Intelligent Hierarchical Structures For House
Management
Cerasela Cămui Dinu
Politehnica University of Bucharest, Spl. Independentei 313,
Bucharest, Romania
cerase_d@yahoo
Abstract — Home automation or domotics is a recent term
intendment to describe a management and automation of home
resources and consumptions. The advantages offered by the
advance of electronic devices, allow a better use and an
integrated management of equipment within the house. Such an
approach brings an improvement in life quality increase safety
and service capabilities. Using dedicated modules and devices,
electric energy consumption costs can be optimized. Also, the
advance of integrated sensors for presence and motion allow a
better management of lights or temperature inside the house. As
a secondary goal, such houses are suitable to the European Union
directives that focus on support for persons with disabilities.
Keywords - Intelligent House, Integrate Sensors, Energy
Management
I. INTRODUCTION
The dwelling today is a plurality of systems in becoming
more complex, like communication, entertainment, air
conditioning, ventilation, heating, and safety monitoring. It is
composed of applications that make life more enjoyable.
The concept of home automation control provides a simple
and intelligent coordination of multiple technologies and
different housing systems by interconnecting several
applications. This results in a flawless collaboration
harmonized between audio-video, home cinema, lighting
systems, safety devices, air conditioning, communication
technology, internet and more control can be owned by the
user, e.g. remote control or via an interface, or performed
automatically.
The possibility of taking control by the user is the main
difference between the two concepts: building automation and
home automation. Are known longer automatically controlled
applications in buildings (building automation) as well as air-
conditioning and heating, locks the doors and windows or
monitoring facilities. While building automation applications
are mostly programmed once and then monitored and computer
controlled, home automation applications are modified, tailored
to the user according to their wishes. Therefore, ergonomics
plays an important role in this regard. Both the interface and
the remote control must be intuitive and easy to use. In addition
to applications for building automation, home automation
includes other applications such as multimedia communication
systems, automatic sprinkler systems. To control home
automation applications are required electronic systems
optimally adapted to each other.
II. HOME AUTOMATION
Home automation is a recent technology that allows
managing all housing resources. The word "home automation"
is a combination of the word "house" (Latin: “domus”) and
"automatic" (automation). It can be said that home automation
is not only a residential automation. Home automation
combines the advantages of electronics and computer science,
in order to get better use and integrated management of
different devices in the home. Home automation brings quality
of life through improved comfort, increase safety and enable a
range of highly automated actions. Using appropriate modules
and devices can manage power costs. Energy consumption can
be optimized given the presence/absence of a specified person
in a room, customs and everyone's schedule. By using motion
sensors and twilight lighting management becomes extremely
easy and automated.
It is possible to take some of the features setting, the control
from another location. Much of the equipment that we have
available can produce a great impact on energy consumption,
not only when they are used, but also where it is supposed to
be off. Consumption devices in "stand -by " is a reality.
Indeed, consumption is not high, in one device, but large scale
(a city) may become an important consumer of electricity. The
heating system is one of the largest energy consumption of a
building, so it can achieve a centralized energy management.
It is possible under a program, enable / disable devices for
heating, ventilation or air conditioning, allowing maintaining a
high level of comfort. Scheduling operation of such systems
can be done in the sense of active air-conditioning before
arriving home, according to the working hours, the presence of
a person and the outside temperature. Home automation can
operate at different security levels. The system helped sensors
allows detection exhaust, floods and fires in the initial phase,
and immediate action such as disconnecting gas supply,
electricity and water and warn the client and/or specialized
services what happens in order to take appropriate measures. It
is also possible the development of programs to potential
intruders, unwanted, are discouraged when intrusion is
confirmed, there are mechanisms warn the client about what is
happening. Based on the different technologies in the field of
computers and telecommunications, home automation can
provide many other benefits. Persons with special needs may

