The updated protocol for wireless data exchange Bluetooth 4.1 should be released this year. The new version of the “blue tooth” will allow the device to directly interact with this standard and the cloud service. If the current version of Bluetooth 4.0 has a range of 30 m, not allowing mobile devices and PCs to exchange files at a distance exceeding this value, then the Bluetooth 4.1 wireless connection will be able, using cloud capabilities for its own purposes, to significantly (albeit indirectly) expand the limit current range.
What exactly is the advantage of this innovation? Considering the growing popularity of fitness gadgets and wearable devices, by equipping their device with a module supporting Bluetooth 4.1, the manufacturer will be able to remove the middle link in the chain “gadget - smartphone/tablet - access to cloud service” and implement the connection directly, bypassing additional interfaces, etc. .
In principle, from a technical point of view, it is possible to implement a connection to the cloud infrastructure today, but for this it is necessary to use various kinds of network devices and so-called hubs with a full-fledged operating system, the role of which can be taken on by mobile electronics.
It is planned that the new Bluetooth network will become a truly huge infrastructure with a completely new approach to the interaction of all kinds of portable electronics and conventional equipment. Ultimately, this will allow the implementation of an updated principle of remote monitoring and control. For example, data directly from a wearable medical device can immediately go to the cloud system, and from there it will go to the mobile device of your treating doctor. And a patient who owns a wearable gadget that supports Bluetooth 4.1 technology does not need to be located in close proximity to the doctor.
A module with Bluetooth 4.1 will be able to take on the role of a hub, receiving signals from other Bluetooth devices. The final specifications of the Bluetooth 4.1 protocol should be finalized by the end of this year, and developers should focus on two key areas: the Low-Power component of the updated technology with a focus on popular wearable devices, as well as full-fledged Bluetooth 4.1 with radio frequency control functions and a focus on the use of the module in personal computers and laptops.
The Bluedio brand has rapidly burst into the audio accessories market and is trying to earn its place in the sun.
In its consumer basket there are already quite a few models of headsets for every taste and color.
I've seen several reviews of other Bluedio models in the past, not all of them were positive, especially in terms of sound quality.
But I've seen overwhelmingly good reviews about this Q5 model.
Have you learned how to do it?
Let's check, there is something to compare with.
They arrive in this branded box.
Hurricane inscription on the side :) 
I am pleasantly surprised by the presence of performance characteristics in Russian on the box. 
* Bluetooth 4.1 (compatible with all previous versions as well)
* bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
* stated music playback time is 7 hours, check below
* protection from moisture and sweat
* silicone ear adapter
* electronic noise reduction
*simultaneous connection to 2 audio sources
* cool clear sound technology in headphones
* built-in equalizer (something doesn’t work) 
Inside in a blister:
* the headset itself
* charging cable micro USB -> USB
* instructions in several languages (there is no Russian here)
* two pairs extra. ear tips and silicone ear holders 
Micro USB connector of regular size, not extended, cable length 1M. 
Headsets in this series come in three colors: green, red, blue; it’s a pity there are no calmer colors of black and white.
The cable length between the two halves is 60cm. 
The black parts of the case are glossy plastic, they easily catch fingerprints, I would prefer soft touch material. 
All control is concentrated on the right ear.
The big green button labeled Bluedio performs the following roles:
* turn on/off the headset, to do this you need to hold it for 5 seconds
* when pressed once while listening to music, pauses / continues playing
* when calling, answers the call / ends the call
* if you hold for 2 seconds during an incoming call - reject the call
* double click - call back the last number dialed
* when pressed once, the audio player starts
* holding for 2 seconds starts voice dialing, the smartphone must support this 
The volume buttons are located on a green plastic insert; when worn, they are located on the front.
They control the volume of music, conversation during a call, and when held, switch the track forward/backward. 
The charging socket is covered with a green rubber plug. 
Externally, the headset looks stylish, has a comfortable size and weighs 17g. 
For mounting the so-called T-light adapters, there are special guides on the headset body.
I recommend doing this right away, because... It’s really much more convenient with them, the headset fits in the ears very well, doesn’t fall out and drowns out external noise. 
It is attached to the ear like this: 
Everyone chooses the bending angle of the nozzle to suit their ear, because... Everyone's ears are very different.
It pairs easily with other devices, the standard pin code is 0000.
I paired the headset with a smartphone with Bluetooth 4.0, with a transmitter with Bluetooth 3.0 and with a netbook with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.
To pair, just hold the power button a little longer than for normal switching, the blue LED will start blinking, then use your smartphone or computer to look for the device and add it.
Under Win8.1, several Q5 devices are created in the sections Bluetooth, audio devices, HID devices. 
Pairing process with two devices:
1) turn on the headset in pairing mode
2) using a smartphone1 we look for her and mate
3) turn off bluetooth on your smartphone1 and turn off the headset
4) turn on the headset in pairing mode
5) look for her on your smartphone2 and mate
6) turn on bluetooth on your smartphone1, the headset will also connect to it automatically
Both devices will output sounds to the headset, and whoever is last is the dad :)
For example, you paired it with a smartphone and a netbook, sit and watch a movie through it on the netbook, then an SMS comes to the smartphone - the sound from the netbook is interrupted, the SMS melody sounds in your ears, then the sound from the netbook is restored.
If you don’t send an SMS, but start music on your smartphone, the headset will switch to music and play until you turn off the music, then it will switch to the netbook if there is still a movie on there. If, while listening to music from your smartphone, you close the movie on your netbook and open it again, the sound will switch to the netbook, because he was the last to give a sound stream. In my opinion, it’s quite normal, watching a movie from a netbook or TV through a transmitter, you won’t miss a call on your smartphone, even if it’s barely bleating somewhere in your bag.
The headset is charged with a current of 0.09A, followed by a decrease to 0.04A at the end. 
During charging, the blue indicator lights up and goes off at the end.
You can use the headset while charging.
By the way, the headset has only one indicator, there is no red one, all events are indicated by lighting or flashing at different frequencies. 
The white tailed tester counted 113 mAh, in 1 hour and 15 minutes, another 15 minutes, the charging current was already below the tailed limit of 50 mA, in total, about 120 mAh was injected in 1.5 hours. 
The headset has sound accompaniment of events of switching on, pairing, etc., speaks English, you can switch to some others, there is no Russian, the volume at this moment is low, it will not scare you away :)
Says phrases: power on, device connected, battery low...
Now let's compare this headset with another from my review. 
Outwardly, both look stylish, I like the case materials better in the black one, there are inserts made of rubberized soft touch, although the outside is also glossy, easily soiled plastic.
Both stay confident in the ears, but the green one is perhaps better due to the extra. silicone hooks.
I prefer the black headboard, because... it is completely fixed on the head, neither the collar nor other parts of clothing interfere with it, nor the cable sticking to the body. There are complaints about the green one in this regard, the wire is too long, it needs to be tucked somewhere, which means it can stick to the body or cling to clothes. I tried to fold it several times and fasten it with ties so that it was completely on my head, but it sags and starts to cling, because... You can’t press it to your hair naturally. As a result, I removed the ties and found the best way, in my opinion - to lower the cable not back, but forward and tuck it into the bosom. In this position, when rotating his head, he does not twitch his ears, does not cling to anything (I mean men:) So everything is ok too.
Green attaches to paired devices much faster and starts working.
More sophisticated hardware has an effect.
It also holds the signal a little better, including because it has a larger buffer for the sound cache. But this also became its disadvantage when playing movies; the delay between video and sound, although still a fraction of a second, is already noticeably higher than that of black.
If you remember, the black sound quality was so-so, mumbling, lack of high frequencies, the equalizer of the players must be used to the fullest.
But the green one pleased me very much with the sound quality!
After all, they didn’t do this work in vain: 
Of course, I understand that everyone hears differently and prefers something different, but after a black headset, green is just earth and sky.
The volume is quite sufficient, I set it to 70 percent on the smart phone and on the headset.
There are plenty of highs and mids, and they haven’t forgotten about the bass, although there is less of it than I like.
Equalizer and Poweramp, and Music Folder Player Free easily pump this headset to the sound you need.
For this headset, for most compositions, you don’t even have to adjust the equalizer, I just increase the bass a little and increase the overall pre-amp, because the sound becomes more powerful and rich.
No wheezing, everything is ok.
I think it doesn’t make sense to compare a $20 headset with expensive professional solutions, but for the average user it’s a very good solution!
At the same time, it drowns out the sounds of the surrounding world well.
Someone will say that he doesn’t like in-ears, to which I will answer: do people around you like to listen to your heavy metal while standing next to you in the subway for 30 minutes? After all, with on-ear headphones, in most cases, you can only drown out the surrounding noise by turning up the track louder; those around you can also hear it very loudly. In-channel ones have no problems with others at all; they are barely audible.
In a loud subway, I can also listen to music quite well; at the peak of the noise, while we are moving from station to station, the low frequencies are drowned out, the rest are still audible.
So in terms of sound, green is the clear leader.
In the mode of listening to music from a smartphone, the green headset lasted 5.5 hours
Not a record, but a good result, the black one had 4h15min.
The green one has a slightly larger battery and a more modern chip; you can clearly hear it going silent in the absence of sound, like in sleep mode. If the smartphone supported Bluetooth 4.1, perhaps the playback time could be longer, but this is not bad for such a size.
But a conversation in headset mode is not so good for your interlocutor; you can hear well, but you can’t hear very well, especially if your interlocutor’s sound from the speaker is not particularly loud. The microphone could have been made better and placed closer to the mouth, although who knows, maybe it also does noise reduction during a conversation, which is why it is so quiet and located on the side?
This drawback does not bother me, because... I prefer to talk without a headset, because, unlike conventional headsets in one ear, with similar ones for two ears and with good noise isolation, you cannot control the volume of your speech, except perhaps only by the sidelong glances of others :)
Although I also spoke on the headset, the interlocutors spoke to me more quietly, but quite normally. So it’s only quiet mobile phones that have problems :)
But the delay when watching a video is worse for me, because... I planned to watch movies from TV via a transmitter, I’ll have to get used to it...
Well, that’s it, the story has dragged on a little.
I wanted to tell you everything I know.
Thank you all for your attention.
Discount coupon.
What is Bluetooth and what is it used with? Basics of technology and date of creation
Bluetooth communication is a wireless technology standard for short-range data exchange that uses short-wave microwave radio waves in the ISM range from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz for data exchange between stationary and mobile devices, and the construction of Personal Area Networks (PAN).
The technology was created by telecommunications supplier Ericsson in 1994 and has become such a part of everyday life that it has become impossible to imagine life without it. Including car life. Initially, the new technology was conceived as a wireless alternative to the RS-232 interface of data cables. Using Bluetooth, various devices can be connected, avoiding synchronization problems and without the use of unnecessary wires.
The Bluetooth specification was developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), which today has a membership of more than 25,000 companies in the telecommunications, computing, networking and consumer electronics industries.
The rise of Bluetooth began with an agreement reached with IEEE, on the basis of which the Bluetooth specification became part of the IEEE 802.15.1 standard. At this time, a number of patents were obtained that appeared during the development of the technology.
The mystery of the Bluetooth name
"Bluetooth" is an incorrect anglicization of the Scandinavian Blåtand/Blåtann, (Old Norse blátǫnn) which was the nickname of King Harald Bluetooth, who lived in the 10th century. He managed to unite the warring Danish tribes into a single kingdom; according to legend, he also introduced Christianity. Following the example of Harald, who united nations, Bluetooth did the same with protocols, combining them into a single universal standard.
