The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for monitoring
and controlling a host of residential automation systems. The system is implemented
by using a plurality of wireless communication devices configured to relay both
data and command encoded signals through the wireless network of communication
devices interposed between integrated sensors/actuators and a gateway device. In
accordance with a preferred embodiment, the gateway translates the data encoded
signals and embeds the information in a data packet using terminal control protocol/Internet
protocol to communicate the data to a computing device on a wide area network.
The computing device may comprise data collection and or control algorithms as
desired. The computing device may forward command signals to the gateway device.
In response thereto, the gateway may convert the command signals into appropriate
command encoded signals for wireless transmission to a designated actuator integrated
in a residential system. The present invention can also be viewed as providing
a method for monitoring and controlling residential systems. In its broadest terms,
the method can be described as: sensing a parameter; generating a wireless signal;
traversing a wireless network to a gateway interconnected with a wide area network;
communicating the parameter to a computing device on the network; generating a
control signal; communicating the control signal to the gateway; converting the
control signal; and broadcasting the control signal such that an appropriate actuator
is energized.
