Before moving on to the question of what Bluetooth is and how to turn it on, consider why you need Bluetooth. As you know, computers and laptops are constantly surrounded by various wires.
The system unit already, as they say, by definition assumes that it is necessary to connect a keyboard, mouse, monitor to it.
Laptops have a built-in keyboard and a built-in mouse (), but still, many laptop users prefer to use the usual mouse, rather than the built-in touchpad, and therefore the wire for connecting the mouse to the laptop appears again. Also, laptops are often connected to, which is larger in size and has a better resolution.
And then: we connect a printer, speakers, wired Internet, a mobile gadget (smartphone, iPod, iPhone, etc.), a laptop power supply to the computer with wires, and so on. As a result, the computer (laptop) turns into a kind of center of attraction for wires, which, among other things, like to intertwine with each other, interfere with each other, serve as a good dust collector, etc.
From the very beginning, computer designers have sought to reduce the number of wires or to eliminate them altogether. For example, the Internet can be transmitted to a computer using a radio signal - from here Wi-Fi appeared and continues to develop and improve.
Now it has become customary to connect from a computer or mobile to the Internet via Wi-Fi without any wires, and no longer depend on the wire, its length, the availability of the socket for wired Internet, etc.
The developers of the "apple technology" generally set themselves the task of completely getting rid of wires. And there are already operating options for chargers for Apple gadgets, which allow you to charge the battery without connecting the gadget with wires to the charger. It is enough to put the gadget on a special platform (which, to be honest, can still be connected with a wire to the 220V electrical network), and without any wires and connections, the gadget's battery will receive the necessary energy to charge the battery.
What is Bluetooth and Comparison with WiFi
Internet access, charger access, wireless mice and keyboards are only a partial solution to the problem of "extra" wires. There are many wires, and I would like to get rid of them.
In this sense, a good solution is the BlueTooth technology (Bluetooth or Bluetooth), which appeared (in theory) back in 1994, which made it possible to transmit data over a radio channel between various electronic devices, for example, between a computer (or laptop) and a mouse, keyboard, headphones, gadgets, etc. With a small radius of action (up to 10 meters), it is good, for example, to use it in an indoor or intra-office space.
Many people have a question, comparing BlueTooth with Wi-Fi, what is the difference between them, and why you need Bluetooth if you have Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is also a technology for transmitting information over the radio, and at the same time computers and gadgets using Wi-Fi are able to connect to an Internet access point.
And the BlueTooth technology allows you to connect devices with each other not only for the purpose of accessing the Internet, but also for the purpose of exchanging data with each other, in order to access “other people's” resources. For example, in this way, you can connect from a gadget to PC sound speakers so that the music sounds, as they say, in full force and with good quality.
It turns out, if we compare Wi-Fi and BlueTooth, then Wi-Fi is more powerful than Bluetooth and operates over long distances, but Bluetooth is more versatile than Wi-Fi. Although over time and with the development of both technologies, these differences are gradually disappearing.
Wi-Fi can be compared to an invisible wire that connects a computer, laptop, or mobile gadget via the radio to an Internet access point.
It can be a Wi-Fi router in an apartment, it can be a smartphone that distributes the Internet, it can be a laptop that distributes the Internet, etc.
And BlueTooth is like an invisible wire that connects any electronic device to any other electronic device via radio.
Examples of using Bluetooth
If, for example, a laptop is connected to a mouse via BlueTooth, then the mouse moves the pointer on the laptop screen, but there is no wire between the laptop and the mouse, instead of a wire, a radio channel works.
If the headphones are connected to the smartphone via BlueTooth, then you can hear music or a conversation on the phone in the headphones, but there is no wire between the headphones and the smartphone, it is replaced by a radio signal. There are many similar examples of the application of BlueTooth technology, this technology is currently being actively developed.
So, mobile and stationary electronic equipment received the ability to wirelessly connect. Communication cables are not needed. By setting up the Bluetooth receiver and transmitter, personal computer (PC) users were the first to appreciate the convenience of the new technology.
When connecting electronic devices using BlueTooth technology, a radio communication channel operates with a variable high frequency. A mobile phone or any peripheral device on a computer exchanges any type of information.
Using the headset of a mobile phone with Bluetooth technology, you can talk on it, being with the headset at a distance of a meter or more from the mobile phone. Motorists immediately took advantage of this. Having received a call or wanting to talk, they turn on the button on the car panel, switch to speakerphone without holding the phone in their hand. This not only does not interfere with driving, but generally becomes the rule of driving a car. Free Hand technology ("free hand" or "free hands") thanks to the use of BlueTooth is becoming a rule of good manners at the wheel of a car.
From the history of Bluetooth
With Bluetooth, not everything worked out well right away. With the introduction of the BlueTooth 1.0 standard in electronic equipment (1998), the connection turned out to be unstable and unsecured. In addition, different devices did not fit well with each other.
But already adopted in 2004, version 2.0 allowed data transfer from device to device at a speed of 2.1 Mbit / s. (recall that it was 1.6 at first). In addition, electronics began to consume less electricity.
In the third version of Bluetooth technology, the data transfer rate has increased to 24 Mbps. And the BlueTooth 4.0 technology, developed in 2010, had a range of up to hundreds of meters and was intended for miniature electronics. For this, the signal transmitter was turned on only during data transmission, saving battery power.
Soon, high-speed BlueTooth with Wi-Fi technology appeared (as noted above, BlueTooth and Wi-Fi technologies are gradually converging), the transmission frequency increased to 2.48 GHz, and the radiation power dropped to 0.0025 W.
The version of BlueTooth 5.0 has already been presented, featuring a wider bandwidth and the ability to connect up to 8 electronic devices to one module.
The Bluetooth technology was called "bluetooth" (this is how the word "bluetooth" is translated into Russian) after the nickname of the Danish king - Harald Blue-tooth, who united different tribes into one kingdom a thousand years ago.
It was created by the Swedish company Ericsson, intending to replace the RS-232 interface, created back in the days when there was no talk of personal computers, and no one then expected such a rapid development of computer technology. As you can see, we managed to do this.
Bluetooth technology has many different profiles, one of which even supports H.263 (HDTV standard) video transmission. That is, the technology has reached speeds at which it is possible to transmit video information, which already means that this technology can be used almost everywhere where electronics work, for example, for transmitting data from video cameras, etc.
Bluetooth official site
The official website of Bluetooth is in English, but now the browsers Google Chrome, Yandex Browser, etc. have built-in translators into Russian, so you can catch the meaning.
How to connect a laptop via Bluetooth
To establish a BlueTooth connection between two devices, you first need to enable BlueTooth technology on both devices.
As an example, we will show how this is done when establishing a connection between a Samsung laptop with Windows 8 and a Samsung smartphone.
On a laptop (Windows 8 operating system), this is done by changing the PC parameters:
- the "Options" button on,
- then click on the inscription "Change computer parameters",
- open the "Wireless" tab (number 1 in Fig. 1),
- now you need to move the slider (switch) "Bluetooth" to the right (number 2 in Fig. 1).
Rice. 1. How to enable Bluetooth on Windows 8
Bluetooth on Android phone
On a laptop with Windows 8, Bluetooth was turned on. Now turn it on on your smartphone under.
You can connect Android via Bluetooth in the "Settings" window, the "Bluetooth" button.
In the window that opens, move the Bluetooth technology enable slider (number 1 in Fig. 2):
Rice. 2. Enabling Bluetooth on Android Phone
You need to wait a little after turning on Bluetooth on Android, while the inscription "Turning on Bluetooth ..." is displayed (Fig. 2).
Then information about the smartphone itself will appear in the "My device" section, and below devices available via Bluetooth will appear in the “Available devices” section of the same name (Fig. 3).
Rice. 3. Bluetooth on Android: turn on visibility for other devices
In fig. 3, you can see that in the "Available Devices" section there is no Samsung laptop to which you need to connect, although Bluetooth is already enabled on the laptop. To see this laptop and connect to the laptop, you need to put a check mark next to the inscription "Click to turn on visibility for other devices" (number 1 in Fig. 3).
After checking the box, in fact, the connection between the smartphone and the laptop will begin. The system takes 2 minutes for this. The time counter stands after the inscription "We see proximity to all Bluetooth devices" (number 1 in Fig. 4 - 1:57). For the allotted period of time, you need to make a connection.
Rice. 4. Start connecting the smartphone to the laptop via Bluetooth
During the connection, an access key will be generated, which will be displayed on the screens of both connected devices: on a laptop and on a smartphone.
Confirmation of the access key on the smartphone consists in pressing "YES" on the "Request for Bluetooth connection" banner (number 1 in Fig. 5).
Rice. 5. Confirmation of the Bluetooth access key on Android
The laptop will also display an access code identical to the code that will be visible on the smartphone screen. To do this, you must first select a smartphone on a laptop with Windows 8 among other devices by clicking on its shortcut (number 1 in Fig. 6):
Rice. 6. On a laptop, choose a smartphone among the devices visible using Bluetooth technology
Then you should confirm the identity of the codes visible on the screens of the smartphone and laptop (number 1 in Fig. 7 - the "Yes" button):
Rice. 7. Confirmation of the access key via Bluetooth on a laptop
Having done everything right, we will see:
- on the smartphone (phone) screen - information that the Android phone is connected to the laptop (number 1 in Fig. 8 - SAMSUNG-PC is authorized):
Rice. 8. Confirmation on the phone screen about connecting the Android phone to the laptop via Bluetooth
- and on the laptop screen we will see the connection of the laptop to the smartphone (number 1 in Fig. 9 - Nadezhda (Galaxy Grand)):
Rice. 9. Confirmation on the laptop screen that the Android smartphone is connected via Bluetooth to a laptop with Windows 8
It should be noted that when the smartphone is connected to the laptop for the first time, there may be a delay due to the need to install the appropriate ones in the laptop (Fig. 10):
Rice. 10. Automatic installation of drivers when you first connect your smartphone to a laptop via Bluetooth
After connecting a smartphone to a laptop using Bluetooth technology, it becomes visible, for example, as an external data drive, from which, say, you can then download all the screenshots that were taken on it during the writing of this article.
How to download data from a smartphone to a laptop or PC via a wire, without the Internet is another story that has been described.
How to turn off Bluetooth
Bluetooth turns off in the same way as it turns on, that is, exit through the same door as the entrance.
To disable Bluetooth on an Android smartphone, uncheck the box next to the Bluetooth option (1 in Fig. 2).
To turn off Bluetooth on a laptop with Windwos 8, move the "Bluetooth" slider (switch) to the left (number 2 in Fig. 1).
About Bluetooth security
For security, you should not use BlueTooth technology unnecessarily, since unauthorized access to a PC, laptop or gadget is possible.
For example, connecting BlueTooth somewhere in a public place where there are many people, you can see many devices that are available through Bluetooth, belonging to strangers. Another thing is that not every user can connect, for example, to someone else's mobile phone or laptop. But this applies to ordinary honest and decent people.
If an attacker interferes with the process, wishing to intercept the transmitted information, then he will do everything possible to then use it for his own purposes.
For example, having received a PIN-code, which was inadvertently recorded, say, in a stranger's smartphone, such a “hacker” gains access to listening to the conversation, to the data of the mobile phone, or even to someone else's bank cards.
Therefore, for the transmission of data via BlueTooth over long distances, a special narrow-beam antenna has been developed. But ordinary users do not have this equipment, so their mobile devices are at risk. Accordingly, if there is no need to use Bluetooth on a mobile device, you must disable BlueTooth on this device.
This is the main rule of working with Bluetooth technologies:
you need to turn off Bluetooth if you don't need it.
Here we, perhaps, will put an end to the description of one of the examples of the use of Bluetooth technology. Although it is very strange, because there are many options for connecting devices using Bluetooth technology.
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Bluetooth enables the exchange of information between devices such as personal computers (desktops, pocket PCs, laptops), mobile phones, printers, digital cameras, mice, keyboards, joysticks, headphones, headsets on a reliable, inexpensive, ubiquitous radio frequency for short-range communication.
Bluetooth allows these devices to communicate at a distance of 1 to 100 meters from each other (range is highly dependent on obstacles and interference), even in different rooms.
Origin of the Bluetooth name
The word Bluetooth is the English translation of the Danish word "Blåtand". This nickname was borne by King Harald I, who ruled Denmark and part of Norway in the 10th century and united the warring Danish tribes into a single kingdom. The implication is that Bluetooth does the same with communication protocols, combining them into one universal standard.
Where did it beginBluetooth?
The first concept of Bluetooth technology appeared in the small Swedish town of Lunde, in 1994, where Ericsson decided to erect a new stone (a kind of ritual) there in memory of the great man. The inscription on this monument reads (in the original - in Old Norse): "Ericsson Mobile Communications AB installed this stone in honor of Harald Bluetooth, who gave his name to the new wireless technology for mobile communications."
Then, in early 1998, five large companies - Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Intel, and Toshiba - teamed up to begin work on a new wireless technology called Bluetooth. On May 20 of the same year, a Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed to further promote the new technology in the telecommunications market. Any company that plans to develop Bluetooth devices can join this group for free. Currently, SIG includes more than three thousand companies, among which there are both old representatives who gave rise to the development of this standard, and new ones - for example, such giants as Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, etc.
Fundamentals of Bluetooth technology
Bluetooth is, as mentioned above, a modern technology for wireless data transmission that allows you to connect almost any device with each other. You can connect anything that connects, that is, has a built-in Bluetooth microchip. The technology is standardized, therefore, there should be no problem of incompatibility of devices from competing firms.
Bluetooth is a small chip (Figure 1) that is a high frequency (2.4 - 2.48 GHz) transceiver.
Rice. 1 ChipBluetooth
Power consumption (transmitter power) should not exceed 10 mW. Initially, the technology assumed the possibility of communication at a distance of no more than 10 meters. Today, some firms offer Bluetooth chips that can communicate up to 100 meters away. As a radio technology, Bluetooth is able to "avoid" obstacles, so the connected devices may be out of line of sight. The connection occurs automatically as soon as Bluetooth devices are within reach, not only on a point-to-point basis (two devices), but also on a point-to-multipoint basis (one device works with several others).
Rice. 2Bluetooth-chip and match nearby
The Bluetooth chip has been implemented taking into account all modern trends. The chip size (Fig. 2) is less than one square centimeter. The applied frequency allows limiting the power consumption to 1mW. These characteristics allow Bluetooth chips to be integrated into devices such as mobile phones and PDAs.
How Bluetooth works
Bluetooth technology assumes two types of communication: synchronous - SCO (Synchronous Connection Oriented) and asynchronous - ACL (Asynchronous Connectionless). The first type, SCO, is designed to establish a symmetric point-to-point connection and is primarily used for the transmission of voice messages. SCO baud rate is 64 Kit / s. The second, ACL, is for packet data transmission. It supports balanced and asymmetrical point-to-multipoint connections. The packet data transfer rate for ACL is about 721 Kbps. Data packets are in a fixed format. At the beginning of the block there is a 72-bit access code. It can be used, in particular, to synchronize devices. It is followed by a 54-bit packet header containing the checksum of the packet and information about its parameters (for example, about retransmission of the data block). Closes the packet with the area directly containing the information being forwarded. The size of this area ranges from 0 to 2745 bits.
The fundamental design principle of Bluetooth systems is the use of the Frequency Hop Spread Spectrum (FHSS) method. The entire frequency range 2.402-2.480 GHz allocated for Bluetooth radio communication is divided into N frequency channels. The bandwidth of each channel is 1 MHz, the channel spacing is 140-175 kHz. Frequency Shift Keying is used to encode the packet information.
For the USA and Europe N = 79. The exception is Spain and France, where 23 frequency channels are used for Bluetooth. Changing channels is performed according to a pseudo-random law 1600 times per second. Constant frequency rotation allows the Bluetooth radio interface to broadcast information over the entire ISM band and avoid interference from devices operating in the same band. If this channel is noisy, then the system will switch to another, and this will continue until a channel that is free from interference is found.
Rice. 3. Frequency-time diagram of the Bluetooth modules
In fig. 3 shows a time-frequency plane illustrating the simultaneous operation of three Bluetooth modules. Modules operate in cycles (slots), duration 625 μs. Within each cycle, each module is assigned a corresponding frequency channel and transmission or reception mode.
When a pair of any Bluetooth devices are connected, they form a piconet (Fig. 4).
One of them, which acts as a master, generates frequency synchronization and frequency change signals. Usually the master is the one that is located in the most powerful device, such as a personal computer. All other devices are slaves.
Rice. 4 Piconet
The piconet is a fundamental form of communication in Bluetooth technology. A piconet can contain up to 7 active slaves. In addition, in the vicinity (zone of good reception) of the master there may be inactive slaves, which are also synchronized to the common clock and the general frequency hopping sequence, but cannot exchange data until the master activates them. If there are more than 8 devices in the network, then a second piconet will be formed, and so on. Several (up to 10) independent and even non-synchronized piconets, between which the exchange of information is possible, can be combined into a so-called large Scatternel network. To do this, each pair of piconets must have at least one common device, which will be the master in one and slave in the other. Thus, a maximum of 71 devices can be connected at the same time within a single Scatternet.
Bluetooth architecture block diagram
Rice. 5 Bluetooth architecture
An important part of the architecture (Fig. 5) is the Host to Controller interface (HCI), which provides interaction between the Host software subsystem and the Controller hardware subsystem. All interaction of the upper levels of the Bluetooth system with its hardware occurs through HCI commands initiated by the driver.
The main blocks of architecture:
RF
The Radio block is engaged in converting the bit sequence into radio signals. Modulation, spectral characteristics, and the physics of bit rate assurance processes are all addressed at the lower level of the model.
Baseband Layer = Link Controller + Baseband Manager + Device Manager
The baseband layer is presented in the form of three blocks, the joint task of which is to manage the physical channels on top of which the physical connections are established. Bluetooth addressing, synchronizing device generators, managing access codes to physical channels, searching for devices and establishing a physical channel between them are all Baseband-level tasks.
Link Manager
After the two lower levels have provided us with a physical connection between devices, it becomes a matter of organizing logical channels, which will later become the basis for transmitting application traffic. The Link Manager is responsible for establishing, modifying and releasing logical connections between devices, as well as updating the parameters of physical connections. For these purposes, Link Manager uses the Link Management Protocol (LMP).
L2CAP Layer= Channel Manager + L2CAP Resource Manager
This is a high-level Bluetooth Host block, occupied by the L2CAP layer. Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol (L2CAP) is a protocol that works on top of the created logical connections, providing segmentation and recovery of packet data from all upstream applications.
Skachkov Maxim Konstantinovich
Do you want to know what Bluetooth (Bluetooth) is and how to use it, for example, in your phone, to finally get rid of wires? Then study our article, because in it you will learn everything about how Bluetooth works.
Bluetooth is a wireless personal data network that is used to pair devices equipped with special modules.
By and large, everyone who is at least a little familiar and uses computers, smartphones and tablets knows about Bluetooth. This technology of data transmission over the air is one of the most widespread and appeared a long time ago, so the question of what it is is forgiven only for dummies who have not heard of Bluetooth at all, or, as many call it, Bluetooth.
How to use Bluetooth?
It is mainly used to transfer certain data from one device to another, but this is far from the only area of application. You can control devices from a distance without annoying wires, connect several devices at a fairly large distance (up to 100 meters). This is especially impressive when compared to IR technology.
Remember how less than 10 years ago we had to hold the phones close to each other in order to simply transmit the picture or melody we liked via the infrared port, and the process was interrupted at the slightest stirring of one of the devices. Fortunately, technologies are advancing by leaps and bounds, the main thing is to keep up with them in time and always be aware of new products, because they make our life more interesting and comfortable.
Wireless connection of devices is really very convenient! So, for example, you can connect a keyboard, speakers and a mouse to your computer, thereby leaving no chance for your pets to damage the wires and disable the newly purchased equipment. And all this is due to the fact that there are simply no wires. Great, isn't it?
- Almost all modern laptops are already equipped with built-in Bluetooth support.
- And for a PC, you can always, if you wish, buy a special adapter plugged into the USB port.
- In addition to a computer, the option can be found in phones, headphones or mini-headsets, tablets, cameras, smart watches and many other places, because the imagination of manufacturers is really limitless!
But nevertheless, the technology was most widespread precisely in smartphones, so we will dwell in more detail on that how to use Bluetooth on your phone.Let's start with what Bluetooth is needed in the phone and why it is added to almost all modern devices.
In fact, everything is very simple - the technology is designed for data exchange, which means that you can transfer the files you need from your phone to almost any device. This can be a second smartphone, headphones, laptop, mini-speaker, etc. The only exceptions are iPhones - this option is not available to their owners. To activate the function you need:
- Click the appropriate icon in the drop-down menu.
- Or go to the device settings.
The algorithm of connection actions will depend on the device on which you want to use the option. We will not describe them now, because there are too many such devices. But fortunately, there are separate articles about many of them on our site.
How does Bluetooth work?
To understand how Bluetooth (Bluetooth) works and what it is, it is worth going back to where we started our article - the definition.
So, this is a wireless communication standard that provides information transfer between various devices: phones, computers, computer peripherals, watches, household appliances and other devices.
Now let's look at the principle of operation of Bluetooth (Bluetooth):
- data transmission is based on radio waves;
- when transmitting, a single ISM band is used, which was adopted as a basis by the general decision of the union of companies;
- sending and receiving digital information can be carried out both between two devices and from one to several devices.
Bluetooth range and transmission rate
As for the question of how far Bluetooth works and catches, according to the latest data from Wikipedia, its coverage is very extensive - the range can reach 100 meters. At the time of 2019, the wireless interface even allows you to send files to users who are in a different room. That is, by turning on the function, you can easily file or image a friend who lives in a neighboring house.
It is worth noting that devices with the first versions at low speeds had difficulty communicating within the same room or even controlling devices. But fortunately, now everything has changed.
As for the Bluetooth baud rate, it will depend on the version you are using:
- 1.0 - up to 1 Mb / s
- 2.0 - about 3 Mb / s
- 3.0 - up to 24 Mb / s for large packages
- 4.0 - up to 24 Mb / s, and the speed increased to 1 Mb / s in devices with a packet size of 8-27 bytes).
- For version 5.0 it is about 100 Mb / s
As you can see, the data transfer rate has grown significantly during the existence of the technology, because the first versions could transfer files at a speed of up to a maximum of 1 MB per second. At the time of 2019, the latest is the fifth version of the standard - Bluetooth 5.0, which has been operating since 2016. It transmits information at speeds up to 100 MB per second, which is really impressive.
By the way, all versions are compatible with each other. The only difference will be in the communication range and data transmission speed. The developers are not going to stop at the achieved speeds and capabilities, despite the fact that the wireless network of this standard is actively trying to oust competitive developments from the market.
Compared to the data transfer speed of Wi-Fi, this indicator, even in the latest version, is certainly not very impressive. By the way, what is the general difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi? This is exactly what we'll talk about in the next section!
The difference between Bluetooth and Wi Fi
For the sake of interest, we specially conducted a mini-survey among our friends, and the results were surprising! Many do not know what exactly is the difference between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, moreover, some even thought that these are just the names of one wireless communication standard. But they are wrong, there is a difference between them, and it is huge.
For clarity, we have collected all the characteristics of both technologies in a comparative table.
| Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | |
| Scope of application | The main goal is to free users from wires when using | It was invented in order to transfer data between 2 devices - be it, for example, 2 computers, as well as phones and any other equipment. |
| Radius of action | Line of sight about 300 meters | Can reach a maximum of 100 meters. In one room it is usually about 10 meters. |
| Dfrequency range | 2.4 GHz to 5 MHz | 2.4-2.4835 GHz |
| Standard | IEEE 802.11 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Connection, installation and configuration | For this network, be sure to install a modem or router. | Bluetooth devices do not need extra. setting up or installing equipment. You just need to select a compatible device to which you want to transfer data. |
| Network type | WLAN - it can have a large number of devices, it is possible to create a local network. | You can create only a network limited by two devices (PAN - personal area network) |
| Baud rate | up to 500 Mbps | up to 12 Mbps |
But there are also similarities. So. for example, both technologies use specific radio frequencies to transmit data and are wireless communication standards. And they are confused because the simplest actions, for example, transferring photos from a phone to a computer, can be done using both options. It is impossible to say which is better to use - Bluetooth or Wi-Fi without knowing the specific situation, because both of these technologies are good in their own way and are used for different purposes.
By the way, Ericsson was first engaged in the creation of this technology back in 1994. The general distribution of Bluetooth began to receive in 1998, when a special group of companies was created, which included Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba, which were jointly engaged in the development.
What does Bluetooth look like and where is it?
Bluetooth literally translated from English consists of two words - blue and tooth. Translated from Danish, this combination means blue-toothed (in honor of the Viking king from Denmark).
The decoding of the technology icon is quite curious. The emblem bears two Scandinavian runes aligned together. The color scheme of the logo is also fully consistent with the name.
Yes, we are absolutely serious, some modern refrigerators really have this option - it helps: track the freshness of products, order them from the store, change the temperature remotely, perform automatic diagnostics for problems, access the Internet and even social services. networks. It seems the future has already arrived.
Is Bluetooth harmful to human health?
The question of whether Bluetooth is harmful to human health is very relevant, because every day the technology is being introduced into our lives more and more. It is added to a huge amount of technology, making our life more convenient and interesting.
Yes, the radiation from bluetooth has an effect on health, but it is so insignificant that it cannot do much harm, there is nothing to be afraid of. However, doctors say that with regular use, there is still harm from Bluetooth - headaches or irritability may occur.
In general, the convenience is many times greater than the minimum harm that the use of, for example, the same bluetooth headset has on the body, without which people at the wheel cannot imagine life, who liked the Hands Free technology, because on a regular phone, motorists while driving, you will not be able to talk. Therefore, just follow the measure when using, and everything will be fine!
What device do you most often use Bluetooth on?
The Bluetooth interface has become quite widespread today in various types of devices, in particular, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and others. Of course, users are not immune to a variety of problems. Most often, it is easy to understand the causes of problems, it is enough to be familiar with the basic principles of the operation of the specified interface. "Bluetooth" - what is it? How do I use it?
Technology features
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless interface developed in 1994 by engineers at Ericsson in Sweden. In 1998, a number of companies created a special organization Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), which is still working in the development, promotion and implementation of this technology. At the moment, the number of companies that have become members of the association has exceeded 13 thousand.
The main advantage of this technology is that the Bluetooth connection does not require large resources in terms of power consumption, and the cost of transceivers is relatively low compared to other wireless transmission technologies. All this makes it possible to use such a technical solution even in small-sized devices with miniature batteries. For the use of the described interface, equipment manufacturers are not obliged to pay anything to the creators of the technology. This fact played an important role in such a widespread use of this interface in a variety of devices.
What is it for?
We briefly examined what "Bluetooth" is. It is already clear that this is a useful thing. And how to use it, you still need to figure it out. The main purpose of this technology is to create personal networks that provide opportunities for the exchange of data between nearby gadgets. These can be laptops, desktops, mobile and peripheral devices, and much more belonging to this category.
Application
For various purposes, you can use "Bluetooth". We have already learned that this is a device that allows you to combine several devices into a network. But how does the connection take place? In the case of two gadgets, the connection is carried out according to the point-to-point scheme, and in the case of a large number of devices, this will already be the point-to-multipoint scheme. Regardless of the scheme used, the master and slaves are allocated.
The master sets the template used by all slaves, and is also tasked with synchronizing all devices. Through this connection, a piconet is formed. Within one such solution, it is allowed to combine one master and seven slaves. In addition, it is possible to add several more devices to the piconet, which will be slaves, but only in the status of temporarily blocked. They do not take part in the information exchange, but they are synchronized with the presenter using the Bluetooth interface. What this is, it becomes clear if you imagine how data from one source comes to everyone else in real time. It is convenient and opens up a lot of possibilities for organizing work.
Maximum number of devices
Another interface level is the combination of several piconets into a single distribution network. To do this, a device that is a slave in one piconet takes over the tasks of a master in another. In this case, the feature is that piconets belonging to the same distribution network use different templates and are not synchronized with each other. One distribution network cannot include more than 10 piconets. It turns out that by organizing a distribution network that includes Bluetooth devices, it is possible to combine up to 71 devices in total.
Data transmission features
A radio channel of 2.4-2.4835 GHz is used for this, supplemented by the method of pseudo-random tuning of the operating frequency. The specified range is divided into 79 channels, for each of which a 1 MHz bandwidth is allocated. The upper and lower part of the range contains unused bands that are considered to be guardians. Data transmission is carried out using Gaussian phase modulation, which implies a time variation of the carrier frequency with a Gaussian curve, and this significantly limits the spectrum of the emitted signal.
"Bluetooth" -adapter exchanges data within time intervals, the length of which is 625 μs. The transmission of each slot ends with a transition to a new frequency channel. The data link layer assumes that data is exchanged in packets, each of which is one to five slots in length. A certain part of them can be reserved for synchronous channels intended for broadcasting streaming data. It turns out that the transfer can be carried out not only with synchronous data, but also with asynchronous data.
The specification of the Bluetooth device provides for the possibility of using two types of communication: synchronous with the establishment of a connection, and also asynchronous, in which the connection is not established. The use of the first option is relevant when creating point-to-point channels between master and slave devices. The purpose of the second is to organize a point-to-multipoint interface between the piconet master and all slaves.
Bluetooth device classes
There are three classes of transceivers depending on the power and efficiency of the range of the "Bluetooth" adapter. The most common option, relevant for use in most computers and mobile devices produced by modern industry, is the second class transceivers. Medical equipment is equipped with low-power class 3 transmitters, and the most long-range modules belonging to class 1 are used in control and monitoring systems of industrial equipment.
Customization features
If you want to install and then use it to pair with any devices, then you should be guided by the features of its settings. Using this technology, you can use short-range radio waves to connect to wireless networks, as well as gain access to peripheral devices that are compatible with the technology version: a printer, a mouse, a mobile phone, as well as other computers and communicators.
Since we are talking about a wireless connection, that is, carried out by means of radio waves, then any peripheral device can be moved in space, while communication will not be lost if it does not leave the "visibility" zone. If you want to connect "Bluetooth" to a computer, you should know that this is done automatically when the device enters the range of the transmitter. It is enough to make all the necessary settings only once. In most laptop models, the transmitters are built-in initially, you just need to configure them correctly so that later everything will work without interruption.
Setting up a Bluetooth device for Windows
To carry out this operation, you need to perform very specific actions. First you need to make sure that the laptop has this adapter. After that, you need to download all the necessary drivers. After activating the driver installer and starting the add device wizard, everything will be detected automatically.
When the device is found, it will need to be added. If the system is unable to locate it, make sure the device is fully charged and powered, turned on and within range. Information about the range of any device can be found in the accompanying documentation. After the detailed check of the component is completed, you need to restart the Add Devices Wizard.
Problems that may arise
If you are puzzled about how to enable "Bluetooth", then you can pay attention that in the absence of the component itself on the laptop taskbar, the corresponding icon may be present. It must be hidden. To do this, click on the icon, and then on the item "Configure".
When Bluetooth devices are turned on, the display shows a list of all paired devices that are available in the operating range. Moreover, each, as mentioned earlier, has its own range, which must be taken into account when pairing.
Features of work
All the latest models of phones, tablets and laptops receive a "Bluetooth" module as a mandatory component, the presence of which is confirmed by a logo icon on the screen or the body of the device. When the connection is established, the corresponding logo will appear on the screen, and the exchange of data is accompanied by additional indications. Manufacturers are now embedding Bluetooth devices on tablets, phones and computers.
In addition to mobile devices, this technology is applicable to desktop computers to provide communication between mice, keyboards, digital cameras, scanners, printers, headphones and a variety of headsets. This equipment supports communication over a distance of up to 100 meters. Sometimes wireless support is possible even with devices located in different rooms.
Pairing different devices
If you use "Bluetooth" for a phone or other devices when connected to a PC, then you need to install a connector port on the computer, shaped like a regular USB flash drive. Drivers and necessary programs are usually supplied with the equipment, but if they are not there, then you can always use the help of the official website to get the necessary applications.
If we consider the device "Bluetooth" for the phone, then those who use this technology have become the most. With their help, you can talk on the phone even when your hands are busy: when playing sports, driving a car, etc. If you know how to turn on "Bluetooth" to activate the headset, you can always free your hands while you are talking by phone. The device itself can be in a bag or pocket at this time.
What is Bluetooth and what it is "eaten" with. Basics of technology and date of creation
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that uses short-wave microwave radio waves in the 2.4 to 2.485 GHz ISM range to exchange data between stationary and mobile devices and build Personal Area Network PANs.
The technology was created by telecommunications supplier Ericsson in 1994 and has entered everyday life so seriously that it became impossible to imagine life without it. Including car life. The new technology was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to the RS-232 interface of data cables. Various devices can be connected using Bluetooth, avoiding synchronization problems and without using unnecessary wires.
The Bluetooth specification was developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), which today has more than 25,000 members in the telecommunications, computing, networking and consumer electronics industries.
The ascent of Bluetooth began with an agreement with the IEEE, on the basis of which the Bluetooth specification became part of the IEEE 802.15.1 standard. During this time, a number of patents were obtained, which appeared in the process of developing the technology.
The mystery of the Bluetooth name
"Bluetooth" is not quite the correct Anglicized version of the Scandinavian Blåtand / Blåtann, (Old Norse blátǫnn), which is the nickname for King Harald Bluetooth, who lived in the 10th century. He managed to unite the warring Danish tribes into a single kingdom, according to legend, he also introduced Christianity. Following the example of Harald, who united nations, Bluetooth did the same with protocols, uniting them into a single universal standard.
And a little more about the name. The word "blå" in modern Scandinavian languages means "blue", but at the time of the Vikings, its second meaning also meant "black". Therefore, most likely Harald, of course, had a black front tooth, but not blue. And in translation, the Danish Harald Blåtand would be more correctly interpreted as Harald Blacktooth than Harald Bluetooth. Here is such a historical inaccuracy.
The idea for the name was proposed in 1997 by Jim Kardash, who developed a system that allowed mobile phones to "communicate" with computers. At the time of development, Jim was reading the Viking Ships historical novel by Frans Mr. Bengtsson, which featured the Vikings and King Harald Sinezub. Thus, the novel influenced the name.
The Bluetooth logo combines two Scandinavian runes, Haglaz and Berkana.
1998
Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is formed by five campaigns
Bluetooth SIG accepts its 400th member by the end of the year
Bluetooth name gets official status
1999
Bluetooth Specification 1.0 Released
Bluetooth at SIG organizes first UnPlugFest developer meeting
Bluetooth technology awarded as "Best of Show Technology Award" at COMDEX
2000
The first Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone hits the market
The first PC card appears
Laptop mouse prototype and showcased at CeBIT 2000
USB module prototype shown at COMDEX
First chip to integrate RF, baseband, microprocessor functions and Bluetooth wireless software
The first headset goes on sale
2001
First printer
First laptop
The first hands-free car kit
First hands-free with speech recognition
Bluetooth SIG, Inc. is formed as a non-profit, unincorporated company
2002
First set of keyboard and mouse
The first GPS receiver
The number of conditioned Bluetooth products was 500 units
IEEE approves 802.15.1 standard compliant with Bluetooth wireless technology
The first digital camera
Bluetooth implementation
Bluetooth operates on frequencies from 2400 to 2483.5 MHz (including a 2 MHz tolerance band at the bottom and 3.5 MHz at the top). Accordingly, as you can see, the principle of operation is based on the use of radio waves. Bluetooth radio communication is carried out in the ISM band used in various household appliances and wireless networks.
Bluetooth uses a radio technology called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum, FHSS. Bluetooth divides data into packets and transmits each packet over one of the designated 79 channels (operating frequencies). Each channel has a bandwidth of 1 MHz. Bluetooth 4.0 communication uses a 2 MHz interval that accommodates 40 channels. The first channel starts at 2402 MHz and continues up to 2480 MHz in 1 MHz steps. For Bluetooth, a frequency hopping spread spectrum method is used, the carrier frequency of the signal hops 1600 times per second.
The sequence of switching between frequencies for each connection is pseudo-random and is known only to the transmitter and receiver, which synchronously re-tune from one carrier frequency to another every 625 μs (one time slot). Thus, if several pairs of receiver-transmitter work nearby, they do not interfere with each other. This algorithm is also an integral part of the system for protecting the confidentiality of transmitted information: the transition occurs according to a pseudo-random algorithm and is determined separately for each connection.
Bluetooth versions
Bluetooth 1.0
The first version 1.0 devices had a number of problems. They had mediocre compatibility with third-party equipment. In 1.0 and 1.0B, the transmission of the device address (BD_ADDR) was mandatory at the stage of establishing a connection, which made it impossible to implement the anonymity of the connection at the protocol level and was the main drawback of the version.
Bluetooth 1.1
The very first update 1.1 fixed many bugs found in version 1.0B. Added: support for unencrypted feeds and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) power level indication.
Bluetooth 1.2
A subsequent update had improvements: Fast connection and detection. It has become immune to radio interference through the use of spread spectrum adaptive frequency hooking. Data transfer rates up to 1 Mbps. Enhanced Synchronous Connections (eSCO) was introduced, which improved the quality of voice transmission in the audio stream. The Host Controller Interface (HCI) adds support for the 3-wire UART interface. IEEE Standard 802.15.1-2005 was adopted as a standard.
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
EDR provides the following benefits: a 3x increase in transmission speed up to 2.1 Mbps, the ability to set up multiple connections due to the additional bandwidth. Reduced energy consumption due to reduced load.
