Question

I would like to design an application that runs on a smartphone with a bluetooth headset (for voice), with more than one control button. I have researched online and it seems to me that I need to use one of the bluetooth profiles and the closest is the Headset profile. That profile only describes one button and it is for obtaining and ending a connection only. So, can anyone tell me what should I do? What options do I have? Any pointer will be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

I work for CSR, we produce Bluetooth chips (as well as pretty much every other Radio on a chip technology).

We produce a software development kit for BlueCore system on a chip applications that would allow you to customise an Audio headset app (Hands Free Profile, Headset Profile, etc). Our BlueCore chips have multiple IO pins, how many are buttons and what they do depends on how you want to hook ’em up.

Also, that single button can be programmed to do a lot of stuff – press once to answer a call/terminate a call. Hold for 2-seconds to start connecting/pairing with a phone. Hold for 4-seconds to power down.

If there are volume up/down buttons you could use button combinations to trigger an action e.g volume-up and main button held at the same time.

http://www.csr.com

Broadcom make Bluetooth chips too but I don’t know anything about their dev kits.