Advantages To A Wireless Security System

05/05/2020 | Ashwanth k

According

to the National Crime Statistics, home robberies occur every 12 seconds. While there are multiple security options available, here are five reasons why a wireless home security system is the superior option when it comes to providing homeowners with peace of mind.

Easy Install

Simpler to install than traditional systems, the wireless security system keeps the hassle of running wires and drilling holes through walls, ceilings, woodwork, and concrete to a minimum. When choosing to go wireless, motion detectors, glass breaks, door contacts, and window contacts can be placed wherever activity needs to be tracked. And, the addition of extra devices is also hassle-free.

Flexible Options

For decades, dating back to the old “tin can” systems, home security systems have been a purchase that only homeowners could justify. Not today, wireless systems are so convenient to set-up that even a renter can have the assurance that their residence is secure with a top of the line system. Because of the convenient set-up, takedown is just as easy. If you move homes, you can take your wireless system with you.

Less Vulnerable

With hardwired security systems, the homeowner is exposed to vulnerabilities such as power grids, phone lines, and internet connections. This means whenever there is a cut line or power outage a hardwired system becomes inoperable. Wireless systems are not vulnerable to such scenarios. A battery-powered back-up keeps the system operating when power is lost. Wireless systems are resistant to savvy criminals who can cut phone lines or power lines. Some systems also protect against “crash and smash” attacks, alerting professional monitoring stations even if the security panel is damaged or destroyed.

Provides A Platform For Whole Home Solutions

Wireless systems utilize wireless communications, making them ideal for home and vacation properties without the need for a phone line. With advancing technology, wireless systems now offer activity notifications and system alerts to keep you alert of activity on your properties. Today, there is automation. You now have the option to control lighting, temperature, door locks, and your security system from anywhere using your smartphone.

Simple To Troubleshoot

An added benefit of a wireless security system is that if a problem arises it can be identified and often fixed by the installer remotely. Many times wireless systems will even do their own troubleshooting and notify you of the problem.

A homeowner’s home is their sanctuary, a place to go and rest, find comfort, and have a peace of mind. When considering a security system to keep your home safe and secure consider the advantages of the wireless security system.

Reasons Why Integrators Are Taking Advantage Of Z-Wave Home Automation

05/05/2020 | Ashwanth k

Many.

integrators choose to rely on Z-Wave-based systems for their residential and commercial customers, and that number is growing larger every day. If you have been considering using Z-Wave home automation technology for upcoming projects, read on to learn about the many benefits Z-Wave has to offer integrators.

Easy Installation

Because Z-Wave products are wireless, you have a lot more flexibility for when and how you install the devices. Many devices install by attaching to a magnet on the wall, simple as that. The protocol operates on a different frequency than Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you don’t have to worry about interference, and because of the low range of the Z-Wave standard, you never have to worry about devices having to be in close proximity to the control hub. Z-Wave is interoperable with more than 1,500 different products, far beyond the basic DIY starter kits sold in stores.

Growth Opportunities

Many integrators view DIY home automation as a bad thing, but consider it from a different angle: with DIY Z-Wave products, many homeowners dip their toes into the world of home automation, and they like what they find there. Quickly, they move beyond the realm of DIY and are in need of an integrator for more complex automation programming. By this point, they already have a good foundation, so they’re going to seek an integrator who supports Z-Wave devices. The initial legwork has already been done, and now you can provide them with services for growing their DIY project into a full-scale smart home.

Access To Member Benefits

Z-Wave integrators that choose to join the Z-Wave India gain access to all sorts of training and education materials that make it easy to stay on top of the latest tips and technological advances in home automation. Members also have access to exclusive support for integrator questions and discussions. Most importantly, Z-Wave India members are added to a directory of certified Z-Wave India installers, putting your company in front of interested clients in your area.

There are many other advantages to getting started with Z-Wave integration, and there’s no better Z-Wave company to start with than Z-Wave India Home Automation. Created by integrators for integrators, Z-Wave India is a leader in providing quality Z-Wave devices directly to the integrator channel. You can learn more about Z-Wave India Home Automation’s line of Z-Wave products that can be included in any Z-Wave-based smart home by visiting our products page. And if you’re interested in becoming a Z-Wave India installer, contact the Z-Wave India today.

