ZigBee uses Mesh-Networking, what are the advantages compared to other approaches?
Radios in a mesh network can talk to many other radios (devices) in the network, not just one. The result is that each data packet communicated across a wireless mesh network can have multiple possible paths to its destination. This flexibility makes the mesh network very flexible for accommodating interference in the radio spectrum or something blocking the radio path. Wireless mesh networks also enable networks to grow in size and cover greater physical distances. Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint topologies mean the data packet only has a single path to follow and is therefore more vulnerable to interference or blockage. Their ability to cover greater physical distances is limited and the access point in star networks can only talk to a small number of radios on the network.