And a little more about the name. The word "blå" in modern Scandinavian languages means "blue", but during the time of the Vikings its second meaning also meant "black". Therefore, most likely, Harald, of course, had a black front tooth, but not blue. And in translation, the Danish Harald Blåtand would be more correctly interpreted as Harald Blacktooth, rather than Harald Bluetooth. This is such a historical inaccuracy.
The idea for the name was proposed in 1997 by Jim Kardash, who developed a system that allowed mobile phones to “talk” to computers. At the time of development, Jim was reading the historical novel Viking Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson, which told the story of the Vikings and King Harald Bluetooth. Thus, the novel influenced the name.
The Bluetooth logo combines the two Scandinavian runes “haglaz” and “berkana”.
1998
Five campaigns form Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)
Bluetooth SIG welcomes its 400th member by the end of the year
The Bluetooth name gets official status
1999
Bluetooth 1.0 specification released
Bluetooth at SIG hosts first UnPlugFest developer meetup
Bluetooth technology awarded as "Best of Show Technology Award" at COMDEX
2000
The first Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone hits the market
The first PC card appears
Laptop mouse prototype and demonstrated at CeBIT 2000
USB module prototype shown at COMDEX
The first chip to combine radio frequency, baseband, microprocessor functions and Bluetooth wireless communications software
The first headset goes on sale
2001
First printer
First laptop
The first hands-free car kit
The first hands-free with speech recognition
Bluetooth SIG, Inc. formed as a non-profit, non-stock company
2002
First set of keyboard and mouse
First GPS receiver
The number of qualified Bluetooth products was 500 units
IEEE approves 802.15.1 standard for Bluetooth wireless technology
First digital camera
Bluetooth implementation
Bluetooth operates at frequencies from 2400 to 2483.5 MHz (including a tolerance range of 2 MHz in the lower range and 3.5 MHz at the top). Accordingly, as you can see, the operating principle is based on the use of radio waves. Bluetooth radio communication is carried out in the ISM band, which is used in various household appliances and wireless networks.
Bluetooth uses a radio technology called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). Bluetooth divides data into packets and transmits each packet over one of the designated 79 channels (operating frequencies). Each channel has a bandwidth of 1 MHz. Bluetooth 4.0 communication uses a 2 MHz bandwidth, which accommodates 40 channels. The first channel starts at 2402 MHz and continues to 2480 MHz in 1 MHz steps. Bluetooth uses frequency hopping spread spectrum method, the carrier frequency of the signal hops 1600 times per second.
The sequence of switching between frequencies for each connection is pseudo-random and is known only to the transmitter and receiver, which synchronously switch from one carrier frequency to another every 625 μs (one time slot). Thus, if several receiver-transmitter pairs operate nearby, they do not interfere with each other. This algorithm is also an integral part of the system for protecting the confidentiality of transmitted information: the transition occurs according to a pseudo-random algorithm and is determined separately for each connection.
Bluetooth versions
Bluetooth 1.0
The first version 1.0 devices had a number of problems. They had mediocre compatibility with third-party equipment. In 1.0 and 1.0B, it was mandatory to transmit the device address (BD_ADDR) at the connection establishment stage, which made it impossible to implement connection anonymity at the protocol level and was the main disadvantage of the version.
Bluetooth 1.1
The very first update 1.1 corrected many of the shortcomings found in version 1.0B. Added: support for unencrypted channels and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) power level indication.
Bluetooth 1.2
The subsequent update had improvements: Fast connection and discovery. It has become resistant to radio interference thanks to the use of adaptive frequency agility with a spread spectrum. Data transfer rates up to 1 Mbit/s. Enhanced Synchronous Connections (eSCO) appeared, improving the quality of voice transmission in the audio stream. Support for a three-wire UART interface has been added to the Host Controller Interface (HCI). IEEE Standard 802.15.1-2005 has been adopted as a standard.
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
EDR provides the following benefits: 3x increase in transmission speed to 2.1 Mbps, the ability to establish multiple connections due to the additional bandwidth. Reduced energy consumption due to reduced load.
Bluetooth 2.1
Added technology for advanced request of device characteristics, energy-saving technology Sniff Subrating, which allows you to increase the operating time of the device on a single battery charge by 3-10 times. The updated specification significantly simplifies and speeds up the establishment of communication between two devices, allows you to update the encryption key without breaking the connection
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
In August 2008, Bluetooth SIG introduced version 2.1+EDR. The new Bluetooth edition reduces energy consumption by 5 times, improves data security and makes it easier to recognize and connect Bluetooth devices by reducing the number of steps required.
Bluetooth 3.0+HS
On April 21, 2009, Bluetooth 3.0+HS appeared. The data transfer speed (theoretically) has increased to 24 Mbit/s. A special feature was the addition of AMP (Alternate MAC/PHY), an addition to 802.11 as a high-speed message. Two technologies were provided for AMP: 802.11 and UWB.
Bluetooth 4.0
Four years later, on June 30, 2010, the Bluetooth SIG approved the 4.0 specification. Bluetooth 4.0 included the following protocols: classic Bluetooth, high-speed Bluetooth and Bluetooth low energy.
Bluetooth 4.1
SIG introduced the Bluetooth 4.1 specification at the end of 2013. One of the improvements implemented in the Bluetooth 4.1 specification concerns the collaboration of Bluetooth and fourth generation LTE mobile communications. The standard provides protection against mutual interference by automatically coordinating the transmission of data packets.
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth 4.2 was introduced on December 2, 2014. The standard has been improved in its speed characteristics and information security.
Bluetooth 4.2 adds the ability to directly connect to the Internet. That is, devices with Bluetooth 4.2 support will be able not only to directly interact with each other, but also to connect to the Internet (thanks to support for the IPv6/6LoWPAN protocol) through appropriate access points. The key idea behind the development of the standard is that using Bluetooth it is possible to connect any devices with each other.
