What Introduction To Bluetooth and Bluetooth Specifications

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 kilo bits 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 the application layer, while the lowest layer is the radio. The wireless technology of Bluetooth is positioned to revolutionize the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from inconvenient fixed type lines. The specification for Bluetooth eliminates the need for cables by providing a small form factor, low-cost wireless solution that will link computers, cell phones, and other electronics. Bluetooth also allows users to connect many ranges of devices quickly and easily, and expands communications capabilities as well. The size of the Bluetooth radio is amazing, as a Bluetooth radio can be built into one or two very small microchips then integrated into any electronic device where wireless operations would be an advantage. Bluetooth also offers a robust link, which ensures that normal operating circumstances are not interrupted by interference from other signals that are operating in the same frequency band. Also known for its worldwide operation, Bluetooth radio operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is license free and available to any type of radio system in the world. No matter where you are in the world, you count on Bluetooth to work. Security is also important. Offering advanced security mechanisms, Bluetooth ensures a high level of security. Therefore, authentication will prevent unauthorized access to important data and make it very difficult to listen in. Bluetooth also boasts power optimization. The radio is power friendly and the software for Bluetooth is very configurable, limiting the power consumption of equipment. The radio itself only consumes a small amount of power from a cellular phone.

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 picante 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 picante, there can be up to three SCO links containing 64,000 bits per second with each one. To help avoid collision and timing problems, the links of the SCO will use reserved slots set up by the master.

8. A master can support up to three SCO links with either one, two, or even three slaves.

9. The slots not reserved for the SCO links can be used for ACL links.

10. A single master and slave can have one ACL link.

11. ACL is either master to one slave (point to point) or it broadcasts to all the slaves.

12. The ACL slaves will only transmit when it has been requested by the master. If the master doesn’t make the request, the ACL slaves won’t transmit anything at all.