Sie sind auf Seite 1von 20

What is Bluetooth?

The Bluetooth wireless technology is set to revolutionize the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet. Bluetooth has organised Special Interest Group (SIG), which consist of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and network industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter companies 3Com, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and 1882 adopter companies.

Bluetooth: On the Road to Valhalla?


By Vince Freeman

Wireless Hype Fizzles As Other Technologies Rise The latest industry rumblings concerning Bluetooth are not positive. In fact, the bloom seems to be coming off the short-range-wireless rose. It wasn't long ago that the Bluetooth hype machine was in full gear, making endless promises about the technology's benefits and incessant references to the origin of its name (one last time, a tenth-century Viking king who "united" several of the Scandinavian countries, see the connection?). Some swallowed the hoopla whole, imagining a future where PDAs, cell phones, and other products would offer all kinds of information for the taking. Now the entire Bluetooth industry looks ready to take a bath. A major blow came when Microsoft announced it was skipping Bluetooth support in its upcoming Windows XP operating system in favor of the 802.11b (WiFi) standard for wireless Ethernet LANs. There was immediate outcry on the Bluetooth discussion groups, accusing Microsoft of evil discrimination and even proclaiming the snub would be the death of the company. This was amusing, since no matter how you feel about Microsoft in general, you have to give its execs credit for being extremely smart businesspeople. As such, Microsoft obviously saw the writing on the wall and went with 802.11b because it offers tangible benefits and potential revenue streams, instead of pure hype. (Of course, Microsoft did hedge its bets in the promising handheld market by promising Bluetooth support for a future version of Windows CE.) Since then, prominent hardware companies have started to jump off the Bluetooth bandwagon. VIA Technologies recently started to talk about integrating the 802.11b WLAN standard in upcoming chipsets, but dismissed the notion of including Bluetooth anytime in the future. This sort of negativism, especially coming from world's largest chipset manufacturer, is certainly not good news for Bluetooth vendors. I've heard rumors that SiS, too, is looking to expand its integrated network protocols past Ethernet and HomePNA and into wireless LANs, and Intel already sells a successful line of 802.11b network adapters.

In the mobile market, 802.11b chips are sneaking their way into everything from headsets to handhelds. It all points to yet another market squeeze, in which the WiFi protocol swipes yet another potential market away from the Bluetooth camp. Meanwhile, most laptop vendors still support the Infrared Data Association (IrDa) protocol, which has a slightly shorter range (but higher data-transfer rate) than Bluetooth. The latter doesn't have the features, speed, or range to compete with WiFi, but neither is it entrenched enough to challenge IrDa. If there was ever a technology with a severe case of market overlap, Bluetooth is it. What Went Wrong? One of the fatal missteps Bluetooth made was to aim too low technically, while shooting for the stars in implementation. Many potential customers are interested in the technology, but once they find out about Bluetooth's 10-meter transmission range, low data rates, and limit of eight devices per piconet (network group), most say thanks and quickly move on. The Ethernet variant 802.11b is more realistic in its goal of replacing conventional networks with wireless devices, while moving slowly into secondary business and consumer applications. Low device cost was also an integral part of the Bluetooth strategy, but 3Com's newest Bluetooth PC Card lists for $149 -- well above the under-$100 price tags of many 802.11b PC Cards. No matter how potentially inexpensive the technology could be, it's still dependent on mass-market acceptance and high production volumes to gain economies of scale. Until that day, the upcoming Bluetooth SD card for the Palm m500 will cost close to half as much as the PDA itself. Application support is another sore spot -- but with few Bluetooth devices available for sale, software development becomes harder to justify, and without robust applications, device purchases will stay low. Promoters had pointed to 2001 as the year of the Bluetooth revolution; then they targeted 2003, and now perhaps 2005. By then, competing wireless formats will be so well entrenched as to make Bluetooth a historical footnote. If you ask the important business questions -- whether Bluetooth hardware and software fill a large market need; whether developers can turn the perceived need into a profitable business model -- companies walk away shaking their heads. In fact, a quick perusal of currently available Bluetooth products shows that an inordinate amount are merely development platforms or kits for Bluetooth hardware and application testing. It reminds me of other gold rushes, where the ones who got rich weren't panning for gold, but selling picks and shovels to the would-be millionaires. What's the closest thing to a Bluetooth "killer app"? Probably print sharing; the ability to print files from a notebook or PDA over a wireless Bluetooth connection is a relatively simple implementation, and Hewlett-Packard's announced a Bluetooth-equipped DeskJet ink-jet. But is this anything to get excited about, considering that network print sharing is

