BlueCore Input Connection Enhancement (BlueICE) software provides the means to transform wireless PC peripherals from a premium after-market purchase to a mass market standard that can be bundled affordably with new PCs. With BlueICE, wireless Bluetooth keyboards and mice are available at boot-time and do not require the operating system to be loaded. This allows users access to features like Windows® safe mode and BIOS, completely negating the need for a wired keyboard and mouse. BlueICE now makes it easy to bundle wireless peripherals as standard with PCs.
BlueICE is a collection of software developed specifically to work with CSR's BlueCore4-Ext in wireless keyboards, mice and the host interface (the host interface is either internal to the PC or housed in a USB dongle). Using BlueICE for all three components of the desktop PC system unlocks advanced features of the software, such as Auto-Connect. With Auto-connect, the user simply adds batteries to the mouse and keyboard. The BlueICE host module then automatically finds the keyboard and mouse. Users can also delete any existing pairing information, discover new devices or re-activate the Auto-Connect function by pushing a button on the host module and peripheral devices.
At start up, BlueICE switches the host module to HID (Human Interface Device) proxy mode, and the BlueCore host module presents itself on the USB bus as a USB composite HID module with a keyboard and mouse attached. In HID proxy mode, the BlueICE firmware runs the HID profile internally, so the keyboard and mouse will work without the PC's Bluetooth software stack being loaded. Once the operating system is fully loaded, HCI (Host Controller Interface) mode is enabled and the BlueCore host module presents the HCI interface on the USB bus. In HCI mode, additional Bluetooth devices can be connected to the PC via the standard Bluetooth software interface. The host module will automatically switch between HID proxy mode when no Bluetooth stack is loaded and HCI mode when the stack is loaded.