Bluetooth USB Dongles and Controller

[niket_304]

Hi all,
Do anyone know How to interface Bluetooth USB Dongle(which is easily available for PC) with Microcontrollers?
coz these Dongles r easily available n cheaper than Bluetooth module so if its possible to interface with ucs than it becomes cheaper Bluetooth embedded solution.

 

[Drago]

Yes, I'm thinking about the same problem. But the first step is to make a running project over HCI protokol. If you have one to share it (with enough details to understand it) we can continue with the interfacing it.
Currently I'm looking for an appropriate Windows XP Bluetooth stack since the Microsoft one is useless.

 

[niket_304]

I dont know what is HCI Protocol. about Blurtooth stack for XP,I think Bluetooth USB driver is priety good which comes with dozens of applications like Serial adapter, Network Adapter(Winsock), Dial-up etc. This applications are simulated by the driver n we dont want to go in depth of Bluetooth protocol right or not?

 

[Drago]

All theese applications are Bluetooth profiles, and they are baesd on several protocols (the lower one is HCI). It is quite easy in Windows, since there is a lot of software/drivers. The question becomes very complicated when you have to write them all in the Microcontroller. I've spend several months studying all the neccessary issues and I can definetly say there is a lot of things to learn before to do this. My advise is to start reading and if you are interested we could be of help to each other.

 

[niket_304]

Yes I m really very intersted in these things. I want to develop a Mobile-Embedded Controller communication using Bluetooth. I have collected all the material about Bluetooth but not started to read it. I have all the necessary reading material about Bluetooth and if you want it then ask me for this. Please tell me from where and how i start reading, understanding abt Bluetooth. I have very short time say 2-3 months n I want to complete it any how, apart frm this I have enough knowledge of Embedded controllers and I am also studying Mobile Java application development for this project. So i will be more than happy if you help me for this project.
Just tell me how can I start understanding bluetooth.

 

[dainis]

Remember that for using USB dongle with microcontroller, you need microcontroller with USB host or USB host controller, not USB device controller !

 

[niket_304]

ya i understood the issue of USB Host controllet but what about Driver? I mean the software for controller...

 

[Drago]

You have to write your own. there is the problem !

 

[niket_304]

but there should be some protocol or some standard (like how can we control modem using AT commands) using which u can develop the software, or is this wt people call "Bluetooth Stack'?

 

[Drago]

Take a quick look here:
**broken link removed**
Try to understand how seriouse is the principle, and home many protocols you need to implement a prifile. See at least the HCI section.
Furthermore a mcu should be able to use USB transport protokol and then to run all of bluetooth ones.

Added after 5 minutes:

P.S. I think the best way is to start using a Windows Bluetooth stack/DSK like Blue magic for example (I don't have it since it is not free). If there are examples based directly on the HCI and the other protocols (not Java bluetooth sdk) it will be much more easy.

 

[niket_304]

But thing u r talking about is for PC software. I want some Embedded hardware at one end and Mobile at other end.
So I think Bluetooth-Serial Module is the best solution if u dont want to solve the issue of Bluetooth protocol, stack, driver etc.
what do u think?

 

[Drago]

I need the windows software in order to understand and test everything. If you are going to use fabricated Bluetooth modules it is completely different case. They come with implemented software. I also suppose the manifacturer will provide something like SDK with examples. But in this case you will have to pay at least 50$ per module, while a PC bluetooth USB stick is about 10$. If you don't want the Bluetooth issues use them, some of them have a very simple serial interface with AT commands.

 

[niket_304]

This is one of the projects which I got from one Open Source Project Community. It states that Intel provides bluetooth library (intelbth.dll) to drive bluetooth devices by calling methods provided by Microsoft. I have uploaded a sample project Have a look. is it useful or not?