Wireless Monitoring Tool for BLE Mesh Networks

Abstract

This thesis aims to address the limitations of existing wired monitoring solutions for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks by developing a wireless monitoring tool. The tool is designed to simplify network management and provide performance insights. The thesis focuses on the development of a dedicated hardware tool using the nRF5340 DK, implementation of data analysis software, and creation of a userfriendly graphical user interface (GUI) to monitor and visualize key performance metrics such as Message Delivery Ratio (MDR), throughput, and latency in BLE mesh networks. The methodology involved constructing a hardware tool for wireless data capture, developing Python-based software for data analysis, and designing a GUI for realtime data visualization. Extensive testing was conducted in various mesh network topologies to evaluate the tool’s performance. The tool demonstrated robust performance in accurately measuring MDR and latency across different network setups. The wireless monitoring tool successfully provides a non-intrusive, user-friendly solution for real-time analysis of BLE mesh networks. It offers valuable insights into network performance and health, making it a practical tool for both academic research and industrial applications. Future work could extend the tool’s capabilities to multiple measurement points and multi-channel analysis.