Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a home automation system, and particularly to a cloud-based home automation system and a method of controlling home appliances.
Description of Related Art
[002] Nowadays, people spend most of the day outside making efforts for living and they want a peaceful and effortless time after returning home. Home automation systems are emerging for residential places in order to ease lives of people. The existing home automation systems are designed to control and automate operations of electrical appliances such as lights, heaters, ventilators, air conditioners, washers/dryers, ovens, freezers, and so forth. With the home automation systems, a user can control the various home appliances without a need to physically turn ON/OFF switches of the home appliances. Home automation systems further allow an adjustment and management of any of the home appliances within the home or from outside the home.
[003] In existing home automation systems, a dedicated appliance management software can be installed on a mobile phone that enables the user to manage the appliances. Further, in the existing home automation systems, wireless technologies such as an infrared, a Bluetooth, a ZigBee, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), a radio frequency identification (RFID), and a global system for mobile communications (GSM) are used to develop a commercially viable smart home system for distant monitoring and control. These systems generally comprise switches and sensors connected to a central hub. These systems are controlled with a user interface that is interacted either with a wall-mounted terminal, a mobile phone software, a tablet computer, or a web interface.
[004] However, the home automation systems become inefficient when the user forgot to carry the mobile phone in which the dedicated appliance management software is installed. Also, the home automation systems face an operational discrepancy when operated by more than one user simultaneously using different mobile phones.
[005] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced cloud-based home automation system that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a cloud-based home automation system for controlling home appliances. The system comprising: a smart switch connected to the home appliances. The system further comprising: a cloud server adapted to communicate with the smart switch to control the home appliances. The system further comprising: a web application installed on a user device to enable the user device to transmit commands to the cloud server for controlling the home appliances. The cloud server comprises a processing unit configured to: enable the user to establish a connection of the web application with the cloud server by inputting a specified port address of the cloud server through a user interface of the web application; enable the user to view a status of the home appliances through the user interface; and enable the user to change a status of the home appliances through the user interface.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for controlling home appliances. The method comprising steps of: connecting a smart switch with the home appliances; enabling a communication between the smart switch and a cloud server; establishing a connection of a user device with the cloud server by inputting a specified port address of the cloud server through a user interface of a web application; enabling a user to view a status of the home appliances through the user interface; and enabling the user to change a status of the home appliances by transmitting commands to the cloud server for controlling the home appliances.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a cloud-based home automation system and a method of controlling home appliances.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cloud-based home automation system that may allow a user to individually switch ON and OFF home appliances using a cloud server.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cloud-based home automation system that may allow a user to visualize and control home appliances using a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cloud-based home automation system that may allow a user to control home appliances using any user device.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a cloud-based home automation system that may allow a user to control home appliances using a mobile phone or a web application that may be accessible from any user device.
[0013] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0014] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a cloud-based home automation system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a pictorial representation of a smart switch of the cloud-based home automation system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure of connecting a user device with a cloud server for controlling home appliances using the cloud-based home automation system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method for controlling the home appliances using the cloud-based home automation system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0022] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0024] FIG. 1A illustrates a cloud-based home automation system 100 (hereinafter referred to as the system 100) for controlling home appliances 102a-102n (hereinafter collectively referred to as the home appliances 102 or individually referred to as the home appliance 102). The system 100 may enable a user to control and manage the home appliances 102 remotely and/or within a home using a wireless network.
