ZigBee/ Wireless Sensor Networking

	ZigBee is a wireless technology developed as an open global standard to address the unique needs of low-cost, low-power wireless M2M networks. The ZigBee standard operates on the IEEE 802.15.4 physical radio specification and operates in unlicensed bands including 2.4 GHz, 900 MHz and 868 MHz. ZigBee applications include Consumer Electronics, Energy Management and Efficiency, Health Care, Home Automation, Telecommunication Services, Building Automation and Industrial Automation.

Application: ZigBee Hotel Energy Management

Solution:
Lodging Technology installed its first beta wireless GEM Link system in April 2008. The GEM Link system consists of three parts: a Passive Infrared occupancy sensor mounted in the corner of a guest room; a Transceiver module connected to the HVAC unit; and the Entry/Patio door switch module mounted on the wall beside the door frame or on the door. Each component includes an XBee ZigBee module. The three components work in tandem to determine if a room is occupied and to adjust the ac/heat accordingly when a guest is not in the room.

When a guest enters a room outfitted with a GEM Link Wireless system, the door switch transmits to the HVAC Transceiver unit that the door is open via an XBee module. The infrared module then detects the heat of the guest in the room and transmits to the HVAC unit that someone is in the room also via an XBee module. When the door closes, control of the HVAC unit is released to the guest because it now knows someone is in the room and the door is closed. If there is a patio or balcony door, another wireless door switch can be added to that door as well.

Benefits:
XBee ZB ZigBee OEM RF modules provided a plug-in solution to wirelessly enable sensors, switches and transceivers to control room temperatures.

Featured Product:

The low-power XBee ZB and extended-range XBee-PRO® ZB use the ZigBee PRO Feature Set for advanced mesh networking. By deploying this and any XBee device, OEMs are leveraging the value of the XBee product family and Digi’s unsurpassed Drop-in Networking offering of gateways, adapters and routers. In addition, XBee users can take advantage of platform agility—the ability to rapidly change their XBee solution with minimal development.

Key Features:
- Low-cost, low-power mesh networking
- Self-healing and discovery for network stability
- Interoperability with ZigBee PRO Feature Set devices from other vendors
- Support for larger, more dense mesh networks
- 128-bit AES encryption