bluetooth + embedded system

Hi,

I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I am
able to go into a more details questions.

Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in mind:
1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects with some
bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN through cable
or wifi. 
2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
properties (instead of key-in passwords).

I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux that
is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to achieve the 2
requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to achieve the 2 item
above? 

And also is there any available products which has the criteria above that
I am able to use?

	   
					
---------------------------------------		
Posted through http://www.EmbeddedRelated.com

On Feb 17, 8:00=A0am, "calvint80" <calvinteoh2...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I a=
m
> able to go into a more details questions.
>
> Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in mind:
> 1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects with some
> bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN through cabl=
e
> or wifi.
> 2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
> properties (instead of key-in passwords).
>
> I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
> stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux tha=
t
> is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to achieve the=
 2
> requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to achieve the 2 item
> above?
>
> And also is there any available products which has the criteria above tha=
t
> I am able to use?
>
> --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0
> Posted throughhttp://www.EmbeddedRelated.com

I dunno if they also offer BlueTooth, but winsystems.com has some
Zigbee boards. Might be something there for you.

On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:44 -0600, calvint80 wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I
> am able to go into a more details questions.
> 
> Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in mind:
> 1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects with some
> bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN through
> cable or wifi.
> 2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
> properties (instead of key-in passwords).
> 
> I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
> stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux
> that is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to
> achieve the 2 requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to
> achieve the 2 item above?
> 
> And also is there any available products which has the criteria above
> that I am able to use?

"A microcontroller with embedded Linux" is an odd turn of phrase, you 
make it sound like you can get a microcontroller with Linux already 
loaded somehow.

You can't.  You can get single-board computers (some quite small) that 
have already had Linux ported to them, and some of which already have the 
port loaded.  Or you can get microcontrollers that Linux supports, build 
boards, and port Linux to them yourself.  But I don't think you can go 
out and buy a stand-alone chip that has Linux ported and loaded.  If you 
could the advantages of such a chip would be be vanishingly small, which 
is probably why you can't.

If you're doing this as a one-off, find some copies of "Circuit Cellar" 
magazine and look through the ads -- there are some Arm-based SBC in 
there that come with Linux distros; I know there are PC-104 ones for 
$150, there may be ones for less.  That'll probably be the quickest way 
to get what you want, assuming they're physically compatible with your 
desired Bluetooth hardware.

If you're doing this for production you really want to do a structured 
cost-benefit study, taking a look at a number of different OS and 
Bluetooth stack possibilities (most commercial RTOS vendors sell 
Bluetooth stacks, and there are probably some independent vendors as 
well).  Then do your $$ to $$ comparisons and see what looks best.

-- 
www.wescottdesign.com

>On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:44 -0600, calvint80 wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I
>> am able to go into a more details questions.
>> 
>> Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in
mind:
>> 1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects with some
>> bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN through
>> cable or wifi.
>> 2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
>> properties (instead of key-in passwords).
>> 
>> I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
>> stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux
>> that is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to
>> achieve the 2 requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to
>> achieve the 2 item above?
>> 
>> And also is there any available products which has the criteria above
>> that I am able to use?
>
>"A microcontroller with embedded Linux" is an odd turn of phrase, you 
>make it sound like you can get a microcontroller with Linux already 
>loaded somehow.
>
>You can't.  You can get single-board computers (some quite small) that 
>have already had Linux ported to them, and some of which already have the

>port loaded.  Or you can get microcontrollers that Linux supports, build 
>boards, and port Linux to them yourself.  But I don't think you can go 
>out and buy a stand-alone chip that has Linux ported and loaded.  If you 
>could the advantages of such a chip would be be vanishingly small, which 
>is probably why you can't.
>
>If you're doing this as a one-off, find some copies of "Circuit Cellar" 
>magazine and look through the ads -- there are some Arm-based SBC in 
>there that come with Linux distros; I know there are PC-104 ones for 
>$150, there may be ones for less.  That'll probably be the quickest way 
>to get what you want, assuming they're physically compatible with your 
>desired Bluetooth hardware.
>
>If you're doing this for production you really want to do a structured 
>cost-benefit study, taking a look at a number of different OS and 
>Bluetooth stack possibilities (most commercial RTOS vendors sell 
>Bluetooth stacks, and there are probably some independent vendors as 
>well).  Then do your $$ to $$ comparisons and see what looks best.
>
>-- 
>www.wescottdesign.com
>

Thanks for the input. Yea, I am aware that I need to load the linux into
the micro-controller. 

However, I have some queries related to Bluez and also on my requirements;
because I have yet to use it before therefore I am asking whether the
following can be done (which is also noted in my original post)

1. Whether bluez can support bluetooth 2.1 specification that have "just
work"?
2. I also need the embedded system to work as a gateway to LAN to transfer
the informations, which is why I am asking for specific micro-controller. 

I am planning to build a product however it would be great for me to get
some advice from fellows which are experience in bluetooth/ bluez and
embedded system here.

Thanks.

Best Regards,
Calvin	   
					
---------------------------------------		
Posted through http://www.EmbeddedRelated.com

calvint80 wrote:
> I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I am
> able to go into a more details questions.
> 
> Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in mind:
> 1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects with some
> bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN through cable
> or wifi. 
> 2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
> properties (instead of key-in passwords).
> 
> I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
> stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux that
> is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to achieve the 2
> requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to achieve the 2 item
> above? 
> 
> And also is there any available products which has the criteria above that
> I am able to use?

Why don't you try a quick prototype (dog and pony) of your
product using a desktop platform to see that what you want
*will* work -- before looking for a smaller platform to
design on.

On Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:42:52 -0700, D Yuniskis wrote:

> calvint80 wrote:
>> I have some general questions on bluetooth and embedded system before I
>> am able to go into a more details questions.
>> 
>> Below is some specifications that I needed for something I have in
>> mind: 1. I need to build a master bluetooth "router" which connects
>> with some bluetooth devices and the bluetooth router connects to a LAN
>> through cable or wifi.
>> 2. I need to support bluetooth 2.1 which has "just work" connectivity
>> properties (instead of key-in passwords).
>> 
>> I came across bluez which is a linux solutions for bluetooth protocol
>> stack. Can anyone recommend me a micro-controller with embedded linux
>> that is able to use together with bluez (or any other solution) to
>> achieve the 2 requirement above? Also, basically is bluez able to
>> achieve the 2 item above?
>> 
>> And also is there any available products which has the criteria above
>> that I am able to use?
> 
> Why don't you try a quick prototype (dog and pony) of your product using
> a desktop platform to see that what you want *will* work -- before
> looking for a smaller platform to design on.

Good point.  Then you can worry about whether bluez can be built to work 
on an ARM processor -- if it will, then your possibilities for a good, 
cheap microcontroller open up immensely.

If the LAN bridge part isn't already a part of Linux then you'll probably 
find yourself rolling your own, which may be why such a thing isn't out 
there yet.

-- 
www.wescottdesign.com