In addition to secure and fast communication, Bluetooth 4.2 will also be more energy efficient, all this will shift the trend of recent months towards network connectivity: more and more devices are starting to use Bluetooth for this, which, among other things, has a positive effect on battery life.
2003
First MP3 player with Bluetooth technology
Bluetooth version 1.2 accepted by Bluetooth SIG
Bluetooth product shipments grow to 1 million per week
First approved medical Bluetooth system
2004
SIG adopts Core Specification Version 2.0 Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Bluetooth technology installed as standard on 250 million devices
Deliveries exceeded 3 million units per week
The first stereo headphones
2005
Product deliveries rose to 5 million chipsets per week
SIG welcomes its 4,000th member
SIG opens its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, with regional offices in Malmo, Sweden and Hong Kong
SIG launches Profile Testing Suite (PTS) v1.0, a testing and type testing tool developed entirely in-house
2006
First sunglasses
First hours
The first digital photo frame to support Bluetooth
Bluetooth installed on 1 billion devices
Bluetooth device shipments reach 10 million per week
Profile Tuning Suite (PTS) testing becomes a mandatory part of qualifying Bluetooth products
SIG announces it will integrate Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) technology with WiMedia Alliance
2007
First alarm clock radio
First TV
SIG welcomes 8,000 members
Bluetooth SIG CEO, Michael Foley, receives the Telematics Leadership Award
PTS Protocol Viewer is released as part of the recently published version 2.1.1 along with a significantly updated user interface
The most common Bluetooth profiles
To use Bluetooth wireless technology, devices must be able to interpret certain Bluetooth profiles, which are specific to specific application areas and specify common behaviors so that Bluetooth-enabled devices can use to communicate with other Bluetooth devices.
A profile is a set of functions or capabilities available for a specific Bluetooth device.
There is a wide range of Bluetooth profiles that describe different types of applications or device usage scenarios.
List of main profiles approved by Bluetooth SIG with a brief description and purpose:
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) designed for transmitting music to a wireless headset or other devices.
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) designed to control standard functions of televisions and high-precision equipment. Allows you to create devices with remote control functions.
Basic Imaging Profile (BIP) designed for sending images between devices. With this profile it is possible to resize an image and convert it to a format supported by the receiving device.
Basic Printing Profile (BPP) with its help it is possible to send text, emails, vCards to a printer. The profile does not require drivers.
Common ISDN Access Profile (CIP) used for device access to an integrated services digital network, ISDN.
Cordless Telephony Profile (CTP) supports wireless telephony.
Device ID Profile (DIP) helps determine the device class, its manufacturer and product version.
Dial-up Networking Profile (DUN) The protocol provides standard access to the Internet or other telephone service via Bluetooth.
Fax Profile (FAX) provides an interface between a mobile or landline telephone, as well as a personal computer on which fax software is installed.
File Transfer Profile (FTP_profile) provides access to the device's file system.
General Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP) base for A2DP and VDP.
Generic Access Profile (GAP) base for other profiles.
Generic Object Exchange Profile (GOEP) basis for other data transfer profiles, based on OBEX.
Hard Copy Cable Replacement Profile (HCRP) Replacing the cable connection between the device and the printer. The negative side of the profile, which makes it not universal, is the need to install drivers.
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
Human Interface Device Profile (HID) provides support for devices with HID, which include keyboards, mice, joysticks, etc. A distinctive feature is that it uses a slow channel and operates at reduced power.
Headset Profile (HSP) Used to connect a wireless headset and a telephone.
Intercom Profile (ICP) Provides voice calls between Bluetooth compatible devices.
LAN Access Profile (LAP) provides Bluetooth devices access to LAN, WAN or Internet computer networks through another Bluetooth device that has a physical connection to these networks.
SIM Access Profile (SAP, SIM) allows you to access your phone's SIM card, making it possible to use one SIM card for multiple devices.
Synchronization Profile (SYNCH) allows you to synchronize personal data (PIM).
Video Distribution Profile (VDP) allows you to stream video.
Wireless Application Protocol Bearer (WAPB) protocol for organizing P-to-P (Point-to-Point) connections via Bluetooth.
Hello.
On December 3, 2014, Bluetooth SIG officially announced bluetooth specification version 4.2.
The press release identifies 3 main innovations:
- increasing the speed of data reception and transmission;
- ability to connect to the Internet;
- improving privacy and security.
In this article I want to tell you how these 3 points are implemented. Anyone interested is welcome.
Everything described below applies only to BLE, let's go...
1. Increasing the speed of receiving and transmitting user data.
The main disadvantage of BLE was the low data transfer speed. Although no matter how you look at it, BLE was originally invented to save the energy of the source powering the device. And in order to save energy, you need to get in touch intermittently and transfer a little data. However, all the same, the entire Internet is filled with indignation about the low speed and questions about the possibility of increasing it, as well as increasing the size of the transmitted data.
And with the advent of version 4.2, Bluetooth SIG announced an increase in transmission speed by 2.5 times and the size of the transmitted packet by 10 times. How did they achieve this?
Let me tell you that these 2 numbers are related to each other, namely: the speed has increased because the size of the transmitted packet has increased.
Let's look at the PDU (protocol data unit) of the data channel: 
Each PDU contains a 16-bit header. So, this header in version 4.2 is different from the header in version 4.1.
Here is the version 4.1 header:
And here is the header of version 4.2:
Note: RFU (Reserved for Future Use) - the field designated by this abbreviation is reserved for future use and is filled with zeros.
As we can see, the last 8 bits of the header are different. The Length field is the sum of the payload lengths and the MIC (Message Integrity Check) field found in the PDU (if the latter is enabled).
If in version 4.1 the “Length” field has a size of 5 bits, then in version 4.2 this field has a size of 8 bits.
From here it is easy to calculate that the “Length” field in version 4.1 can contain values in the range from 0 to 31, and in version 4.2 in the range from 0 to 255. If we subtract the length of the MIC field (4 octets) from the maximum values, we get that the payload can be 27 and 251 octets for versions 4.1 and 4.2, respectively. In fact, the maximum amount of data is even less, because The payload also contains L2CAP (4 octets) and ATT (3 octets) service data, but we will not consider this.
