In the movie Star Wars, C-3PO is a protocol droid, fluent in six million languages.
In the real world, appliances and systems communicate using a wide variety of protocol languages across a broad range of communications platforms. Here’s a sample:
• Bluetooth – used for near field wireless communication between devices like headphones
• ZigBee – used for near field wireless communication between devices like security systems
• Z-Wave – used for near field wireless communication in home automation
• SIP – used for voice communication across Ethernet Networks
• GSM – used to create mobile phone networks
• Wi-Fi – used for local wireless networks
• RS-232 – used for wired communication between devices such as Energy Meters
• Ethernet/TCP-IP – used for creating wired communication networks
• Modbus – used for communication between industrial devices
• GPON – a standard for communications using Optical Fibre
Protocols and communication standards are constantly evolving and have been created to meet the specific needs of the equipment and systems that use them. Although there is a trend for convergence, for now, this plethora of protocols and communications platforms are here to stay.
Guest blog submitted by Opticomm