standard for most businesses and that an 802.11b WLAN is faster, has a much greater range, and is easier to implement? Wireless Reality Checks Other, similar "red-hot applications" are just as boring to currently wired business or even home-office environments. For instance, instant messaging and Internet chat are popular, and more and more businesses are adopting in-house, network-based messaging, so a few vendors are keen on Bluetooth chat. But for low-power devices (the vast majority of Bluetooth consumer products), transmissions will be limited to a 10-meter radius -- and that's a best-case scenario, without walls or other obstructions. Can you imagine a group of people busily tapping away on their PDAs, trading messages with colleagues within a 10-meter radius? It'd be far quicker and easier to put the handhelds away and carry on a normal conversation. That's the Bluetooth problem in a nutshell -- the proponents of the technology haven't given adequate thought to the reality or feasibility of most of the ideas proposed. Sure, getting a printout from a handy Bluetooth airport printer sounds neat, but exactly how would this be implemented in the real world, and exactly why would airports invest heavily in Bluetooth printers? I don't know about you, but I have a hard enough time finding basic airport amenities such as an open restaurant or bookstore. Indeed, too many intriguing Bluetooth ideas rest on the illusion that -- in an era of corporate cutbacks and razor-thin margins -- consumer-oriented businesses will spend a fortune on Bluetooth technology and infrastructure. Not going to happen. People have been fed the hype of a futuristic society with no need to carry keys, money, or ID ever again, but the current Bluetooth reality mainly involves replacing a few serial and USB cables with wireless links. Those are certainly worthy implementations, but if that's the steak, then I'm sticking with the sizzle, thanks. I guess Bluetooth backers thought, "If we build it, they will come," but so far, the stands remain empty and we don't have enough players to take batting practice.

Bluetooth technology and implications Page 1/3 Article Date: Dec. 14, 1999 By: Heidi Monson What is Bluetooth? Think of it as an eighteen-wheeler screaming down the pike, carrying the future of computing with it. The driver is friendly. You can stick out your thumb and hitch a ride, or be left in the dust. Bluetooth is a developing, world wide, open, short-range radio specification focused on communication between the Internet and Net devices, plus it defines communication protocols between devices and computers. To be Bluetooth certified, a device must pass interoperability testing by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), thus assuring that products meeting the specification will be able to interact with all other Bluetooth-certified products and with the Internet.

The five founding members of the Bluetooth SIG are Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba. On December 1, 1999, the founding members announced that 3COM, Lucent, Microsoft, and Motorola have joined the founders to form the Promoter Group with the founding companies. To date, more than 1,200 companies have signed on. Picture the spaghetti of wires connecting peripherals to a PC, and the PC to the Net, and then imagine them gone. Nice image, isn't it? The technology of Bluetooth centers around a 9mm x 9mm microchip, which functions as a low cost and short range radio link. It provides security for both stationary and mobile devices. The basic function is to provide a standard wireless technology to replace the multitude of propriety cables currently linking computing devices. Better than the image of the spaghetti-free computer system is the ability of the radio technology to network when away from traditional networking structures, such as a business intranet. Even better is the ability to network on an ad hoc basis. For example, imagine being on a business trip with a laptop and a phone. Bluetooth technology allows interfacing the two. Then, picture meeting a client and transferring files without cabling or worrying about protocols. That is what Bluetooth will do. The name game: whose teeth are blue? After exhaustive research (and more importantly, a friend who just happened on the information), the etymology of the name Bluetooth can be reported here. It comes from a tenth century Scandinavian king, Harald Bluetooth, who managed to unite several unruly kingdoms. Thus, Bluetooth is a reference to the taming of a myriad of unruly competing standards by defining one world-wide specification. Overview of Bluetooth characteristics These are the features of the Bluetooth technology: It separates the frequency band into hops. This spread spectrum is used to hop from one channel to another, which adds a strong layer of security. Up to eight devices can be networked in a piconet. Signals can be transmitted through walls and briefcases, thus eliminating the need for line-of-sight. Devices do not need to be pointed at each other, as signals are omni-directional. Both synchronous and asynchronous applications are supported, making it easy to implement on a variety of devices and for a variety of services, such as voice and Internet. Governments worldwide regulate it, so it is possible to utilize the same standard wherever one travels.

Bluetooth technology and implications Page 2/3 Article Date: Dec. 14, 1999 By: Heidi Monson

Bluetooth technology
Bluetooth definitions

Piconet: Devices connected in an ad hoc fashion, that is, not requiring predefinition and planning, as with a standard network. Two to eight devices can be networked into a piconet. It is a peer network, that is, once connected, each device has equal access to the others. However, one device is defined as master, and the others as slaves. Scatternet: Several piconets may form a larger scatternet, with each piconet maintaining independence. Master unit: The master in a piconet whose clock and hopping sequence synchronizes the other devices. Slave unit: Devices in a piconet that are not the master. MAC address: Three bit address that distinguishes each unit in a piconet. Parked units: Piconet devices that are synchronized but don't have MAC addresses. Sniff and hold mode: Power-saving mode of a piconet device.

Network arrangements
Bluetooth network arrangements (topology) can be either point-to-point or point-to-multipoint. Any unit in a piconet can establish a connection to another piconet to form a scatternet. See the figure to the right, which diagrams a scatternet in which piconet A, which consists of four units, is connected to piconet B, consisting of two units. Note that the master unit of A is not the link between the two piconets.

