LonWorks® networks are based on a single, common protocol.  The original implementation of this protocol on dedicated microprocessors (called "Neuron® Chips") is known as LonTalk®.

Toward the end of the 1990s, the protocol was standardized by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the CEA R7.1 committee.  The standard has gone through a few revisions to improve it over time, and each revision was favorably voted-upon within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Through the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the protocol was standardized through the British Standards Institution as a European Norm by the CEN TC 247 committee.

Subsequently, the Standardization Administration of China ("SAC") standardized the protocol through the SAC TC 124 committee.

 

ISO/IEC Standarisation Update   —  2008-06-28 The EN 14908 -series of standards was submitted for international standardisation by ISO and IEC's Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC1) by the US InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS). Voting by the national bodies concluded on 2008-05-21.  The resulting, initial tally was not in favour of standardisation; however, LonMark staff and member companies are working through the formal ISO/IEC process to resolve comments via a ballot-resolution meeting tentatively scheduled for late 2008Q3, which will allow national bodies’ concerns to be addressed and give the opportunity to national bodies to reconsider their inital votes. We want to say thanks to all those who wrote letters of support to your national voting bodies.  Formal information about the effort is available at these links, or you can contact us for more information about the ongoing efforts: ISO/IEC DIS 14908-1 (Protocol): http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50344 ISO/IEC DIS 14908-2 (Twisted-Pair media): http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50358 ISO/IEC DIS 14908-3 (Powerline media): http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50359 ISO/IEC DIS 14908-4 (IP Tunneling of the protocol): http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=50360

 

Control-Network Protocol Specification

• ANSI/CEA-709.1-B-2000 (IHS, Inc.) – LonWorks networking-protocol specification.
• BS EN 14908-1:2005 (IHS Inc.) – LonWorks networking-protocol specification.
• GB/Z 20177.1-2006 (no link available) (SAC) – LonWorks networking-protocol specification.

Transport Media (Transceiver Channels)

• ANSI/CEA-709.2 – LonMark PL-20 power-line channel specification.
• BS EN 14908-3 – LonMark PL-20 power-line channel specification.
• GB/Z 20177.2 (no link available) – LonMark PL-20 power-line channel specification.
   
• ANSI/CEA-709.3 – LonMark TP/FT-10 free-topology and bus twisted-pair channel specification.
• BS EN 14908-2 – LonMark TP/FT-10 free-topology and bus twisted-pair channel specification.
• GB/Z 20177.3 (no link available) – LonMark TP/FT-10 free-topology and bus twisted-pair channel specification.
   
• ANSI/CEA-709.4 – LonMark FO-20S and FO-20L fiber-optic (lightwave) channel specification.
   
• ANSI/CEA-852 – LonMark IP-852 Internet-tunneling channel specification.
• BS EN 14908-4 – LonMark IP-852 Internet-tunneling channel specification.
• GB/Z 20177.4 (no link available) – LonMark IP-852 Internet-tunneling channel specification.

NOTE:  Echelon Corporation (the creators of the protocol) offer a free-of-charge reference implementation for the previous ANSI/EIA/CEA-709.1-A-1999 specification.

Several other organizations reference one of the above protocol standards within their own standards and/or within their own guidelines/recommendations. Those include but are not limited to AAR, CECED, IEEE, IFSF, SEMI, and others.

Interested in submitting a transfer-media channel for consideration?
Technical Resources > Guides & Specifications > Additional Guidelines -
“Guidelines for adoption of new LonMark communication channels”

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