Re: EIB versus CBUS

[Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kevin -
OK, 'have now dug into the diary & pulled out my reasoning ... feel
free to hit the delete button, though, 'cos even though it's a
fraction of what was there, it ain't short !   Anyway :
>resilience ...
I guess, for me, anyway, robustness / resilience is not only a matter
of the basic hardware & software, but also in capability - eg:
presence-sensing in real situations, visitor-friendliness,
accomodating new things, not only power-cuts & component failures,
all in a way that we, in particular, can handle ... if that makes
sense !
Why Idratek, for us, rather than C-Bus or EIB or ... ?   Well :
It ticks nearly all of our boxes (see list appended below),
definitely accessible to us, affordable, effective, robust /
resilient (hardware, software, capability - eg: presence-sensing in
real situations, visitor-friendliness - not only power-cuts &
component failures), expandable, interfaceable, supported
(brilliantly) ... 'sent them a long list of what we wanted to do
(philosophical rather than specific, capability / behavioural rather
than mechanical) & got a brilliant responses to every point, and the
same again when I followed-up, over & over, with umpteen detailed
questions, with the aim of being sure it would really do what we
wanted ... flexible (eg: can write own scripts & so can have context
sensitivity in the response to buttons on a module, with what the
buttons do changing through the sequence, so can do complex things
from simple panels - eg: four-button module as smart kitchen-timer,
multi-function module as smart intercom / house controller ... a bit
like the original Comfort main-panel did, 'though we aim to go much
further) ...
I say nearly - minor aesthetic quibbles, no general-purpose RS232
interface (I wanted to link it to our hi-fi via ASCII strings), no
visual feedback / no small screens (something's on its way, so live
in anticipation) ...
There's loads more, in the detail, but ...
Maybe EIB & C-Bus could do all of it, but I wasn't convinced and -
the key issue, I guess - could they do it for us (in our situation,
with our skills & knowledge) ... and I was with Idratek.
Of course, theory's one thing, practice might be different ... we'll
see !
Chris

'was going to append a list of our requirements, such the one I sent
to Karam, but 'not sure it would play well via html, and this -
distilled from the Idratek web-site in March 2006 while trying to
work-out how it matched with what we were aimig for - maybe works
better :
IDRATEK ... two key technologies - IDRANet & Cortex. ...

IDRANet (Intelligent Distributed Resource Automation Network) ... a
smart home & building automation enabling  technology  ...  highly
modula

... easily tailored to individual needs & budgets, reconfigured at
will, and expanded over time ... modules ... basic building
blocks ... providing specific functions or allowing the integration
of existing appliances ... lighting, electrical sockets, heating ...
re-programmable self intelligence, allowing a stand-alone automation
structure ... without a central controller ... a masterless, bus
based, networked system ... distributed automation, easy installation
& unparalleled flexibility ... high levels of functionality with
practicality, reliability and ... low cost

The IDRATEK system ... designed to be simple to install and highly
functional, yet very cost-effective.   An automation application is
created by connecting modules together via ... typically Cat-5.   A
wired solution is fundamentally more secure than a wireless one -
more reliable with less chance of interference ... [and] ... most
importantly, can deliver power to devices ... modules communicate
using the powerful IDRANet protocol ... [with] ... basis in
university research, this protocol has many unique features ...
specifically designed to suit home & building automation requirements.

Some modules are designed to connect appliances such as lights,
electrical-sockets, audio-vido equipment, HVAC equipment ...
[they] ... can be controlled or monitored by ... other relevant
networked devices.   Other modules ... provide sensory data to the
network.   It is this integrated structure which is crucial to
providing useful automation services.   For example ... a motion
detector used in a standard security alarm system ... without
integration the sole use of such a sensor would be to detect
intrusion & raise an alarm ... [but] ... when integrated, the motion
data from this same sensor could also be used to reduce heating in an
unoccupied room, to turn on a light or even deliver a message when a
person is detected ... an integrated light could be operated
automatically on the basis of motion- & light-sensor data, as well as
manually by a wall-mounted switch, and by a remote controller ...
[and] ... also be flashed as a door-bell indication or ... as part of
the security function ... integration not only enables efficient use
of existing devices but it also opens up a gateway to ... new &
exciting services which can be achieved for little extra cost ...

IDRANet provides the integration infrastructure.   Cortex ...
provides the intelligence with which to coordinate all the sensory
information and ... controllable appliances ... to satisfy some
overall objectives ... create a security function, an efficient
climate control function, an Internet user-interface, and so on ...
gateways to other networks such as X10, xPL, the Internet and 'phone
systems, extend its reach far beyond the physical boundaries of a
building.

IDRANet is a free topology network, so a user can design a layout
most suitable for their property.   Wiring is then daisy-chained as
required.   IDRATEK modules are low power devices, allowing several
to be connected to the same bus spur.   It is quite common to provide
power at some central location with spurs radiating from this point
to other areas.   Modules are designed to fit standard UK electrical
pattresses.   All the small modules fit a single 35mm deep pattress
(47mm preferable for ease of fitting) ... the multifunction panel
uses a double pattress.   Cat-5 (or equivalent twisted pair such as
Belden 9504) is recommended ... the cable should be screened &
earthed at a central point ... either multi-stranded or single-core
can be used ... the former is sometimes easier to fit   A pluggable
terminal block is used ... [so] ... wiring can be pre-installed ... .

IDRATEK modules ... pre-configured with default parameters ... can be
set at any time ... [using] ... a PC with Cortex and suitable
interface module (PCA/PCD-001).   Cortex is designed to make this
process extremely simple and guides a user through each stage.   For
larger scale projects, eg: housing developments, IDRATEK can provide
a pre-programming service ... .

IDRANet works by transmitting short bursts of digital data onto the
data bus ... in accordance with the IDRANet protocol ... transport
mechanism and payload.   The former is designed to ensure the payload
is securely delivered to the correct recipient/s ... the latter
contains the actual information or command data ... overall
implementation also includes an audio bus ... a physically separate
signal channel, unrelated to the digital bus, but which enables many
of the important audio features unique to our automation concept.
Key technical features of the IDRANet protocol are ... multi-master
asynchronous communications ... self arbitrating contention ...
extensive multilayer error checking ... user-selectable levels of
error checking (ACK, NO ACK, Retransmissions) ... peer to peer &
broadcast message types ... broadcasts can target groups by zone /
function ... flexible packet sizes for short control messages or
larger data transport ... multi-rate communications for higher
performance devices ... true hot-plugging ... no need to power down
the system ... message priority control within the IDRANet packet ...
high number of theoretically addressable devices (>65,000 per network).

Physically, the network bus exhibits some similarities to the well
known CAN bus & exhibits similar physical characteristics of
robustness and data-rate vs bus-length constraints ... the similarity
is mostly in terms of the bus driving electronics and not the
communication / signalling protocol itself.

IDRATEK modules possess Reflex behaviour ... sending command or
information packets to the network and / or executing internal
commands.   The key benefits  ... are ... modules are not dumb ...
each is capable controlling itself and others.   reaction to events
depends on the module ... modules can monitor multiple events &
generate a Reflex for each ... truly non centralised (masterless)
control structures ... centralised structures, eg ... Cortex, can sub-
delegate certain tasks ... information is sent only on events ...
avoiding inefficient polling schemes ... if a central controller
fails, the system can fall back to an entirely Reflex ...
ensuring ... some functionality remains ... user can define ...
filtering conditions ... filter conditions and ... Reflexes ... are
user-programmable and ... retained in non-volatile memory.   Each
button generates ...

Cortex is provided on a modular basis to allow users to choose the
most cost-effective degree of functionality ... [the] ... core
package provides full support for all IDRATEK modules ... core
automation functions such as presence-tracking, lighting-control,
climate-control, security-alarm, macros, scheduler, user-menus,
speech-synthesis / recognition, event-verification, support for [a]
single camera  ... commissioning and diagnostic tools, Reflex
programming tools, and a firmware loader for updating capable modules.

