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IEEE 802.15.4 defines a low-power, wireless network architecture that is ideal for many multi-node home and industrial automation applications. The standard defines the physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) sublayer specifications for low data rate communications among devices. Networks may be arranged multiple topologies and include addressing for over 65,000 nodes. ZigBee has become a popular transmission protocol for IEEE 802.15.4. The ZigBee Alliance defined the remaining layers needed for low-rate, low-power wireless applications allowing designers to trade communications frequency for battery life in remote nodes.

Now there’s new kid on the networking block with an unusual name: 6LoWPAN which stands for IPv6-based low power wireless personal area network. This new standard is under development at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and promises a true open network based on Internet Protocol. Geoff Mulligan Chairman of the IETF 6LoWPAN working group said, “6LoWPAN provides a simple alternative to Zigbee and others and it is openly available (there is an open source version already) and provides a easily implemented model to Internet connectivity and interoperability with IP-based legacy systems, networks, applications, and tools.” Wireless sensor network vendors Arch Rock and Sensinode recently conducted successful interoperability demonstrations of the IETF 6LoWPAN standard.