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Jun Park
The Bluetooth Future: How BLE will change the world
Abstract: Amidst the exponential influx of flashy and exciting technology over the past few decades, Bluetooth has been rediscovered as a revolutionary means to technology-based convenience and efficiency due to reevaluation which reveals potential of one of its newer features, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and its capacity to provide the world with never-before-seen means of convenience and reliability. The history of Bluetooth and its systems play a huge part in the efficiency and reliability found in BLE. It’s expected to see BLE incorporated in many ways in the future, and we have already seen many developments in its integration with the market.
Short Author Bio: Jun Park is a third year Mechanical Engineering undergraduate at USC. He enjoys spending time in the company of friends and experiencing new things.
The Bluetooth Future
Figure 1: Bluetooth’s universally-recognized logo(http://inwallspeakers1.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/white-bluetooth-icon.png)
In the past few decades, the market for technology has grown exponentially. Today it’s
common for people to use and carry around all kinds of modern tech, with the boom of smart-
devices, cloud storage services, higher definition televisions, and 4G networks to name just a
few. Amidst the rapid influx of technological development and high-demand commodities
populating the market, it was easy for unassuming technologies such as Bluetooth to be
overlooked by consumers and developers alike. However, recent developments have pushed
Bluetooth into the spotlight of the technology scene, with implications to completely
revolutionize the day-to-day living efficiency and convenience for the average consumer.
This is due to a reevaluation of Bluetooth 4.0, a version of Bluetooth protocol released in
2011 [1], which has revealed a previously overlooked potential that may redefine the standards
for how technology interacts with people’s daily lives. With the popularization of a feature
called BLE or “Bluetooth Low Energy,” also known as “Bluetooth Smart” [1], extensive use of
tracking appliances and simplified data access may become more than just a reality, but a
definite social norm in the near future due to the extent of its incredible affordability, implement-
ability, and convenience.
What is Bluetooth Low Energy?
BLE is a new approach to classic Bluetooth, improving transmission reliability and
speed, lowering power consumption, using a more compact chip, and having a much lower cost.
The trade-off is that it sends far lower amounts of data with an episodic transfer, making BLE
inapplicable to certain appliances such as voice recorders or sound-based equipment which
require a channel of continuous data to be processed and recognized [2]. Yet, it’s unnecessary to
consider this limitation because classic Bluetooth is already a solution to this kind of equipment
and because BLE finds its home in certain industries with novel applications which require its
low-cost services and don’t mind the restriction on data transfer loads. BLE doesn’t replace
Classic Bluetooth; it simple expands the exploitation of Bluetooth technology. Also, by
inheriting the basic framework of its predecessor, BLE uses systems found in classic Bluetooth
which offer it similar levels of reliability, range, and simplicity.
The Selling Points
The most important factor between regular Bluetooth and its newer feature Bluetooth
Low Energy lies in its name; BLE uses far less energy. So much lower amounts of energy, in
fact, that a device that would drain its battery within a couple months using a normal Bluetooth
connection would likely last for years on a single charge if it were to use a Bluetooth Low
Energy connection [2].
The origin of its lower energy usage is because it is based around transfer of smaller bits
of information at set periods of time and can utilize many strategies for energy conservation such
as being able to adjust maximized stand-by time between transfers, reduced peak
transmit/receive power, and faster connections [3]. It also transfers information at a slower rate
overall, and while normally a Bluetooth connection must maintain a data exchange every 600
microseconds for it to communicate successfully, BLE connections cycle in data exchange from
5 milliseconds and up to several seconds [3]. This is huge because BLE chips can be installed to
smaller devices running on single coin-cell batteries and last up to 3 years without any kind of
recharge, and devices like smartphones can run BLE continuously without any substantial effects
to battery life.
Figure 2: Many smart phones today come with Bluetooth capabilities upon purchase (http://www.developer-tech.com/media/img/news/bluetooth_settings_jpg_350x250_crop_q85.png)
Another selling point is the general convenience of BLE integration on a large scale.
