Objectives#

Coexistence of Wi-Fi and Zigbee in the same 2.4 GHz ISM band is a significant challenge in wireless communication systems, particularly in environments where multiple devices operate in close proximity.

Wi-Fi supports high-throughput applications such as internet access and media streaming, while Zigbee supports low-power, low-data-rate applications like home automation and sensor networks. When both technologies operate in the same frequency band, they can interfere with each other, which reduces performance, increases latency, and lowers throughput.

Effective interference management is essential to maintain reliable communication in mixed wireless environments. PTA helps solve this problem. It schedules and prioritizes packet transmissions between competing protocols to reduce collisions and ensure fair channel access. This approach is particularly relevant in IoT applications, where multiple devices communicate simultaneously.

PTA integrates into SoC platforms such as the SiWG917. It uses hardware and software features to manage resources and reduce interference. This application note shows how the SiWG917 SoC uses PTA to improve coexistence between Wi-Fi and Zigbee and increase overall network performance.

The objectives of the Wi-Fi and Zigbee coexistence mode are as follows:

  • Mitigate Interference: Develop and implement a PTA technique that ensures efficient coexistence between Wi-Fi and Zigbee on the SiWG917 SoC by reducing interference and ensuring fair packet transmission.

  • Design Coexistence Mechanism: Build and test a 3-wire coexistence mechanism that prioritizes packet transmission based on traffic types and conditions, ensuring both Wi-Fi and Zigbee networks can operate without performance degradation.

  • Evaluate Performance: Evaluate the effectiveness of PTA in terms of throughput, latency, energy consumption, and channel utilization for both Wi-Fi and Zigbee devices operating in close proximity.

  • System Integration on SoC: Configure and test the PTA strategy on the SiWG917 SoC, ensuring that the chip’s hardware and softwarqae capabilities are effectively leveraged to manage packet arbitration in a real-world IoT environment.