Further module licenses can be purchased to expand the capabilities
of the core package at any time:   Web Services ... access to device
functions, answer-'phone, images, etc via a standard web-browser
(including PDA and mobile-'phone browsers);   e-mail Services ...
collect / announce e-mails, send on events, auto-attach images & real
time data, control & interrogate system using e-mails;   Internet
Bridge ... sharing of objects across the internet, from two or more
different IDRANet systems;   Telephony ... answer-machine with caller-
ID features, message-direction, control & interrogate system by
'phone using touch-tone or voice-recognition, auto-dial out on events
with real time information, whole-house ring;   Surveillance ...
multiple camera support via capture-cards or USB, imaging features
available independently for each camera ... eg: timed snap-shots,
video-clips, film-roll, motion-detect, internet-streaming, etc;
Scripting ... programming in Microsoft scripting language;   Advanced
Controllers ... fuzzy logic and parametric control infrastructures
(uncommitted);   xPL Support ... .existing sensors can be
integrated ... realistic occupancy simulation ... reduced chance of
false-alarm ... logging of intrusion activity ... infrared / RF
keyfob ... panic-button ... zoned security ... Fire, CO, Gas ... .

Cortex will run on a PC platform under ... MS Windows 98SE, 2000, ME,
XP (Home & Pro) ... we recommend ... WindowsXP ... especially if
video processing functions are required eg: for multiple camera
support ... with at least a Pentium III (or equivalent) processor,
RAM256MB, VGA-graphics adapter and 50MB hard-disk ... minimum ...
Cortex archives object activity data for each day, so extra hard disk
space should be allocated ... typical ... 0.5-1Mb per day ... support
for speech-synthesis and 'recognition requires ... SAPI4 or SAPI5
compliant speech-engines ... [eg] ... IBM ViaVoice & MS Speech
Engines ... a real (not USB conversion) RS232 port [is required] for
communication to the IDRANet ... a suitable voice modem is required
for telephony functions ... connection to the internet must be ...
always on ... eg: ADSL.

A simple yet powerful graphical user-interface ... [shows] ...
floors, rooms, outbuildings ... even multiple properties.   Network
devices are represented by icons ... status of any device may be seen
at a glance ... simply click on any item in the plan view to access
options for that device.   Floors & rooms may be coloured to user
choice ... different viewing modes for live camera images ... mosaic,
minimis.

Practical & intelligent functionality ... lights come on
automatically as you enter a room, heating automatically switches
over to settings for an occupied room - and they don't switch off if
you sit motionless for half an hour ... .   If you leave home but
forget to set the security-alarm, you can of course do this later via
the internet or by phone, but ... it'll do it automatically
anyway ... light-switches can be replaced or used alongside IDRANet
modules, enabling    a huge array of lighting functions ... grouped
or sequenced control ... occupancy, light level and time-based
automated control ... greater   convenience & improved energy
efficiency ... occupancy simulation ... visual door-bell
indication ... remote interrogation & control by 'phone or
internet ... audio-prompting and interaction

IDRATEK ... can hugely improve ... efficiency & comfort ... multiple
temperature / humidity sensors allow even a basic HVAC system to
control conditions for a particular room or zone at any time ...
independent profiles for individual rooms can be achieved ...
temperature profiles defined on an hour by hour & day to day
basis ... separate back-off profiles reduce energy usage for
unoccupied rooms ... external sensors can be utilised to compensate
for weather conditions ... checks can be made and settings ..
adjusted via internet and 'phone ... fuzzy-logic or parametric
controllers are also available

IDRANet modules can receive / transmit IR remote control signals
compatible with most equipment ... codes can be learnt from most
handsets ... modules are capable of relaying IR data to the
network ... receiver modules can be taught to recognise codes ... an
arbitrary   handset can be used to control IDRAnet functions or to
request information ... transmitter modules allow IDRANet to control
existing ... equipment ... 'phone home and get the system to action
your DVR to record ...

