IEEE 802.15.4 is a standard that defines the physical and MAC layers for low-rate wireless personal area networks. ZigBee builds upon 802.15.4 to add secure networking, reliability and scalability. The document discusses the standards, applications such as home and industrial networking, characteristics including low power consumption, and competing technologies like Bluetooth and Z-Wave. It also outlines Motorola's projects using 802.15.4 and ZigBee for applications like asset tracking and home automation.

1. IEEE 802.15.4
and Zigbee Overview

2. Topics
• 802.15.4
• ZigBee
• Competing Technologies
• Products
• Some Motorola Projects
Slide 2 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

3. • Home Networking
• Automotive Networks
• Industrial Networks
• Interactive Toys
• Remote Metering
IEEE 802.15.4 Applications Space
Slide 3 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

4. Some needs in the sensor
networks
Thousands of sensors in a small space → Wireless
but sensors are frequently stand alone →Low Power
and sensors are frequently isolated →Moderate Range.
Some of the challenges facing the standards committee
Slide 4 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

5. 802.15.4 General Characteristics
Data rates of 250 kb/s, 40 kb/s and 20 kb/s.
Star or Peer-to-Peer operation.
Support for low latency devices.
Fully handshaked protocol for transfer reliability.
Low power consumption.
Frequency Bands of Operation
16 channels in the 2.4GHz ISM* band
10 channels in the 915MHz ISM band
1 channel in the European 868MHz band.
* ISM: Industrial, Scientific, Medical
Slide 5 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

6. IEEE 802.15.4 MAC
Applications
IEEE 802.15.4
2400 MHz
PHY
IEEE 802.15.4
868/915 MHz
PHY
802.15.4 / ZigBee Architecture
ZigBee
• Packet generation
• Packet reception
• Data transparency
• Power Management
Slide 6 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

7. IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Overview
Operating Frequency Bands
868MHz / 915MHz
PHY
2.4 GHz
868.3 MHz
Channel 0 Channels 1-10
Channels 11-26
2.4835 GHz
928 MHz902 MHz
5 MHz
2 MHz
2.4 GHz
PHY
Slide 7 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

8. IEEE 802.15.4 PHY Overview
Packet Structure
Preamble
Start of
Packet
Delimiter
PHY
Header
PHY Service
Data Unit (PSDU)
PHY Packet Fields
• Preamble (32 bits) – synchronization
• Start of Packet Delimiter (8 bits)
• PHY Header (8 bits) – PSDU length
• PSDU (0 to 1016 bits) – Data field
6 Octets 0-127 Octets
Slide 8 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

9. 802.15.4 Architecture
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC
Applications
IEEE 802.15.4
2400 MHz
PHY
IEEE 802.15.4
868/915 MHz
PHY
• Channel acquisition
• Contention mgt
• NIC address
• Error Correction
ZigBee
Slide 9 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

10. • Extremely low cost
• Ease of implementation
• Reliable data transfer
• Short range operation
• Very low power consumption
Simple but flexible protocol
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Design Drivers
Slide 10 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

11. IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Typical Network Topologies
Slide 11 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

12. • Full function device (FFD)
– Any topology
– Network coordinator capable
– Talks to any other device
• Reduced function device (RFD)
– Limited to star topology
– Cannot become a network coordinator
– Talks only to a network coordinator
– Very simple implementation
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Device Classes
Slide 12 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

13. Full function device
Reduced function device
Communications flow
Master/slave
PAN
Coordinator
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Star Topology
Slide 13 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

14. Full function device Communications flow
Point to point Cluster tree
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Peer-Peer Topology
Slide 14 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

15. Full function device
Reduced function device
Communications flow
Clustered stars - for example,
cluster nodes exist between rooms
of a hotel and each room has a
star network for control.
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Combined Topology
Slide 15 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

16. IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
General Frame Structure
Payload
PHYLayer
MAC
Layer
MAC Header
(MHR)
MAC Footer
(MFR)
MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU)
MAC Service Data Unit
(MSDU)
PHY Header
(PHR)
Synch. Header
(SHR)
PHY Service Data Unit (PSDU)
4 Types of MAC Frames:
• Data Frame
• Beacon Frame
• Acknowledgment Frame
• MAC Command Frame
Slide 16 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

17. • Periodic data
– Application defined rate (e.g. sensors)
• Intermittent data
– Application/external stimulus defined rate (e.g.
light switch)
• Repetitive low latency data
– Allocation of time slots (e.g. mouse)
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Traffic Types
Slide 17 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

18. 802.15.4 Architecture
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC
Applications
IEEE 802.15.4
2400 MHz
PHY
IEEE 802.15.4
868/915 MHz
PHY
• Network Routing
• Address translation
• Packet
Segmentation
• Profiles
ZigBee
Slide 18 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

19. ZigBee Stack Architecture
Slide 19 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

20. Typical ZigBee-Enabled Device Design
Typical design consist of RF IC and 8-bit
microprocessor with peripherals connected to an
application sensor or actuators
Slide 20 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

21. Wireless Technology Comparison Chart
356 µA
34KB /14KB
Slide 21 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

22. Competing/Similar Technologies
• Bluetooth
– http://www.bluetooth.org
– http://www.bluetooth.com
• X10
– Powerline protocol first introduced in the 1970's.
– http://www.x10.com/technology1.htm
• Z-wave
– Proprietary protocol for wireless home control networking.
– http://www.z-wavealliance.com/
• INSTEON
– Peer-to-peer mesh networking product that features a hybrid
radio/powerline transmission
– http://www.insteon.net
• nanoNET
– Proprietary set of wireless sensor protocols, designed to compete
with ZigBee.
– http://www.nanotron.com/
Slide 22 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

23. 802.15.4/ZigBee Products
Control4 Home Automation
System
http://www.control4.com/products/components/complete.htm
Eaton Home HeartBeat monitoring
system
www.homeheartbeat.com
Chip Sets
• Ember, http://www.ember.com/index.html
• ChipCon, http://www.chipcon.com
• Freescale, http://www.freescale.com
Software, Development Kits
• AirBee,
http://www.airbeewireless.com/products.php
• Software Technologies Group,
http://www.stg.com/wireless/
•
Slide 23 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

24. Motorola Activity
• Implementation of 802.15.4 &
ZigBee
• Aimed at enterprises
– Asset Tracking
– Security
– Public Safety
• Range: 10m
• Transmission interval: ~ 4
minutes
• Nodes move, Controller does not
• Battery life: 1 week to several
years (nodes with 2 AA batteries)
• Interfaces: machine-only
NeuRFonTM
Slide 24 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

25. Motorola Activity
• Implementation of 802.15.4 only
• Aimed at consumers
– Home device control
– Location awareness
– Personal reminders
• Range: 1 - 5m
• Phone is controller
• Both nodes and can controller
move
• Battery life: ~1 week years
(nodes with ~320 mAhr
rechargeable battery)
• Transmission interval: 1 second
• Interfaces: machine and human
ConformablesTM
SmartButton
LoBe
Janus
Digital Paperclip
Slide 25 Joe Dvorak, Motorola 9/27/05

26. More Information
• IEEE 2003 version of 802.15.4 MAC & Phy standard
– http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/download/802.15.4-2003.pdf
• ZigBee Specification
– http://www.zigbee.org/en/spec_download/download_request.asp
• 802.15.4 Tutorial
– http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15/pub/2003/Jan03/03036r0P802-
15_WG-802-15-4-TG4-Tutorial.ppt
– Slides 3 – 17 were adapted from this tutorial
• ZigBee Technology: Wireless Control that Simply Works
– http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/oct03/articles/kinney/zigbee.htm
• ZigBee Technology: Wireless Control that Simply Works
– http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/oct03/articles/kinney/zigbee.htm
• Home networking with Zigbee
– http://www.embedded.com//showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18902431
– Slides 19 – 21 were adapted from this article
• Can the competition lock ZigBee out of the home?
– http://www.techworld.com/mobility/features/index.cfm?FeatureID=1809