Although Bluetooth has been around for a while, most of us don’t know how it works. Bluetooth technology is now so advanced that we now use Bluetooth Multipoint. It is thus essential that we first define Bluetooth to understand the principles of Bluetooth Multipoint technology. So, what is Bluetooth and how does it work?
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What Is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth can be described as a technology that enables low powered wireless communication between devices such as phones and computers within a short range (30 -40 feet). It is based on the American Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.15.1 for wireless connections. This technology aims to replace or make obsolete wired connections, which is ideal for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
Unlike WLAN, LAN and USB, Bluetooth sends data over short distance with low power. However, its speed is slower than the other mentioned technologies. Bluetooth is however the best for transferring individual files.
History of Bluetooth
Bluetooth was named after a Danish King Harald Bluetooth. King Harald is remembered for uniting Denmark and Norway. In the same way, Bluetooth connects two different devices. Bluetooth was invented in response to “cable clutter”. Several wireless technologies had been invented without success. The best was infrared which could be used to transfer files between computers and printers. However, the technology had high power consumption.
The first version of Bluetooth was published by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) in 1999. With advancement in technology better Bluetooth versions have been released in the course of time. The table below shows a table of all the Bluetooth versions.
| Bluetooth Version | Release Date | Maximum Data Transfer | Important Innovation |
| Bluetooth 1.0a | July 1999 | 732.2 kbits/s | The first official version |
| Bluetooth 1.0b | December 1999 | 732.2 Kbits/s | Generally improved 1.0a |
| Bluetooth 1.1 | February 2001 | 732.2kbits/sec | The first marketable version. It enhanced security and resolved connection issues. |
| Bluetooth 1.2 | November 2003 | 1Mbit/s | Less prone to intereference because of Adaptive Frequency Hopping (ADF). |
| Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR | November 2004 | 2.1Mbit/s | Tripled the transfer rate because of EDR ( Enhanced Data Rate)It added several energy saving techniques such as NFC (Near Field Communication. |
| Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR | August 2007 | 2.1 Mbit/s | Connected automatically without the need for a PIN through secure pairing |
| Bluetooth 4.0 LE | December 2009 | 24 Mbit/s | Included Low Energy (LE) protocol to save energy.Improved error correction |
| Bluetooth 4.1 | December 2013 | 25 Mbit/s | Small devices no longer require an intermediary IPv6 |
| Bluetooth 4.2 | December 2014 | 25 Mbit/s | General Imrovements |
| Bluetoooth 5.0 | December 2016 | 50 Mbit/s | Increase in range and data transfer |
What Is the Purpose of the Bluetooth SIG?
The Bluetooth SIG was founded in 1991. The SIG serves as a regulatory that ensures all Bluetooth devices comply with the license agreement. The compliance process consists of the declaration and qualification process. Any company that incorporates Bluetooth into their products must become a member.
How Bluetooth Works
For a device to be considered Bluetooth capable, it has to have a software for managing data transfer and a special Bluetooth chip. The chip has a transmitter and a receiver that are permanently installed. You can add this functionality on a device by connecting a Bluetooth adapter to a USB port.
Bluetooth Connection
Bluetooth operates at a frequency of between 2.402 GHz and 2480 GHz. Devices that comply with the SIG standards are allowed to use this frequency range anywhere without a license. Each Bluetooth device has a unique 48- bit long MAC address that identifies them. A Bluetooth connection can originate from any device. Once the devices connect, they form a Personal Area Network (PAN) referred to as a piconet. This connection stays put until the master disconnects Bluetooth in their system. Connecting two or more Bluetooth devices is referred to as pairing.
The devices paired have to be close to each other and activated Bluetooth. You can activate Bluetooth through a control panel, a button or software. After you have turned on Bluetooth you will be asked to enter a four digit pin similar to the slave’s pin. This process is referred to as key allocation. It is a security measure to protect you from third parties. Once two devices connect, they will always automatically connect when within range and Bluetooth is activated.
