CSR proxy firmware enhances Bluetooth-based devices

Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) has announced that it has added Human Interface Device (HID) Proxy capabilities to the features a BlueCore-based USB dongle can support, allowing Bluetooth HIDs, such as mice and keyboards, to be used when a PC is booting.

The HID Proxy firmware places the dongle in emulation mode when initially powered on. While in this mode, all the required software to allow Bluetooth keyboard and mouse connections runs on-chip, and the dongle is presented to the PC as a non-Bluetooth HID. The HID Proxy-enabled dongle presents an emulated USB keyboard and mouse interface to the PC, which can be recognized by the BIOS.

Once the main OS loads, a special command switches the dongle from HID Proxy to a Bluetooth HCI mode so that the different Bluetooth functions can be provided via the normal software.