Sigfox Protocol Library for devices (Legacy)

The Sigfox Protocol Library is an abstraction layer. It connects your application software to the radio chipset through the manufacturer's APIs.

 The Sigfox Protocol Library performs the usual features of a communication protocol: 

• packet formatting, 
• local functions (especially authentication, cryptography and error checking),
• communication procedures.

The Sigfox Protocol Library's core API is composed of base and optional features. Base features take care of the frame building and scheduling (in time and frequency), while optional features deal with Radio Configuration support, Downlink support, Secure Element support, etc. 

To make the link between the Sigfox Protocol Library and the hardware components, a set of drivers exists. They perform the following functions:

• BPSK modulation / GFSK demodulation, which is optimized for each radio chipset characteristics,
• Non-volatile memory management, which stores parameters and values,
• Memory Allocation (dependant on each microcontroller),
• AES encryption feature, which performs authentication and/or encryption functions with or without support, from a hardware AES block,
• Timer management,
• Secured memory management (to store the ID, Key, and PAC credentials).

The drivers are dependent on the radio chipset. They make the communication link between the microcontroller running the Sigfox Protocol Library and the radio, MCU chipsets and other hardware elements, whatever the communication channel is. They are developed and provided by the chipset vendor.

The Sigfox State Machine implements several procedures of the Sigfox radio protocol. It is embedded in the Sigfox Protocol Library and consists of five states. The transitions between the five states give you a flavor of the radio protocol behavior. As you can see, it's simple, really simple!

If your device uses a Sigfox Verified Modular Design or a Reference Design, the Sigfox Protocol Library is already embedded in it. Usually, a wrapper is added by the module manufacturer to comply with its own company's software requirements. When you want to transmit a message over the Sigfox network, you just have to prepare the content of your message and call a function. That's it! 

If you plan to build your own design, you can contact Sigfox to get the latest Sigfox Protocol Library. 

The Sigfox Protocol Library contains:

• the header files describing the function prototypes,
• the binary file compiled for the specific microcontroller target.

In addition to the Sigfox Protocol Library, Sigfox may provide device makers with additional software codes called Addons. For example, the Sigfox RF & Protocol Addon is an application which contains test modes. It has to be flashed into your device along with the Sigfox Protocol Library for the execution of the Sigfox RF & Protocol Test.

There are three ways to get the Sigfox Protocol Library, as depicted below:

• a 'Public Library Package' available for free ( see the section 'releases' in this page ) which contains :
1. The complete binary and header files for the Sigfox Library compiled for most common compilers and microprocessors.
2. NO support of integration is delivered with this package.


• a 'Standard Library Integration Package' that you can buy on a per-product basis from your Build dashboard and with :
1. The complete binary and header files for the Sigfox Library compiled for your specific target (custom compiler / flags )
2. Interactive support sessions to help you integrate the Sigfox Protocol Library on your hardware.