Introduction to BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE

What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a short range radio comunication system desinged for communication of devices like mobile phones, PDAs, notebooks, PCs, printers, headsets etc, wirelessly with fairly low power consumption. Designed as a cheaper alternative to replace connections established via cables,wirelessly between two paired devices Bluetooth technology is used primarily to establish wireless personal area networks (WPAN), commonly referred to as ad hoc or peerto-peer (P2P) networks.

ARCHITECTURE
The Bluetooth stack has the following components: RF portion for reception and transmission Baseband portion with microcontroller Link control unit Link manager to support lower-layer protocols Interface to the host device Host processor to support upper-layer protocols L2CAP to support upper-layer protocols

The radio frequency (RF) portion provides the digital signal processing component of the system, and the baseband processes these signals. The link controller handles all the baseband functions and supports the link manager. It sends and receives data, identifies the sending device,performs authentication, and determines the type of frame to use for sending transmissions. It also directs how devices listen for transmissions from other devices and can move devices into power-saving modes. The link manager, located on top of the link controller, controls setup, authentication, link configuration, and other low-level protocols. Together, the baseband and the link manager establish connections for the network. The host controller interface (HCI) communicates the lower-layer protocols to the host device (mobile computer or mobile phone, for example). The host contains a processor, the L2CAP, which supports the upper-layer protocols and communicates between upper and lower layers. Another element in the Bluetooth stack that relates to radio communications is the RFCOMM protocol, which allows for the emulation of serial ports over the L2CAP. The Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) provides the means for Bluetooth applications to discover the services and the characteristics of the available services that are unique to Bluetooth. The Bluetooth device manager provides for device inquiry and connection management services.

Key Benefits
Cable replacement. Bluetooth technology replaces a variety of cables, such as those traditionally used for peripheral devices (e.g., mouse and keyboard connections), printers, and wireless headsets and ear buds that interface with personal computers (PC) or mobile telephones. Ease of file sharing. A Bluetooth-enabled device can form a piconet to support file sharing capabilities with other Bluetooth devices, such as laptops. Wireless synchronization. Bluetooth provides automatic synchronization between Bluetooth-enabled devices. For example, Bluetooth allows synchronization of contact information contained in electronic address books and calendars. Internet connectivity. A Bluetooth device with Internet connectivity can share that access with other Bluetooth devices. For example, a laptop can use a Bluetooth connection to have a mobile phone establish a dial-up connection, so that the laptop can access the Internet through the phone.

Operational Specifications
Unlicensed 2.4 GHz radio band
ISM band Used by microwave ovens, 802.11 Fast Frequency Hopping
1600 hops per second

79 channels 1 MHz spacing 200 s switching time

6

How does it work?

Bluetooth technology sends information within your own personal space, which is called your Personal Area Network or "PAN" at distances up to 50 meters (164 feet).

 Bluetooth operates in the unlicensed 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) to 2.4835 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band

Bluetooth employs frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology for all transmissions

Bluetooth also provides for radio link power control, where devices can negotiate and adjust their radio power according to signal strength measurements

The connected devices however, must agree upon the frequency they will use next. The specification in Bluetooth ensures this in two ways. First, it defines a master and slave type relationship between bluetooth devices. Next, it specifies an algorithm that uses device specific information when calculating the frequency hop sequences.

A Bluetooth device that operates in master mode can communicate with up to seven devices that are set in slave mode. To each of the slaves, the master Bluetooth device will send its own unique address and the value of its own internal clock. The information sent is then used to calculate the frequency hop sequences.

Because the master device and each of the slave devices use the same algorithm with the same initial input, the connected devices will always arrive together at the next frequency that they have agreed upon.

As a replacement for cable technology, it's no wonder that Bluetooth devices are usually battery powered, such as wireless mice and battery powered cell phones.

To conserve the power, most devices operate in low power. This helps to give Bluetooth devices a range of around 5 - 10 meters

Features
Data & Voice Transfer
You can use Bluetooth for data transfer or voice communication; or both at the same time

Small size Bluetooth doesn't take much space at all. The Bluetooth radio can be built in a small microchip that can then be integrated to any electronic device. Your phone might have the technology and it doesn't even take more space than one or two number keys.

