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In order to understand how Bluetooth technology works, we must first take a look at how electronic devices (Bluetooth or not) connect and communicate with one another.
There are several questions that need to be addressed before any two devices can communicate with one another.
Q: Will the devices communicate via wires or through the air?
A: Obviously, if the devices are using Bluetooth technology, they will communicate without wires. However, if the devices are not Bluetooth enabled, then they have the option of communicating either with or without wires. Devices can take advantage of several wireless technologies (Bluetooth included) by using various transmitters to send information over the airwaves.
Q: How will messages or information be sent between the two devices?
A: Information can be sent one bit at a time in a scheme called serial communications, or in groups of bits (usually 8 or 16 at a time) in a scheme called parallel communications. Q: How will devices in this “electronic conversation” know what the information (bits or groups of bits) means? How will they know if they received the same message that was sent?
A: Most of the time these questions are answered by the creation of what is known as a protocol. A protocol is a standard that controls or enables the connection, communication, and data transfer between two electrical devices. Basically, a protocol is the "language" of devices.
With so many different types of electronics available, it is probably no surprise that there are tons of established protocols. However, almost all protocols address one or more of the following:
* Detecting the presence of other devices
* Establishing communications guidelines between two devices (AKA: Handshaking)
* Determining the various connection characteristics
* How to format a message
* How to start and end a message
* What to do with corrupted or incorrectly formatted messages
* How to recognize unexpected connection loss, and what to do next
* Ending the connection or “conversation”
Some types of products have a standard protocol used by almost all companies. As a result, the commands for one product will have the same effect on another. However, there are other devices that use their own specific protocol, which means that commands intended for one specific device will seem foreign if received by another.
The goal of Bluetooth is to establish a worldwide, universal "language" for devices. Bluetooth uses a standardized wireless protocol for devices to communicate. It forces devices to agree on when bits are sent, how many will be sent at a time, and how the devices in a conversation can be sure that the message received is the same as the message sent. So, you can be positive that any two devices using compatible Bluetooth will definitely be able to communicate with one another.
For a more detailed explanation of the Bluetooth Protocol, please visit: The Bluetooth Protocol
Learn More About:
How Bluetooth Works Part 2
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