What Are the Differences Between BLE Gateway and Mesh Gateway?

PublishTime： 2023-04-22 Article Source：SKYLAB News

BLE Gateway and Bluetooth Mesh Gateway are not one kind of device. What is the difference between them? What are the differences in application scenarios? I tell you the difference between these two kinds of gateways.

What is a Bluetooth gateway?

BLE Bluetooth devices include Bluetooth beacons, Bluetooth bracelets, all kinds of Bluetooth sensors, Bluetooth smart locks, and so on. They alone do not have the ability to network. They need to pass through the Bluetooth gateway in order to transfer data to the Internet cloud.

A Bluetooth gateway is a Bluetooth data relay device. The shape is shown in the figure below. Bluetooth gateway has both Bluetooth communication capability and networking capability. On the one hand, it receives data from Bluetooth devices. On the other hand, the Bluetooth gateway forwards information to the cloud server by connecting to the network.

In a school playground scene, students train wearing sports bracelets. A nearby Bluetooth gateway collects data from all the l'ya Bluetooth bracelets. Then it is reported to the cloud server. The coach can make adjustments to the training based on the detailed student movement data.

The functions of the Bluetooth gateway mainly include scanning mode and connecting two-way communication mode.

(1) Scan mode

The gateway is in scanning mode. It scans the number of broadcasts from Bluetooth devices within the coverage area. The gateway collects and transmits to the cloud.

(2) Connected mode
The gateway connects sensors. It can both collect data from Bluetooth sensors to the server and send down data from the cloud server. After the Bluetooth gateway, it passes to the sensor and performs various operations such as switching, thus realizing remote control.

What is the Bluetooth mesh gateway?

Bluetooth mesh device also does not have the function of direct network transmission data. The Bluetooth mesh gateway shape is shown below. It is also similar to a Bluetooth gateway in function. It can also be used as a repeater for Bluetooth mesh devices. mesh gateway receives data from mesh devices and then transmits it to the server, which also supports uplink and downlink. But Bluetooth mesh gateway uses mesh protocol instead of normal Bluetooth protocol.

The difference between Bluetooth gateway and mesh gateway

The difference between the two kinds of gateways is mainly reflected in the following two points.

(1) The two gateways dock different Bluetooth terminal devices

The Bluetooth gateway is docked to the Bluetooth device. For example, Bluetooth beacons, all kinds of sensors, heart rate meters, blood pressure meters, etc. It can also dock Bluetooth smart locks, Bluetooth lamps, lanterns, etc. Bluetooth gateway has two-way communication and remote control!

The mesh gateway is docked to mesh devices. Ordinary Bluetooth devices cannot be docked. Their Bluetooth protocol is not the same. Bluetooth mesh gateway is usually used in the field of smart homes. It docks smart home devices, such as all kinds of smart home appliances, switches, lamps, curtains, air conditioners, and other control. So ordinary ble devices can only choose Bluetooth gateway networking to transmit data.

(2) The network topology of the two kinds of gateways is not the same

Bluetooth gateway is to itself the center, connecting multiple Bluetooth terminals. Present radial structure. All kinds of Bluetooth terminals only and the center of the Bluetooth gateway connection. And there is no connection between each other.

The Bluetooth mesh gateway has a different mesh network. There is a connection between the Bluetooth mesh gateway and each Bluetooth mesh terminal device. There is also a connection between each Bluetooth mesh end device. A mesh network topology is presented.

The two different network topologies make the two gateways suitable for different usage scenarios! Bluetooth gateway is suitable for IoT field, docking traditional ble Bluetooth devices; Bluetooth mesh gateway is commonly used in the smart home field, docking all kinds of smart home devices.

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