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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.
STM32CubeWB 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.
With these 3 types of project, user can create his own mesh network:
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
STM32WB Getting Started videos:
