ZigBee is a low-cost, low-power, wireless mesh network standard.

The low cost allows the technology to be widely deployed in wireless control and monitoring applications. Low power-usage allows longer life with smaller batteries.

Mesh networking provides high reliability and more extensive range.

The technology defined by the ZigBee specification is intended to be simpler and less expensive than other WPANs, such as Bluetooth.

Proposal to IEEE 802.15.4, March 2001 Proposal accepted by IEEE, July 2001 ZigBee Alliance was formed, October 2002 ZigBee 1.0 , December 2004 802.15.4 , 2006

 Engineers feel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may be unsuitable.

This spawned the idea of digital radio networks via direct-sequence spread spectrum coding.

ZigBee -compliant radios may operate on one of three

different radio bands: the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, or 2.4 GHz frequencies.

IEEE 802.15.4
IEEE 802.15.4 is a standard defined by IEEE for low rate, wireless area network. The standard defines the Physical layer and Medium Access Layer

Focus on

Reliability Simplicity Low power Low cost

Zigbee Home Automation Mobile Phone

electrical appliances checking temperature and humidity
picture taken from [9]

TV Monitors Sensors Automation Control Industrial & Commercial Consumer Electronics DVD CD Remote VCR

PC Peripherals

Mouse Personal Healthcare Low Data Rate Radio Devices

Keyboard
Joystick Gamepad

Monitors Diagnostics

Sensors
Toys & Games Gameboys

Home Automation
Security Lighting Educational

 ZigBee

Bluetooth
o

o Smaller packets over large network o Range 10-100 m o Mostly Static networks o Home automation, toys, remote controls, etc.

o o o

Larger packets over small network Range 30-100 m Ad-hoc networks Screen graphics, pictures, hands-free audio, Mobile phones, headsets, etc.

 ZigBee
(WPAN) 250 kbps Standby 2uA 32-60 KB memory Lighting sensors,

Bluetooth

RC peripherals Mesh networking

WPAN/WLAN 1 Mbps Standby: 200uA 100+KB memory Telecom audio, cable replacement Point to multipoint

WiFi

WLAN Up to 54 Mbps Standby: 20uA 100+KB memory Enterprise, home access points Point to multipoint

 Allows users to balance system cost, reliability & battery life

Mesh
Reliability Extended Range No Battery Life Routing Complexity

Star
Simplicity Low Cost Long Battery Life Single Point of Failure

Hybrid (Cluster Tree) Flexibility

Reliability/Range of Mesh Battery Life of Star Design Complexity

PAN coordinator Full Function Device Reduced Function Device

WWAN

IEEE 802.22 IEEE 802.20

WMAN
Range

WiMax IEEE 802.16

WLAN
ZigBee 802.15.4

WiFi 802.11
Bluetooth 802.15.1

WPAN

802.15.3 802.15.3a 802.15.3c

0.01

0.1

1 Data Rate (Mbps)

10

100

1000

Low Power consumption Low Cost Data rate requirements Simple protocol, Global Implementation High density of nodes per network

Reliable data transfer Secure Global applicability Small packet devices Ease of installation Simple design

 Embedded applications for

low data rates low power consumption in expensive Small packet networks Home entertainment and control Wireless sensor networks

HOME SECURITY CONTROLLING MONITORING

 ZigBee targets applications not

addressable by Bluetooth or any other wireless standard

ZigBee and Bluetooth complement for a

broader solution