Transmission types and rates


The baseband (single channel per line) protocol combines circuit and packet switching. To assure that packets do not arrive out of order, slots (up to five) can be reserved for synchronous packets. As noted earlier, a different hop signal is used for each packet. Circuit switching can be either asynchronous or synchronous. Up to three synchronous (voice) data channels, or one synchronous and one asynchronous data channel, can be supported on one channel. Each synchronous channel can support a 64 Kb/s transfer rate, which is fully adequate for voice transmissions. An asynchronous channel can transmit as much as 721 Kb/s in one direction and 57.6 Kb/s in the opposite direction. It is also possible for an asynchronous connection to support 432.6 Kb/s in both directions if the link is symmetric.

Radio frequency and spectrum hopping


What if there's a lot of radio noise? Won't that interfere with Bluetooth connections? As a rule, the answer is no. It is designed to use fast acknowledgement and frequency hopping, which will make connections robust. It is packet-based, and will jump to a new frequency after each packet is received, which not only helps limit interference problems, but also adds to security. Data rates are one megabyte/second, including headers. Full duplex transmissions (both directions at once) are accomplished via time division multiplexing. The Bluetooth radio chip functions at 2.4 gigahertz, which is in the unlicensed ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band. It separates the 2.4 gigahertz frequency band into 79 hops one megahertz apart, starting with 2.402 and ending with 2.480 (though this bandwidth is narrower in Japan, France, and Spain). This spread spectrum is used to hop from one channel to another, pseudo-randomly, which adds a strong layer of security. Up to 1600 hops per second can be

made. The standard frequency range is 10 centimeters to 10 meters, and can be extended to at least 100 meters by increasing transmission power.

Connection protocol
Bluetooth connections are established via the following techniques: 1. Standby: Devices not connected in a piconet are in standby mode. In this mode, they listen for messages every 1.28 seconds over 32 hop frequencies (fewer in Japan, Spain, and France). 2. Page/Inquiry: If a device wishes to make a connection with another device, it sends out a page message, if the address is known, or an inquiry followed by a page message, if it is unknown. The master unit sends out 16 identical page messages on 16 hop frequencies to the slave unit. If there is no response, the master retransmits on the other 16 hop frequencies. The inquiry method requires an extra response from the slave unit, since the MAC address is unknown to the master unit. 3. Active: Data transmission occurs. 4. Hold: When either the master or slave wishes, a hold mode can be established, during which no data is transmitted. The purpose of this is to conserve power. Otherwise, there is a constant data exchange. A typical reason for going into hold mode is the connection of several piconets. 5. Sniff: The sniff mode, applicable only to slave units, is for power conservation, though not at as reduced a level as hold. During this mode, the slave does not take an active role in the piconet, but listens at a reduced level. This is usually a programmable setting. 6. Park: Park mode is a more reduced level of activity than the hold mode. During it, the slave is synchronized to the piconet, thus not requiring full reactivation, but is not part of the traffic. In this state, they do not have MAC addresses, but only listen enough to keep their synchronization with the master and check for broadcast messages.

Data transmission
As noted earlier, data can be transmitted both synchronously and asynchronously. The Synchronous Connection Oriented (SCO) method is used primarily for voice, and Asynchronous Connectionless (ACL) is primarily for data. Within a piconet, each master-slave pair can use a different transmission mode, and modes can be changed at any time. Time Division Duplex (TDD) is used by both SCO and ACL, and both support 16 types of packets, four of which are control packets that are the same in each type. Because of the need for smoothness in data transmission, SCO packets are generally delivered via reserved intervals, that is, the packets are sent in groups without allowing other transmissions to interrupt. SCO packets can be transmitted without polling by the sending unit. ACL links support both symmetric and assymetric transmissions. Bandwidth is controlled by the master unit, which determines how much of the total each slave unit can use. Slaves cannot transmit data until they have been polled by the master, and the master can broadcast messages to the slave units via ACL link.

Error correction and security


Three error correction techniques have been defined: 1/3 rate forward error correction code (FEC), 2/3 rate forward error correction code FEC, and automatic repeat request (ARQ). The FEC methods are designed to reduce the number of retransmissions. However, the overhead significantly slows transmissions, so is generally not used in relatively error-free environments,

with the exception of packet headers. The ARQ scheme requires that the header error and cyclic redundancy checks are okay. When they are, an acknowledge is sent. When they aren't, the data is resent. Security is provided in three ways: through pseudo-random frequency band hops, authentication, and encryption. Frequency band hops make it difficult for anyone to eavesdrop. Authentication allows a user to control connectivity to only devices specified. Encryption uses secret key lengths of 1, 40, and 64 bits. The quality of security is excellent for most applications. However, it is not the highest level available, and for those users who require it, the suggestion is to investigate separate network transfer protocols and security software.

