Home Automation Networks: A Survey
Home Automation Networks provide a promising opportunity in designing
smart home systems and applications. In this context, Machine-to-Machine
(M2M) networks are emerging as an efficient means to provide automated
communication among distributed ubiquitous devices on in a standardized
manner, but none have been adopted universally. In an effort to present the
technologies used in the M2M and home integration environment, this paper
presents the home area network elements and definitions, and reviews the
standards, architectures and initiatives created to enable M2M communication and integration in several different environments, especially at the smart
home domain. This paper points out differences between them and identifies
trends for the future.
Keywords: Home Automation; Smart Home; Standards Review; System
Integration; M2M Communication.
- Introduction
Home automation has evolved into more than a connection between autonomous devices. It is evolving towards systems and processes that are
becoming more intelligent and systems that are even capable of communicating with people. According to [1], computers will increasingly be embedded in our natural movements and interactions with our environments, both
physical and social. This means we are close to having a transparent social
relationship with an autonomous system. This idea is similar to the one
Mark Weiser foresaw, in 1991, in which computers would increasingly enable
the integration of simple objects, such as clothing labels, air conditioners,
light switches, online classes and more, in unobtrusive way in the users life