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Profiles and Protocols

docs/en/api-guides/classic-bt/profiles-protocols.rst

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Profiles and Protocols

:link_to_translation:zh_CN:[中文]

In the Bluetooth system,

  • Protocol: Defines the underlying communication mechanism required to accomplish specific functions, such as data transfer, link control, security services, and service information exchange
  • Profile: Defines the features and functionality that the Bluetooth system provides (e.g., audio streaming, remote control, serial communication), which rely on the underlying protocols

The table below summarizes the Bluetooth Classic profiles supported by ESP-Bluedroid:

.. list-table:: :header-rows: 1

* - Profile
  - Supported Roles
  - Description
* - GAP
  - —
  - Device discovery, connection, and security management
* - A2DP
  - Source, Sink
  - High-quality audio streaming
* - AVRCP
  - Controller, Target
  - Audio/video remote control
* - HFP
  - AG, HF
  - Hands-free voice calls
* - SPP
  - Server, Client
  - Serial data transfer

The above profiles are implemented based on the following protocols: L2CAP, SDP, RFCOMM, AVDTP, AVCTP. The protocol stack is shown below:

.. code-block:: text

┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     Applications                      │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                       Profiles                        │
│ ┌───────┬───────┬───────┬───────┬───────┐             │
│ │  GAP  │ A2DP  │ AVRCP │  HFP  │  SPP  │             │
│ └───────┴───┬───┴───┬───┴───┬───┴───┬───┘             │
├─────────────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼─────────────────┤
│             │       │       │       │    Transport    │
│        ┌────┴───┬───┴───┬───┴───────┴────┬───────┐    │
│        │ AVDTP  │ AVCTP │    RFCOMM      │  SDP  │    │
│        └────┬───┴───┬───┴────────┬───────┴───┬───┘    │
├─────────────┴───────┴────────────┴───────────┴────────┤
│                        L2CAP                          │
├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                         HCI                           │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

.. centered:: Bluetooth Classic Protocol Stack

Layer Functions:

  • L2CAP, SDP: Core protocols required for the Bluetooth Classic host stack
  • RFCOMM: Serial cable emulation protocol, provides transport for SPP and HFP
  • AVDTP, AVCTP: Audio/video transport and control protocols, provide transport for A2DP and AVRCP
  • Profiles: Defines application-specific functionality

Protocol

L2CAP ^^^^^

Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol (L2CAP) is the core protocol in the Bluetooth Classic host stack. Its main functions include:

  • Upper-layer protocol multiplexing
  • Data segmentation and reassembly
  • Quality of Service (QoS) information transfer

L2CAP allows multiple applications to share a single ACL-U logical link via channel-oriented interfaces.

L2CAP channels support the following operating modes:

  • Basic L2CAP mode
  • Flow control mode
  • Retransmission mode
  • Enhanced retransmission mode
  • Streaming mode

ACL-U logical links support basic L2CAP mode, enhanced retransmission mode, and streaming mode.

SDP ^^^^^

Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) allows applications to discover services offered by other Bluetooth devices and retrieve service characteristics. SDP involves communication between SDP servers and clients:

  • Server: Maintains a service record table describing available services
  • Client: Sends SDP requests to query the server's service records

RFCOMM ^^^^^^

Serial Cable Emulation Protocol (RFCOMM) operates on top of L2CAP and provides a serial-like communication interface for applications. It is the foundation for SPP and HFP, simulating RS-232 control signals and data flow while supporting multiple concurrent connections.

AVDTP ^^^^^

Audio/Video Distribution Transport Protocol (AVDTP) is used to transport audio and video streams over L2CAP and serves as the underlying transport for A2DP. AVDTP consists of:

  • Signaling entity: Negotiates stream parameters
  • Transport entity: Transmits media streams

AVCTP ^^^^^

Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol (AVCTP) carries AV/C commands and responses, providing transport services for AVRCP. It supports two channels:

  • Control channel: Transmits control commands
  • Browsing channel: Transmits browsing commands

Profile

GAP ^^^^^

Generic Access Profile (GAP) defines basic procedures for device discovery, connection establishment, and security management. GAP is the foundation for all other profiles.

Refer to the :doc:GAP API </api-reference/bluetooth/esp_gap_bt> for details.

A2DP ^^^^

Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) defines an application-level specification and procedure for high-quality audio streaming over ACL channels.

Roles:

  • Source (SRC): Audio source, e.g., phone, PC
  • Sink (SNK): Audio sink, e.g., Bluetooth speaker, headphones

Audio Codec:

  • SBC (Sub-Band Coding), mandatory according to A2DP specification

A2DP is based on GAP and the Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile (GAVDP), responsible for establishing audio/video streams. See :ref:profile-dependencies for dependencies.

Refer to the :doc:A2DP API </api-reference/bluetooth/esp_a2dp> for details.

AVRCP ^^^^^

Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) defines standard interfaces for controlling audio/video devices remotely.

Roles:

  • Controller (CT): Device initiating control commands
  • Target (TG): Device receiving and responding to commands

Supported Commands:

PASS THROUGH commands for: Play, Pause, Stop, Previous, Next, Volume control, etc.

Functional Categories:

  • Player/Recorder
  • Monitor/Amplifier (default configuration)
  • Tuner
  • Menu

A2DP and AVRCP are typically used together.

  • A2DP handles high-quality audio streaming
  • AVRCP manages remote control of audio/video devices
  • At the lower layer, AVDTP (for audio streams) and AVCTP (for control commands) transmit data and commands over L2CAP channels

See :ref:profile-dependencies for the dependencies between A2DP and AVRCP.

.. _profile-dependencies:

.. figure:: ../../../_static/profile-dependencies.png :align: center :width: 50% :alt: Profile Dependencies

Profile Dependencies

Refer to the :doc:AVRCP API </api-reference/bluetooth/esp_avrc> for details.

HFP ^^^^^

Hands-Free Profile (HFP) defines an application-level specification for communication between hands-free devices and mobile phones over Bluetooth.

Roles:

  • Audio Gateway (AG): Typically a phone
  • Hands-Free Unit (HF): E.g., car kit, Bluetooth headset

Audio Codec:

  • CVSD: Narrowband speech codec
  • mSBC: Wideband speech codec

Key Functions:

  • Answer/Hang up/Reject calls
  • Volume control
  • Voice dialing
  • Caller ID

Refer to the :doc:HFP API </api-reference/bluetooth/esp_hf_defs> for details.

SPP ^^^^^

Serial Port Profile (SPP) defines a serial communication application based on the RFCOMM protocol, enabling RS-232-style data transmission over Bluetooth.

Roles:

  • Server: Device waiting for connections
  • Client: Device initiating connections

Use Cases:

  • Device configuration and debugging
  • Sensor data transfer
  • Point-to-point data exchange

Refer to the :doc:SPP API </api-reference/bluetooth/esp_spp> for details.