Thus, the size of transmitted user data has increased approximately 10 times. As for the speed, which, for some reason, increased not 10 times, but only 2.5 times, then we cannot talk about a proportional increase, because everything also depends on the guarantee of data delivery, because guaranteeing the delivery of 200 bytes is a little more difficult than 20.
2. Possibility of connecting to the Internet.
Perhaps the most interesting innovation is why Bluetooth SIG announced that version 4.2 makes the Internet of Things (IoT) better thanks to this feature.Back in version 4.1, L2CAP added the “LE Credit Based Flow Control Mode” mode. This mode allows you to control the data flow using the so-called. credit based scheme. The peculiarity of the scheme is that it does not use signaling packets to indicate the amount of data being transferred, but requests from another device a credit for a certain amount of data to be transferred, thereby speeding up the transfer process. In this case, each time the receiving side receives a frame, it decreases the frame counter, and when the last frame is reached, it can break the connection.
3 new codes have appeared in the list of L2CAP commands:
- LE Credit Based Connection request – request for connection according to the credit scheme;
- LE Credit Based Connection response – response to connection based on the credit scheme;
- LE Flow Control Credit – message about the possibility of receiving additional LE frames.
In the package “LE Credit Based Connection request” 
there is an “Initial Credits” field 2 octets long, indicating the number of LE frames that the device can send at the L2CAP level.
In the response package “LE Credit Based Connection response” 
the same field indicates the number of LE frames that another device can send, and the “Result” field also indicates the result of the connection request. A value of 0x0000 indicates success, other values indicate an error. Specifically, a value of 0x0004 indicates that the connection was refused due to lack of resources.
Thus, already in version 4.1 it became possible to transfer a large amount of data at the L2CAP level.
And now, almost simultaneously with the release of version 4.2, the following is published:
- service: “IP Support Service” (IPSS).
- IPSP (Internet Protocol Support Profile) profile, which defines support for transmitting IPv6 packets between devices that have BLE.
The profile defines the following roles:
- router role – used for devices that can route IPv6 packets;
- node role (Node) – used for devices that can only receive or send IPv6 packets; have a service discovery function and have an IPSS service that allows routers to discover this device;
Devices with the router role that need to connect to another router can have the host role.
Oddly enough, the transmission of IPv6 packets is not part of the profile specification, and is specified in the IETF RFC “Transmission of IPv6 packets over Bluetooth Low Energy”. This document identifies another interesting point, namely, that when transmitting IPv6 packets, the 6LoWPAN standard is used - this is a standard for interaction using the IPv6 protocol over low-power wireless personal networks of the IEE 802.15.4 standard.
Look at the picture: 
The profile specifies that IPSS, GATT, and ATT are used only for service discovery, and GAP is used only for device discovery and connection establishment.
But the one highlighted in red just means that packet transmission is not included in the profile specification. This allows the programmer to write his own implementation of packet transmission.
3. Improved privacy and security.
One of the responsibilities of the Security manager (SM) is to pair two devices. The pairing process creates keys that are then used to encrypt communications. The pairing process consists of 3 phases:- exchange of information about pairing methods;
- generation of short-term keys (Short Term Key (STK));
- key exchange.
- generation of short-term keys (Short Term Key (STK)) called “LE legacy pairing”
- generation of long-term keys (Long Term Key (LTK)) called “LE Secure Connections”
In this regard, in addition to the 3 existing functions, 5 more functions have appeared in the cryptographic toolbox of the security manager, and these 5 are used only to service the new pairing process “LE Secure Connections”. These functions generate:
- LTK and MacKey;
- confirmatory variables;
- authentication check variables;
- 6-digit numbers used for display on connected devices.
So, if during pairing in the 2nd phase using the “LE legacy pairing” method, 2 keys were generated:
- Temporary Key (TK): 128-bit temporary key used to generate STK;
- Short Term Key (STK): 128-bit temporary key used to encrypt the connection
- Long Term Key (LTK): A 128-bit key used to encrypt subsequent connections.
- preventing tracking, because Now, thanks to “Numeric Comparison”, it is possible to control the ability to connect to your device.
- improving energy efficiency, because no longer requires additional energy to re-generate keys on each connection.
- Industry standard encryption to ensure sensitive data.
4. Is it already possible to touch?
Yes, I have.
NORDIC Semiconductor has released the "nRF51 IoT SDK" which includes a stack, libraries, examples and APIs for the nRF51 series devices. This includes:
- nRF51822 and nRF51422 chips;
- nRF51 DK;
- nRF51 Dongle;
- nRF51822 EK.
- short description;
- archive with the described SDK;
- kernel archive for Raspberry Pi, including its sources.
5. Conclusion.
The most expected thing for me personally, of course, was the increase in transmission speed and packet size of the transmitted data.
In the first quarter of 2015, the first chips supporting version 4.2 should appear, then there will be updates to mobile platforms and all this will allow us to add new capabilities to the world of Internet of Things.
Thank you for your attention.
Recently, the number of users of mobile gadgets has increased significantly, which means that a large number of different technical issues remain dark horses for novice users. One of these nuances is Bluetooth versions.
Despite the fact that the compatibility of Bluetooth versions is at a fairly high level, situations still sometimes occur in which it becomes impossible to pair two devices. And the point here is precisely in the protocols, and not in the profiles. And in order to justify the above-mentioned impossibility, you first need to understand what the difference is between these two concepts.
A protocol is a set of instructions through which various information is transmitted. It is he who sets the order, operating frequency and duration of operation of one or another component. And profiles are additional add-ons that allow you to operate with information of a certain type. For example, A2DP is a profile that allows a Bluetooth module to work with stereo sound, where during pairing the codecs that will be used are also agreed upon.
