Raytac Corporation 勁達國際電子有限公司
A BT5 & BT 4.2 & BTv4.1 module maker based on Nordic nRF51 & nRF52 solution
(nRF51822 & nRF51422 & nRF52832 & nRF52810 & nRF52840)
2018/11/19 Updated:
Bluetooth SIG Announces Deprecation and Withdraw of Legacy Bluetooth Core Spec Version
1. Withdrawal of the following on January 28, 2019:
Bluetooth Specification Version 2.0 + EDR
2. Deprecation of the following on January 28, 2019 and withdrawal on July 1, 2020:
Bluetooth Specification Version 2.1 + EDR
Bluetooth Core Specification Addendum 1
Bluetooth Specification Version 3.0 + HS
Bluetooth Specification Version 4.0
Bluetooth Core Specification Addendum 2
Bluetooth Core Specification Addendum 3 revision 2
Bluetooth Core Specification Addendum 4
Bluetooth Specification Version 4.1
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What is Bluetooth 4.1? Any difference between BT4.0 VS BT4.1?
There are the recent frequent question we received from customers.
To well explained it, SIG has released a FAQ, which has brought a completed explanation.
To help everybody to read it, we quoted the information in detail as below.
BLUETOOTH 4.1 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Quoted from SIG Bluetooth 4.1 SIG
Technology
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Bluetooth® 4.1 is an evolutionary update to the
Bluetooth Core Specification. It rolls up adopted Bluetooth Core
Specification Addenda (CSA1, 2, 3 & 4) while adding new features and
benefits. Bluetooth 4.1 improves usability for consumers, empowers
innovation for product developers and extends the technology’s
foundation as an essential link for the Internet of Things.
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What are
the key features and benefits of Bluetooth 4.1?
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Bluetooth
4.1 offers the following key features and benefits which are segmented into
three areas:
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1) Improving Usability
2)
Empowering Developer Innovation
3)
Enabling the Internet of Things
Feature
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Benefits
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Mobile
Wireless Service Coexistence Signaling
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Engineered to work seamlessly with cellular technologies like
LTE
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Train
Nudging and Generalized Interlaced Scanning
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Low Duty
Cycle Directed Advertising
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Maintain connections with less frequent manual intervention
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L2CAP
Connection Oriented Channels
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Exchange data more efficiently
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Feature
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Benefits
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Dual Mode
Topology and Link Layer Topology Software Features
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Device supports multiple roles simultaneously (Enables a
Bluetooth Smart Ready product such as a smartphone, to act as a Bluetooth
Smart Ready Hub and Bluetooth Smart peripheral at the same time)
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Feature
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Benefits
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L2CAP
Dedicated Channels
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Devices will be able to setup a dedicated channel for
communication (This is a foundational step for
future support of IPv6 at the sensor level)
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Is
Bluetooth 4.1 replacing Bluetooth 4.0?
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No,
Bluetooth 4.1 extends the functionality set already provided by Bluetooth
4.0.
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What is
the benefit of using Bluetooth 4.1?
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In addition to the above listed
key new features, using Bluetooth 4.1 enables manufacturers to take advantage
of important clarifications incorporated into the core specification in the
form of errata.
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Is
Bluetooth Smart (Low Energy) technology a part of Bluetooth 4.1?
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Yes. Bluetooth Smart technology
introduced in Bluetooth 4.0 is a feature within the Bluetooth 4.1 core
specification.
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Are there
any mandatory features that need to be implemented to claim compliance to
Bluetooth 4.1?
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No, for the first time since
the adoption of Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, there are no mandatory features that
must be claimed to use the specification Bluetooth 4.1. However,
manufacturers are required to implement all errata applied to Bluetooth 4.1
in order to comply with the specification.
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Will
Bluetooth 4.1 devices be backward compatible with current Bluetooth devices
in the marketplace?
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Devices implementing only the
low energy feature (branded Bluetooth Smart) will be backward compatible with
Bluetooth 4.0 devices that also implement the low energy feature.
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Devices implementing the Basic
Rate/Enhanced Data Rate (BR/EDR) Core Configuration will be backward
compatible to all adopted Bluetooth Core versions beginning with 1.1 that
also implement Bluetooth BR/EDR.
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Should I
just be using the Bluetooth 4.1 specification moving forward for my devices?
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The SIG recommends that
manufacturers begin immediately to implement Bluetooth 4.1 in their devices
in order to provide an optimal user experience and enjoy the benefits of the
new topologies now supported.
Qualification
Does
Bluetooth 4.1 change the qualification process?
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No, the
qualification process remains same for all Bluetooth specifications.
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Can I
still qualify to Bluetooth 2.0, 2.1, 3.0 and 4.0?
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Yes, Core
Specification versions 2.0 +EDR, 2.1+EDR, 3.0+HS and 4.0 are still available
for use and qualification.
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What
specification name do I use for a 4.0 or earlier Subsystem combined with a
4.1 Subsystem?
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With the
adoption of 4.1, we updated the Bluetooth Brand Guide to
include simplified naming conventions. The new standard naming convention
defaults to the lowest core specification version being used. For example, if combining a 2.1+EDR Controller
Subsystem with a 4.1 Host Subsystem the resulting specification name would be
2.1+EDR.
If my
product is already qualified to an earlier version, do I need to requalify it
to 4.1?
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No.
Products are qualified in perpetuity without requalification. However, if you
are updating a previously qualified product to the 4.1 specification, you
will need to requalify.
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Where can
I read the technical details of the updates in Bluetooth 4.1?
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When can I
start qualifying my product to the Bluetooth core specification 4.1?
