ZigBee technology provides unique features for the deployment of RTLS systems in certain segments and markets. The added possibility of management of all kinds of sensors (temperature, humidity, presence and movement, dangerous gases, electricity consumption,...) and actuators (air conditioning, valves, opening and locking of doors and windows, alarms, control lights and appliances, ... ) enables to provide a complete solution under a single, robust technology This document briefly describes what is ZigBee, their main characteristics and its implementation as an RTLS system. It includes a description of specific use cases for hotels, supermarkets, healthcare, police, security and vigilance, industry and miners. In particular describes the n-Core® platform, under ZigBee technology, which supplies a complete development and production environment both for automation services as well for location (RTLS) services. As always, any comment will be welcome. If you wish to learn more about the n-Core® platform please contact me or send me an email.

2. What is ZigBee?
• ZigBee is a wireless communication standard and a set of specifications for wireless
personal area networking (WPAN) or WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) for the radio
communication (RF) between computers and other devices
• ZigBee has been developed to meet the growing demand for wireless network capacity
between several low-power devices.
• In the industry, ZigBee is being used for the next generation of automated
manufacturing, with small transmitters in each device which allow communication
between devices to a central computer.
• More than 10 years ago the ZigBee Alliance was launched by major companies
including, amongst others, Philips, Freescale, Texas Instruments, Atmel, LG, Samsung
and Sony.
• Under the standard IEEE 802.15.4, ZigBee Alliance has created a open standard system
for wireless communications,, It is effective, safe, low cost and low power for use within
home automation, buildings (building automation), industrial control, PCs peripherals,
medical sensors and many other devices in what has been called Internet of Things
(IOT).

3. ZigBee Main Characteristics
ZIGBEE
FEATURES

4. Type of Devices
Coordinator (Queen Bee)
• Master Node per network
• Configure and establish the network
• Determine the access channel
• Provide routing services
• Mains or battery powered
Routers (Drones)
- Allow the interconnection between nodes
to extend the network
- Participate in the multi-hop routing
- Provide I/O data services
- Mains or battery powered
End-Device (Worker)
- Connects with a Parent-node.
- Doesn’t have specific tasks
- Can act like a sensor & actuator node or like a locatable tag
- Wakes up periodically to check pending messages and sleeps
the rest of the time
- Usually powered by batteries

5. Network Topologies
• Unlike other wireless technologies, ZigBee supports and allows multiple network
topologies :
• Star: Central node and N devices connected to it.
• Tree: Each parent node can have N child nodes based on the depth of the network.
• Peer To Peer
• Mesh: This topology allows the interconnection between routers nodes ensuring
there are always alternative paths in the event of the failure of any node in the
network.
• The flexibility and scalability of these network topologies allow ZigBee technology to be
deployed in any type of venue - whether it's indoor or outdoor - covering very large
areas with one single network.
• ZigBee has higher tolerance to obstacles (i.e. walls, metallic surfaces) than other
technologies and can avoid them easily by setting optional routes

6. Security &
Vigilance
Information & control
of energy usage Building
Access Control
Automation
Consumption & Retail Environmental Data
Health Care Monitoring
Patterns analysis Services
User/Asset ZigBee Health Mgmt &
Location - RTLS Patient Monitoring
Applications
&
Smart
Home
Markets Energy
Personal Automation
Identification
Presence &
MEMS Sensors
Industrial & Domestic Telecom Remote
automation Services Control
Light, Heat, Cool
& HVAC
Geo-fencing

7. n-Core® Platform
N-Core® is a powerful platform - hardware and software - that allows you to develop,
integrate and deploy, easily and quickly, a wide variety of applications over wireless sensor
networks based on the IEEE standard 802.15.4/ZigBee.
Applications/Services n-Core® offers a complete set of services API
(dll libraries) to create applications quickly
from any environment and any language
(.net, Java, Python, C/C++,...) allowing:
Admin & Conf Tool
Autom Network Mgmt RTLS
• Network Management: Creation, node
Polaris Tool
configuration, monitoring, etc.
automation Location
Engine Engine • Automation: Control and monitoring of
sensors/actuators, collection and transfer of
Hardware – Sirius Devices data, definition of behaviour, rules, etc.
(802.15.4/Zigbee) • Location: It provides powerful algorithms
to determine the position of devices in real
time.
n-Core® offers a low cost infrastructure with quick return on investment (ROI), it minimizes
dramatically efforts/time in development, installation and implementation of automation
solutions and location logic under a unique single platform.

8. n-Core® Platform – Sirius Devices (I)
Sirius A
•It enables connectivity with any sensor/actuator of the market
•Complete set of I/O ports (digital outputs relay, SPI, I2C, ADC, RS-232, USB,...)
• Full solution for any type of automation/sensing applications
• Measures: 111.8 x 107.7 x 26.3 mm
Sirius D
•With a versatile design, it is the ideal device to create extensive networks under
any type of application
•Interfaces: Digital inputs, SPI, I2C, ADC, UART
• Under RTLS systems, it acts like a router/sensor and can be installed under the
ceiling. Line of sight is not required.
•Measures : 65 x 53 x 23 mm
Sirius B
•Same size as Sirius D with programmable buttons for specific actions (i.e.
alarms).
• It acts as a end user device (locatable tag).