Most smart phones and devices carrying Bluetooth capabilities already have the BLE feature, as
the BLE feature is part of the industry standard Bluetooth 4.0 package. BLE simply has yet to be
utilized to its fullest, and implementing the service by connecting third-party devices designed to
use BLE is a simple and seamless matter. If a new user wanted to install a new BLE-based
device, such as a lock which interacted with the user’s smart phone, the required memory space
on their phones would be very minimal, considering that all the software needed for BLE
signaling is already in the phone. Also, things like processing power and limitations in hardware
would be obsolete because most smart phones presently in circulation have been designed to use
BLE signaling. Ultimately, control and monitoring of BLE devices could be easily done utilizing
the phones and computers people have at their disposal and use every day.
The Inheritance of Bluetooth
As a child of classic Bluetooth, BLE reaps the benefits and efficiency of many of
Bluetooth’s techniques, such as adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) and an inherited logical link
control and adaption protocol interface (L2CAP) [3]. AFH makes BLE very reliable regardless
of heavy signal-use environments as it uses a technique that switches or “hops” between
frequencies to absolute the problem of signal interference, and the basic framework of an L2CAP
interface in BLE allows for a dependable, secure, and streamlined data pairing between devices
[6].
Preamble(1 octet)
Access Address(4 octets)
PDU(2 to 39 octets)
CRC(3 octets)
Figure 3: A simple look at the format of BLE link layer data packets sent with every transfer. The PDU contains the actual information while the other parts are for signal identification and encryption purposes.(from http://www.digikey.com/us/en/techzone/wireless/resources/articles/Bluetooth-Low-Energy-Chips.html)
In terms of its general strategy, BLE remains similar to Bluetooth in that it’s based
around a “master” that is connected to a number of slaves [1]. The master is in charge of control
and monitoring, whereas the slaves simply relay information by means of a simple reaction, such
as outputting the instruction to different forms of media (sound or visual). BLE differs in that a
master can be in control of far more slaves at once, depending on the available memory, and the
slaves themselves may have an “advertising” functionality which announces that it’s about to
transmit information (events or measurement values) to the master which is continuously
scanning for updates [2]. This wider spread in interaction between devices is possible due to the
BLE’s low energy income.
Like classic Bluetooth, the range of BLE signals is restricted to 10-100 meters [4] if there
are no obstructions. Though this factors out long-distance connections, unlimited range was
never the intent of BLE in the first place. Proximity-based applications are the targeted market
for Bluetooth and BLE technology supports this demand very well.
In essence, BLE is a completely new technology, and though it may have a similar
structure to the original Bluetooth technology, the modifications applied in creating BLE are
significant enough to put it in an environment set apart from its classic counterpart. It is by
means of good knowledge and creativity within the realms of modern engineering that led to the
reimagining of Bluetooth and the rise of exciting new forms of usage that BLE will provide.
Applications of BLE
The change to lower amounts of energy and from continuous to periodic transfer of data
makes a big difference in the application of BLE. As mentioned before, things like wireless
headsets which use Bluetooth and require the steady stream of data from a source to be
maintained wouldn’t switch over to using BLE and instead continue to use the robust capability
of the classic Bluetooth system. BLE simply broadens the scope in which Bluetooth can be
incorporated, filling in that niche for simpler extended wireless communication at a far cheaper
rate in both hardware and software. The ability to utilize BLE sensors that are low maintenance
and last for years creates a market for all kinds of new cheap technology that can enhance
people’s lifestyles.
There are a variety of industries which are interested in BLE or have already taken
advantage of it to create new devices as seen in the following examples [5][2]:
Fitness and wellness: sports watches, wearable heart rate monitors, speed/distance
monitors
Medical care: blood glucose/pressure monitors, medical instrumentation
Consumer: wearable or attachable trackers/locators, proximity-based authentication or
identification, toys, remote-based triggering,
Businesses: remote monitoring and alerts of assets and management, security
surveillance, exchange systems with tracking
The simplicity of BLE’s infrastructure broadens its applicability, and using Bluetooth
protocol allows hundreds and thousands of BLE signals to be transmitted alongside each other
without any interference or corruption.
