What is Bluetooth and how does it work? What is bluetooth

Despite the widespread use of technology, not everyone knows how to use Bluetooth on Android. However, this is an important topic, because thanks to this type of connection, users can connect a wireless headset, transfer files between devices, play music on their home speaker system, and so on.

It is worth noting that with the help of a Bluetooth connection, the phone can be used as a wireless modem. How to use all this? Everything is very simple.

As you already understood, before moving on to the functions, you should enable wireless adapter. You can do this through the control panel in the drop-down menu.

How to use Bluetooth on Android: Video

But, since we are interested in the settings and functions of this connection, it is best to go to the device settings. To do this, enter the menu and find the "Settings" shortcut, which in the vast majority of cases looks like a gear.

Here, find the item "Bluetooth". If this is not the case, then first open "Wireless Networks", and then "Bluetooth". Here we put a tick or move the slider to the “On” position to enable the module.

In order to search for equipment available for connection, click the "Search" button. Depending on the phone model, it may be located at the bottom of the screen or above the list of connections. This is the answer to the question of how to update Bluetooth on Android OS devices.

There are no complicated settings here. Users can only enable or disable discovery. Also in the parameters you can break existing connections. You can also rename any connection. If you are connected to a headset or home speaker system, you can set the connection type:

  • Phone (use for phone sound).
  • Media (use for sound transmission).
  • Control device.
  • Internet access and so on.

These modes allow you to control other devices remotely, stream audio content, and perform other functions, depending on your choice and the capabilities of the connected equipment.

The first is used to connect a headset, the second is used to play music from the phone on home acoustics or car radio, the third allows you to control the media player remotely, and the fourth allows access to mobile internet. In other words, in the first case, sound is transmitted from the speaker and received from the microphone, and in the second case, only audio is transmitted from the music player, and so on.

How to change the Bluetooth name on an Android smartphone

Many are concerned about the question of how to rename Bluetooth on Android. The thing is, it's not always that simple. For example, on some phones this is done in the "Bluetooth" settings. There is a special item "Device name". However, on newer Android versions this cannot be done, since there is no such item in the adapter settings. The module uses the name of the phone.

Why Bluetooth doesn't work on Android: Video

Translated from Danish into English, Bluetooth means "blue-toothed". That was the name of the Danish king Harold I for his feature - a dark front tooth. Also, this king became famous for being able to unite several warring Danish tribes. Bluetooth also has the ability to combine, but not tribes, but communication protocols into one universal standard. The development of Bluetooth technology belongs to Ericsson, to implement this idea in 1999, an association of well-known world brands Toshiba, Sony, IBM, Intel, Nokia and many others was created under the same name SIG (Bluetooth Special Interest Group).

Using radio waves in the ISM band (2.4-2.48 GHz - non-licensed band) Bluetooth intended for wireless communication between devices such as: Cell Phones, printers, computers, digital cameras, headphones, cameras and so on. The transmit signal is called "Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum" (FHSS) and is a wideband signal. In Bluetooth, using the frequency hopping method, the frequency of the FHSS carrier signal hops 1600 times per second, 79 operating frequencies are used for this purpose. For each connection, the frequency changes in a pseudo-random way.

According to these changes, for every 625 μs they synchronously move from one frequency to another. This sequence of changes connects several pairs of receiver-transmitter without blocking the work of other pairs of connections. A feature of signal transmission is that the transmitted information remains confidential. Digital data and audio signals are encoded differently: the audio signal is usually not repeated, and digital data is retransmitted when lost. With the help of such signals, devices can transmit information to each other at a distance of 10 - 100 meters, even when placed in different rooms.

For many people, such devices seem complicated and unnecessary. We are used to the more familiar cable connection. It is Bluetooth technology that opens information communications of various devices in a completely new way. Bluetooth devices are essential in modern life and are used for work, leisure and entertainment. Bluetooth devices are headsets, car kits, speakers, and others. One of the most popular devices is bluetooth headset designed for speakerphone. Also, Bluetooth for the phone allows you to talk on the phone without holding it in your hands.

We usually take Bluetooth for a laptop for granted, but whether the Bluetooth function is installed or bluetooth settings for the computer is out of order - this can be easily checked through the "Device Manager", Bluetooth will be listed in network adapters if it is not there - download Bluetooth and it won't be too hard to install. Bluetooth equipment is characterized by reliability, resistance to broadband interference, cost-effectiveness, and low power and energy consumption.

