Several devices with same device role

[KuramaYoko]

I would like to connect more than 8 devices to a single host. Therefore I would have to set the same role to multiple devices.

What are the implications of using the same device role regarding packet loss?

I assume that my system supports a reasonable amount of packet loss.

[Petter Myhre]

I don't understand. You want to connect more than 8 peripherals to a central? What is your central device?

[KuramaYoko]

I am using a RFduino with a module nRF51822. My propose is to create a virtual address to use in complement to the role number. So, each device will be identified by a role number and a virtual address number in the network. Moreover, devices will handle only packages identified with device's virtual address.

[Petter Myhre]

I'm not following you. Are you talking abot BLE GAP roles? Like broadcaster, observer, peripheral, central?

[KuramaYoko]

We are using the nordic's proprietary protocol Gazelle. Gazelle specifies roles as the device address in the network.

[Petter Myhre]

I'm assuming the role number is the pipe number, and you add this virtual address in the payload so that the host can distinguish between different devices using the same pipe.

In general there is no problem for devices to share a a pipe, but it depends on how much data you plan to send, and how much packet loss your application can live with. So if each device sends some data once in a while, you should be fine.

If the devices are sending data regurarly, you could try to use frequency hopping, so that the devices don't disturbe eachother.

If you have two devices sharing a pipe you could for example give the host two channels, and one channel to each of the two devices, or give the host four channels, and two channels to each of the two devices. Then the devices can synchronize to the channels in the host.