Silicon Labs Bluetooth mesh networking solutions help IoT developers

     To help developers simplify the design of Internet of Things (IoT) mesh-networked devices and speed time to market, Silicon Labs has introduced a complete suite of software and hardware that supports the latest Bluetooth mesh networking specifications. The latest Bluetooth mesh networking solutions benefit from Silicon Labs' proven mesh networking expertise, including development tools, software protocol stacks, and mobile applications that support Silicon Labs' wireless system-on-chip (SoC) devices and certified modules. The combination of Silicon Labs' patented network analytics tool and smartphone Bluetooth mesh networking stack allows IoT developers to reduce time to market by up to six months compared to existing wireless development tools and technologies.

     Bluetooth mesh networking devices are ideal for smart home, lighting, beacon and asset tracking applications. Mesh enabled devices, such as connectable lights, can be deployed further away from hubs or gateways. With the continuous deployment of each light, the communication range increases, which allows a single gateway to cover a much larger area than would be covered by the star network topology alone. In retail marketing and asset tracking applications, Bluetooth mesh networking technology simplifies the deployment and management of beacons. By combining Bluetooth Low Energy with mesh networking, new capabilities and values are introduced to devices such as connectable lights that can also be used as beacons or beacon scanners.

     Richard Baxter, president and CEO of Mesh Systems, a provider of IoT software, services and solutions, said: "Bluetooth is the next frontier in mesh networking, and Silicon Labs' latest Bluetooth mesh networking software and tools put us at the forefront of this rapidly evolving many-to-many network topology." From easy-to-use development kits to mobile apps that help us seamlessly connect devices, we are relying on Silicon Labs' extensive experience in mesh networking technology to provide us with the hardware and software resources we need to help us increase productivity and accelerate development time so our customers can excel in today's IoT race."

     Silicon Labs' latest Bluetooth mesh networking solution includes a full suite of development tools and wireless devices to quickly and easily design IoT products from concept to final implementation. The Silicon Labs solution provides designers with the following benefits:

     Shorten time to market: Choose from a wide range of Silicon Labs-certified wireless modules and SOCs, including the world's smallest Bluetooth System-level Package (SiP) module (BGM11S) and the latest EFR32BG13 Blue Gecko SoC solution. Modules with integrated antennas provide a fast and economical way to design Bluetooth mesh networking products. The Blue Gecko SoC offers a wide range of memory options to support over-the-air (OTA) updates as well as advanced features such as hardware security acceleration, capacitive sensing, low-power sensor interfaces, and enhanced RF performance.

     Simplify development: Silicon Labs' mobile application for smartphones allows designers to validate operations based on Bluetooth mesh network implementations using commercially supported Bluetooth mesh network libraries and source code, simplifying designs.

     More efficient: Optimize mesh device design with Silicon Labs' Simplicity Studio software tools, including patented network analysis and packet tracking technology, energy analysis, and visual application configuration. Software compatibility with Silicon Labs' wireless SoC and module product family enables extensive software reuse, reduced development time, and lower costs.

     Silicon Labs is a leading provider of silicon chips and software for mesh networking applications. The company has supplied more than 100 million mesh networking SOCs and modules to date and has more than 15 years of experience in developing standards-based mesh networking solutions for customers worldwide. Silicon Labs is a leader in Bluetooth innovation, offering ultra-small Bluetooth SiP modules, multi-protocol SOCs that support Bluetooth startup applications, and software tools and protocol stacks that simplify Bluetooth development.

     Daniel Cooley, senior vice president and general manager of IoT products at Silicon Labs, said: "We expect a wave of new devices to quickly hit the market with hub-less mesh networks created by ubiquitous Bluetooth connectivity, expanding the range and reliability of Bluetooth systems." "Regardless of which mesh technology developers choose to launch their next IoT design, we are able to deliver a complete portfolio of silicon chips, software, and solutions that give device manufacturers everything they need to accelerate time to market while designing secure, robust mesh networks."