Majority Bluetooth devices have a separate USB interface and an internal antenna. Such devices can interact with both personal computers and laptops. They are considered universal, but there is also a category of devices that is designed to be installed inside computers. They are made in the form of boards located in slots. motherboards computer (reminiscent of USB flash drives). Thanks to the sensitivity external antenna The range of Bluetooth devices can be extended up to 200 meters.

Many people think that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are one and the same, but this is a deep misconception. Bluetooth was created to transfer data between two devices with a range of up to 100 meters, it works according to its Bluetooth 1.0 and Bluetooth 2.0 and other standards, it is also very easy to use, using Bluetooth you can only create a PAN. WiFi is also a standard wireless communication, the range of which can reach 300 meters, Wi-Fi works according to 802.11 b / g / n / standards with the obligatory use of an adapter (router) for communication, creates a wireless local network WLAN, which can be used by several different devices.

The presence of Bluetooth technology allows for interactive conferences, Internet bridges, automatic data synchronization between different digital devices, allows you to enjoy your desktop without cables, and also solves various network tasks at home and in the office. Bluetooth in a laptop will delight its owner when traveling or on business trips. To buy Bluetooth, you should definitely consult with the seller and clarify the specific features of this type of technology.

Bluetooth technology is spreading effectively in the global market the latest technologies. Actively issued Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones, for laptops, printers, keyboards, mice. The Bluetooth standard company aims to improve wireless Bluetooth communications and the implementation of new Bluetooth profiles.

Bluetooth provides information exchange between devices such as personal computers(desktop, handheld, laptops), mobile phones, printers, digital cameras, mice, keyboards, joysticks, headphones, headsets on reliable, free, ubiquitous short range radio frequency.

Bluetooth allows these devices to communicate when they are within a radius of up to 100 meters from each other (the range is highly dependent on obstacles and interference), even in different rooms.

Name and logo

The word Bluetooth is the English translation of the Danish word "Blåtand" ("Blue-toothed"). This nickname was worn by King Harald I, who ruled Denmark and part of Norway in the 10th century and united the warring Danish tribes into a single kingdom. It is understood that Bluetooth does the same with communication protocols, combining them into one universal standard. Although "blå" means "blue" in modern Scandinavian languages, it could also mean "black in color" in Viking times. Thus it would be historically correct to translate the Danish Harald Blåtand as Harald Blacktooth rather than as Harald Bluetooth.

bluetooth logo is a combination of two Nordic ("Scandinavian") runes: "haglaz" (Hagall) - an analogue of the Latin H and "berkan" (Berkanan) - the Latin B. The logo is similar to the older logo for Beauknit Textiles, a division of Beauknit Corporation. It uses a fusion of reflected K and B for "Beauknit", it's wider and has rounded corners, but it's basically the same.
History of creation and development

Bluetooth specification was developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), which was founded in 1998. It includes Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Toshiba and Nokia. Subsequently, the Bluetooth SIG and the IEEE reached an agreement whereby the Bluetooth specification became part of the IEEE 802.15.1 standard (published on June 14, 2002). Ericsson Mobile Communication began work on the creation of Bluetooth in 1994. Initially, this technology was adapted to the needs of the FLYWAY system in functional interface between travelers and the system.

How Bluetooth works

The principle of operation is based on the use of radio waves. Bluetooth radio communication is carried out in the ISM band (Eng. Industry, Science and Medicine), which is used in various household appliances and wireless networks(License free band 2.4-2.4835 GHz). Bluetooth uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) to spread spectrum. The FHSS method is easy to implement, provides resistance to broadband interference, and the equipment is inexpensive.

According to the FHSS algorithm, in Bluetooth, the carrier frequency of the signal hops 1600 times per second (a total of 79 operating frequencies 1 MHz wide are allocated, and in Japan, France and Spain the band is already 23 frequency channels). The switching sequence between frequencies for each connection is pseudo-random and is known only to the transmitter and receiver, which every 625 µs (one time slot) are synchronously tuned from one carrier frequency to another. Thus, if several pairs of receiver-transmitter work side by side, they do not interfere with each other. This algorithm is also integral part systems for protecting the confidentiality of transmitted information: the transition occurs according to a pseudo-random algorithm and is determined separately for each connection. When transmitting digital data and audio (64 kbps in both directions), different coding schemes are used: the audio signal is not repeated (as a rule), and digital data will be retransmitted if the information packet is lost.



