooth® Low Energy technology (BLE) devices with mesh networking capability for internet of things (IoT) solutions.
Mesh network has a many-to-many topology, with each device able to communicate with every other device in the network.
The BLE-mesh communication is done using messages relayed by the devices which are part of the mesh network (called nodes). In this way, the end-to-end communication range is extended far beyond the radio range of each individual node.
2. Topology
There are different types of nodes:
- Simple Nodes
- Proxy Nodes
- Relay Nodes
- Low-Power Nodes
- Friend Nodes
For more information about the node types, please refer to ST BLE-Mesh Application Note
[1].
A typical BLE mesh topology is illustrated in the figure below.
STM32Cube_FW_WB package provides 3 example covering these different types of Nodes.
BLE-MeshLightingPRFNode project generates a basic Node supporting Proxy-Relay-Friend features, this project is the easier to handle and have a first approach of ST BLE-Mesh solution, see ST BLE-mesh example for more information.
BLE-MeshLightingLPN project generates a basic Low Power Node, which requires a Friend Node into the network to receive messages, see Friendship for more information.
BLE-MeshLightingProvisioner project generates a basic node managing ST proprietary solution of Embedded Provisioner, this Node can configurate itself and provision other nodes into the mesh network, see Embedded Provisioner.
3. Elements and Models
Each BLE-mesh node contains one or more elements, and each element can support different models.
3.1. Elements
The elements define the functionalities of a single node, each element can be independently controlled.
3.2. Models
Models define the functionality of a specific element. Several models are defined by the Bluetooth® SIG, and many of them are deliberately defined as “generic” models, having potential use across a wide range of device types.
Refer to ST BLE-Mesh Application Note[1] for more details about Element and Models.
4. Provisioning
The process of adding a device into a BLE-mesh network, and configuring it, is called provisioning.
This process is started by a device called “provisioner”, which can be a smartphone with a BLE mesh application installed on it, or a mesh platform as STM35WBx5 line microcontroller. The provisioned device is now known as a node.
Refer to ST BLE-Mesh Application Note[1] for more details about provisioning steps.
5. Go further
BLE-Mesh basic example: ST_BLE-Mesh_Lighting_Example
Friendship: Friendship
Embedded Provisioner: Embedded_Provisioning