[0025] The system 100 may comprise a smart switch 104 that may be connected to the home appliances 102. The system 100 further comprises a cloud server 106. The cloud server 106 may comprise a processing unit 108 that may transmit commands to the smart switch 104 to control the home appliances 102. The system 100 may enable a user device 110 to control the home appliances 102 by making a connection with the cloud server 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may further comprise a web application 112 that may be installed on the user device 110 and may allow the user to visualize and/or control the home appliances 102 through a user interface 114.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the home appliances 102 may be electrical and/or electronic appliances. The home appliances 102 may include, but are not limited to, a television, a microwave, electrical utensils, a refrigerator, home lightings, fans, air conditioners, a Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, thermostats, personal devices such as a laptop, a personal computer, security systems, network-enabled automobiles, and so forth.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the home appliances 102 may be conventional appliances. In another embodiment of the present invention, the home appliances 102 may be smart home appliances including, but not limited to, Internet of Things (IoT) based appliances, Bluetooth enabled appliances, Infrared (IR) enabled appliances, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the home appliances 102 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the smart switch 104 may be connected with the home appliances 102 through relays (not shown) and/or other electrical components (not shown). The smart switch 104 may be a low-power system on a chip (SoC) series with a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and/or a dual-mode Bluetooth capability. In an embodiment of the present invention, the smart switch 104 may be designed to be installed with an existing electrical switching/wiring system of home and alike. The smart switch 104 may be forthrightly installable with or without a need for very few modifications in the existing electrical switching/wiring.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart switch 104 may be an ESP32. In another embodiment of the present invention, the smart switch 104 may be any switch of ESP8266 series. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the smart switch 104 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The smart switch 104 may automate the home appliances 102 such that the user may visualize and/or control the home appliances 102 and/or a network of the home appliances 102 through the user device 110. The smart switch 104 may be enabled to transmit a status of each of the home appliances 102 to the cloud server 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, the status of the home appliances 102 may be shown as ON, OFF, Standby, Hibernate, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any status of the home appliances 102 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The smart switch 104 may further be explained in conjunction with FIG. 3.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cloud server 106 may be, but not limited to, a laptop, a desktop, and so forth. The cloud server 106 may be a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker, in an embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the cloud server 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cloud server 106 may comprise the processing unit 108 and a storage medium (not shown). According to embodiments of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a computing device, a development board, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may be a microcontroller. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 108 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] The processing unit 108 may include suitable logic, instructions, circuitry, interfaces, and/or codes for executing various operations. The processing unit 108 may be configured to perform the operations associated with the system 100 by communicating commands and/or instructions. In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 108 may be configured to execute programming instructions associated with the system 100 that may be stored in form of programming modules. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may utilize a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol for enabling a communication between the user device 110 and the cloud server 106. The processing unit 108 may further utilize the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol to communicate with the smart switch 104. The MQTT protocol may enable machine-to-machine (M2M) communications among the smart switch 104, the cloud server 106 and the user device 110. The processing unit 108 may communicate with the smart switch 104 to fetch the status of the home appliances 102. The processing unit 108 may enable the user to change the status of the home appliances 102 through the user interface 114 of the web application 112.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 utilizes the MQTT protocol that may work on top of a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer. The system 100 may enable publish/subscribe asynchronous communications among the smart switch 104, the cloud server 106 and the user device 110, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may utilize request/response protocols including, but not limiting to, a constrained application protocol (COAP). In an embodiment of the present invention, the cloud server 106 may need a username and a password to provide security which may be controlled by Transport Layer Security and Secure Socket Layer (TLS/SSL).
[0035] The user device 110 may be, but not limited to, a smart phone, a personal computer, a consumer device, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user device 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the personal computer may be, but not limited to, a desktop, a server, a laptop, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the personal computer including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the consumer device may be, but not limited to, a tablet, a mobile phone, a notebook, a netbook, a smartphone, a wearable device, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the consumer device including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the user device 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, a communication network (not shown) may enable a real-time data transfer from the cloud server 106 to the user device 110. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the communication network may be a data network such as, but not limited to, the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the data network, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In another embodiment of the present invention, the communication network may be the wireless network, such as, but not limited to, a cellular network, and may employ various technologies including an Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the wireless network, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cloud server 106 and the user device 110 may be configured to communicate with each other by communication mediums (not shown) connected to the communication network. The communication mediums may be for example, but not limited to, a coaxial cable, a copper wire, a fiber optic, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the communication medium, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user device 110 may comprise software applications such as, but not limited to, a navigation application, a camera application, a media player application, a social networking application, and the like. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user device 110 may comprise the web application 112 that may be a computer-readable program installed on the user device 110. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface 114 may enable the user to provide the input to the cloud server 106 using the web application 112. The user interface 114 may enable the user to receive the output from the cloud server 106 using the web application 112, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the user may login into the web application 112 through the user interface 114 by providing login details such as, but not limited to, a user identifier, a password, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the login details that may be associated with the user. Upon login into the web application 112, the user may provide the input to the cloud server 106. In another embodiment of the present invention, the user may login into the cloud server 106 through a web browser by providing the login details. In such embodiment of the present invention, the user may provide the input to the cloud server 106 through the web browser upon login into the web application 112. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the user may provide the input to the cloud server 106 by using the user device 110 without providing the login details to the web application 112.
