Paging and Inquiry

Paging

Page scan (slave)

An unconnected Bluetooth device must periodically enter the page scan state; in this state, the device activates its receiver and listens for a master device that might be trying to page it. A device operates in one of three page SR (Scan Repetition) modes:

R0: the device listens continuously for a master paging it.
R1: the device listens at least every 1.28 seconds (2048 slots).
R2: the device listens at least every 2.56 seconds (4096 slots).

During the page scan state, the unconnected device listens on one of 32 channels, for at least 10ms (16 slots). A different channel is selected every 1.28 seconds (2048 slots). The channels and the hopping sequence are calculated from the device's BD_ADDR (Bluetooth Device Address).

Page (master)

When commanded to enter the page state, the master device starts to transmit, using 16 of the 32 channels being used by the paged device. During every even numbered slot it transmits two ID packets on two different channels, and during the following slot it listens on two different channels for the slave's response (also an ID packet). In the next two slots it uses the next two channels, so the hopping sequence (of 16 channels) repeats every 10ms (16 slots).

The master repeats the 16 slot sequence for at least long enough for the paged device to enter the page scan state:

R0: at least once.
R1: at least 128 times (i.e. for at least 1.28 seconds).
R2: at least 256 times (i.e. for at least 2.56 seconds).

If the master doesn't receive a response, it will then try the other 16 channels.

Page sequence

• Slot n+0: The master transmits one ID packet in the first half slot, then a second ID packet (on a different frequency) in the second half slot.
• Slot n+1: The slave responds with an ID packet, in either the first half or second half of the slot.
• Slot n+2: The master transmits an FHS packet.
• Slot n+3: The slave responds with an ID packet, in the first half of the slot.
• Slot n+4: The master switches to the normal hopping scheme. The first packet it transmits is a POLL packet.

Inquiry

Inquiry scan (slave)

An unconnected Bluetooth device that wants to be "discovered" by a master device will periodically enter the inquiry scan state; in this state, the device activates its receiver and listens for inquiries. It must enter this state at least every 2.56 seconds (4096 slots).

During the inquiry scan state, the unconnected device listens on one of 32 channels, for at least 10ms (16 slots). A different channel is selected every 1.28 seconds (2048 slots). The channels and the hopping sequence are calculated from the general inquiry address.

Inquiry (master)

When commanded to enter the inquiry state, the master device starts to transmit, using 16 of the 32 channels used for inquiries. During every even numbered slot it transmits twoID packets on two different channels, and during the following slot it listens on those two channels for a slave's response (an FHS packet). In the next two slots it uses the next two channels, so the hopping sequence (of 16 channels) repeats every 10ms (16 slots). The 16 slot sequence must be repeated at least 256 times (i.e. for at least 2.56 seconds) before switching to the other set of 16 channels.