The Bluetooth Network (Piconet)
As mentioned earlier a piconet is the network that Bluetooth, devices operate in. A piconet can accommodate a maximum of eight actively connected devices. Devices can remain in the piconet in power saving mode or can be activated on demand. A device can be a slave in many piconets but a master device in only one. When up to ten neteorks connect, they form a scattternet. In a scatternet, each of the connected devices can communicate with each other. However, the data transfer speed is slower.
What is the Bluetooth Range?
The maximum range for Bluetooth devices depends on its class. There are three classes of Bluetooth.
Class 1: Transmits data at a speed of 100 mW with a range of 328 feet (100m).
Class 2: Transmits data at 2.5 mW with a range of 33 feet (10m).
Class 3: Transmits data at a speed of 1 mW with a range of less than 10m.
Bluetooth Specifications
- Core Specifications: Bluetooth’s core specifications define the Bluetooth protocol stack and its evaluation requirements.
- The Profiles Specifications: They define how to use the Bluetooth protocol in various applications.
Layers of Bluetooth Core Specification
The core specification Consists 5 layers:
- Radio
Radio specified the radio frequency, power characteristics, and modulation fir Bluetooth connectivity.
- Baseband Layer
The baseband layer defines the physical and logical channels and the mechanism for hop selection. It specifies point or multipoint links.
- Link Manger Protocol (LMP)
The Link Manger Protocols defines the steps for setting and managing links.
- Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol
It is in charge of adapting upper layer protocols to the baseband layer.
- Service Discovery Protocol (SDP)
SDP allows Bluetooth devices to get information from other Bluetooth devices.
What Is Bluetooth Used For?
Bluetooth aims to replace cables connecting x devices while maintaining a secure connection. You probably use Bluetooth to link your smartphone and wireless headphones when listening to your favorite music. Or maybe you use Bluetooth to connect your computer with the mouse, keyboard, printer, and so on.
In this digital era, you will want to connect to multiple Bluetooth devices at once. Or, at the very least you’d want to jump back and forth between your digital devices without having to re-connect the devices each time. It may force you to buy different pairs of wireless earbuds for each device that you use.
However, Bluetooth has now advanced; it is now possible to connect multiple devices at once. This latest technology by Bluetooth is referred to as Bluetooth Multipoint. So, how does Bluetooth Multipoint work? In this comprehensive article, we will breakdown what Bluetooth Multipoint is and why you need it.
Are Bluetooth Headsets Safe?
Bluetooth uses radio frequencies and thus many people are reluctant to use Bluetooth devices. It’s our nature to worry about new technologies and how they are going to affect us in some unforeseen ways. Bluetooth headsets don’t expose you to any health risks. If anything, they reduce risks caused by other technology. So, How? To answer this, let’s look at two safety questions frequently asked about Bluetooth.
- Are Bluetooth earbuds safe for our health?
- Is it safe to use Bluetooth while driving?
People are worried about wearing a radio transmitting device over their head. It’s true that radiation is harmful to your health. But is radiation from Bluetooth devices enough to worry about? The answer is no. There is no obvious link between the use of Bluetooth devices and health risks. Bluetooth signals only. However, research is still going on and people are therefore advised to limit their exposure to these devices.
Phone calls can easily distract you when driving. You must always keep your eyes on the road. This is why most countries have strict traffic laws in regard to texting while driving. A phone call can distract you in the following ways:
- Sight: You won’t keep your eyes on the road.
- Control: It becomes difficult to control because one of your hands is not on the wheel.
- Attention: Your brain will fail to focus on the chat rather than driving.
Bluetooth earbuds will help you maintain sight and control. This is the reason why traffic laws recommend using hands free devices for making calls when driving. To be safe, limit your calls when driving all together.
Advantages of Bluetooth Technology
- The frequency hopping technique used by Google ensures that the problem of radio interference is limited. This technique uses 79 frequencies of a particular frequency band. Each device can access the channel for only 625 microseconds enabling each device to make use of the limited radio spectrum.
- The microchip in Bluetooth devices doesn’t consume much power. This saves the battery life.
- Bluetooth connection guarantees you security.
- You can use Bluetooth to transfer data and for verbal communication.
