Bluetooth
is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks
(PANs). Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information
between devices such as mobile, phones, Laptops, PCs, digital cameras,
and video game consoles over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range
radio frequency. The Bluetooth specifications are developed and licensed
by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.
Well it ins't some strange form of tooth decay as you might
initially imagine. Bluetooth is the name of a new technology that is now
becoming commercially available. It promises to change significantly
the way w use machines.
Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications
technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and /or
fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The key
features of Bluetooth technology are robustness., low power, and low
cost. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide
range of devices to connect and communicate with each other.
Bluetooth technology has achieved global acceptance such that any
Bluetooth enabled device, almost everywhere in the world can connect to
other Bluetooth enabled devices in proximity. Bluetooth enabled
electronic devices connect and communicate wirelessly
through short-range, ad hoc networks known s piconets. Each device
can simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices withing a
single piconet. Each device can also belong to several
piconets simultaneously. Piconets are established dynamically
and automatically as Bluetooth enabled devices enter and leave radio
proximity.
- A fundamental Bluetooth wireless technology strength is the ability to simultaneously handle both data and voice transmissions. This enables user to enjoy variety of innovative solutions such as a hands-free headset fr voice calls, printing and fax capabilities, and synchronizing PDA, laptop, and mobile phone applications to name a few.
Specification Make-Up
Unlike many other wireless standards, the Bluetooth wireless
specification gives product developers both link layer and application
layer definitions, which supports data and voice application.
Spectrum
Buletooth technology operates in the unlicensed industrial,
scientific and medical (ISM) band at 2.4 to 2.48 GHz, using a spread
spectrum, frequency hopping, full-duplex signal at a nominal rate of
1600 hops/sec. The 2.4 GHz ISM band is available and unlicensed in most
countries.
Interference
Bluetooth technology's adaptive frequency hopping (AFH)
capability was designed to reduce
interference between wireless technologies sharing the 2.4 GHz spectrum.
AFH works withing the spectrum to take advantage of the available
frequency. This is done by detecting other devices in the spectrum and
avoiding the frequencies they are using. This adaptive hopping allows
for more efficient transmission withing the spectrum, providing users
with greater performance even if using other technologies along with
Bluetooth technology. The signal hops among 79 frequencies at 1 MHz to
give a high degree of interference immunity.
Range
The operating range depends on the device class:
- Class 3 radios-have a range of up to 1 meter or 3 feet
- Class 2 radios-most commonly found in mobile device-have a range of 10 meters or 30 feet
- Class 1 radios - used primarily in industrial use cases - have a range of 100 meters or 300 feet
Power
The most commonly used radio is class 2 and uses 2.5 mW of
power. Bluetooth technology is designed ot have very low
power consumption. This is reinforced in the specification by allowing
radios to be powered down when inactive.
Date Rate
1 Mbps for Version 1.2; Up to 3 Mbps supported for version 2.0 + EDR
World of Bluetooth
1. Take a look around
Look around you at the moment, you have
your keyboard connected to the computer, as well as a printer, mouse,
monitor and so on. What (literally) joins all of these together?, they
are connected by cables. Cables have become the bane of many offices,
homes etc. Most of us have experienced the 'joys' of trying to figure
out what cable goes where, and getting tangled up in the details.
Bluetooth essentially aims to fix this, It is a cable replacement technology
2. How?
Conceived initially by Ericsson, before being adopted by a myriad of other companies, Bluetooth is a standard for a small, cheap radio chip to be plugged into computers, printers, mobile phones, etc.
A Bluetooth chip is designed to replace cables by taking to a receiver
Bluetooth chip, which will then give the information received to the
computer, phone whatever.
3. How about?
That was the original idea, but the originators of the original
idea soon released that a lot more was possible. If you can transmit
information between a computer and a printer, why not transmit data from
a mobile phone to a printer, or even a printer to a printer?. The
projected low cost of a Bluetooth chi (~$5). and its low power
consumption, means you could literally place one anywhere.
4. Ideas, ideas...
5. The future, this website
Whatever the ideas, Bluetooth is set to take off. To be honest
its' going to be forced down the consumers necks, whether thy want it or
not, as too many companies have invested in it. This website is
generally geared towards the technical issues surrounding Bluetooth, and
its implementation in real life. But free feel to have a look around
anyway, and see why this technology will have such a big impact on our
lives. If you're a complete beginner and you want to know more go to the
other pages on the website: the Tutorial has a reasonable in-depth
guide to Bluetooth (can be quite technical in parts
though), our members-only download** page has some more
general introductions to Bluetooth to download. Also check out
the Resources Center, Articles, Glossary & Knowledge Base to further
enhance your Bluetooth education. There are also related Resource
Centers on IEEE 802.11 WiFi Wireless LANs, HomeRF, GPS, SyncML, ZigBee
and other mobile and wireless technologies. Enjoy!
**Note that although many sections of this web site are freely
available, some require a free membership and others are available only
to paid members.
6. Looking after your teeth
By the way if, you're wondering where the Bluetooth name
originally came from, it named after a Danish Viking and King, Harald
Blatand (translated as Bluetooth in English), who lived in the latter
part of the 10th century. Haral Blatand united and controlled Denmark
and Norway (hence the inspiration on the name: uniting devices through
Bluetooth). He got his name from his very dark hair which was unusual
for Viking, Blatand means dark complexion. However a more popular, (but
less likely reason), was that Old Harald had
a inclination towards eating Blueberries, so much so his teeth became
stained with the colour, leaving Harald with a rather unique set of
molars. An you though your teeth were bad....
