An efficient improvement approach for topology formation in ZigBee network

ZigBee is the emerging next generation technology specifically designed for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPAN), which suits wireless sensor networks applications. Topology formation is an important issue in ZigBee network. If the depth of the tree is too long in some network deployment, power-consumed is a problem. As a result, there will be some breakdown links in the topology. So it is important to balance the node deployment which can avoid the too long depth in ZigBee network. Based on deeply studying the network association in ZigBee, an efficient improvement approach for topology formation (IATF) has been proposed in this paper: parent node recording and sending the number of joined ZR and ZED; children nodes re-associating to the parent. The proposal mechanism using the IATF provides an efficient topology formation approach and network reconfiguration without modifying the basic IEEE 802.15.4 functionalities. Our simulation results show that the new mode of association network can reduce the average tree depth and delivery delay effectively.