Wireless Communication Chapter: Network Concepts and Standards Section: Data and Multimedia Systems, Wireless LANs

IEEE-802.15.4: Zigbee

In the IEEE-802.15.4 group, Philips, Motorola, Honeywell, and Invensys, are working on a new standard for ubiquitous wireless networking. Other anmes used for Zigbee have been firefly, RF-lite and RF-easylink.

The aim of ZigBee is to bring about a low cost ($1.5-$2.5), low bit rate (250kb/s) low powered short range (10-75m) RF data link aimed at consumer products in and around the home as well as industrial sensor applications. Remote sensing and metering poses particular requirements on battery life. Zigbee is intended to support a high density of nodes, and simple protocols. Some technical parameters:

• 10kbps - 115.2kbps data throughput
• 10-75m coverage range (home/garden)
• Support for up to 255 nodes
• Support for up to100 co-located networks
• Support for 4 time-critical devices
• 0.5-2 year battery life (2 x AA)
• Up to 5m/s permitted mobility
• Module cost: $1.5-$2.5 in 2003/4

Zigbee typically requies about 10 kilobytes of firmware code with a small microcontroller. The standard is released around march 2002, which commercial chips planned to be available in 2003.

	Zigbee Network
		Master manages the network Forwards messages Keeps address book up-to-date Red node: master Blue node: slave __ actual message flow --- apparent message flow

Wireless Communication © 2002.