An Introduction to

BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY

CONTENT

Overview of Bluetooth History

The Bluetooth Specifications

Typical Bluetooth Scenario

Protocols

Profiles

Security

Comparison with other technologies

Future of Bluetooth

Summary

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Example : The Networked Home

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What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth wireless technology is an open specification for a
low-cost, low-power, short-range radio technology for ad-hoc
wireless communication of voice and data anywhere in the
world.
One of the first modules (Ericsson)

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A recent module

Ultimate Headset

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Cordless Computer

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Bluetooth Goals & Vision

Originally conceived as a cable replacement technology
Short-Range Wireless Solutions
Open Specification
Voice and Data Capability

Worldwide Usability
Other usage models began to develop:
Personal Area Network (PAN)

Ad-hoc networks
Data/voice access points
Wireless telematics
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Overview of Bluetooth History

What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communications technology.

Why this name?

It was taken from the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatand who
unified Denmark and Norway.

When does it appear?

1994 Ericsson study on a wireless technology to link mobile phones &
accessories.

5 companies joined to form the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)

in 1998.
First specification released in July 1999.
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Timeline
1994 : Ericsson study complete / vision
1995 : Engineering work begins

1997 : Intel agrees to collaborate

1998 : Bluetooth SIG formed: Ericsson, Intel, IBM, Nokia & Toshiba
1999 : Bluetooth Specification 1.0A
SIG promoter group expanded: 3Com, Lucent, Microsoft &
Motorola

2000 : Bluetooth Specification 1.0B, 2000+ adopters

2001 : First retail products released, Specification 1.1
2003 : Bluetooth Specification 1.2
2005 : Bluetooth Specification 2.0 (?)
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Special Interest Group

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Technical features
Connection Type

Spread Spectrum (Frequency Hopping)

& Time Division Duplex (1600 hops/sec)

Spectrum

2.4 GHz ISM Open Band (79 MHz of

spectrum = 79 channels)

Modulation

Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying

Transmission Power

1 mw 100 mw

Data Rate

1 Mbps

Range

30 ft

Supported Stations

8 devices

Data Security Authentication Key

128 bit key

Data Security Encryption Key

8-128 bits (configurable)

Module size

9 x 9 mm

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Bluetooth FHSS
Employs frequency hopping
spread spectrum

Reduce interference with

other devices

Pseudorandom hopping
1600 hops/sec- time slot is
defined as 625 microseconds

Packet 1-5 time slots long

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Time-Division Duplex Scheme

Channel is divided into consecutive slots (each 625 s)
One packet can be transmitted per slot
Subsequent slots are alternatively used for transmitting and receiving
Strict alternation of slots between the master and the slaves
Master can send packets to a slave only in EVEN slots
Slave can send packets to the master only in the ODD slots

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Classification
Classification of devices on the basis of Power dissipated &
corresponding maximum Range.

POWER

RANGE

CLASS I

20 dBm

100 m

CLASS II

0-4 dBm

10 m

CLASS III

0 dBm

1m

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Typical Bluetooth Scenario

Bluetooth will support wireless point-to-point and
point-to-multipoint (broadcast) between devices in a
piconet.

Point to Point Link

Master - slave relationship

Bluetooth devices can function as masters or slaves

Piconet
It is the network formed by a Master and one or more slaves
(max 7)
m
Each piconet is defined by a different hopping channel to
which users synchronize to

Each piconet has max capacity (1 Mbps)

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s
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Piconet Structure
Master
Active Slave

Parked Slave
Standby

All devices in piconet hop together.

Masters ID and masters clock determines frequency hopping
sequence & phase.

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Ad-hoc Network the Scatternet

Inter-piconet communication
Up to 10 piconets in a
scatternet

Multiple piconets can operate

within same physical space

This is an ad-hoc, peer to

peer (P2P) network

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Bluetooth Protocol Stack

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Baseband

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Baseband
Addressing
Bluetooth device address (BD_ADDR)
48 bit IEEE MAC address

Active Member address (AM_ADDR)

3 bits active slave address
all zero broadcast address

Parked Member address (PM_ADDR)

8 bit parked slave address

This MAC address is split into three parts

The Non-significant Address Part (NAP)
Used for encryption seed
The Upper Address part (UAP)
Used for error correction seed initialization & FH sequence generation
The Lower Address Part (LAP)
Used for FH sequence generation
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Packet Structure
72 bits

Access
Code

54 bits

Header

Voice

No CRC
FEC (optional)

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0 - 2744 bits

Payload

Data

CRC

ARQ
FEC (optional)

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Connection State Machine

Inquiry

Page

Standby

Connected
Transmit data

Park
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Hold

Sniff
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Channel Establishment
There are two managed situations
A device knows the parameters of
the other
It follows paging process
No knowledge about the other
Then it follows inquiring &
paging process

Two main states and sub-states

Standby (no interaction)

Connection
State
Machine

Connection (working)
Seven more sub-states for
attaching slaves & connection
establishment
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Channel Establishment (contd.)

