Design and Implementation of a WiFi Based Home Automation System

Design and Implementation of a WiFi Based Home Automation System

Abstract—This paper presents a design and prototype implementation of new home automation system that uses WiFi technology as a network infrastructure connecting its parts. The proposed system consists of two main components; the first part is the server (web server), which presents system core that manages, controls, and monitors users’ home. Users and system administrator can locally (LAN) or remotely (internet) manage and control system code. Second part is hardware interface module, which provides appropriate interface to sensors and actuator of home automation system. Unlike most of available home automation system in the market the proposed system is scalable that one server can manage many hardware interface modules as long as it exists on WiFi network coverage. System supports a wide range of home automation devices like power management components, and security components. The proposed system is better from the scalability and flexibility point of view than the commercially available home automation systems. Keywords—Home automation, Wireless LAN, WiFi, MicroControllers I. INTRODUCTION A.Overview [1] OWADAYS home and building automation systems are used more and more. On the one hand, they provide increased comfort especially when employed in a private home. On the other hand, automation systems installed in commercial buildings do not only increase comfort, but also allow centralized control of heating, ventilation, air condition and lighting. Hence, they contribute to an overall cost reduction and also to energy saving which is certainly a main issue today. Existing, well-established systems are based on wired communication. Examples include BACnet, LonWorks and KNX [1]. Employing a traditional wired automation system does not pose a problem as long as the system is planned before and installed during the physical construction of the building. If, however, already existing buildings should be augmented with automation systems, this requires much effort and mush cost since cabling is necessary. Obviously, wireless systems [1] can come to help here. In the past few years, wireless technologies reached their breakthrough. Wireless based systems, used every day and everywhere, range from wireless home networks and mobile phones to garage door openers. As of today, little comparative research of wireless automation standards has been done, although such knowledge would provide valuable information to everyone looking for the most suitable system for given requirements. Ahmed ElShafee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Faculty of Computer Science and IT, Ahram Canadian University, 6th October City, Giza, Egypt. & Member IEEE, aelshafee@ieee.org Karim Alaa Hamed, B.Sc., Teaching assistant, Faculty of Computer Science and IT ,Ahram Canadian University, 6th October City, Giza, Egypt., karimalaahamed@hotmail.com B.Features and benefits of home automation systems [2] In recent years, wireless systems like WLAN have become more and more common in home networking. Also in home and building automation systems, the use of wireless technologies gives several advantages that could not be achieved using a wired network only. 1) Reduced installation costs: First and foremost, installation costs are significantly reduced since no cabling is necessary. Wired solutions require cabling, where material as well as the professional laying of cables (e.g. into walls) is expensive. 2) Easy deployment, installation, and coverage: Wireless nodes can be mounted almost anywhere. In adjacent or remote places, where cabling may not be feasible at all, e.g., a garden house or the patio, connection to the home network is accomplished instantly by simply mounting nodes in the area. Hence, wireless technology also helps to enlarge the covered area. 3) System scalability and easy extension: Deploying a wireless network is especially advantageous when, due to new or changed requirements, extension of the network is necessary. In contrast to wired installations, additional nodes do not require additional cabling which makes extension rather trivial. This makes wireless installations a seminal investment. 4) Aesthetical benefits: As mentioned before, placement of wireless nodes is easy. Apart from covering a larger area, this attribute helps to full aesthetical requirements as well. Examples include representative buildings with all-glass architecture and historical buildings where design or conservatory reasons do not allow laying of cables. 5) Integration of mobile devices: With wireless networks, associating mobile devices such as PDAs and Smartphones with the automation system becomes possible everywhere and at any time, as a device's exact physical location is no longer crucial for a connection (as long as the device is in reach of the network). Typical examples include an engineer who connects to the network, performs a particular management task, and disconnects after having finished the task; or control of blinds using a remote control. For all these reasons, wireless technology is not only an attractive choice in renovation and refurbishment, but also for new installations. II. SYSTEM ANALYSIS A.Problem definition Home automation systems face four main challenges [3], these are high cost of ownership, inflexibility, poor manageability, and difficulty achieving security. The main objectives of that research is to design and to implement a cheap and open source home automation system that is capable of controlling and automating most of the house appliance through an easy manageable web interface to run Design and Implementation of a WiFi Based Home Automation System Ahmed ElShafee, Karim Alaa Hamed N World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Computer, Electrical, Automation, Control and Information Engineering Vol:6, No:8, 2012 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 6(8) 2012 1074 scholar.waset.org/1999.4/5037 International Science Index, Computer and Information Engineering Vol:6, No:8, 2012 waset.org/Publication/5037 and maintain the home automation system. The proposed system has a great flexibility by using WiFi technology to interconnect its distributed modules to home automation server. That will decrease deployment cost and will increase the ability of upgrading, and system reconfiguration. System will make use of secure wireless LAN connections between distributed hardware modules and server, and secure communication protocols between users and server. B. Proposed system feature The proposed system is a distributed home automation system, consists of server, hardware interface modules. Server controls hardware one interface module, and can be easily configured to handle more hardware interface module. The hardware interface module in turn controls its alarms and actuators. Server is a normal PC, with built in WiFi card, acts as web server. The webserver software is developed using asp.net technology, so web server should support asp application and.net frame work 4.0, like IIS7.0 for windows OS. System can be accessed from the web browser of any local PC in the same LAN using server IP, or remotely from any PC or mobile handheld device connected to the internet with appropriate web browser supports asp.net technology through server real IP (internet IP). WiFi technology is selected to be the network infrastructure that connects server and hardware interface modules. WiFi is chosen to improve system security (by using secure WiFi connection), and to increase system mobility and scalability. Even if, user intends to add new hardware interface modules out of the coverage of central access point, repeaters or managed wireless LAN will perfectly solve that problem. The main functions of the server is to manage, control, and monitor distrusted system components, that enables hardware interface modules to execute their assigned tasks (through actuators), and to report server with triggered events (from sensors). In setup mode, user can add and remove hardware interface modules, and can create basic macros involving simple triggers and to customize the macros to perform complex series of events. Macros can be activated manually or as a reaction for certain trigger like motion sensors and surveillance cameras. User can also program macros to activate at random; this feature allows your system to turn the lights on and off at random or semi-random intervals. In running mode, if hardware interface modules report server with received events and execute their pre-programmed macros.