How To Make Most Of Your Z-Wave Sensors

05/05/2020 | Ashwanth k

EXPLORE THE WAYS YOU CAN USE ALARM DEVICES

One of the things we love most about Z-Wave products is how versatile they are. A single device can have many different applications and uses! In today’s blog, we’re going to look at the Dome Z-Wave Alarm Siren and talk about the different ways you can make it part of your everyday life. Dome’s alarm siren sensor is more than just a loud siren for security. It has ten different programmable chimes and three-volume levels, so homeowners can set pleasant alerts and sound notifications for all sorts of events. Keep reading to explore the possibilities!

Set Daily Reminders

If you struggle to get out the door on time each morning, why not set up a friendly alert that lets you know that you have 15 minutes left before it’s time to head to work? The chime will help keep you on track. You can also set up reminders for other events throughout the day, such as an alert that it’s time to take a medication or water the plants.

Know When The Kids Arrive Home From School

A simple chirp can be a helpful notification that a family member has left for the day or is home from work. Just connect your Z-Wave siren to the door sensors attached to the entryway, backdoor, and even the garage. You’ll never have to worry about a family member sneaking up on you while you’re washing the dishes or watching TV.

Warn Off Intruders

It’s not enough to know that an intruder is trying to enter your home—you need the intruder to know that you know! Just set up the alarm siren to ring out as soon as the unauthorized entry is detected. The person attempting to break into your home will get the picture that your home has an alarm system, and they’ll book it away from your property.

Be Aware Of Danger Instantly

The alarm siren can provide other useful alerts for you and your family. You can connect the siren to your smoke detector, CO detector, and water leak sensors. That way, you’ll know instantly about any environmental threats. If a broken pipe is flooding your basement or bathroom, the siren can send out visual and audible alerts so that you can immediately do damage control (assuming you don’t have an automatic water main shut-off valve to stop water leaks the moment they’re detected).

Tell Everyone It’s Dinner Time

Having trouble getting the family to come downstairs to spend some quality time around the dinner table? Instead of shouting around the house to “come and get it,” just pull out your smartphone and turn on the “Dinner” chime. Everyone will hear and know that it’s chow time.

Stay In The Loop Even When You Can’t Hear

There are times when an audible alert isn’t the most effective option. What if you’re in the living room watching an action movie with the volume turned all the way up or listening to music while wearing noise-canceling headphones? Well, all you need to do is set up visual alerts for your alarm siren. You can connect your siren to your TV or smartphone and have it send you a visual message instead of (or in addition to) the audible chime.

Make Life Easier For Family Members With Disabilities

If someone in your home struggles with hearing or vision loss, a smart siren allows them to easily keep track of what’s going on. A family member without sight can be alerted by a chime when someone enters their room, and a visual alert on the television might help deaf loved ones stay safe in the event of a fire or other emergency. The siren’s flexible design ensures that you can prioritize the alerts that matter most for your family.

With a Z-Wave alarm siren, you can do so much to make the technology fit your lifestyle and personality. Ready to set up your own alerts? Order the Dome Siren Sensor here, and explore our other Z-Wave products to see how else smart home devices can make your life easier.

Smart Home System For Energy Saving | Z Wave India

29/05/2020 | Ashwanth k

Nowadays, increasing energy efficiency is used to face the great world challenges, such as energy security, air pollution, climate change, and economic crises, among others. Energy efficiency alternatives have the power to optimize energy consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing positively to the preservation of natural ecosystems and human health. Additionally, energy efficiency alternatives help mitigate the economic effects in the workplace. For this reason, organizations and governments worldwide are proposing actions for energy conservation with the purpose of reducing energy-related inconveniences. The residential sector is attributed a high energy consumption; however, home automation systems (HAS), combined with IoT, are alternatives that promise to contribute to greater energy efficiency

Likewise, advances in energy conversion, communication, and information technologies have paved the way for a new generation of homes—smart homes—thus allowing people to improve aspects of their houses, such as comfort, convenience, safety, and entertainment, while simultaneously helping them to cut energy waste. Additionally, Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are important in achieving the goals of smart energy homes in many countries. Likewise, the smart home market is growing rapidly. In particular, it is improving in areas such as fire detection, lighting, entertainment, and energy efficiency systems, among others. In addition, in recent years, energy conservation action plans for the residential sector have gained prominence, since they contemplate indoor comfort and energy efficiency. In this sense, it is worth mentioning that user behavior patterns in terms of energy consumption change according to user needs and lifestyles, yet there is always an inclination to maintain indoor comfort at the expense of power-saving. Therefore, to design and implement effective energy-saving action plans, it is important to know not only the link between indoor comfort and energy consumption but also home characteristics and home resident needs.

Materials And Methods

Home automation is a component of the appliance domain IoT personal and social and thus offers many opportunities for developing new useful applications. Home automation refers to a set of techniques aimed toward automating a home, which integrates technology into security, energy management, and welfare. Comfort is essential in a home automation system and comprises all the actions performed to improve the way home residents feel in their houses. However, home automation applied within the IoT faces a serious challenge—few communication systems ensure device interconnectivity. This problem arises from the lack of unified protocols and the many different lifestyles of users coexisting in smart cities.

Architecture Description

HEMS IoT is a home vitality the executive’s framework that looks to add to the solace and 

security of smart homes, while simultaneously helping residents save energy. To this end, HEMS-IoT utilizes IoT gadgets, huge information advancements, and AI to oversee vitality utilization. Also, HEMS-IoT allows for the real-time monitoring of domotic devices and home sensors. All the information obtained is analyzed and processed using machine learning algorithms to learn energy consumption patterns and user behavior patterns and make relevant recommendations for cutting energy waste.

HEMS-IoT: Architecture And Functionality

HEMS-IoT has seven-layered engineering, which encourages the framework’s upkeep and allows for high scalability. The architecture of HEMS-IoT is presented and integrates the presentation

of the IoT services layer, the security layer, the management layer, the communication layer, the data layer, and the device layer. Every layer has a clearly defined function and includes multiple components having a specific functionality within their corresponding layer. 

• Presentation layer. This layer ensures bonding between the user and the system through the Presentation layer. This layer ensures bonding between the user and the system through either a mobile application or a web application. At the presentation layer, users can visualize energy consumption data, available IoT services, power consumption history, and recommendations. As a web application, HEMS-IoT receives information and allows users to manipulate and control domotic devices through various devices. As a mobile application, HEMS-IoT works on the Android operating system for users to manage and control domotic devices. In addition, with the mobile application, users monitor home domotic devices, incorporate new rooms, remove or add domotic devices from a particular room in the house and obtain energy-saving recommendations. The application also displays charts to consult energy consumption patterns on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and offers users energy-saving recommendations for their smart homes.

• Security layer. This layer guarantees information security and hence guarantees the confidentiality and secure collection of data from the device layer. Communication between the device layer and the security layer is not direct since they communicate through the communication layer and the management layer.
• IoT services layer. This layer serves as a link between the application layer and the management layer. Additionally, this layer provides various REST services, allowing users to fully exploit the functionalities of HEMS-IoT. 
• Management layer. This layer performs and manages the actions to meet user requirements requested at the application layer. To this end, the IoT layer uses the REST API to ensure communication between the presentation layer and the management layer. 
• Data layer. This layer saves the data generated in the device layer. Namely, the data layer relies on modules to manage five types of information: recommendations, service profiles, sensed data, device profiles, and user profiles. The recommendations module is responsible for managing comfort and energy-saving recommendations. In turn, the service profile manages data on the provision of system services. The sensed data module saves and manages all the information collected by the device layer from the smart home, such as gas/water/energy consumption and room temperature, among others. The device profile module handles data on domotic devices, such as their status and location, among others. Finally, the user profile module manages user information, such as a full address, name, and gender, among others.
• Communication layer. This layer considers elements such as a set of sensors, HTTP and TCP/IP, and 4G communication to establish the communication protocols for each domotic device. Other layers in the architecture communicate with each other through the communication layer.  
• Device layer.  This layer facilitates data linkage and reception from various domotic devices. Also, the device layer controls the actuators and home automation devices. The following subsections describe the most important aspects of HEMS-IoT.