If you look at it from a global perspective, the version of the protocols matters more than the significance of the profile. If both devices have the same protocol version, then they will have access to all the standard functions and capabilities that the module supports. But with profiles everything is different. Since they are added optionally, in order for them to be used and work, they will need to be present in both gadgets. If only one Bluetooth module supports the required profile, it will not be used during data transfer.
Many users are interested in the question of how to find out the bluetooth version. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest way is to read the device specification. But it is much more important to understand what is hidden behind these numbers.
How to find out the Bluetooth version: Video
Technical data of various protocols
This description will not contain the most complete list of protocol versions, but only the most significant for the entire technology as a whole. And, of course, it’s worth starting with the very first one, which was created almost two decades ago almost two decades ago - in 1998, by the partner group SIG or Special Interested Group. The primary development was established by the then Swedish company Ericsson 4 years before entering the market. As a result of successful research, a worthy analogue of wired technology was created and named after the Danish king of the Viking northerners, Harald the First Bluetooth.
The first version had amazing compatibility between devices from different manufacturers. The speed was tiny, and the range was clearly not up to the established standard. If it were not for prompt attempts to refine the technology, the whole idea could have sunk into oblivion. And the professional qualities of the workers did not disappoint, because soon version 1.1 was released, and then 1.2, which became the pinnacle of the evolution of the first generation modules. The general compatibility was raised to a fairly high level, the range of action was set to an honest ten meters, the transmission speed was made simply sky-high - 721 Kbps, theoretically, of course.
Version 2.1
The second generation made a revolution, but it was version 2.1 that became the guiding light that is still used today. Many entry-level and middle-class devices use this particular variation of the Bluetooth module. The main focus was on speed, and the solution was the EDR add-on. It was thanks to it that it became possible to transmit at speeds close to 3 Mbit/s, and the level of energy consumption was reduced five times. Of course, various profiles and add-ons have appeared, including the ability to distribute network access.
Third version
The high-speed specification 3.0 had much in common with Wi-Fi, but was not directly compatible with it, and the use of SLI technology, by which two Bluetooth modules were connected into one system, made it possible to increase the transfer speed to 24 Mbit/s. Moreover, when moving large files, a higher-speed, but also energy-consuming protocol was used, and for small files it was very economical.
Hardly any technology has been predicted to die more often than Bluetooth. At the same time, it is impossible not to recognize the idea of wireless communication as quite successful: version Bluetooth 1.0 appeared on the market more than 15 years ago, and Bluetooth has never been used in so many devices as it is now. All thanks to the version Bluetooth 4.0, which now, however, seems quite slow.
Upgrade to 4.1
One billion Bluetooth devices are sold every year. But there are still few gadgets with Bluetooth 4.1. At the moment, the Huawei TalkBand B1 smart bracelet has been announced. Many modern chipsets, such as those in the OnePlus smartphone, will also be upgraded to 4.1.
Replaces Bluetooth Low Energy(or Bluetooth Smart) - battery saving version. In this case, the range of action is limited to 10 m, and the data transfer rate is 1 Mbit/s, but no more than 10 mA is consumed during transmission.
And now comes the next stage: the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which includes more than 8,000 companies, is preparing a version specification. Of course, you shouldn't expect any revolutionary changes, but mobile device users can expect some important innovations. CHIP decided to clarify some technical issues.
Most of the innovations in Bluetooth 4.1 relate to interference protection. Bluetooth is now a standard component of smartphones and tablets; LTE modules will soon begin to be introduced into these devices.
Unfortunately, Bluetooth uses the unlicensed 2.45 GHz frequency band (along with 2.6 GHz), as well as the LTE band in Russia and other countries. This may lead to mutual interference (see diagram). The problem is that the user has no influence on the LTE signal.
Bluetooth developers were required to do certain things to avoid interference. And that's exactly what was done in the new version.
To minimize interference, Bluetooth 4.1 will have a built-in LTE band filter. If an LTE transmitter interferes with data transmitted via Bluetooth, Bluetooth 4.1 will respond immediately
The LTE module sending and receiving data interferes with Bluetooth operation. In version 4.0, losses reached 75% of packets. Bluetooth version 4.1 is not as sensitive to interference from LTE. A noise filter protects the radio module. In difficult cases, the channel is automatically switched.
The so-called Bluetooth 4.1 adaptive switching system will search for another channel where there is less interference, transmitting and receiving data on a different frequency. While with Bluetooth 4.0 LTE causes interference 75% of the time, with Bluetooth 4.1 this figure drops to 25%.
Reception and transmission of data without interference
Devices with Bluetooth Low Energy are especially popular now. Especially for this power saving mode, version 4.1 has a new data transfer method that extends battery life.
Bluetooth users have learned from hard experience about the problem of disconnected connections. It often happened that if the user went to another room, the connection was interrupted. After that, I had to configure the connection manually.
Fewer disconnections with new Bluetooth
If two Bluetooth devices move out of range, the connection will be lost. With Bluetooth 4.0, devices must return within 30 seconds to connect automatically. In version 4.1 this time increases to three minutes.
With Bluetooth 4.1, manufacturers can set fixed intervals so that the user does not have to set up a new connection every time after disconnecting. Bluetooth 4.1 can work with an interrupted connection for up to three minutes - previously this figure was no more than 30 seconds.
The fact that you don't have to be connected to a computer to use Bluetooth is demonstrated by an innovation designed specifically for 3D glasses that work in conjunction with a TV. Typically, this required connecting to multiple devices at once, so the picture on TVs often lagged. Everything should work better now.
Contactless Slave Broadcast in Bluetooth 4.1 is the second new feature that 3D movie fans will benefit from. The Bluetooth connection is only in one direction, the TV sends data at fixed intervals, the 3D glasses receive data but do not send any response connections to the TV.
