WSN Buzz
Fresh updates on wireless networks standards and new technologies
Archive for November, 2008
November 25, 2008 at 11:58 am · Filed under BACnet
BACnet is a standard data communication protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks. BACnet is an open protocol, which means anyone can contribute to the standard, and anyone may use it. For software developers, the BACnet protocol is a standard way to send and receive messages on the wire containing data that is understood by other BACnet compliant devices. The BACnet standard defines a standard way to communicate over a number of wires, known as Data Link/Physical Layers: Ethernet, EIA-485, EIA-232, ARCNET, and LonTalk. The BACnet standard also defines a standard way to communicate using UDP, IP and HTTP (Web Services).
BACnet 0.4.7 is an open source BACnet protocol stack for embedded systems. This BACnet protocol stack library provides a BACnet application layer, network layer and media access (MAC) layer communications services. It is an open source, royalty-free library for an embedded system, Windows, Linux, or other operating system. Example BACnet client and server applications are included.
Link to the open source stack here.
November 20, 2008 at 11:54 am · Filed under Uncategorized
BAIA has organized a Panel on “Business Models and Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks” on 10/08/2008. The event, sponsored by Pirelli Tyre, Telecom Italia and C’ Era una Volta, has taken place at the University of California at Berkeley with more than one hundred attendees from the academia and the industry.
The distinguished panelists have been:
- Prof. David Culler, UC Berkeley, CTO and Co-Founder of Arch Rock
- Mike Horton, CEO and Co-Founder of Crossbow
- Prof. Raju Pandey, UC Davis, CTO and Co-Founder of Synapsense
- Prof. Kris Pister, UC Berkeley, CTO and Co-Founder of Dust Networks
- Dr. Joe Polastre, CTO and Co-Founder of Sentilla
The Panelists have discussed possible business models for WSNs and have answered the questions of the audience on the market perspectives for the technology and on the obstacles still to be overcome.
Video of the discussion here.
November 20, 2008 at 11:47 am · Filed under 6LowPAN
KitWorks.fi Ltd. today announced the 1st IP-based wireless sensor network (WSN) handheld device in the world, which interoperates seamlessly with IP-based 2.4GHz wireless sensor networks taking full advantage of the 6LoWPAN standard and IEEE 802.15.4 RF technology. The KitWrx 456 handheld tablet enhances smart object connectivity by enabling communication with 6LoWPAN based wireless networks and smart devices, along with RFID tags for enterprise applications in addition to previously used WLAN and barcode reading technologies.
The KitWrx 456 handheld tablet was been developed jointly with IPSO Alliance members (www.ipso-alliance.org), Sensinode Ltd. and the CENTRIA research center. The KitWrx 456 is enabled by Sensinode’s NanoStack™ 2.0 – the most sophisticated 6LoWPAN protocol stack solution. NanoStack 2.0 enables communication with 6LoWPAN enabled ad-hoc devices and infrastructure networks over an easy to use API. Windows CE applications on the KitWrx 456 can access the 6LoWPAN network directly. NanoStack 2.0 is available for licensing on OEM devices, giving easy compatibility with the KitWrx 456 and Sensinode NanoRouter™ 2.0 infrastructure solutions.
More information here.
November 20, 2008 at 11:45 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Helping drive mass-market adoption of consumer and industrial wireless networking applications, Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) announced the new CC430 technology platform offering the “industry’s lowest power, single-chip radio-frequency (RF) solution for microcontroller (MCU)–based applications. The first CC430 devices are monolithic with high integration to allow for a 50% reduction in package and PCB space compared with two-chip solutions.
An extensive MSP430 MCU peripheral set will be available for CC430-based devices, including intelligent, high-performance digital and analog peripherals such as a 16-bit ADC and low-power comparators, which provide high performance—even during RF transmissions—and consume no power when not in operation. These peripherals also speed design by integrating functions such as an integrated Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) accelerator that encrypts and decrypts data sent wirelessly for more secure alarm and industrial monitoring systems.
More details here.
November 18, 2008 at 9:35 am · Filed under ZigBee
People often get confused with all the communications technologies which are used in the WSN field: 802.15.4, ZigBee, Mesh protocols, 2.4GHz, 868MHz and 900MHz bands… An article released by the Wireless Sensor Networks Research Group compares both IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee technologies and explains its main characteristics.
The document is available here.
November 18, 2008 at 9:30 am · Filed under Low-power WiFi
GainSpan, a leading provider of ultra-low power Wi-Fi technology, and Grid Net, a leading provider of open, interoperable, policy-based network management software, and communications product reference designs for the utility industry’s Smart Grid, today announced a collaboration for providing innovative Smart Grid home area networks (HAN).
In this initial collaboration, the two companies are developing standards-based Smart Grid connectivity that offers easy HAN access to utilities deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions using Grid Net’s PolicyNet NMS. AMI provides energy savings for consumers through management of devices and appliances in the home area network. The net result: energy savings through improved demand management, lower energy costs to consumers, and a more efficient, “greener” environment.
More information here.
November 17, 2008 at 10:19 am · Filed under 6LowPAN
A new version of software for Arch Rock’s IP-based PhyNet wireless sensor network (WSN) platform enables companies that provide sensor-based monitoring and management services to build large-scale, multi-customer WSNs that securely reach across customer firewalls to access and centrally manage WSN data. Each customer’s data stays private, and existing security settings protecting the rest of the organization’s networks and IT assets remain intact. Arch Rock PhyNet 3.5 adds support for Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal to the PhyNet Router and PhyNet Server. This enables the encryption and authentication of sensor data over the WAN, allowing that data to pass securely through corporate Internet connection boundaries or small business and residential cable and DSL gateways. This extends the PhyNet architecture beyond the enterprise to service provider organizations that provide real-time monitoring and/or control services for home or commercial energy systems, brown field development sites, high-end agricultural crops, and many others. Providers can now aggregate any number of customer-resident WSNs onto a single PhyNet Server at the provider’s site, simplifying deployment and reducing infrastructure costs.
Official press release here.
November 14, 2008 at 3:50 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
In a move aimed at increasing the flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability of commercial buildings, a group of visionaries are announcing the EMerge Alliance. The alliance will lead the creation and deployment of a new power, control, and device-level technology standard for commercial interiors, developed around the use of safe, low-voltage direct-current (DC) power.The founding members of the alliance at the governing level include Armstrong World Industries, Johnson Controls, Nextek Power Systems, OSRAM SYLVANIA, and WAVE.
Today’s workplace is dominated by fixed overhead lighting and a wide variety of electrical devices typically wired for a building’s lifetime rather than occupants’ changing needs. Building designers and owners increasingly have been seeking the integration of infrastructure, equipment, and furnishings that can improve energy efficiency, as well as systems to make buildings more adaptable.
More information here.
Emerge Alliance website here.
November 14, 2008 at 9:35 am · Filed under Uncategorized
In its continuing efforts to promote efficient use of spectrum and to extend the benefits of such use to the public, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopted a Second Report and Order that establishes rules to allow new, sophisticated wireless devices to operate in broadcast television spectrum on a secondary basis at locations where that spectrum is open. (This unused TV spectrum is now commonly referred to as television “white spaces”). The rules adopted today will allow for the use of these new and innovative types of unlicensed devices in the unused spectrum to provide broadband data and other services for consumers and businesses.
The rules represent a careful first step to permit the operation of unlicensed devices in the TV white spaces and include numerous safeguards to protect incumbent services against harmful interference.
Official press release here.
November 13, 2008 at 9:40 am · Filed under EnOcean
The Siemens spinoff EnOcean is targeting its energy-harvesting technology at wireless sensor networks in buildings, which company executives predict will be a multibillion dollar market.EnOcean (Oberhaching, Germany) announced a new system architecture here this week during the Electronica 2008 exhibition. The company claims its Dolphin architecture creates new industry standards for wireless sensor networks. The scheme seeks to speed deployment of battery-less actuators and bidirectional links between sensors.
Energy harvesting captures the energy generated by differences in temperature, lighting, pressure or position to power devices like sensors connected via a wireless network. The technique replaces batteries, thereby saving energy.
EnOcean supplies energy-harvesting modules to OEMs, and claims to have more than 500,000 radio nodes installed in “sustainable” buildings.
More information about the Dolphin platform here.
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