See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/280947104

ZigBee: A Review

Article · January 2012

CITATIONS READS

0 2,550

1 author:

Karamjeet Singh
Thapar University
22 PUBLICATIONS 283 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Karamjeet Singh on 14 August 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

IJCST Vol. 3, Issue 1, Jan. - March 2012 ISSN : 0976-8491 (Online) | ISSN : 2229-4333 (Print)

ZigBee: A Review
1
Gurpreet Singh, 2Raghav Bhardwaj, 3Karamjeet Singh, 4Sahil Mehla
1,2,3
Rayat Bahra College of Engineering and Bio-Technology for Women, Sahauran,
Mohali, Punjab, India
4
Software Engineer, Wipro Technologies, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract rates vary from 20 to 250 kilobits/second. ZigBee network layer

Past several years have witnessed a rapid development in the natively supports both star and tree typical networks and generic
wireless network area. So far wireless networking has been mesh networks. Every network must have one coordinator device
focused on high-speed and long range applications. However, tasked with its creation, the control of its parameters and basic
there are many wireless monitoring and control applications for maintenance. Within star networks, the coordinator must be the
industrial and home environments which require longer battery central node. Both tree and mesh allows the use of ZigBee routers
life, lower data rates and less complexity than those from existing to extend communication at the network level.
standards. For such wireless applications a new standard called
ZigBee has been developed by the ZigBee Alliance. ZigBee is a II. ZigBee Alliance [2]
technological standard created for Control and sensor networks. Zigbee Alliance is an association of companies working together
It is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The IEEE 802.15.4 to define an open global standard for making low-power wireless
standard specifies the PHY Layer and MAC Layer for low data networks. The intended outcome of ZigBee Alliance is to create
rate wireless PANs. This paper includes ZigBee Alliance, IEEE a specification defining that how to build different network
802.15.4 model, applications and advantages of ZigBee, future topologies with data security features and interoperable application
scope of ZigBee. profiles. The association includes companies from a wide spectrum
of categories, from chip manufactures to system integration
Keywords companies. The number of members in the association is rapidly
ZigBee, IEEE 802.15.4, Networks growing and is currently over 125. Among the members one can
find Philips, Samsung, Motorola and LG. Digi is a member of the
I. Introduction ZigBee Alliance and has developed a wide range of networking
ZigBee is a technological standard created for control and sensor solutions based on the ZigBee protocol. XBee and XBee-PRO
networks based in IEEE 802.15.4. ZigBee is a specification for modules and other XBee-enabled devices provide an easy-to-
a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low- implement solution that provides functionality to connect to a wide
power digital radios based on an IEEE 802.15.4 standard for variety of devices [3]. ZigBee Alliance provided some ZigBee
personal area networks [1]. Applications include wireless light devices which are widely used as follows:-
switches, electrical meters with in-home-displays, consumer and
industrial equipment that requires short-range wireless transfer of A. XBee and XBee-PRO ZB
data at relatively low rates. It is the most promising communication Fig. 1, shows ZigBee modules support the latest ZigBee PRO
protocol for WPAN. IEEE -> IEEE802 -> IEEE802.15 -> feature set and allow for interoperability with ZigBee devices from
IEEE802.15.4 -> ZIGBEE other vendors. With XBee, users can have their ZigBee network
1. The IEEE 802 standard gives specifications for the Local Area up-and-running in a matter of minutes.
Networks (LAN).
2. The IEEE802.15 standard is a working group for WPAN.
3. The IEEE 802.15.4 standard specifies the PHY Layer and MAC
Layer for low data rate wireless PANs. It was completed in May
2003. Fig. 1: XBee and XBee-PRO ZB
4. The ZigBee specifications were approved on 14 December
2004. B. XBee and XBee-PRO ZB Adapters
5. The ZigBee Alliance announced public availability of It provides simple ZigBee communication via a variety of
Specification 1.0 on 13 June 2005. connection options including RS-232, RS-485, digital I/O and
ZigBee Alliance is a group of companies creating wireless analog I/O.
solutions for use in Residential, Commercial and Industrial
Applications. The technology used by ZigBee specification is
intended to be simpler and less expensive than other Wireless
Personal Area Networks such as Bluetooth. ZigBee is a low-cost,
low-power, wireless mesh network standard. The low cost allows Fig. 2: XBee and XBee-PRO ZB Adapters
the technology to be widely deployed in wireless control and
monitoring applications. Low power-usage allows longer life C. Connect Port X Gateways
with smaller batteries. Mesh networking provides high reliability This allows you to IP-enable ZigBee networks by aggregating
and more extensive range. ZigBee chip vendors typically sell device data and making that information available over an Ethernet,
integrated radios and microcontrollers with between 60 KB and cellular, or Wi-Fi connection. ConnectPort X gateways offer
256 KB flash memory. programmability and configuration options to most effectively
ZigBee operates in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) manage devices on a ZigBee network.
radio bands; 868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in the USA and Australia,
and 2.4 GHz in most jurisdictions worldwide. Data transmission

328 International Journal of Computer Science And Technology w w w. i j c s t. c o m

ISSN : 0976-8491 (Online) | ISSN : 2229-4333 (Print) IJCST Vol. 3, Issue 1, Jan. - March 2012

Then both FFD and RFD devices can connect to the PAN
coordinator. All networks within the radio sphere of influence
must have a unique PAN identity. All nodes in a PAN must talk
to the PAN Coordinator.

