ZigBee is a wireless technology developed as an open global standard to address the needs of low-cost, low-power wireless M2M networks. The standard employs small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE (News - Alert) 802.15.4-2006 and it targets radio-frequency applications that require a low data rate, long battery life, and secure networking.

ZigBee-style networks were proposed in the late ‘90s when it became apparent that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were going to be unsuitable for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) and other self-organizing, ad-hoc digital radio networks. The marketing of ZigBee radios started around 2001 when the ZigBee Alliance was formed.

The headline, “ZigBee comes of Age”, refers to recent, new, and upcoming developments as defined by the ZigBee RF4CE (radio frequency for consumer electronics) specification.  Compliant RF chips are designed to be deployed in a wide range of remotely controlled audio/visual CE products, such as TVs and set-top boxes. Under the somewhat loose definition of M2M, this is a B2C application. Cees Links of GreenPeak is the marketing chair.

The standard and test specifications have been nailed down and this enables interoperability certification between different devices (e.g. HDTV, DVR, STB) from different vendors. Discovery and pairing procedures have also been defined as well as commands standardized.  

Now it gets interesting

Products that match the ZigBee remote control profile are on the market. In addition, the profile for human input devices (e.g. keyboards and mice) has been completed and products will appear in Q4 this year. The standard for ZigBee3D sync (3D glasses for 3D television) is work in progress.

Using RF the remote control experience has been enhanced in numerous ways, e.g. larger coverage, goes through walls and into cupboards, and line-of-sight is not required.   However, what makes this profile really interesting is the ability to receive and display messages on the upcoming remote devices, i.e. those having a display.

Push messaging allows for a variety of new remote control capabilities including tele voting and gaming, personal messages and reminders, real-time sports results, stock information and residential sensor network monitoring. Push messaging also enables operators to create new opportunities for advertising revenues via server initiated commercial push messages on the consumers’ remote control.

Find-me is a neat feature. It enables users to simply push a “find-me” button on the TV or STB that results in the remote generating a signal, blink and beep, to make it easy to find, even when it is out of sight. No more lost remote controls.

New “couch potato” apps are set to follow, such as on-line payments and ambience control (lighting, heating/air conditioning, curtains).

The relevant CE products have to be ZigBee enabled, which means that the new remotes can’t work on legacy TVs or set top boxes (STBs). However, to address this problem the large operators, in particular in the USA, are working with so-called hybrid remotes that support both RF and IR. This means that when you get a new STB from the operator, the remote can still control the legacy IR based television.

The architecture of ZigBee is that of the OSI stack. IEEE 802.15.4 at the physical and MAC layers; ZigBee RF4CE at the network layer, the application framework and the profiles; applications, which come from OEMs, are at layers 6 and 7.

A full LAN capability is enabled through a combination of multiple PANs (personal area networks).  As illustrated, there are two types of nodes. The target node enables network startup, has full PAN capability, accepts or rejects a pairing request and decides on the operating channel (frequency agility).  The controller node initiates pairing and discovers network nodes, implements frequency agility and enables on-demand communications.

New input devices

There is support for mice, remotes that have touch pads and keyboards, as well as remote control pointers and Harry Potter type wands. You wave the latter device up and down and left and right. The kids will love it. There is also support for popular multi-touch and gesture commands, including pinch or rotation for touch pad devices. In addition, the input device profile enables developers to define special functions and enhanced performance beyond the standard behavior of a mouse or keyboard.

3D glasses

The third ZigBee profile is 3D Sync. As the term implies, ZigBee enabled 3D glasses synchronize the users viewing experience with the display. The technology works as follows: when you put them on and look at the screen, the technology first blocks the left and then the right lens. It happens faster than the blink of an eye (up to 100 times a second) – so your eye won't notice it. But when images are shown to each eye separately this “staggered” effect achieves far more lifelike 3D images.

Want to learn more about M2M technologies? Then be sure to check out the M2M Evolution conference, collocated with TMC’s (News - Alert) ITEXPO West 2011, taking place Sept. 13-15, 2011, in Austin, Texas. The M2M Evolution Conference is for those industry professionals interested in capitalizing on a rapidly growing segment of the telecom industry. The M2M Evolution Conference embraces the any-to-any strategy of the Internet today. Co-sponsored by TMC Partner Crossfire Media, it showcases the solutions, and examines the data strategies and technological requirements that enterprises and carriers need to capitalize on a market segment that is estimated to grow to $300 Billion in the year ahead. To register, click here.