This initiative will evaluate use of the forthcoming ZigBee Internet Protocol (IP) specification and the IEEE 802.15.4g standard to help Japan create smart homes that improve energy management and efficiency.
In December, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) designated the 920 MHz band for active low-power radio systems. In February, the IP-based ECHONETLite standard was endorsed as the Japanese Smart House Standard by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The ECHONET consortium is developing ECHONETLite to define the application for electric appliances and electronic equipment to connect to a home energy management system but it will not define the underlying communication layers, allowing the use of any appropriate communication standard.
The Japanese product manufacturers are currently examining open communication standards for future products using ECHONETLite.
The Alliance has extensive experience creating smart and efficient homes having created ZigBee Home Automation™ and the industry leading ZigBee Smart Energy™.
It will examine operating the ECHONETLite application on the ZigBee IP stack using the 920MHz option of 802.15.4g.
"The Japanese members of the ZigBee Alliance Special Interest Group-Japan, including NEC Engineering, OKI and Renesas Electronics, will be leading the Alliance's effort to examine these new requirements for Japan," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance.
"This initiative allows our members to better understand how they might help Japan as it copes with its new energy challenges. The Alliance has a successful track record of creating market leading standards that help consumers create smarter homes that offer greater energy management and efficiency."
The ZigBee Certified program ensures that products built using ZigBee Standards function as expected and products from different manufacturers interoperate with each other.
The certification of products is also a critical part of the Alliance's standards development process. Unlike other standards organizations, the testing and certification of products is required before any ZigBee standard is released for use.
The ZigBee Certified process allows manufacturers to deliver a variety of products to customers of all types who can benefit from the simplicity of ZigBee control.
The ZigBee Alliance is an open, non- profit association of approximately 400 members driving development of innovative, reliable and easy-to-use ZigBee standards.
The Alliance promotes worldwide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer, commercial and industrial areas.