Implementation of RF4CE-based
Wireless Auto Configuration
Architecture
for Ubiquitous Smart Home
Shon, T.; Yongsuk Park;
Complex, Intelligent and Software Intensive Systems (CISIS), 2010 International
Conference on
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/CISIS.2010.36
Publication Year: 2010 , Page(s): 779 - 783
Adviser : Yih-Ran Sheu
Student : Cheng-Hsiung Lin
SN:MA020210
1
Outline

Abstract

Introduction

BACKGROUND WORK

REWACON ARCHITECTURE

IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

CONCLUSION

References
2
Abstract
 This paper is to present a new novel architecture to provide smart
and easy control and sharing between various CE and IT devices.
 The proposed architecture is based on RF4CE which has a reliable
sandard enhances the IEEE 802.15.4 standard by providing a simple
networking layer and standard application profiles that can be used
to create a multi-vendor interoperable solution for use within the
home.
 We develop H/W prototype and demonstrate verification scenarios
using RF4CE-based Wireless Auto Configuration (REWACON)
architecture.
3
Introduction(1/3)
 Recently, the RF4CE (Radio Frequency for Consumer
Electronics) industry consortium has been formed to develop a
new protocol for the adoption of radio frequency remote
controls for audio visual devices .
 The consortium founding members, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung
Electronics and Sony Corporation have been working together
with chip vendors such as Freescale Semiconductors, OKI, and
TI to create a standardized specification for radio frequencybased remote controls.
4
Introduction(2/3)
 Also, working with Zigbee Alliance, it aims to deliver
richer communication, increased reliability and more
flexible use. It is supported by IEEE 802.15.4 as like
Zigbee but simpler than Zigbee Stack.
 Its major characteristics include 1) No line-of-sight or
field of vision limitations, 2) Bi-directional capability, 3)
Faster more reliable communications, 4) less power
consumption,5) true interoperability between vendors’
products .
5
Introduction(3/3)
 In this paper, we address the RF4CE-based Wireless Auto
Configuration (REWACON) architecture in order to provide easy
control and contents sharing in ubiquitous smart home service.
 To help understand the REWACON architecture, we apply TV
and PC as a representative of CE and IT devices, and mobile
terminal is used as a control hub with user friendly interface. First,
overall architecture overview is introduced,
 and then the whole procedure of REWACON and specific
configuration protocols are described. Finally, we introduce the
message structure of REWACON in more detail.
6
Background Work(1/5)

The RF4CE standard defines an RC(Remote Controller)
network that defines a simple, robust and low cost
communication network in order to provide a variety of
wireless control and connectivity applications in near future
smart home field.

The RF4CE standard consists of IEEE 802.15.4 Physical and
MAC layer, and its own Network and Application layer.

Basically, it enhances the IEEE 802.15.4 standard by providing
a simple networking layer and standard application profiles
that can be used to create a multi-vendor interoperable solution
for smart home service.
7
Background Work(2/5)

Some of the characteristics of RF4CE include operation in the
2.4GHz frequency band according to IEEE 802.15.4,
frequency agile solution operating over 3 channels,
incorporates power saving mechanisms for all device classes,

discovery mechanism with full application confirmation,
pairing mechanism with full application confirmation, multiple
star topology with inter-personal area network (PAN)
communication,

various transmission options including broadcast, security key
generation mechanism, utilizes the industry standard AES-128
security scheme, specifies a simple RC control profile for CE
products, and allows standard or vendor specific profiles to be
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added.
Background Work(3/5)

In case of RF4CE topology, the ZigBee RF4CE network is
composed of two types of device: a target node and a
controller node. A target node has full PAN coordinator
capabilities and can start a network in its own right.

A controller node can join networks started by target nodes by
pairing with the target.
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Background Work(4/5)
 Multiple RC PANs form an RC network and nodes in the network
can communicate between RC PANs. In order to communicate with
a target node, a controller node first switches to the channel and
assumes the PAN identifier of the destination RC PAN.
 It then uses the network address, allocated through the pairing
procedure, to identify itself on the RC PAN and thus communicate
with the desired target node.
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Background Work(5/5)

As for applications and services, the first public application
profile enables innovative two-way interaction and control of
home entertainment equipment based on CERC profile. The
CERC profile includes HDMI UI commands to control various
HDMI-based CE devices.

