Link Manager Protocol

The basic functions of LMP can be classified as:

Piconet management

Link configuration

Security functions

A piconet is a group of devices connected to a common channel, which

is identified with its unique hop sequence. One of the devices, usually the

one which first initiated the connection is the master. Up to seven other

devices can be actively connected to this master, and many more could

be connected in a low power "parked" state.

The devices on one piconet can communicate with each other over SCO or ACL links.

The channel sharing is managed by the master, with the help of Link Managers on each device. Any two or more devices that need to communicate must establish a piconet among themselves.

Devices can be part of many piconets at the same time

The LMP provides the functionality to attach/detach slaves,

switch roles between a master and a slave and to establish

ACL/SCO links.

LMP also handles the low power modes-hold, sniff and park,

designed to save power when the device does not have data to send.

Link configuration tasks include setting link parameters, Quality of Service and power control if the device supports it.

Authentication of devices to be linked and managing link keys is also taken care by LMP.

The role of the LMP in link establishment is discussed in section: Establishing a connection in Bluetooth.