6.2.1.1 Centralized Network Formation and Network Steering by Zigbee Coordinator/Combined Interface

The following figure illustrates the scenario of network formation by a Zigbee coordinator/combined interface device with network address 0x0000 and network steering to allow other devices to join the network.

After invoking the network formation commissioning procedure, the coordinator sends a Beacon Request packet (see packet #1) followed by the MAC association process. For more details, refer to 5.2 MAC Association.

After the coordinator forms the network, it sends the Link Status (see packet #2). For more details, refer to 5.4 Network (NWK) Link Status Frame.

The permit-joining ZDP request is to provide a joining permit to the target node by MAC association. Send the request as a unicast command to just one node or as a broadcast command. Permit the joining via MAC association for a given interval in seconds or forbidden permanently, depending on the payload’s Permit Duration field. This field specifies the duration of time, starting from the moment of the request’s reception, when joining by association is permitted.

Packet #3 shows the Permit Join Request, and the coordinator device sends the request as a broadcast packet. For more details, refer to 5.2 MAC Association.
Figure 6-3. Network Formation and Network Steering by ZigBee Coordinator

The permit duration of the permit duration packet is Duration: 180. The router/end device must join the network via MAC association within 180s.

To open the network after 180s and allow other devices to join, the user must input the following commands to the coordinator, before commissioning is initiated in another device:
  • setPermitJoin 180 – Opens the network for the next 180s
  • invokeCommissioning 8 0 – Opens the network for the finding and binding procedure
Figure 6-4. Permit Join Packet of Coordinator
MAC Association – If any router/end device tries to join the network through Beacon Request, the coordinator sends the Beacon frame (see packet #7). Then, the device joins through MAC Association Request, and the coordinator responds with Association Response (see packet #12). The following figure illustrates the MAC association – coordinator. For more details, refer to 5.2 MAC Association.
Figure 6-5. MAC Association – Coordinator