12.7 IP Applications in Bluetooth

The LAN access profile in Bluetooth supports several different types of LAN networks. With the LAN connection, devices essentially have the IP or the Internet connectivity and all applications supported in that network. Figure 12-12 shows how the TCP/IP protocols can be run over the Bluetooth radio by setting up a generic PPP connection. Current data rates supported in Bluetooth allow broadband access to a gateway device from computers or PDAs. Higher-level protocols like HTTP, RTSP, and RTP can be run transparently over the PPP connection.

Figure 12-12. IP protocol stack in Bluetooth.

The PAN profile provides IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity without setting up a PPP connection through the use of BNEP and utilizing L2CAP to carry the ethernet payload. All IP applications can be run transparently using the PAN profile.