MODULE 4

7.2 IEEE802.15.4

1. Purpose and Layers:

o IEEE 802.15.4 is a standard for low-data-rate wireless personal area networks
(WPANs) designed for low-power monitoring and control applications.
o It uses the physical and data link layers with two additional layers: Logical
Link Control (LLC) and Service-Specific Convergence Sublayer (SSCS) for
upper-layer communication.
2. Frequency Band and Modulation:
o Operates in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band using Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) modulation.
o Low-speed versions use Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), while high-speed
versions use Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (O-QPSK).
3. Channel Access and Multiplexing:
o Uses Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA-CA) for
channel access and deadlock prevention.
o Supports temporal multiplexing for interference-free access by multiple users
or nodes at different times.
4. Power Efficiency and Range:
o Optimized for low power consumption with an infrequent, short-duty cycle
(<1%) and a minimum power level of –3 dBm (0.5 mW).
o Transmission range is typically 10–75 meters but can reach up to 1000 meters
outdoors under ideal conditions.
5. Network Topologies and Variants:
o Supports star and mesh network topologies.
o Variants include A/B (base versions), C (China), D (Japan), E (industrial), F
(active RFID), and G (smart utility systems).

6. Device Types:
o Reduced Function Devices (RFDs): Low power, limited communication (only
with Full Function Devices), minimal CPU/RAM requirements.
o Full Function Devices (FFDs): Support full protocol stacks, can communicate
with any device, but are more expensive and power-intensive.
7. Beacon and Non-Beacon Networks:
o Beacon-Enabled: Beacons are used for synchronization and association; uses
slotted CSMA/CA with a superframe structure managed by a PAN coordinator.
o Non-Beacon-Enabled: Beacons are only for link layer discovery; uses unslotted
CSMA/CA and requires source and destination IDs for communication.
8. Frame Types:
o Beacon frames: Signaling and synchronization.
o Data frames: Data transmission.
o Acknowledgment frames: Confirm message reception.
 o MAC/command frames: Handle requests/responses, dissociation, beacon
requests, coordinator realignment, and orphan notifications.

7.3 Zigbee
1. Design and Purpose:
o Zigbee is tailored for low-power, low-cost wireless communication in sensor
and control networks. It adheres to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for its Physical
(PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers. It is ideal for applications in
home automation, industrial monitoring, and medical devices.
2. Operating Frequencies and Data Rates:
o Zigbee operates on three frequency bands:
 2.4 GHz: Global band with 16 channels at 250 kbps.
 902–928 MHz (Americas): 10 channels at 40 kbps.
 868 MHz (Europe): 1 channel at 20 kbps.
o The 250 kbps rate in the 2.4 GHz band balances data transfer for both periodic
and intermittent communications.
3. Network Topologies:
o Star Topology:
 A coordinator manages communication with end devices.
 Simple to deploy and maintain, widely used for centralized control
applications.
o Mesh Topology:
 Nodes communicate with one another to relay data, ensuring robust
connections even if some nodes fail.
 o Cluster Tree Topology:
 Hierarchical structure with coordinators and routers acting as parents for
end devices, extending network reach.
4. Device Roles in the Network:
o Coordinator:
 Every network has one coordinator that initializes and manages the
network.
 Acts as the root and handles data storage and routing tasks.
o Router:
 Intermediate devices that relay data between nodes, supporting multi-
hop communication.
o End Devices:
 Communicate only with their parent node (coordinator/router).
 Feature reduced functionality for minimal power usage, allowing longer
battery life.
5. Physical Layer (PHY):
o Handles signal transmission and reception, including
modulation/demodulation.
o Supports Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) to minimize interference
and improve reliability.
o Offers 27 channels distributed across three frequency bands, catering to
regional requirements.
6. MAC Layer:
o Manages channel access using Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Avoidance (CSMA-CA) to reduce interference.
o Synchronizes devices using beacon frames, ensuring reliable communication
even in dense networks.
7. Network Layer:
o Responsible for:
 Setting up and maintaining the network.
 Routing messages between devices using algorithms optimized for low-
power environments.
  Managing device connections and disconnections dynamically.
8. Application Support Sub-Layer (APS):
o Provides interface services between the network and application layers.
o Bridges Zigbee-specific functions like device discovery and service-based
matching.
o Facilitates control and data exchange between Zigbee application objects
(ZAO).
9. Application Framework:
o Offers two primary services:
 Key-Value Pair: Access attributes of application objects for precise
control.
 Generic Messages: Developer-defined data structures for custom
applications.
o Supports customization for diverse use cases such as home automation and
industrial control.
10. Operational Modes:
o Non-Beacon Mode:
 Devices (coordinators and routers) are always active, ensuring
immediate responses.
 Consumes more power but is suitable for time-sensitive applications.
o Beacon Mode:
 Devices can enter sleep mode when inactive, periodically waking to
exchange data via beacon frames.
 Ideal for scenarios requiring extended battery life and low duty cycles,
such as remote sensing.
7.4 Thread