Seven sub-states
Inquiry
Inquiry scan
Inquiry response
Page
Page scan
Master response

Slave response

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Link Manager Protocol

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Link Manager Protocol

The Link Manager carries out link setup, authentication & link
configuration.

Channel Control
All the work related to the channel control is managed by the master
The master uses polling process for this
The master is the first device which starts the connection
This roles can change (master-slave role switch)

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L2CAP
Service provided to the higher layer:
L2CAP provides connection-oriented and connectionless data
services to upper layer protocols
Protocol multiplexing and demultiplexing capabilities
Segmentation & reassembly of large packets
L2CAP permits higher level protocols and applications to transmit
and receive L2CAP data packets up to 64 kilobytes in length.

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Middleware Protocol Group

Additional transport protocols to
allow existing and new applications to
operate over Bluetooth.
Packet based telephony control
signaling protocol also present.

Applications
IP
SDP

Data

Also includes Service Discovery

Protocol.
Audio
Middleware Protocol Group

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RFCOMM

L2CAP
Link Manager

Baseband
RF
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Middleware Protocol Group (contd.)

Service Discovery Protocol (SDP)
Means for applications to discover device info, services and its
characteristics.

TCP/IP
Network Protocols for packet data communication, routing.

RFCOMM
Cable replacement protocol, emulation of serial ports over wireless network.

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IP Over Bluetooth
IP over Bluetooth v 1.0

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IP Over Bluetooth
IP over Bluetooth v 1.1

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File Transfer Profile

Profile provides:
Enhanced client-server interactions:
- browse, create, transfer folders
- browse, pull, push, delete files
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Headset Profile

Profile provides:
Both devices must provide capability to initiate connection &
accept/terminate calls.
Volume can be controlled from either device.
Audio gateway can notify headset of an incoming call.
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Core Bluetooth Products

Notebook PCs & Desktop
computers
Printers

PDAs

CD Player

TV/VCR/DVD
Access Points

Other handheld devices

Telephone Answering
Devices

Cell phones

Cordless Phones

Wireless peripherals:
Headsets
Cameras

Cars

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Other Products
2004 Toyota Prius & Lexus LS 430
hands free calls

Digital Pulse Oximetry System

Toshiba Washer & Dryer

Nokia N-gage

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Security
Security Measures
Link Level Encryption & Authentication.
Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) for device access.
Long encryption keys are used (128 bit keys).
These keys are not transmitted over wireless. Other parameters are
transmitted over wireless which in combination with certain
information known to the device, can generate the keys.
Further encryption can be done at the application layer.

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A Comparison

WLAN

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Bluetooth vs. IrD

Bluetooth

IrD

Point to Multipoint

Point to point

Data & Voice

Intended for Data

Communication

Easier Synchronization due

to omni-directional and no
LOS requirement

Infrared, LOS communication

Can not penetrate solid objects

Devices can be mobile

Both devices must be stationary,

for synchronization

Range 10 m

Range 1 m

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Bluetooth: Today & Tomorrow

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Will Bluetooth become a household name?

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Future of Bluetooth
Success of Bluetooth depends on how well it is integrated into
consumer products
Consumers are more interested in applications than the technology

Bluetooth must be successfully integrated into consumer products

Must provide benefits for consumer
Must not destroy current product benefits

Key Success Factors

Interoperability
Mass Production at Low Cost
Ease of Use
End User Experience
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Summary
A new global standard for data and voice
Eliminate Cables
Low Power, Low range, Low Cost network devices
Future Improvements
Master-Slave relationship can be adjusted dynamically for optimal
resource allocation and utilization.
Adaptive, closed loop transmit power control can be implemented
to further reduce unnecessary power usage.

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Things that think

dont make sense unless they link.

- Nicholas Negroponte, MIT Media Laboratory

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Thank You

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