Control of link connections

The basic part of the Bluetooth system consists of the radio chip and controller, as shown in the figure above. The Link Manager (LM) is software that controls link setup, authentication, link configuration, and other protocols. The hardware underlying the LM is the link controller (LC). These two perform the following tasks: Sending and receiving data. Paging and inquiries. Setting up connections. Authentication. Negotiating and setting up link types, i.e., SCO or ACL. Determining the frame type of each packet. Placing a device in sniff or hold mode.

Bluetooth technology and implications Page 3/3 Article Date: Dec. 14, 1999 By: Heidi Monson

Is Bluetooth really the wave of the future?


To be fair, it must be admitted that not all pundits agree on whether Bluetooth technology is truly the wave of the future. Mark Riseley, an analyst at Inteco, has said, "People are not crying out for Bluetooth devices. They will inevitably be asking, "Do I want to switch on the lights using my mobile phone?" It seems a bit like taking a hammer to crack a nut and may not be considered worth the money." Let's first look at the potential applications-a difficult task, considering the virtually infinite nature of them. So, we'll start with Riseley's point of view. He refers to applications like switching on

lights with a mobile phone. Certainly, such applications are possible. However, that's a minor one. So many more have far greater practicallity. As this article mentioned earlier, the removal of the spaghetti of cords surrounding a PC is one that most non-technical (and technical) users can relate to. Of course, there are the esthetics of not having that junk around. Beyond that, though, there is more practical consideration for removing it: the danger associated with tripping or electrical shock from worn cables. When the typical user sees the advantages there-coupled with the likely low cost of Bluetooth devices-it seems likely that moving to products that provide the technology will seem like a good choice. However, it is not the average user who leads the way in acceptance of new technologies; it is the business person on the go, the traveler, who demands products to stay in touch with the home office and home, and to make giving presentations easier. These are the people who jumped on cell phones and PDIs. The convenience of checking for e-mail while stuck in traffic is a strong motivator. The ease of linking with a printer or fax at the client's office, which Bluetooth can provide, must be irresistible. To be able to give a presentation with a laptop and not have to deal with cables and plugging in peripherals is a dream come true. Then, there are the conveniences of gadgets able to do double duty. "Where did I leave the TV remote?" can become a question of the past when the cell phone that just happens to be in your coat pocket will do the channel switching just as well. Picture yourself in the car on the way to a client's office when you realize you've forgotten to bring a file that's on your home PC. Wouldn't it be wonderful not to have to turn around, go back home, get out of the car, boot up the PC, dig out a blank floppy disk, copy the file, and then head back out? Imagine dialing the Internet from your cell phone and downloading the file while you drive along.

What about the competition?


If, as seems inevitable, some sort of wireless standard is the wave of the future, consideration must be given to a competing standard, the IrDA (Infrared Data Association) specification. This specification also defines a wireless protocol. Its characteristics include: Already proven universal standard for wireless connections, with an installed base of over 50 million. An existing wide range of platforms. Existing design for cable replacement. Backward compatibility with previous standards. Narrow 30 degree angle connections, which helps assure a lack of interference with other devices, but limits ease of application. Fast data transfers, currently up to four megabits per second, with 16 megabits per second in development.

It is currently being used in a wide variety of applications, such as notebooks, desktops, PDIs, printers, phones, pagers, modems , cameras, LANs, medical and industrial equipment, and watches. In other words, both Bluetooth and IrDA are applied to the same types of devices. So, why would Bluetooth be successful when there's already a successful wireless standard? The answer is that the two standards will likely coexist, as they have complementary strengths and weaknesses. The narrow, point and shoot, type of application, such as crowded situations in which two people wish to exchange information while others are trying to do the same thing, is a strength of IrDA. In such situations, a Bluetooth device, which is omnidirectional, would be at a disadvantage, as it might have trouble finding an individual device among many. However, Bluetooth has distinct advantages in other situations. It can make connections through walls, and

once a connection is established, it isn't necessary for any of the devices to remain stationary. The cost of Bluetooth implementation is higher than for IrDA. Presently, it runs about $2.00 for IrDA, and will likely run around $20.00 for the first Bluetooth devices, but drop to $5.00 after the initial implementations. This is not, of course, an indepth look at IrDA. It should suffice, though, to say that there are advantages to both technologies. More importantly, it is not necessary to choose one over the other, as they can coexist on the same device, with the appropriate one activated depending on the circumstances. Thus, to present one as superior to the other would be inaccurate. It is better to say that awareness of the differences is a more important focus, and that both are likely to exist in the coming age of wireless communications.

Implications for the PC world


There has been some murmuring to the effect that the coming wireless world will spell the end of desktop PCs. Such an approach seems rather narrow-something of an either/or proposition. A wireless world (with the exception of power cords, still a necessary evil) could prove to be a boon to PCs. There is, of course, the convenience of no spaghetti-wired desks, but more importantly, it would make the PC even more usable. Getting data to a PC is often one of the more difficult tasks. Dealing with storage media and their myriad of formats will become a thing of the past. Having to juggle peripherals that must share ports will no longer be a problem. Getting data from a laptop to a desktop will be simple. Adding a new peripheral will be a simple thing, instead of the nightmare it sometimes implies. This writer, at least, can hardly wait.

