|
| |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
| |
| |
Normally each is independent
of the others, and has its own user interface.
In the following sections we identify the
main benefits and features of each and point
out some pros and cons to each.
The OneHome system enhances
each of these systems with a simple and consistent
user interface, and provides added benefits
by tying the systems together. |
|
| Go to The OneHome
Solution for more details. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
Climate
systems control the heating and cooling in
different parts (zones) of a house through thermostats
installed in each zone.
Basic thermostats allow users to set a desired temperature,
which they then maintain until somebody makes another
change.
Programmable thermostats have schedules and change the
temperature during the day. In the winter they can be
programmed to raise the temperature in the morning while
you get ready for work, and then lower the temperature
until later in the afternoon when you return, saving
you money during the day. A typical schedule has 4 periods
in each day: morning, daytime, evening and night. Some
thermostats also allow you to have different schedules
for different days of the week, allowing you to customize
the settings for your regular weekly pattern.
Although programmable thermostats can save you money,
each thermostat in the house has to be programmed, and
this can be difficult given their fairly basic interface.
Also, when you leave for an extended period, you have
to go to each thermostat to set them back while you are
gone. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audio
systems provide music to various parts of
the home, either through simple stereos in each room
or from elaborate whole-house audio distribution systems.
A basic audio system is a familiar setup consisting of
a stereo and a set of speakers nearby. This setup is
convenient and simple.
A more sophisticated solution to audio has a stereo at
a central location, with speakers installed in the wall
in a number of rooms. Each room also has a volume control,
which allows local control of the volume. The same music
is played in each room, but changing the track on a CD,
or switching to a different radio station requires walking
to the central source to make the change.
The ultimate in whole house audio is a multi-source /
multi-zone system, which features keypads in each listening
area that provides control over the music source just
for that zone. From the keypad you can choose to listen
to the CD player, and then start playing the CD, jump
to the next track, etc, in addition to raising or lowering
the volume. Someone in another room can choose to listen
to the CD player too, or they can choose to listen to
the radio. The music sources (CD player, etc) are mounted
in a central location along with the amplifier and controller
that works with the keypads in each room, and individual
wires are run to the keypads and speakers in each room. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lighting
systems provide convenience and enhanced
peace of mind by allowing users to control many lights
from one location and by allowing users to setup
schedules that turn on lights automatically at certain
times of day or night.
Lighting systems provide three main benefits in a home:
centralize control of many switches, preset scenes
for common activities, and time-based scheduling of
lighting.
Centralized control is a great time saver
by allowing you to switch lights in different parts
of the house from one location. A good example is when
you get ready to go to bed at night: instead of walking
around the house to turn off all the outside lights,
simply push one button in your master bedroom. Or,
if you hear a strange sound, press another to immediately
turn all of the outside lights on.
Lighting scenes are convenient because they allow you
to switch or dim many lights in a specific space with
one button press. For example, a typical kitchen might
have anywhere from 5 to 15 light switches. With conventinoal
switches you have to walk around and set each one.
With a lighting system you establish specific scenes
for cooking, eating, cleaning up, etc., and then with
one button press select the scene to set all the lights
in the to the desired level.
Some lighting systems also provide time based scheduling,
so that ouside lights are always turned on just before
sunset, and then turned off at midnight. And when you're
away on vacation, time based scheduling can also be
used to simulate at-home behavoir to make your house
appear lived-in.
Entry level lighting systems use the 110 volt power
lines in the home to communicate with light switches.
A couple of variations of this technology are available
(X-10, PLC), and they provide the most cost effective
solution. Although powerline communicatsions can be
susceptible to noise from other electrical components
in the house, with planning and care they can be reliable.
Powerline carrier systems are also relatively easy
to retrofit into an existing home.
Higher-end lighting systems are normally more reliable,
and rely on either a wireless link or a dedicated signal
wire to communicate with the switches. Some of these
higher-end systems also require all the switches and
lights to be wired back to a central panel, which makes
them very difficult to retrofit. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
systems monitor the home for intrusion and
fire, and sound a siren and (optionally) notify a monitoring
service in the event of an alarm.
Basic security systems consist of a main keypad at a
central location, with a handful of wireless sensors
detecting motion in primary spaces and fire.
More sophisticated systems have a control panal that
is mounted in a closet or the basement, and then any
number of keypads located by main entry doors, as well
as a keypad in the master bedroom. In new construction
or renovations, sensors to all first floor windows and
doors are hard wired back to teh panel, in addition to
sensors for fire on each floor and motion or glass break
sensors in large living spaces.
All security systems off a monitoring service. When an
alarm occurs, the control panel calls the central station
with the particular alarm. For fire, the fire department
is typically dispatched immediately to the house, potentially
saving valuable time. For intrusion alrams, the monitorin
station may call the house for password verification
before dispatching the police.
Because monitored systems reduce the likelihood of loss
from fire or theft, most insurance companies offer a
discount to homeowners with monitored systems installed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Video
systems allow you to look at another part
of the house to check on a child or an outdoor other,
and with special internet-enabled software, allow you
to connect to a remote home over the Internet.
Video systems provide a number of benefits by delivering
a live video image from one of potentially many cameras
to a convenient viewing location.
Basic video systems consist of a camera mounted at the
front door or looking over the play area. A cable routes
the signal back into the houses television system so
that the image can be seen on any TV by changing to a
specific channel. If there are several cameras in the
house, each camera can be placed onto its own channel,
or a special integration device can be used to show all
the images at once, tiled onto one screen.
Higher-end cameras are network enabled, and can deliver
the video feed over the home network to any computer
in the house. In this case, the image can also be viewed
over the internet, allowing homeowners to check into
their home from work, or easily monitor a vacation home. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irrigation systems
control sprinklers that water your plants and your yard.
Some units have rain sensors to prevent watering if it
has rained recently.
Irrigation systems help protect your landscaping investment
by keeping plants properly watered and in good health.
The heart of the system is the controller or timer, which
turns the individual sprinkler valves on and off according
to a preset schedule.
Typically, the irrigation controller is installed
in a garage or other similar location. Several times
each year the home owner or caretaker visits the controller
to change or review the settings. Because the climate
changes significantly during the season, the schedule
should be changed regularly to ensure enough water is
applied during long hot dry spells, and that water is
not wasted early or late in the season, or during a cool
damp stretch.
Due to the limited interface on typical irrigation controllers,
changing the schedule is not intuitive and can be time
consuming. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Messaging
systems can be as simple as an inexpensive
answering machine, or as complex as a small business
voice mail system with multiple mailboxes and other
sophisticated features.
Phone messaging systems accept incoming phone calls on
one or more lines, and then allow the caller to save
a message, or if the caller has the correct password,
to access old messages and make other changes to the
phone system.
The most basic messaging system is the familiar answering
machine. The phone line plugs into the back, and with
the right set of button presses you can record your own
outgoing message. Most systems also allow you to call
in when you're away to retrieve messages.
More sophisticated systems add support for more than
one incoming line, or the ability to route incoming calls
into individual mail boxes for different people in the
house. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
