ZigBee MAC Wireless Network Implementation using a Remote Virtual Interface

This paper presents an implementation of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Layer of ZigBee protocol in order to monitor and control home appliances. This standard is applied to a communication protocol with small data packets, low transmission rate, and low energy consumption. The paper shows the development of a hardware and software prototype to monitor, control and configure washing machines with a wireless network interface using a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The results indicate the feasibility of building a household-electric network reaching the main features described above, by implementing the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol.