Interference in the 2.4 GHz ISM band: impact on the Bluetooth access control performance

Bluetooth is a radio technology operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, that is emerging as a low-level and low-power wireless communication protocol used for wireless personal area networks (WPANs) where proximal devices can share information and resources. In this paper, we quantify the performance of the Bluetooth access control layer when the radio is operating in close proximity to a WLAN system. We use a probability analysis approach to derive the packet error for Bluetooth. The analytical results are validated using detailed simulation models for an interference scenario consisting of Bluetooth and WLAN devices. Packet loss is obtained for voice and data traffic for different interference conditions. Keywords—WPANs, Bluetooth, Interference.