Specifications

Bluetooth 1.0

Device versions 1.0 (1998) and 1.0B had poor compatibility between products from different manufacturers. In 1.0 and 1.0B, the transfer of the device address (BD_ADDR) was mandatory at the stage of establishing a connection, which made it impossible to implement the anonymity of the connection at the protocol level and was the main drawback of this specification.

Bluetooth 1.1

Bluetooth 1.1 fixed many bugs found in 1.0B, added support for unencrypted channels, received signal strength indication (RSSI).

Bluetooth 1.2

In version 1.2, adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) technology was added, which improved the resistance to electromagnetic interference (interference) by using frequency separations in the hopping sequence. Also, the transmission speed increased and eSCO technology was added, which improved the quality of voice transmission by repeating damaged packets. HCI adds support for a 3-wire UART interface.

Major improvements include the following:
Fast connection and discovery.
Adaptive Frequency Spreading (AFH), which improves immunity to radio interference.
Higher than in 1.1, data transfer rates, almost up to 721 kbps.
Enhanced Synchronous Connections (eSCO), which improve the voice quality of the audio stream by allowing retransmission of corrupted packets, and can optionally increase audio latency to provide better support for parallel data transmission.
Support for the 3-wire UART interface has been added to the Host Controller Interface (HCI).
Approved as IEEE Standard 802.15.1-2005.
Introduced Flow Control and Retransmission Modes for L2CAP.

Bluetooth 2.0+EDR

Bluetooth version 2.0 was released on November 10, 2004. Has backwards compatible With previous versions 1.x. The main innovation was the support for Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) to speed up data transfer. The nominal EDR speed is about 3 Mbps, but in practice this allowed to increase the data transfer rate only up to 2.1 Mbps. Additional performance is achieved using various radio technologies for data transmission.

The standard (basic) data rate uses GFSK modulation of the radio signal at a rate of 1 Mbps. EDR uses a mix of GFSK and PSK modulations with two options, π/4-DQPSK and 8DPSK. They have high data rates over the air - 2 and 3 Mbps, respectively.

The Bluetooth SIG published the specification as "Bluetooth 2.0 Technology + EDR", which implies that EDR is additional function. Other than EDR, there are other minor enhancements to the 2.0 specification, and products may comply with "Bluetooth 2.0 Technology" without supporting higher data rates. At least one commercial device, the HTC TyTN Pocket PC, uses "Bluetooth 2.0 without EDR" in its technical specifications.

According to the 2.0+EDR specification, EDR provides the following benefits:
Up to 3x (2.1 Mbps) transmission rate increase in some cases.
Reduce the complexity of multiple simultaneous connections due to additional bandwidth.
Lower energy consumption due to reduced load.

Bluetooth 2.1

2007 Added technology for advanced request for device characteristics (for additional filtering of the list when pairing), energy-saving Sniff Subrating technology, which allows you to increase the duration of the device from a single battery charge by 3-10 times. In addition, the updated specification greatly simplifies and speeds up the establishment of communication between two devices, allows updating the encryption key without breaking the connection, and also makes these connections more secure, thanks to the use of Near Field Communication technology.

Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

In August 2008, the Bluetooth SIG released version 2.1+EDR. The new edition of Bluetooth reduces power consumption by 5 times, increases the level of data protection and makes it easier to recognize and connect Bluetooth devices by reducing the number of steps it takes.

Bluetooth 3.0+HS

3.0+HS was adopted by the Bluetooth SIG on April 21, 2009. It supports theoretical data transfer rates up to 24 Mbps. Its main feature is the addition of AMP (Asymmetric Multiprocessing) (alternatively MAC/PHY), an addition to 802.11 as a high speed message. Two technologies have been provided for AMP: 802.11 and UWB, but UWB is not in the specification.

Modules with support for the new specification combine two radio systems: the first provides data transfer at 3 Mbps (standard for Bluetooth 2.0) and has low power consumption; the second is compatible with the 802.11 standard and provides the ability to transfer data at speeds up to 24 Mbps (comparable to the speed WiFi networks). The choice of radio system for data transmission depends on the size transferred file. Small files are transferred over a slow channel, while large files are transferred over a high-speed one. Bluetooth 3.0 uses more common standard 802.11 (no suffix), meaning it is not compatible with Wi-Fi specifications such as 802.11b/g or 802.11n.

