Silicon Labs
  • ⟵ Back
    Products
    Lowest-Power Wi-Fi 6 SoC Available: Introducing SiWx917
    Wireless ProtocolsWireless Protocols
    Bluetooth
    Wi-Fi
    Thread
    Zigbee
    Multiprotocol
    Proprietary
    Z-Wave
    Amazon Sidewalk
    Wi-SUN
    Matter
    IoT TechnologiesIoT Technologies
    Channel Sounding
    Energy Harvesting
    LPWAN
    Machine Learning
    Security
    Non-WirelessNon-Wireless
    MCUs
    Sensors
    Interface
    Power Management
    ServicesServices
    Custom Part Manufacturing
    Developer Services
    Long Term SDK Support
  • ⟵ Back
    Applications
    Smart HomeSmart Home
    Appliances
    Entertainment Devices
    IoT Gateways
    LED Lighting
    Security Cameras
    Sensors
    Smart Locks
    Switches
    Industrial IoTIndustrial IoT
    Access Control
    Battery-Powered Tools
    Circuit Breakers
    Commercial Lighting
    Electric Submetering
    Factory Automation
    Human Machine Interface
    Predictive Maintenance
    Smart HVAC
    Smart CitiesSmart Cities
    Battery Storage
    EV Charging Stations
    Smart Agriculture
    Smart Buildings
    Smart Metering
    Smart Solar PV System
    Street Lighting
    Smart RetailSmart Retail
    Commercial Lighting
    Direction Finding
    Electronic Shelf Labels
    Loss Prevention
    Wi-Fi Access Points
    Connected HealthConnected Health
    Portable Medical Devices
    Smart Hospitals
    Smart Wearable Devices
  • ⟵ Back
    Developer Tools
    Simplicity Studio 5
    Fast track IoT development
    Developer ToolsDeveloper Tools
    Software Documentation
    Release Notes
    Github
    Technical Library
    Simplicity Studio
    Mobile Apps
    Software Development Kits
    Hardware Development Kits
    Gateways
    RTOS
    Developer JourneysDeveloper Journeys
    AI/ML
    Amazon Sidewalk
    Bluetooth
    Bluetooth Mesh
    Google Home
    Matter
    Wi-Fi
  • ⟵ Back
    Resources
    DocumentationDocumentation
    Blog
    Case Studies
    Software Documentation
    Whitepapers
    Technical Library
    TrainingTraining
    Tech Talks 2025 Series
    Works With 2024 On-Demand
    Webinars
    Curriculum
    Full Training Library
    SupportSupport
    Community
    Submit a Ticket
    Quality and Packaging
    How to Buy
    Report a Security Issue
    Contact Us
    PartnersPartners
    Partner Network
    Channel & Distribution
    Ecosystem Partners
  • ⟵ Back
    Company
    About UsAbout Us
    Board of Directors
    Community Commitment
    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    Environmental, Social and Governance
    Management Team
    SustainabilitySustainability
    Environmental
    Supply Chain
    Quality
    News & EventsNews & Events
    Blog
    Press Room
    Events
    Investor RelationsInvestor Relations
    Annual Report and Proxies
    Board of Directors
    Financial Reports
    SEC Filings
    CareersCareers
    Careers
    Hyderabad Office
    Contact Us
English
  • English
  • 简体中文
  • 日本語
Ask AI
AskAI
Ask AI
//
Wireless // Multiprotocol Connectivity // Zigbee and BLE

Zigbee and Bluetooth Low Energy Multiprotocol Learning Center

One of the challenges faced with supporting multiple protocols has been the requirement to have multiple chips or SoCs, one for each protocol. Time slicing multiple protocols on a single chip is a viable option for protocols that use the same frequency bands.


Benefits of Supporting Multiple Protocols Include:

  • Provide direct phone-based configuration and control of connected devices
  • Simplify wireless-subsystem design through reduction of RF components
  • Include diagnostic capabilities to check device health with a smartphone
  • Leverage multiprotocol IC for mobile engagement applications
  • Add a mechanism for high-speed OTA firmware updates

Bluetooth and Zigbee both operate at 2.4 GHz. Each protocol has its own requirements for latency and bandwidth, and the effective scheduling of communication is a key element to successfully making use of dynamic multiprotocol connectivity. Depending on the specific application, the amount of time allocated to each protocol may vary, requiring a configurable connection interval. System testing is also necessary to ensure that application timing requirements are met. By designing with one SoC, the wireless sub-system BoM can be reduced by up to 40%, and PCB design can be simplified, eliminating the need to address possible interference between multiple radios.

  Single Radio Multiradio
# Antennas 1 2
Operation Time-sliced Dedicated
Performance Bandwidth shared across multiple protocols; potential increased latency and missed packets No compromises
Cost Lower Higher
Size Smaller Larger

A number of scenarios in consumer and commercial environments can be enhanced or improved through multiprotocol support. In home automation scenarios Zigbee provides whole home coverage with its mesh capabilities and delivers control from outside the home via a gateway. However, by adding Bluetooth LE with multiprotocol connectivity, a smartphone phone can provide direct local control and add location aware services. This enables scenarios such as controlling a door lock over Blueooth via a smartphone, automated home control from the doorlock to control lights over Zigbee and using Bluetooth beacons to provide system health information and provide location aware services by detecting the presence of movement of a person through the smartphone.

In retail or commercial settings there is a desire to make use of technologies such as Bluetooth Beacons to provide location based advertisements, track assets and also develop heat maps of foot traffic. One of the challenges for wide scale adoption is the need for dedicated beacon devices. For device life cycle management the range of connectivity also has impact on the logistics of updating devices. By integrating Bluetooth beacons into other connected infrastructure such as lighting large scale, dense regions with beacon coverage can be created. Instead of having to deploy both connecting lights and beacons, a connected Light or Luminaire can also serve as the means to deploy Bluetooth beacon infrastructure. This can provide a more cost-effective means to improve beacon density.



Learn More and Get Started with Development

whitepaper

Multiprotocol Bluetooth and Zigbee Connectivity

Read

Webinar

Enhance Home Automation with Multiprotocol Connectivity

Watch Now

Products

Dynamic Multiprotocol SoCs and Modules

Browse

Whitepaper

Enhancing Connected Lighting

Differentiate lighting systems with multiprotocol mesh and Bluetooth connectivity.

Read

Get Started

Kits and Software for Development

Explore

Webinar

Zigbee and BLE Multiprotocol Communication

Watch Now

Silicon Labs

Stay Connected With Us

Plug into the latest on Silicon Labs products, including product releases and resources, documentation updates, PCN notifications, upcoming events, and more.
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Community
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies
  • Corporate Responsibility
  • Investor Relations
  • Press Room
  • Privacy and Terms
  • Site Feedback
Copyright © Silicon Laboratories. All rights reserved.

Your File Will Start Downloading Shortly

Thank you for downloading .

If you have any issues downloading, please contact sales support or product technical support.

Close
Loading Results
Close

Please select at least one column.

STAGING-PUB1