===
Cortex ... a hugely powerful IDRANet programming & automation
application running within the Microsoft Windows environment on a
standard PC platform ... IDRANet provides the sensors, actuators and
a stand-alone degree of autonomy via its distributed (Reflex) control
capability ... Cortex ... designed to ... add a new dimension of
functionality ... higher level intelligence capabilities ... system
commissioning and integration aid ...  audio / graphical user-
interface ... communication gateways ... telephony, Internet and LAN
connectivity ... Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth ... [and] ... access
to  ... cameras

Cortex ... intelligent automation ... one of the most sophisticated
applications ... on the market today ... designed right from the
start for automation rather than simply control ... most people ...
think home automation is about pressing a button on a remote handset
to set mood lighting or perhaps adjust the heating ... [we think it
should provide] ... useful services with as little intervention as
possible ... [without] ... taking control away from the user ...
making the best use of available information to automate where
possible ... [why] ... press a button to turn on a light when Cortex
can already sense your presence, the fact that it's dark ...
similarly, why should you have to remember to press a button before
leaving home to switch off all lights, set the alarm, or reduce the
heating ? ... an intelligent system ... [can] ... do all these things
for you ...

Cortex ... for home automation ... building automation and other more
general control applications ... ... user defined programming,
scheduling, decision making and remote control features are ...
available ... with great depth ... Cortex ... designed to run on an
MS Windows platform ... 98SE, 2000, XP or XP PRO ... provides an
incredible array of features & functions ... for an IDRANet
installation

graphical user interface ... a simple yet powerful graphical user
interface ... showing floors, rooms, outbuildings ... even multiple
properties ... network devices are represented by icons placed on the
view ... status of any device may be seen at a glance ...
temperature, heating, lighting ... simply click on any item in the
plan-view to access options for that device ... floors & rooms may be
coloured to user choice ... different viewing modes for live camera
images, eg: mosaic, minimise, etc

occupancy, light level, time, scheme-based lighting, and more ...
user-configurable logic & Cortex presence-tracking allows true
automation of lighting - switches need never be pressed ... features
can be programmed based on light-level, room-presence and the current
time ... unoccupied rooms will automatically turn off the lights if
desired - saving energy ... dimmer modules can have their levels set
by other objects ... mood & scheme lighting easily achieved through
Macros

multiple sensors, controllers, zones, heating, air-con ... control of
any number of boilers / furnaces or heating-zone valves ... control
of air-conditioning units & zoned damper-valves ... any number of
temperature-sensors ... max / min/  average values ... multiple
heating profiles ... rooms / zones ... [can] ... independent
profiles ... for different days of the week ... automatic selection
of alternate temperature profiles based upon occupancy ... automatic
dynamic adjustments of profiles based upon outside temperature ...
advanced dynamic control options ... fuzzy logic or PID control ...
logic to ensure minimum boiler loading ... to prevent short cycling

auto-arming security system, day / night zoned-protection, camera-
surveillance, auto-dial out, occupancy simulation ... a comprehensive
security alarm system ... user-configurable sensors &
annunciators ... automatic arming at night ... going to bed ...
disarming in the morning ... automatic arming if house is left
unoccupied ... optional filtering to prevent false alarms ... camera
images or video clips ... e-mailed on alarm trigger ... alarm
arming / disarming can ... action events ... email, phone ...
integrate easily with standard detectors ... PIR, break-glass ...
sounders ... support for multiple panic button sources.

