Home Automation Systems in North America: An Analysis of the Three Main Contenders. Final Report, September 1993

摘要

Home Automation communications standards are at the threshold of commercial availability. The three options described in the report, CEBus, Echelon and SMART HOUSE, represent distinct solutions to the diverse set of demands made by HA applications. Cost to manufacture, cost to design, reliability, installation details, interoperation with other products, range of services supported, level of consumer sophistication required - all of these topics suggest a range of tradeoffs made in each HA standard. The report describes the tradeoff decisions as they have been made in the three specific implementations mentioned, discussing the implications for both the manufacturer and the consumer. The report also endevours to describe the development and support tools and services available under each standard, and estimates costs associated with entering the HA arena.