Figure 1. Main controller and additional devices (identify module and
micro terminal block)
be the beneficiaries of this system couples with a way to
communicate and interact with the outside world through
audio, video and multimedia. By making a server, there is a
possibility of remote control from anywhere in the world. To
disconnect housing resources remaining in operation, human
presence is not necessary to achieve this, it is sufficient to
connect via the Internet and remote operation of those circuits
via a computer, a PDA or even a Smartphone.
The concept of “smart home" in automation, refers to the
use of computers and information technology to control
appliances and characteristics. Systems can range from simple
remote control lighting through a complex computer or
microcontroller-based networks with intelligence and
automation degrees different. Automation house is easily
adopted for reasons of security and efficiency.
For example, the following system is a device that performs
Figure 2. Details of main module
the functions of a computer, and has advantages of lower costs
and easy to operate, Fig. 1.
To overcome imperfections of systems currently on the
market, key words of main device are robust, easy to use and
especially inexpensive. The principle is the same as the wiring
of most existing solutions on the market. Unlike the other
existing equipment, the proposed solution does not use a
computer or a complex programming. Only five push buttons
perform programming this equipment, Fig. 2.
Basic functions of the type systems of domestic smart
house as key targets efficient management of power
consumption and avoid wastage. The advantages of using such
a system are related to the economy, reliability and simplicity.
Thus, we have the following summary:
• Energy saving lighting by timings and complete
stoppage.
• Cost: Very low investment is offset by the savings in
the wiring simplified.
• The modularity of the system.
• Robustness electronics compared with computer
equipment.
• Bipolar circuits: the "green house" principle.
• Free choice of buttons.
• Simulation of presence (e.g. burglar).
• Possibility setup without a computer.
• Simplicity of programming through keypad with five
keys.
III. FUNCTIONALITY DESCRIPTION
Wiring of this installation does not require special requests.
It is not exploit proprietary cable but it can be used currently
existing cable (UTP, SVV recommended). They can be wired
by choice, either in a linear topology, the star topology, or
simultaneously in the both topologies. Characteristics of the
main controller are summarized below: TABLE I. FUNCTION DESCRIPTION
• Power: 230 V.A.C./50Hz + / - 10%. Function name Action performed
• Number of outputs per card 12 contacts 8A bipolar 1 Remote switch Performs the services of a switch
polarity and disconnect. Control modules type “dimmer” (adjusts
2 Relay Module
light, adjustable switches)
• Bus - identification modules 10 V DC 2-wire
3 Timing Mode Delay ranging from 30 sec to 127 min
polarity. 4 On Mode Turn “on” all or selectively
• 5 keys that allow programming. 5 Off Mode Turn “off” all or selectively
• Line - communication between cards: RS485. 6
Presence Simulation
Burglar
• Maximum: 18 modules. Mode
7 Group Mode Managing the 4 groups of outputs
• Up to 48 outputs (possibility of more).
• Option: It is possible to change relays Relay 8A
Bipolar/Unipolar, 16A, 80A breaking capacity button once to enter programming mode outputs and function
instantly. description identification modules. LED 1 (first relay)
flashes. By pressing UP and DOWN buttons on the card gives
By additional the 12 identifying modules and 40 the following situations:
microterminal block, it allows the comfort of wiring.
Configure up to 12 lighting fixtures and 48 switches on a • A and E LEDs lit = Functional/operational mode
control module. This card can be based on an extensible • B and E LEDs lit = Teleswitch
system. It is sufficient to bind more cards to reach the desired • C and E LEDs lit = Relay module
number of lighting sources. Each card handles 12 lighting • D and E LEDs lit = Delay mode
sources; in this way it can set to 24, 36, 48 ... lighting sources. • LEDs B, C , D and E lit switched mode = On / Turn
Main card allows programming using the five push buttons. On all or selective
The operation of the 12 outputs of the card base and has the • LEDs B, D and E lit switched mode = Off / Turn
following functions, described in Table 1. OFF all or selective
• LEDs C, D and E lit = Presence simulation mode
On commands bus are connected additional identify • LEDs B, C and E lit = Group mode
module. In Fig. 3 is presented module that can handle four
input devices (switch, alarm, any non-voltage inputs, etc.) and Select the output by pressing LEFT and RIGHT. Mode
theirs connections. The answer is in real-time module, and on/off of the output is selected by pressing the CENTRE
there are no erroneous actions. button. Mentioned is that every change of the operation must
be selected again programmable output. Default output 1 is
Programming the operation can be done using the selected.
following procedure (it is considered that using a single
controller, which is the default, master). Press the DOWN A special remark is required if timing mode. SELECTION
DOWN button is pressed until the LEDs D and E are on. For a
validated output (selected) press DOWN button timer setting.
By default, the timer is programmed for 127 minutes and 30
seconds, the LEDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are turned on. To
change the timing RIGHT and LEFT buttons are used. Table 2
summarizes the timing possibilities. Time is cumulative.

