Bluetooth mesh networking

Last updated
Bluetooth mesh networking
Bluetooth-logo.svg
Developed by Bluetooth SIG
IntroducedJuly 13, 2017 (2017-07-13)
Industry Lighting, IoT
Physical range100-1000 meters (depending on mesh relaying configuration)

Bluetooth Mesh is a computer mesh networking standard based on Bluetooth Low Energy that allows for many-to-many communication over Bluetooth radio. The Bluetooth Mesh specifications were defined in the Mesh Profile [1] and Mesh Model [2] specifications by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG). Bluetooth Mesh was conceived in 2014 [3] and adopted on July 13, 2017. [4]

Contents

Overview

Bluetooth Mesh is a mesh networking standard that operates on a flood network principle. It's based on the nodes relaying the messages: every relay node that receives a network packet that authenticates against a known network key that is not in message cache, that has a TTL ≥ 2 can be retransmitted with TTL = TTL - 1. Message caching is used to prevent relaying messages recently seen.

Communication is carried in the messages that may be up to 384 bytes long, when using Segmentation and Reassembly (SAR) mechanism, but most of the messages fit in one segment, that is 11 bytes. Each message starts with an opcode, which may be a single byte (for special messages), 2 bytes (for standard messages), or 3 bytes (for vendor-specific messages).

Every message has a source and a destination address, determining which devices process messages. Devices publish messages to destinations which can be single things / groups of things / everything.

Each message has a sequence number that protects the network against replay attacks.

Each message is encrypted and authenticated. Two keys are used to secure messages: (1) network keys – allocated to a single mesh network, (2) application keys – specific for a given application functionality, e.g. turning the light on vs reconfiguring the light.

Messages have a time to live (TTL). Each time message is received and retransmitted, TTL is decremented which limits the number of "hops", eliminating endless loops.

Architecture

Bluetooth Mesh has a layered architecture, with multiple layers as below.

LayerFunctionality
Model LayerIt defines a standard way to exchange application specific messages. For example, a Light Lightness Model defines an interoperable way to control lightness. There are mandatory models, called Foundation Models, defining states and messages needed to manage a mesh network.
Access LayerIt defines mechanism to ensure that data is transmitted and received in the right context of a model and its associated application keys.
Upper Transport LayerIt defines authenticated encryption of access layer packets using an application (or device specific key). It also defines some control messages to manage Friendship or to notify the behavior of node using Heartbeat messages.
Lower Transport LayerThis layer defines a reliable (through a Block Acknowledgement) Segmented transmission upper layer packets, when a complete upper layer packet can't be carried in a single network layer packet. It also defines a mechanism to reassemble segments on the receiver.
Network LayerThis layer defines how transport packets are addressed over network to one or more nodes. It defines relay functionality for forwarding messages by a relay node to extended the range. It handles the network layer authenticated encryption using network key.
Bearer LayerIt defines how the network packets are exchanged between nodes. Mesh Profile Specification defines BLE advert bearer and BLE GATT bearer. Mesh Profile defines Proxy Protocol, through which mesh packets can be exchanged via other bearers like TCP/IP.

Topology

Nodes that support the various features can be formed into a mesh network.

FeatureFunctionality
Relayreceive and retransmit mesh messages over the advertising bearer

to enable larger networks.

Proxyreceive and retransmit mesh messages between GATT and

advertising bearers.

Low Poweroperate within a mesh network at significantly reduced receiver

duty cycles only in conjunction with a node supporting the Friend feature.

Friendhelp a node supporting the Low Power feature to operate by storing

messages destined for those nodes.

Theoretical limits

The practical limits of Bluetooth Mesh technology are unknown. Some limits that are built into the specification include:

Limit for a networkValueRemarks
Maximum number of nodes32 767The limit is 32768 addresses and while a node may occupy more than one address, the practical limit is most likely lower.
Maximum number of groups16 384

Number of virtual groups is 2128.

Maximum number of scenes65 535
Maximum number of subnets4 096
Maximum TTL127

Mesh models

As of version 1.0 of Bluetooth Mesh specification, [2] the following standard models and model groups have been defined:

Foundation models

Foundation models have been defined in the core specification. Two of them are mandatory for all mesh nodes.

Generic models

Sensors

Time and scenes

Lighting

Provisioning

Provisioning is a process of installing the device into a network. It is a mandatory step to build a Bluetooth Mesh network.

In the provisioning process, a provisioner securely distributes a network key and a unique address space for a device. The provisioning protocol uses P256 Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange to create a temporary key to encrypt network key and other information. This provides security from a passive eavesdropper. It also provides various authentication mechanisms to protect network information, from an active eavesdropper who uses man-in-the-middle attack, during provisioning process.

A key unique to a device known as "Device Key" is derived from elliptic curve shared secret on provisioner and device during the provisioning process. This device key is used by the provisioner to encrypt messages for that specific device.

