Bluetooth is a short range wireless-based open protocol that is used to connect Bluetooth enabled electronic devices. This allows quick and easy synchronization and data transfer.
Bluetooth offers worldwide compatibility as the Bluetooth radio chip, which is built into a small microchip, functions in a globally available frequency band. There is no cabling involved and files, photos and other information are easily exchanged between the connected electronic devices. The connected devices, which may include cellular phones, laptops, personal computers, printers, digital cameras, GPS receivers and even gaming consoles, communicate and exchange data through a secure 2.4GHz to 2.485GHz short range radio frequency bandwidth. Users can, therefore, create Personal Area Netwoks, or PANs for connecting with other Bluetooth compatible devices.
Bluetooth was designed keeping in mind the requirement to operate and allow sharing of data and information exchange in noisy environments where there may be interference from other radio frequency signals such as those from microwave ovens. The radio technology made use of is named frequency-hopping spread spectrum. This technology makes the link between the connected devices a very robust one.
The data being sent is broken into chunks or packets which are transmitted on upto 79 frequencies. Bluetooth radio generally hops faster and uses shorter packets of data than other systems that operate in the same frequency band as this helps greatly in the reduction of background noise. The Forward Error Correction or FEC adds clarity to long-distance links by limiting the impact of background disturbances.
There are two power levels defined in the Bluetooth hardware specification. One is a lower power level for covering less extensive personal areas such as the room inhabited by a user. The other is a higher power level that is capable of covering medium range as would be found within a user’s home. Certain built-in functions present within the microchip, which include software controls and identity coding, make sure that only those units that are set up by the owners of the Bluetooth enabled devices can communicate with each other.
Bluetooth is usually used in an “ad-hoc” manner, that is, the personal area network is paired. It is not server-based and there is no communication between any of the slave units. Instead all the data communication occurs via the Master unit. Although there is no router, communication between the paired Bluetooth enabled devices takes place automatically through the two nodes between the two connected devices.
