CAP: Compact Application Protocol
CAP (Compact Application Protocol) is Arch Rock's proposal to run ZigBee Application Profiles such as Smart Energy and Home Automation over a standard Internet Protocol (IP) stack. CAP brings the benefits of the ZigBee Application Profiles to a whole new set of devices on diverse networks, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and HomePlug, while preserving the resource efficiency and compactness crucial to devices running on IEEE 802.15.4 low-power radio.
The benefits of the CAP approach are many and include:
1) Media Diversity:
The ability to mix and match devices connected to different media in addition to 802.15.4 such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet or HomePlug attached devices into a coherent network (IP) and application layer (CAP) framework. Now, application profiles such as the Smart Energy and Home or Building Automation can be inclusive of several link layers, making their impact that much more powerful and their adoption that much faster.
2) End-to-End Communication:
The ability to introduce new functionality into such applications by simply upgrading (HW or SW) the end-devices that are impacted by the new functionality, while not having modify the network in between. This is a crucial element of de-coupling in the IP architecture, which is lost when application-layer gateways need to be crossed and therefore need to be upgraded to support a new message type each time one is added to a profile.
3) Redundant Communication Paths:
The ability to reach the in-premise devices either through the Utility AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure network or through the Internet connection of that premise, again using routed transport mechanisms instead of complex gateways. With an IP-based infrastructure a customer is able to reach devices independently of a dedicated gateway and execute secure, end-to-end transactions directly with the devices.
A UDP/IP Adaptation of the ZigBee Application Protocol
Compact Application Protocol: ZigBee Application Profiles Running on IP
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