Cloud Residential Management System for Home Automation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home automation systems face challenges in remote access and management due to issues like dynamic IP addresses, firewall blockages, and limited diagnostic information, particularly for non-network available devices, as well as inadequate permission management for remote access among users.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based residential management system (RMS) that binds home automation systems to cloud servers, providing periodic status and diagnostics information, and offering user interface screens for dealers and end-users to manage access permissions and view system details, including non-network available devices, through a centralized platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IP address-based remote access is used, then dealers can remotely access home automation systems, but firewalls block unsolicited in-bound traffic and ISPs cycle IP addresses making access unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based residential management system as an intermediary between dealers and home automation systems. Instead of direct IP-based connections, the system uses cloud servers that receive data from home controllers and make it accessible to dealers through web interfaces, bypassing firewall restrictions and IP address changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical IP address-based direct connection system with a cloud-based data publication system. Home controllers publish status data to cloud servers, which then serve this data to dealers through standardized web protocols, eliminating dependency on direct network connections
2Adaptability or versatility
If remote access is permitted to multiple individuals, then users can share system access with service providers and others, but managing permissions becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access permissions into distinct user roles (dealers, service providers, family members) with different permission levels. Each user type receives tailored access capabilities through the cloud interface, allowing fine-grained control without complex configuration for each individual
3Loss of information
If status information is collected from all devices including non-network available devices, then comprehensive system monitoring is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collection and presentation of status information from multiple sources (network-available devices and non-network available devices) into a single unified cloud-based interface. The host controller aggregates data from legacy devices while the cloud system presents all information together, eliminating the need for separate monitoring systems
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a technique is provided managing a plurality of home automation systems in different residential structures. The plurality of home automation systems are bound to a cloud-based residential management system (RMS). The RMS periodically receives status and diagnostics information from home automation systems, and displays, on a web-enabled device, a plurality of RMS user interface (UI) screens. The RMS UI screens provide an all systems view which lists each the plurality of home automation systems, a system details view which shows a summary of status information for a selected one of the plurality of home automation systems, and an equipment level view which shows status information for individual devices of the selected home automation system. At least some of the individual devices are non-network available devices that lack a direct connection to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network.