Can your teeth do this? We stopped by the BlueTooth show area to see what was shakin' and found a good number of vendors giving their pitches and showing product. From our tour, it seems that BlueTooth still doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up! Does it want to just be a replacement for those pesky wires that you'd otherwise need to connect together the pieces of your wearable computer? Or does its really envy its HomeRF, WiFi and even CDPD siblings and want to be a real wireless networking standard?

As we made our way through the many BlueTooth LAN card vendors, we found two European companies that are definitely in the "real LAN" camp. Red-M's booth was small, but eyecatching, and they definitely had some visitors interested in their "Red-M enabled world". The scenarios were similar to those pitched by the Web-enabled phone, CDPD, and every other hand-held device maker, with visions of wireless services at the ready in every airport lounge, shopping mall, etc. The key to their pitch is that if BlueTooth really does get cheap enough so that it's included in just about any electronic device that you can think of, it just might work!

If red isn't your color, maybe blue would be better. Blue2space's Blueball Communicator and Accessor aren't as sexy looking as Red-M's stuff, but they also want to be your "extended-range BlueTooth" supplier.

Plug it in, plug it in...

Back to Top

The HomePlug power line networking ind group is still hanging in there, but if they start shipping product soon, it won't matte judging from the lack of activity around th HomePlug alliance's booth. Strangely eno most HomePlug activity we found was aro somewhat confusing booth that we couldn who it belonged to! The busiest folks in t were from Phonex Broadband, who wer showing their PX-801 NeverWire jack. I HomePlug compatible and projected to sh "Summer 2001" for $80-$90 an adapter. ( guys, please kill your Flash-ridden websit

then and get something up that can be eas quickly navigated!)

Will you be VoIPing soon?

We get a good deal of mail from Dialpad, and other free Voice over IP (VoIP) users for help in getting these apps to work thro shared connection. So we thought we'd se there was any hardware coming on line th make the job easier. We set out to find bo you could plug a phone into and that wou connect to a LAN via Ethernet, wireless, o HomePNA methods. The previously men Linksys BEFN2PS4 was the only in-the-r solution we found, but we also came acro couple of other products worth a look.

Back to Top

Net2Phone seems to be making deals all place, mostly with software bundles. But also have a pretty broad line of hardware products, marketed under their Yap (You Alternative Phone) name and a couple of caught our eye. The Yap Jack is a standa box that allows you to make calls to eithe Yap users for free or to any phone for a fe plug a regular phone into one jack and the Jack into a regular telephone line and the takes care of all the VoIP magic, with no needed. If you have a PC, you can use eit Yap Phone (which plugs into your PC's U port), or the new Yap USB Hotline (not a yet) which works with your PC, but lets y your own phone.

Interesting stuff, but not what we were loo for. But it turns out that the Yap MultiM newer Net2Phone Broadband Internet G (gee... haven't heard that name before..) ha but neither product was at the show. We'l some more digging and try to get one of th for review.

While passing by the huge Creative area, happened to see "VoIP" on one of the disp and moved in for a closer look. What we was some competition for Net2Phone! Th Creative VoIP Blaster uses technology l from Innomedia and plugs into your PC's port. You then install software which allo to make PC to PC (free) or PC to Phone (f calls. The product should be available soo about $50, which includes credit for 100 M of PC to phone calls in the US (or 500 to H Kong!), USB cable and headset/micropho Innomedia was also showing their Dream product, which adds VoIP capability to Se DramCasts! Great for trash talking your opponents to gain the edge you need to w Didn't see any Ethernet-based products, b keep digging!

That's all for now

That about wraps it up. Some great new s coming out, and we'll be getting a lot of it evaluate. So check the Reviews section frequently to see what's new!

Other info? Corrections? Rumors? Let us

Has Bluetooth Bitten Off Too Much?


By EarthWeb Hardware & Systems Staff Go to page: 1 2

While Bluetooth has some definite business advantages, how can you separate the hype from reality? Bluetooth is a technology that will change the way you communicate, search for information and even do your shopping for you. Stop me if you have heard this before. The Bluetooth hype is certainly alive and well, claiming to be the solution for everything from business networking to theatre waiting lines, flight scheduling or even ordering dinner. While Bluetooth has some definite business advantages, how can you separate the hype from reality?

