@@ -4,15 +4,22 @@
Introduction
============
+The IEEE 802.15.4 working group focuses on standartization of bottom
+two layers: Medium Accsess Control (MAC) and Physical (PHY). And there
+are mainly two options available for upper layers:
+ - ZigBee - proprietary protocol from ZigBee Alliance
+ - 6LowPAN - IPv6 networking over low rate personal area networks
The Linux-ZigBee project goal is to provide complete implementation
-of IEEE 802.15.4 / ZigBee / 6LoWPAN protocols. IEEE 802.15.4 is a stack
+of IEEE 802.15.4 and 6LoWPAN protocols. IEEE 802.15.4 is a stack
of protocols for organizing Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks.
-Currently only IEEE 802.15.4 layer is implemented. We have chosen
-to use plain Berkeley socket API, the generic Linux networking stack
-to transfer IEEE 802.15.4 messages and a special protocol over genetlink
-for configuration/management
+The stack is composed of three main parts:
+ - IEEE 802.15.4 layer; We have chosen to use plain Berkeley socket API,
+ the generic Linux networking stack to transfer IEEE 802.15.4 messages
+ and a special protocol over genetlink for configuration/management
+ - MAC - provides access to shared channel and reliable data delivery
+ - PHY - represents device drivers
Socket API
@@ -73,11 +80,47 @@ We provide an example of simple HardMAC driver at drivers/ieee802154/fakehard.c
SoftMAC
=======
-We are going to provide intermediate layer implementing IEEE 802.15.4 MAC
-in software. This is currently WIP.
+The MAC is the middle layer in the IEEE 802.15.4 Linux stack. This moment it
+provides interface for drivers registration and management of slave interfaces.
+
+NOTE: Currently the only monitor device type is supported - it's IEEE 802.15.4
+stack interface for network sniffers (e.g. WireShark).
+
+This layer is going to be extended soon.
See header include/net/mac802154.h and several drivers in drivers/ieee802154/.
+
+Device drivers API
+==================
+
+The include/net/mac802154.h defines following functions:
+ - struct ieee802154_dev *ieee802154_alloc_device
+ (size_t priv_size, struct ieee802154_ops *ops):
+ allocation of IEEE 802.15.4 compatible device
+
+ - void ieee802154_free_device(struct ieee802154_dev *dev):
+ freeing allocated device
+
+ - int ieee802154_register_device(struct ieee802154_dev *dev):
+ register PHY in the system
+
+ - void ieee802154_unregister_device(struct ieee802154_dev *dev):
+ freeing registered PHY
+
+Moreover IEEE 802.15.4 device operations structure should be filled.
+
+Fake drivers
+============
+
+In addition there are two drivers available which simulate real devices with
+HardMAC (fakehard) and SoftMAC (fakelb - IEEE 802.15.4 loopback driver)
+interfaces. This option provides possibility to test and debug stack without
+usage of real hardware.
+
+See sources in drivers/ieee802154 folder for more details.
+
+
6LoWPAN Linux implementation
============================
Update the documentation according to latest changes. Signed-off-by: Alexander Smirnov <alex.bluesman.smirnov@gmail.com> --- Documentation/networking/ieee802154.txt | 57 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++---- 1 files changed, 50 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)