Real-world Bluetooth MANET Java Middleware

Abstract—We present BEDnet, a Java based middleware for creating,and,maintaining,a Bluetooth,based,mobile,ad-hoc network,(MANET). MANETs are key,to nomadic,computing: Mobile units can set up spontaneous local networks when needed, removing the need for fixed network infrastructure, either as wireless access,points or wired,LAN. This allows,for simple sharing of services (internet access, media storage, databases, etc.) and resources (printers, scanners, GPS units, etc.). Application areas include nomadic offices, field workers’ applications, in- home,gaming; situations where,mobile units are brought,together for the duration,of the task at hand. Based on,the low-cost Bluetooth chip,which,is ubiquitous in handheld units, existing Bluetooth technology provides just piconets: star-shaped networks,of up,to eight units within,a limited range,of typically ten meters. BEDnet connects,piconets into a scatternet, thus exceeding the eight devices and ten meters limits for spontaneous,networking. While,algorithms,for Bluetooth,scatternet,formation,and routing have been studied extensively, to the best of our knowl- edge, BEDnet is the first implementation of Bluetooth scatternet middleware,running,on real mobile,phones. Based on the Java JSR-82 specification, BEDnet is portable to a wide selection of mobile phones, and is publicly available as open source software.