Bluetooth is simply a wireless, ad hoc network specification that uses low bandwidth radio waves to communicate via point to point, or point to multi-point connections. This network model is referred to as a PAN (Personal Area Network) and exists through the use of piconets, or small Bluetooth master/slave mini-networks. There can be 8 active and 255 parked devices per piconet, and several piconets can be joined to form a scatternet. The main thrust of this technology is not to replace conventional networks, but be used in addition to them and help further eliminate the need for cords and cables between devices. The inevitable landslide of Bluetooth-enabled devices has not happened yet, but is projected to occur by 2002. The Bluetooth specification fits the standard business model quite well. Cluttered workstations could be cleared of much of the cabling, and entire workgroups could potentially share both physical resources and information effortlessly. While the internal network handles much of these duties, the use of a Bluetooth PAN can help link and synchronize devices that have historically existed outside of the conventional network. Examples include PDAs, cell phones, or just about any electronic device that currently holds data. The true benefit of any wireless technology is derived from its portability. Depending on your current infrastructure, a Bluetooth PAN may be an excellent addition, or even substitute, for a true wireless LAN. Business meetings take on a higher level interactivity, as documents, minutes and even internal messages can easily be shared between participants. Companies that utilize 3rd-party contractors will really benefit from Bluetooth, since no internal network privileges are required to gain the inherent benefits of a networked meeting. Bluetooth also allows secondary devices to be inserted into the scatternet, and could be used to update the project schedule in each participant's PDA. Even in a purely business implementation, there will still be many potential issues. Although Bluetooth is a portable, wireless technology, it does not inherently support roaming. It is possible to move from one piconet or scatternet to another, but each transition involves drop of the current PAN and an additional paging request to join the new PAN. While this may be feasible for some implementations, activities such as cellular phone calls, data synchronization and information retrieval will require a consistent, and therefore highly stationary, data link. Wireless security continues to be a challenge, and is even more so with the ad hoc nature of the Bluetooth technology. The actual data should be secure, with channel hopping, encryption keys, and authorization link keys provided. Additional application level security could also be implemented, and with Bluetooth devices safely located in an office environment, security is greatly enhanced. In many ways it is similar to securing a wireless LAN, and requires enhanced security procedures and techniques. While Bluetooth has some definite business advantages, how can you separate the hype from reality?

While Bluetooth does allow high power devices to transmit and receive up to distance of 100 meters, the vast majority of portable devices will be of the low power variety and will only support a transmission limit of 10 meters. With a maximum of 8 active devices (1 master, 7 slave) per piconet and a standard transmission limit of 10 meters, the Bluetooth technology should be implemented logically, using individual piconets and larger scatternets when applicable. Keep in mind that as the piconets and scatternets intercede with each other, the potential for data collision, interference and potential network lockouts also rise. The user and transmission limits in the Bluetooth specification are not simply arbitrary numbers, but have been instituted for technical reasons as well. When moving into the mass market, Bluetooth may be a tougher sell. Much of this has to do with the PAN-oriented specification itself and its difficult transition to larger or higher traffic areas. Bluetooth applications such as wireless connections in an upscale hotel, or ad hoc stock quotes from a bank, have a natural return due to increased clientele and most importantly, enhanced revenue sources derived from the Bluetooth investment. More spurious Bluetooth models such as receiving updated flight information at the airport, downloading a menu at a restaurant, or viewing the sale items at a local store are more an expensive novelty item than an objective with a true profit model. Security also takes on a much greater significance when leaving the relatively safe confines of the office. The Bluetooth specification puts a high emphasis on the security of the actual transmitted data, rather than on the physical devices or the Bluetooth user. Encryption and channel hopping may make the data more difficult to intercept, but the necessary openness of the Bluetooth devices themselves bring enhanced risks. Physical tracing, market profiling, and hacks such as denial of service, increased power dissipation and even device control are just a few of the known security issues. Although the Bluetooth specification does fall short in a few key ways, there are many companies looking to fill that void with 3rd-party hardware and software. One interesting idea is the Bluetooth Networks solution from Commil Technology. Since roaming is not a supported feature of Bluetooth, Commil has designed a system that allows continuous, uninterrupted data and voice communication, even when roaming between Bluetooth access points. Their Bluetooth Network provides smart connections, where a connection is initiated at a Bluetooth access point and allows seamless switching while on the move. It basically fools the Bluetooth device into thinking it is still attached to the original link, which maintains a constant Bluetooth link. This solution is being marketed towards office buildings who desire roaming Bluetooth access, and is just one example of innovative ideas and technology smoothing over some of Bluetooth's rough edges. Bluetooth represents an excellent opportunity to expand the wireless nature of your business, but it is not a panacea for all of the world's communication and mobility challenges. Much like the Internet, there is a huge difference between Bluetooth hype and how the technology can be used to increase revenues, enhance productivity or lower expenditures. It is up to you to decide which is which.

General I want to invest in Bluetooth wireless technology. Which company do I buy stocks in?

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group consists of a number of companies - not just one. If you want to invest in the Bluetooth wireless technology you should search through our Business Opportunities list.
Why not simply build phones into mobile PCs?

The cost is too high. There are many different phone standards to choose from. There is no standard that is universally available around the world. The usage model for mobile PCs does not match that of phones.
What will Bluetooth wireless technology deliver to end users?

It will enable users to connect a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices easily and simply, without the need to buy, carry, or connect cables. It delivers opportunities for rapid ad hoc connections, and the possibility of automatic, unconscious, connections between devices. It will virtually eliminate the need to purchase additional or proprietary cabling to connect individual devices. Because Bluetooth wireless technology can be used for a variety of purposes, it will also potentially replace multiple cable connections via a single radio link.It creates the possibility of using mobile data in a different way, for different applications such as "Surfing on the sofa", "The instant postcard", "Three in one phone" and many others. It will allow them to think about what they are working on, rather than how to make their technology work.
What is it - a technology, a standard, an initiative, or a product?