1. Built on IEEE 802.15.4:

o Thread utilizes the IEEE 802.15.4 radio standard, emphasizing low power
consumption and low latency, making it suitable for IoT applications like smart
homes and connected devices.
o Unlike Zigbee, Thread enables direct Internet connectivity for its devices
without requiring a mobile phone or proprietary gateway.
2. Seamless IoT Interoperability:
o Designed to address interoperability, security, power efficiency, and scalability,
Thread employs IPv6-based communication with robust support for IP-based
networks.
o Includes a certification application to ensure devices conform to standards and
interoperate with other certified Thread stacks.
3. Self-Healing Mesh Network:
o Thread supports low-power wireless mesh networking with the ability to self-
heal and reconfigure when devices are added or removed, ensuring reliable and
continuous connectivity without a single point of failure.
4. Simplified Infrastructure:
o Thread eliminates the need for proprietary Internet-enabled gateways or cross-
stack translators, simplifying deployment and reducing costs.
o Devices can connect directly to smartphones, computers, and the cloud if they
share the same IP network.
 5. Robust Security and Scalability:
o Thread provides end-to-end device security for Internet-connected devices,
supporting thousands of devices within a single network.
o Ensures resilience to single points of failure and is suitable for scalable IoT
applications like smart buildings and connected vehicles.

7.5 ISA100.11A

1. Purpose and Development:

 Developed and managed by the International Society of Automation (ISA),
ISA100.11A is a low-power wireless communication standard aimed at industrial
plant automation systems.
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, it addresses the needs of industrial environments
with features like reliable communication, security, and interoperability.

2. Key Features:
 Security:
o Utilizes 128-bit AES encryption to ensure communication security.
o Security is implemented in two layers: Transport layer and Data Link layer.
 IPv6 and UDP Support:
o Offers extended addressing capabilities with IPv6.
 o Enhanced security with IPSec-based mechanisms.
o Supports multicasting to save network bandwidth and auto-address
configuration for simplified setup.
 Interference Avoidance:
o Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band using Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum (FHSS) to avoid channel interference.
o Channel blacklisting ensures immunity by avoiding channels already in use by
other protocols.
3. Network Topologies and Architecture:
 Supported Topologies:
o Supports mesh, star, and star-mesh configurations.
 Components of ISA100.11A Architecture:
1. Field Devices:
 Includes I/O devices, handheld devices, and routing devices.
 Devices may be fixed or mobile, allowing flexibility for tasks like plant
monitoring by supervisors.
2. Backbone Devices:
 Includes routers, gateways, system manager, and security manager,
which are fixed and provide centralized network functions.
 DownLink Subnet:
o All connected devices form a DownLink subnet.
 Wireless Industrial Sensor Network (WISN):
o A gateway connects the ISA100.11A network to the plant’s industrial backbone
network, ensuring seamless integration.
4. Protocol Stack Layers:
ISA100.11A defines five layers, mapped against the ISO-OSI model:
a. Physical Layer:
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard.
 Communicates over 2.4 GHz with DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
modulation.
b. Data Link Layer:
 Manages packet creation, forwarding, and frame formation.
 Ensures error detection, bus arbitration, and adaptive channel hopping.
 Responsible for clock synchronization and message loss recovery.
c. Network Layer:
 Fully 6LoWPAN-compliant, providing IPv6 addressing for end-to-end routing.
 Handles protocol conversion between IPv6 and 6LoWPAN.
d. Transport Layer:
 Implements UDP-based connectionless services, ensuring lightweight communication
suited for industrial environments.
e. Application Layer:
 Focuses on system-level management applications for industrial operations.
7.6 WirelessHART
1. Purpose and Development:
 Developed and managed by the International Society of Automation (ISA),
ISA100.11A is a low-power wireless communication standard aimed at industrial
plant automation systems.
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, it addresses the needs of industrial environments
with features like reliable communication, security, and interoperability.
2. Key Features:
 Security:
o Utilizes 128-bit AES encryption to ensure communication security.
o Security is implemented in two layers: Transport layer and Data Link layer.
 IPv6 and UDP Support:
o Offers extended addressing capabilities with IPv6.
o Enhanced security with IPSec-based mechanisms.
o Supports multicasting to save network bandwidth and auto-address
configuration for simplified setup.
 Interference Avoidance:
o Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band using Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum (FHSS) to avoid channel interference.
o Channel blacklisting ensures immunity by avoiding channels already in use by
other protocols.
3. Network Topologies and Architecture:
 Supported Topologies:
o Supports mesh, star, and star-mesh configurations.
 Components of ISA100.11A Architecture:
1. Field Devices:
 Includes I/O devices, handheld devices, and routing devices.
 Devices may be fixed or mobile, allowing flexibility for tasks like plant
monitoring by supervisors.
 2. Backbone Devices:
 Includes routers, gateways, system manager, and security manager, which are fixed
and provide centralized network functions.
 DownLink Subnet:
o All connected devices form a DownLink subnet.
 Wireless Industrial Sensor Network (WISN):
o A gateway connects the ISA100.11A network to the plant’s industrial backbone
network, ensuring seamless integration.
4. Protocol Stack Layers:
ISA100.11A defines five layers, mapped against the ISO-OSI model:
a. Physical Layer:
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard.
 Communicates over 2.4 GHz with DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
modulation.
b. Data Link Layer:
 Manages packet creation, forwarding, and frame formation.
 Ensures error detection, bus arbitration, and adaptive channel hopping.
 Responsible for clock synchronization and message loss recovery.
c. Network Layer:
 Fully 6LoWPAN-compliant, providing IPv6 addressing for end-to-end routing.
 Handles protocol conversion between IPv6 and 6LoWPAN.
d. Transport Layer:
 Implements UDP-based connectionless services, ensuring lightweight communication
suited for industrial environments.
e. Application Layer:
 The application layer connects gateways and devices through various command and
response messages. This layer enables back compatibility with legacy HART devices as it
does not differentiate between the wired and wireless versions of HART.
7.7 RFID

