BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY

How Bluetooth Works?

Bluetooth networking transmits data via low-power radio waves (about

1milliwatt). Limiting the range of Bluetooth device to about 10 meters or 30 feet

It communicates on a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz (actually between 2.402 GHz

and 2.480 GHz, to be exact). This is in the globally unlicensed (but not
unregulated) Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band.

It is where RF protocols like Zigbee and WiFI also exist.

Bluetooth devices are managed using an RF topology known as a "star

topology.

Bluetooth can connect up to eight devices simultaneously.

Bluetooth uses a radio technology called spread-spectrum frequency hopping.

Spread-Spectrum Frequency Hopping

- where signals are rapidly and randomly switched across a wide range of different
frequencies to improve the security and reliability of wireless communication.

In this technique, a device will use 79 channels (hops), randomly chosen

frequencies within a designated range, changing from one to another on a regular
basis.

In the case of Bluetooth, the transmitters change frequencies 1,600 times every
second, meaning that more devices can make full use of a limited slice of the radio
spectrum.

Bluetooth systems create a personal-area network (PAN) called piconet.

Piconet- used to refer to the network formed by one device and all devices found within
its range.

Up to 10 piconets can coexist within a single coverage area.

 A master Bluetooth device can communicate with a maximum of seven
devices (slaves) in a piconet. (255 when in parked/inactive mode.

Scatternet- is a number of interconnected piconets that supports communication

between more than 8 devices.

Piconet
Scatternet

Bluetooth Addresses and Names

Every single Bluetooth device has a unique 48-bit address, commonly

abbreviated BD_ADDR.

This will usually be presented in the form of a 12-digit hexadecimal value.

The most-significant half (24 bits) of the address is an organization unique

identifier (OUI), which identifies the manufacturer.

The lower 24-bits are the more unique part of the address.
 This address should be visible on most Bluetooth devices.

Connection Process
Creating a Bluetooth connection between two devices is a multi-step process involving
three progressive states:

1. Inquiry
- If two Bluetooth devices know absolutely nothing about each other, one
must run an inquiry to try to discover the other. One device sends out the inquiry
request, and any device listening for such a request will respond with its address,
and possibly its name and other information.

2. Paging (Connecting)
- Paging is the process of forming a connection between two Bluetooth
devices. Before this connection can be initiated, each device needs to know the
address of the other.

3. Connection
- After a device has completed the paging process, it enters the
connection state. While connected, a device can either be actively participating
or it can be put into a low power sleep mode.

Connection Modes:
Active Mode
This is the regular connected mode, where the device is actively
transmitting or receiving data.

Sniff Mode
This is a power-saving mode, where the device is less active. Itll sleep and
only listen for transmissions at a set interval (e.g. every 100ms).
 Hold Mode
Hold mode is a temporary, power-saving mode where a device sleeps for a
defined period and then returns back to active mode when that interval has
passed. The master can command a slave device to hold.

Park Mode
Park is the deepest of sleep modes. A master can command a slave to
park, and that slave will become inactive until the master tells it to wake
back up.

Bonding and Pairing

When two Bluetooth devices share a special affinity for each other, they can be
bonded together. Bonded devices automatically establish a
connection whenever theyre close enough.

Bonds are created through one-time a process called pairing. When devices pair
up, they share their addresses, names, and profiles, and usually store them in
memory. They also share a common secret key, which allows them to bond
whenever theyre together in the future.

Pairing usually requires an authentication process where a user must validate

the connection between devices. The flow of the authentication process varies
and usually depends on the interface capabilities of one device or the other.
Power Classes
The transmit power, and therefore range, of a Bluetooth module is defined by its power
class.

There are three defined classes of power:

Max Output Max Output

Class Number Max Range
Power (dBm) Power (mW)

Class 1 20 dBm 100 mW 100 m

Class 2 4 dBm 2.5 mW 10 m

Class 3 0 dBm 1 mW 10 cm
 Bluetooth Profiles
Bluetooth profiles
- are additional protocols that build upon the basic Bluetooth standard to more
clearly define what kind of data a Bluetooth module is transmitting. While Bluetooth
specifications define how the technology works, profiles define how its used.

Serial Port Profile (SPP)

- Replacing a serial communication interface (like RS-232 or a UART) with
Bluetooth, SPP is the profile needed. SPP is great for sending bursts
of data between two devices. It is one of the more fundamental Bluetooth
profiles
 Human Interface Device (HID)
- is the go-to profile for Bluetooth-enabled user-input devices like mice, keyboards,
and joysticks.
 Hands-Free Profile (HFP) and Headset Profile (HSP)
- Those Bluetooth earpieces that is used for mobile activities usually use headset
profile (HSP) or hands-free profile (HFP).

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)

- defines how audio can be transmitted from one Bluetooth device to another.
 A/V Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
- allows for remote controlling of a Bluetooth device. Its usually implemented
alongside A2DP to allow the remote speaker to tell the audio-sending device to
fast-forward, rewind, etc.

Basic Imaging Profile (BIP)

 - This profile is designed for sending images between devices and includes the
ability to resize, and convert images to make them suitable for the receiving
device.

Basic Printing Profile (BPP)

- This allows devices to send text, e-mails, vCards, or other items to printers based
on print jobs.

Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP)

- This is designed for cordless phones to work using Bluetooth.

Fax Profile (FAX)

- This profile is intended to provide a well-defined interface between a mobile
phone or fixed-line phone and a PC with Fax software installed.

File Transfer Profile (FTP)

- Provides the capability to browse, manipulate and transfer objects (files and
folders) in an object store (file system) of another system.

Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP)

- provides the basis for A2DP and VDP, the basis of the systems designed for
distributing video and audio streams using Bluetooth technology.

The GAVDP defines two roles, that of an Initiator and an Acceptor:

Initiator (INT) This is the device that initiates a signaling

procedure.

Acceptor (ACP) This is the device that shall respond to an

incoming request from the INT

LAN Access Profile (LAP)

- makes it possible for a Bluetooth device to access LAN, WAN or Internet via
another device that has a physical connection to the network.

Personal Area Networking Profile (PAN)

 - This profile is intended to allow the use of Bluetooth Network Encapsulation
Protocol on Layer 3 protocols for transport over a Bluetooth link.

Proximity Profile (PXP)

- The Proximity profile (PXP) enables proximity monitoring between two devices.

SIM Access Profile (SAP, SIM, rSAP)

- This profile allows devices such as car phones with built-in GSM transceivers to
connect to a SIM card in a Bluetooth enabled phone, thus the car phone itself
doesn't require a separate SIM card.

- This profile is sometimes referred to as rSAP (remote-SIM-Access-Profile),

though that name does not appear in the profile specification published by the
Bluetooth SIG.

Video Distribution Profile (VDP)

- This profile allows the transport of a video stream. It could be used for streaming
a recorded video from a PC media center to a portable player, or a live video
from a digital video camera to a TV.