N-GEN Communications Web-based Seminars ©NGCS

Seminar - An Overview of Communications Technologies

Module 9 - Wireless Systems and Technologies                                                                                 Slide 74 of 80                                                                                                    ________________

                                         What is Bluetooth ?

                                    Short Range Radio Links 

                                    Intended to Replace Cable

                                    Networking Portable and Fixed Electronic Devices

                                    Offers Wireless Access to LANs and the PSTN

                                                                                                   ________________

Bluetooth is a specification published by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). It is supported by 3Com, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba. Bluetooth defines a Personal Area Network (PAN), enabling short-range, point-to-point connectivity. Bluetooth is designed for cable replacement applications, not for home networking. Bluetooth operates at 1 M bps with relatively low power over short ranges using frequency hopping spread spectrum in the 2.4 G Hz frequency band.

Bluetooth is intended to get around the problems that come with both infrared and cable systems. Siemens, Intel, Toshiba, Motorola and Ericsson, have developed a specification for a very small radio module to be built into computer, telephone and entertainment equipment to overcome the problems.

From the user's point of view, there are three important features to Bluetooth:
It's wireless. When you travel, you don't have to worry about keeping track of a briefcase full of cables to attach all of your components, and you can design your office without wondering where all the wires will go.
It's inexpensive.
You don't have to think about it. Bluetooth doesn't require you to do anything special to make it work. The devices find one another and strike up a conversation without any user input at all.

Bluetooth communicates on a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz, which has been set aside by international agreement for the use of industrial, scientific and medical devices (ISM). A number of devices that you may already use take advantage of this same radio-frequency band. Baby monitors, garage-door openers and the newest generation of cordless phones all make use of frequencies in the ISM band. Making sure that Bluetooth and these other devices don't interfere with one another has been a crucial part of the design process