Wibree is a new interoperable radio technology for small devices. It can be built into products such as watches, wireless keyboards, gaming and sports sensors, which can then connect to host devices such as mobile phones and personal computers. It is essential the missing link between small devices and mobile devices/personal computers.
Wibree is the first open technology offering connectivity between mobile devices or personal computers, and small, button cell battery power devices. By extending the role mobile devices can play in consumers' lives, this technology increases the
growth potential in these market segments.
Wibree fullfills the need for a radio technology that:
* Allows communication between small button-cell battery devices and Bluetooth devices
* Forms a minimal cost and size addition to Bluetooth devices such as mobile phones and PCs
* Creates smaller and lower cost options for small button-cell battery devices
Wibree’s development started at the Nokia Research Center in 2001. Wibree was announced to a broader audience in October of 2006 and Nokia stated its intention to incorporate the technology and its current forum into an open, preferably existing industry forum to ensure Wibree’s wide adoption.
From the start, Wibree was designed to work with two implementation options – as an easily implemented extension to a classic Bluetooth radio, and as a stand-alone implementation.
While there are many potential applications for Wibree technology, there are a few specific use cases which are believed to drive its adoption. Below is a list of these cases.
Sports and Wellness
One segment that will surely benefit from Wibree technology is sports and wellness. Sports watches that connect to sensors located on the body, shoes and other fitness gear can gather data on heart rate, distance, speed, acceleration and send the information to a mobile phone and/or PC for storage and further processing.
Healthcare
Healthcare monitoring equipment and sensors in the form of Wibree stand-alone devices can send vital health-related information (blood pressure, glucose level) to Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode devices (such as mobile phones and/or personal computers) which can store and/or process this information and send alerts to the mobile phones of patients and caretakers.
Office & Mobile Accessories
Office and mobile accessories will benefit from Wibree's small size and ability to extend battery life. They can also use Wibree to avoid dongles for connectivity; which add an extra component and raise the overall cost.
Entertainment
Entertainment devices (such as the remote controls and gaming accessories with sensor technology) can use Wibree to interact with one another, enhance their capabilities and create a more interactive experience.
Watch
Wibree allows watches and wrist-top devices to work in entirely new ways through connecting them to mobile phones and accessories.
Wibree was designed with two equally important implementation alternatives in mind: stand-alone implementation and dual-mode implementation.
Wibree stand-alone implementation
is designed for use with applications which require extremely low power consumption, small size and low cost. Examples of devices that would benefit from the Wibree stand-alone implementation are: watches, sports and wellness devices and human interface devices (HID) such as wireless keyboards.
Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode implementation
is designed for use in Bluetooth devices. In this type of implementation, Wibree functionality is integrated with Bluetooth for a minor incremental cost by utilizing key Bluetooth components and the existing Bluetooth RF. Examples of devices that would benefit from the Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode implementation are mobile phones and personal computers.
Wibree radio specification
The Wibree radio specification allows Bluetooth-Wibree dual-mode implementation to utilize the existing Bluetooth RF and also enables ultra-low power consumption in stand-alone implementations.
Wibree link layer specification
Wibree link layer provides ultra low power idle mode operation, simple device discovery and reliable point-to-multipoint data transfer with advanced power-save and encryption functionalities. The link layer provides means to schedule Wibree traffic in between Bluetooth transmissions.
Wibree Profiles
The first interoperability specification of Wibree will include three profiles to optimize its functionality for a specific group of products:
* Watch profile
* Human Interface Device (HID) profile
* Sensor profile
When will it be out ?
The ultra low power Bluetooth specification will be licensed without cost on the same terms as existing Bluetooth specifications. According to the current estimate the first commercial version of the specification will be available during the first half of 2008.
Why Wibree?
Wibree and Bluetooth technology are complementary technologies. Bluetooth technology is well-suited for streaming and data-intensive applications such as file transfer and Wibree (ultra low power Bluetooth technology) is designed for applications where ultra low power consumption, small size and low cost are the critical requirements.
How is it Implemented
Wibree has two important implementation alternatives: 1) stand-alone, which uses only Wibree technology and 2) dual-mode which uses a combination of Bluetooth technology and Wibree technology.
Small devices like watches and sports sensors will be based on a stand-alone implementation whereas traditional Bluetooth enabled devices (such as mobile phones and PCs) will benefit from a dual-mode implementation that will extend Bluetooth connectivity to a new range of smaller devices.
A device's power consumption in dual-mode is ultimately dependent upon the implementation and usage of Bluetooth technology. Dual-mode implementation is achieved by sharing one physical radio and antenna. Therefore, when a dual-mode device connects to a stand-alone device (without utilization of classic Bluetooth technology) the dual-mode device will enjoy the low-power consumption
Conclusion
Wibree will become part of the Bluetooth wireless specification and will be known as ultra low power Bluetooth technology.
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