Bluetooth technology is a low-power, low-cost wireless technology for short-range radio communication between various fixed and/or portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, cars, stereo headsets, MP3s, digital cameras, PCs and computer peripherals. Bluetooth also refers to the standard communication protocol (IEEE 802.15.1) specifically designed for this kind of short-range wireless communication.
The core of Bluetooth technology lies in a low-cost 9 mm x 9 mm microchip that functions as a short-range radio link when inserted into an electronic device, making the device Bluetooth-enabled. Wireless communication between various bluetooth-enabled devices takes place via these radio links, instead of via cables as used in normal networking. Since Bluetooth technology uses radio signals, which are omni-directional and can be transmitted through walls and other obstacles, Bluetooth-enabled devices don’t need to be in line of sight or be pointing at each other.
Bluetooth radio modules operate in the open, unlicensed ISM (industrial–scientific–medical) spread-spectrum 2.4 GHz frequency band, divided into 79 channels separated by 1 MHz each. To avoid interference from other signals, the Bluetooth signal hops to a new channel every time it transmits or receives a data packet, making Bluetooth connection robust and secure. The communication range of Bluetooth technology varies from 1 m to 100 m, depending upon the maximum power permitted (1 mW to 100 mW). Because of this channel hopping, there should not be a consistent problem with other devices using the 2.4 Ghz frequency band, such as old cordless phones.
Each Bluetooth-enabled device can simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices within a single personal area network, called a piconet. Each device can simultaneously belong to several piconets. Each device negotiates with each other via a defined device name so that each device can keep track of who it is communicating with. The device name to use when you are setting up your Bluetooth device is typically cleared stated in the accompanying device documentation.
Bluetooth technology offers built-in security with 128-bit encryption and PIN code authentication. When Bluetooth products identify themselves, they use the PIN code the first time they connect, thereafter staying securely connected.
Practical Applications of Bluetooth Networking
Some of the popular applications of Bluetooth technology are in wireless networking between a mobile phone and a laptop/desktop, between a mobile phone and a hands-free headset, between PCs in a restricted space and between the input and output devices of a PC (e.g., mouse, keyboard, printer). Bluetooth technology can also be used to transfer files, images and MP3 files between mobile phones or between MP3 players/digital cameras and computers.
Limitations of Bluetooth Technology
Short communication range (up to 100 m) is the greatest limitation of Bluetooth technology. Also, the data transfer rates are much lower compared to other wireless communication technologies. Susceptibility to interference from other devices operating in the 2.4 MHz band, notwithstanding adaptive frequency hopping, is another limitation. The Bluetooth technology is still not fully developed, so there is plenty of room for improvement.
Bluetooth-Enabled Devices
The Bluetooth wireless technology specification is available free-of-charge to Bluetooth member companies around the world. Many companies are interested in making their devices Bluetooth-enabled in order to avoid the clutter of wires with seamless connections and offer simultaneous transmission of data and voice as in hands-free talking.
Bluetooth technology is commercially available in a wide range of applications such as mobile phones, automobiles, medical devices, play stations and many more.
By: Jon Arnold
Posts Tagged ‘Wireless Communication’
Understanding The Magic of Bluetooth Technology
January 5th, 2010WiFi Technology – Get Connected With Wi-Fi Technology
December 25th, 2009
Wireless communication is one of the fastest growing technologies. The demand for connecting devices without the use of cables is increasing everywhere. Wireless LANs can be found on college campuses, in office buildings, and in many public areas.
Wifi (wireless fidelity) has brought a new dimension in the field of wireless networking. The transmission of data is done through the radio waves in the free space. It cuts down the cost of laying down the cables for network connections. The systems which are wifi enabled are mobile and can be used anywhere in the range of the network.
Wireless router.
Router is a connecting device, which receives the data from the source and route the data to its destination. Wireless routers refer to the devices in the wireless network, which receives the signal from a source and rout the signal to its destination by examining its SSID. Routers are generally used to interconnect two networks.
A wireless card.
Some systems which do not have in built wifi devices so they need an external interface card which connects the wifi device (a transmitting device) to the system. These cards can be connected to the PCI slot of the mother board .
Also in order to receive the wifi signal from devices our system should be equipped with a receiver. Nowadays receivers that can be connected through USB are also available.
Hence we see that wifi has numerous advantages. Nowadays wifi connections can be found on college campuses, in office buildings, in many public areas. If we consider the present world, we find that the demands for the wifi connections are increasing. People are beginning to appreciate the advanced features wifi network provides to the user. Due to its increasing demand the scope of the wifi network is also on the rise. Here we highlight the major benefits of installing a wifi network.
Firstly it cut down the cost of laying down the cable for network connection.Secondly with no wires attached it is possible that the sender node can be mobile.Thirdly the equipments required to fully establishing the wifi network anywhere is relatively cheap. So the cost incurred in establishing the wireless wifi connection is cheaper and also very easy to install. Wifi established in small place do not even need the wireless routers.
Lastly it is also possible for the user to have a better speed of Internet connection by using wifi network. Since the bandwidth provided by wireless cutwork is large connection speed between two nodes is faster. It is also faster to transmit data between two devices connected through wifi.
By: David Faulkner
The GPS And It’s Future
December 16th, 2009
The use of Global Position System (GPS) has become quite diverse from automobiles, mobile phones, tourist facilities, city maps, and even pet collars. GPS works through a network (often called constellation) of 27 satellites that move around the Earth in geo synchronous orbit. These satellites exchange relative data to fix the position of one particular object on the surface. Similar to the Internet, the technology was original implemented for military use in order to help precise control of troops as well as getting accurate information about enemy troops and armament placement and movement. And like the Internet it was soon the commercial use that would dominate global reliance on GPS.
Mobiles phones are now more secure because they are outfitted with GPS tracking devices. It is now possible to use mobile communication and GPS technology to create a new type of mobile phone. The implications of this combination are so vast that those experts who saw only trouble in the future of wireless communication have begun to entertain some hope. There are developments in progress right now that would have seemed strictly science fiction material a few years ago. Some opinions even go so far as to say that the conventional means of human communication might just disappear if the plans under development succeed to their maximum.
Road-traffic management would itself be improved to quite an extent. For example, some of the newer cars are equipped with GPS technology so sophisticated that it acts like an airplane Black Box. The device can record data (for a short duration) like speed of vehicle, whether brakes were applied or not, if the seatbelt was used or not, so on, and of course, the precise location of the vehicle right down to a few feet accuracy. Another interested aspect is that apart from devices like phones and cars, GPS technology is available in sizes small enough to fit into pet collars. The collars can further be programmed to define a territory range and should the pet go outside this specified area, an instant alert is sent to the owner’s cell phone.
Other uses of GPS include making accurate maps, tracking of endangered species, and predicting some types of natural disasters. Farmers too may use the GPS system to get a fix on farmland that is less fertile and to spot wet and dry areas. This allows for better land use and precise farming techniques.
GPS technology is a bit invasive because it permits the precise tracking of human beings at all times. This raises issue regarding privacy of the individual. This is one of the biggest hurdles faced by a wider use of GPS. It is essential that people realize the inherent dangers of any technology while at the same time using it prudently. A good example is that car rental companies could use GPS records and accuse the renter of having violated traffic laws. While such a feature is ideal for the police it is completely unacceptable from a service provider. Controls are required to prevent such violations.
We have already faced the severe problems with identity protection and theft over the Internet and it would be wise to learn from those problems and make sure the GPS implementation comes with inbuilt safeguards and checks to ensure that the rights and privacy of the individual are not sacrificed to technology.
By: Joseph Brochin