Multimedia support over bluetooth Piconets

Abstract

In this paper we explore the ability to support multimedia trafficin indoor, wireless ad hoc PANs (Personal Area Networks) using theBluetooth technology. We first define the representative ad hocnetworking applications such as wireless access to the Internet,document distribution, videoconferencing, webcasting, interactionwith sensors and actuators, etc. For such applications, we definethe performance requirements placed on the PAN. There are twotechnologies now competing for the PAN market: the IEEE802.11“legacy” technology, and the newly introduced Bluetoothtechnology. By IEEE802.11, we refer to the operation of 802.11 inthe DCF mode, which is the mode implemented in the commercialWaveLAN cards. In the rest of the paper, we will use WaveLAN torefer to 802.11 in its DCF mode. We will attempt to answer thequestions: how effective is the Bluetooth technology in supportingcollaborative, “virtual ad hoc networking” applicationsand how does it compare with WaveLAN? To answer these questions, wehave developed an NS-2 model of Bluetooth. We have also developedmodels of adaptive applications such as voice and video. ForWaveLAN, we have used the existing NS-2 models. The results showthat Bluetooth provides better support for real-time applicationsas compared to WaveLAN. It does not exhibit the“capture” behavior observed, for example, in WaveLAN.Also, with the addition of nodes to the “indoor” space,it adds to the total “system” capacity and gives abetter overall throughput.