Flexible connections with Bluetooth 4.1
The Bluetooth 4.1 connection architecture operates according to the Master-Slave principle. One device acts as a master, and the second as a slave. All devices can operate both as masters and slaves.
Thus, data from a fitness bracelet or heart rate monitor can now be transferred directly to a smartphone, which will then analyze it. Previously, direct interaction between a fitness bracelet and a smartphone was impossible.
Two benefits of upgrading Bluetooth: First, you don't have to worry about compatibility. Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth 4.1 are completely compatible. A new chip for Bluetooth 4.1 is also not needed. Bluetooth 4.1 will be available via Bluetooth 4.0 firmware update.
Experts also predict that Bluetooth 4.1 will support IPv6. Now this is not the case. Since the new version of Bluetooth fully supports IPv6, all Bluetooth devices will be assigned an IP address and will be accessible over the Internet. So we can say that the Bluetooth revolution has already begun.
Bluetooth in comparison
Bluetooth has been around for 15 years, with new versions coming out every two years. Version 4.0 introduced a low-power profile. Since its predecessors do not have it, the 4.0 and 4.1 protocols are not backward compatible. In 4.1 it is planned to work using the IPv6 protocol.
| Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 3.0 | Bluetooth 2.x | Bluetooth 1.x | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base speed | 1 Mbit/s | 1 Mbit/s | 1 Mbit/s | 1 Mbit/s | 1 Mbit/s |
| Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) | 3 Mbit/s | 3 Mbit/s | 3 Mbit/s | 3 Mbit/s | No |
| High Speed | 54 Mbit/s | 54 Mbit/s | 54 Mbit/s | No | No |
| Range (max./min. power) | 100 m/10 m | 100 m/10 m | 100 m/no | 100 m/no | 100 m/no |
| Low Power Mode | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Dual profile (simultaneous role as Slave and Master) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| IPv6 support | getting ready | No | No | No | No |
| NFC pairing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 128-bit AES encryption | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Photos in the article: manufacturing companies
The need to install a Bluetooth adapter for a computer arises when you need to quickly move information between different devices. For example, between a desktop PC and.
Content:Operating principle and configuration of the Bluetooth adapter for PC
The appearance of most adapters designed for connecting to a computer or laptop (which also rarely support Bluetooth) resembles a small one. Some are even smaller.
And to strengthen the signal on these devices, a small antenna can be installed, adding 2-5 dBi. Built-in Bluetooth adapters are cards that connect inside a PC (usually to a PCI connector) and sometimes provide a wireless connection using technology.
Rice. 2. Manual installation of drivers for an adapter that is not detected automatically.
BlueTooth technology is based on radio communication and allows you to connect two devices to each other almost unnoticed by the user. The advantages of using an adapter are:
The disadvantages of the device include its relatively low speed compared to a wireless Wi-Fi connection. In addition, most models transmit data over a short distance. Although, when purchasing an adapter with an amplifier, you can increase the distance to several tens of meters - a result that is impressive even for.
Device classification
Bluetooth adapters are primarily classified by range:
- old models, class 4, are capable of connecting two devices, the distance between which does not exceed 2–5 meters;
- Class 3 devices provide connections at a distance of 5 to 10 m;
Rice. 3. Standard Class 2 Bluetooth modules with a range of up to 10m.
- Class 2 adapters allow you to connect if the distance between the computer and another gadget does not exceed 50 m;
- the first class, which is equipped with printers, modems and base stations, makes it possible to transfer data within a radius of 100 m from the adapter.
The use of antennas that amplify the signal increases the distance. At the same time, devices of the same class provide connections differently in different conditions. Since both the range and stability of the connection depend not only on the characteristics of the adapter, but also on the configuration of the premises and on the material of the enclosing structures.
Bluetooth adapter capabilities
You can use Bluetooth USB adapters in the following situations:
- to transfer information from a mobile device to a computer or vice versa. This feature is especially useful if there are no devices to connect and if it is impossible to use Wi-Fi for this (a technology that is not supported on older phones);
- for wireless connection of two computers within the range of the Bluetooth adapter;
- for connecting to a computer, digital camera, and other devices.
In most cases, using Bluetooth technology instead of Wi-Fi or cable increases the distance over which connected devices can be located. For example, you can connect two computers in this way, even if they are in adjacent rooms or even apartments.
And if you need to transfer data from an older model mobile phone (with a special cord format for connection, like models or Sony Ericsson), this method may be the only available option. The only alternative is to buy a special cord, the cost is higher than that of an adapter.
Rice. 4. Cable for connecting Sony Ericsson phones to a PC.
- check the presence of the corresponding symbol on the keyboard;
Rice. 5. Keys that allow you to enable the Bluetooth module on your laptop.
- Open device manager and check for the presence of the module. This option is also suitable for a stationary personal computer, although usually their owners already know about the installed boards and adapters.
After confirming the need to purchase a device, they proceed to its selection, focusing on three main parameters. The first is the protocol supported by the adapter. The second is the range of the device. And finally, the third is the price, which is determined by the class, the manufacturer, and protection from external influences.
Selecting a device protocol
The presence of several generations of Bluetooth adapters on sale makes it difficult to choose the right model. Moreover, based on the information on the pages of online stores, it is difficult to navigate which device can be considered new and which is already outdated.
Rice. 6. One of the outdated adapter models that can still be found on sale.
It is worth noting that the data transfer speed, connection stability, and price depend on the adapter protocol. The latest versions, 4.1 and higher, not only allow you to connect any devices without connection problems, but also ensure stable data transfer without interruptions or failures, and even consume less energy.
In addition, when you leave the adapter's coverage area and return to it, the connection is restored automatically. And modern devices can support the connection of several gadgets at the same time.
Range selection
When choosing an adapter, one of the main factors is its range. Taking into account the fact that the increase in range is proportional to the increase in the price of the device, it is not necessary to buy a first-class model, the cost of which is noticeably higher. Especially when it comes to home use, where the distance between devices rarely exceeds 10 meters.
