Home Automation Control via Automatic Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration and control of home automation installations are complicated by the need for manual input of serial numbers or identifiers, especially when access to a wide area network is limited, making remote management challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to select between local and wide area network connection modes to control home automation installations, involving connection establishment, sending discovery messages, and receiving topology descriptions to register and monitor devices, enabling control through either connection method without direct communication between central control units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual input of serial number or identifier is required for registration, then the central control unit can be configured, but the registration operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic discovery and registration of central control units without requiring manual intervention. The user terminal autonomously discovers available central control units, retrieves their identifiers, and completes the registration process automatically, eliminating the need for users to manually input serial numbers or identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting and storing the identifiers of central control units before the user needs to configure them. The discovery message is sent in advance, and the topology description message is received and processed beforehand, so that when the user wants to configure the system, the registration is already complete.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wide area network access is required for remote management, then remote control is enabled, but the system becomes inaccessible when wide area network access is limited or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to function through multiple communication paths: it can operate via wide area network for remote management when available, and simultaneously support local area network connections for when wide area network access is limited or unavailable. This multi-functionality ensures the system remains accessible under various network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The user terminal acts as an intermediary that can connect to central control units through either wide area network or local area network. The system intelligently selects the appropriate communication path based on availability, ensuring continuous access to home automation devices regardless of wide area network status.
3Ease of operation
If direct communication between central control units is implemented, then device control is simplified, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The user terminal serves as an intermediary between the user and multiple central control units. Instead of implementing complex direct communication protocols between central control units, the system routes all control operations through the user terminal, which manages the topology and coordinates commands to the appropriate central control units based on the discovered network structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a method for controlling a home-automation facility comprising at least one central control unit (U1, U2) belonging to a home-automation facility; the method being executed by a user terminal (T) and comprising the following steps: selecting (ECTLT1) a first local connection mode (CM1) or a second wide area network connection mode; establishing (ECTLT2) a connection between the user terminal and at least one target unit (U1, U2, Sv), said at least one target unit (U1, U2, Sv) being a central control unit (U1, U2) in the case in which the first local connection mode (CM1) has been selected, and a management unit (Sv) in the case in which the second wide area network connection mode has been selected; sending (ECTLT3) a discovery message (MCTLD1, MCTLD2, MCTLD′) linked with a facility identifier (StID) to at least one target unit (U1, U2, Sv); receiving (ECTLT5, ECTLT7) at least one topology description message originating from the target unit (U1, U2, Sv) comprising a description of a group of devices (DGrSt) attached to the facility identifier (StID).