Device Layer

An efficient home energy-saving system must take into account resident preferences in order to successfully control how domotic devices operate in the house. However, home energy consumption also depends on other factors,  such as external environment,  natural ventilation,  temperature variations through seasons, and the age of residents, to name but a few. A few instances of the gadgets considered in the gadget layer of HEMS-IoT are recorded as follows:

• Gateways.  These objects allow smart home automation devices to remain interconnected. Likewise, gateways are the link between external networks and domotic devices installed in the smart home and make it easier to control domotic devices both remotely and locally.  The gateways used in smart homes are border devices that allow access between external and local networks within a house. Because the different home automation devices linked to the smart home connect to other networks or even the Internet, gateways handle the main communication access between those networks.
• Sensors. They collect data on different parameters of the smart home, such as the risk of burglary, gas or water leaks, and room temperature, among others.
• Actuators. They are usually of various types and are installed throughout the house. Actuators are used to change the status of domotic devices and some home facilities. For instance, actuators can interrupt the water and gas supply,  issue failure or risk warnings, increase or decrease the temperature from air conditioners, or adjust light intensity from smart bulbs.
• Controllers. These devices allow users to control domotic devices with respect to the chosen parameters. HEMS-IoT recovers information from the different sensors introduced in a house and procedures the information by methods for a calculation. Then, the system prepares the rules necessary to invoke the actuators.  Likewise,  HEMS-IoT allows users to monitor the status of the operating domotic devices, thus making home residents completely involved in the process. Users can also control and program the actuators and sensors installed in the smart house through a centralized control system and using a touch screen, a keyboard, or a voice interface, among others.

Communication Layer

Home needs vary across smart homes, yet the most common include indoor cooling or heating, hot water, and lighting.  HEMS-IoT needs to draw upon on reliable communication networks to successfully retrieve energy consumption data and user behavior data. Some of the protocols used in the communication layer of HEMS-IoT are listed below:

• ZigBee. The ZigBee Alliance developed the ZigBee protocol following the IEEE802.15.4, a low-power wireless network standard. ZigBee is a low-cost and high-level protocol used to establish personal networks through reduced, low-power digital radios that send information wirelessly to larger areas. In addition, ZigBee is used in low information rate applications that require secure networking and long battery life. Finally, ZigBee considers various kinds of network topologies, including the tree, star, and mesh topologies.
• TCP/IP.  The  US  Department of  Defense developed the  Transfer  Control  Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) with the purpose of intercommunicating computers with various operating systems (minicomputers, PCs, and central computers), which work in local area networks (LAN) or wide area networks  (WAN). The  TCP/IP  protocol is a group of protocols that determine various premises and rules for machines from different providers to exchange data through public telephone networks, such as WAN and LAN networks. Internet design is based on the TCP/IP protocol.
•  HTTP/IP. The World Wide  Web Consortium (W3C)  and the Internet Engineering  Task  Force (IETF)  developed the  Hypertext  Transfer  Protocol  (HTTP),  which is used in any type of transaction made over the  Internet. HTTP  helps to define the semantics and syntax used by various agents (servers,  clients, and proxy) to communicate among them. HTTP  is a  request-response-client-server protocol, where the HTTP user sends a request to an HTTP server; then, the server returns the message with a  response.  User requirements include programs, translations, files, and database queries, among others. All the data executed on the Web through HTTP are identified with either an HTTP address or a uniform resource locator (URL).

The communication layer helps home residents control smart home devices, both intelligently and efficiently. The goal in this layer is to collect information from the different  IoT-based devices installed in a smart home. These data provide information on the home, such as energy consumption, room temperature, motion, and the air conditioner’s temperature, to name but a few. 

sensors are a key element in smart home monitoring. By collecting real-time information,  sensors allow  HEMS-IoT to analyze and identify how much power smart home appliances and devices are consuming. Users can visualize and monitor this information on a daily basis to make the necessary energy-saving adjustments. Also, thanks to sensors, HEMS-IoT can issue appropriate energy-saving recommendations and invoke both basic services (e.g.,  plumbing and electrical repairs) and emergency services (e.g., police, firefighters) when required.Management Layer 

This layer uses machine learning and big data storage technologies to easily manage and analyze the information collected in the device layer. Similarly, information access commands are encapsulated by the management layer to ensure information security. The management layer also identifies user behavior patterns and classifies homes according to their energy consumption patterns using the API of Weka 3.8, which is the stable version of the open-source software and successfully helps HEMS-IoT comply with the required functionalities. To classify data and generate energy-saving recommendations, HEMS-IoT uses an open-source Java implementation of algorithm C4.5, which is the J48 machine learning algorithm. C4.5 and J48 are used to generate decision trees, and they are classification algorithms. Classification algorithms are widely used in healthcare and have proved to yield outstanding results in the diagnosis of hepatitis, cancer, heart disease, eye diseases, and tumors on digital mammograms. In addition, J48 has a better performance than other algorithms, such as random forest, CART, random tree, fuzzy C-means, and REPTree. 

HEMS-IoT was developed and implemented in a modular and generic way, with better application extensibility, ease of implementation, and with a view to high performance. The tasks performed by the management layer can be divided into four groups: 

• User management. Comprises actions such as deleting and editing user-profiles and user registration, among others. 
• Home management. Encompasses actions of knowledge deletion, data editing, and management of domotic devices, among others. To this end, we used a subversion of the online ontology language (OWL), the OWL-DL, which is predicated on the SHI2 description logic. Likewise, OWL-DL has a broad vocabulary and greater expressiveness than RDFS. depicts a fragment of the developed ontology, which presents the main domotic concepts, such as home activity, environment, entity, and stay, among others. We also followed the Methontology method to develop the house automation ontology.
• Recommender system.This system issues recommendation for energy-saving and home comfort based on home residents’ behavioral patterns. To this end, the system takes into account both daily and average energy consumption values from each domotic device, which allows the system to generate the rules in the algorithm. Therefore, smart homes are classified on a daily basis with respect to four energy consumption categories: normal, low, medium, and high.

IoT Services Layer

This layer provides various REST-based web services to communicate with both the application layer and the management layer. Therefore, HEMS-IoT clients can without much of a stretch interface with the framework’s functionalities. The main components in this layer are described below: 

• REST API. REST collects information or performs operations on such information in all possible formats, such as JSON and XML, using HTTP. REST is a good option if compared to other protocols for information exchange, such as the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), which has a high capacity but is a complicated Smart Home System for Energy Saving.
• Service selector. This module validates the parameters passed on by the presentation layer and choosing the required services. Likewise, the service selector has the power to either give or deny services, according to the authentication data and received parameters

Security Layer

This layer guarantees data confidentiality and can retrieve data protected by both the device layer and the end-users. The communication layer and the administration layer facilitate communication between the security layer and the device layer. This layer considers two security components, authorization, and authentication, described below: 

• Authentication. This refers to the act of validating with evidence that something/someone is what/who they claim to be. Object/device authentication involves ensuring its origin, whereas confirming user identity usually implies user authentication. In HEMS-IoT, user authentication requires ensuring that the user who wishes to interact with the system is truly who he/she claims to be. When this is the case, HEMS-IoT authorizes said user to access the Smart Home System for Energy Saving.
• Authorization. This occurs after user identity is authenticated by the system. The goal of authorization mechanisms is to protect user information and prevent unauthorized or unidentified users from accessing data or performing particular tasks. Authorization and authentication are different since authorization involves the tasks that users are allowed to perform or the information that can access once their identity is confirmed. User authorization is applied either to individual elements or to a set of them. In smart home management systems, each element relates to an activity to be run.

