‘Bluetooth Low Energy’ In Contrast With Classic Bluetooth

New-fangled technologies are being pedestal on the grounds of existing ones. We all have used Bluetooth to transfer files repeatedly. Bluetooth is a wireless intermediate to swap over data within a petite realm of virtually connected devices. The phenomenon sets up a personal area network (PAN) around the associated gadgets. Bluetooth manoeuvres at frequencies between 2400 and 2483.5 MHz.

Bluetooth implements radio technology called frequency-hopping spread spectrum, a method that passes on radio signals by promptly switching a carriage holding data within the defined frequency lines.  Bluetooth splits the sent data into tiny units called packets, and then transmits each packet on the nominal Bluetooth channels. Each channel has a bandwidth of 1 MHz.

The inception of Bluetooth Low Energy was called Bluetooth Ultra Low Power. In early 2001, it was WiBree, “Wi” come from wireless and “Bree” we all know that it was from the Lord of the Rings. For those who are not a Lord of the Rings fans, the town where the two major roads, the Great East Road and Greenway, crossed was Bree.

Now the market refers Bluetooth low energy as Smart Bluetooth. It utilizes less power consumption that comes with reasonable price while maintaining the quality and range of the connection. The wireless technology also curls up the Personal Area Network. It endeavours virtuous application in sectors such security, healthcare, beacon etc.

The number of slaves in Bluetooth low energy depends on the memory available.  The slave broadcast that data is to be transmitted to other device by the help of the new advertising functionality. Advertising messages includes an event or a measurement value.

Nordic-demonstrates-ANT-and-Bluetooth-low-energy-applications-and-appcessories-at-CES-2013

Signal values, presentation format, client configuration etc are inscribed by attributes. The marks of these attributes and their usability enables to build  services and profiles such as battery, proximity, automation I/O,  fitness building automation, lighting, and medical devices. All these factors are required to make the implementation seamless and compatible between devices from different manufacturers.

Be it a Classic or low energy, the behaviour of the connection is defined by the Bluetooth profiles implemented by the device. The devices can be connected if they are installed with same Bluetooth profile. However, there are some major differences that categorizes the sister technologies differently.

To consider the serial port emulation, Classic Bluetooth technology provides the serial port profile (SPP) for emulation of serial data connections. Whereas Bluetooth low energy technology provides no such support in the standard Specification.

Due to the discrepancy in the connection model, many profiles are not compatible for Bluetooth low energy technology. The Classic Bluetooth is the basic model hence, scenarios that are not part of Bluetooth low energy technology include headset (HSP), object exchange (OBEX), audio distribution (A2DP), video distribution (VDP), and file transfer (FTP).

Smart Bluetooth compasses a higher modulation index and requires 2 MHz bandwidth instead of 1 MHz like Classic Bluetooth. BLE is very fast and swift for pairing and reconnecting. It needs 6 ms, while classic Bluetooth need up to 6 seconds!

To conclude Smart Bluetooth is on higher end winning over the market, waiting to be integrated into other successful technologies like Internet of Things.

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