BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY

Bluetooth is a Radio Frequency (RF) specification for short-range, point-to-point and pointto-multi-point voice and data transfer. Bluetooth will enable users to connect to a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices without the need for proprietary cables that often fall short in terms of ease-of-use. A global specification for wireless connectivity: Bluetooth, named for Denmark's first Christian king and not a dire dental condition, is the name of a technology specification for small form factor, low-cost, short-range radio links between PCs,handhelds, mobile phones, and other computing and electronic devices. The Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) is an industry group consisting of leaders in the telecommunications and computing industries that are driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. Over 2000 companies have executed the Bluetooth adopters agreement and are members of the Bluetooth SIG. Technical Features:
Note: A piconet is a collection of devices connected via Bluetooth technology in an ad hoc fashion. A piconet starts with two connected devices, such as a portable PC and cellular phone, and may grow to eight connected devices. All Bluetooth devices are peer units and have identical implementations. However, when establishing a piconet, one unit will act as a master and the other(s) as slave(s) for the duration of the piconet connection.

Bluetooth technology provides a 10-meter personal bubble that supports simultaneous transmission of both voice and data for multiple devices. Up to 8 data devices can be connected in a piconet, and up to 10 piconets can exist within the 10-meter bubble. Each piconet supports up to 3 simultaneous full duplex voice devices (CVSD). The gross data rate is 1Mb/s, but the actual data rates are 432Kbps for full duplex transmission, 721/56Kbps for asymmetric transmission, and 384 Kbps for TMS2000 transmission. A Time Division Duplex scheme is used for full-duplex transmission. Bluetooth uses a frequency hopping spread spectrum technique. Spectrum spreading is accomplished by frequency hopping up to 1600 hops per second on 79 channels between 2.402GHz and 2.480 GHz. Bluetooth radio modules avoid interference from other signals by

hopping to a new frequency after transmitting or receiving a data packet. The sophisticated mode of transmission adopted in the Bluetooth specification ensures protection from interference and seeks to insure the security of the data.Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz range referred to as the Instrumentation, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. This band provides license-free operation in the United States, Europe, Japan, and most industrialized nations worldwide. Power transmitted by the Bluetooth: In the Bluetooth specification there are three classes of radios, which are characterized by their output power. Class 1 is specified to have a maximum transmit power of +20 dBm (100 milliwatts). Class 2 has a maximum transit power of +4 dBm (2.5 milliwatts). Class 3 has a maximum transmit power of 0 dBm (1 milliwatt). The Bluetooth specification limits the radio output power exactly to that actually required. For instance, if the receiving radio indicates that it is only a few meters away, the transmitter immediately modifies its signal strength to suit the exact range. This feature dramatically reduces the radios power consumption as well as its radio interference. Furthermore, the radio chip automatically shifts to a low-power mode as soon as traffic volumes becomes low or stops. The low-power mode is only interrupted by very short signals with the purpose of verifying the established connection. The radio with Bluetooth wireless technology consumes less than a few percent of the power consumed with a modern mobile phone. The transmission mode is only used as necessary, and always for the shortest possible period of time. Supported Bluetooth Profiles: Bluetooth technology was designed to be small and inexpensive. Bluetooth technology has no lineof sight requirements making it a potential replacement for infrared ports. Bluetooth can operate through walls or from within your briefcase. Portable PCs can wirelessly connect to printers, transfer data to desktop PCs or PDAs, or interface with cellular phones for wireless WAN (Wide Area Networking) access to corporate networks or the Internet.

Bluetooth supports a variety of profiles. The following profiles are currently available with Bluetooth. Basic imaging, basic printing, cordless telephony, dial-up networking, file transfer, generic access, generic object exchange (OBEX), hands free, hard copy replacement, headset, human interface device, intercom, LAN access, object push, Personal area networking, serial port, service discovery, synchronization.

POSITIONING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES:

With the number of wireless communication standards emerging, it is important to understand how each of the standards compare. To understand relative positioning of each wireless standard it is important to first understand there are three primary usage scenarios for wireless connectivity: Wireless Personal Area Networking (WPAN) Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) Wireless Wide Area Networking (WWAN) WPAN describes an application of wireless technology that is intended to address usage scenarios that are inherently personal in nature. The emphasis is on instant connectivity between devices that manage personal data or which facilitate data sharing between small groups of individuals Wireless communication adds value for these types of usage models by reducing complexity (i.e., eliminates the need for cables). WLAN on the other is more focused on organizational connectivity not unlike wire based LAN connections. The intent of WLAN technologies is to provide members of workgroups access to corporate network resources be it shared data, shared applications or e-mail but do so in way that does not inhibit a users mobility. The emphasis is on a permanence of the wireless connection within a defined region like an office building or campus. This implies that there are wireless access points that define a finite region of coverage. Whereas WLAN addresses connectivity within a defined region, WWAN addresses the need to stay connected while traveling outside this boundary. Today, cellular technologies enable wireless computer connectivity either via a cable to a cellular telephone or through PC Card

cellular modems. The need being addressed by WWAN is the need to stay in touch with business critical communications while traveling.