answer-machine, remote-control / query via touch-tone / voice ...
event-based dial-out, user-defined actions ... integrated answer-
phone with programmable answer period & greeting / farewell
messages ... message delivery to any sound device upon presence
detected ... speech-recognition command & control via telephone ...
touch-tone command & control ... auto-dialler using programmable
phone directory triggered via network events ... [with] caller-ID
announces who is calling ... increases security by screening numbers
(requires suitable modem & subscription to Caller-ID) ... answerphone
messages ... stored as wav files ... can be listened-to using a
suitably-equipped web-browser over the 'net

announce e-mails, deliver to individual recipients, send on events,
attach images, remote control / query ... Cortex can send & receive e-
mails via a MAPI compliant e-mail application on the host PC ... eg:
MS Outlook, allowing use of existing address book ... Cortex can
alternatively use its own direct e-mail access ... steered to
specific ... message services ... checks for received e-mails at
regular intervals ... when e-mails arrive & a room is or becomes
occupied, it can announce them ... the announcement is configurable
for relevant information ... e-mails ... sent upon particular ...
events ... status information about the property, including image
attachments ... allows password-secured commands to be received via e-
mail, which may control various aspects of the system

global access to system functions, data, messages, images, via
standard web-browser ... multiple users with tailored access
rights ... built-in web-server allows very comprehensive access to
system functions locally or from anywhere in the world using a
standard web-browser ... multiple user access, secured by individual
user names & passwords ... normal, PDA and mobile-phone presentation
styles available as standard ... view / control privileges can be
set ... per-user & per-object ... restrictions on time-of-day, IP
address, or occupancy, can be set ... access attempts can be
announced over the intercoms ... object controls, parameters & data
(including historical) can be accessed ... camera images, snapshots,
video clips, can be viewed or actioned ... e-mails collected by
Cortex can be viewed ... answer-phone features accessible ... any
messages can be listened-to

single & multiple camera support, snap-shots, video-clips, motion
detection, snap-shot loops, Internet streaming, security
integration ... supports cameras installed as part of ... Windows
using DirectX technology ... from digitiser-cards or USB web-cams ...
allows default or uniquely named images to be captured when triggered
by an event ... allows other events to be triggered after an image
has been taken ... eg: send e-mail with the image as an
attachment ... multiple input-capture card supported ... allows video-
files to be recorded using an intercom as a sound source ... film-
roll concept with images automatically taken before & after an
event ... allows network streaming of live camera images ... image
motion detection can trigger a recording to be made ... or other
events ... overlays may be superimposed on the image with object
status information ... cameras ... accessed via Cortex Web Server to
allow viewing of recorded images and trigger the taking of snap-shots
or video-clips ... view multiple cameras simultaneously on web-server
in a mosaic pattern

allow system to control TV, hi-fi, etc. ... control system using any
IR remote' handset ... forward infrared packets from room to room
(remote control extender) ... transmitter can provide virtual remote-
control handsets to automate hi-fi, television, video, DVD, etc ...
receiver allows remote-control of Cortex network & logic objects ...
extends the capability ... from remote controls via the IRM-001 &
ITR-001 modules ... from 16 to practically un-limited ... allows for
sophisticated infrared relaying between rooms ... capable of acting
like buttons in responding to user-defined spoken prompt menus

schedule events based on time, day, week, date, occupancy,
reminders ... schedule functions for specific dates or times ... at
regular time-intervals ... daily ... weekly ... odd or even weeks ...
weekday ... weekend ... monthly ... yearly ... spoken reminders &
messages ... speak reminders & request user confirmation of heard
messages ... message-delivery can be dependent on room-occupancy at
specific times

hands-free conversation, message announcements, user-configurable
sound-events ... broadcast messages around the property ... deliver
messages to-user,  rather than user having to seek message from a
display ... speech-synthesis or user-recorded spoken-messages ...
sound-prompts, tunes and annunciations ... doors opening &
closing ... hand-free communication to the whole property or between
rooms, or multiple-rooms ... automatic feed-back prevention avoids
howl ... baby-monitoring from any room to any room ... shutdown-
specific intercoms at night so that occupants are not disturbed

enables real-time data to be spoken to intercom or phone, enables
spoken prompting ... uses widely available SAPI-compliant speech-
synthesis engines ... enables real-time information & guide prompts
to be spoken ... speech can also be routed to the telephone to speak
events & status-information ... allows e-mails to be spoken to
recipient ... user-defined spoken menus allow tiered-access to many
system functions ... synthesis parameters configurable ... change
pitch & tonal content ...

