Introduction
This guide explains the Bluetooth module features and functions. This product was designed for Waspmote v12 and continues with no changes for Waspmote v15. There are no great variations in this library for our new product lines Waspmote v15, released on October 2016.
Anyway, if you are using previous versions of our products, please use the corresponding guides, available on our Development website.
You can get more information about the generation change on the document "New generation of Libelium product lines".
This guide describes all features of the Libelium Bluetooth module which has been mainly designed to discover up to 250 devices in a variable area. The module belongs to the Smart Cities solution created by Libelium, allowing applications like vehicle and pedestrian traffic monitoring.
Moreover, a dedicated API has been also created to manage inquiries of the Bluetooth module. This API is designed only for discovery device purposes and basic data exchanges, leaving for the future other applications like data complex exchange in a Bluetooth network.
It has to be mentioned that inquiry processes of Bluetooth module are anonymous due to only the MAC address is obtained from the Bluetooth remote device. No account or phone numbers are obtained. This fact allows saving privacy of Bluetooth users.
Important:
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The information on Libelium´s websites has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It should not be relied upon for any specific purpose and no representation or warranty is given as to its accuracy or completeness.
General description
The Bluetooth module has two main parts which are a previous designed module and an external antenna. The last one uses a RP-SMA connector in case it has to be replaced.
There are 7 different power levels which go from -27 dBm to 3 dBm in order to set different inquiry zones from 10 to 50 m. These zones can also be increased or decreased by using a different antenna for the module as it counts with an standard SMA connector. The user can choose between a 2 dB and a 5 dB antenna. .
There are some parameters that can be inquired from devices inside the detection area. The most important ones are described below.
MAC address: It is the unique identification number of the Bluetooth device. It has 12 hexadecimal digits separated by ":". One example could be "12:34:56:aa:bb".
CoD (Class of Device): Bluetooth devices are classified according to the device which they are integrated. Therefore, a vehicle hands free device will belong to a different class than a pedestrian mobile phone. This parameter has 6 hexadecimal digits and it allows to distinguish if the detected Bluetooth device is a vehicle, a pedestrian, and so on.
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator): This parameter shows quality of the radio link. It can be used to know the distance between the Bluetooth module and the inquired device. It is shown as a negative value between -40 dBm (close devices) and -90 dBm (far devices).
In addition, there is another parameter that can be inquired from Bluetooth devices. This parameter is called "Friendly name" and it is defined by the owner of the Bluetooth device. It is just a "friendlier" way to name a Bluetooth device instead of the MAC address.
*Note: The Bluetooth module requires an SD card to save all data of discovered devices. Please be sure that an SD card is inserted before using the module.*
Next figure shows a typical application for Bluetooth modules where vehicles and pedestrians can be detected. Also, different detection areas are shown.
How do the Bluetooth and ZigBee radios coexist without causing interferences with each other?
ZigBee and Bluetooth work in the 2.4 GHz frequency band (2.400 -- 2.480 MHz). However, the Bluetooth radio integrated in Waspmote uses an algorithm called Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) which improves the common algorithm used by Bluetooth (FHSS) and enables the Bluetooth radio to dynamically identify channels already in use by ZigBee and WiFi devices and to avoid them.
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