| Reducing the number of remote controls in the living | | | | ZigBee RF4CE is designed to be built into the CE |
| room is one of the challenges of the 21st century. | | | | devices themselves. This makes it an ideal technology |
| There are some universal remotes on the market, but | | | | for two-way communication between the device and |
| these can be complicated to program, and often aren't | | | | remote, or even between two devices. |
| able to control all of the components that make up | | | | With two-way communication, the RF remote control |
| your home theater system. | | | | can show you details and status information about |
| Have you ever wished that your home theater and | | | | your CE devices, which can help to make it fast and |
| remote controls could all just get along and speak the | | | | easy to program. And as more devices become |
| same language? | | | | Internet-enabled, the RF remote will be able to perform |
| Well now they can. ZigBee RF4CE (Radio Frequency | | | | functionality that was previously unavailable. For |
| for Consumer Electronics) is a new open standard for | | | | example, you'll be able to browse the Internet using |
| RF-based remote controls created jointly by the | | | | your RF remote control in much the same way as a |
| RF4CE Consortium and ZigBee Alliance. It promises | | | | mouse. |
| easier programming, true interoperability, and greater | | | | You can also set things up so that when you press a |
| functionality than is available from today's remotes. | | | | button on a CE device, your remote control starts to |
| What is an RF remote control? | | | | beep. With ZigBee RF4CE you never need to lose |
| Most existing remotes for consumer electronics (CE) | | | | your remote control again! |
| use infrared (IR) technology to control devices. | | | | ZigBee RF4CE remote controls and CE devices can |
| Increased demand for advanced functionality that | | | | also "nap" when they are not in use. This can help to |
| cannot be supported by existing IR technology is | | | | extend battery life in remotes and use far less power |
| leading the move to radio frequency (RF) remote | | | | than keeping CE devices on standby. The remotes |
| controls. | | | | and devices can turn themselves off when not in use, |
| RF remotes provide new levels of interactivity and | | | | waking briefly at regular user-defined intervals to see |
| convenience for today's digital home when compared | | | | whether there are any new commands for them. |
| to IR remotes. As more devices add Internet | | | | Users have complete control over the lengths of the |
| connectivity and other features, the need for two-way | | | | naps to ensure there are no latency problems. |
| communication grows. RF remotes are also faster, | | | | ZigBee RF4CE also provides built-in security to stop |
| more reliable, and have greater range than IR remotes. | | | | your neighbors from being able to control the devices |
| Plus they do not require line-of-sight operation like IR | | | | in your home (remember that RF remotes can |
| remotes, and are able to operate devices stored in | | | | operate through walls). |
| cupboards or even in the next room. | | | | The benefits of open standards |
| Other benefits include low power consumption, | | | | Open standards and interoperability were designed to |
| avoidance of using manufacturer-specific IR codes, | | | | make life easier for consumers, providing a higher |
| reduced interference from LCD and plasma TVs, and | | | | degree of flexibility and choice. |
| connectivity with home automation systems. | | | | With ZigBee RF4CE, you no longer need to buy all |
| RF technology has been gradually replacing IR | | | | products from a single manufacturer to ensure |
| technology in high-end remote control products. New | | | | interoperability. And with this standard being supported |
| network protocols such as ZigBee RF4CE are helping | | | | by leading manufacturers including Panasonic, Philips, |
| to make this technology accessible to the rest of us. | | | | Samsung and Sony, you'll be able to buy whichever |
| What is ZigBee RF4CE? | | | | components best suit your needs. |
| The official answer is that "ZigBee RF4CE is an open | | | | Standards like ZigBee RF4CE are going to change our |
| standard that provides a multi-vendor interoperable | | | | expectations for the home entertainment experience. |
| remote control solution for consumer electronics | | | | The time to switch to RF-based remote control |
| featuring a simple, robust and low-cost communication | | | | technology has arrived. A reliable two-way RF link |
| network for two-way wireless connectivity." | | | | between the remote control and A/V equipment |
| Unlike many of today's RF remote controls that require | | | | greatly improves the user experience and allows new |
| the use of an intermediary base station receiver, | | | | features and functionality previously not possible. |