WO2008096252A2

WO2008096252A2 - Multimedia interfaces for home automation systems

Info

Publication number: WO2008096252A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000283
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernesto Santini; Danilo Bernasconi
Original assignee: Bticino S.P.A.
Priority date: 2007-02-05
Filing date: 2008-01-31
Publication date: 2008-08-14
Also published as: ITMI20070198A1; WO2008096252A3

Abstract

Herein described are multimedia interfaces (I, i2, ITS) for home automation systems, adapted to share and exchange multimedia contents and controls between a home automation system made by means of bus technology (BS), multimedia objects (such as televisions (TV), DVDs, satellite or digital terrestrial decoders, music players, etc) and an Ethernet network (RE), with the aim of creating, from the user's point of view, a single system manageable and accessible from any point, in all its functions, including the multimedia ones, with the same requirements, with the same interfaces (I) or with interfaces (I2) suitably adapted to the dimensions and to the type of visualisation screen or display (28, MNT, TV) used.

Description

MULTIMEDIA INTERFACES FOR HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS The present invention refers to a series of multimedia interfaces for home automation system.

More in particular, the multimedia interfaces according to the invention allow sharing and exchanging multimedia contents and controls between a home automation system, multimedia objects and an Ethernet network, with the aim of creating, from the user's point of view, a single system manageable and accessible from any point, in all its functions (including the multimedia ones) following the same requirements and with the same interface devices or with interfaces suitably adapted to the dimensions and types of visualisation screens or displays used. Currently, there are various devices capable of transferring multimedia contents from the Ethernet or Internet network to a multimedia object, such as, for example, the Internet TV service "set top box" modems. There are some devices capable transferring multimedia contents in two or more directions simultaneously, such as, for example, the new satellite decoders which allow sending the decoded signals towards the television or towards the Ethernet and/or Fire Wire (Wi-FI) network. Furthermore, there are some technologies which allow sharing of multimedia contents on homogeneous networks, such as, for example, sharing multimedia contents on an LAN network with the media centre services. Lastly, there are some devices which allow controlling and supervising the home automation systems using multimedia objects (such as a television) or remotely, using the Ethernet network or the Internet network (typically via gateway or web server) .

An objective of the present invention is that of providing a series of multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, capable of allowing sharing and exchanging multimedia contents and controls between a home automation system, and a series of multimedia objects and a network, such as, typically, and Ethernet network. Another objective of the present invention is that of providing a series of multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, capable of allowing to create, from the user's point of view, a single system manageable and accessible from any point, in all its functions, including the multimedia ones, with the same requirements and the same interface devices or interface devices suitably adapted to the dimensions and to the type of visualisation screens used.

Another objective of the present invention is that of providing a series of multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, extremely reliable and functional, with respect to the known art. These and other objectives, according to the present invention, are obtained by making a series of multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, according to claim 1 attached; other detailed technical characteristics are provided for in the subsequent claims .

In an advantageous manner, the interface devices subject of the present invention allow sharing and exchanging multimedia contents, such as audio and video, analogue and/or digital signals from and towards an Ethernet wire network or based on radio frequency (WAN, LAN, HAN, etc) , as series of objects generally referred to as multimedia (such as televisions, DVDs, satellite decoders, digital terrestrial decoders, music players etc) and a home automation system made through the BUS technology (for example "multimedia" SCS BUS). Such interface devices allow activating and controlling the multimedia objects alongside controlling and supervising the home automation system connected to them.

According to the invention, it is further possible to generate one or more interfaces for controlling and supervising, both the home automation system, and the multimedia contents of the system; such solution is obtained by connecting the interface device subject of the invention to the home automation system and/or to the multimedia objects and/or to the Ethernet network. Lastly, the interface devices described in the present invention allow converting a television or any other multimedia object into a video-communication, video- intercom, or video-telephone point, simply by adding a microphone, connected directly or via radio. Further characteristics and advantages of the multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, according to the present invention, shall be more evident from the following description, relative to the various exemplifying but non-limiting preferred embodiments of the multimedia interfaces according to the invention, and referable to the drawings attached, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a conceptual block diagram of the possible connections performable through multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 represents a conceptual block diagram of the possible connections performable through multimedia interfaces for home automation systems of the "touch screen" type, according to the present invention;

Figures 3 and 4 show the block diagram including some multimedia home automation systems devices, according to the present invention; - Figure 5 shows an overall view of the rear part of a multimedia interface for home automation systems, made according to an exemplifying and preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a front view of the multimedia interface subject of figure 5, according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a front view of an additional module which can be implemented to the multimedia interface subject of figure 5, according to the present invention; - Figure 8 shows an implementation diagram of a multimedia interface device, according to the present invention, for use in an embodiment of a home automation system made by means of multimedia SCS bus ("Multimedia" SCS BUS ); - Figure 9 shows the connections made in the implementation diagram subject of figure 8, according to the invention;

Figure 10 shows an implementation diagram of a multimedia interface device, according to the present invention, connected to a DVD and useable in an embodiment of a home automation system made by means of a multimedia SCS bus; Figure 11 shows the connections made in the implementation diagram subject of figure 10, according to the present invention;