BLUETOOTH ISSUES:
Frequency usage Conflicts: Bluetooth radios operate in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz band. The problem that Bluetooth technology will face is that even at 2.4 GHz, the bandwidth is finite. Because this is an unlicensed band, any number of devices can use it. The 2.4 GHz frequency range used by Bluetooth is currently shared by other wireless communication standards such as 802.11b LANs, HomeRF LANs, and urban and suburban wireless telecommunications systems . At some point, devices start interfering with one another. Furthermore, 2.4 GHz is also the resonant frequency of water molecules and therefore the operating frequency for microwave ovens. A microwave oven is an effective jammer for lowpower 2.4-GHz devices. If you're working in the vicinity of one, it can easily cut throughput by 75 percent.

Compliance concerns: Other organizations, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are concerned about Bluetooth as well. However, Microwave oven usage in aircraft is accepted as normal and safe and Bluetooth emissions are comparable or lower. The operating airline has the ultimate responsibility for approving Bluetooth, and testing by the SIG members (including Intel and Boeing) is currently in progress. Bluetooth technology uses the same bandwidth frequency that several local wireless technologies use, which could mean data collisions and lost data.

Impact of Bluetooth on pacemakers: Currently, the only recommendation available is for cell phones. The Health Industry Manufacturers Association recommends that a minimum separation of 2.5 cm be maintained between a cell phone and a pacemaker.

Bluetooth on an airplane; Like with your cell phone and pager, Bluetooth must be turned off in an airplane. Bluetooth like your cell phone and pager are radio devices and are prohibited by the airlines during flight to minimize the risk of interference with the airplanes radio frequency equipment such as radar and radios.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS BLUETOOTH FEATURES AND BENEFITS SUMMARY

Feature Uses 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band Benefit Ensures Bluetooth devices can be used worldwide.

Piconet supports up to eight connected devices where one acts as a master and all others, slaves Bluetooth will enable wireless connectivity between a notebook computer and a cellular phone

Multiple piconets (scatter mode) are able to connect to each other via the master devices thus increasing the total number of connected devices beyond eight. Simplifies wireless connectivity to the Internet or corporate network by eliminating the hassle of proprietary cables connecting cellular telephones and notebook computers. Since Bluetooth is a worldwide standard, wireless wide area network connectivity can be delivered at a much lower cost than the alternative of integrating cellular communications into notebook computers. Limiting range to ten meters helps reduce power requirements making Bluetooth a practical technology for a broad range of battery operated devices like notebook computers and cellular phones. Ten meters is adequate for all wireless personal area networking applications Bluetooth has been designed to enable while minimizing other burdens on Bluetooth enabled devices such as cost and power consumption. Provides a degree of security for communications between Bluetooth devices.

Bluetooth devices are able to communicate to other devices within a ten meter range

Public/Private key authentication and encryption are key elements of the Bluetooth standard The Bluetooth logo program is a key initiative within the Special Interest Group (SIG)

The Bluetooth logo program will provide the industry with a mechanism to identify Bluetooth enabled devices that meet stringent compliance criteria. The Bluetooth Logo Program will ensure seamless interoperability between devices and enhance overall ease-of-use and customer experience. Provides greater flexibility and ease-of-use over wireless technologies like IrDA, which require a line of site between devices. Allows connections to be established through barriers

Does not require line of site between devices to establish a connection

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES . ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Technology Bluetooth Advantages No line of site restrictions as with IrDA Low power consumption makes integrated in battery powered devices very practical 2.4 GHz radio frequency ensures worldwide operability Qualification program ensures that products displaying the Bluetooth logo have been tested to meet stringent expectations for ease of use Tremendous momentum not only within the computer industry but other industries like cellular telephones and transportation 802.11b Provides highest bandwidth of current wireless standards Requires infrastructure investment in terms of wired access point; although can be setup in a peer-to-peer configuration Limited range relative to other wireless technologies Requires line of site, which limits flexibility and makes the technology more difficult to use Historically, poor software and operating system support has made the technology difficult to use Disadvantages Early stages of development make Bluetooth an immature technology that will need to prove itself Bluetooth shares the same frequency range as 802.11b Wireless LAN products (i.e. 2.4GHz) which means that under some conditions these two technologies will not be able to operate in the same physical space

Infrared (IrDA)

IrDA is an established technology that enjoys a large installed base within notebook computers and other devices Recent trend towards use of IrDA in cellular telephones, which has the potential to expand use of IrDA as a cable replacement Will maintain a speed advantage over initial Bluetooth products (i.e. 4Mbps versus 1Mbps) IrDA will maintain a cost advantage over initial Bluetooth; however, this cost advantage is expected to quickly erode over time as the number of available Bluetooth solutions grows Windows 2000 is expected to included enhanced support for IrDA which will improve usability for file transfer and synchronization Since IrDA is based on infrared technology, it will not interfere with other radio frequency based technologies like 802.11b wireless LAN; in environments where 802.11b wireless LAN products have been deployed IrDA may be the more appropriate wireless PAN technology