Home automation technologies

X10 Automation: Lighting, Climate, Security, Home Cinema and Beyond

When it first appeared in 1978, X10 became the standard in home automation technology. Using conventional home electrical wiring, X10 transmits digital packets through up to 256 compatible devices on a single power circuit. A control centre for an X10 system may be a standalone hardware unit or a PC running Linux or Windows. Remote controls and keypads can also be used to control light dimmers, TVs, VCRs, security alarms, door locks and surveillance equipment.

With no specialised wiring required, X10 is an affordable and reliable beginning to any digital home project. For around $250, an X10 starter kit usually contains PC and hand-held remote controls as well as modules for two appliances, two lamps and a ceiling-mounted light. To use a module, you simply plug it into a power socket and then plug the appliance into the module. The appliance is then controlled via an infrared remote control or a power-point control module such as a keypad or PC adapter. Once the software is installed, the system can be run from a Windows, Mac, Linux, OS/2 or Amiga computer. A wide selection of freeware applications for use with most X10 controllers are available online.

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) — Networking the Home with Microsoft

X10 is essentially a remote control system for your home, limited to on, off and dim commands. In an attempt to create “intelligent” appliances that communicate via a home network, Microsoft launched their Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology in 1999. UPnP offers Ethernet connectivity to household appliances. These can range from lighting dimmers and climate control systems to security and audiovisual appliances. This means, in theory, that any networked Windows PC can control UPnP devices around the home (Windows ME and XP have native support for UPnP. A free upgrade for Windows 98 is available from Microsoft). It also means that you may eventually have remote access to do things like record a TV show on your home VCR via a Web browser. Unfortunately, it also means your household appliances are open to the possibility of being hacked or hijacked!

Although slow to be adopted by manufacturers, some recent UPnP devices such as standalone media players have emerged. Version 2 of the UPnP protocol is in development. This is expected to be more widely implemented than its predecessor by incorporating support for technologies such as IPv6 and .NET services.

xAP

Likened by some to UPnP, but with a smaller overhead, xAP is a network protocol designed to be independent of operating system and programming language. Although available to any mode of transmission, it is currently only implemented via serial port or Ethernet connections. The goal of xAP is a lofty one—to provide interconnectivity between all household devices including lights, telephones, Hi-Fi units, heating systems and computers. Although in its infancy, xAP has a dedicated developer community and may emerge as a contender in the future of home automation.

Jini—Networking Home Appliances with Java

If Java is more your thing then Sun Microsystems' Jini technology can network any device with a Java Virtual Machine over Ethernet, Firewire or HomeRF (a proprietary radio frequency wireless networking technology). Although it has the backing of vendors such as Sony and Philips, Jini remains within the realm of Java programmers prepared to build their own interfaces and hand-code appliance drivers.

時文選讀

家庭自動化技術

X10自動化：用于照明、氣候、安全、家庭影院等

當 X10在1978年首次出現(xiàn)時，它就成了家庭自動化技術的標準。X10利用常規(guī)的家庭電力線路，給單一電力線路上多達256個兼容的設備發(fā)送數(shù)字包。X10系統(tǒng)的控制中心可以是獨立的硬件設備，也可以是運行Linux或Windows的PC機。遙控器和小鍵盤也可以用來控制調光器、電視、錄像機、安全報警器、門鎖和監(jiān)視設備。

X10沒有專門的連線要求，所以它是任何數(shù)字家庭項目廉價且可靠的開端。一個X10基本套件大約250美元，通常包括PC和手持遙控器以及控制兩個裝置的模塊、兩個燈泡和一個安裝在天花板上的燈。使用這種模塊時，你只需將它插入電源插座，然后將裝置插入該模塊即可。通過紅外遙控器或電源點控制模塊(如小鍵盤或PC適配器)控制該裝置。軟件一旦裝上了，就能在Windows、Mac、Linux、OS/2或Amiga等計算機上運行?？梢栽诰€選擇多種免費應用軟件，供大多數(shù)X10控制器使用。

通用即插即用( UPnP)——將家庭與微軟聯(lián)網(wǎng)

X10基本上是家用的遙控系統(tǒng)，局限于開、關和明暗調節(jié)的命令。微軟為了創(chuàng)建能通過家庭網(wǎng)絡進行通信的“智能”裝置，在1999年發(fā)表了通用即插即用(UPnP)技術。UPnP提供了以太網(wǎng)聯(lián)接家用設備。這些設備包括從調光器、氣候控制器到安全裝置和音像設備。從理論上講，這意味著任何一臺聯(lián)網(wǎng)的Windows PC機能控制家庭中的UPnP設備(Windows ME和XP天生就支持UPnP，Windows 98可從微軟公司獲得免費的升級)。這也意味著你最終能通過Web瀏覽器遠程做這樣的事：遙控家用錄像機錄下電視劇。同時，這也意味著你的家用裝置有可能被黑客攻擊或劫持。

雖然( UPnP)被制造商采納的速度很慢，但最近出現(xiàn)了一些UPnP設備，如獨立的媒體播放器。UPnP V2尚在開發(fā)之中。由于該版本包含了對IPv6和.NET服務等技術的支持，可望比其以前的版本有更廣泛的應用。

xAP

有人將 xAP比作UPnP，但它的開銷較小。xAP是設計獨立于操作系統(tǒng)和編程語言的網(wǎng)絡協(xié)議。雖然它能用于任何傳輸模式，但目前只是通過串行口或以太網(wǎng)聯(lián)接實現(xiàn)。xAP的目標很高——連接所有的家用設備，包括照明、電話、高保真音響、供暖系統(tǒng)和計算機。雖然xAP尚處于幼年，但它已有了一個熱心的開發(fā)者社團，在將來的家庭自動化中有可能成為競爭者。

Jini——用Java將家用設備聯(lián)網(wǎng)

如果你喜歡 Java，那么Sun公司的Jini技術通過利用Java虛擬機，能在以太網(wǎng)、火線、或HomeRF(一種專有的射頻無線聯(lián)網(wǎng)技術)上連接任何設備。雖然它已得到諸如Sony和Philips等公司的支持，但Jini仍只在準備編制自己的接口和手編設備驅動程序的Java程序員中流行。