What is Zigbee, the wireless communication standard that is gaining attention again?
Zigbee is a wireless communication standard that is making a comeback.
As with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®, it uses the 2.4GHz ISM band, making it one of the most suitable communication methods for overseas expansion of products.
It is widely used in Europe and the United States, mainly for applications such as smart homes (lighting control, smart locks, etc.) and smart meters.
This time, we will explain the mesh network, which has the most features among the basic specifications of Zigbee.
What are the benefits of mesh networks?
Types of network topologies
When considering communication between devices, there are various types of network topologies. ), mesh (mesh: many-to-many), etc., Zigbee has become synonymous with communication standards that can configure mesh networks.
Of course, P2P and star types can also be configured.
Configure a robust network
Unlike star networks, mesh networks have multiple routes between the sender and receiver. What is the best route to send data from the sender to the receiver? Zigbee creates a routing table and realizes efficient communication based on it. Even though it is the same mesh network, Bluetooth Mesh (SIG Mesh) does not have a routing table, which is a factor in the difference in throughput etc. from Zigbee and Thread.
In addition, if a device on the communication path fails and communication cannot be performed on the assumed path, the path is automatically restored. This is also the reason why Zigbee is said to be able to construct a robust network.
Highly scalable mesh network
Another feature of mesh networks is that many devices can participate in one network. There will be differences depending on the protocol and the manufacturer, but the scale is 100 to several hundred units. With star networks like Wi-Fi, there is a limit to the number of devices that can be connected to one access point, but mesh networks have an advantage in terms of scalability.
Also, even if there is a distance between the sending side and the receiving side, communication can be performed via a relay device, so it is possible to cover the same area as the star type with a lower output level. It can be said that it is a communication standard that is friendly to power consumption.
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