Presentation Layer

As a mobile application, HEMS-IoT works on the Android operating system. Figure 4a illustrates the application’s menu list on the presentation layer. The main menu options include home (i.e., return to the initial screen), favorites (rapidly access preferred rooms), statistics (visualize energy consumption patterns), rooms (view homerooms), and devices (visualize domotic devices and sensors connected to the smart home). Additionally, the application’s menu allows users to add and remove devices or rooms, view existing user profiles, consult and change application settings, and exit the application. illustrates samples of comfort, safety, and energy-saving recommendations issued by HEMS-IoT.

Smart Home Automation Systems Designed To Meet Market Requirements | Z Wave India

29/05/2020 | Ashwanth k

The new home automation system by Z-Wave India is the evolution of the well-known Z-Wave smart-house system: it looks after your houses in the best possible way, making them comfortable for you and your loved ones. It combines this comfortable living with energy-saving, using state-of-the-art technology to improve your well-being and reduce your carbon footprint.

The complete range of products is designed for Indian Subcontinent homes. The system is based on a centralized structure, where the controller is the “brain” that supervises all the domestic functions such as lights, temperatures, roller blinds,  shutters and intruders, gas, and water leaks alarms.

New modules and functionalities can be included whenever, making the home “alive” and letting you adjust it as indicated by your desires, which may change after some time. It also allows you to be aware of energy consumption, providing analysis of current consumption as well as the logging of what has been consumed in the previous days, months, or years. 

Wireless, Modular, and Retrofit installations are the ease with our all-new Smart Home Automation system, as it features a full range of wireless products that require no additional wiring. The new smart app complements traditional methods of managing sophisticated home automation technologies. It works seamlessly with any Z-Wave controller and it is completely configurable so that you can select your own themes.

Thanks to our smart Z-Wave insert modules, any existing electrical switch or socket can be turned into a smart switch or socket and be controlled using a smartphone. No additional wiring is required. Due to the compact size of the modules, they can be fixed anywhere and behind any switchboard. 

All our products and voice-enabled and work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, giving users a hands-free voice automation convenience. 

The smart app is also designed as a web app to be accessible via any smartphone, tablet pc. Our all-new modern, intuitive and user-friendly app allows the control of electrical appliances, lights,  curtains, and roller blinds, alarms, timers, AC temperature, and more, both remotely and on-site, all from a smartphone.

Furthermore, the smart app enables access to the datalogger where energy data, temperatures, and other events are stored,  in order to have a clear overview of which appliances are on and how much they are consuming.

Why You Need The Best Company For Home Automation Install

11/06/2020 | Ashwanth k

Select The Devices And The Company That Works With Your Smart Ecosystem. 

There are many big companies such as Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Google vying to be the smart home ecosystem. Since part of the power of smart home, technology is the ability for devices to communicate and integrate, it’s important to consider when shopping for devices that ‘work with’ information posted on the box and the company that is trying to sell and install is authorized to do so. 

Luckily, many of these devices play well with several ecosystems, so you’re not trying to make a decision between all the ecosystems to choose from. Cross compatibility and backward compatibility is what you would ask the dealer about before they install any device in your home. 

Besides reasons like best service, best price, best advice, and best support, the companies you choose to get your smart home project done need to be checked and looked up very carefully. Ask for references and professional support letters before you handle a project down.  

Home automation often includes home security and only the household members are supposed to know everything pertaining to a home’s security systems. Security information like lock codes, alarm codes need to be kept secret from other people. This is because it is impossible to tell the intentions of those around you. There are many cases of people being robbed by the people who are closest to them. 

Apart from protecting the details of your security systems codes and emergency information, be cautious when selecting the installation firms as well. While doing their work, the technicians will get to know everything about your security system, including your unique codes. They will also know all the strengths and weaknesses of the system. They would know the dead spots or spots that are not covered by the security cameras. In fact, they will have more information about the security system than the owner does. 

Do not be quick to pick a company that offers the cheapest rates. It is important to understand their credibility first. Inexperienced, unauthorized smart home companies will make you lose more money in the long run. They will cause you more anguish. Companies employ technicians without much background checks. It is very important to screen every technician who works on your property. 

Integrity – Those who work with home automation and security system installations know the sensitivity of their work. The safety of their clients depends on their ability to be professional. System installers who don’t secure their client’s information are a target for hackers.