Home Automation Control via Distributed Virtual Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home automation systems are vulnerable to malfunctions of the central control unit, leading to operational anomalies and disruptions in equipment functionality, such as entry gates and lighting systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling home automation installations that involves optimizing the operation of individual equipment by modifying their basic operations to achieve a desired outcome, using virtual machines to impose new rules for communication and action between devices, allowing for decentralized operation and reduced dependency on the central control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If centralized control is used to customize equipment operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to central member failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control system into distributed virtual machines deployed across multiple equipment units. Each virtual machine can independently execute control logic and communicate with others, transforming a monolithic centralized architecture into a segmented distributed network that maintains operational customization while eliminating single-point failure vulnerability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces virtual machines as intermediary software layers between the user interface and physical equipment. These virtual machines act as mediators that can be replicated across multiple nodes, allowing control functionality to be distributed while maintaining the same user experience and equipment customization capabilities
2Reliability
If virtual machines are installed in equipment to enable decentralized operation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal virtual machine software that can be deployed across different types of home automation equipment (lights, gates, thermostats, etc.). This multi-functional virtual machine platform provides standardized control capabilities across diverse devices, reducing the need for device-specific complex programming while enabling decentralized operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes copyable virtual machine instances that can be replicated across multiple equipment units. Instead of designing unique control systems for each device, the same virtual machine software can be copied and deployed throughout the system, simplifying device complexity while achieving reliability through redundancy and decentralization
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for controlling a home automation installation. The installation includes pieces of home automation equipment and a central control member. The method includes providing a desired operation of the installation, providing a first operation of each piece of equipment, optimizing the operation of the installation by modifying the first operation of at least one piece of equipment, to obtain a second operation of the at least one piece of equipment, and an operation of the installation according to the desired operation, and installing a virtual machine in the at least one piece of equipment. The virtual machine is able to impose the second operation on the at least one piece of equipment.