Rev. 0.1 9/05

Copyright © 2005 by Silicon Laboratories

AN241

AN241

1. Introduction

This document describes the Silicon Laboratories ZigBee Network Layer interface. It contains implementation

details specific to the Network-layer interface software library included as part of the Silicon Laboratories ZigBee

Development Kit.

This document should be used in conjunction with the ZigBee Alliance's Network Specification.

Current firmware releases do not support beacon-based networks or security.

2. Overview of Primitive Implementation

Messaging between the application layer and the network layer is implemented either by direct function calls or by

using a shared buffer. Primitives transmitted from the application layer to the network layer are implemented using

direct function calls.

In contrast, primitives sent from the network layer to the application layer are implemented differently. Indication

primitives notifying an event to the application layer will be stored in a shared buffer. The application layer needs to

poll this buffer for an incoming event.

Some confirmation primitives carry only one parameter, normally a status indicator corresponding to a request. The

parameter is conveyed as a return value of the requesting function call. Thus, there is no explicit implementation of

these primitives.

Other confirmation primitives contain more than one parameter. When a request is called, the function call of the

request will store the confirmation data to the shared buffer. The caller of the request shall check the buffer for

confirmation when the request returns.

Table 1. Primitive Implementation

Primitive

Implementation

Request

Direct function call

Confirm (one parameter)

Return value of the request function call

Confirm (multiple parameters)

Globally shared buffer

Indication

Globally shared buffer