Fig. 3: ConnectPort X Gateways 2. Peer-to-Peer Network Formation

In fig. 5, there is also a PAN coordinator, but it differs from the
III. The Name ZigBee star topology in that any device can communicate with any other
The name ZigBee [3], is come from the domestic honeybee device as long as they are in the range of one another.
which uses a zig-zag type of dance to communicate important
information to other hive members. This communication dance
(the “ZigBee Principle”) is what engineers are trying to emulate
with this protocol a bunch of separate and simple organisms that
join together to tackle complex tasks.

IV. IEEE 802.15.4

The goal IEEE had when they specified the IEEE 802.15.4
standard was to provide a standard for ultra-low complexity,
ultra-low cost, ultra-low power consumption and low data rate
wireless connectivity among inexpensive devices. The raw data
rate will be high enough (maximum of 250 kb/s) for applications
like sensors, alarms and toys.

A. Components of the IEEE 802.15.4

IEEE 802.15.4 networks use three types of devices [3].

1. The Network Coordinator

It maintains overall network knowledge. It is the most sophisticated Fig. 5: Peer-to-Peer Topology
one of the three types and requires the most memory and computing
power. The peer-to-peer topology allows more complex network
formations to be implemented, such as the mesh topology.
2. The Full Function Device (FFD)
FFD supports all IEEE 802.15.4 functions and features specified by C. 802.15.4 – ZigBee Physical Layer
the standard. It can function as a network coordinator. Additional It defines the transmitting raw bits. Frequency of operation and
memory and computing power make it ideal for network router data rate as per IEEE Standard.
functions or it could be used in network-edge devices.
1. Energy Detection (ED)
3. The Reduced Function Device (RFD) Before a signal is transmitted the device goes in the receive
RFD carries limited (as specified by the standard) functionality mode to detect and estimate the signal energy level in the desired
to lower cost and complexity. It is generally found in network- channel.
edge devices. The RFD can be used where extremely low power
consumption is a necessity. 2. Link Quality Indication (LQI)
Measure of quality of packets received at the receiver. Higher the
B. Network Topologies SNR, high is the quality.
IEEE 802.15.4 can manage two types of networks, i.e. star topology
or the peer-to-peer topology. In ZigBee, these two topologies can 3. Clear Channel Assessment (CCA)
be combined to build so-called mesh networks. To ensure that the channel is clear. Not in use by any other
device. Zigbee is a wireless technology developed as an open
1. Star Network Formation global standard to address the unique needs of low-cost, low-
The first FFD that is activated may establish its own network and power wireless M2M networks. The ZigBee standard operates
become a Personal Area Network (PAN) coordinator. on the IEEE 802.15.4 physical radio specification and operates in
unlicensed bands including 2.4 GHz, 900 MHz and 868 MHz. The
802.15.4 specification [4], upon which the ZigBee stack operates
gained ratification by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) in 2003. The specification is a packet-based
radio protocol intended for low-cost, battery-operated devices. The
protocol allows devices to communicate in a variety of network
topologies and can have battery life lasting several years.

Fig. 4: Star Topology

w w w. i j c s t. c o m International Journal of Computer Science And Technology 329

IJCST Vol. 3, Issue 1, Jan. - March 2012 ISSN : 0976-8491 (Online) | ISSN : 2229-4333 (Print)

C. Consumer Electronics
To provide more flexible management of lighting, heating, cooling,
security and home entertainment systems such as TV, DVD’s,
home theatre.

D. PC and Peripherals
To integrate the system to perform different types of tasks, we
have input/output devices as well as high speed processors, storage
media and many other devices such as joystick, OMR.

E. Home Control
To integrate the lighting, heating, cooling and security or we can
say that it is responsible for controlling the home.

F. Telecommunication Services
It covers information services, Mobile Commerce, also known as
M-Commerce or mCommerce, is the ability to conduct commerce
using a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA), smartphone, or other emerging mobile equipment
Fig. 6: Layers of IEEE 802.15.4 such as dashtop mobile devices.

D. Medium Access Control Layer G. Industrial Automation

The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer handles the network To extend existing manufacturing and process control systems
association and disassociation and has an optional super frame reliability[6]. The interoperable nature of ZigBee means that these
structure with beacons for time synchronization and a Guaranteed applications can work together, providing even greater benefits.
Time Slot (GTS) mechanism for high priority communications.
H. Personal Health Care
V. ZigBee Advantages ZigBee Alliance provided many devices which helps for
The ZigBee protocol is designed to communicate data through the fitness of patients such as personal wellness monitoring,
hostile RF environments that are common in commercial and Electrocardiograph (ECG), chronic disease monitoring, glucose
industrial applications. meter and pulse oximeter.
ZigBee protocol features include:
1. ZigBee provides support for multiple network topologies such
as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and mesh networks.
2. It has low duty cycle which provides long battery life.
3. ZigBee has Low latency.
4. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) is used in ZigBee
technology.
5. ZigBee has ability to use upto 65,000 nodes per network.
6. 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption for
secure data connections are used in it.
7. Collision avoidance, retries and acknowledgements are one
of the most efficient features of ZigBee.