Range Bluetooth is based on short radio transmissions and the regular range for the Bluetooth radius is 10 metres. With an upgrade of your equipment, however, and you can extend that tenfold into 100 metres, which is great for such a portable technology Bandwidth You can do more with your Bluetooth. The maximum data transfer rate is 724 kbits/s for a maximum of three voice channels (plus data.)

Security Measures
Two different security mechanisms have been implemented to ensure a high level of security:
Authentication - This prevents access to critical data and makes it impossible to falsify the origin of any message. Encryption - This prevents anyone from eavesdropping on you and maintain the privacy of the link.

Worldwide availability Use it anywhere. The radio operates in the 2.45 GHz band, which is license-free and available to any radio system in the world. Fast Linking You can establish a link between two or more devices before the time that it takes you to read this sentence aloud. And the link stays on even if there is no line of sight between the products. Strong Linking Under normal circumstances you will not be bothered by interference from any other radio signals operating in the same frequency band.

Intelligent Technology
The Bluetooth radio is very economical and intelligent. It limits the output power to exactly what it needs to get the job done. Transmit something to a couple of metres away and the radio immediately modifies the signal strength to suit the small distance. It only consumes a tiny fraction of the power a regular mobile phone needs.

Power & Range

Basic 10m range(0 dBm radio) Extended 100m range(20 dBm) Power classes
Class 1
Maximum output power: 100mW (20dBm) Minimum output power: 1mW (0dBm)

Class 2
Maximum output power: 2.5mW (4dBm) Minimum output power: 0.25mW (-6dBm)

Class 3
Maximum output power: 1mW (0dBm)

Device power lifetime is measured in weeks to months

Applications in the future

As Bluetooth wireless technology is incorporated in more personal mobile devices, it enables new uses for those devices. Retail and Mobile e-Commerce:
payment medium for goods and services. Any terminal could incorporate Bluetooth wireless technology and thus connect to other Bluetooth devices to complete retail transactions.

Medical:
Remote patient monitoring Wireless biometric data Medicine dispensers

Home Networking:
A mobile phone could be used as a cordless phone via a Bluetooth voice access point (base station) Portable computers could be used at home through wireless dial-up networking or a data access point

Zigbee
Designed for low data-rate systems
Lighting Heating/Cooling Appliances

Extremely Low Power users expect battery to last months to years

Devices have lifetime measured in years

High density of nodes per network Simple protocol.global implementation Standard in fragmented market many proprietary solutions,interoperability issues

Zigbee-Characteristics
Data rates of 250 kbps and 20 kbps Star topology, peer to peer possible 255 devices per network CSMA-CA channel access Optional Guaranteed Time Slot Fully handshaked protocol for transfer reliability Extremely low duty-cycle (<0.1%) Range: 10m nominal (1-100m based on settings) Location Aware: Yes, but optional

Zigbee-Operational Specifications
2.4 GHz Band
16-ary O-QPSK Sixteen 5 MHz channels Data-rate up to 250 Kbps

868/915 MHz Band

BPSK 868 MHz European ISM band
One 2 MHz channel 20 kbps

915 MHz North American ISM band

Ten 2 MHz channels 40 kbps

DSSS Chooses from 16 nearly orthogonal PN sequences

Zigbee-Power & Range

Scalable transmit power to meet range requirements Low power
1 mW transmit power 10~20m range

High power
60 mW transmit power 100m range

Architecture
the software stack comprises three basic levels: Application level ZigBee Stack level Physical/Data Link level These levels are described below. Application Level contains the applications that run on the network node. give the device its functionality - essentially an application converts input into digital data, and/or converts digital data into output. A single node may run several applications - for example, an environmental sensor may contain separate applications to measure temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. ZigBee Stack Level provides the ZigBee functionality, and provides the glue between the applications and the Physical/Data Link level. It consists of stack layers concerned with network structure, routing and security (encryption, key management and authentication).

Physical/Data Link Level The Physical/Data Link level is concerned with low-level network operation such as addressing and message transmission/reception. It is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard and comprises the following two layers: MAC (Media Access Control) sub-layer PHY (Physical) layer

Device Types
ZigBee coordinator (ZC): The most capable device, the coordinator forms the root of the network tree and might bridge to other networks. There is exactly one ZigBee coordinator in each network since it is the device that started the network originally. It is able to store information about the network, including acting as the Trust Center & repository for security keys. ZigBee Router (ZR): As well as running an application function, a router can act as an intermediate router, passing on data from other devices. ZigBee End Device (ZED): Contains just enough functionality to talk to the parent node (either the coordinator or a router); it cannot relay data from other devices. This relationship allows the node to be asleep a significant amount of the time thereby giving long battery life. A ZED requires the least amount of memory, and therefore can be less expensive to manufacture than a ZR or ZC.