1. Purpose and Development:

 Developed and managed by the International Society of Automation (ISA),
ISA100.11A is a low-power wireless communication standard aimed at industrial
plant automation systems.
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, it addresses the needs of industrial environments
with features like reliable communication, security, and interoperability.

2. Key Features:
 Security:
o Utilizes 128-bit AES encryption to ensure communication security.
 o Security is implemented in two layers: Transport layer and Data Link layer.
 IPv6 and UDP Support:
o Offers extended addressing capabilities with IPv6.
o Enhanced security with IPSec-based mechanisms.
o Supports multicasting to save network bandwidth and auto-address
configuration for simplified setup.
 Interference Avoidance:
o Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band using Frequency Hopping Spread
Spectrum (FHSS) to avoid channel interference.
o Channel blacklisting ensures immunity by avoiding channels already in use by
other protocols.

3. Network Topologies and Architecture:

 Supported Topologies:
o Supports mesh, star, and star-mesh configurations.
 Components of ISA100.11A Architecture:
1. Field Devices:
 Includes I/O devices, handheld devices, and routing devices.
 Devices may be fixed or mobile, allowing flexibility for tasks like plant
monitoring by supervisors.
2. Backbone Devices:
 Includes routers, gateways, system manager, and security manager,
which are fixed and provide centralized network functions.
 DownLink Subnet:
o All connected devices form a DownLink subnet.
 Wireless Industrial Sensor Network (WISN):
o A gateway connects the ISA100.11A network to the plant’s industrial backbone
network, ensuring seamless integration.

4. Protocol Stack Layers:

ISA100.11A defines five layers, mapped against the ISO-OSI model:
a. Physical Layer:
 Built on the IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard.
 Communicates over 2.4 GHz with DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
modulation.
b. Data Link Layer:
 Manages packet creation, forwarding, and frame formation.
 Ensures error detection, bus arbitration, and adaptive channel hopping.
 Responsible for clock synchronization and message loss recovery.
c. Network Layer:
 Fully 6LoWPAN-compliant, providing IPv6 addressing for end-to-end routing.
 Handles protocol conversion between IPv6 and 6LoWPAN.
d. Transport Layer:
 Implements UDP-based connectionless services, ensuring lightweight communication
suited for industrial environments.
e. Application Layer:
 Focuses on system-level management applications for industrial operations.

5. Applications:
 Ideal for industrial wireless sensor networks (WISNs).
 Used in environments requiring reliable, secure, and scalable communication, such as:
o Factory floors.
o Industrial plants.
o Process automation systems.
ISA100.11A enables industrial IoT systems to meet the demands of robust
communication, efficient operation, and seamless integration with existing infrastructure.