The ZigBee Protocol
The ZigBee protocol was engineered by the ZigBee Alliance, a non-profit consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs and end-users worldwide. The protocol was designed to provide OEMs and integrators with an easy-to-use wireless data solution characterized by low-power consumption, support for multiple network structures and secure connections.
The ZigBee Advantage
The ZigBee protocol was designed to carry data through the hostile RF environments that routinely exist in commercial and industrial applications.
ZigBee protocol features:
• Low duty cycle - Provides long battery life
• Low latency
• Support for multiple network topologies: Static, dynamic, star and mesh • Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
• Up to 65,000 nodes on a network
• 128-bit AES encryption – Provides secure connections between devices
• Collision avoidance
• Link quality indication
• Clear channel assessment
• Retries and acknowledgements
• Support for guaranteed time slots and packet freshness
ZigBee Applications
ZigBee enables broad-based deployment of wireless networks with low-cost, low-power solutions. It provides the ability to run for years on inexpensive batteries for a host of monitoring applications: Lighting controls, AMR (Automatic Meter Reading), smoke and CO detectors, wireless telemetry, HVAC control, heating control, home security, Environmental controls, drapery and shade controls, etc. Standard ZigBee® 802.15.4 Wi-Fi™ 802.11b Bluetooth™ 802.15.1 Transmission Range (meters) 1 – 100* 1 - 100 1 – 10 Battery Life (days) 100 – 1,000 0.5 – 5.0 1 - 7 Network Size (# of nodes) > 64,000 32 7 Application Monitoring & Control Web, Email, Video Cable Replacement Stack Size (KB) 4 – 32 1,000 250 Throughput kb/s) 20 – 250 11,000 720 * Digi’s XBee-PRO Module yields 2 – 3x the range of standard ZigBee Modules (up to 1200 meters).
Digi XBee & XBee-PRO Modules
Digi is a member of the ZigBee Alliance and has developed OEM solutions based on the ZigBee architecture. The XBee and XBee-PRO modules provide an easy-to-implement solution and a powerful boost to range and reliability to companies looking to offer.
ZigBee XBee and XBee-PRO features:
• Small form factor
• True plug-and-communicate wireless capability
• Optimized for low cost, low data rate applications
• Long battery life
• Robust security
• High data reliability
• Product interoperability – Modules are interchangeable and pin-for-pin compatible with each other
• XBee-PRO Modules yield 2-3x the range of standard ZigBee Modules (300’ – 1000’)
BY: SAKET BADAYA (CS, 6th sem)
