| a) Bluetooth Technology, And Their Advantages | | | | circuit board being developed. |
| And Disadvantages | | | | When one Bluetooth device comes in contact with |
| Bluetooth has a lot to offer with an increasingly | | | | another, they will automatically exchange |
| difficult market place. Bluetooth helps to bring with | | | | addresses and details of capability. Then, they can |
| it the promise of freedom from the cables and | | | | establish a 1 MB link with security that they will |
| simplicity in networking that has yet to be | | | | use as required. The protocols involved with |
| matched by LAN (Local Area Network). | | | | handle both data and voice, with a very flexible |
| In the key marketplace, of wireless and handheld | | | | topography. |
| devices, the closest competitor to Bluetooth is | | | | The technology achieves its goal by embedding |
| infrared. Infrared holds many key features, | | | | tiny, non expensive short range tranceivers into |
| although the line of sight it provides does not go | | | | the devices available today. The radio operates on |
| through walls or through obstacles like that of the | | | | the 2.45 GHz frequency band, and supports up to |
| Bluetooth technology. | | | | 721 KBps, along with three voice channels. |
| Unlike infrared, Bluetooth is not a line of sight and | | | | Each devices offers a unique 48 bit address from |
| it provides ranges of up to 100 meters. Bluetooth | | | | the IEEE 802 standard, with the connections being |
| is also low power and low processing with an | | | | point to point or multipoint. The max range is 10 |
| overhead protocol. What this means, is that it is | | | | meters, although it can be extended to 100 |
| ideal for integration into small battery powered | | | | meters by increasing the power. The devices are |
| devices. To put it short, the applications with | | | | also protected from radio interference by |
| Bluetooth are virtually endless. | | | | changing their frequencies, also known as |
| Disadvantages, Bluetooth has several positive | | | | frequency hopping. |
| features and one would be extremely hard | | | | What is important, is the fact that Bluetooth |
| pressed to find downsides when given the current | | | | devices will not drain battery life. The specification |
| competition. The only real downsides are the data | | | | targets power consumption of the device, limiting |
| rate and security. Infrared can have data rates of | | | | the drain on the battery. The radio chip will |
| up to 4 MBps, which provides very fast rates for | | | | consume only 0.3mA in stand by mode, which is |
| data transfer, while Bluetooth only offers 1 MBps. | | | | less than 5% of the power that standard phones |
| For this very reason, infrared has yet to be | | | | use. |
| dispensed with completely and is considered by | | | | Bluetooth will also guarantee security at the bit |
| many to be the complimentary technology to | | | | level. The authentification is controlled by the user |
| that of Bluetooth. Infrared has inherent security | | | | via a 128 bit key. The radio signals can be coded |
| due to its line of sight. | | | | with anything up to 128 bit. With the frequency |
| The greater range and radio frequency (RF) of | | | | hopping, Bluetooth is already very hard to listen |
| Bluetooth make it much more open to | | | | into. |
| interception and attack. For this reason, security is | | | | The baseband protocol is a combination of both |
| a very key aspect to the Bluetooth specification. | | | | circuit and packet switches. Slots can be reserved |
| Although there are very few disadvantages, | | | | for synchronous packets as well. Each packet will |
| Bluetooth still remains the best for short range | | | | be transmitted in a different hop frequency. |
| wireless technology. Those who have tried it love | | | | Normally, a packet covers a single slot although it |
| it, and they know for a fact that Bluetooth will be | | | | can be extended to cover up to five slots. |
| around for years to come.b) Bluetooth Technical | | | | Bluetooth can also support data channels of up to |
| Operations Of Wireless Link Technology | | | | three simultaneous voice channels. Therefore, it is |
| Bluetooth is a high speed, low powered wireless | | | | possible to transfer the data while you talk at the |
| link technology that is designed to connect phones | | | | same time. Each individual voice channel will |
| or other portable equipment together with little to | | | | support 64 KB. |
| no work required by the user. Unlike infrared, | | | | From a technical standpoint, Bluetooth is very |
| Bluetooth does not require line of site positioning | | | | different indeed. It is the best wireless method in |
| to work. | | | | the world, surpassing even infrared. For |
| Current prototype circuits are contained on a | | | | communication on the go, Bluetooth is indeed |
| board that is 0.9 cm square, with a much smaller | | | | very hard to compete with. |