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How to Bluetooth Technology Works on Your Computer


 

"How Bluetooth Technology Works on Your Computer"


1 Assigning a Name and Type to This Computer

The name you assign to this computer is displayed to other Bluetooth devices when this computer is set to be discoverable (see "Providing Access to Other Bluetooth Devices"). The default name is the name assigned by the operating system. The Computer type setting determines the type of icon (see "Device Type, Paired Status, and Connection Status Indication") that is used to represent this computer to other Bluetooth devices.

To change the computer name or type

  1. Open My Bluetooth Places.
  2. Click View or modify configuration.
  3. In Bluetooth Configuration, click the General tab and make the changes in the spaces provided.


2 Providing Access to Other Bluetooth Devices


You can specify if you want to allow other Bluetooth devices to discover this computer. Also, you can specify whether to allow all or none of the devices that discover this computer to connect or to allow only those devices that you designate to connect. The devices that you designate must be within range and must themselves be discoverable. Also, you can specify the type of audio notification (if any) you want to receive in addition to a visual notification when another Bluetooth device requests a Bluetooth security code.

NOTE: If you later clear the Let other Bluetooth devices discover this computer check box, devices that have previously connected to this computer can still do so.

To specify which Bluetooth devices to allow to discover and connect to this computer

  1. Open My Bluetooth Places.
  2. Click View or modify configuration.
  3. In Bluetooth Configuration, click the Accessibility tab and make the access settings you prefer in the spaces provided.

NOTE: To prevent this computer from being discovered, clear the Let other Bluetooth devices discover this computer check box.




3 Discovering Devices


You can set this computer to automatically look for other Bluetooth devices at a specific time interval. Also, you can limit the search to specific devices, classes of devices, or types of devices within a class. If you limit the search to specific devices, the devices must be within range, and must themselves be discoverable.

To specify which Bluetooth devices to look for and how often

  1. Open My Bluetooth Places.
  2. Click View or modify configuration.
  3. In Bluetooth Configuration, click the Discovery tab and make the access settings you prefer in the spaces provided.

NOTE: To prevent this computer from automatically looking for other Bluetooth devices, clear the Look for other Bluetooth devices check box.




4 Setting Security


By default, the properties of all Bluetooth services that this computer provides and the Bluetooth applications (except Human Interface Device) that this computer uses are set to require a secure connection. When the Secure connection property is set, and this computer tries to connect to another Bluetooth device, the two devices must exchange a Bluetooth security code. This procedure positively identifies the device you want to connect to. After the exchange, the two Bluetooth devices are allowed to encrypt data.


5 Managing Bluetooth Devices and Services


Bluetooth services are used to carry out actions between a program installed on your computer and a remote Bluetooth device. A Bluetooth device can offer one or more services. For specific detailed instructions about how to use Bluetooth devices and services, see "Using Other Bluetooth Devices with Your Bluetooth-Enabled Computer."

To manage your Bluetooth devices and services

  1. Open My Bluetooth Services.
  2. Click View or modify configuration.

From the Local Services tab of Bluetooth Configuration, you can select the services that this computer provides to other Bluetooth devices and set the properties for that service. By default, all Local Services are set to start automatically, to require a secure connection, and to require both visual and audio notification when a remote device attempts to connect to that service.

To set the properties for a service, click the service name, and then click Properties.

  • From the General tab, you can set or clear the Secure Connection property and the Startup Automatically property for that service.
  • From the Notifications tab, you can specify if and how you want to be notified.

From the Client Applications tab of Bluetooth Configuration, you can specify how this computer accesses services on other Bluetooth devices and set or clear the Secure Connection property for that application. By default, all Client Applications except HID are set to require a secure connection.

To set the properties for an application, click the application name, and then click Properties. From the General tab, you can set or clear the Secure Connection property. For certain applications, such as PIM Synchronization, File Transfer, PIM Item Transfer, and Dial-up Networking, you can make other settings that affect how the application functions.




6 Managing Local Bluetooth Radios


From the Diagnostics tab, you can manage the Bluetooth devices (radios) that are installed on this computer. Also, you can view the following information about each radio:

Devices

  • Name
  • Status
    • Active (Preferred)
    • Inactive
    • Disabled
  • Type

Device Properties

  • Device status — Indicates that the device is operating properly, or that there is a problem/conflict
  • Manufacturer — The company that manufactured the device
  • Firmware Revision — The manufacturer's firmware version number
  • Device Address — The Bluetooth Device Address assigned to this device when it was manufactured
  • HCI Version — The version number of the Bluetooth specification with which the Host Controller Interface complies
  • HCI Revision — The revision number of the Bluetooth specification with which the Host Controller Interface complies
  • LMP Version — The version number of the Bluetooth specification with which the Link Manager Protocol complies
  • LMP Sub-version — The sub-version number of the Bluetooth specification with which the Link Manager Protocol complies

NOTE:

  • Only one Bluetooth radio can be used at a specific time.
  • If you change the Bluetooth radio device, you must redo pairing with other Bluetooth devices.

To manage the Bluetooth radio devices that are installed on this computer

  1. Open My Bluetooth Places.
  2. Click View or modify configuration, and then click the Diagnostics tab.

To query the active radio and update the data displayed in Device Properties, click Refresh.

To disable or enable a particular Bluetooth radio device, click the name of the device, and then click either Disable, or Enable, as appropriate.

To specify which Bluetooth radio device you prefer to use, click the name of the device, and then click Set Preferred.



NOTE:

  • If you enable a radio device, and another radio is set as Active (Preferred), the status of the enabled device is automatically set to Inactive, which means that it is available for use, but it is not the preferred device.
  • If you enable a radio device, and no other radio device has been set to Active (Preferred), the status of the enabled device is automatically set to Active.
  • When a radio is plugged in or unplugged while Bluetooth Configuration is open, click Refresh to update the information displayed.
  • If you do not intend to use a device, disable it to conserve battery power.
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