BMW 7 Series: Introduction

The BMW Universal Bluetooth HandsFree System (ULF) utilizes Bluetooth wireless technology to enable a wireless connection to be established between a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone and the ULF Control Module installed in the vehicle. The combination of these components results in a new generation of in-vehicle phone system.

The ULF Control Module forms an interface that allows a mobile phone with the embedded Bluetooth wireless technology feature to be wirelessly integrated into the vehicle. For the first time BMW is introducing a new generation hands-free telephone system kit that provides the customer with the option of using various Bluetooth enabled mobile phones (a list of recommended phones is available from your BMW Center).

Fig. 1: Identifying Oddment Tray Button

WHAT IS BLUETOOTH

The name Bluetooth is derived from the Danish King Harald Bluetooth who lived in the 10th century. He was well known for his ability to unify his kingdom and today lends his name to a wireless technology standard that can connect/unify various electronic devices that are Bluetooth enabled and located within a short range (approx. 10 m or 32.8 ft) of each other.

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range radio frequency technology standard that allows several devices to communicate with each other simultaneously. The standard indicates that up to seven simultaneous connections can be established and maintained at one time, as long as the connected devices are within a range of 10 m (32.8 ft).

NOTE: The ULF system will allow four phones to be paired to the system at a time and only allow one phone to be connected at a time.

Fig. 2: Bluetooth Network Area Description

Communication/Security

The system uses the license-free, global Industrial Scientific Medical band (ISM) at 2.45 GHz. This frequency range from 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz is subdivided into 79 channels with a 1 MHz bandwidth.

Signals transmitted through the airways can be scrambled and unscrambled to enhance communication security.

With Bluetooth technology, communication frequencies are changed 1600 times per second to reduce the risk of interference or interception of the transmitted signal. The relatively small operating range of approx. 10 m (32.8 ft) also enhances the security of this technology, since tampering with the transmitted data is only possible when inside the 10 m (32.8 ft) wireless "network".

To further enhance the security of this short-range wireless network the ULF system requires a pairing procedure to be carried out for each device that will be introduced into the network. As part of this procedure a required passkey must be entered once (during the initial pairing procedure) to establish a secure connection between the phone and the ULF Control Module.

Data and Voice

Bluetooth was developed for the transmission of both voice as well as data. A bandwidth of approx. 1 MB/s is available for this purpose.

Bluetooth Enabled Phones

Ideally all phones that are Bluetooth enabled should work with the ULF system, however not all phones utilize the same profiles and therefore may not be recognized by the ULF System. A list of recommended Bluetooth enabled phones is available from your BMW Center.

READ NEXT: