This document summarizes a project to design a mobile network bridge for domotic (home automation) systems. It discusses using mobile technologies to control home automation networks like KNX. The project implemented a bridge core using Calimero to connect a KNX network to a mobile app via HTTP requests over Tomcat. Testing showed the system could successfully read and write to the KNX network with average response times under 74ms, allowing mobile control of home automation networks. The project improved on existing automation systems by making the KNX network accessible via mobile devices.

1. 7th March, 2012 - Andrea Rampin
Supervisor: Martin Wonders and Matteo Bertocco
Second marker: Becky Strachan
MOBILE KNX
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYSIS OF A
MOBILE NETWORK BRIDGE FOR DOMOTIC
SYSTEMS

2. Background
¨ Increase of energy consumption
¨ Need to easily control the electrical and
mechanical devices
Green Homes Building Automation
Systems

3. Background
¨ Is it possible to merge these concepts in order to
create an easy-to-use system? And how?
¨ Why don’t use mobile technologies to control a
house?

4. Background
¨ Building Automation Systems
¤ BACnet
¤ LonWorks
¤ EIB/KNX

5. Background
¨ KNX network controlled by mobile device
¤ KNX provides the basic infrastructure for a BAS
¤ Mobile application gives access to KNX
¨ Are there already solutions in the current market?
¨ Are they improvable?

6. Project Idea

7. Project Idea

8. Project Idea

9. Project Idea

10. Implementation

11. Implementation
¨ BRIDGE CORE
¤ Gets input a configuration file
¤ Analyzes a configuration file
¤ Creates connection to a KNX network
¤ Sends messages to a KNX network
¤ Receives messages from a KNX network
CALIMERO

12. Implementation
¨ BRIDGE
¤ Creates a point of connection between:
n BridgeCore
n Environment that surrounds the BridgeCore
¤ Receives HTTP requests
¤ Replies to HTTP requests
TOMCAT

13. Implementation
¨ MOBILE DEVICE application
¤ Gets configuration data from the Bridge
¤ Renders configuration data
¤ Sends HTTP requests
¤ Receives HTTP replies
PHONEGAP

14. Testing
¨ Three main functions
¤ Reading configuration data
¤ Reading KNX devices status
¤ Writing KNX devices status
System reacts in the right manner

15. Testing
¨ Mobile devices
¤ HTTP requests and replies through ad-hoc web pages
¨ Measure time of execution for each request
New set of real data

16. Testing
¨ Mixing system features
¤ Reading configuration
¤ Reading value
¤ Writing value

17. Testing
¨ Most of the request has a
response time less than the
average time 73.63ms

18. Conclusions
¨ KNX idea and structure are easy to understand
¨ ETS is an easy-to-use configuration tool
¨ The Bridge permits to skip one configuration phase
¤ Good response time
The system works and can be easily expanded
Improved the automation part of the current systems

19. My experience abroad
POSITIVE
þ New country
þ New culture
þ New “human connections”
þ Improved my english
NEGATIVE
þ Absence of teamwork

20. Do you have any questions?
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION