IEEE 802.15.4 maintains a process for startup, network configuration, and joining of existing networks. The process is as follows:
- Device initializes its stack (PHY and MAC layers).
- PAN coordinator is created. Each network has only one PAN coordinator. The PAN coordinator must be assigned at this phase before proceeding.
- The PAN coordinator will listen to other networks it has access to and derives a PAN ID that is unique to the PAN it will administer. It can do this over multiple frequency channels.
- The PAN coordinator will choose a specific radio frequency to use for the network. It will do this using an energy detection scan where it scans the frequencies the PHY can support and listens to find a quiescent ...