Multiprotocol Wireless SoCs Untangle the IoT (Part 1) (Download)
The IoT is running into a wall of wireless complexity. In most cases, IoT devices rely on a wide range of wireless protocols, each serving a distinct purpose. Wi-Fi is used for local wireless networking; Bluetooth handles short-range, low-latency communication between devices; and Thread and other 802.11.4 protocols support mesh networking.
As a result, RF design is becoming increasingly complex. Integrating new functions or keeping up with new standards typically requires several chips or frequent hardware rework.