Bluetooth Articles

• Bluetooth 1.2 & Bluetooth 2.0 (1/03) **
  The Bluetooth SIG has aimed from the start to ensure that developers and users do not concern themselves with updated version of the Bluetooth specification, but rather concern themselves on implementation of the existing Bluetooth 1.1 spec and the use/development of profiles. However, the recent release of cores based on preliminary Bluetooth 1.2 and speculation on the abilities of Bluetooth 2.0, means that far-sighted developers should not stand still in approaching Bluetooth optimisations. This article explains the features on a broad level of Bluetooth 1.2 and examines the reports on Bluetooth 2.0.  more...

• Bluetooth Additional Profiles - Overview (12/02)
  The Bluetooth SIG is releasing 12 new profiles. In conjunction with this, palowireless has also published on-line new tutorials to these profiles. However, with the proliferation of profiles and acronyms it is sometimes hard to see what these profiles are designed to do. As an entry-level introduction, this article gives a brief outline of these new profiles and what roles they will allow Bluetooth units to fill.  more...

• Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11b **
  Although aimed at different markets and roles, there has long been speculation about the effects 802.11b and Bluetooth have on each other, not just technical interference, but also whether they are in competition with each other commercially. Often these are simplistic press reports attempting to compare the two and seeking to decide a winner. This article however explains the similarities and differences between Bluetooth & 802.11b on a broad level and tries to show that there is no serious competition between the two. In fact both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and both technologies can complement each other... more...
  

• Bluetooth Mobility & Roaming **
  Two major current limitations of Bluetooth are: that communication between devices must be direct; and secondly that they do not support the movement of an active terminal from one network interface device to another. This article briefly examines several theoretical ways in which these interpiconet issues could be handled and developed.... more...

• Bluetooth Security - Part 1 **
  Nothing has caused more concern and confusion in Bluetooth than the nature of Bluetooth security implementation. From those who insist that its security is a disaster area, prey to any half-capable opportunist, to the contrary view that’s its security is second to none...  more...

• Bluetooth Security - Part 2 **
  Last month we examined the lower level of Bluetooth security (Link Level security). This month we look at the Security Mode 2 ( the service level enforced security ) and a possible implementation of it. We also evaluate the overall merits/drawbacks of Bluetooth in the security arena....  more...

• Bluetooth Security - Part 3 **
  As shown in parts 1 & 2 of this article, Bluetooth has a comprehensive set of security features, at both upper and lower levels. However for all of it's security features, Bluetooth does have some security issues.....  more...

Contributed Articles

• Ericsson Scatternet - Part 1 Baseband vs. Host Stack Implementation (6/04, 419Kb, PDF) When two or more independent, non-synchronized Bluetooth piconets overlap, a scatternet is formed in a seamless, ad-hoc fashion allowing inter-piconet communication. While Bluetooth stipulates the use of time-division multiplexing for enabling concurrent participation by a device in multiple piconets, it leaves the choice of actual mechanisms and algorithms for achieving this functionality open to developers. Some implementation proposals suggest that the host stack handle the complex inter-piconet communication of a scatternet...

• Northstream Bluetooth Opportunities and Threats from a Market Perspective (9/01) (34Kb, PDF) Usage models, The business case of short-range networks, The business case of short-range networks and Coexistence.
   
• MindBranch Bluetooth: Value Adds and Opportunities (8/01) (431Kb, PDF) Uses of Bluetooth Technology, Competing Bluetooth Technologies, Devices: What does the future hold? Are Lap-Tops Leading the Way? Applications: How much influence do they really have? Equipment: How will Bluetooth effect equipment forecasts? Bluetooth Opportunities, The Value of Bluetooth.
   
• Marcin Michalak Multimedia Transmission in Bluetooth-based Networks (6/01) (1143Kb, PDF) Includes: - short description of Bluetooth and multimedia transmission technologies, - creation of the testing environment, - performance tests and results of MPEG-1, MPEG-4 (QuickTime) and RealVideo transmissions.

SoftTooth Bluetooth Overview

By Manoj Gupta and SoftTooth.

A concise introduction to Bluetooth from the Bluetooth architecture, radio and baseband to a detailed look at connection establishment.  more... **

• Introduction **
  Smart appliances, Bluetooth SIG, The piconet kingdom, Bluetooth architecture and operation.
   
• Bluetooth Radio **
  Radio architecture, Bluetooth Radio Modem IC, Bluetooth Controller IC, Radio bands and channels, Transmitter and Receiver requirements.
   
• Bluetooth Baseband **
  ACL and SCO links, Logical Channels, Bluetooth Addressing, Bluetooth packets, Error correction, Flow control and synchronization, Controller States.
   
• Link manager and controller **
  Authentication and Encryption Management, Information Exchange and Request, Mode management and SCO connections.
   
• Higher layer adaptation ** 
  Connection Identifiers, Protocol Multiplexing, Segmentation and Reassembly, L2CAP Events and Actions, Signalling command codes.
   
• Connecting Bluetooth Devices **
  A detailed look at connection establishment.
   
• FAQ **
  Answers to some commonly-asked questions about Bluetooth.

• Arca WaveCatcher & WaveMaker
• Catalyst BTAE
• CATC Merlin
• CATC Merlin Mobile
• CATC BTTracer/Trainer (NEW!)
• CETECOM BITE
• Frontline Test Equipment SerialBlue and FTS for Bluetooth
• IVT BlueTester / BlueAnalyzer
• Mobiwave / Yokogawa BPA-D10
• Rohde & Schwarz PTW 60
• Tektronix BPA100
• Yokogawa BX1000

More Bluetooth Information

• Don't forget to take a look at our Bluetooth Tutorial and FAQ!