Platform simplifies ZigBee applications

The Tendril platform dramatically simplifies and speeds the development and deployment process for ZigBee applications by addressing key operational challenges.

Tendril is releasing an improved and expanded version of the Tendril Network Operating Platform.

The Tendril platform dramatically simplifies and speeds the development and deployment process for ZigBee applications by addressing key operational challenges related to building, deploying and managing networks that use the open ZigBee low-power wireless protocol.

Tendril is also releasing the first in a series of application modules that leverage the capabilities of the Tendril Network Operating Platform.

Tendril Monitor automates the process of diagnostics and monitoring of the quality, reliability and day to day operations of ZigBee networks as well as the applications built on those networks.

The significant benefits of Tendril Monitor and other applications to be released later are made possible by using the first sub-4K Tendril Agent.

Companies can simply compile the agent into their devices and derive the entire network monitoring and diagnostics benefits of Tendril Monitor.

"This release of the Tendril Network Operating Platform is a major leap forward in software for the ZigBee market, and it underscores Tendril's leadership position on the software side of the market for companies that are taking an open approach to their 802.15.4 deployments by using ZigBee", said Adrian Tuck, CEO of Tendril.

"ZigBee is the only open standard in the market, and Tendril's software is designed to fully support companies that want an open approach to their wireless sensor network initiatives".

"Deployments of ZigBee are poised to accelerate rapidly, and software will play an important role in addressing the operational issues that would otherwise slow down the adoption curve for this wireless technology".

"Tendril has been a pioneer in providing robust software that accelerates and simplifies the process of working with ZigBee, and this new release of the Tendril Network Operating Platform continues that track record of market leadership", said Kirsten West, Principal Analyst at West Technology Research Solutions.

"Tendril is the only software company focused on Network Operations that has close technical partnerships with each of the major hardware vendors in the ZigBee market, and these relationships are a major asset in ensuring that its software platform meets the needs of customers".

The Tendril Network Operating Platform is the first and only comprehensive software platform for ZigBee applications - providing an open, extensible, scalable software platform that enables manufacturers and integrators to quickly build ZigBee applications, effectively deploy them in the field, and easily manage them when operational.

The Tendril Network Operating Platform reduces the burden of bringing ZigBee applications to large-scale production deployment.

The Tendril Network Operating Platform can be deployed alongside existing ZigBee applications for those who have already built their products.

It also can be used to build effective ZigBee applications that come pre-wired to solve all of the operational challenges leading ZigBee product companies face today.

"Tendril's software is designed to address the host of network operations challenges that organisations face as they implement and deploy wireless sensor network solutions".

"It allows customers to glide over speed bumps that would otherwise add a tremendous amount of time and cost to their projects and, in many cases, actively impede their actual path to production".

"Tendril's software was the first in the market, and by working closely with our silicon and network stack partners we have made this second generation platform the most comprehensive and most attuned to the needs of customers on the market today", added Adrian Tuck.

"Our software helps customers successfully answer key questions such as: 'How do I install and commission my network?', 'How do I diagnose network problems in the field?', 'How do I integrate this network with the rest of my enterprise software?', 'How do I speed up the deployment process and get to the market faster?', and many other critical network operations issues".

"It is a mission-critical application for companies that are deploying ZigBee production applications".

To complement this new and improved version of the Tendril Network Operating Platform, Tendril also plans to release a series of application modules that integrate with the Tendril Network Operating Platform and support specific network management and deployment needs.

Tendril Monitor, the first of these application modules, provides the most comprehensive set of deployed network monitoring and diagnostics statistics available.

Complete with a default GUI, comprehensive rules engine and an API, Tendril Monitor simplifies building a custom monitoring tool or the integration of existing enterprise monitoring tools with ZigBee.

Tendril's close relationship with its stack and silicon partners has resulted in "hooks" into the respective ZigBee network stacks for unprecedented data gathering.

The Tendril Agent, compiled alongside the ZigBee stack overcomes the weaknesses associated with "sniffer" or "polling" data gathering to dramatically increase network coverage and reduce network traffic".

"After installation, wireless networks are not 100% 'hands free' - they require a watchful eye in order to ensure the health and integrity of the network".

"That is where Tendril Monitor comes in", said Tuck.

"It provides an easy to use tool that enables all key constituents to monitor the network and detect, diagnose and resolve issues that require either software changes or physical changes".

"Tendril Monitor does so with an intuitive interface that can be used by nontechnical, users - with diagnostics and alarming features that address all the key aspects of day to day network monitoring and management".

"Building this kind of application from scratch would require a tremendous time and resource investment, which makes this ready to deploy application a valuable component of a company's ZigBee toolkit".

The next-generation Tendril Network Operating Platform and Tendril Monitor application module will be available this quarter.

Initial shipments will support the Ember, TI and STMicroelectronics platforms, and additional versions will follow for other major hardware platforms.

Pricing for this new version of the Tendril Network Operating Platform software is designed to support a low cost of entry, including a developer license for API use and a runtime license.

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