What is Bluetooth and what is Bluetooth technology? In the field of wireless communication, these are two of the most frequently repeated questions. To begin to understand the implications of this wireless protocol for the future of personal computing, you need to understand both a Bluetooth definition and a description of Bluetooth technology as well as some of the existing and envisioned applications of Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth is, simply defined, an industrial specification for PANS or Personal Area Networks, also referred to as IEEE 802.15.1. Bluetooth makes it possible for communication and data exchange between enabled devices like Personal Digital Assistants, laptops, printers, PCs, digital cameras, and mobile phones through a globally unlicensed, secure, short-range radio frequency.

One of the best examples of Bluetooth in action is the use of wireless headsets with cell phones. Bluetooth allows the user to engage in conversation and to manipulate basic telephone controls through small ear mounted headsets while leaving the phone itself in a bag or pocket. Beyond the convenience, this is a significant improvement in the security of cell phone use in automobiles.

Where did the name "Bluetooth" come from?

The name Bluetooth was taken from the pages of history. King Harold Bluetooth was a 10th century Danish King known for his ability to make diplomatic overtures that led warring parties to negotiate their disputes. The inventors of the technology thought this analogy was an apt way to explain blue tooth and its communication abilities. Accordingly, the Bluetooth logo incorporates the runes for "H" and "B" in honor of King Harold.

How have Bluetooth specifications evolved?

Any Bluetooth technology tutorial must contain some sense of the evolution of Bluetooth specifications beginning with Bluetooth 1.0 and 1.0B. These original specifications encountered numerous problems and manufacturers found it extremely difficult to make their products interoperable. Both specifications had mandatory BD-ADDR or Bluetooth Hardware Device Address transmission involved in establishing communications parameters between two stations. This made anonymity at a protocol level impossible. (At this stage of the game the answer to the question "what is blue tooth" would have been, "Devices that don't do what we want them to!")

At the next stage, Bluetooth 1.1 added support for those channels that were non-encrypted and integrated a RSSI or Received Signal Strength Indicator. Major enhancements, however, came in Bluetooth 1.2 which offered higher transmission speeds and Extended eSCO or Synchronous Connections. This improved the voice quality of audio links by allowing for retransmissions of corrupted packets. Finally, Adaptive AFH or Frequency- Hopping Spread Spectrum allowed devices to avoid crowded frequencies in the hopping sequence thus improving resistance to radio frequency interference.

In Bluetooth 2.0 users saw the introduction an EDR or Enhanced Data Rate of 2.1 Mbit/s. This in turn lowered power consumption and tripled transmission speed in most cases and in some raised it by a factor of 10 times. Bit Error Rate performance improved and multi-link scenarios became simpler with better usage of available bandwidth.

Continue to: What are some of the Applications for Bluetooth Technology

Complete List of the Top-Rated Bluetooth Headsets
Best Personal Area Networks with Bluetooth
The Future of Information Tracking, RFID

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Learn the Basics of Bluetooth Technology

Where did the name "Bluetooth" come from?

How have Bluetooth specifications evolved?

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