Bluetooth wireless technology is a de facto standard, as well as a specification for small-form factor, low-cost, short range radio links between mobile PCs, mobile phones and other portable devices. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is an industry group consisting of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and networking industries that are driving development of the technology and bringing it to market.

WORKSHOP

The Bluetooth Invasion Begins


March 19, 2001 By Steven J. Schuchart Jr.

Bluetooth, a new wireless interconnect technology standard, is designed to replace the many cables we need to connect devices to our PCs or networks. Called a PAN (personal area network), this technology will let you walk into a room and communicate with your PC or other Bluetoothcompliant devices. The Bluetooth specification was created in February 1998 by a consortium comprising inventive minds from Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba. (The odd name is derived from an aggressive Viking king so fond of blueberries that they stained his teeth.)

Support for Bluetooth is solid, with more than 1,880 adopter/associate member companies signed up to the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group). Although the technology has been the subject of tremendous hype (some reports would have us using Bluetooth in everything from the refrigerator to the toilet) and has the potential to explode on the market, Bluetooth was not designed for full WAN connectivity. At best, the technology can be used for ad hoc networking when needed, but it is not designed for more than limited use. While other standards, like 802.11b, are designed for wide-reaching applications, Bluetooth simply does not have the bandwidth to handle full network demands. Bluetooth is a good, low-power data/voice transmission standard that will be a real boon for certain applications. Imagine a cell phone or pager that automatically transfers to vibrate mode when you enter a restaurant or theater. Or a laptop and GPS (global positioning system) that automatically feed a display in your car for directions. One of Bluetooth's design strengths is its low cost. The Bluetooth SIG says integrating this technology should add only $5 to the cost of a unit. Specifications Bluetooth operates in the 2.4-GHz ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) band and uses a fast frequency-hopping technology to minimize interference to and from non-Bluetooth sources. This frequency hopping occurs nominally at 1,600 hops per second. The system has 78 possible channels. Channel spacing is 1 MHz in every industrialized country but France. (In France, you are limited to 22 possible channels on which to hop. Negotiations have been ongoing with the French government to change its regulations.) Bluetooth has three power classes for transmitting: 100 milliwatt, 2.5 milliwatt and 1 milliwatt. The range for 100 milliwatt is 100 meters, 2.5 milliwatt is 10 meters and 1 milliwatt is 10 centimeters. Remember that these ranges are variable and difficult to calculate. Materials, walls and interference from other

Bluetooth Information Sites Click here to enlarge

2.4-GHz sources all can change the range achieved. Digianswer (a division of Motorola), a DSP and Bluetooth developer, has proven that a 2.5-milliwatt PC Card can reach up to 100 meters in a completely unobstructed environment. Throughput for Bluetooth is rated at 1 Mbps under optimal conditions. With error correction overhead and other environmental factors, however, the real throughput should be about 700 Kbps to 800 Kbps. This should be more than enough for the Bluetooth cable-replacement designation. Several other factors can influence Bluetooth's speed. The presence of other 2.4GHz devices, such as an 802.11b WAN, can degrade performance of a Bluetooth piconet. Bluetooth traffic is separated into two types: data and voice. Voice traffic has a much lower tolerance for interference than does data traffic. Ericsson conducted a study of interference from 802.11b on Bluetooth and found that when 802.11b is operating at normal traffic conditions, the more sensitive voice operation of Bluetooth is not affected when the transmitter and receiver are less than two meters apart. At a range of 10 meters, the probability of noticeable interference increases to eight percent. The data link gets more interference than the voice link but is less susceptible to it. At a 10-meter range, throughput loss of more than 10 percent can occur with a 24 percent probability. The Ericsson study reports that the total loss of throughput due to interference from 802.11 WANs cannot exceed 22 percent. The 801.11 networks take up 17 channels at 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth has 79 available channels. As of press time, I was unable to get any data on Bluetooth's effect on 802.11's throughput. The IEEE's 802.15 working group is developing standards to let Bluetooth and 802.11b function better in shared space (see grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15/). Factor in Microwaves The FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) protocol that Bluetooth uses is sensitive to interference from microwave ovens. Basically, a frequency-hopping protocol like FHSS cannot avoid channels that have been obliterated by noise. It must hop through all 79 channels on a continuous cycle. Packet and frame loss will occur when it jumps into a noisy channel.

The Bluetooth Invasion Begins


March 19, 2001 By Steven J. Schuchart Jr.

Security Security for Bluetooth devices is less than wonderful. It provides link-level security plus encryption. Security in a Bluetooth network is entirely device-based, not userbased, as in traditional systems. Bluetooth has three levels of security: Level 1: No security. Level 2: Service-level-enforced security. Security is established after channel negotiation. Level 3: Link-level-enforced security.