- Bluetooth eliminates the limitations of one to one communication and line of site as in other wireless modes of communication like infrared.
What Is Bluetooth Multipoint?
Bluetooth Multipoint is a relatively new technology introduced in the mid-2000s. Bluetooth Multipoint allows you to connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. For instance, if someone calls you, Bluetooth knows which of the devices is ringing and automatically connects to the right one.
In the old Bluetooth models, you could only connect to one Bluetooth at a time. If you wanted to connect to more than one device, you were required to disconnect and pair it with the other device. With Multipoint technology, you can connect to two smartphones at the same time. Although the devices can’t simultaneously receive input signals from both devices at the same time, they remain connected and can receive inputs alternately. This means that if you are listening to music via Bluetooth on one smartphone, you can still receive an incoming call and the music from the other device will be paused during the conversation.
Not all Bluetooth devices in the market support Bluetooth Multipoint. However, the number increases each day. Devices that support Bluetooth Multipoint have a multipoint label next to the product name. The main aim of the developers is to make it possible to connect to multiple devices to a master device that can control the others.
How Does Bluetooth Multipoint Work?
For Bluetooth Multipoint to work, you have enable Bluetooth connectivity in all the devices in the system. For instance, if you have a pair of earbuds and two smartphones, you must turn on each one of them. The second step is to pair the devices by pressing the Bluetooth or multi-function button for a few seconds. Make sure that you pair each device with the first smartphone and choose it from the name of the recognized Bluetooth devices. By doing this, you will pair the earbuds to the first smartphone. After you have paired the first phone, go to pairing mode again and repeat the procedure with the second phone.
Sometimes when you turn off your earbuds and turn them on again, they automatically pair with the last paired phone. However, you have to reconnect the first one manually. This is not the case in all earbuds. Check the user manual to ascertain if the earbuds you are about to buy have this capability.
One frequently asked question about Bluetooth Multipoint is to know which device has connected when pairing. The best way to identify is to have different ringtones for each of the devices that you connect. This will help you know which phone to answer.
To understand how this technology works, you need to know the difference between transmitters and receivers. Transmitters send data to one or more Bluetooth devices simultaneously. For instance, you can send audio from a transmitter to two Bluetooth earbuds.
Where Can You Use Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing Technology?
Although Bluetooth technology is still new, I guarantee you that its uses will amaze you. Bluetooth Multipoint makes our lives easier by giving us time to attend to more than one activity. It is convenient whenever you want to use Bluetooth simultaneously such as when working in your office or when driving. For instance, if you want to connect your Bluetooth car kit with your phone while driving, Bluetooth Multipoint will be ideal. It will allow you to listen to your favorite music and at the same time answer an important call hands free. Besides, if you are playing a video game or working on a computer on one of your Bluetooth devices, you can still answer phone calls without stopping any of the other activities. This is a technology that can be used anywhere. Additionally, more and more devices support it.
What Type of Devices Use Bluetooth Multipoint?
Bluetooth Multipoint has numerous uses and applications. Here are a few of them.
- Computers and Notebook Computers
Most of the current Windows and Linux operating systems support Multipoint Bluetooth by default. A chip in these devices makes it possible to connect various peripheral devices such as keyboards, headphones and printers.
- Mobile Devices
All smartphones have virtually chips. You can use these devices to share files, photos, videos with your friends for instance.
- Audio Output Devices
Most of the modern wireless speakers are equipped with Bluetooth that allows you to listen to your favorite music in your smartphone.
- Hands Free Systems
When you pair your smartphone with your hands free system in your car or motorcycle, you can answer an incoming call while listening to music. In advanced vehicles, the on board keyboard is also equipped with Bluetooth Multipoint technology. You can use the cockpit to navigate your phone.
- Fitness Devices and Smart Home Technology
Did you know that there are fitness trackers that can send health data using Bluetooth to a health app on your phone? You can also connect your smartphone with Bluetooth enabled alarm systems, kitchen appliances, digital picture frames, electronic keys, and so on.
