Home Automation. From Home Automation to Intelligent Buildings

It needs to be noted that home automation systems are intended for homes, so they do not usually address the issues of working environment, multiparty cooperation, ergonomics, and floor planning that are usually the problems addressed in the intelligent building design literature.

Home developers and builders are offering community linkage and links with schools in their new construction projects. Thus, the physical community is connected to the virtual community. The creation of community centers (let them be physical or virtual) is the end result of such efforts.

Home automation systems in various forms have appeared in the market for many years. Thus, we have seen many intelligent security systems, energy management units, lighting controllers, entertainment systems, and so on. Interfacing of these products has been limited, however, and has been usually rather costly, especially in the U.S. market. Some products have received a wide market acceptance and have become de facto standards in a limited home automation market.

Home automation products can, in general, be categorized as follows:
- Interactive smart products
- Intelligent subsystems
- Central automation systems

Most of us have extensively used interactive smart systems—that is, devices that previously required manual control but now have a wide set of programmable features. The cases of programmable video cassette recorders (VCRs), automated door openers, and automated sprinkler systems fall into this category. Intelligent subsystems consist of two or more interactive smart systems that are able to exchange information to accomplish more sophisticated tasks.

The interaction between a TV and a programmable VCR falls into this category, as well as an interface of a telephone answering machine with the lighting or the security system. The ultimate and most comprehensive home automation system would be one that integrates a number of smart systems or intelligent subsystems into a system that can be thoroughly and seamlessly controlled by the home owner. Such a system would provide a comprehensive system of home information, telecommunication, entertainment, and control.

Several advantages are realized through the use of such an integrated system. A smart microwave can have its cooking schedule controlled through a central database that stores all the home inhabitants’ schedules and habits. A VCR can record only the satellite or cable TV programs that the users like or allow to be viewed and then selectively broadcast them to the TV sets in the house.

An integrated security system can be linked with video cameras, the VCR, the telephone network, and the local police station. A smoke detector can be linked to the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, and to lighting controls so that, in case a fire breaks out, smoke can be cleared and hallways can be appropriately illuminated to help people move out of the house.

Having such a system with so many differing applications brings forth a wealth of problems in terms of the required integration. High-definition video requires several megahertz of bandwidth, whereas a room thermostat requires a minimum bandwidth occasionally. High-fidelity audio or video traffic requires very strict limits on delays, whereas a washing machine control signal does not have these requirements.

From Home Automation to Intelligent Buildings. Advances in hardware and software technology have affected not only the home automation market but the market of intelligent buildings as well. Intelligent buildings is a term used to describe buildings that are not passive toward their occupants and the activities that take place in them but can program their own systems and manage the consumption of energy and materials. In an intelligent building, sensors receive information on the status of the building and, through the communication system of the building, transfer it to a central controller where, after the necessary comparisons and processing, actions are taken.

An intelligent building consists of the peripheral units, the units that monitor the proper functioning of the equipment and regulate it if needed, and the field elements—that is, the sensors, indicators, and activators present in the building.