Distributed Control Scheme for Remote Device Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The implementation of Internet controllable devices in smart home systems requires knowledge of networking, server management, and network security, making it challenging for users to monitor and control appliances remotely without technical expertise.
Innovation Solution
A web-based device automation system that includes a central server and a hub, allowing devices to be connected to the internet for remote monitoring and control, with automation applications that can subscribe to events and generate responses, distributing event handlers between the central server and the hub for efficient processing and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each device implements full network communication capabilities for remote control and monitoring, then network functionality and control capability are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network communication functionality into two parts: devices perform only local event generation and hub performs network communication. This segmentation allows devices to remain simple while the system achieves remote control capability through the hub acting as an intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub serves as an intermediary between devices and the network. Devices communicate events to the hub locally, and the hub handles all network communication, including remote device control and monitoring, eliminating the need for devices to have direct network capabilities.
2Speed
If automation applications are deployed locally on each device, then responsiveness and processing speed are improved, but resource utilization and system efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges automation application execution onto a centralized server. Multiple devices share the same server resources for running automation applications, which improves resource utilization while maintaining system-wide responsiveness through the event-driven architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements an event-driven feedback mechanism where devices generate events that are immediately processed by the server. This feedback loop ensures rapid response times without requiring continuous local processing on each device, optimizing the balance between speed and resource usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices have direct internet connectivity for remote monitoring, then remote access capability is improved, but network security requirements and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hub acts as a security intermediary between devices and the internet. All network communication passes through the hub, which handles authentication, encryption, and secure data transmission, thereby protecting devices from direct network security threats while maintaining remote access capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A device automation system for providing automatic control of one or more devices in an environment includes a hub in communication with the one or more devices and with a data network where the hub is configured to issue commands to the devices and receive data from the devices; and a central server in communication with the hub through the data network where the central server is configured to install one or more automation applications in the hub or on the central server for handling events generated at the devices. Each of the automation applications responds to an event and issuing an action in response. The central server is configured to determine that a first set of the events is to be handled at the hub while a second set of events is to be handled at the central server.