Figure 12 shows an implementation diagram of a multimedia interface device, according to the present invention, connected to a television and useable in an embodiment of a home automation system made by means of a multimedia SCS bus; Figure 13 shows connections made in the implementation diagram subject to figure 12, according to the present invention

Figure 14 shows an implementation diagram of a multimedia interface device, according to the present invention, simultaneously connected to a television and a DVD and useable in an embodiment of a home automation system made by means of a multimedia SCS bus; Figure 15 shows the connections made in the implementation diagram subject of figure 14, according to the present invention;

Figure 16 shows an implementation diagram of several multimedia interfaces, according to the present invention, useable in an embodiment of a home automation system made by means of a multimedia SCS bus;

Figure 17 shows an implementation diagram of several multimedia interfaces, according to the present invention, useable in a further embodiment of a home automation systems made by means of a multimedia SCS bus . With special reference to figure 1 mentioned above, I indicates the multimedia interface device according to the present invention, connected, respectively, to an Ethernet network RE, of the TCP/IP type, such as a domestic LAN network, to a multimedia home automation system bus BS, such as for example the "Multimedia" SCS bus, and to the analogue audio/video inputs and outputs of a series of multimedia objects MM, such as televisions, DVDs, "Set top box", or satellite decoders or for the digital terrestrial decoder, alongside USB, IR Radio (R) ports or ports of any other type G. The interfaces generated by the devices according to the invention can be visualised and used locally in case the ITS interface device is not provided with a display or touch screen (as shown in figure 2 attached) ; the ITS interface device is analogously connected to a network RE of the Ethernet type (TCP/IP) , such as a domestic LAN network, a home automation system BS bus of the multimedia type and a series of analogue audio outputs AA towards for example a sound system.

In the case shown in figure 2, where the ITS interface device is provided with a visualisation display or touch screen, the interfaces generated from by the abovementioned ITS device can be visualised and used locally or remotely, for example by using a PC, a palmtop or a cellular phone etc, which interact with the ITS device via Ethernet network RE, a television and/or internal station (internal user) , external station and/or any other object of the home automation system provided with visualisation displays. The activation and the control of the multimedia objects MM may occur via Ethernet network RE and/or through USB, IR (infrared) or radio frequency (R port) ports, using any of the technologies available as of date, such as "Bluetooth", "Zigbee", etc. Furthermore, the navigation of the interface generated by the ITS device can be performed analogously through controls coming from the Ethernet network RE and or from the USB, IR ports or via radio frequency using a type of technology available as of date, such as "Bluetooth", "Zigbee", etc.

With special reference to the figures 3 and 4 attached, which show the block diagram of the interface device I, ITS, according to the present invention, 10 indicates a central processor or CPU, 11 indicates an RAM memory, 12 indicates a control device for an Ethernet network RE , 13 indicates a USB "master" device, 14 indicates a "flash" memory, 15 indicates devices for coding and/or decoding signals coming from the audio bus 16, 17 indicates a video RAM memory, 18 indicates a graphic interface, 19 indicates a device for decoding the video signal into standard PAL, while 20 indicates the audio/video demodulator devices, 21 indicates the audio/video modulator devices and 22 indicates the interface blocks at the SCS bus and at the infrared IR port . 23 indicates a block for converting from an alternating current to direct current at 18 volts, while 24 indicates selector devices and 25 indicates a buffer battery. Furthermore, with special reference to figures 5-7 attached, 26 indicates a "reset" button, 27 indicates a plurality of LED for visual signaling, 28 indicates a visualisation screen or display, 29 indicates a luminosity sensor, 30 indicates deletion and confirmation buttons while 31 generally indicates buttons for navigation within a given menu.

Optionally, a button 32 for the operation of the video door entry system of the home automation system, a button 33 for opening the lock of the entrance door, a button 34 for the operation of the rotation of the video surveillance cameras, a button 35 for the selection of the navigation on the display 28, a button 36, for the selection of the sound system and a button 37 for the operation of one or more auxiliary sources are used. With special reference to figures 8 and 9, PI indicates at least one door entry system internal station of the home automation system, PE indicates at least one door entry system external station of the system, S indicates various auxiliary sources regarding an MA matrix, N indicates a point from which connections to the loudspeakers Al, A2 of a sound system depart, while MC indicates a multimedia device of the "Media Center" type, connected on one side to a television TV and on the other side to a multimedia interface I, which can be activated also by means of a remote control TC, provided with a display 28, deletion and confirmation buttons 30 and navigation buttons 31; the multimedia device of the "Media Center" type can be operated by means of a remote control TL and it is connectable to a monitor MNT of a television TV or of a personal computer provided with a keyboard T and a mouse MS. The diagrams illustrated in figures 10 and 11 are analogous to the ones shown in figures 8 and 9, differing in the fact that the interface I is connected to a DVD appliance, while in the diagrams illustrated in figures 12 and 13, analogous to the ones of figures 8, 9, 10, 11, the interface I is connected to a television TV.

