Hybrid ZigBee Coordinator Protocol Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for managing ZigBee devices lack the ability to interact broadly and efficiently, particularly in scenarios where standard ZigBee interfaces are not available, such as in customer premises equipment (CPE) proxies without a built-in ZigBee physical layer, limiting their management and control capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid ZigBee coordinator with a ZigBee protocol stack and a non-ZigBee physical layer that communicates ZDO messaging over a non-standard interface with a CPE proxy, enabling protocol translation between CWMP messaging and ZDO messaging, and transceiving ZDO messaging over a standard ZigBee interface for network management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a CPE proxy uses a non-ZigBee physical layer to communicate with ZigBee devices, then the device can be managed without native ZigBee radio capabilities, but the interface becomes non-standard and incompatible with traditional ZigBee management protocols

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement capabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hybrid ZigBee coordinator as an intermediary device that bridges the CPE proxy and the ZigBee network. The coordinator translates between the non-standard interface used by the CPE proxy and the standard ZigBee protocol used by ZigBee devices, enabling management capabilities without requiring the CPE proxy to have native ZigBee radio capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the CPE proxy handling management functions, the hybrid ZigBee coordinator handling protocol translation and network coordination, and the ZigBee devices handling sensor/actuator functions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together through defined interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If protocol translation is implemented between CWMP messaging and ZDO messaging, then broad interaction between management systems and ZigBee devices is enabled, but the translation layer increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid ZigBee coordinator serves as a protocol translation intermediary that converts between CWMP messaging (used by the CPE proxy) and ZDO messaging (used by ZigBee devices). This translation layer enables broad interaction between different management systems and ZigBee devices without requiring each device to support multiple protocols natively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The hybrid ZigBee coordinator performs multiple functions: it acts as a ZigBee network coordinator, implements protocol translation between CWMP and ZDO, and provides a logical interface for the CPE proxy. This multi-functionality consolidates several roles into a single device, managing complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a logical ZigBee interface is provided over a non-standard interface, then devices without native ZigBee capabilities can participate in ZigBee networks, but the interface lacks standardization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidinterface reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hybrid ZigBee coordinator provides a logical ZigBee interface by translating messages between the non-standard interface of the CPE proxy and the standard ZigBee protocol. This intermediary approach allows devices without native ZigBee capabilities to participate in ZigBee networks while maintaining protocol reliability through standardized translation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a logical copy of the ZigBee interface at the coordinator level. Instead of requiring the CPE proxy to physically implement ZigBee radio capabilities, the coordinator replicates the ZigBee protocol behavior through software-based translation, allowing standard ZigBee devices to communicate with the CPE proxy as if it were a native ZigBee device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3195690B1Zigbee system management employing a tr-069 enabled CPE proxy

Publication Date: 2020.05.27 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

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AI summary

A ZigBee management system includes an auto configuration server (ACS) that manages customer premises equipment (CPE) through CWMP messaging and a CPE proxy that is coupled to the ACS to provide a protocol translation between the CWMP messaging and ZigBee device object (ZDO) messaging for a ZigBee device. The ZigBee management system also includes a hybrid ZigBee coordinator that is coupled to the CPE proxy and has a ZigBee protocol stack having a ZigBee MAC layer as an initial layer, a non-ZigBee physical layer that is coupled to the ZigBee protocol stack and communicates the ZDO messaging over a non-standard ZigBee interface with the CPE proxy, and a ZigBee physical layer that is coupled to the ZigBee protocol stack and the non-ZigBae physical layer and transceives the ZDO messaging for the ZigBee device over a standard ZigBee interface. A method of mamaging a ZigBee network is also provided.