Bluetooth Technology

The amazing technology of Bluetooth presents a great way of exchanging data between two wireless devices. Unlike telephones, there are no wires or messy leads to worry about.  You can enjoy wireless communications with short distances of up to thirty feet. Bluetooth also offers interoperability, meaning that you can use your portable Bluetooth device to connect with existing Bluetooth points.  This way, you won't have to carry a data lead or CDs of drivers around with you everywhere you go.  You can enjoy the best of wireless without having to worry about installing your software. With today's Bluetooth, you can use your PDA and cell phone to surf the net or check emails as you travel. If you are in the business field, this can be very beneficial, especially if you like to check your email throughout the day.  Bluetooth will enable you to check your email no matter where you are - which is great news for those who like to travel. Bluetooth will also enab...

Because it meets the basic needs of connectivity in close range, Bluetooth has a very bright future ahead of it.  Bluetooth is actually the result of initiatives from nine leading ommunications and computer industry giants, including 3-COM, Sony, Lucent, IBM, Nokia, Microsoft, etc. Since the forming of the original group, more than 1,800 manufacturers around the world have joined the initiative.  According to reports, the Bluetooth technology is expected to be built into more than 100 million devices, with over 670 million enabled Bluetooth devices. Resulting from the amazing success of WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), the adoption of smart phones and hand held devices, Bluetooth can easily have an amazing impact on your day to day life.  Bluetooth is one of the key technologies that can help to make the mobile information society happen, by blurring the possibilities between home, the office, and the outside world. The seamless integration and connectivi...

The technology of Bluetooth will take small area networking to the next level by removing the need for user intervention and help keep transmission power very low to preserve battery power.  Each transmission signal to and from your cellular phone will use just 1 mw of power, giving you  plenty of space on your battery to talk. Bluetooth is a networking standard that will work on two levels: 1. It will provide agreement at the physical level, as Bluetooth is a radio frequency standard. 2. It will provide agreement at the level of protocol, where products will have to agree on when bits are sent, how many are sent, and how the parties in conversation can be sure the message recieved is the same one that was sent. The major draws to Bluetooth is the fact that it's wireless, inexpensive, and automatic. There are other ways to get around wires, including infrared.  Infrared uses light waves of a lower frequency than the human eye can, and is normally used in te...

Bluetooth is easily the best in wireless handheld technology.  When it comes to learning, Bluetooth can get quite complicated.  To help you, you'll find the key learning points of Bluetooth below: 1. Bluetooth is an energy efficient, low overhead communication protocol that's ideal for interdevice communications. 2. Unlike infrared, Bluetooth doesn't require a line of sight. 3. Depending on the implementation, Bluetoothcan have a range of up to 100 meters. 4. The specification of Bluetooth consists of a Foundation Profile Document and a Foundation Core Document. 5. The protocol stack for Bluetooth consists of core protocols, cable protocols, and even adapted protocols. 6. The transmitter operates around the 2.4 GHz frequency band. 7. The data channel will change frequency, or hops, 1,600 times in a second, between the 79 allocated channels in the ISM band. 8. Bluetooth utilizes a spread spectrum frequency hopping RF characteristic to ensure that i...

Bluetooth was designed to allow low bandwidth wireless connections to become easy to use so even those who are new to wireless can use them.  Version 1.1 of Bluetooth describes a low power, short range wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to send data at rates up to 720 kilobits a second. The specification for Bluetooth provides for different classes of radio that allow transmission ranges of up to 100 meters by boosting the radio power. The technology of Bluetooth isn't limited to line of sight transmission since it uses directional waves that are capable of transmitting through many obstructions. Bluetooth is an industry standard communication of wireless, meaning that it enables the connection of other devices as well, such as cell phones, computers, digital cameras, and other types of electronic devices.  The specification of Bluetooth defines a radio system and a "stack" of protocol layers and profiles.  The highest layer is theapplication la...

Bluetooth devices will normally operate at 2.4 GHZ in the license free, globally available ISM radio band.  The advantage to this band includes worldwide availability and compatibility.  A disadvantage to this however, is that the devices must share this band with other RF emitters.  This includes automobile security systems, other wireless devices, and other noise sources, such as microwaves. To overcome this challenge, Bluetooth employs a fast frequency hopping scheme and therefore uses  shorter packets than other standards within the ISM band.  This scheme helps to make Bluetooth communication more robust and more secure. Frequency hopping Frequency hopping is basically jumping from frequency to frequency within the ISM radio band.  After a bluetooth device sends or receives a packet, it and the device (or devices) it's communicating with hop to another frequency before the next packet is sent.  This scheme offers three advantages: ...

