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Telink Staff
September 4, 2024
In the ever-evolving age of advancing technology, precise positioning technology is serving as the bridge between the physical and digital realms. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) just released Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, a new feature introduced in the recently adopted Bluetooth Core Specification Version 6.0. This innovation has significantly enhanced precise ranging using Bluetooth® technology. Telink Semiconductor, a leading industry player, proudly announced the integration of this technology into its latest SoC solution, solidifying its commitment to advancing intelligent device positioning technology to unprecedented levels.
After more than 25 years of continuous development, Bluetooth® technology has evolved from a simple wireless alternative into an invisible thread that seamlessly connects countless devices in our daily lives. Projections indicate that by 2024, its shipment volume will reach an impressive 1.35 billion units. Despite Bluetooth's well-known prowess in wireless communication, the existing ranging technology based on RSSI can only provide approximate distance information. To elevate the precision and security of ranging capabilities, the member community of the Bluetooth SIG has introduced Bluetooth® Channel Sounding. This entirely new protocol stack includes a new physical layer specifically designed to facilitate secure and precise ranging. It can achieve a remarkable measurement accuracy of +/- 0.5 meters within a range of 100 meters. This empowers numerous Bluetooth-connected devices with true distance perception, unlocking a world of endless opportunities for developers to unleash their creativity and craft new experiences. These experiences will further enrich our interactions with devices and the world around us. With distance-aware connected devices, a myriad of new possibilities comes to the fore.
Application Fields of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding
The application fields of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding technology are extensive and cover multiple key areas:
Bluetooth® ‘Find My’ Solutions
By equipping personal items with Bluetooth® tags, like keys, wallets, backpacks, or luggage, we've only just scratched the surface of the 'Find My' revolution. Today, more and more Bluetooth devices are integrating 'Find My' capabilities, opening up the potential for any Bluetooth-connected device to double as a 'Find My' locator. With this technology, when a Bluetooth 'Find My' device goes missing, its owner can simply use a smartphone or tablet app to pinpoint its exact location, delivering extra convenience and peace of mind.
Up until now, Bluetooth 'Find My' solutions have relied on Bluetooth® RSSI for estimating the approximate location of an item. By implementing Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, developers can now incorporate precise distance awareness into 'Find My' devices, elevating the user experience and streamlining the process of tracking down lost items.
Bluetooth® Digital Key Solutions
Once again, Bluetooth® technology is transforming the role of smartphones in our daily lives by empowering them to serve as convenient and secure digital keys. From cars and doors to gates, safes, and bikes, Bluetooth® technology is shaping keyless access and delivering robust locking mechanisms for enhanced security.
Existing digital key solutions harness Bluetooth® RSSI to gauge the proximity between the key and the lock. By leveraging Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, developers can elevate the security and user experience of digital key solutions, ensuring that a lock only unlocks when the authorized device is within a specified range. This effectively minimizes the risk of unauthorized access from man-in-the-middle (MITM) relay attacks.
More Applications
In addition to 'Find My' and Digital Key solutions, the potential of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding extends far and wide, promising to revolutionize the way we engage with our connected devices. Take Bluetooth Human Interface Devices (HID) like mice, keyboards, and game controllers, for example. With the implementation of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, these devices could seamlessly transition between active and inactive states based on their proximity to a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. When it comes to Bluetooth Human-Machine Interface (HMI) solutions, integrating Bluetooth® Channel Sounding could heighten personnel safety by restricting usage to a safe distance. Similarly, Bluetooth device networks, such as those employed for wireless lighting control, could autonomously optimize their configuration to enhance overall system performance. The possibilities are limitless.
The Key Benefits of Bluetooth® Channel Sounding
It is a simple and secure choice for adding fine ranging capabilities to Bluetooth connected devices.
Accurate
Bluetooth® Channel Sounding utilizes multi-channel, phase-based ranging (PBR) for precise fine ranging between Bluetooth connected devices. This technology delivers centimeter-level accuracy over significant distances, catering to a wide range of applications and enabling even basic connected devices to benefit from accurate distance awareness.
Secure
As the prevalence of connected devices increases, ensuring the security of these connections becomes increasingly crucial. Bluetooth® Channel Sounding incorporates strong, multi-layer security measures, including a secondary ranging method known as round-trip time (RTT) based distance bounding, to provide added protection against advanced man-in-the-middle (MITM) relay attacks.
Ubiquitous
Bluetooth® technology is already integrated into all major consumer platform devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. With Bluetooth® Channel Sounding, developers can now incorporate genuine distance awareness into Bluetooth-connected devices without the need to integrate additional radio technology.
To support developers in implementing this new technology, Telink Semiconductor has introduced a Bluetooth® Channel Sounding solution based on our latest SoC. This solution features precise distance calculation between devices. Additionally, its officially released SDK is anticipated to be unveiled in the near future, providing developers with a potent tool that significantly expedites the product development process. If you require further information, please feel free to reach out to us（telinksales@telink-semi.com）.