xAP is an open protocol used for home automation and supports integration of telemetry and control devices primarily within the home. Common communications networks include
RS-232
In telecommunications, RS-232 or Recommended Standard 232 is a standard originally introduced in 1960 for serial communication transmission of data. It formally defines signals connecting between a ''DTE'' ('' data terminal equipment'') suc ...
,
RS-485
RS-485, also known as TIA-485(-A) or EIA-485, is a standard defining the electrical characteristics of drivers and receivers for use in serial communications systems. Electrical signaling is balanced, and multipoint systems are supported. The s ...
,
Ethernet
Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in ...
and
wireless
Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer. The mos ...
. xAP protocol always uses broadcast for sending the messages. All the receivers listens to the message and introspects the message header to verify whether the message is of its interest. xAP protocol has the following key advantages.
* It makes use of existing infrastructure wherever possible (for example it can co-exist with various physical layers like RS-232 or wireless LAN)
* It can even intercommunicate between multiple networks like RS-232 or wireless by just deploying a physical bridge.
* xAP does not require any central controller. All nodes can act as sender or receiver.
* xAP system provides distributed and fault tolerant architecture which allows continuous operation of systems even in the event of component failures.
See also
*
xPL Protocol
xPL is an open protocol intended to permit the control and monitoring of home automation devices. The primary design goal of xPL is to provide a rich set of features and functionality, whilst maintaining an elegant, uncomplicated message structur ...
- A substantially similar home automation protocol
External links
xAP Protocol DefinitionxAP Forum
{{List of Automation Protocols
Industrial computing
Industrial automation
Home automation