| Future Of Bluetooth |
- Broadcast Channel: enables Bluetooth information points. This will drive
the adoption of Bluetooth into cell phones, and enable advertising models
based around users pulling information from the information points, and not
based around the object push model that is used in a limited way today.
- Topology Management: enables the automatic configuration of the piconet
topologies especially in scatternet situations that are becoming more common
today. This should all be invisible to the users of the technology, while
also making the technology just work.
- : enables the use of alternative ands for transporting Bluetooth profile
data. The Bluetooth Radio will still be used for device discovery, initial
connection and profile configuration, however when lots of data needs to be
sent, the high speed alternate MAC PHY's will be used to transport the data.
This means that the proven low power connection models of Bluetooth are used
when the system is idle, and the low power per bit radios are used when lots
of data needs to be sent.
- improvements: enable audio and video data to be transmitted at a higher
quality, especially when best effort traffic is being transmitted in the
same
Bluetooth technology already plays a part in the rising Voice over IP (VOIP)
scene, with Bluetooth headsets being used as wireless extensions to the PC audio
system. As VOIP becomes more popular, and more suitable for general home or
office users than wired phone lines, Bluetooth may be used in cordless handsets,
with a base station connected to the Internet link.
High speed Bluetooth
On the Bluetooth Special Interest Group announced its selection of the
WiMedia Alliance Multi-Band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MB-OFDM)
version of UWB for integration with current Bluetooth wireless technology.
UWB integration will create a version of Bluetooth wireless technology with a
high-speed/high-data-rate option. This new version of Bluetooth technology will
meet the high-speed demands of synchronizing and transferring large amounts of
data, as well as enabling high-quality video and audio applications for portable
devices, multi-media projectors and television sets, and wireless VOIP.
At the same time, Bluetooth technology will continue catering to the needs of
very low power applications such as mice, keyboards, and mono headsets, enabling
devices to select the most appropriate physical radio for the application
requirements, thereby offering the best of both worlds.
Bluetooth 3.0
The next version of Bluetooth after v2.1, code-named Seattle (the version
number of which is TBD) has many of the same features, but is most notable for
plans to adopt ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology. This will allow Bluetooth
use over UWB radio, enabling very fast data transfers of up to 480 Mbit/s, while
building on the very low-power idle modes of Bluetooth.
Ultra Low Power Bluetooth
On June 12, 2007, Nokia and Bluetooth SIG announced that Wibree will be a
part of the Bluetooth specification as an ultra low power Bluetooth technology.
Expected use cases include watches displaying Caller ID information, sports
sensors monitoring your heart rate during exercise, as well as medical devices.
The Medical Devices Working Group is also creating a medical devices profile and
associated protocols to enable this market.
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