This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the primary features or parameters which form the building blocks for the OSI layer of seven major wireless network technologies: ANT, ZigBee, WirelessHART, ISA100.11a, Thread, Sigfox, and ZWave. Not only do these technologies support a personal area network but are primarily developed for sensors and smart IoT devices (e.g. smart home automation, sports and body monitors, hospital and patients monitors, environmental monitors etc...). These different technologies possess particular properties or specifications aimed at the following: accomplishment of specific tasks; provide solutions to a particular problem; satisfy specific end users/customers’ requirements/demands. Devices or nodes operating on similar standard such as IEEE 802.15.4 has enormous network platforms. Developers therefore, have the problem of deciding which protocol is best to adopt or enhance (in some cases) to suit their development demand or specification. It is well known that a large number of competing and incompatible protocols exist in our IoT environment. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a critical yet comprehensive survey on all existing specifications of some prevalent wireless network technologies.

Authors: Josiah E. Balota, Colin Pattinson, Ah-Lian Kor

Published in: World Congress on Sustainable Technologies (WCST-2017)

• Date of Conference: 11-14 December 2017
• DOI: 10.20533/WCST.2017.0011
• ISBN: 978-1-908320-78-0
• Conference Location: University of Cambridge, UK