3.4 Other WSN communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRa)

Wireless Sensor Networks use various communication protocols beyond just Wi-Fi and cellular. These protocols, like Bluetooth Low Energy and LoRa, are designed for specific needs like low power consumption or long-range communication.

Understanding these protocols is crucial for designing efficient WSNs. They offer different trade-offs in terms of range, power usage, and data rates, allowing engineers to choose the best option for their specific application and environment.

Short-Range Protocols

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

• Designed for low power consumption and short-range communication (up to 100 meters)
• Operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band using 40 channels with a data rate of up to 2 Mbps
• Utilizes adaptive frequency hopping to avoid interference and maintain a reliable connection
• Supports various network topologies, including point-to-point, broadcast, and mesh networks (Bluetooth Mesh)
• Widely used in IoT applications, such as wearables, smart home devices, and beacons

Thread and Z-Wave

• Thread is an IPv6-based, low-power wireless mesh networking protocol designed for home automation and IoT devices
  • Operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band with a data rate of up to 250 kbps
  • Supports up to 250 devices per network and offers end-to-end encryption and authentication
• Z-Wave is a low-power, wireless communication protocol primarily used for home automation
  • Operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency range (908.42 MHz in the US) with a data rate of up to 100 kbps
  • Utilizes a mesh network topology, allowing devices to communicate with each other and extend the network's range
  • Supports up to 232 devices per network and offers AES-128 encryption for security

Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah)

• An extension of the Wi-Fi standard designed for low-power, long-range IoT applications
• Operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency range (900 MHz) with a range of up to 1 kilometer
• Offers data rates ranging from 150 kbps to 347 Mbps, depending on the channel bandwidth and modulation scheme
• Supports up to 8,191 devices per access point and offers enhanced power-saving mechanisms for battery-operated devices
• Suitable for applications such as smart cities, industrial automation, and agricultural monitoring

Long-Range Protocols

LoRa and LoRaWAN

• LoRa (Long Range) is a proprietary spread spectrum modulation technique developed by Semtech for long-range, low-power wireless communication
  • Operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency bands (868 MHz in Europe, 915 MHz in North America) with a range of up to 10 kilometers in urban areas and 20 kilometers in rural areas
  • Offers data rates ranging from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, depending on the spreading factor and channel bandwidth
• LoRaWAN is an open protocol built on top of LoRa that defines the communication protocol and network architecture for large-scale IoT deployments
  • Utilizes a star-of-stars topology with end devices communicating with gateways, which relay messages to a central network server
  • Supports three device classes (A, B, and C) with different power consumption and downlink communication capabilities
  • Offers end-to-end encryption (AES-128) and authentication for security

Sigfox and NB-IoT

• Sigfox is a proprietary, ultra-narrowband wireless communication protocol designed for long-range, low-power IoT applications
  • Operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency bands (868 MHz in Europe, 902 MHz in North America) with a range of up to 10 kilometers in urban areas and 40 kilometers in rural areas
  • Offers extremely low data rates (up to 100 bps) and limited payload size (12 bytes uplink, 8 bytes downlink) to maximize battery life and network capacity
  • Utilizes a star topology with end devices communicating directly with base stations, which relay messages to a central network server
• NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) is a cellular-based, low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) protocol standardized by 3GPP
  • Operates in licensed LTE frequency bands with a bandwidth of 180 kHz and offers data rates of up to 250 kbps
  • Supports a large number of devices per cell (up to 50,000) and offers enhanced coverage and power-saving capabilities
  • Utilizes existing cellular infrastructure, making it easier for mobile network operators to deploy and manage NB-IoT networks

DASH7

• DASH7 is an open-source, low-power wireless communication protocol designed for medium-range IoT applications
• Operates in the sub-1 GHz frequency bands (433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz) with a range of up to 2 kilometers
• Offers data rates ranging from 9.6 kbps to 166.7 kbps, depending on the modulation scheme and channel bandwidth
• Supports various network topologies, including star, tree, and mesh, and offers features such as multi-hop communication and localization
• Suitable for applications such as smart parking, asset tracking, and industrial monitoring