VI. ZigBee Applications [5] Fig. 7: Applications of ZigBee Technology [5]

There are many applications that are having redundant, self-
configuring and self-healing capabilities of ZigBee wireless mesh VII. Future Scope
networks. These applications include: Chipcon is using ZigBee to produce a road map product that
reduces the chip and system costs and increases integration level
A. Building Automation with low power consumption. Sensors are currently being used in
It provides security, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air environmental and agricultural applications, but the main target
conditioning) refers to technology of indoor or automotive - home automation. ZigBee technology is also being used and
environmental comfort. Now HVAC is widely used in the buses tested in applications related to health monitoring.
and cabs. It is also used in lighting control, access control and
Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR or AMR-NB) audio codec is a patented VIII. Conclusions
audio data compression scheme optimized for speech coding. ZigBee is most promising technological standard for low data
rate, low power consumption and has a long battery life. ZigBee
B. Energy Management and Efficiency networks are reliable and self-healing. These networks are easy
To provide greater information and control of energy usage, to deploy which is cheaper as compared to other technologies.
provide customers with better service and more choice, better Today main issue is its complexity of ZigBee networks. The main
manage resources, and help to reduce environmental impact. problem in this is security because intruders can easily hack ZigBee
networks and too much technology makes people lazy.

330 International Journal of Computer Science And Technology w w w. i j c s t. c o m

ISSN : 0976-8491 (Online) | ISSN : 2229-4333 (Print) IJCST Vol. 3, Issue 1, Jan. - March 2012

The evolution of ZigBee technology is a big achievement, which

will likely be targeted for use in applications such as road map Karamjeet Singh received his B.Sc.
tracking, medical application, consumer electronics, PC, Personal (Mathematics) degree from Punjabi
healthcare, commercial and residential control and many more by University, Patiala, India in 2005 and
applying different actions. M.Sc. (Mathematics) from Guru Nanak
Dev University, Amritsar in 2007. He
References had completed his M.Tech. (Computer
[1] wisegeek (2012),“What Is ZigBee?”, [Online].Available:http:// Science and Engineering) from Punjabi
www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ZigBee.htm University Patiala, India in 2010. He is
[2] Wikipedia (2012),“ZigBee”, [Online].Available: http:// working as Assistant Professor at Rayat
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ZigBee Bahra College of Engineering and Bio-
[3] webstaff (2005),“ZigBee for wireless networking”, [Online] Technology for Women, Sahauran,
Available:http://webstaff.itn.liu.se/~shago/Exjobb/ZigBee. Mohali. India. His current research interest includes Image
pdf Processing, Artificial Neural Network, and Computer Graphics.
[4] ZigBee.org (2012),“ZigBee Smart Energy Overview He is the member of professional societies IACSIT (International
[Online]. Available:http://www.ZigBee.org/ Standards/ Association of Computer Science and Information Technology),
ZigBee SmartEnergy/Overview.aspx Singapore, IAENG (Member of International Association of
[5] Daintree (2010),“Getting Started with ZigBee and IEEE Engineers), China. He is also a member of IETE.
802.15.4”, [Online].Available: http://www.daintree.net /
downloads/whitepapers/ZigBee_primer.pdf Sahil Mehla received his B.Tech. degree in
[6] freescale (2009),“ZigBee Wireless Sensor Applications for Electronics & Communication Engineering
Health, Wellness and Fitness”, [Online].Available:http:// from DAV Institute of Engineering &
www.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/white_paper/ Technology, Jalandhar in 2011. He taught
MWGZigBeeWP.pdf?tid=mMdl?tid=AMdlDR as a Assistant Professor in Department
of Electronics at GITM, Kurukshetra
Gurpreet Singh received his B.Tech. University. Presently, he is working with
degree in Information Technology Wipro Technologies, Bangalore. His
from DAV Institute of Engineering research interests include Digital Signal
& Technology, Jalandhar in 2009 and Processing, Embedded System and Wireless
M.Tech. degree in Computer Engineering Communication.
from University College of Engineering,
Punjabi University, Patiala, India.
Presently, he is a teaching as a Assistant
Professor at Rayat Bahra College of
Engineering and Bio-Technology for
Women, Sahauran, Mohali. He has
more than 5 research publications in
International, National Conferences and Journals. His research
interests include Wireless Communication, Network Security,
Computer Networks and Data Communication.

Raghav Bhardwaj received his

B.Tech. degree in Computer Science
& Engineering from Rayat Institute of
Engineering & Information Technology,
Ropar in 2011. Presently, he is a
teaching as a Assistant Professor at
Rayat Bahra College of Engineering and
Bio-Technology for Women, Sahauran,
Mohali. His research interests include
Computer Networks and Wireless
Communication.

w w w. i j c s t. c o m International Journal of Computer Science And Technology 331

View publication stats