Products like HDTV, home theater equipment, set-top boxes
and other audio equipment will benefit from the advanced
functionality offered by ZigBee. More applications will be
created to meet market demands
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REWACON ARCHITECTURE

In this chapter, we address the RF4CE-based
WirelessAuto Configuration (REWACON)
architecture in order to provide easy control and
contents sharing in ubiquitous smart home service.

To help understand the REWACON architecture, we
apply TV and PC as a representative of CE and IT
devices, and mobile terminal is used as a control hub
with user friendly interface.
12
System Overview
13
A Block Diagram of REWACON Architecture
14
Ad-hoc and Infrastructure Mode

There are two kinds of connection modes for Wi-Fi zero
configurations using RF4CE in REWACON architecture.

REWACON can support Ad-hoc and Infrastructure mode
when a device requires making a connection with other
devices with Wi-Fi. In this section, we present two connection
establishment ways based on REWACON environment.
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Ad-hoc Connection Mode in REWACON Architecture
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Infrastructure Connection Mode in
REWACON Architecture
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IMPLEMENTATION AND
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

To confirm the feasibility of the proposed REWACON
architecture, we implemented the REWACON module for
mobile terminal and PC system.

As described in previous section, the REWACON architecture
is supported by RF4CE based on IEEE 802.15.4 for all CE
appliances and IT devices
18
IMPLEMENTATION AND
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Thus, we implemented H/W modules with IEEE
802.15.4PHY/MAC as various types in order to be applied to
mobile terminal and PC system.

Specifically, we used a small size model with one-chip
solution for a mobile terminal (e.g, Omnia phone) and a
common model with enough size for multi-functional usage
such as ZigBee and other IEEE 802.15.4-based simple
applications (PCI board or USB board).

First, the implemented REWACON module for mobile
terminal is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig6.
19
20
21
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23
Compare
distance
speed
security
Power
Frequency
IEEE
direction
IR
1~5m
16Mbps
low
Bluetooth
1~10m
720kbps
mid
WiFi
30~200m
11Mbps
low
Zigbee
100m
250kbps
high
128bits-AES
high
IR
low
2.4G
802.15.1
N
high
2.4G
802.11b
N
low
2.4G
802.15.4
N
Y
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CONCLUSION

In this paper, we proposed a novel RF4CE-based control
scheme to provide zero-configuration dynamically various CE
and IT devices, controlled with REWACON architecture.

The proposed architecture is based on IEEE802.15.4,
especially RF4CE protocol. In order to validate the proposed
REWACON, we implemented two kinds of REWACON
components for a mobile terminal and PC system.

The experimental scenarios demonstrate that the proposed
architecture enables to construct a smart and easy control
efficient wireless home network
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REFERENCES









[1] Wi-Fi alliance, Wi-Fi Protected Setup, http://www.wi-fi.org
[2] ZigBee alliance, RF4CE Task Group, http://www.zigbee-alliance.org
[3] IEEE Std 802.15.4-2006, Part 15.4: Wireless Medium Access Control(MAC) and Physical
Layer(PHY) Specifications for Low- Rate Wireless Personal Area Network, 2006
[4] Paolo Baronti, Prashant Pillai, Vince W.C. Chook, Stefano Chessa, Alberto Gotta, Y. Fun
Hu, Wireless sensor networks: A survey on the state of the art and the 802.15.4 and ZigBee
standards, Computer Communications, Volume 30, Issue 7, 26 May 2007, pp 1655-1695
[5] Young-Guk Ha, Dynamic integration of zigbee home networks into home gateways using
OSGI service registry, Consumer Electronics , IEEE Transactions on Volume 55, Issue 2, May
2009 pp 470 – 476
[6] Gill, K., Shuang-Hua Yang, Fang Yao, Xin Lu, A zigbee-based home automation system,
Consumer Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Volume 55, Issue 2, May 2009 pp 422 – 430
[7] Jinsoo Han; Haeryong Lee; Kwang-Roh Park, Remote-controllable and energy-saving
room architecture based on ZigBee communication, Consumer Electronics, IEEE
Transactions on Volume 55, Issue 1, February 2009 Page(s):264 – 268
[8] Lim, H. Kung, L.-C. Hou, J. C. Luo, H. , Zero-Configuration, Robust Indoor Localization:
Theory and Experimentation, INFOCOM 2006. 25th IEEE International Conference on
Computer Communications, Proceedings, April 2006, pp 1-12
[9] Egan, D., The emergence of ZigBee in building automation and industrial control,
Computing & Control Engineering Journal, April- May 2005, Volume: 16, Issue: 2, pp 14- 19
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Thanks for your attention!!
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