Wireless

ZIGBEE For Multiple Device Control Using A Single Remote

Todays homes have as many remotes as the number of devices to control. Zigbee wireless technology does away with the need for separate remotes by enabling a standard-based home-area network that doesnt require line-of-sight communication. Here is how ZigBee works and what it has in store for you

MANUJ ARORA, VINEET ARORA

igBee is a home-area network device designed specifically to replace individual remote controls. It satisfies the markets need for a cost-effective, standard-based wireless network that supports low data rates, low power consumption, security and reliability. A smart home and smart office with flexibility and seamless mobility, all without wires, are some of the promises of ZigBee wireless solutions. The whimsical name of ZigBee comes from the Zigzag principle, i.e., the technique that honey bees use to communicate new-found food sources to other members of the colony. This technique of honey bees is referred to as Waggle dance.

Technical attributes
ZigBee is based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard for packet-based wireless data transport. This standard addresses communication needs of wireless applications that have low data rates and low power consumption requirements. To meet the global regulatory requirements, ZigBee standard supports the following unlicenced radio bands: 2.4GHz (worldwide), 868MHz (Europe) and 915MHz (America). Moreover, it has a remarkable range of up to 75 metres. Networking overview. ZigBee network uses three types of devices: ZigBee coordinator, ZigBee router
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(full-function device) and ZigBee end device. Various network topologies used by ZigBee are shown in Figs 1 through 3. ZigBee coordinator. The coordinator is the most capable device that maintains the overall network knowledge. It forms the root of the network tree and might bridge to other networks. There is exactly one ZigBee coordinator in each network. It is able to store information about the network, acting as repository for security keys. It is the most sophisticated of the three types and requires the maximum memory and computing power. ZigBee router. Routers act as intermediate devices, passing data from other devices. ZigBee end device. The ZigBee end device carries limited functionality, lowering the cost and complexity. It is generally found in network edge devices. The device contains just enough functionality to talk to its parent node (either the coordinator or a router); it cannot relay data from other devices. It requires the least amount of memory and is less expensive to manufacture than the ZigBee coordinator or router. ZigBee routers are active continuously, requiring a robust power supply. In non-beacon-enabled networks, nodes talk in the same way as people converse; these briefly check to see that no one is talking before they start.

Comparison with Bluetooth

Bluetooth is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances. It too eliminates cabling between electronics products, such as between computers and printers or between mobile phones and headsets. But Bluetooth is oriented more towards user mobility, whereas ZigBee aims at grand-scale automation and remote control. Low latency is an important feature of ZigBee. When a ZigBee device is powered off, all the circuitry is switched off, except the clock which runs at 32 kHz. It wakes up and sends packets across the network

Fig. 1: Various networking topologies used by Zigbee

Fig. 2: Zigbee network

Traffic types
ZigBee employs either of beacon and non-beacon modes to enable to-and-fro data traffic. The beacon mode is used when the coordinator runs on batteries and thus offers maximum power savings, whereas the non-beacon mode finds favour when the coordinator is mains-powered. In beacon-enabled networks, special network nodes called ZigBee routers transmit periodic beacons to confirm their presence to other network nodes. Beacon-oriented networks use guaranteed time slots. That means nodes are active only when a beacon is being transmitted. The nodes may sleep between beacons, which lowers the duty cycle and increases the battery life. In non-beacon-enabled networks, power consumption is asymmetrical: some devices are always active, while others are sleeping. The receivers of

Fig. 3: The Zigbee end device has just enough functionality to talk to its parent node (either the coordinator or a router) w w w. e f y m ag . co m

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Fig. 4: beacon network

Fig. 5: Non-beacon network

in around 15 milliseconds, whereas Bluetooth in the same state takes three seconds to wake up and respond. The network range for Bluetooth is 10 metres, whereas ZigBee has a range of 75-100 metres. Bluetooth is limited to eight nodes per network, while ZigBee can support up to 255 nodes. Bluetooth battery requires frequent recharging, whereas ZigBee battery can last for years. Although ZigBee offers less bandwidth than Bluetooth, it consumes far less power, making it suitable for devices that need to constantly transfer data.

Fig. 6: Zigbee applications

Applications
ZigBee networks could be used in homes, buildings and industries for automation of lighting control, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, security, etc (see box on next page). Basically, ZigBee is the only standard-based technology that addresses the unique needs of most remote monitoring and control network applications.

