Skip to main content

Bluetooth - You are Connected

  
 
 

We are entering the era of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, where each device connects remotely to one another, and the world wide web. This makes them smart in the way of integration to Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning and Data analysis. There are number of network protocols that facilitate this peer to peer communication be it ZigBee, Matter etc. More on that later. 
 
What is Bluetooth 
Invented  in 1994 by Ericsson and widely used, Bluetooth allows for short distance communication, within 10 meter radius. The data speed is between 1 Mbps and 3 Mbps. The bandwidth is in the range of 2.4 GHz to 2.485 GHz.
 
Frequency Hopping Unfold Spectrum
This is the underlying tech used in Bluetooth. Data signals by default have low frequency, and high bandwidth. This makes them prone to distortion, affecting long distance transmission. Also the receiving antennas  have to be large in size which is a limitation for mobile phones or laptops.
 
The above issues are resolved by superimposing the data signal to a high frequency carrier wave. This procedure is known as Modulation. There are different techniques including frequency or amplitude modulation. 
 
Bits can be varied during transmission, allowing for more data transfer, and multiple user participation within a network, which are other advantages of modulation. 
 
In FHUS, small packets of data is passed to the receiver, at different carrier frequency.  The receiver then compares them, selecting the least distorted. This allows for high clarity, less noise to signal ratio. The variation in the carrier frequency is produced by a pseudo random signal generator, within the transmitter. 

Types of Network
There are two main types of Bluetooth topology.

1. Pico Net
This uses a Master Slave configuration for transmitting data. There is a primary node known as the Master, and seven secondary (Slave) nodes. Communication occurs between one to one or one to many. There should be at least one Master in the data transmission. Slave to slave communication is not allowed. There is also 255 parking nodes, within the network. They need to change their status into active, to participate in the data transfer.
 
2. Scatter Net
Here two different network can merge into a single network, by means of slave node. Here slave node from one network acts as a master in the other, and initiates data transfer. A Master node cannot be used as the intermediate node. 
 
Advantages of Bluetooth
  • Can penetrate walls,  allowing for more coverage area.
  • Can transmit both voice and data packets.
  • Supports Ad Hoc networks. These networks do not require a central hub like routers, modem for data transmission. Devices connect with one another independently allowing peer to peer communication. Also when a device disconnects, the network automatically adjusts preventing interruption for other devices. 
 
Learn more
 
 
 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

X86 vs ARM - The PC War

X86 Vs ARM A Hype?  Recently laptops powered by ARM processors have taken industry by storm. Touted as being highly power efficient, providing 18 hours backup, on as single charge. That too while running multiple program instances. Would this spell an end to the x86 architecture, where Intel and AMD rule. Or will the tables turn around? What's the Difference? Let's start with an x86 based CPU. They feature a single processing unit which can be integrated to other external peripherals like Memory, GPU etc. Here each peripheral has a separate controller, knitted together by address and data BUS. When we look at ARM all the above components (Memory, GPU) are integrated within the main chip. Known commonly as SOC (System on a Chip) . This helps in reduced footprint. But they do come with a drawback. Cannot expand by adding extra peripherals. Coming to complexity, x86 provides a simpler set up, at least for a developer. Here most of the core tasks such as Memory Read/Write, Arithmet...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Brain within an Embedded System-Difference between Microprocessors and Microcontrollers

To understand the working of an Integrated Circuit, we need to first understand what an Embedded System is.  It is basically a conjunction of Hardware and Software parts. Embedded System is a stripped-down version of a mainstream computer, specializing in a single task. They are connected either as a standalone device, or as part of a larger electrical or mechanical system. Mainly in consumer electronics like fridges or microwaves, they have low power rating and, is economical to build. Embedded system performs complex mathematical calculations at any specific time. This is done thru a Central Processing Unit (CPU) , mostly a Microcontroller or at times, a Microprocessor. A Sensor is used to collect data from the external environment Eg: Temperature, atmospheric pressure etc. This is then fed into an Analog to Digital (ADC) converter. The digital signal thus obtained is stored in memory and, decoded by the CPU.  The output of the operation is then fed to a Digital to Analog...
Post a Comment
Read more

Virtual Private Network (VPN) - Browsing Anonymous

  Privacy is a major concern when browsing the internet. Your data could be eavesdropped by hackers, companies targeting ads or even rogue state actors. What gets revealed would be personal browsing history, location monitoring, IP addresses to name a few. Enter the tech... Virtual Private Network or simply known as VPN is a technology used to prevent unauthorized access of your private data. Even if a hacker penetrates the network and get hold of data packets, all that is revealed is gibberish.  This is because all the information that passes through your device is encrypted and can be only revealed through a personal key.  Internet Service Provider Before going further, a knowledge of Internet Service Provider (ISP) is needed. They are the backbone of the World Wide Web. ISP provides each device with a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address, bandwidth allocation and network security. When a website is searched, first it goes from your device to the Router or Modem which...
Post a Comment
Read more