Increasing Bluetooth Low Energy communication efficiency by presetting protocol parameters

Authors: DUSAN HATVANI, DOMINIK MACKO

Abstract: Standard protocols are important regarding the compatibility of devices provided by different vendors. However, specific applications have various requirements and do not always need all features offered by standard protocols, making them inefficient. This paper focuses on standard Bluetooth Low Energy modifications, reducing control overhead for the intended healthcare application. Specifically, the connection establishment, device pairing, and connection parameter negotiations have been targeted. The simulation-based experiments showed over 20 times reduction of control-overhead time preceding a data transmission. It does not just directly increase the energy efficiency of communication; it also prolongs the time for sensor-based end devices to spend in an energy-saving mode. The result is a longer runtime of such sensor devices powered by batteries.

Keywords: Bluetooth Low Energy, energy efficiency, Internet of Things, low power, wireless sensor networks

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