Smart Homes

Areas, as example:

Doors and locks
- Front entrance, door bell, remotly accessible camera
- Garage door
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- thermostats
- fans
Lights and power, switches, dimmers, fans
Security - alarm system
Sensors - measurements of temperatures, humidity, presence (who's home and not)
Sprinklers - watering lawn, flower beds.
Communications
- Internet
- Telephony
- TV, over-air, cable - Coax, Satellite
- Postal, delivery, shipping and receiving
Utilities
- Gas, & oil (for the ones still using oil...)
- Electricity
- Water
- Waste

Smart Home Hubs:

Issues:

Configuration and Administration - it can be rather complicated to set up many devices and users
Interoperability - too many disconnected and incompatible technologies still in use.
Confidentiality, Security - criticial aspect that must be a top priority, including both regarding products and technologies selected, and configuration thereof.
Integrity - are components really doing what there are supposed to do? We have examples of not the case... Contact us to learn more.
Availability - during what circumstances may system components become unavailable? What can be done to prevent and correct.

Resources:

Protocols used in smart homes
- Overview - requires Silver membership
- Details - ###
EnvisaLink™ Third Party Interface (TPI) - real-time utilties for working with TPI protocol.

Wi Mag May 2015 From The Smart Home Butler Organizes Your Connected Things, Wireless & RF Magazine, May 2015