HMT: A Hybrid Mesh Tree Approach in Forming Bluetooth Networks

Abstract

In this paper, we present hybrid mesh tree, a new scatternet formation algorithm for Bluetooth ad hoc networks. The hybrid mesh tree constructs a mesh-shaped topology in one dense area and extended by tree-shaped topology in the other areas. First, hybrid mesh tree uses a designated root to construct a tree-shaped subnet and propagates a constant k in its downstream direction to determine new roots. Then each new root asks its upstream master to start a return connection procedure to convert the first tree-shaped subnet into a webshaped subnet. At the same time, each new root repeats the same procedure as the designated root to build its own treeshaped subnet until the whole scatternet is formed. Simulation results show that the subnet size can be controlled by appropriated selecting the k parameter. Besides, hybrid mesh tree achieves better network performance than Bluetree and generates an efficient scatternet configuration for various sizes of Bluetooth scatternet.