Smarthome unveils Insteon wired/wireless home network

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(06/07/04, 9:24:06 AM PT)

Irvine, Ca. -- Smarthome, Inc. has just unveiled -Insteon, what it claims is the first home automation network technology to combine the home's existing wiring, or powerline, with wireless to serve as a secure, reliable and fast connection for automatic or remote control of lighting, security, entertainment systems, appliances, climate and more. 

According to Joe Dada, president and CEO of Smarthome, Insteon was developed over the past four years by company engineers with a focus on making it operate at least 30 times faster than X10, the home automation standard for the past 30 years that works exclusively through the powerline.  

He said the combination of powerline with RF offers the cost benefits and efficiencies of powerline communication and the wireless connectivity required for certain applications in or outside the home. 

The Insteon protocols, he said use enhanced powerline communications to perform "mission-critical" home automation tasks such as remotely locking the front door or automatically filling the swimming pool, and wireless RF for less critical links.  

The installation of Insteon home automation devices features a simple "Plug and Tap" process. "In the past, most efforts to create a reliable home automationnetwork concentrated on broadband technology, while today many are focused on exclusively wireless orpowerline solutions," said Dan Cregg, vice president of engineering for Smarthome. "We wanted the best of both worlds -- affordable and efficient powerline technology combined with RF to provide extended reach as needed and to work with wireless applications." 

Using the dual wired/wireless connectivity architecture, he said, in, for example a diskwasher, the appliance could be programmed to not turn on when the washing machine is in use or when someone is taking a shower. When the dryer's cycle is complete, a pleasant voice can remotely tell a user their "Clothing is finished," instead of a loud buzz.  

Other examples of applications for homeowners using this approach, he said, include receiving a text message on their mobile phone if a refrigerator stops working or the plumbing leaks, adjusting outdoor speakers via a wireless controller, and changing room temperature automatically when entering a new room by carrying a wireless thermostat.

For more information on the new networking scheme, go to www.smarthome.com.

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