The Bluetooth SIG recommends that Level 2 be used in most instances (see www.bluetooth.com/developer/whitepaper/whitepaper.asp). If you go with Level 3 and full encryption, the ease of use and simplicity aspects of Bluetooth begin to fade. Level 3 would require user intervention for all services. In Bluetooth, most security issues are expected to occur above the link layer, in the application or protocol layers. However, problems can occur at a purely physical level. It is also possible to cause DoS (denial of service) attacks against a wireless network by flooding the 2.4-GHz band with interference. Wireless networks are also vulnerable to passive eavesdropping attacks. In this scenario, a potential hacker could simply listen for Bluetooth packets and extract data from them. The frequency-hopping characteristic of Bluetooth largely eliminates this problem. The hacker would have to know the exact sequence of hops and channels at 1,600 hops per second. We recommend using an external encryption program to pre-encrypt the data before sending it across Bluetooth. Other wireless solutions use more robust solutions like WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). However, implementing something like WEP on top of Bluetooth would once again restrict simplicity and ease of use. It is important to keep in mind Bluetooth's design intentions when considering security in the standard. Radios in Bluetooth can be master or slave, or be in simultaneous scenarios. Two possible Bluetooth networks exist: piconet and scatternet. When you bring Bluetooth radios within range of each other, they connect and form a piconet. One unit becomes a master, the other a slave. The master controls all the traffic in a piconet. Bluetooth radios in a piconet frequency-hop together. Each piconet can have up to seven simultaneous or more than 200 active slaves. Radios in a piconet can be in one of five states: standby, inquire, page, connect and park/hold. Standby is a radio waiting to join a piconet. Inquire is a radio seeking other radios to connect. Page is a master radio asking to connect to a specific radio. Connect is a radio active on a piconet as a master, slave or simultaneous. Park/hold is a low-power connected state. The master gives all the slaves in a piconet its clockdevice ID and sets the unique hopping sequence based on the master's device

address. Scatternets occur when multiple masters exist in range of each other. A master radio may also be a slave radio on another piconet. Each piconet is hopping with a different sequence sharing the same 2.4-GHz band. Because of the different hopping sequences, there is very little chance that any master will hit a channel at the same time as another master. Bluetooth cannot hand off a slave to another master unit. This is a problem if you are sending voice data to a device and switch piconets. A couple of seconds of voice or even the connection could be lost. The specification offers no solution, because of the cost and complexity involved. Bluetooth is not meant to be a replacement for wireless LAN networks, but a cable replacement and ad hoc network. Interoperability High Points It would be insane for a vendor to put out a Bluetooth radio device without proper interoperability. The Bluetooth SIG conducts certification and keeps a list of qualified products on its Web site. The Bluetooth SIG and Web site (www.bluetooth.com) give fledgling Bluetooth developers all the help they need to create a compliant product. When thinking about deploying Bluetooth, you should consider several issues. Bluetooth is suitable for everything from SOHO (small office/home office) to full-scale enterprise use. Are you looking for a cable-replacement technology with phone and PDA benefits? Or are you looking for wireless networking? Do you need a Bluetooth environment? Right now, no. Will you need a Bluetooth environment in the next two years? It's a real possibility. Company cell phones, PDAs and laptops will likely be equipped with this new technology. Your end users will ask for it, and executives will demand it. When you deploy your Bluetooth environment, the first thing you have to determine is whether to make it a buildingwide deployment, a conference-room deployment or just a couple of desktops. Buildingwide deployments give you the advantage of Bluetooth everywhere. If you're going to deploy buildingwide and have a wireless LAN or are planning to deploy one, consider the interference that these two technologies could give each other. Conference-room deployment gives you ad hoc file sharing and other benefits. However, conference-room deployments also could react with a wireless LAN environment, but on a much smaller scale. The advantage of personal deployment is realized only if your Bluetooth commitment is very small. Personal deployments should have almost no effect on the wireless LAN environment. If you are going to do anything on a conference room scale or beyond, see what it would take to deploy this technology to the entire enterprise and design your implementations to take advantage of the conference-room equipment you are going to install. Bluetooth will come through on its promise of interoperability in the next two years. This quarter will offer a few new products and a better perspective on how Bluetooth is going to affect us. Using Bluetooth now are Motorola's Timeport 270 cell phone and

the GN Netcom GN9000 Bluetooth headset. As the technology matures, the cost of Bluetooth devices will fall. Right now Toshiba offers a PC Card Bluetooth interface, called the PA3053U. These cards list for $169 on the company's Web site. I put one of the Toshiba cards in a Compaq Computer Corp. 1600 laptop and the other in a Dell Computer Corp. Latitude laptop. I loaded a few drivers, rebooted, and indeed experienced ad hoc file and print sharing just as advertised. The number of devices will increase quite a bit in the next six months. Be ready for the invasion. Send your comments on this article to Steven J. Schuchart Jr. at sschuchart@nwc.com.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen