Components Overview
Components are used to create a new End Product or Subsystem product type. This can only be done through the Qualification Process with Required Testing in Launch Studio. Components give members the flexibility to make changes to the Bluetooth® design. Changes to a design are indicated by updates made to the Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS). Components may inherit test evidence from the original Component's assessment for unchanged features (see the testing section below for more information and restrictions).
Qualifying With a Component Assessed to an Older TCRL
Implementation Conformance Statements can change over time as test specifications are updated and new TCRLs are released. You will need to update the ICS selections to account for changes since the original Component was qualified/assessed. Expedited Errata may also be introduced in TCRLs after the Component's original qualification. Expedited Errata require you to indicate support for the errata and perform necessary testing for associated test cases.
Testing With a Component
When integrating Components into your Bluetooth® design, you will need to qualify via the Qualification with Required Testing path in Launch Studio. If the Component was qualified/assessed within three years of the date of your new design being qualified, you may inherit test evidence for conformance test cases (test cases that end in -C) from the original qualification. You will reference that test evidence when completing your test plan. Evidence for interoperability test cases (test cases ending in -I) cannot be inherited, and you must provide new test evidence for these test cases.
As a result of TCRL changes over time, there may be new test cases introduced for which there is no existing test evidence. Assuming the Component is still within three years of its Qualification Assessment Date, you are not responsible for testing new test cases as long as they are associated with an existing ICS selection. You are not required to re-execute any test impacted by a TSE introduced in TCRL releases since the original Component's assessment date. You are always required to ensure your design is compliant with (and, when necessary, provide test evidence for new test cases associated with) any Expedited Erratum introduced in TCRL releases since the original component qualification.
If you have any questions or concerns about your particular qualification scenario, you can submit a support request or contact a Bluetooth Qualification Consultant.
For more articles on Qualification topics, please see the Qualification Table of Contents.