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The Mac OS X Bluetooth Profiles and Applications

In addition to the protocols shown in Figure 2-1, Mac OS X implements several Bluetooth profiles. In general, a profile defines a particular usage of the protocols. Figure 2-2 shows how each profile is built on top of particular protocols in the Mac OS X Bluetooth protocol stack.

In Mac OS X version 10.2.8 and later, the available profiles are:

• DUN (dial-up networking). Supports links between, for example, a mobile phone and a laptop computer. This allows you to access the Internet by connecting to an Internet service provider through your mobile phone.

• HID (human interface device). Supports Bluetooth-enabled HID-class devices, such as keyboards and mice. In most cases, this means that you can expect a Bluetooth-enabled HID-class device to work transparently with a Mac OS X system.

  Further, all Bluetooth-enabled HID-class devices are supported by the Mac OS X HID Manager. This means that you can use the HID Manager API to access your device.

• Serial port. Provides a bridge from the RFCOMM protocol to the built-in Mac OS X serial port driver. You can use this profile to support legacy applications that depend on direct serial-port access.

• Object push. Allows the transfer of small files (several hundred Kilobytes in size or less) between Bluetooth-enabled devices. You can use this profile to send and receive files in the vCard format, such as virtual business cards.

• FTP (file transfer protocol). Allows a Bluetooth device to be treated as a remote file system. You can use the FTP profile to browse a remote Bluetooth device’s file system, get directory listings, and transfer files.

• Synchronization. Supports synchronization of data between a computer and a device such as a Bluetooth-enabled PDA. You can use this profile to implement automatic data synchronization that occurs as soon as devices discover each other, rather than at a user’s command.

With version 1.5 of the Bluetooth software, two new profiles became available:

• HCRP (hardcopy cable replacement profile). This profile allows the transfer of rendered data between Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as between a laptop and a printer. It is assumed that the client device (in this case, the laptop) will include a driver that renders the data. Note that Mac OS X supports Bluetooth printing through the Mac OS X printing API.

• Headset profile. The headset profile allows an application to use a Bluetooth-enabled headset as the input or output audio device. After a headset is properly configured using the Bluetooth Setup Assistant application, an input and an output audio device associated with the headset are available for selection.

Mac OS X also provides a number of Bluetooth-specific applications. These applications guide users through various set-up procedures, such as configuring new Bluetooth devices and setting up serial-port communication.

In versions of Mac OS X prior to 10.4, the Bluetooth applications are:

• Bluetooth File Exchange. This application uses the FTP profile to support the exchange of files between two connected Bluetooth devices.

• Bluetooth Serial Utility. This application allows an advanced user to set up serial-port emulation. Bluetooth Serial Utility encapsulates the functionality that was available in the System Preferences in previous versions of Mac OS X.

• Bluetooth Setup Assistant. Using an easy, step-by-step approach, this application guides the user through the configuration of a new Bluetooth device, setting it up to work with system services, such as iSync.

In Mac OS X, version 10.4, Apple introduced two new Bluetooth applications:

• Bluetooth Explorer. This application allows you to:

  • Verify that your new Bluetooth service is properly registered

  • View a computer’s Bluetooth hardware information

  • Perform inquiries and view detailed results regarding discovered devices

  • View active Bluetooth connections

  • Select different Bluetooth hardware attached to the computer (if more than one Bluetooth device is present on the computer)

• Packet Logger. This application monitors all Bluetooth traffic being transmitted on the computer and saves it to a log file. You can then view the captured data in the log file to help debug problems in your application, or with Bluetooth hardware.

These applications are available in /Developer/Applications/Utilities/Bluetooth. To use them, your computer must include a Bluetooth module.

Finally, you can use the Bluetooth preferences panel in System Preferences to place selected Bluetooth devices in categories, such as favorites. Note that the Bluetooth preferences panel appears in System Preferences only if a Bluetooth device is in range.

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