Overview of Zigbee and Shortest Path Routing Algorithm using MATLAB

Yash Agrawal#1, Dhirendra Pratap Singh#2, Rohit Dhiman#3, Rajeevan Chandel#4

# Department of Electronics & Communication Department National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur 177 005 HP India 1 mr.yashagrawal@gmail.com, 2dhirendrapratap.nith@gmail.com, 3rohitdhiman.nitham@gmail.com, 4rajeevanchandel@gmail.com

Abstract- Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) is a new wireless standard for low data rate and low power consumption. Zigbee is meant for small distance ranging from 10-100 metres. In the present paper shortest routing algorithm is used for zigbee module. The routing algorithm is defined in the network layer. It considers starting as well as destination node distance for calculation of shortest distance between the nodes. Also, BPSK encoding is used for transmission of data. The analysis is carried out using MATLAB.

Section V gives results and discussion. Conclusion is made in Section VI and following it references are in Section VII.

II. ABOUT IEEE 802.15.4

I. INTRODUCTION

Zigbee devices are required to conform IEEE 802.15.4-2003 i.e. Low Data Rate Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) standard [1]. Depending on the power output consumption, zigbee operation range is in between 10100m. Zigbee works on unlicensed RF band. The data rate of zigbee is 250kbps at 2.4GHz (global), 40kbps at 915MHz (America) and 20kbps at 868MHz (Europe). It was developed by IEEE and Zigbee Alliance group. Zigbee uses basic OSI model in which protocols of the lower Physical and data link layer are defined by IEEE 802.15.4 and protocols of the upper stack (Network layer to Application layer) are defined by Zigbee Alliance group. It can be used in vast number of applications such as luminance and temperature control, building automation and industrial facilities [2, 3]. It can be integrated with sensors which can send small packets of data wirelessly to coordinator in the zigbee mesh network for smart and intellectual applications [4-6]. In the present work shortest routing algorithm is used for zigbee. For finding shortest distance, starting as well as destination node distance is considered so as to have more directional and shortest route between the starting and destination node. The same is implemented and seen using MATLAB. The paper is arranged as: Section I is the introduction, Section II gives a brief overview of the IEEE 802.15.4, Section III discusses about zigbee protocol stack. Section IV gives the routing algorithm.

802.15.4 defines the physical and MAC layers. The feature of Physical layer is Energy Detection, channel selection, link quality detection and transmitting and receiving of data packets across the physical medium. Physical layer operates in two layers depending on the frequency range. Lower frequency layer works on 868MHz in Europe and 915 MHz in US and Australia. The upper frequency layer works on 2.4 GHz which is used worldwide. Different modulation scheme and channel allocation is done based on frequency band used. Medium Access Control (MAC) layer provides reliable communication between routers and end device. The layers are as shown in figure 1.

Application Layer

Network and Security layer MAC Layer Zigbee Alliance Physical Layer IEEE 802.15.4

Fig. 1 Zigbee Protocol Stack

III. ABOUT ZIGBEE PROTOCOL STACK

This defines the upper layers and consists of Network and Application Layer. In network layer, routing algorithm is defined. Research is being carried out on various routing

International Conference On Recent Advances in Electronics and Computer Engineering, 17th-18th Nov., 2011, Eternal University, H.P., INDIA

algorithms. The selection and efficiency of routing algorithm depends on the network topology. The different network topologies are star, tree and mesh network. It can be seen in figure 2.

Here for defining routing algorithm, mesh topology is used. The nodes are distributed randomly in the mesh network. It is shown in figure 3.

(a) Star Network

(b) Cluster tree Network

Fig. 3 Mesh Network Topology Figure 4 shows the routing scheme. For better understanding, it can be divided into three levels as N-1, N and N+1. The information is to be send through A to B. It can be seen in following steps as: 1. Initially starting node (A) calculates the number of router around it. Here it is 3. 2. Then it calculate its distance with all the neighboring routers around it viz. s1, s2, s3. 3. Then in the third step distance between all its neighbor routers with the destination node is calculated viz. d1, d2, d3. 4. Then addition of each routers distance with its source and destination node is done (s1+d1, s2+d2, s3+d3). 5. Finally, shortest distance is calculated from step 4 and routing is made through the router giving minimum distance between the source and destination node.

(c) Mesh Network Monitoring Device Router End Device Figure 2: Zigbee Network Topology Zigbee network consists of coordinator, router and end device. The zigbee coordinator forms the root of the network tree and bridges other networks. The routers are responsible of data transmission between coordinator and end device. The zigbee network can be extended by increasing number of routers. Zigbee end device can transmit and receive signals but it cannot perform any routing operations.
IV. ROUTING ALGORITHM

Routing is defined in the network layer. There are various routing algorithms. Among all, shortest routing algorithm is most widely used. In this information is transmitted between the source and destination node through routers following the shortest path.

(N-1)th Level

Nth Level

(N+1)th Level

Fig. 4 Mesh Network

International Conference On Recent Advances in Electronics and Computer Engineering, 17 -18 Nov., 2011, Eternal University, H.P., INDIA

The same is analyzed in MATLAB. It is seen in figure 5. Here routing path is defined between C to F.

V. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

The simulation is carried out using MATLAB. The mesh network and shortest routing algorithm is defined. The same is analyzed using MATLAB tool. Also, BPSK encoding is done in the Physical layer.

VI. CONCLUSION

Zigbee is an emerging technology which can lead to complete home and industrial automation. With its monitoring features, it can be used in number of applications such as temperature control, parking lot automation and hence can make life simpler and comfortable. Zigbee uses very low battery power and hence it can last for years. Fig. 5 Routing Path in Mesh Network
VII. REFERENCES

The information and control signals are in the binary form. For transmission of signals through channel this is to be encoded. There are various encoding schemes. However zigbee uses Binary Phase Shift Key (BPSK) as an encoding scheme in the Physical layer. In this binary data is converted to +1 or -1 depending on the information bit. Here BPSK encoding is analyzed and carried out in MATLAB. It is seen in fig. 6.

[1] IEEE std. 802.15.4, Wireless Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specification for Low-Rate Wireless Peronal Area Network, october 1, 2003. [2] L. Shizhuang, L. Jingyu, F. Yanjun, ZigBee Based Wireless Sensor Networks and Its Applications in Industry, IEEE International Conference on Automation and Logistics, pp.1979 -1983, 2007. [3] L.F. Akyildiz, W. Su, Y. Sankarasubramaniam, E. Cayirci, Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey, Computer Network, vol. 38, pp. 393-422, 2002. [4] B. Yan-li, C. Qiao-lin, W. Fang, Improved ZigBee Network Routing Algorithm, Engineering and applications of computer, 2009. [5] S. Zheng, Z. Xiao-Guang, R. Dianxu Ruan, P. Hui Li, Xun, A Routing Protocol based on Flooding and AODV in the ZigBee Network, Intelligent Systems and Applications, pp.1-4, May 2009. [6] A. Lubna, E. Ali and R. Aiyappa, Scalability Analysis for wireless sensor networks Routing Protocols, AINAW, 22nd international conference, pp. 139-144, March 2008.

Fig. 6 BPSK Encoding Scheme