Possible bluez sensor net application

Possible bluez sensor net application

[Jon Smirl]

I need to get data from about 200 sensors in to a central Linux system
wirelessly. I'm attracted to using Bluetooth for this since I can buy
the radios so cheaply.

The sensors are quiet most of the time. Occasionally (once an hour)
they will record an event. This event need to be quickly communicated
to the central node. Upon receiving the event the central node may
send out a broadcast message instructing groups of sensors to do
something.

Can I implement this has a direct HCI layer application? The 200
sensors would be in parked state 99% of the time. When they get an
event they ask the central node to unpark. Then they send the event
data (a couple of bytes) to the central node. Central node would then
broadcast a couple of byte activation node depending on the event id.
Can I broadcast to all of the parked nodes?

Power is not a problem in the sensor nodes. The sensors have a basic
microcontroller in them. I can add a HCI Bluetooth chip (BC4-ROM).
Alternatively I can look at something like a BC4+flash module.

Or is Bluetooth totally unsuited to this application?

-- 
Jon Smirl
jonsmirl@gmail.com

Re: Possible bluez sensor net application

[David Sainty]

Jon Smirl wrote:
> I need to get data from about 200 sensors in to a central Linux system
> wirelessly. I'm attracted to using Bluetooth for this since I can buy
> the radios so cheaply.
>
> Power is not a problem in the sensor nodes. The sensors have a basic
> microcontroller in them. I can add a HCI Bluetooth chip (BC4-ROM).
> Alternatively I can look at something like a BC4+flash module.
>
> Or is Bluetooth totally unsuited to this application

Maybe check out ZigBee?

Re: Possible bluez sensor net application

[Jon Smirl]

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 10:06 PM, David Sainty<david.sainty@dtsp.co.nz> wrote:
> Jon Smirl wrote:
>>
>> I need to get data from about 200 sensors in to a central Linux system
>> wirelessly. I'm attracted to using Bluetooth for this since I can buy
>> the radios so cheaply.
>>
>> Power is not a problem in the sensor nodes. The sensors have a basic
>> microcontroller in them. I can add a HCI Bluetooth chip (BC4-ROM).
>> Alternatively I can look at something like a BC4+flash module.
>>
>> Or is Bluetooth totally unsuited to this application
>
> Maybe check out ZigBee?

Implementing Zigbee is more expensive than Bluetooth. ZigBee is also
in a a somewhat chaotic state, the standard is nowhere near as mature
as Bluetooth. ZigBee is also GPL in compatible with it's current
licensing scheme.

That said, ZigBee is my second choice. I'd probably ignore ZigBee and
use 6lowpan instead.

>
>



-- 
Jon Smirl
jonsmirl@gmail.com