By pressing UP programming is validated. For example,

programming a time of 6 minutes and 30 seconds is selected to
illuminate the LEDs 1, 3 and 4. To exit the timer mode press
the centre button and then the UP as many times as necessary

TABLE II. TIMING CONFIGURATION

LED lit Time [min]
1 0.5
2 1
3 2
4 4
5 8
6 16
7 32
8 64

Figure 3. Example of identify module connection (left) and aspect of

identify module (right)
 Figure 4. Example of lighting plan into a dwelling (left) and working model (right)
TABLE III.
Switch Actions
a A7 lit
b A7, A11 lit
c Presence simulator (participants are: A7, A10, A11,
A12)
d A8 lit
e A9 lit
f A10 lit, A11 timer 1 min
g A11 timer 1 min, A12 lit
h A12 lit
to return to operating mode (A and E LEDs lit).This applies,
also, to the output of the other operating modes selected.
IV. EXAMPLE OF PROGRAMMING
A simple example is illustrated in Fig. 4. From “a” to “g”
are command button and from A7 to A12 are lighting sources,
according with card outputs. Table 3, summarize the lighting
plan and programming sequences. In Fig. 4 is present model in
action of considered example, A7 and A11 are lit.
Significance of sequence are: D means DOWN button, L
means LEFT button, U means UP button, R means RIGHT
button (all from main card), and letter ‘a’ to ‘h’ are switches in
schematics. Sequence “U....” means to press UP button from
main card as log is necessary to go back in initial conditions
(LEDs A and E lit).
V. CONCLUSIONS
This automation technology represents a robust and is
everyone’s technology because is using only five push buttons
to program and reprogram. It is also possible to add a touch
screen for the most demanding uses and users. Additionally, is
the first technology that can be reconfigured by a user in
LIGHTING PLAN
Example of programming sequence
DDD, RRRRRR, C, ‘a’, C, U....
DDD, RRRRRR, C, ‘b’, C, RRRR, ‘b’, U....
DDDDDDDD, C, D, {using L and R, choose outputs 7, 10, 11 and 12
confirmed by C}, U....
DDD, RRRRRRR, C, ‘d’, C, U....
DDD, RRRRRRRR, C, ‘e’ C, U....
DDDDD, RRRRRRRRRR,C,D, {using L,R to choose the time, as per
Table 2}, U.... DDDDDDDDD, DDD, C, ‘f’, C, D, U...
DDD,RRRRRRRRRRR,C,’h’,C,U....
minutes with just a phone call to the Domestia technical
support line.
The application presented in this paper is just one example
of what can be done with the Domestia system. Operation
reconfiguration of the facility can be changed by using the five
buttons to reprogram, without the need for physical
disassembling and assembling or the need of rewiring. The
variety of applications is limited only by the user imagination.
The hardware cost, the expansion possibility and the
simplicity of this product make tomorrows home a today
reality.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I give a special thank you to Mr. Cristian Marchini, General
Manager of Domovolt s.r.l., which ensured support of
experimental stage of the paper. Also DOMESTIA Division
(D-TECH SA), Belgium, for logistics.
REFERENCES
[1] DOMESTIA. INSTRUCTIONS - DKS-012-002, Belgium.
[2] DOMESTIA. Catalogue, 2011.
[3] Computers and Education in the 21st Century - Google Books.
Books.google.co.uk. 2000-09-30.