Executive Summary
IVT Bluetooth host stack (Bluelet™) has a long history; It is widely used, mature,
efficient with very small code size; it supports multi-OS, multiple Bluetooth silicon, almost
all the Bluetooth profiles, and is the de facto standard for interoperability in industry; It
is the core of IVT’s most popular application software – BlueSoleil for Win 2000, XP, Vista,
CE and Linux (e.g. Moblin and Android); it is suitable for embedded applications including mobile
applications as well as desktop applications. IVT can offer the ANSI C source code of Bluetooth host stack.
1. IVT Bluetooth V2.1 Stack
IVT Bluetooth host stack (Bluelet™) was first released in November 1999. It is a full implementation
of the Bluetooth host stack V2.1 + EDR using ANSI C. It includes all of the protocols in the Bluetooth
host protocol stack (including TCS, SDP, RFCOMM, L2CAP and HCI). IVT performed protocol validation using
the formal design technique, Specification Description Language (SDL), to assure that all protocols are
logically correct before coding.
Using its specific separation of system dependent and independent code, IVT Bluelet™ can
support most operating systems such as Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista, Windows CE, Linux (Moblin
and Android), Nucleus, REX, µC/OS-II, µ-Itron, VxWorks, pSOS+, and Palm. It has no particular
requirements on processors, supports almost all Bluetooth profiles and different HCI transport drivers (USB, UART, PCMCIA, BCSP, SDIO).
Profiles that IVT Bluelet™ supports are listed below:
| Profile (Bluetooth specification version) |
Supported Roles |
| GAP (2.1) |
(N/A) |
| SDAP (1.1) |
Client, Server |
| SPP (1.1) |
Client, Server |
| A2DP (1.2) |
Source, Sink |
| VDP (1.0) |
Source, Sink |
| AVRCP (1.3) |
Target, Controller |
| Headset (1.0) |
Audio Gateway, Headset |
| HFP (1.5) |
Audio Gateway, Hands-Free |
| PAN (1.0) |
GN, NAP, PANU |
| BPP (1.2) |
Sender, Printer |
| BIP (1.0) |
Initiator, Responder |
| DUN (1.1) |
Gateway, Terminal |
| FAX (1.1) |
Gateway, Terminal |
| CTP (1.1) |
Gateway, Terminal |
| ICP (1.1) |
Terminal |
| HID (1.1) |
Host, Device |
| DI (1.3) |
(N/A) |
| SAP (1.0) |
Client, Server |
| HCRP (1.2) |
Client, Server |
| FTP (1.1) |
Client, Server |
| OPP (1.1) |
Client, Server |
| PBAP (1.0) |
Client, Server |
| Sync (1.1) |
Client, Server |
IVT has worked closely with the different Bluetooth chip manufacturers to ensure the interoperability of IVT
Bluelet™ with their Bluetooth baseband chips through HCI. IVT Bluelet™ supports most available Bluetooth silicon
such as that from AccelSemi, Avago, Atheros, 3DSP, Broadcom, CSR, Infineon, Intel, ISSC, Marvell, MTK,National
Semiconductor, NXP, Qualcom (RFMD), Ralink, ST Micro and TI.
There are more than 150 customers who have their products with IVT Bluelet™ inside.
2. Efficient, reliable, mature and small in code size
IVT Bluelet™ is suitable for embedded applications as well as desktop applications. IVT Bluelet™
has been carefully designed for embedded systems with very small code size. In general situation, the
RAM size is less than 12KB. Please see the table below for more detail information.
Memory Size Table:
| Basic Stack |
RAM (KB) [*7] |
ROM (KB) [*5] |
MIPS [*6] |
Comments |
| Stack+GAP+SDAP+SPP |
12 |
115.6 |
4.95 |
RAM = initialization |
Note 1.
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RAM in the column does not include the buffers for each profile. Different application can use different buffer
number and buffer size. Buffer size can vary from 256 bytes to 64k bytes according to each profile. Typically it
is 256bytes to 1516bytes in embedded environment. More buffer number usually can produce high performance. It
can vary from 2 to 50 or even more. Typically it is 2 to 8 in embedded environment.
|
| Note 2. |
Sync can support up to 4 different formats. Each format should have log, device info and UUIDMap which consume up to 1k bytes.
|
| Note 3. |
PAN dose not include DHCP and NAT functionality.
|
| Note 4. |
RAM for CTP and Intercom does not include buffers for each line. Each line can add 97 bytes to RAM.
|
| Note 5. |
The ROM can be a little different due to different compiler and different CPU.(TCS is excluded in stack).
|
| Note 6. |
We have tested the stack and profiles on ARM7 core CPUs such as Atmel40807 and Samsung4510b.We can not give accurate MIPs
consumed only by stack and profiles because BSP and OS also get involved. But a reference can be useful is when we run
LAP profile which have SPP working cost 10% cpu power of 49.5MIPS Samsung4510b. So, even full speed of the stack and SPP
profile should not consume more than 4.95MIPS.
|
| Note 7. |
RAM are configurable in application.
|
3. Multi-OS Architecture
IVT Bluelet™ supports a System dependent module in the Common Function Library for each specific OS
platform (System dependent module). HCI transport drivers (USB, UART, PCMCIA, BCSP, SDIO drivers) for
a specific hardware and OS (HCI transport driver). Interface between Bluelet™ and the OS existing
software to implement profiles, such as Dial-up networking, OBEX profiles (API porting module).
IVT BtSDK has four modules, including Local service management, Device Management, Connection
Management and Security Management. Application can concentrate on Bluetooth function exploration
rather than managing complicate data structure based on BtSDK’s easy-to-use API. BtSDK is available
on various OS platform. On Windows OS, it is presented on BlueSoleil V5.0.0 and above.
4. De facto standard for Interoperability
IVT Bluelet™ is one of the top stacks in the industry for interoperability. Interoperability
in one of the main foundations, and continues to be, upon which the Bluelet™ stack is built upon. It does so in four ways:
- Widespread of BlueSoleil
- Interoperability and Conformance Test tools
- On-going testing in IVT Interoperability Testing Center
- Unplugfests
IVT Bluelet is the core of its widespread use of Bluesoleil. It has also added to the increased Interoperability of Bluelet™.
Bluesoleil currently has a licensed install base of 30 Million Users. In addition there are many more unlicensed users, as
IVT have always placed an evaluation version of Bluesoleil on our www.Bluesoleil.com website for free download for
User testing and Interoperability testing of other manufacturers.
This has greatly helped the Bluetooth Industry, that the top selling Bluetooth PC software is freely
available for test, promoting Interoperability and helping improve interoperability of other Bluetooth
Products. Most Bluetooth developers have a copy of BlueSoleil for interoperability testing; Many headset
manufactures test their headsets against BlueSoleil as the last procedure before they ship out the headsets.
IVT has developed a Number of important test tools for Bluetooth. IVT was the first the first company to
release a Bluetooth host stack conformance tester (BlueTester™) in September 2000 & Bluetooth Profile
interoperability testers in September 2001 . With the aid of these tools our initial stack was developed in an interoperability focused manner.
IVT enhances its Interoperability is with its own Interoperability Lab. In early 2007, IVT set up its own Bluetooth
Interoperability Lab based in its R&D centre in Beijing. This lab contains its Test tools, the Bluetooth SIG Test tools,
independent Test tools and critically an ever increasing Device Library. The Device library is made up of a large number
of Bluetooth Products on the market. This library allows of engineers to test our Stack and profiles against the majority
of corresponding Bluetooth products in the market easily. We allow our customers, and other Bluetooth companies to test
their products against our Device Library in our Interoperability Lab. It is an on-going process that IVT performs on
daily basis with ever increasing products coming out on the market.
IVT attends the majority of Unplugfests (UPFs). Unplugfests are week-long interoperability test events.
Three UPFs are held annually, one in each global region, where, Engineers work together to improve interoperability.
5. IVT New Stack for Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
IVT has developed a new host stack to support Bluetooth 3.0 + HS.
Features:
- Fully Bluetooth v3.0 + HS compliant
- High speed about 20Mbps on 802.11g
- Expandable for other high speed radio
- Uses standard Bluetooth profiles
- Backwards compatibility with Bluetooth 2.1
- Easy to port on different OS
- Transparent to the end user
Bluetooth v3.0 + HS gets its speed from the 802.11 radio. The 802.11 Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL)
provides increased throughput of data transfers at the approximate rate of 24 Mbps. In addition, mobile
devices including Bluetooth v3.0 + HS will realize increased power savings due to enhanced power control.
This newest version of Bluetooth technology builds on the current 2.1 + EDR version, including Simple
Secure Pairing and built-in, automatic security. Bluetooth v3.0 + HS provides developers and manufacturers
with the benefit of backwards compatibility, enabling both the expansion and enhancement of this technology
with every new specification release.
Bluetooth v3.0 + HS modifies the standard Bluetooth architecture, an Alternative Mac and Phy based
Architecture (AMPs). This architecture enables multiple alternate radios under L2CAP. The standard 2.4GHz
Bluetooth radio is still used for discovery and connection setup. However, new AMP such as 802.11 is used
for high speed channels. The generic AMP architecture includes an AMP manager and a set of generic HCI
commands and events. Each AMP may support specific HCI commands and events. And each AMP may have its own PAL beneath HCI.
With the availability of Bluetooth v3.0 + HS, users can expect to move large data files of videos,
music and photos between their own devices and the trusted devices of others wirelessly.
6. Rich Applications on Top of Bluelet Stack and Good Customer Support
IVT has continually developed rich applications on top of its Bluetooth host stack, such as application software
(BlueSoleil) which shipped in exceed 30 million copies as of Dec 31, 2008 to over one hundred forty-five countries
for PCs, laptops, PDAs, MID, Personal Navigation Devices and Smart phones; Bluetooth CTP (Cordless Telephony Profile)
enabled GSM phones, and PSTN/SIP/UMA Access Points for fixed-mobile convergence; Bluetooth multi-media broadcaster,
(BlueCaster) for proximity marketing.
IVT's products and solutions are widely adopted with over one hundred fifty customers worldwide
including Lenovo, HP, British Telecom, Motorola, Samsung, LG, Ricoh, Panasonic, Mitac, Wistron, etc.
IVT’ s R&D center is located in Beijing, being close to OEM/ODM in Asia. IVT also provides design services,
interoperability testing services, and Bluetooth BQB qualification support via its Interoperability Testing
Center (iotc@ivtcorporation.com) to its customers.
