Non-homogenous Network, Control Hub and Smart Controller (NCS) approach to incremental smart homes

Abstract

The rapid increase in memory and processing power of even simple devices is opening up new opportunities for intelligent devices and environments. However, major barriers exist to practical limitations. Many "smart environments" are currently more complex to either set up or operate than their predecessors. Environments which are simpler to use are often very complex to set up. They also often require wholesale re engineering of the environment. Proposed is a model for using a mixture of non homogeneous network technologies, a control hub and a smart controller to provide a way for users to slowly transition both themselves and their houses from current technologies to smart technologies and environments. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.