Constantly evolving, the technology of Bluetooth started off as a basic wireless connection standard but has since then been adapted and proven with many different uses and functions. A good example is Bluetooth for cell phones.  It enables mobile users to connect to their hands free headset without using wires.  Bluetooth technology will also allow mobile phone users to connect with their hands free kit as well. Another handy use of Bluetooth is file sharing.  It allows the sharing of files between two cell phones, between a cell phone and computer, which makes the sharing of files a snap.  If you have a cell phone and computer, you can easily transfer data between the two. Say for example you wanted to put an MP3 on your phone from your computer you could do it easily  with Bluetooth.  All you would need is a Bluetooth adapter for your computer.  It doesn't stop with the  swapping of files either,as you can use your computer ...

Creating a good wireless headset for Bluetooth is actually difficult to do.  The regular wired headsets are easy to design - with ranging styles.  Bluetooth headsets can never be as small or as light as wired headsets, simply because it needs to include the battery and extra functions. This extra size will impact how the headset mounts on or around your ears. Comfort There seems to be two main styles of headsets for Bluetooth.  Some are held into place with a loop around the ear.  These styles are normally more comfortable, although they may be less secure.  The others are held in place by being jammed into your ear - and usually prove to be less comfortable. Factors to consider Cost The cost is an obvious issue, something that you really need to think about. Ergonomics 1. Check to see if the device is easy to quickly and conveniently put on your ear then take it off again. 2. Are the control buttons on the headset easy to use? 3. The headset shou...

Bluetooth technology offers three different types of defined ranges, based on output ranges.  Class 1 devices are the most powerful, as they can have up to 100 mW of power, with a regular antenna giving them a range of around 130 - 330 feet. The class 2 devices are lower power, offering up to 2.5 mW of power. A regular antenna will give them a range of around 50 - 100 feet.  Class 3 devices use even less power, up to 1 mW of power to be exact.  With a regular antenna, they will have a range of around 16 - 33 feet. Even though you may not realize it, Bluetooth wireless technology has never been intended for anything other than short distance types of communication. With Bluetooth wireless, the short range is actually a benefit. For one, the short range will reduce the change of interference between your devices and those that belong to others who are nearby.  Overall, this is a basic type of security, designed to protect you and your devices. Se...

Version 1.1 and earlier Since the technology of Bluetooth was introduced in 1998, several specification versions have been released.  Versions 1.0 and 1.0B had too many issues and problems for manufacturers to develop devices for Bluetooth.  The main issue was the lack of communication among the devices. The core specification version 1.1 is the first successful operating version of Bluetooth.  Version 1.1 corrected a majority of the bugs and problems found in earlier versions. Version 1.2 Many of the newer Bluetooth devices, such as the newer cell phones are being sold with the newer Bluetooth version 1.2.  This version offers backward compatability with Bluetooth 1.1, faster transmission speeds, received signal strength, and a host controller interface (HCI) support for 3 wire UART. Bluetooth version 2.0 It's true that there may be multiple communication technologies, although they all share one common trait - faster is better.  Bluetooth ...

The technology of Bluetooth is nothing new, but inm many respects it can still seem like more of a buzz word rather than an accepted technology.  You may see the ads for Bluetooth enabled devices, although you still may be wondering what it is. Capabilities The Bluetooth definition is a wireless technology that is a worldwide specification for a small form factor, low cost solution that will provide link between mobile devices and other electronic devices. Similiar to 802.11 b/g wireless and many cordless telephone systems, Bluetooth operates on 2.4 GHz radio signals.  The 2.4 GHz band seems to be a bit crowded, with interferences between the devices a bit hard to avoid.  Telephones are now being offered at the 5.8 GHz frequency band, which will help to remedy this. The technical specifications of Bluetooth will indicate a maximum transfer rate of 723 kbps with a range of 65 - 328 feet, all depending on the class of that particular device.  The speed...

Below, you'll find several specifications for the well known Bluetooth: 1. Throughout the United States and even Europe, the range of frequency is 2,400 - 2,483.5 MHZ, with 79 1-MHz RF (radio frequency) channels.  The frequency range in Japan is 2,472 to 2,497 MHz with 23 1-MHz RF channels. 2. A data channel of Bluetooth randomly hops 1,600 times per second between the 79 RF channels. 3. Each Bluetooth channel is divided into time slots, with each one being 625 microseconds long. 4. A Bluetooth piconet has one master and up to seven slaves.  The master will transmit in even time slots, while the slaves will transmit in odd time slots. 5. The data in a single packet can be up to 2,745 bits in length. 6. Currently, there are two types of data transfer between devices - SCO (synchronous connection oriented) and ACL (asynchronous connectionless). 7. In a Bluetooth piconet, there can be up to three SCO links containing 64,000 bits per second with each o...

