NEWS
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Focus on best fit for ZigBee
There is a view that there are no technical challenges facing the
ZigBee standard, only marketing issues to address to ensure its
success. The specification is complete, the standards are
acknowledged internationally and there is a substantial and growing
infrastructure of compliant platform vendors and tool/support companies
in place. Early applications are proving ZigBee to be robust,
reliable and efficient. But rapid take-up and widespread success
of ZigBee should not be taken for granted, its proponents say.
The marketing emphasis for ZigBee today, is on interoperability, highlighting the ease with which this low-power, low data rate protocol can interface with other networks within and between large systems. Furthermore, its supporters say, it should be interfaced with other wireless network protocols. ZigBee is complementary to not competitive with other technologies.
Designers are beginning to discover the benefits of merging low power and high power, long range and short range networks. No single protocol can necessarily meet all the demands of a complex system. Finding the best fit for the application is the key. ZigBee, for example, is promoted as ideal for a wide range, but not all, applications in the home automation, industrial and commercial arena. It is at its best in large scale, low-power, dense, local, short range networks.
But there is some debate about whether ZigBee is the most appropriate for selected wireless sensor networks, and for low duty cycle applications, such as industrial and environmental control and monitoring systems. The technical reasons are given as the need for deterministic latency and deterministic reliability. The IEEE 802.15.4 standard is mooted by some, despite the potential problem of interference from other wireless networks (notably WiFi networks) operating in the 2.4GHz band. Other standards efforts in this area are making some quiet progress, and a number of proprietary protocols are gaining in popularity.
The ZigBee movement needs to build its reputation, fast, in the application areas where it has real strength and advantage. There is a risk that if it battles too hard in the potentially huge and high profile, wireless sensor network market, it may sustain some long lasting damage to its market reputation, despite its proven technical excellence.
The marketing emphasis for ZigBee today, is on interoperability, highlighting the ease with which this low-power, low data rate protocol can interface with other networks within and between large systems. Furthermore, its supporters say, it should be interfaced with other wireless network protocols. ZigBee is complementary to not competitive with other technologies.
Designers are beginning to discover the benefits of merging low power and high power, long range and short range networks. No single protocol can necessarily meet all the demands of a complex system. Finding the best fit for the application is the key. ZigBee, for example, is promoted as ideal for a wide range, but not all, applications in the home automation, industrial and commercial arena. It is at its best in large scale, low-power, dense, local, short range networks.
But there is some debate about whether ZigBee is the most appropriate for selected wireless sensor networks, and for low duty cycle applications, such as industrial and environmental control and monitoring systems. The technical reasons are given as the need for deterministic latency and deterministic reliability. The IEEE 802.15.4 standard is mooted by some, despite the potential problem of interference from other wireless networks (notably WiFi networks) operating in the 2.4GHz band. Other standards efforts in this area are making some quiet progress, and a number of proprietary protocols are gaining in popularity.
The ZigBee movement needs to build its reputation, fast, in the application areas where it has real strength and advantage. There is a risk that if it battles too hard in the potentially huge and high profile, wireless sensor network market, it may sustain some long lasting damage to its market reputation, despite its proven technical excellence.
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