Imagine a world where a cheap tracker attached to a book bag would unfailingly alert the
owner’s phone whenever they accidentally leave it behind at a restaurant or store. Simple BLE-
sensor locks can do away with managing a multitude of physical keys and instead automatically
authenticate people based on proximity and literally open doors without any effort on part of
users. With healthcare-based monitors, low-energy monitors can send alerts of critical conditions
to not only users, but also, upon connecting to the host device like a smartphone, be able to then
connect to a larger network and notify caretakers or even EMTs for an immediate response.
Figure 4: Prototype of a card that uses BLE to alert its owner’s smart phone if it was left behind (http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/528e4e9b69beddf05f629bb4-1200/at-first-glance-the-coin-doesnt-look-all-that-special-it-costs-100-and-looks-like-a-sleek-simplified-credit-card.jpg)
Considering the current simplicity of the BLE module and its potential for further
technological advancements in greater efficiency, security, and universality, there remains a
considerable amount of room for innovation to vast limits. Imagine a world where one’s personal
data relevant to everything possible (access to cars/homes, information transfer for immediate
registration, removal of necessary material-based constructs like licenses credit cards) is securely
attached to one’s person, by a handheld/wearable device or even an implant that is permanently
embedded to an individual, allowing for a single touch of a button to suffice for any form of
payment, access, transfer, etc. There’s a whole world of possibility.
Because all of these triggers and alerts are transferred in digital signal form, the ability to
keep log of these events is already included with the existing system. And the greatest thing is,
BLE integration is incredibly feasible because many smart devices already include the BLE
feature.
An Innovative Outlook
So many things are going for BLE-based devices and its capacity as a convenience-based
technology. BLE provides a much-desired convenience to managing automation and monitoring,
it’s reliable even within areas of high-signal usage, it’s either very cheap to manufacture/install
or already implemented in devices widely-used today, and it’s low energy usage makes it
considerably longer-lasting and lower maintenance than classic Bluetooth.
However, beyond what is already understood about BLE and the obvious ways it is
relevant, the flexibility and uniqueness of this new technology implicates enough breathing room
for further innovation. Being a relatively new system, the possibilities and limits of BLE are still
not fully defined, and all kinds of novelty and ingenuity remain to be discovered yet. A secure
means of BLE integration with payment systems, for example, seems within grasp for developers
but still has not been modeled fully. Generally, the surprising cheapness of BLE broadens its
relevance to such an extent that it’s impossible to recognize which sector of the market BLE will
be found next. Considering this scope, surely many more ways to combine BLE with people’s
day-to-day are still to be realized.
Overall, the spread and relevance of BLE applications as a simple solution to increasing
living convenience and human efficiency appear like they’re going to push BLE to the forefront
of technology innovation. Whether it’s with trackers, monitors, triggers, and all kinds of
proximity based devices or applications yet to be discovered and developed, the future is bright
with the expansion and dawn of Bluetooth Low Energy.
Sources:
[1] B. Saltzstein and R. Nilsson, Bluetooth Low Energy vs. Classic Bluetooth: Choose the Best Wireless Technology for Your Application, Medical Electronics Design, 2012, http://www.medicalelectronicsdesign.com/article/bluetooth-low-energy-vs-classic-bluetooth-choose-best-wireless-technology-your-application
[2] R. Nilsson, Shaping the Wireless Future with Low Energy Applications and Systems, ConnectBlue, http://www.connectblue.com/press/articles/shaping-the-wireless-future-with-low-energy-applications-and-systems/
[3] J. Shandle, Bluetooth Low Energy: Chips, Use Profiles and Development Tools Coming Online Fast, Electronic Products, http://www.digikey.com/us/en/techzone/wireless/resources/articles/Bluetooth-Low-Energy-Chips.html
[4] L. Frenzel, What’s The Difference Between Bluetooth Low Energy and ANT?, Electronic Design, 2012, http://electronicdesign.com/mobile/what-s-difference-between-bluetooth-low-energy-and-ant
[5] Classic Bluetooth vs. Bluetooth low energy, Bluegiga Technologies, 2011
[6] A Look at the Basics of Bluetooth Technology, Bluetooth SIG, Inc., 2013, http://www.bluetooth.com/Pages/Basics.aspx