Bluetooth 4.0

The Bluetooth SIG approved the Bluetooth 4.0 specification on June 30, 2010. Bluetooth 4.0 includes the Classic Bluetooth, High Speed ​​Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy protocols. High Speed ​​Bluetooth is based on Wi-Fi, while Classic Bluetooth is made up of protocols from previous Bluetooth specifications.

The Bluetooth low energy protocol is intended primarily for miniature electronic sensors (used in sports shoes, exercise equipment, miniature sensors placed on the body of patients, etc.). Low power consumption is achieved through the use of a special operation algorithm. The transmitter is switched on only for the time of sending data, which ensures the possibility of operation from one CR2032 battery for several years. The standard provides a data transfer rate of 1 Mbps with a data packet size of 8-27 bytes. AT new version two Bluetooth devices can establish a connection in less than 5 milliseconds and maintain it at a distance of up to 100 m. For this, advanced error correction is used, and 128-bit AES encryption provides the necessary level of security.

Sensors for temperature, pressure, humidity, speed of movement, etc. based on this standard can transmit information to various control devices: mobile phones, PDAs, PCs, etc.

The first chip Bluetooth enabled 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 was released by ST-Ericsson at the end of 2009.

Bluetooth 4.0 is supported in Macbook Air and Mac mini (since July 2011), iMac (November 2012), iPhone 4S (October 2011) and iPhone 5 (September 2012), iPad 3 (March 2012), LG Optimus 4X HD smartphones (February 2012) ), HTC One X, S, V and samsung galaxy S III (May 2012), Explay Infinity (August 2012), HTC One X+ (2012), HTC Desire C, Google Nexus 7 (2012), Sony VAIO SVE1511N1RSI.

Many people use Bluetooth technology to exchange data, but do not know what it is, and perhaps some are only going to use it. This article will briefly describe what Bluetooth is; how this kind of radio communication works; where it is used and how to use Bluetooth on your computer.

Bluetooth is a wireless radio standard that communicates over short distances. different types devices and designed to create personal networks. Bluetooth technology uses the same 2.4 GHz operating frequency as 802.11b and 802.11g wireless standards, but in turn consumes less power during operation.

Low power consumption results in a much narrower range and slower data transfer rates, but this connection method has found its niche and is used almost everywhere.
There are three classes of Bluetooth radios. Class 1, used for industrial purposes and providing a range of up to 100 meters; while 100 mW is used for power supply. Class 2 is the most widely used radio channel, using only 2.5 mW and providing a range of up to 10 meters. Class 3 uses 1 mW for power, but the coverage radius is only 1 meter.


This technology is used in many devices that have Bluetooth chips. The most common use of mobile phones is to communicate with computers, headsets and other devices. This type of connection allows remote control game consoles, many tablets and laptops also have Bluetooth chips. There are other Bluetooth-enabled devices: wireless mice and keyboards, car audio systems, and so on.

A Bit of Bluetooth History

The term Bluetooth is associated with the 10th century Danish ruler Harald Blåtand - or Harald Bluetooth in English. He was the first ruler to unite the warring factions now called Norway, Sweden and Denmark. If you translate Bluetooth, you get the phrase “titmouse tooth”, you can see Bluetooth or Bluetooth much more often.

Bluetooth was invented by the Swedish company Ericsson in 1994. Since 1998, the standard has been managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the body that oversees the development of Bluetooth standards, licenses Bluetooth technologies, and trademarks to manufacturers. This organization is focused on the development of the standard, new versions, but not the production and sale of Bluetooth products, leaving such an opportunity to licensed manufacturers.

The latest standard versions used in most modern devices Bluetooth 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 - 4.2.

Bluetooth 3.0 is used in most modern smartphones and other devices. The standard was adopted on 21 April 2009 and provides for theoretical data rates up to 24 Mbit/s.

Bluetooth 4.0 is an improvement over version 3.0 and provides lower power consumption at the same transmission speed. The standard was adopted on June 30, 2010, and the number of devices using this version is growing steadily. One of the most famous smartphones Those using this version are the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S3.


The most up-to-date, at the time of this article's release, is Bluetooth 4.2, introduced on December 3, 2014.

How to use Bluetooth on your computer?