These days, all communication technology faces the issue of privacy and identity theft, with Bluetooth being no exception.  Almost everyone knows that email services and networks require security.  What users of Bluetooth need to realize is that luetooth also requires security measures as well. The good news for Bluetooth users is that the security scares, like most scares, are normally over dramatized and blown entirely out of proportion.  The truth being told, these issues are easy to manage, with various measures already in place to provide security for Bluetooth technology. It's true that there has been some Bluetooth phones that have been hacked into.  Most devices that are hacked into are normally those that don't have any type of security at all. According to Bluetooth specialists, in order to hack into a Bluetooth device, the hacker must: 1.  Force two paired devices to break their connection. 2.  Steal the packets that are used to ...

The profile found in Bluetooth will describe how the technology is used.  Profiles can be best described as vertical slices through the protocol stack.  It will define options in each protocol that are mandatory for the profile. The profile will also define the parameter ranges for each protocol.  The concept of the profile is used to decrease the risk of interoperability problems between the different products.  These profiles won't normally define any additions to the Bluetooth specification, which is why you can add new profiles where you need them.  The Bluetooth underlying technology is the same, only the specific method that it's used is defined. Generally speaking, all profiles of Bluetooth are based on the GAP (Generic Access Profile).  There are 9 profiles that fall in the GAP category, and they are below: 1.  AVRCP - Audio/Video Remote Control Profile 2.  ESDP - Extended Service Discovery Profile 3.  CIP - Common ISD...

The networking standards of Bluetooth will transmit data via low power radio frequency. Bluetooth communicates on a 2.45 GHz frequency.  This very band of frequency has been set aside by international agreement for the use of industrial and medical devices. Many devices that you already known and use take advantage of this frequency band. Garage door openers, baby monitors, and the next generation of mobile phones all use this frequency within the ISM band.  Ensuring that Bluetooth and the other devices don't interfere with each other is a crucial part of the design process. One of the ways Bluetooth will avoid interfering with other electronic devices is by sending out weak signals of around 1 mw.  In comparison, even the most powerful of cell phones can transmit a signal of 3 watts.   The low power signals will limit the range of a Bluetooth device to around 32 feet, which cut the chances of interference between your computer and other electronic ...

In the United States, Bluetooth gets absolutely no respect.  It is however, becoming more and more common in notebooks, PDAs, and especially cell phones.  Bluetooth will provide wireless users a way to transmit small amounts of data over short distances. Now, Bluetooth is facing stiff competition from new wireless technology.  Referred to as UWB or Ultra Wideband, it promises data transfer of up to 480 MB a second - while most current Bluetooth devices transfer data up to 721 KB a second. For the time being, Bluetooth devices are surely cropping up.  Below, we will look at some of the accessories offered with Bluetooth technology. Talking to the dashboard When pairing it with a cell phone, the CCM Blue Warrior car kit becomes a great speaker phone that plugs into the power adapter of your vehicle. The noise cancelling microphone will reduce background noise efficiently, with the large buttons making adjusting the speaker volume a snap. Although  t...

Below, you'll find a list of the most used terms in Bluetooth technology. They can serve as a look up, or to help you learn more about Bluetooth terms in general. 2 in 1 handset The situation where a subscriber's handset is acting as a remote handset to a base unit that provides a network connection. 3G Third generation, referring to the next generation of digital phone technology. 802.11 WLAN A wireless LAN specification defined by the IEEE. Access code Each base band packet will start with an access code, which can be one of 3 types - CAC, DAC, and IAC. ACK  Acknowledge. ACL  Asynchronous Connectionless Link.  This is one of the two types of data links that are defined for Bluetooth. ACO Authenticated Ciphering Offset. Active mode During the active mode, the unit will actively participate on the channel. The master will schedule the transmission based on traffic demands from the different slaves. AP Access point. ...

Bluetooth is a specification for the use of low power radio communications to wireless phones, computers, and other network wireless devices over short distances.  The name Bluetooth is actually borrowed from Harald Bluetooth, a Denmark king more than 1,000 years ago. The technology of Bluetooth was primarily designed to support simple wireless networking of devices and peripherals, which includes cell phones, PDAs, and wireless headsets.  The wireless signals that are transmitted by Bluetooth cover short distances of up to 30 feet, generally communicating less than 1 MPps (Mega Byte per second). The networks of Bluetooth feature dynamic topology called PAN or a piconet.  The piconets contain a minumum of two and a maximum of eight peer devices. The devices will communicate using protocols that are part of the specification.   Even though the Bluetooth standard will utilize the same 2.4 GHz range as 802.11b and 802.11g, the technology isn't suitab...

