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ZigBee Wireless Mesh Networking for Monitoring & Control

What is ZigBee?
ZigBee is a consortium of software, hardware and services companies that have developed a common standard for wireless networking of sensors and controllers. While other wireless standards are concerned with exchanging large amounts of data, ZigBee is for devices that have smaller throughput needs. The other driving factors are low cost, high reliability, high security, low battery usage, simplicity and interoperability with other ZigBee devices. ZigBee can be used in commercial applications such as building maintenance for monitoring and controlling lights, Heating, entilation and !ir "onditioning #H !"$, smoke alarms, fire alarms, burglar alarms, landscaping sprinklers and lights and many other uses. %n health care, ZigBee can be used for patient monitoring e&uipment, fitness monitoring and other uses. %ndustrial environments can use ZigBee for asset monitoring, process control, assuring compliance with environmental standards and energy management. 'sed correctly, ZigBee enabled devices can give a warning before a breakdown occurs so that repairs can be made in the most cost effective manner. They can also be used to maintain &uality and reduce waste. (oon, ZigBee enabled devices will show up in our homes. They will be used for controlling our home entertainment systems, lights, garage door openers, alarms, panic buttons, and many other uses. %magine your home appliances letting you know when the dishwasher or washing machine is done, or the mailbox notifying you when the mail has been delivered. )ou could even have ZigBee enabled devices feed and water your pets, then let them outside.

How Does ZigBee Work?

ZigBee is based on the %*** +,-../.0 1H) and 2!" layers, which define the 1hysical hardware and 2edia !ccess "ontrol layers of the network, combined with a defined network stack that includes security and the application framework. !pplication 1rofiles, on top of the stack provide the common application software for a particular usage. ZigBee hardware typically consists of an eight bit microcontroller, combined with a miniature transceiver, a small amount #e.g. 3-4B$ of flash memory and 5!2. 2ost of the ZigBee stack is provided in !(%". The cost of the components is currently 60 to 67, but is expected to drop below 6- to 63 within one year, when purchased in &uantity. There are three radio fre&uencies used for ZigBee 58 communications9 -.0 :H; with .< channels and a data rate of -/,kbps for worldwide coverage, +<+ 2H; with a single channel and a data
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rate of -,kbps in *urope, and @./ 2H; with ., channels and a data rate of 0, kbps in the !mericas. 8or comparison, even at -/, kbps, the data throughput is only about one tenth that of Bluetooth, another wireless networking solution, but more than sufficient for monitoring and controlling usages. Broadcast range for ZigBee is approximately 7, meters. Theoretically ZigBee networks can contain up to <04 #</,/3<$ network nodes. "urrent testing has not reached anywhere near that level. While ZigBee can use a star topology #point to multipoint$ or cluster tree topology #several linked point to multipoint systems$ the most useful is a mesh topology. %n a mesh topology, any node can also serve as a router for other devices on the network. %f there are barriers such as concrete or steel walls that interfere with the transmission of the radio fre&uency, another path is chosen to reach the desired device. Higher densities of devices in an area lead to stronger, more reliable networks. %f one device should fail, the path is automatically rerouted through other nodes on the network. %n this way the networks become Aself healingB. ZigBee uses .-+ bit !*( encryption algorithms for a highly secure network. %n commercial or industrial settings, hackers might try to perform a Cenial of Dighting, similar to a Cenial of (ervice on internet sites that they hack into. This might not be done only to be disruptive, but on large buildings in maEor cities, hackers might be tempted to black out only some lights in order to spell words or slogans with the remaining lights. Triggering fire alarms could also be an effective way to get a target out of a building and in the open in an assassination attempt. !ccess control through wireless connections might lead to break?ins and burglary in an insecure environment. 8or these reasons ZigBee has been designed to have a high level of security. %n order for ZigBee to catch on in businesses and homes it needs to be simple to set up the network and to add new devices. ZigBee networks rely on simplicity and ease of setup. %n most instances a new device is simply synchroni;ed with the existing network by placing the two devices close together and pressing a button on each device at the same time. Battery life of a device is an important consideration in the design of the ZigBee standard. 2any devices will have simple inexpensive batteries and will remain off most of the time. ! device can be ApingedB to awaken or scheduled for a prearranged time. %n this way the device is checked to see that it remains on the network, yet maximi;es battery life up to several years.

Why does San J an Software !are a"o t ZigBee?

The principals of (an =uan (oftware have been in the embedded systems software business for many years. We have long envisioned a world where small embedded computer devices are simple to use, ubi&uitous and communicate among themselves. ZigBee has many of the elements that can help us reali;e this vision. (an =uan (oftware is focused on making helping our clients implement ZigBee and other wireless networking solutions for embedded computing devices. 8or more information about the ZigBee !lliance visit their website9 www#$ig"ee#org. 1lease contact (an =uan (oftware to find out how we might assist in your ZigBee proEect. (an =uan (oftware (an =uan (oftware . #3<,$ 37+?+<<@ --. Wood Cuck Dane salesFsanEuansw.com 8riday Harbor, W! @+-/,
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(an =uan (oftware may make changes to specification and product descriptions at any time without notice. "opyright > -,,0 (an =uan (oftware. !ll 5ights 5eserved. .--?.,,?,,/