Re: Ethernet-based systems for DIY?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:06:05 GMT, Tommi Herva
<extin@poista_tämä_tästä_suomi24.fi> wrote in message
<NxVfh.210$_z6.152@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>Don Stratton kirjoitti:
>> I have been carefully considering what I would like to see in total
>> home automation for a long time.  it can best be described as Star Trek
>> technology; I want to know pretty much everything going on in my home
>> and I want a high level of computing assistance (voice responce,
>> internet interactivity, intelligent alarm systems that correlate
>> multiple sensors to evaluate threat and response, tons more).
>>
>> Needless to say I have not found it.
>>
>> I can find pretty much all of it in bits and pieces, but nothing that
>> would logically stitch together very well.  Systems like X10 are weak
>> in security, alarm systems are weak in home automation, media systems
>> ignore both, very little of it embraces a do-it-yourselfer, most
>> systems don't scale or intergrate well with each other, and good
>> software is absolutely non-existant.  Which brings me to my point.
>>
>> _IF_ I am right and nothing "good" exists, I may be interested in
>> building it myself.  I say this both as an interested homeowner who's
>> handy with a soldering iron, and as the owner and senior engineer of a
>> company that makes consumer electronic gear.  I did a quick block
>> design of a data aquisition module I thought would be a good idea
>> (multiple A/D, multiple GPIO and video inputs with ethernet out back to
>> the base), checked the net to find nothing quite like it, and am
>> intrigued by the idea of developing it into a full-fledged commercial
>> product.  My thinking is that systems like this should be more cellular
>> in nature, and this DAQ would seem to allow for all home security
>> sensing needs, some or all of home monitoring needs, easy as hell for
>> DIY installation and integration into existing sensor systems, and
>> absolute expandability in the form of ethernet output.  VERY simple
>> software would allow you to do a lot, very complex software boggles my
>> mind in terms of sheer potential (the Star Trek stuff).
>>
>> Am I wrong?  Can someone recommend what they think are good systems and
>> components?
>>
>>
>> --Don
>>
>I'm thinking of doing something alike. There really isn't any good
>choices for doing what you want (or I haven't found one). The tibbo
>suggested earlier costs >50$ and you need hardware around it too.
>Have a look at http://www.tuxgraphics.org/electronics/
>this is one approach I'm considering. It certainly isn't fast enough to
>deliver video, audio could be possible, but this would make for a cheap
>networked data acquisition. AVR's have A/D and GPIO built in. Cost per
>unit in small quantities is quite low ~15$. Mix in power over ethernet,
>and you've got yourself a good start.


The idea of distributed I/O with ethernet/internet connection has been
implemented and marketed since at least 1999 when Savoy introduced CyberHouse
, a client server that could communicated with many, many specialized devices
( eg thermostats, X-10 and several different hardwired lighting systems, spa
controls, IR control, security panels, audio, video, and so on) as well as
general purpose I/O over RS-485 twisted pair via up to 32  Elk MM443S (four
analog in, 4-10amp relays, timers, counters, RT clock, temperature in a
single, small, wall-mountable, paintable module) and related accessories
(I-button keyfob entry, recorded/able audio, etc).

The concept of an AVR + ethernet module was implement and marketed by about
2000-1 when Netmedia introduced the BX-24, LCD+ and Siteplayer.

The small processor + POE + TCP/IP concept scales upward to Pentium PC's small
enough to be installed in a US wall switch box and powered by POE but powerful
enough to deliver full-motion video (available from, eg Dell Business
division/sales).

Where in that continuum do you want to be?  What is the market? What cost
point? Who will write the software?

... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECONtrol.org