recognise speech & activate functions & events accordingly ...
SAPI-
compliant speech-recognition engines ... integrated 'recognition via
intercoms throughout the property ... activated from most sources ...
buttons, infrared ... engine can be trained for specific users ...
dependent on speech-engine & acoustics ... telephony-based
recognition avoids ... inconvenience of ... buttons ...

track people around the property ... improve automation ... an
innovative process for house, floor & room objects, giving them the
property of presence ... can ... determine which are occupied & track
movement between them ... can also calculate the number of people in
the property & their location ... can ... be used to trigger events
or control actions so ... they are only initiated on occupied
rooms ... use of presence rather than motion greatly enhances the
overall automation ...

huge wealth of information ... continuously logged & graphically
represented ... information about most network activities is recorded
on a daily basis ... can be viewed in graphical and / or textual
form ... temperature & light level ... heating demands & zone-valve
operation ... set-point temperature demand ... motion detection &
movement tracking ... telephone & alarm activity ... may be viewed
via ... Cortex Web Server ... compare environmental conditions on
different days

allows sharing of objects from one IDRANet to others ... single
sensor for multiple homes ... Cortex bridge feature allows one
IDRANet to share objects with other IDRANets ... remote objects ...
may be treated as if they exist locally ... bridge server shares
object to other networks ... bridge client logs onto other networks &
creates local representations

of the remote shared items ... camera images may be shared ... local
objects can control remote objects ... eg: a local button may control
a light on a remote network ...

additional unique features ... plug & play - network supervisor
recognises new modules and integrates them into the system ...
verification - Cortex can check to see if an event it has actioned
actually takes place by looking at subsequent data from user-defined
sensors ... X10 support - allows X10 lamp & appliance modules to be
treated as Cortex objects ... macros - user-programmable instructions
can be used to create complex sets of functions & commands ...
message service allows relevant information to be delivered to
specific users ... user-defined spoken menus allow tiered access to
many functions when only a limited number of buttons or remote
control codes are available ... scripting - allows advanced users to
add extra functions to Cortex using the Microsoft scripting language



On 6 Oct 2007, at 19:57, Chris Hunter wrote:

> Know the feeling !   I'll have to dig in my diary to recall my
> logic ... it was hard-won & compelling at the time !   True
presence-
> sensing was a key advantage, for sure ... as was ease of setting-up
> often complex behaviours ... .   But they all  move on & improve,
of
> course, and it looks as though all three - EIB, C-Bus, Idratek - are
> going to stay the course !   For me, the fourth option was
> Nikobus ... indeed, it still surprises me it's not more often
> mentioned ...
>
> Chris
>
>
> On 6 Oct 2007, at 17:23, Kevin Hawkins wrote:
>
>> On reflecting on my last post I guess it comes over as veering OT
and
>> yet again campaigning for xAP. That wasn't the intent...  I was
>> trying
>> to convey that creating HA interaction inside a single
manufacturers
>> product range is usually very easy and it's only when you step
>> outside
>> of their world that things become more challenging, particuarly as
>> the
>> information becomes richer eg html, XML, TV listings, databases,
>> music
>> ,pictures and video etc.  Within that context was the message that
>> whichever system you choose you should be either happy with its
>> inbuilt
>> capabilities or have a route to expand it as your needs demand.
>>
>> I would still be interested on the 'resilience' aspect that Chris
>> cited
>> as for me C-Bus is first rate. If it's a physical build quality I
>> can't
>> sensibly comment as I haven't experienced EIB or Idratek but C-Bus
>> again
>> seems really well built. If it's technical I'm interested to know
>> what
>> more these alternative systems could offer.
>>
>> Lastly after using C-Bus for a while now - yes,  there are some
>> things I
>> just wish they'd done differently, some of which might have made
the
>> product slightly more expensive but there you go.....I'm sure
that's
>> true whatever system you put in.
>>
>>    Kevin
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]