Dynamic integration of zigbee home networks into home gateways using OSGI service registry

In recent years, Zigbee has become one of the most promising protocols for wireless home networking. Consequently, interoperation with Zigbee-enabled home network devices such as wireless sensors and appliances is an essential functionality in home gateway systems. This paper describes the design and implementation of an effective architecture for dynamic integration of Zigbee home networks into OSGi-based home gateways, where ad hoc Zigbee devices are represented by device proxy services. Further, such proxy services can be automatically downloaded, installed, and registered in the OSGi service registry by the dynamic device integration manager as the corresponding devices join the Zigbee network. Thus, home network applications can discover proxy services for the required Zigbee devices, and access the devices through the common proxy service interfaces without concern for the specific access protocols and libraries of the device.