Robust home automation scheme using cognitive ZigBee network

ZigBee is a low-power, short range wireless technology for machine to machine communications and uses the IEEE802.15.4 standard. ZigBee networks are being widely used in applications such as home automation, automatic meter reading systems, sensor networks and home security systems. The orphan node problem is a well-known problem in ZigBee networks. In this paper, we develop a protocol to address the orphan node problem by integrating the concept of cognitive ZigBee nodes that are able to self-configure. Our proposed scheme works by quickly eliminating the failed nodes and then self-configuring the network in order to reconnect the orphan nodes in a cognitive manner. We evaluated the performance of our proposed scheme by conducting experiments at the Mobile and Wireless Research Laboratory (MWRL) based at the University of Greenwich.