ZIGBEE
Zigbee is low-cost and low-powered mesh network widely deployed for controlling and
monitoring applications where it covers 10-100 meters within the range.
Data rate – low – 250kb/sec
Security – 128 bit encryption key
Why Zigbee?
Easy to deploy, Low cost, low power, simpler than blue tooth, can be used globally,
secure, support large number of nodes
Band
Zigbee system structure consists of three different types of devices such as Zigbee
coordinator, Router and End device. Every Zigbee network must consist of at least one
coordinator which acts as a root and bridge of the network. The coordinator is
responsible for handling and storing the information while performing receiving and
transmitting data operations. Zigbee routers act as intermediary devices that permit data
to pass to and fro through them to other devices. End devices have limited functionality
to communicate with the parent nodes such that the battery power is saved as shown in
the figure. The number of routers, coordinators and end devices depends on the type of
network such as star, tree and mesh networks.
LAYERS
Physical Layer: This layer does modulation and demodulation operations up on
transmitting and receiving signals respectively.
MAC Layer: This layer is responsible for reliable transmission of data by accessing
different networks with the carrier sense multiple access collision avoidance (CSMA).
This also transmits the beacon frames for synchronizing communication.
Network Layer: This layer takes care of all network related operations such as network
setup, end device connection and disconnection to network, routing, device
configurations, etc.
Application Support Sub-Layer: This layer enables the services necessary for Zigbee
device object and application objects to interface with the network layers for data
managing services. This layer is responsible for matching two devices according to their
services and needs.
Application Framework: It provides two types of data services as key value pair and
generic message services. Generic message is a developer defined structure, whereas
the key value pair is used for getting attributes within the application objects. ZDO
provides an interface between application objects and APS layer in Zigbee devices. It is
responsible for detecting, initiating and binding other devices to the network.
Zigbee Topologies
Zigbee supports several network topologies; however, the most commonly used
configurations are star, mesh and cluster tree topologies. Any topology consists of one
or more coordinator. In a star topology, the network consists of one coordinator which is
responsible for initiating and managing the devices over the network. All other devices
are called end devices that directly communicate with coordinator. This is used in
industries where all the end point devices are needed to communicate with the central
controller, and this topology is simple and easy to deploy.
In mesh and tree topologies, the Zigbee network is extended with several routers where
coordinator is responsible for staring them. These structures allow any device to
communicate with any other adjacent node for providing redundancy to the data. If any
node fails, the information is routed automatically to other device by these topologies.
As the redundancy is the main factor in industries, hence mesh topology is mostly used.
In a cluster-tree network, each cluster consists of a coordinator with leaf nodes, and
these coordinators are connected to parent coordinator which initiates the entire
network.
Modes:
ZigBee employs either of two modes, beacon or non-beacon to enable the to-and-
fro data traffic. 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 the beacon mode, a device watches out for the coordinator's beacon that gets
transmitted at periodically, locks on and looks for messages addressed to it. If
message transmission is complete, the coordinator dictates a schedule for the next
beacon so that the device ‘goes to sleep'; in fact, the coordinator itself switches to
sleep mode.
While using the beacon mode, all the devices in a mesh network know when to
communicate with each other. In this mode, necessarily, the timing circuits have to be
quite accurate, or wake up sooner to be sure not to miss the beacon. This in turn
means an increase in power consumption by the coordinator's receiver, entailing an
optimal increase in costs.
The non-beacon mode will be included in a system where devices are ‘asleep' nearly
always, as in smoke detectors and burglar alarms. The devices wake up and
confirm their continued presence in the network at random intervals.
On detection of activity, the sensors ‘spring to attention', as it were, and transmit to
the ever-waiting coordinator's receiver (since it is mains-powered). However, there is
the remotest of chances that a sensor finds the channel busy, in which case the
receiver unfortunately would ‘miss a call'.
Applications of Zigbee Technology
Industrial Automation: In manufacturing and production industries, a communication
link continually monitors various parameters and critical equipments. Hence Zigbee
considerably reduce this communication cost as well as optimizes the control process
for greater reliability.
Home Automation: Zigbee is perfectly suited for controlling home appliances
remotely as a lighting system control, appliance control, heating and cooling system
control, safety equipment operations and control, surveillance, and so on.
Smart Metering: Zigbee remote operations in smart metering include energy
consumption response, pricing support, security over power theft, etc.
Smart Grid monitoring: Zigbee operations in this smart grid involve remote
temperature monitoring, fault locating, reactive power management, and so on.
Zigbee 3.0 provides enhanced network security. There are two methods of security
that give rise to two types of network:
Centralized security: This method employs a coordinator/trust center that
forms the network and manages the allocation of network and link security
keys to joining nodes.
Distributed security: This method has no coordinator/trust center and is
formed by a router. Any Zigbee router node can subsequently provide the
network key to joining nodes.
