Investigation and performance optimization of mesh networking in Zigbee

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to perform a detailed investigation and performance optimization of mesh networking in Zigbee. ZigBee applications are open and global wireless technology that are based on IEEE 802.15.4 standard, it is used for sense and control in many fields like, military, commercial, industrial and medical applications. Extending ZigBee lifetime is a high demand in many ZigBee networks industry and applications, and since the lifetime of ZigBee nodes depends mainly on batteries for their power, the desire for developing a scheme or methodology that support power management and saving battery lifetime is of a great requirement. In this research work, a power sensitive routing Algorithm is proposed Power Sensitive Ad hoc On-Demand (PS-AODV) to develop protocol scheme and methodology of existing on-demand routing protocols, by introducing an algorithm that manages ZigBee operations and construct the route from trusted active nodes. Furthermore, many aspects of routing protocol in ZigBee mesh networks have been researched to concentrate on route discovery, route maintenance, neighbouring table, and shortest paths. PS-AODV routing algorithm is used in two different ZigBee mesh networks, with two different coordinator locations, one used at the centre and the other one at the corner of the networks. The extracted results conclude a better network operation for the coordinator located at the centre with an increase in the network lifetime around 20% percentage, and saved about 32.7% of delay time compare to AODV.