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a pictorial representation of the smart switch 104 of the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the smart switch 104 may be the ESP32 that may comprise total thirty-nine pins. As shown in the figure, the smart switch 104 may support 3 Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) Interface, 3 universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) interface, 2 Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) interfaces, 2 Inter-IC Sound (I2S) interfaces, and may further support Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol.
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure 300 of connecting the user device 110 with the cloud server 106 for controlling the home appliances 102 using the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the user interface 114 may provide a field to the user to input a specified port address of the cloud server 106. In an embodiment of the present invention, a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection may be established after authenticating the user device 110. The system 100 may utilize a handshake technique for authenticating the user device 110, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, the port address may be specified for a non-encrypted communication between the user device 110 and the cloud server 106. The port address may be specified for an encrypted communication between the user device 110 and the cloud server 106 using a Secure sockets layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) handshake. During the SSL/TLS handshake, the user device 110 may validate a server certificate to authenticate the cloud server 106.
[0043] FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method 400 for controlling the home appliances 102 using the system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] At step 402, the system 100 may connect the smart switch 104 to the home appliances 102.
[0045] At step 404, the system 100 may enable the communication between the smart switch 104 and the cloud server 106.
[0046] At step 406, the system 100 may establish the connection of the user device 110 with the cloud server 106 by enabling the user to input the specified port address of the cloud server 106 through the user interface 114 of the web application 112.
[0047] At step 408, the system 100 may enable the user to view the status of the home appliances 102 through the user interface 114.
[0048] At step 410, the system 100 may enable the user to change the status of the home appliances 102 by transmitting commands to the cloud server 106 for controlling the home appliances 102.
[0049] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0050] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A cloud-based home automation system (100) for controlling home appliances (102a-102n), the system (100) comprising:
a smart switch (104) connected to the home appliances (102a-102n);
a cloud server (106) adapted to communicate with the smart switch (104) to control the home appliances (102a-102n), and
a web application (112) installed on a user device (110) to enable the user device (110) to transmit commands to the cloud server (106) for controlling the home appliances (102a-102n), wherein the cloud server (106) comprises a processing unit (108) configured to:
enable a user to establish a connection of the web application (112) with the cloud server (106) by inputting a specified port address of the cloud server (106) through a user interface (114) of the web application (112);
enable the user to view a status of the home appliances (102a-102n) through the user interface (114); and
enable the user to change a status of the home appliances (102a-102n) through the user interface (114).
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cloud server (106) is a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smart switch (104) is an ESP32 switch.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (108) is configured to authenticate the user device (110) before establishing the connection.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the authentication of the user device (110) is done using a handshake technique.
6. A method for controlling home appliances (102a-102n), the method comprising steps of:
connecting a smart switch (104) with the home appliances (102a-102n);
enabling a communication between the smart switch (104) and a cloud server (106);
establishing a connection of a user device (110) with the cloud server (106) by inputting a specified port address of the cloud server (106) through a user interface (114) of a web application (112);
enabling a user to view a status of the home appliances (102a-102n) through the user interface (114); and
enabling the user to change the status of the home appliances (102a-102n) by transmitting commands to the cloud server (106) for controlling the home appliances (102a-102n).
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cloud server (106) is a Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the smart switch (104) is an ESP32 switch.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising a step of authenticating the user device (110) before establishing the connection with the cloud server (106).
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the authentication of the user device (110) is done using a handshake technique.

Date: September 04, 2023
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant