16.5 Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a major initiative for low-cost, short-range wireless technology developed by the big leaders in the computing and telecommunications industry. Originally formed in February 1998, it is not directly connected to any standards body like the 3GPP, IEEE, or ITU. The independently operated consortium, called Bluetooth SIG, is largely comprised of 3Com, Agere, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, and Toshiba as promoter companies who are actively involved in the development of the Bluetooth specifications. Additionally, there are hundreds of associate and adopter member companies. Associate and adopter members are allowed to use the specifications and the Bluetooth brand. At present, the total number of member companies exceeds 1400.

Although Bluetooth SIG is an incorporated company by itself, it is primarily a volunteer organization run by participants from the member companies. These individuals form a number of working groups that focus on the specific areas, such as requirements, specifications development, qualification, and marketing. Bluetooth SIG is also responsible for conducting interoperability testing events to ensure strict adherence to the qualification procedures and testing of Bluetooth products for the participating members. The latest version (Version 1.1) of the Bluetooth specifications was released in early 2001. But the effort continues to enhance and extend the technology for wider applications, usage models, and markets.

The Bluetooth specifications include a complete definition of wireless products ranging from link-layer to application-layer aspects for Bluetooth products. The link layer defines the operation of Bluetooth radio in the 2.4-GHz unlicensed ISM band that employs spread spectrum and frequency hopping . The application-layer specifications support a wide variety of application functions for the Bluetooth products and their interaction between Bluetooth products and with the lower layers . Member companies can download the latest Bluetooth specifications at http://www.bluetooth.com/dev/specifications.asp. The Bluetooth specifications are organized into the following components : a core specification and profiles definitions.

• "Specification of the Bluetooth System ”Core," Bluetooth SIG

  Version 1.1, February, 2001 Requirements for components such as the radio, baseband, link manager, and the service discovery protocol, transport layer, along with interoperability information regarding different communication protocols.

• "Specification of the Bluetooth System ”Profiles," Bluetooth SIG Version 1.1, February, 2001

  Higher-level protocols and procedures required to implement user -level functions using Bluetooth technology. In the latest release, new profiles for printing, imaging, automotive, and networking applications were added.

The IEEE initiated an interest in similar technology and formed a working group within the 802 standards committee in early 1999 and named it WG15. The newly formed IEEE 802.15 group formed a charter for wireless personal area network (WPAN) and solicited proposals for a draft standard. But Bluetooth SIG was the only respondent. Even though the Bluetooth specifications do not meet the complete requirements of the IEEE 802.15 charter, it was accepted with some arrangements on the use of the specifications. Presently, IEEE 802.15 and Bluetooth SIG are working together to develop the standard based on the Bluetooth specifications.

Bluetooth SIG has held two BOFs in IETF. But the technology itself is mainly for Layer 2 and has not gained much interest in the IETF for mutual work.

Bluetooth SIG continues its specifications development in enhancing the technology and its usage scenarios. In future releases, the SIG is planning to include a specification for higher data rates (between 2 and 10 Mbps) to support multimedia applications that require higher bandwidth. At the time of this writing, the SIG has announced two new wireless advancements from their working groups that address the needs of mobile phone users. First, the Car working group within SIG has announced a Hands-Free profile. The Hands-Free profile is a definition for how Bluetooth wireless technology will enable hands-free use of mobile phones in automobiles. Second, the Imaging working group announced the introduction of the new Imaging profile for use in wirelessly transmitting digital images.

In addition, a Printing profile is being specified to allow devices to issue wireless print commands to Bluetooth-enabled printer. Recently, a new profile called the Bluetooth Extended Service Discovery Profile (ESDP) for Universal Plug and Play ¢ (UPnP).was introduced that defines how devices with Bluetooth wireless communications can use the Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol initially to discover other devices that support UPnP services and retrieve information about these services.

Wide adoption and acceptance of Bluetooth technology due to its current capabilities will drive the evolution of Bluetooth to define more capabilities and new applications in the future.