Protocols
The protocols build on recent algorithmic research (Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector, neuRFon) to automatically construct a low-speed ad-hoc network of nodes. In non-beacon-enabled networks, an unslotted CSMA/CA channel access mechanism is used. ZigBee Routers typically have their receivers continuously active, requiring a more robust power supply.. In beacon-enabled networks,ZigBee Routers transmit periodic beacons to confirm their presence to other network nodes. Nodes may sleep between beacons, thus lowering their duty cycle and extending their battery life. The ZigBee protocols minimize the time the radio is on, so as to reduce power use. In beaconing networks, nodes only need to be active while a beacon is being transmitted. In non-beacon-enabled networks, power consumption is decidedly asymmetrical: some devices are always active, while others spend most of their time sleeping.

Applications
Home Entertainment and Control Home automation, smart lighting, advanced temperature control, safety and security, movies and music Wireless Sensor Networks Starting with individual sensors like Telosb/Tmote and Iris from Memsic Industrial control Embedded sensing Medical data collection Smoke and intruder warning Building automation

Zigbee-Target Markets
Monitors Sensors Automation Control

Industrial & Commercial

Consumer Electronics

TV VCR DVD CD Remote

PC Peripherals Personal Healthcare

Monitors Diagnostics Sensors

Low Data Rate Radio Devices

Mouse Keyboard Joystick Gamepad

Toys & Games

PETs Gameboys Educational

Home Automation

Security HVAC Lighting Closures

Application Profiles
The current list of application profiles either published, or in the works are: Released specifications
ZigBee Home Automation ZigBee Smart Energy 1.0 ZigBee Telecommunication Services ZigBee Health Care ZigBee RF4CE - Remote Control ZigBee Smart Energy 2.0 ZigBee Building Automation ZigBee Retail Services ZigBee Light Link

Specifications under development

The IEEE 802 Wireless Space

WWAN IEEE 802.22 IEEE 802.20

R a n g e

WMAN

WiMax IEEE 802.16

ZigBee 802.15.4 Bluetooth 15.4c 802.15.1

WLAN

WiFi 802.11

WPAN 0.01

802.15.3 802.15.3c 100 1000

0.1

ZigBee standard uniquely fills a gap for low data rate applications

1 10 Data Rate (Mbps)

Bluetooth vs Zigbee
Size/Complexity Timing Considerations Power Considerations Cost Standpoint Solution Prices

ZigBee Protocol Stack Size/Complexity

Application
Application Interface Network Layer Data Link Layer MAC Layer MAC Layer PHY Layer
Silicon ZigBee Stack Application

Bluetooth Protocol Stack Size/Complexity

User Interface
Group Call Cordless Intercom Headset vMessage Dial-up Networking vCard vNote vCal

Fax

Voice

Telephony Control Protocol

OBEX RFCOMM
(Serial Port)

Service Discovery Protocol

HOST

L2CAP Host Control Interface

Link Manager

Link Controller
Baseband RF
Silicon Bluetooth Stack Applications

MODULE

Timing Considerations
ZigBee:
New slave enumeration = 30ms typically Sleeping slave changing to active = 15ms typically Active slave channel access time = 15ms typically

Bluetooth:
New slave enumeration = >3s Sleeping slave changing to active = 3s typically Active slave channel access time = 2ms typically

ZigBee protocol is optimized for timing critical applications

Power Considerations
ZigBee
2+ years from normal batteries Designed to optimise slave power requirements

Bluetooth
Power model as a mobile phone (regular charging) Designed to maximise ad-hoc functionality
Application example of a light switch with respect to latency and power consumption ...

Cost Standpoint
ZigBee:
Minimum slave cost Minimum software and processing (80C51), no host platform System design for eventual single-chip antenna-to-application realisation

Bluetooth:
Low added cost connectivity Take advantage of host processor power (ARM7) 802.11 functionality but with simplified r.f. specifications

Solution Prices
ZigBee:
Price 2003 - $6 Price 2005 - $1.5-2.5

Bluetooth:
Price Now - $10 Price 2005 - $5

Two different solutions optimised for different applications...

Bluetooth vs Zigbee