Analogously, the diagrams illustrated in figures 14 and 15 are similar to the ones illustrated in the preceding figures 8-13 and they specifically refer to a simultaneous connection of the interface I to a television TV and a DVD appliance. The block diagrams shown in figures 16 and 17 show the use of interface devices 12, connected to television TV and DVD appliances, capable of generating one or more interfaces for controlling and supervising, both the home automation system comprising internal stations PI and the external stations PE, and the multimedia contents of the system obtained connecting the devices I, 12 to the home automation system and/or the multimedia objects TV, DVD, MC and and/or to the Ethernet network RE.

Lastly, the interface devices I, 12 allow to convert each television TV or any other multimedia object DVD, MC into a video-communication, video- intercom and videotelephone point simply by adding a microphone MIC, connected directly or via radio to the interface I, 12. From the description outlined above, both the characteristics and the advantages of the multimedia interfaces for home automation systems, which are the subject of the present invention, can be observed clearly. In particular, they regard the following aspects :

Possibility to share and exchange multimedia contents from and towards wire Ethernet network or radio frequency, multimedia objects and a home automation system made by means of bus technology;

Possibility to activate and control multimedia obj ects ;

Possibility to control, and supervise the connected home automation system;

Possibility to generate one or more interfaces for the control and supervision, both of the home automation system and the multimedia system obtained by connecting the interface device to the home automation system and/or to multimedia objects and/or to the Ethernet network; - Possibility to convert the television or any other multimedia object into a video-communication, video- intercom and video-telephone point.

Lastly, it is clear that numerous variants can be performed on the multimedia interfaces in question, without for this reason departing from the novelty principles conceived in the idea of the invention.

Likewise, it is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, the shapes and the dimensions of the details illustrated may vary depending on the requirements and the same can be replaced with others technically equivalent.

Claims

1. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) for home automation systems, adapted to share and exchange multimedia contents, such as audio/video, analogue/digital signals, and operations between at least one home automation system made by means of bus technology (BS) , multimedia objects (MM) and at least an Ethernet network (RE) , with the objective of creating, from the user's point of view, one single system manageable and accessible from any point, in all its functions, including the multimedia ones, with the same requirements, the same interfaces (I) or with interfaces (12) suitably adapted to the dimensions and to the type of one or more visualisation screens or displays (28, MNT, TV) used.

2. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that it is connected to at least one home automation system bus (BS) , and to at least one Ethernet network (RE) , at the analogue audio/video inputs and outputs of said multimedia objects (MM) and a series of communication ports (USB, IR, R, G) .

3. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that they are provided with a visualisation screen or display and they are connected to at least one home automation system bus (BS) , to at least one Ethernet network (RE) , and to analogue audio outputs (AA) , for example for sound systems, said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) being possibly visualised and used locally or remotely, through television sets (TV) , devices which interact with said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) via Ethernet network

(RE) , such as computers, palmtops, cellular phones, and/or internal stations (PI) and/or external stations (PE) and/or other devices provided with a visualisation screen of said home automation system (BS) .

4. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that said Ethernet network (RE) is of the wire or radio frequency type, for example of WAN, LAN, HAN type.

5. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that said multimedia objects (MM) include televisions (TV) , DVDs, satellite or digital terrestrial decoders, music players, etc, said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) being capable of activating and controlling said multimedia objects (MM) via Ethernet network (RE) , via USB, via infrared (IR) and/or radio frequency (R) .

6. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that said home automation system (BS) made by means of the bus technology includes at least one multimedia SCS bus, said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) being capable of controlling and supervising said home automation system (BS) .

7. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that one or more of said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) are generated for controlling and supervising, both said home automation system (BS) , and the multimedia contents of the system obtained connecting said interfaces (I, 12, ITS) to the home automation system (BS) and/or to the multimedia objects (MM) and/or to the Ethernet network (RE) .

8. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that said multimedia objects (MM) are convertible into video-communication, video- intercom and video-telephone points, employing at least one microphone (MIC) , connected directly or via radio to said interfaces (I, 12, ITS).

9. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 2, characterised in that the interface navigation (ITS) can be performed through controls coming from the Ethernet network (RE) and/or from USB, infrared (IR) ports, or via radio frequency (R), using at least one available technology, such as "Bluetooth", "Zigbee", etc.

10.Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one central processing unit (10) , at least one audio and/or video storage element (11, 14, 17), at least one control device (12) of the Ethernet network (RE) , at least one USB "master" device (13) , coding and/or decoding devices (15) for signals coming from an audio bus (16), at least one graphic interface (18), video signal decoding devices (19), audio/video demodulator devices (20) , audio/video modulator devices (21) and interface block devices (22) of said home automation system (BS) .

11.Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that they comprise at least one conversion block (23), selector devices (24) and at least one buffer battery (25) . 12. Multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) as in claim 1, characterised in that said interfaces (I,

12, ITS) are provided with at least one visualisation screen or display (28) and a series of buttons (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37) for deletion, confirmation, navigation, activation and selection of given operations of said multimedia objects (MM) and/or said home automation system (BS) .

13.Multimedia interface and/or multimedia interfaces (I, 12, ITS) for home automation systems, as substantially described and illustrated in the drawings attached and for the specified objectives.