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Qualification
will be enabled for the new core specification on 10 December 2013, at
7:00a.m. PST.
Development
Is there an
implementation stack available for the Bluetooth 4.1 core specification?
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At this time we are not aware
of any release of the 4.1 implementation stack. We are expecting solution
providers to update their implementations shortly.
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Will my
application that’s currently running on the
Bluetooth 4.0 stack still work on the Bluetooth 4.1 stack?
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Yes. All of the Bluetooth 4.0
features are supported in the Bluetooth 4.1 core specification. If the
updated stack implementation complies with Bluetooth 4.1, all the Bluetooth
4.0 features will remain unchanged. Please consult with your stack provider
for further details.
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Is there
IPv6 support in 4.1?
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Not at this time. L2CAP
Dedicated Channels is a foundational feature of Bluetooth 4.1. Currently the
Bluetooth SIG is developing the IPv6 specification. In the future, this will
enable IPv6 devices at the sensor level to setup a dedicated channel for
communication and ensure Bluetooth enabled products are an integral part the
Internet of Things (IoT).
Brand
Should I
brand my product “Bluetooth 4.1”?
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No. Branding a Bluetooth
enabled product with just the core specification number can be confusing for
your customers. The low energy feature is optional in Bluetooth 4.1,
therefore specification numbers don’t indicate device compatibility going forward.
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It’s
important to use the correct Bluetooth brand to quickly communicate device
compatibility to your customers and eliminate “Is
Bluetooth 4.1 compatible with my Bluetooth 4.0 device?” type
questions. In addition, Bluetooth brands span future Bluetooth core
specification versions so you can be confident that using a Bluetooth brand
will communicate device compatibility to your customers for the long-term.
Should I
use the Bluetooth Smart brand for my Bluetooth 4.1 enabled device?
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Not all Bluetooth 4.1 products
are Bluetooth Smart since the low energy feature is optional in Bluetooth
4.1. The correct Bluetooth brand to use for a 4.1 qualified device depends on
the Bluetooth 4.1 features you implement in your product.
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Knowing which brand to use is
simple:
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?
Brand your product “Bluetooth
Smart” if you
are using the Low Energy Core Configuration or Basic Rate and Low Energy
Combined Core Configuration, along with using the GATT-based architecture to
enable particular functionality of the product. Typically, Bluetooth Smart
branded products are sensor or data collector devices transmitting data to a ‘hub’ device
like a smartphone or tablet.
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Brand your product “Bluetooth
Smart Ready” if you
are using a Basic Rate and Low Energy Combined Core Configuration, along with
using the GATT-based architecture to provide a means by which the end user
can choose to update that Smart Ready product with the functionality of a
Bluetooth Smart product. Typically, Bluetooth Smart Ready branded products
are ‘hub’ devices
such as smartphones, tablets or PCs receiving data from a Bluetooth Smart
device and turning it into useful information through the use of an
application on the device or in the cloud.
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Brand your product “Bluetooth” if you
are not using the low energy feature of the core specification and the
GATT-based architecture to enable a particular functionality. Common
Bluetooth branded products are products such as wireless speakers, headsets
or in-vehicle communication devices.
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Why did
Bluetooth SIG add the Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready brands?
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The Bluetooth SIG introduced
Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready to provide an industry standard for
manufacturers to help customers quickly identify device compatibility.
Devices using only the Bluetooth low energy core configuration are not
compatible with devices using only a Bluetooth basic rate core configuration.
When you see Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Smart Ready, you know the products
work together.
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With
Bluetooth 4.1, are there any changes to the requirements for using the
Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready brands? What are those requirements?
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Yes. Previously Bluetooth Smart
branded products referred only to devices with a single-mode Bluetooth low
energy radio while Bluetooth Smart Ready branded products required the
dual-mode Bluetooth radio. In order to increase flexibility for Bluetooth SIG
members, the requirements have been simplified by focusing on the core
configuration. The new requirements are:
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Bluetooth Smart refers to
qualified products incorporating Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0 (or
higher) with a Low Energy Core Configuration or Basic Rate and Low Energy
Combined Core Configuration and using the GATT-based architecture to enable
particular functionality of the product.
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Bluetooth
Smart Ready
refers to qualified products incorporating Bluetooth Core Specification
Version 4.0 (or higher) with a Basic Rate and Low Energy Combined Core
Configuration, and using the GATT-based architecture to provide a means by
which the end user can choose to update the Bluetooth Smart Ready product
with the functionality of a Bluetooth Smart product.
When
should I use the Bluetooth Smart branding on my product?
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If your product meets the
Bluetooth Smart brand requirements above, you should use the Bluetooth Smart
brand. Typically, Bluetooth Smart branded products are sensor or data
collector devices transmitting data to a ‘hub’ device.
By using the Bluetooth Smart brand, you are telling customers your product is
compatible with the universe of Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphones, tablets
and other hub devices. The brand helps customers quickly identify device
compatibility and reduces returns, customer confusion and support calls.
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When
should I use the Bluetooth Smart Ready branding on my product?
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If your product meets the
Bluetooth Smart Ready brand requirements above, you should use the Bluetooth
Smart Ready brand. Typically, Bluetooth Smart Ready branded products are ‘hub’ devices
such as smartphones, tablets or PCs receiving data from a Bluetooth Smart
device and turning it into actionable information using an application on the
device or in the cloud. By using the Bluetooth Smart Ready brand, you are
telling customers your product can connect to the universe of Bluetooth
products—the ones
they own today and the Bluetooth Smart devices they’ll own
tomorrow.
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