The stack supports standard 1.2 features such as extended Synchronous Connection-Oriented link (eSCO) and Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). Both features improve application quality, but eSCO offers more flexibility than the standard SCO links. For example, in a crowded frequency band eSCO provides better robustness by allowing limited retransmission of voice packets. With eSCO support in the stack, applications and profiles can take advantage of its flexibility. It allows applications to make intelligent decisions to optimize link parameters based on the content.

RSSI can now be used by applications to simplify the finding and pairing of Bluetooth devices. A user could choose to do an inquiry search in a limited area instead of trying to pick out a specific Bluetooth device in a room where there might be hundreds of Bluetooth devices.

The stack also supports parallel Bluetooth applications, making it possible to use the Bluetooth connection for more than one activity at the same time. For example, a user could simultaneously listen to streaming music via Bluetooth headphones while synchronizing PIM information with a computer. The activities could also include simultaneous video and audio streaming.The Ericsson Core Bluetooth Software Stack B-C3 will be qualified and generally available by mid-March 2004 and is now being shipped to selected customers. It will also be available for evaluation in a Microsoft Windows environment. It has already been proven in various devices such as mobile phones, cameras and access points.

• Support for new Host Controller Interface (HCI) transport layer for 3-wire UART.    
• Support for eSCO added functions.    
• Support for RSSI: enables specific inquiry searches, for example, within a certain range.    
• Support for timing over HCI: applications can access timing and clock information from the lower layers.

Bodil Lundgren

20040316