Bluetooth

Tizen enables you to use Bluetooth functionalities, such as managing the local Bluetooth adapter, bonding, and exchanging data between Bluetooth-enabled devices. The Bluetooth standard provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) data exchange functionality over short distance between compliant devices.

The main features of the Bluetooth API include:

• Managing the local Bluetooth adapter

  The Bluetooth Adapter API (in mobile and wearable applications) provides functions for setting up Bluetooth and discovering other devices. The API is used to control the Bluetooth adapter: you must enable the adapter before any other Bluetooth actions, and when you no longer need it, disable it to save device power.

  You can control the visibility of the device, meaning whether its name appears to others searching for Bluetooth devices. In addition, you discover neighboring Bluetooth devices. This process is asynchronous, so you must build and hold the list of devices in the neighborhood.

• Discovering devices

  The Bluetooth Device API (in mobile and wearable applications) provides functions for managing bonds with other devices and searching for supported services. The API is used to handle the connection with other devices and to search for services available on remote devices.

  You can discover other Bluetooth devices. The device discovery process can retrieve multiple types of Bluetooth devices, such as printers, mobile phones, and headphones.

• Creating a bonding with a Bluetooth device

  You can create a bonding with another device. The bonding allows the 2 devices to establish a connection.

  Connected devices exchange keys needed for encrypted communication, but each connection has to be approved by the latest application user. You can also set authorization of other devices. Authorized devices are connected automatically without the latest user being asked for authorization.

• Connecting to and exchanging data with a Bluetooth device using a Bluetooth socket

  The Bluetooth Socket API (in mobile and wearable applications) provides functions for managing connections to other devices and exchanging data. The API is used for exchanging data between 2 Bluetooth devices, where your device can have the role both of a server (service provider) and client (service user). The connection creation process differs based on the role. After the connection is established, the processes for exchanging data and disconnecting are the same for both roles.

  When you attempt to open a connection to another device, a Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) look-up is performed on the device, and the protocol and channel to be used for the connection are determined. If a connection is established and the socket is opened successfully, a BluetoothSocket instance with an open state is returned. The socket is subsequently used for exchanging data between the connected devices.

• Connecting to audio devices with Bluetooth

  Connect to Bluetooth audio devices, such as headset, hand-free, and headphone.

• Handling attributes with Bluetooth GATT

  The Bluetooth GATT API (in mobile and wearable applications) provides functions for creating and destroying the GATT client handle, discovering, reading, and modifying attributes, and setting and releasing callbacks to be notified when characteristic values are changed at the remote device.

  As a client, you can connect to and use a specific service on the server device. Once the connection is established, the client can manage the service attributes. When the GATT client operations are no longer required, unregister the callbacks and destroy GATT client handle.

• Connecting to health devices with Bluetooth HDP

  Manage connections to health devices and exchange data.

• Connecting to devices with Bluetooth HID

  Connect to a Bluetooth HID, such as a keyboard or mouse.

• Sending and receiving objects with the Bluetooth OPP client and server

  Push and accept objects, such as pictures.

• Exchanging data with Bluetooth LE

  The Bluetooth LE Adapter API (in mobile and wearable applications) provides functions for managing the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connections with other BLE devices and exchanging data between them.

  You can control the visibility of the BLE device, meaning whether its name appears to others searching for BLE devices. In addition, you discover neighboring BLE devices. This process is asynchronous, so you must build and hold the list of devices in the neighborhood.

Bluetooth use is based on profiles. Tizen Bluetooth features support the Audio, GATT, HDP, HID, and OPP client and server profiles.