Using Jini to Integrate Home Automation in a Distributed Software-System

The last few years, a tendency arose to integrate various programmable devices through ever expanding computer networks. One particular domain in which this evolution stood out clearly is home automation. The EIB standard defines a home automation solution that consists of a network of cooperating components with little computational power. Bridging the EIB network with a computer network allows software to interact with these EIB components. However, past attempts to link EIB components with computer networks fell short in dynamism, automatism or user friendliness. In this paper we present a distributed software framework that overcomes these issues, and is capable of automatically generating a software model based on the configuration of the components on the EIB fieldbus. A framework that can be used in this perspective is Jini. Its excellent capabilities for dynamic reconfiguration and its proven deployment in domestic and office environments make it an appropriate candidate for supporting home automation systems.