9. n-Core® Platform – Sirius Devices (II)
Sirius RadIOn
• Equivalent to Sirius D
• Less size and versatility both for networks of sensors and for
location infrastructure
• Measures : 22x 32.7x 5mm
Sirius Quantum
• The smallest ZigBee tag in the world specifically designed for RTLS
systems.
• It includes accelerometer and configurable buttons
•Measures : 22x 32.7x 5mm
Sirius IOn
• Expansion card that offers all the possibilities of I/O programming
(sensors, actuators, PCs,...) being compatible with all Sirius devices.
• 3 versions with multiple sensors: Development, Motion (accelerometer,
compass) and Environment (light, temperature, humidity, relay).
•Measures : 41 x 42 x 15 mm

10. n-Core® Platform – Configuration Tool

11. n-Core® Platform – Polaris Web Tool

12. RTLS System - Installation and Deployment
• Installation of sensors/routers in the target area (Sirius D and/or Sirius RadIon devices)
• Extremely fast and easy process
• It only requires power outlet (3.5 volts)
• No wiring is required between nodes or with the central system.
• They can hide in false ceilings. It does not require line of sight with the target tags.
• Indoor/Outdoor location:
• The sensors can be placed in outdoor areas covering not only the indoor environment
but also other areas like, for instance, campus, parking areas, access to the facilities,
etc.
• To cover large distances (e.g. set of buildings), the ZigBee network is easily extensible
through 3G/WiFi connectors.
• Calibration (Site survey) is not needed.
• If necessary the installation can be modified or expanded without problems at later stages
(e.g. by requiring accuracy improvements in certain areas).
• It requires indoor plans to establish the exact location of each sensor - x/y/z coordinates.

13. RTLS System - Accuracy
• The network supports multiple configurations depending on the structure and
distribution of cubicles in the target area as well as the required precision.
• Can be achieved within 2 meters of precision with an adequate number of sensors
• These deployments are easily tested - using battery operated sensors – checking best
positions before moving on to the final installation.
Contour-based deployment: Precise Area-based deployment: Precision at room
location of the target object is possible level (1 sensor/area) that can be enough in
within the room, corridor and hall. many cases (hospital, hotel, office, …).

14. n-Core® Platform – Location process
Id_TAG
RSSI /LQI
Rx Level GetNodePosition GetNodeParams
ID_ROUTER
GetTagsTable SetNodeParams
RTLS/Location API
Location
Engine Network
DB
• The ZigBee Tags - locatable objects - periodically send a broadcast message to all the closest
sensors. This period is configurable by each device depending on the time required to inform
the end-application.
• The routers (sensors) collect the information for each tag in an internal table that the node
periodically transmits to the Collector node (TagsTable message)
• The Collector node sends a complete data table to the Location engine module (n-core
system) that obtains the X/Y/Z position of each tag.
• The API allows you to easily obtain the coordinates of any node in the network as well as
obtain or modify all the configuration parameters involved in this process.

15. Potential Use Cases
HOTELS
• ZigBee tags for clients
• Room Automation (light, music, air condition, …)
• Control of energy consumption
• Presence detection: Inside/Outside of the room
• Panic button
• Check-In/Check-Out management
• For workers (employees, security, cleaning, …):
• ZigBee Bracelet/Tag
• Location and tracking within the hotel including outdoor areas such as parking or
swimming pool.
• Access Control mgmt.
SUPERMARKETS
• ZigBee tag attached to the shopping cart.
• Continuous monitoring within the supermarket and surrounding areas
• Analysis of preferred routes and consumers’ behavior
• Consumption Statistics - management of employees and demand of products.
• Accuracy: At area level may be sufficient.
• Optional: Mobile application with indoor maps to guide the customer, show discounts,
search for products, ….

16. Potential Use Cases
VIGILANCE & SECURITY
• ZigBee tag for security personnel
• Automatic presence control: check-up of regular rounds in both indoor and outdoor
areas.
• Precise location in the event of any alarm
• Configurable Alarm buttons with programmable events
• Access control mgmt
POLICE
• ZigBee Tag for police stations and departments
• Temporary ZigBee bracelet for detainees and visitors
• Tracking and/or on-demand location of detainees
• Geo-fencing capabilities
• Access control mgmt

17. Potential Use Cases
HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE CENTERS
• ZigBee bracelets for patients and, optionally, for visitors.
• Configurable alarm buttons
• Continuous tracking – Routing statistics and Behavior analysis
• Detection in the event of a patent falling
• Management of restricted areas by user (indoor geo-fencing)
• ZigBee Tag for hospital members/employees including, optionally, security and cleaning
personnel.
• On-demand location
• Access control mgmt
• ZigBee Tag for instruments and value objects
• Inventory management
• On-demand location: spatial layers of objects for example grouping of critical
machinery in a hospital
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
• ZigBee Tag for patients assisted at their homes
• Alarm/panic button
• Detection of entry/leave (geo-fencing in home area)
• ZigBee Tag for the assistant
• Ensuring their real and effective assistance at home

18. Potential Use Cases
Storage and goods/equipment control
• Indoor and Outdoor location of any object
• Inventory Management
• Theft detection & alarms
Mines
• Secure location and tracking of miners
• Panic button

19. Conclusions
• Many LBS applications require the incorporation of sensors and automation. ZigBee
provides both location management and integration with any type of sensor/actuator.
E.g. access control applications.
• ZigBee is the right choice for many cases where safety and reliability in communications
is required and it does not require high data transfer.
• ZigBee network topologies can be adapted to any type of environment and distribution
both inside and outside.
• ZigBee is not present on mobile phones so the object (user, resource) to be located
must carry a ZigBee Tag:
• Many cases are oriented to specific and controlled user groups so the additional use
of a mobile phone is not required.
• Mobile phones can be used as an Input/Output channel to send or receive data
based on the position of the associated ZigBee tag.
• In other cases the ZigBee tag will operate to locate objects in indoor (and, optionally,
outside of the facility) while outdoors, users may be located by cell/GPS or WiFi using
their mobile phone.
• The ZigBee device can include high quality motion sensors (MEMS) which can be
independent or cooperative to obtain the precise position of the target object.

20. Any questions?
I’m happy to help you!