The technology of Bluetooth wireless is a short range communications method intended to replace the cables that connect portable or fixed devices while maintaining the highest levels of security. The key features offered by Bluetooth include low power and low cost.  The specification in Bluetooth defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to communicate and connect with one another. The technology behind Bluetooth has achieved global satisfaction such as enabled devices, almost everywhere in the world.  Bluetooth devices will connect and communicate without wires through short range and networks known as piconets. Each device will simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices within a single piconet, meaning that each device can also belong to several piconets simultaneously.  The piconets are dynamically established as Bluetooth enabled devices enter and leave the proximity of radio. A fundamental to Bluetooth strength is the abi...

With Bluetooth being very popular with wireless, it's no wonder there are many applications available for the technology.  Below, you'll find the applications  for Bluetooth.  1.  Wireless networking between laptops and desktop computers, or desktops that are in a confined space and little bandwidth is needed. 2.  Peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and printers. 3.  Cell phones with Bluetooth technology have been sold in large numbers, as they are able to connect to computers, PDAs (Personal Data Assistant), and various other devices. The standard also includes the  support for more powerful and longer range devices. 4.  The transfer of files, images and MP3, between mobile phones. 5.  Certain MP3 players and digital cameras to transfer files to and from computers. 6.  Bluetooth technology headsets for smart phones and cell phones. 7.  Data logging equipment that transmits data to a computer via Blue...

With new electrical devices being produced every day, the problem of connecting things is becoming more and more complex in nature. The system that comprises computers and other electronics makes use of varieties of wires, cables, etc.   These parts will communicate through light beams, lasers, radio signals, and infrared.  The problem however, is the devices and technology is often the connection between each component.  Therefore, most electronic systems aren't used to their full extent due to the problems and imperfections. To help simplify things, a solution was created - the solution of Bluetooth. Bluetooth is wireless and automatic, offering users a variety of features that have simplified the art of connection.  Bluetooth has revolutionized the standard methods of connecting things to enabling almost anything to be connected to a single system.  Aside from Bluetooth, there are other ways of connecting wireless devices. One example of...

The new Apple powerbook G4 are among the first computers to offer Bluetooth technology 2.0+EDR. The 2.0+EDR technology, which still backwards compatible with 1.0, is up to three times faster than previous versions, offering maximum data rate transfers of up to 3 MBps.  Being the first company to certify a system with 2.0+EDR, Apple continues to make great use of the Bluetooth technology. Full support In addition to the powerbook G4 portables, there are other Bluetooth enabled computers available from Apple, including the iBook, iMac G5, eMac, and the Power Mac G5.   Making life easier When you turn the Bluetooth feature on, your Mac can easily perform a file transfer or even a synchronization.  From the Bluetooth selection menu, you can choose to either send a file or browse devices, quickly and easily.  Or, you can click the sync button in iSync to update your cell phone or Palm OS handheld.   The Mac and GSM/GPRS mobile phone with ...

Bluetooth is a high speed, low powered wireless link technology that's designed to connect phones or other portable equipment together with little to no work required by the user.  Unlike infrared, Bluetooth doesn't require line of site positioning to work. Current prototype circuits are contained on a board that is 0.9 cm square, with a much smaller circuit board being developed.   When one Bluetooth device comes in contact with another, they will automatically exchange addresses and details of capability.  Then, they can establish a 1 MB link with security that they will use as required.  The protocols involved with handle both data and voice, with a very flexible topography. The technology achieves its goal by embedding tiny, non expensive short range tranceivers into the devices available today.  The radio operates on the 2.45 GHz frequency band, and supports up to 721 KBps, along with three voice channels.   Each devices offe...

Advantages And Disadvantages Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly difficult market place.  Bluetooth helps to bring with it the promise of freedom from the cables and simplicity in networking that has yet to be matched by LAN (Local Area Network). In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is infrared.  Infrared holds many key features, although the line of sight it provides doesn't go through walls or through obstacles like that of the Bluetooth technology. Unlike infrared, Bluetooth isn't a line of sight and it provides ranges of up to 100 meters.  Bluetooth is also low power and low processing with an overhead protocol.  What this means, is that it's ideal for integration into small battery powered devices.  To put it short, the applications with Bluetooth are virtually endless.   Disadvantages Bluetooth has several positive features and one would be extremely hard pr...

Below, are 10 benefits and reasons to use Bluetooth technology. 1.  Wireless As you probably already know, there are many benefits and advantages to using wireless devices. Along with bimproving safety as a result of eliminating wires you don't need, wireless also offers you plenty of other advantages. When traveling with your laptop or other wireless devices, you'll no longer have to worry about bringing connection cables. 2.  Bluetooth is actually inexpensive The technology of Bluetooth is cheap for companies to implement, which results in lower costs for the company.  These savings are then passed from the company on to you. 3.  Bluetooth is automatic Bluetooth doesn't have you set up a connection or push any buttons. When two or more devices enter a range of up to 30 feet of each other, they will automatically begin to communicate without you having to do anything.   4.  Standardized protocol Bluetooth is standardized wirel...