ZigBee-ready devices
Mobile phones with ZigBee solution. Pantech&Curitel launched the worlds
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first ZigBee phone at ZigBee Alliance Festival. The ZigBee-applied P1 of Pantech&Curitel provides intellectual home/building networking services such as controlling electrical appliances, alarming mail receipt, checking temperature and humidity and sending mobile messages to alarm in case of trespass. Moreover, with locationbased services, the ZigBee phone can give more precise information on the route than the existing GPS function. For instance, it provides the names of restaurants and even the menu or price list of the chosen restaurant without requiring wireless Internet connection. ZigBee wireless thermostats. Airbee has announced the first ZigBee

thermostat which includes an intelligent software for better home monitoring. It saves customers money by not wasting resources that are not needed. Installers and contractors will benefit from easier installation, because by using ZigBee there would be no wires to connect up. ZigBee-compatible general devices. ZigBee devices demonstrated by a company in San Francisco include a key hanger that helps to keep track of keys. The key hanger wirelessly connects to the users mobile phone and when the two go out of range, the mobile phone warns its owner that he has lost his keys. The phone is able to tell whether it is at home, office or some outside location by connecting to other

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ZigBee Applications
Purpose Home automation Control ZigBee will make possible flexible management of lighting, heating and cooling systems from anywhere in the home. It will automate control of multiple home systems to improve conservation, convenience and safety. ZigBee will allow capturing of highly detailed electric, water and gas utility usage data and optimise consumption of natural resources. Application areas Building automation ZigBee will integrate and centralise the management of lighting, heating, cooling and security. It will automate the control of multiple systems to improve conservation, flexibility and security. It will reduce the energy expenses through optimised HVAC management and allocate utility costs equitably based on actual consumption. It will be possible to reconfigure lighting systems quickly to create adaptable workspaces, extend and upgrade building infrastructure with minimal effort. With ZigBee, networking and integration of data could be done from multiple access control points. Wireless monitoring networks could be deployed to enhance perimeter protection. Industrial automation ZigBee will extend existing manufacturing and process control systems reliability and improve asset management by continuously monitoring critical equipment.

Conservation

It will reduce the energy costs through optimised manufacturing processes and identify inefficient operation or poorly performing equipment. ZigBee technology will automate data acquisition from remote sensors to reduce user intervention and provide detailed data to improve preventive maintenance programmes. It will make possible deployment of monitoring networks to enhance employee and public safety. It will also streamline data collection for improved compliance reporting.

ZigBee has become the chosen low-power wireless standard for advanced metering and home-area networks. Consequently, ZigBee chipset shipments are projected to reach as much as 192 million units in 2014
of ZigBee technology for smart meters and home-area network products when it became the first company to ship more than ten million ZigBee wireless chips. This milestone is reflected in the companys record revenues and sales bookings, making Ember well positioned for almost 300 per cent annual revenue growth in 2010. The company develops wireless mesh networking technology (chips, software and tools) for smart energy, connected homes, and many other monitoring and control applications, enabling greener living and work environments. Across the world, billions are being invested in smart grid programmes as part of grid modernisation and carbon emission control measures. ZigBee has become the chosen low-power wireless standard for advanced metering and home-area networks. Consequently, ZigBee chipset shipments are projected to reach as much as 192 million units in 2014, up from just over five million units in 2008, according to research firm West Technology Research Solutions. ZigBee and the underlying IEEE 802.15.4 standard promise a low-cost, low-power and reliable wireless network technology for a wide range of control and monitoring applications within the private sphere and industrial environment. The IEEE 802.15.4 PHY has been specified with focus on highly integrated and low-power chip solutions which promote simple and flexible end-application designs at low cost.
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Convenience/ It will be possible to install, flexibility/effi- upgrade and network home control system without ciency wires and to configure and run multiple systems from a single remote control.

Safety

Wireless sensors could be easily installed to monitor a wide variety of conditions and give automatic notification upon detection of unusual events.

devices that are within its range.

Whats in store?
ZigBee has a very promising future ahead. Research claims that fuelled by rapid rise in home networking, ZigBee would entirely change the wireless world. It is set to squeeze this world into a single touch control. Low-power wireless sensing and control markets, enabled by ZigBee, are experiencing exponential growth. ZigBee chipset suppliers are today shipping tens of millions of units and the market is poised to grow to hundreds of millions of units within the next few years. ON World Inc., a provider of world-class business intelligence on smart technology markets, in its research on more than 600 companies has found that the ZigBee market has crossed the chasm and is now

a mainstream technology. Despite a challenging economy, sales of 802.15.4/ZigBee units have increased on an average of 62 per cent a year since 2007. Moreover, chipsets using ZigBee specifications made up 75 per cent of the 802.15.4 units shipped in 2009. ON World has identified over 350 companies that offer or are developing ZigBee products with combined annual revenues of more than $1 trillion. ZigBee supporters include some of the worlds largest companies including AT&T, GE, Hitachi, Kroger, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Siemens and Sony. Demonstrated by new ZigBee component suppliers such as BlueRadios, CEL, Dust Networks and SyChip, momentum is growing. Boston-based Ember Corporation reached a key milestone in its quest to become the worlds foremost provider

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