It's no secret that Bluetooth devices that are in discoverable mode are... well, discoverable, so we figure it was just a matter of time before an independent organization set up a massive network of transceivers to track their every move.

ENGADGET: Bluetooth set to discoverable? Loca's watching Mobile

While he estimates it will be five years until such a product is on the market, Patwari says a network of wireless transceivers around a bed can measure breathing rates and alert someone if breathing stops without any tubes or wires connected to the patient.

ENGADGET: Researchers use wireless network to monitor breathing, could save lives

In a new study, Patwari showed a network of 20 wireless transceivers placed around a hospital bed could reliably detect breathing and estimate breathing rate to within two-fifths of a breath per minute based on 30 seconds of data.

ENGADGET: Researchers use wireless network to monitor breathing, could save lives

The standard's global deployment is pervasive, and the span of stakeholders in its ongoing development is sweeping, including network component and system manufacturers (optical transceivers, cabling, integrated circuit, powering devices, switches and network interface cards, for example) and network, software and bandwidth providers, as well as LAN and Internet users worldwide.

ENGADGET: Ethernet gets new IEEE standard, still requires your thumbnail

Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices today operate in 555 megahertz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band, and are used for short range, high speed wireless connections including Wi-Fi enabled local area networks and fixed outdoor broadband transceivers used by wireless Internet service providers to connect smart phones, tablets and laptops to the broadband network.

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