Bluetooth is integrated into almost every smartphone and tablet, and is also available in a number of laptops. But the presence of Bluetooth chips in stationary computers rather an exception to the rule.

Therefore, the only way to have Bluetooth on desktop computer becomes the acquisition of a small size Bluetooth adapter with USB connection interface. Such adapters can be found in almost any computer store.


When choosing a Bluetooth adapter, you need to pay attention to the supported version of Bluetooth. You need to purchase at least version 3.0, if not 4.0 or later. Typically, the cheapest USB adapters only provide support for Bluetooth version 2.1. More expensive adapters tend to support the latest versions.

The installation of such devices usually takes place in automatic mode (plug and play). Windows 7, 8 or 10 simply detects the Bluetooth USB adapter and installs its drivers automatically. The device can then be used immediately.

If a operating system does not find the device driver, you need to use the CD that came with the device, or search for drivers on the manufacturer's website. You can use a dedicated utility to expand communication capabilities.


When the Bluetooth module is running on the computer, you can see its blue icon in the taskbar notification area. If the Bluetooth icon is not there, it means that the installation was not completed correctly or there is no Bluetooth at all.

So, now it has become clear what Bluetooth is, the principles of its operation, the possibilities and methods of use. But there is a Wi-Fi Direct communication standard, which has advantages over Bluetooth and therefore has every chance of replacing it.

Most modern phones among the many functions, you will definitely find an icon consisting of blue crossed lines.

This means that the phone has bluetooth technology- extremely useful feature, which you can use to use a wireless headset or share files with friends. What is Bluetooth and how does it work? Let's find the answer to this question together.

Translated from of English language word Bluetooth has the meaning "Blue Tooth". This is how the developers of the universal wireless communication protocol, employees of the Swedish company Ericsson, called their product.

The name was chosen by them in honor of the ancient Scandinavian king Harald Sinezuba (Blåtand) who united the disparate lands under his sole authority. Bluetooth also merged wireless standards different manufacturers into a common protocol.

Interestingly, the Bluetooth icon is a combination of two ancient Scandinavian runes that serve as the initial letters of the king's name. These are the runes "hagala", similar to a snowflake, and "berkana", resembling the letter "B". Their combination formed the world-famous Bluetooth technology icon today.

Bluetooth technology can be used not only, but also in other devices - desktop computers, laptops, tablets, etc. But if Bluetooth was not provided there initially, then in order to use it, you need to purchase and install a special Bluetooth adapter.



it small device, externally resembling a regular USB flash drive and connected to a computer via USB port. The first time you connect the adapter, you may need to install drivers that are already in the device's memory.

After installation, the user gets the opportunity to connect his phone or tablet to the computer without a cord, using Bluetooth. This is very convenient, as it allows you to download large files and folders with photos, music, games, etc. much faster.

Bluetooth is a special data transmission standard using wireless communication, i.e. using waveforms. While conventional mobile communications require cell sites, Bluetooth works directly by communicating with a nearby phone without the mediation of a cell. The range of its signal is small - no more than 50-100 meters, depending on the power of the phone and installed version bluetooth.

The communication technology is designed in such a way that several devices communicating and located side by side do not interfere with each other. This is achieved by a protocol for encoding and signaling between devices. When Bluetooth is turned on, the phone independently scans the surrounding area to detect other Bluetooth devices, recognizes them and forms a list of possible contacts.

You just have to choose from this list the device with which you want to contact via Bluetooth and establish contact. A simple, intuitive menu makes it possible for each user to have no difficulty in communicating.

First of all, Bluetooth technology was developed for a wireless headset.



With its help, the user gets the opportunity to listen to music or talk on a "hands-free" connection without using wires for headphones and a microphone. This is very convenient, as it allows you to move freely without worrying that the wire will get tangled or caught on clothes.

In addition, with the help of Bluetooth, you can keep in touch between two phones, talking like a regular mobile phone, but for free. A few years ago, this was a fairly valuable property, since mobile connection was expensive and paid by the minute.

True, it was possible to use Bluetooth for conversations only in those cases when the interlocutors were close to each other - for example, in neighboring offices or apartments. Much more often, Bluetooth comes to the rescue if you need to exchange files by transferring them from one phone to another or from phone to computer. The exchange is very fast, unlike data transfer via a USB cable.

If your Bluetooth is not working, there may be several reasons for this:

You forgot to turn it on - no matter how stupid it sounds, but people are often inattentive;