- Toys and Video Game Consoles
The toys and gaming industries have not been left behind in adding the latest technology features. Modern toys can now connect to each other via Bluetooth. You can thus play a game via Bluetooth while listening to your favorite music .
How Many Devices Can Be Paired to a Single Bluetooth Device?
The Bluetooth network supports a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 8 peer Bluetooth devices. You can pair and remember seven Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Usually, there is a single master and up to 8 slaves. The master device initiates communication with other devices. It also governs transmission by slave devices. It decides when a slave device can transmit. A slave device is any device that responds to the master device.
If you add an 8th device, the device that was paired first will automatically be deleted from the device memory. If you want to delete the memorized devices, press the reset button. You can then add seven new devices. You need to remember that your device can only reconnect with the last seven devices if you turn Bluetooth on again.
What Types of Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing Exists?
- Simple Multipoint
This is the simplest type of Bluetooth Multipoint technology. Simple Multipoint allows you to connect to only two devices simultaneously. For instance, if you connect your earbuds to two phones when listening to music and one of them rings, the music playing in one of them will pause. After ending the call, the music will resume. In addition, if you are already talking and someone else call you on the second phone; you can still answer from your earbuds. Simple Multipoint is useful in the following use cases:
- Connecting both your work and personal phones to the same headset.
- Using your earbuds for Skype calls without losing connection to your primary phone.
- Playing your favorite video game with full sound effects without worrying on missing out on notifications.
However, simple multipoint technology has an inconvenience; when you answer a second call, your headsets drop the other connection. You can inadvertently hang up an important call to answer a nuisance marketing call.
- Advanced Multipoint
Advanced Multipoint is similar to Simple Multipoint but with a few advancements. They work similarly. You can connect two Bluetooth devices to one Bluetooth Multipoint device at the same time. The difference is that when someone calls you when on a call with the other phone, you don’t need to end the call. The technology puts the first call on hold so that you can resume when done with the other phone call. This technology allows you to switch between calls simultaneously.
- Triple Connectivity
Triple connectivity is more advanced than both Simple Multipoint and Advanced Multipoint. These Bluetooth Multipoint devices can be paired with up to three devices simultaneously. For example, you can connect your phone, computer, and desk phone and make a conference call.
Advantages of Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing
Bluetooth Multipoint technology enables you to be available for all phone calls simultaneously. It helps save time because you don’t need to search for the right device to use. For instance, if you are listening to music from one of your smartphones, you can still answer the other phone in case someone calls. Besides, you don’t need to be too close to these devices. By connecting your earbuds to both of them, you can interchangeably listen to music and answer calls.
Disadvantages of Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing
There is no clear downside of this technology. The only hindrance is that the technology sometimes fails and that not all Bluetooth devices are not multipoint devices. However, more and more Bluetooth Multipoint devices are set for release.
Precautions to take as a Bluetooth User
Consider the following precautions using Bluetooth.
- Before purchasing a Bluetooth device, ask if the device allows you to manually assign a pin. Default passwords such as “0000” and “1234” do not guarantee you security. If the device allows you to use your own password, choose a long and strong password.
- Deactivate the “secure simple pairing” option. If you don’t your device will connect to new devices without asking for your PIN.
- Hide your Bluetooth username by using the invisible mode.
- Do not use Bluetooth in crowded places such as at the train station. Specialized hackers are likely to be near you vicinity.
- Only store trusted devices on your list. Each time you want to connect to them, you won’t be asked of a password.
- Always disable your Bluetooth after use. Turning on Bluetooth only when you need it will help save your device battery
Conclusion
Bluetooth technology has slowly been developing since its invention. It’s now more secure and covers a wider range. Bluetooth Multipoint has made it possible to have one headphone for all your smartphones. It is now possible to connect multiple Bluetooth devices. For example, when playing music from your computer via Bluetooth and your phone rings, the music pauses and you can then answer the phone call using the same earbuds. This technology even allows you to merge different conference calls without taking off your earbuds. As we conclude, let’s hope that Bluetooth technology will keep on improving. I hope that you found this article informative. Keep it here for related blog articles.