For home and small offices, adapters of class 2 or 3 are suitable, as a rule, they do not have an antenna, and are in the price range of up to 200–300 rubles. For large rooms, it is advisable to choose 1st class models that support protocols 4.0 and 4.1 - in addition to a range of more than 50 meters, they will also provide a speed of at least 3 Mbit/s. Their cost can reach 1000 rubles.
Modifications of adapters with built-in antennas are even more expensive. Most often, they provide two types of wireless communication at the same time - Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Their cost can exceed 2000 rubles, but the functionality is much higher. With the help of such equipment, information will be guaranteed to be transferred to any device - a laptop, a smartphone, or another computer with a built-in adapter and supporting wireless communication technology.
Rice. 7. Bluetooth adapters with a signal-amplifying antenna.
Other selection features
In addition to the range and protocol of the BlueTooth adapter, when choosing, pay attention to such characteristics as:
- computer connection type;
- equipment manufacturer;
- functionality;
- strength;
- price.
The price range is important for those users for whom information transfer speed and range do not matter. To connect devices located in the same room, any device is sufficient, even with protocol 1.2 or 2.0. When constantly transferring large files and a distance exceeding 10–15 meters, it is advisable not to save money, but to purchase an adapter that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1 transmission technology.
Durability matters if the device is constantly transferred and installed on different computers or laptops. For the same situations, you need to purchase a gadget that connects to a USB port. If the device is intended for use on only one computer, you can choose a model in the form of a built-in board. Moreover, such adapters can also provide...
Popular manufacturers of Bluetooth adapters are 3Com, 4World, Tracer, Broadcom, Atheros and GSM-Support. And among the brands whose assortment is represented by budget models, it is worth noting the Trust and StLab brands.
The compatibility of adapters may also depend on the manufacturer - for example, devices from 3Com are equipped with their own drivers, which are not always detected automatically. Although most models from other companies do not even require configuration.
We choose a bluetooth adapter for the convenience of sharing your PC and digital devices. Functionality of the bluetooth adapter and its range.
A USB bluetooth adapter is a special device that supports the Bluetooth protocol, which allows you to connect your computer, which previously did not support this option, with any device with the appropriate settings to detect it.
This device was designed to allow computers to connect wirelessly to each other, but has now become more affordable and versatile thanks to its smaller size.
Therefore, you can now use it to connect your computer with any device that supports such an innovation.
Bluetooth is now found in phones, laptops, printers and even cameras. All this can receive and transmit information at a short distance from the computer.
Provided that if you still want to buy such an adapter, the only thing you need to decide is at what distance you want to make this connection.
Now these devices are capable of making a high-quality connection within a distance of 10-100 m. This directly depends on the power of the transmitter included in the adapter.
It is also possible to modify adapters that have an external antenna and other devices that allow you to increase the range of reception of a stable signal. The Bluetooth adapter is connected directly to the USB port of the computer.
Using a Bluetooth adapter, it is possible to perform a number of manipulations with a cell phone - you can exchange data between your phone and a computer, make phone book entries available, and also send and receive SMS.
The Bluetooth adapter is different in that it allows you to transfer data at a much higher speed than data cables and IrDA. Most modern phones are equipped with Bluetooth. Therefore, you only need to install the Bluetooth adapter into the system and configure the connection.
With the help of a Bluetooth adapter, your phone can function as a modem. Moreover, the transfer of information will be carried out using the GPRS protocol. The range of Bluetooth adapters can range from 10-150 m.
Models with a larger reception radius are slightly more expensive. Bluetooth adapters are able to guarantee reception even in conditions where there are obstacles between connecting devices.
It should be noted that Bluetooth adapters are used not only to connect a computer and a digital device, but also to establish a connection between a pair of computers. This connection makes it possible to exchange information and participate in a variety of online games.
Considering the decreasing cost of Bluetooth adapters, they are turning into the most attractive accessories for organizing a wireless connection.
Even more technologically advanced, perhaps, is the Wi-Fi protocol.
Reading descriptions of the characteristics of mobile phones, smartphones, tablets and other gadgets, we constantly come across different Bluetooth version numbers - 2.1 + EDR, 3.0, 4.0. How are these protocols different, and do we need the latest version of Bluetooth? To begin with, Bluetooth is a protocol for exchanging data over short distances. If we compare it with Wi-Fi, its speed is lower and its range is noticeably shorter, but there are also advantages - lower power consumption and faster “pairing” of devices.
Let's move on to version numbers. The first version (1.0) of this protocol was born back in 1998, and is now so outdated that none of the modern devices use this version anymore.
The next version, numbered 1.2, may yet be found in some of today's devices. For example, some cheap Chinese headsets can still work with this version of the protocol. The transmission speed of the Bluetooth 1.2 protocol can reach 721 Kbps, there is already the possibility of quick pairing and there is support for the anonymity of devices on the network. With Bluetooth 1.2, many types of data can be transferred, such as voice, files, service information, etc.
A major change in the Bluetooth protocol was the emergence of EDR - Enhanced Data Rate technology. Thanks to this technology, the exchange speed has increased to 3 Mbit/s (theoretically, but in practice the speed is about 1.5-2 Mbit/s). EDR technology is present in two versions of Bluetooth – 2.0 and 2.1. The difference between these versions is different energy saving technologies. In version 2.1, energy-saving technology (Sniff Subrating) was added, which reduced energy consumption several times. In addition, the security and speed of device identification have been improved, and it is now possible to update the encryption key without breaking the connection. Bluetooth 2.1 is the most widespread version of the standard. Most devices on the modern market are compatible with this version of the protocol - regular phones, navigators, media centers, wireless mice, headsets and other similar devices usually work with version 2.1 + EDR. So if you are now looking at a diploma on the website http://zachteno.ru/ and at the same time using a wireless Bluetooth mouse, then it most likely uses protocol version 2.1 + EDR.