The security of the provisioning process has been analyzed in a paper presented during the IEEE CNS 2018 conference. [5]

The provisioning can be performed using a Bluetooth GATT connection or advertising using the specific bearer. [1]

Terminology used in the Bluetooth Mesh Model and Mesh Profile specifications

Implementations

Approved ("qualified") by Bluetooth SIG

Bluetooth mesh implementations approved ("qualified") by Bluetooth SIG
NameSubmitterQualification dateQDIDType
Bluetooth Stack for Embedded Systems - MESH profile [6] Silvair, Inc.July 18, 201798880Profile Subsystem
Qualcomm Bluetooth Mesh [7] Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. July 18, 201798856Profile Subsystem
Silvair Mesh Models [8] Silvair, Inc.July 26, 201799282Profile Subsystem
Wireless Gecko Mesh Profile [9] Silicon Laboratories September 21, 2017101318Profile Subsystem
CYW-MESH 1.0 [10] Cypress Semiconductor Corporation October 3, 2017101726Component (Tested)
Qualcomm Bluetooth Mesh Model [11] Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.October 20, 2017102243Profile Subsystem
EtherMind Bluetooth Protocol Stack, 5.0 (Single Mode) + Mesh [12] Mindtree Limited January 24, 2018106544Component (Tested)
Telink SIG Mesh SDK [13] Telink Semiconductor February 1, 2018106546Profile Subsystem
TOSHIBA Bluetooth_stack_mesh-1 [14] Toshiba Corporation February 13, 2018104143Component (Tested)
AMICCOM Mesh Profile [15] AMICCOM Electronics Corporation March 14, 2018109370Profile Subsystem
Amiccom Bluetooth Mesh Model [16] AMICCOM Electronics CorporationMarch 30, 2018110168Profile Subsystem
Airoha SIG mesh [17] Airoha Technology Corp. April 2, 2018110202Profile Subsystem
Marvell Mesh stack v1.0 [18] Marvell Technology Group April 27, 2018110569Component (Tested)
nRF5 SDK for Mesh [19] Nordic Semiconductor May 2, 2018111537Profile Subsystem
Realtek Bluetooth 5 Mesh Solution [20] Realsil Microelectronics Inc July 27, 2018115668Profile Subsystem
STSW-BNRG-Mesh [21] STMicroelectronics August 2, 2018116029Profile Subsystem
RDA BT Host 5.0 [22] RDA Microelectronics, Inc. September 13, 2018115860Profile Subsystem
JYMC-MESH-1 [23] Shanghai Frequen Microelectronics Co., Ltd. October 10, 2018119229End Product
RW-BLE-MESH [24] CEVA, Inc. October 31, 2018119268Component (Tested)
ARM Ltd Cordio Mesh [25] ARM Ltd December 11, 2018116593Profile Subsystem
Samsung SLSI Bluetooth Mesh [26] Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. December 21, 2018122442Profile Subsystem
Bluelet Host Stack V12 [27] Barrot Technology Limited December 25, 2018123056Component (Tested)
ESP BLE Mesh v0.6 [28] Espressif Systems (Shanghai) Pte. Ltd. January 14, 2019124137Profile Subsystem
BK3435 BLE Core Spec 5.0 with MESH [29] Beken Corp March 12, 2019127926End Product
Actions Mesh Profile Subsystem [30] Actions (Zhuhai) Technology Co., Limited March 21, 2019127646Profile Subsystem
AliOS Things BLE host and mesh profile v2.1.0 [31] Alibaba (China) Co., Ltd. April 19, 2019129750Host Subsystem
Tonly SIG Mesh Stack [32] Shenzhen Tonli Science and Technology Development Co.,Ltd May 5, 2019130160Profile Subsystem
Sino Wealth IBLE SIG Mesh Profile [33] Sino Wealth Electronic Ltd. June 18, 2019133403Profile Subsystem
Qualcomm Bluetooth Mesh and Mesh Model v4.0 [34] Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.June 19, 2019128410Profile Subsystem
PAN1020 Mesh Profile subsystem [35] Shanghai Panchip Microelectronics Co., LtdJuly 1, 2019129291Profile Subsystem
Apache NimBLE BLE Host including BLE Mesh [36] JUUL Labs, Inc. July 15, 2019131934Component (Tested)
Tmall mesh Stack [37] Alibaba (China) Co., Ltd.July 20, 2019128246Profile Subsystem
ClarinoxBlue [38] Clarinox Technologies Pty LtdAugust 2, 2019134454Host Subsystem
BlueX Mesh [39] BlueX Microelectronics Corp Ltd.August 20, 2019137436Profile Subsystem
Zephyr OS Mesh [40] The Linux Foundation September 20, 2019139259Profile Subsystem
WCH Bluetooth Mesh [41] Nanjing Qinheng Microelectronics Co., Ltd.June 1, 2020144808Profile Subsystem

Free and open-source software implementations

Free software and open source software implementations include the following:

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