Application endpoints

Reading Jennic’s primer, I see that the network addressing concept is extended down into the node firmware itself.  A node in a Zigbee network can have multiple applications running on it, and each of these applications can send and receive messages as if it were a physical node. I think they can communicate with each other, and also across the network. The mechanism supports logical endpoints 1-240, zero which is a zigbee layer, and 255 which is a broadcast. They give the example of a node which measures both temp and humidity, and say that each app is its own endpoint. Might I use such a mechanism to address multiple LEDs?

Application profiles

I would need to create my own, private, profile, as I do not want my network to interact with other public profiles or devices, lighting control etc.

Device Descriptions

“in each Application Profile a number of Device Descriptions are defined, describing the types of devices the profile supports. For the HCL profile, devices such as a Switch Remote Control (a switch), Light Sensor Monochromatic, Dimmer Remote Control, Occupancy Sensor, Switching Load Controller and Dimming Load Controller are available. Each device in an Application Profile has a Device Identifier associated with it.”

So do I need to define these things? I don’t want to limit the possibilities of my system, but I do want to determine some basic types. Maybe this is good enough, and I can extend the set of basic types later.

Input and Output Data

“As well as defining the device types supported, the Application Profile also specifies the information that a device can generate as output and can use as input, together with the format this information takes. The individual pieces of information are called attributes, and their possible values and format or type (e.g. 8- or 16-bit integer, time value, etc) are defined as part of the Device Descriptions in the profile. Attributes are grouped together into clusters for the device, which can be either inputs or outputs.”

Again, this is something that I maybe should do. Need to read more about it.