Project Proposal
1. Principal Investigator
Bradley Clayton. Currently completing an honours degree in computer science at
Rhodes University. 1 Parker Street, Grahamstown, 6139. g01c2974@campus.ru.ac.za
2. Title of Project
Ad-Hoc networking of Bluetooth devices to move data to a central data sink.
3. Mentoring
Professor Peter Wentworth, Lecturer in Computer Science, Rhodes University.
P.Wentworth@ru.ac.za
Mr Alfredo Terzoli, Centre of Excellence Co-ordinator for Computer Science, Rhodes
University. A.Terzoli@ru.ac.za
4. Financial Support
The Computer Science Department, Rhodes University, as well as Microsoft.
5. Objective of Research
The main aim of this project is to enable data to be collected from Bluetooth devices
that are attached to animals in the wild. This will be done from one or more base
stations situated around strategic areas such as watering holes. The following needs to
be researched to accomplish this: how can the Bluetooth devices be put into an upload
mode, the usefulness of piconets, the usefulness of putting many piconets into a
scatternet, effective ways of downloading data from the Bluetooth devices to the base
stations and the possible introduction of anti-particles to the network or another means
of deleting the collected data from the Bluetooth devices.
6. Background/History of the Study
Currently, when many Bluetooth devices come into contact, a piconet is formed. A
piconet, as described by Ching Law and Kai-Yeung Siu in their paper “A Bluetooth
Scatternet Formation Algorithm”, is an ad hoc network that consists of one master and
up to seven slaves. Many piconets can be linked together to form a scatternet. A
scatternet is formed when a slave device belongs to more than one piconet. The
number of piconets to which a device belongs is termed its degree. Master devices
may only have a degree of zero or one while slave devices may have a degree of zero
or more. When a scatternet is formed, a shared slave device is time multiplexed
between the piconets to which it belongs. Data sent from a device in one piconet to a
device in another piconet must be passed through the shared slave device. This project
proposes to look at the merits and demerits of using a scatternet algorithm for moving
data, spread across many Bluetooth devices, to a common data sink. The project aims
to come up with percentages of success and loss of data depending on parameters
such as the number of devices in a scatternet, the probability that piconets will
separate, the probability that devices will leave the network, and the possibility that
devices will hop piconets, during data transfer.
7. Approach to the Study
Reading needs to be done to evaluate how scatternets perform under the parameters
and probabilities listed above. Programs will be written to simulate ad hoc networks
in the context of scatternets. Simulation programs are also available such as BlueHoc,
a Bluetooth extension to Network Simulator written by IBM. Field tests will be run
within the Hamilton Building: people with Bluetooth devices will be asked to keep a
prototype program running on their own device which will attempt to move data
towards a central point.
The algorithm development methodology will be done taking a traditional
Experimental Computer Science approach, in which a mechanism is proposed,
implemented, and evaluated to derive findings for a further iteration in which
improvements are proposed, implemented and evaluated, and so on. The iterative
development of artefacts slowly adds value to the solution under study.
8.
Information to be Derived/Deliverables
This project aims to produce an algorithm that will be effective when collecting new
data while notifying for the deletion of data from Bluetooth devices within a
scatternet. This project also aims to produce statistics such as the number of base
stations needed around a central point in relation to the amount of Bluetooth devices
expected communication distances.
9. Equipment Requirements
Bluetooth dongles, which will be used in desktop computers simulating base stations
as well as suitable wireless Bluetooth devices that can execute programs written for
Microsoft platforms. Currently iPAQ PDA’s are being looked at for use as the
wireless device. The project also requires the cooperation of other Bluetooth device
users, for the Hamilton field test.
10.Planned Fieldwork Dates and Locations
This project plans to have a field test within the Hamilton building. This field test will
make use of a prototype of the routing algorithm. A designated base station will be
placed in the building and members of staff and students will be asked to carry
Bluetooth devices. The Bluetooth devices will attempt to move data, via piconets and
scatternets, toward to the base station. Statistical data will also be collected and
reviewed after the test. This test is planed to take place midway through the project.
11.Initial timeline for implementation
Time
Activity
3 weeks
Reading and literature research.
3 weeks
Simulation of algorithms
1 week
Prototyping of algorithms
2 week
Investigation of the deletion of data from
devices
1 week
Simulation of data deletion
1 week
Prototyping of data deletion
2 weeks
Further investigation into random
possibilities and parameters in a
scatternet.
1 week
Simulation of the algorithm in the
randomness of a scatternet
1 week
Prototyping the algorithms in the
randomness of a scatternet
This is just an initial timeline. The project will be researched and developed using an
iterative approach, where analysis, design and implementation will continuously be
taking places in cycles. At least 3 weeks will be left to prepair the main write up for
the paper once the project is completed.
12.Additional Information
There are other students in the Computer Science department that are currently
involved in other areas of Bluetooth. Sam Knights is investigating the communication
of .NET applications over Bluetooth. Brian Fox is investigating Platform Builder with
the aim of producing a platform that can house Sam’s applications and Bluetooth
networking. Adam King is investigation the use of peer-to-peer networking of
Bluetooth devices to be used on the animals in the field, before they come near a base
station.
13. Relevant Publications
“The Bluetooth Special Interest Group”, http://www.bluetooth.com
Ching Law, Kai-Yeung Sui, A Bluetooth Scatternet Formation Algorithm,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, http://web.mit.edu.
Pico Communications, Bluetooth White Paper, www.picocommunications.com
Form Nokia, Bluetooth Technology Overview, www.forum.nokia.com
Ching Law, Amar K. Mehta, Kai-Yeng Sui, Performance of a New Bluetooth
Scatternet Formation Protocol, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
http://www.mit.edu.
Theodoros Salonidis, Pravin Bhagwat, leandros Tassiulas, Proximity awareness and
fast connection establishment in Bluetooth, Electrical and Computing Engineering
Department, University of Maryland at College Park., AT&T Research, Holmdel NJ.
Ken Noblitt, A Comparison of Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11, Cambridge Silicon Radio,
1651 N Collins Blvd, www.csr.com
Pico Communications Bluetooth Networking – Taking Handheld Computing to the
Next Level,, 20085 Stevens Blvd, Suite 100, Cupertino, California, USA,
www.pico.net.
Frank Siegemund, Michael Rohs, Rendezvous Layer Protocols for Bluetooth-Enabled
Smart Devices, Distributed Systems Group, Institute for Information Systems, Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, rohs@inf.ethz.ch,
siedemund@inf.ethz.ch