After your product is developed and tested, the next step is to commission and deploy it.

In its broadest sense, commissioning encompasses a wide range of tasks, including a survey of the radio and physical environment, the placement of devices, configuration of parameters, application binding, optimization of network and device parameters, and testing and verification of correct operation.

Often, non- and semi-technical issues need to be considered, including the skills and workflow practices of the installer, ease and identification and accessibility of devices, and interoperability and coexistence with other wireless or wired systems.

While consideration for commissioning is often focused on the installer, the ability to easily configure and commission ZigBee systems during development and testing, as well as field trials, can also significantly speed up the development and product delivery to market.

Commissioning tools

When you look at the number of tasks involved in commissioning, and consider that many installers will have limited knowledge of the underlying technologies, it's easy to see the value of a commissioning tool.

Field trials

For a field trial, you will want to test devices in an environment that is as close as possible to the conditions in which they will eventually be installed. You need a tool that provides over-the-air commissioning to make it fast and easy to configure devices and upgrade device firmware. The tool should also provide tools to automatically discover the network structure, device locations, and services running on devices, and to provide an easy way to perform tasks such as commissioning devices into logical groups, creating bindings for individual devices and groups, and upgrading device firmware. Finally, the tool should use up-to-date specifications to help ensure interoperability between devices, and provide powerful monitoring, analysis and troubleshooting capabilities to help identify and remedy any problems that arise.

Installations and deployments

During installation and deployment you want to make it as easy as possible for installers who may have little or no knowledge of networking technologies. You need a tool that hides the complexity of the underlying technology, and provides straight-forward configuration, commissioning, testing and troubleshooting capabilities. Ideally, you want graphical representations that makes if fast and easy for installers to monitor network formation and measure key parameters such as link quality and bindings.

It's also useful to choose a commissioning tool that is portable. Devices often need to be installed and maintained in places that are remote or hard to get to. With a portable tool, you can take it where you need it, when you need it.

Daintree to the rescue

Daintree's commissioning solution does all this and more. It combines the industry's most powerful testing and analysis tools (ideal for field trials), with an intuitive user interface and unique visualization capabilities (ideal for installers). Incorporating the latest industry standards, this is the "must-have" solution for any ZigBee deployment.

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