Bluetooth 2.1
Added technology for extended query of device characteristics, energy-saving technology Sniff Subrating, which allows you to increase the duration of the device from a single battery charge by 3-10 times. The updated specification significantly simplifies and speeds up the establishment of communication between two devices, allows you to update the encryption key without breaking the connection
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
In August 2008, the Bluetooth SIG introduced version 2.1 + EDR. The new Bluetooth revision reduces power consumption by 5 times, improves data security and makes it easier to recognize and connect Bluetooth devices by reducing the number of steps it takes.
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
On April 21, 2009, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS appeared. The data transfer rate (theoretically) has increased to 24 Mbps. Feature was the addition of AMP (Alternate MAC / PHY), addition to 802.11 as high speed message. Two technologies were provided for AMP: 802.11 and UWB.
Bluetooth 4.0
Four years later, on June 30, 2010, the Bluetooth SIG approved the 4.0 specification. Bluetooth 4.0 included the following protocols: Classic Bluetooth, High Speed Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy.
Bluetooth 4.1
SIG introduced the Bluetooth 4.1 specification at the end of 2013. One of the improvements implemented in the Bluetooth 4.1 specification concerns the interoperability of Bluetooth and 4G LTE mobile communications. The standard provides protection against mutual interference by automatically coordinating the transmission of data packets.
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth 4.2 was introduced on December 2, 2014. The standard has been improved in its speed performance and information security.
Bluetooth 4.2 add the ability to directly connect to the Web. That is, devices with support for Bluetooth 4.2 will not only be able to directly interact with each other, but also connect to the Internet (thanks to the support of the IPv6 / 6LoWPAN protocol) through the appropriate access points. The key idea of the development of the standard is that using Bluetooth it was possible to connect any devices with each other.
In addition to secure and fast communication, Bluetooth 4.2 will also be more energy efficient, all this will shift the trend of recent months towards connecting to the network: more and more devices are starting to use Bluetooth for this, which, among other things, has a positive effect on the autonomy of work.
2003
First MP3 player with Bluetooth technology
Bluetooth version 1.2 adopted by Bluetooth SIG
Bluetooth product shipments rise to 1 million per week
First approved medical Bluetooth system
2004
SIG adopts Core Specification Version 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Bluetooth technology installed as standard on 250 million devices
Shipments exceeded 3 million units per week
The first stereo headphones
2005
Product shipments rose to 5 million chipsets per week
SIG welcomes its 4,000 member
SIG headquarters opened in Bellevue, Washington, with regional offices in Malmo, Sweden and Hong Kong
SIG launches Profile Testing Suite (PTS) v1.0, a fully in-house developed testing and type testing tool
2006
The first sunglasses
The first hours
The first digital photo frame to support Bluetooth
Bluetooth installed on 1 billion devices
Bluetooth device shipments reach 10 million per week
Profile Tuning Suite (PTS) Testing Becomes Mandatory Part Of Bluetooth Qualifying Products
SIG announces that it will integrate Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology with the WiMedia Alliance
2007
The first alarm clock radio
First TV
SIG welcomes 8,000 members
Bluetooth SIG CEO Michael Foley receives Telematics Leadership Award
PTS Protocol Viewer released as part of the recently published version 2.1.1 along with a significantly updated user interface
Most common Bluetooth profiles
To use Bluetooth wireless technology, devices must be able to interpret specific Bluetooth profiles that are specific to specific applications and indicate general behaviors so that Bluetooth-compatible devices can use them to communicate with other Bluetooth devices.
Profile - a set of functions or capabilities available for a specific Bluetooth device.
There are a wide variety of Bluetooth profiles that describe different types of applications or use cases for the device.
List of main profiles approved by Bluetooth SIG with a brief description and purpose:
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) designed for transferring music to a wireless headset or other devices.
Audio / Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) designed to control the standard functions of televisions, high-precision equipment. Allows you to create devices with remote control functions.
Basic Imaging Profile (BIP) designed for transferring images between devices. With this profile, it is possible to resize the image and convert it to a format supported by the receiving device.
Basic Printing Profile (BPP) with its help it is possible to send text, e-mail messages, vCard to the printer. The profile does not require drivers.
Common ISDN Access Profile (CIP) used for device access to an integrated services digital network, ISDN.
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP) supports wireless telephony.
Device ID Profile (DIP) helps to determine the class of the device, its manufacturer and product version.
Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN) the protocol provides standard access to the Internet or other telephone service via Bluetooth.
Fax Profile (FAX) provides an interface between a mobile or landline telephone and a personal computer on which faxing software is installed.
File Transfer Profile (FTP_profile) provides access to the file system of the device.
General Audio / Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP) base for A2DP and VDP.
Generic Access Profile (GAP) base for the rest of the profiles.
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP) base for other communication profiles, based on OBEX.
Hard Copy Cable Replacement Profile (HCRP) Replacing the cable connection between the device and the printer. The negative side of the profile, which makes it not universal, is the need to install drivers.
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
Human Interface Device Profile (HID) provides support for devices with HIDs, which include keyboards, mice, joysticks, etc. Distinctive feature - uses a slow channel, operates at reduced power.
Headset Profile (HSP) used to connect a wireless headset and a telephone.
Intercom Profile (ICP) provides voice calls between Bluetooth compatible devices.
LAN Access Profile (LAP) allows Bluetooth devices to access computer networks LAN, WAN or the Internet through another Bluetooth device that has a physical connection to these networks.
SIM Access Profile (SAP, SIM) allows you to access your phone's SIM card, which makes it possible to use one SIM card for multiple devices.
Synchronization Profile (SYNCH) allows you to synchronize personal data (PIM).
Video Distribution Profile (VDP) allows streaming video.
Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB) protocol for organizing P-to-P (Point-to-Point) connections via Bluetooth.
