Wi-Fi Direct in Android: Creating seamless device-to-device communication

Abstract

The study examines the characteristic features, capabilities, and performance of Wi-Fi Direct as a device-to-device communication protocol in Android. During the research, the Wi-Fi Direct's effectiveness, connectivity speed and stability, energy consumption, and the possibility to transmit large-sized files, were assessed, comparing them to similar Bluetooth characteristics. The research data were taken from testing using Google Pixel 4 and Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones with Android, and the results were compared with secondary data findings. The test presupposed transmission of three different-sized files to measure performance outcomes in terms of power consumption, data transfer quality, connection speed, and reliability. The research revealed how Wi-Fi Direct works with the data transmission speed and connection stability compared to Bluetooth in Android and identified the consequences of Wi-Fi Direct use for the energy consumption of Android devices. The study findings show that Wi-Fi Direct is associated with better outcomes in the areas of file transfer speed, especially for large data files, while Bluetooth has proven to be more energy-efficient and easier to use for smaller tasks. These results align with the secondary data findings and highlight the potential of combining both communication protocols. Finally, the study emphasizes the growing relevance of Wi-Fi Direct for high-bandwidth mobile applications, irrespective of setup complexity and higher power consumption.