Tendril Networks offers products targeted to developers and manufacturers, enabling them to create and rollout ZigBee-based applications.

The keystone offering in the Tendril product line is the Network Operating Platform, a software platform that resides on top of the individual manufacturer's ZigBee stack and ultimately provides a functional interface between nodes and centralized applications. Multiple components of the platform are provided for each stage of ZigBee communications: The Tendril Agent, which is a sub-4K code component that can be compiled into a company's sensor devices; a component for the access points facilitating the communications between servers and devices; a component for the servers which handles the core "heavy lifting" and coordination of the data communications and interactions; and the actual GUI applications for the user interactions and management.

On top of this platform, the vendor themselves intend to offer several packaged applications that leverage the interactions provided by it. The first such application--now available--is Tendril Monitor, providing monitoring and diagnostics for ZigBee networks. Tendril Monitor includes a default GUI and can be used in stand-alone mode or via an API for integration. Other applications targeted by the vendor include Deploy and Manage.

Facilitating connectivity between typical server hardware (PCs) and a ZigBee network is the vendor's Tendril Access; a USB-stick device that attaches to a PC and provides it with an interface to the Wireless Sensor and Control Network and the devices that reside within it. Access presents a virtual serial interface to a developer's application, which can be used to send information to and receive data from the Tendril Access device. From there, Tendril Access then broadcasts the message to the WSCN proper, and receives responses, relaying them to the PC application via the virtual serial interface.

The Tendril Network Operating Platform, Tendril Monitor, and Tendril Access are available now. Contact Tendril Networks for further information.