US Patent 6,085,192 System and Method for Securely Synchronizing Multiple Copies of a Workspace s1

Term Project – Final Report CSCE 490V Course title – Spring 2009

iPhone Home Integration

Matt Duba Digital Entertainment

Abstract

The integration of the iPhone as a soft controller (programmable universal remote) into Digital Entertainment’s home control system was successful. The application has control over audio, heating and air, lights and security in one of the rooms of Digital Entertainment’s demo system. The connection and ease of use make the application ground breaking as a future component for the system.

1. Problem

The problem is closing the gap between cellular Internet technology and residential smart homes. With the ability to control systems in a smart home with a smart phone, a bridge is created that allows the end user to control their home from anywhere anytime.

2. Objective

The objective was to integrate a functional iPhone application into Digital Entertainment System’s proprietary demo system that would control ma smart home’s audio, heating and air, lights and security.

3. Related Work

A link to the product spotlight of Crestron Mobile: http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?jump=1&model=CRESTRON-MOBILE This is the application used to connect to the processor and system.

4. Architecture

4.1 Design The overall design of the project: The first step was to rewrite the demo system from scratch. The code was originally done by me when I started with the company and was unstable due to my inexperience. This was the perfect opportunity to stabilize the code and functionality. The next step was to develop a form of control that would link the iPhone to the demo system. With a time crunch, research was done to determine if there was work done to create a connection link between the iPhone and the processor. Crestron, the manufacturer, developed an application that will connect to their processor given an IP address, ports and a passcode. They also ported it into their GUI software that creates a packaged file with XML and images that is Term Project – Final Report CSCE 490V Course title – Spring 2009 stored on the processor. The iPhone application downloads this package each time a connection is made to the processor. On the backend, I needed to develop all the code and functionality that allows the application to interact with the company’s demo system. The application should control audio, heating and air, lights and video in the Master Suite of the system.

4.2 Testing Testing was done with a processor that I have dedicated for testing at the office. The first thing I tested was a very basic application with a few buttons and variations that had all the capabilities of what could be sent to and from the application. After testing its limits and functionality, the GUI and code were created as an extension of the demo system. Then, I was able to connect to the wireless router via the iPhone and test the application. Afterwards, I set up a VPN connection on the iPhone and was able to do the testing from anywhere. The VPN connection is fairly reliable and was part of the testing. It would be important to allow this connection for customers.

5. Results

Screenshots:

Term Project – Final Report CSCE 490V Course title – Spring 2009

The results were all satisfactory. The connection remained stable. In fact, I recognized it was a more reliable connection than one of the wireless remotes the manufacturer provides. The functionality and usability also turned out well. There are some drawbacks using the application that Cresron, the manufacturer, has provided. It only supports page flips, button presses, animations and dynamic text. However, the overall results turned out as expected, if not better. The application provides full control over a local setting.

6. Conclusions

The conclusion is that the provided iPhone application left satisfactory results but not excellent. There are drawbacks and limitations to using the application. The major one is the size of the project. Because this is their free version of the application, they limit the project size to 256kb. I was able to barely squeeze by with this limitation. Another drawback is the fact that it only allows button presses, animations, dynamic text and page flips. Capabilities of the iPhone are lost in the process – such as the ability to slide through pages by swiping your finger across the screen. The experience was able to help me construct a stable environment for our demo system while integrating the new toy. The limitations also had their upside because they forced me to develop a project size, the GUI, that is lightweight and operational.

6.2 Impact The significance of creating the iPhone application is big for the company. Not only could it control the room locally which was done in the project, but it could also provide statistic pages and minor controls that the customer could use while halfway around the world from their home by using a VPN connection. By working with the iPhone integration, it opened up doors for the company because now the limitations and functionality are understood. However, it’s also significant for the customer. The ability to use a device that is being used for other daily conveniences – e-mail, web surfing, music, etc. – is now capable of controlling their home. This lessens the burden of several different remotes or control devices that are typically needed.

6.3 Future Work What did you not accomplish that is left for the next student? Future work for the company is to develop their own iPhone application. This would allow greater bounds for them to reach. The limitations would be far less and the capabilities seemingly endless. One idea is to create to separate applications. One that would control the entire home and another that would provide statistics of the system. The first would have the user select a room which they would to control, and it would update the application to provide true feedback of that room and give them control over it. The second could provide floor plans of their home and show true feedback while they are away.

References

[1] www.crestron.com Term Project – Final Report CSCE 490V Course title – Spring 2009