GLOSSARY

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A

Is a home automation device designed to enable the switching process (on/off) or sends analogue signals such as (0% to 100% for light dimmers volume).

Interface containing the functionalities necessary for the development of applications and by which software can offer services to other software.

In the home automation industry the term architectural refers to loudspeakers that are seamlessly integrated within the wall of the building or the ceiling without interfering with the overall design whatsoever.

The term automation is the ability to integrate different smart devices together for the purpose to control each and everyone of them from a central hub.

Smart devices are not necessarily automatic. In many cases, they require some form of user input -- Alexa can't order your groceries without you telling her to.

Automation removes a device's reliance on a user so that it performs its function automatically without requiring you to even press a button. There are many examples of this capability; Philips Hue lights can turn on automatically when you're close to home. A smart security system can arm your alarm at a specified time. Your air conditioning can engage when the temperature reaches a certain level, and so on.

B

A bridge is a type of connection which works between your smart home devices and the internet. This makes it possible to control certain devices from anywhere in the world remotely.

If your devices don't use Wi-Fi to connect to each other, there's a good chance they'll use Bluetooth LE to communicate with each other or your mobile device.

Unlike regular Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE is a low energy technology specifically designed for use in the smart home, health, and sports sectors. Typically, devices using Bluetooth LE will be able to run for years on a single battery.

The term automation is the ability to integrate different smart devices together for the purpose to control each and everyone of them from a central hub.

C

Also known as the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, the lead association that supports the implementation of standards in the home automation industry.

CEDIA is a global initiative which has over 3700 member companies and home automation specialists.

Block

Is the abbreviation for Compact Fluorescent Lamp an energy saving alternative to the classic incandescent lightbulb.

Stands for Compact Fluorescent Radio Lamp. They are basically the same as CFL, but they also include a radio receiver. This enables them to be controlled remotely via the WiFi network.

Name that was given to the high-end home automation system commercialized by Control4 Corporation.

Is a term used to describe the brain of the home automation operations. The controller is the one that connects smart devices between each other.

Is a type of cable frequently used in the home automation industry for network wiring. It is the type of cable which connects to the router and makes the connection between the router and wired home automation devices.

Applies to any use of smart objects or devices within the home. Synonym: smart home.

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection. Also called a smart device.

Procedure to enable the connection of a device to a network.

It usually means that the system doesn’t need hardwired landline because the control panel communicates with the remote monitoring center via cellular signals.

A set of established rules used for a type of communication.

D

Just like Distributed Audio systems, a distributed video system refers to a home automation integration which installs TVs and displays throughout the home or in multiple rooms having one central controller.

A program that translates software commands to allow the computer to communicate with a device. For example, a driver designed to control Zigbee devices in the SmartThings management platform ensures the conversion of commands and data transmitted to the computer into clear messages for the Zigbee device so that it can operate.

A wireless device that controls the light brightness as well as the on/off states of the light in a room or house.

A dashboard is usually a user interface on a mobile device such as a mobile phone app or a web portal from which you can see the statistics and live data gathered from all or some smart devices in a smart home.

On top of that, some dashboards also allow you to control certain features of the smart devices such as lights, music, heating etc.

A dashboard displays all the information collected by an individual device, usually through an app on your smartphone or a web portal. Depending on the device, you might be able to see live readings, camera outputs, historical charts and graphs, and other data.

Refers to including a device in the network of another in order to gain control or to share the configuration options from each other.

Example: pairing an iPhone music playlist to a Snonos Bluetooth speaker.

Refers to home automation processes that include whole-house audio or multi-room audio systems which can be controlled from the entire premises of the building via a smart speaker, remote or a touch controller.

E

An event is something that happens and while it happens, it triggers one or multiple smart devices in your home.

Example: When the morning comes and it’s 7:00 AM, the smart blinds will roll up to let the sunshine get inside your room.

Many smart home devices talk about events. An "Event" is anything that happens (a measurement, temperature, sensor reading, time of day, etc.) that triggers an action for your smart home device.

For example, an event could be a water sensor detecting a leak; the subsequent action would be an alarm sounding.

System to create a computer network using cables.

The term automation is the ability to integrate different smart devices together for the purpose to control each and everyone of them from a central hub.

G

Or a Graphic User Interface is another term which refers to the user interface from a mobile app / touch panel / TV etc designed to control smart electronic devices.

In home automation, a group refers to a collection of devices that share the same controller.

Example: A group of smart shades / blinds controlled from the same remote button.

A group is a collection of devices that are bracketed together into one controllable zone. You can set up groups using your preferred home automation app, to prevent you from needing to activate each device individually.

Suitable candidates for groups include smart speakers or light bulbs that are all in the same room.

Is the one that connects your local network (home network) to the global network (internet).

A device that can communicate and send commands to smart devices using a phone, tablet or computer. The gateway often looks like a small black or white box that connects to the router. Also called a hub.

Geofencing is a technology used to secure your home. Usually this relies on a GPS positioning system. Geofencing tracks your smartphone location in order to detect you or your family’s position in reference to your home.

This will trigger an event designed to better serve your needs.

Example:

Geofencing will detect when your children get back from school and will automatically open the backyard door for instance.

A set of techniques that make it possible to determine by satellites the geographical position of a mobile device from the radio waves that it emits.

H

A hub is a device that acts as the brains of your smart home. With so many different manufacturers in the sector, some of the devices don't play nicely together without a little help.

A hub connects to all your smart devices and typically lets you control them all from one place, such as a smartphone app.

Or Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning. Is the system technology in charge with the environmental comfort of a smart home.

Is a term used for wired security which is thought to be more secured. However, this is not the case as now wireless has advanced WPA encryption and is the norm nowadays.

Combines both hardware and software solutions to control and manage devices, peripherals, and electronic components in the context of the home to maximize comfort and efficiency.

I

Short for Infrared. Is a wavelength of light that can’t be seen with the human eye. However, the IR light is frequently used by TV remotes and many sensors out there.

Stands for Internet Protocol. It is a standard set of rules that’s used between Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Example:

IPv4: 192.168.0.1
IPv6: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

Also known as a system integrator, is a person or company specialized in building a smart home system, connecting smart devices, building the wiring, enabling connections, configuring the system etc.

A smart home is no fun if nothing works together. At that point, it's not very smart at all.

Some products have built-in integration. For example, lots of third-party devices work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Is a term that represents the inner connection between surrounding, every-day objects that are able to communicate via the use of internet.

Good examples of IoT devices are:

Smart doorbells (allows you to see who’s ringing the door from anywhere via the mobile phone app)
Smart refrigerator (compares products from your fridge with the ones in the manufacturer database)
Smart TV

The interconnection between various objects, equipped with detectors, software and electronic components, and the Internet to enable them to communicate, interact and exchange data.

L

Smart lights are one of the best ways to dip your toe into the smart home water.

The lights themselves typically connect to your Wi-Fi, though there are some (such as Flux) that use Bluetooth instead.

You can control them using your smartphone, but can also pre-program certain events. For example, perhaps you want your bathroom light to turn on a couple of minutes before your alarm goes off, or you want your driveway to illuminate when you're due to arrive home from work.

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode which is a semiconductor diode which generates powerful lighting. LED lighting is frequently used by home automation devices because it’s powerful, long lasting and can be controlled remotely.

A diode that emits light radiation without emitting heat. Infrared LEDs are found in many consumer electronic products.

Electronic devices requiring less electricity to operate than traditional devices. These devices can be running for longer periods without maintenance and without risk of information loss.

M

Name that was given by Sinopé Technologies to its exclusive communication protocol used in its Web programmable devices for the smart home.

A macro is a set of commands that can be triggered by the push / touch of one button / option. Macros are specifically used to play music on multiple at the same time, turn on the lights for specific areas or set the thermostat at certain temperatures in multiple rooms at once.

A small device designed to add wireless control over a lighting appliance.

A device that retrieves the signals provided by your Internet service provider and translates them into an Internet connection. It is then connected to the router to broadcast the Internet connection.

A program designed to meet a set of specific needs that can be downloaded to a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

Is a term used to describe local network in which the infrastructure nodes connect directly and dynamically.

Wireless network architecture where each connected device acts as a signal repeater to relay information received from a terminal (the hub/gateway) to its final destination (the furthest smart device).

Multi-room audio is the concept of piping music through your home at the touch of a button. It can take the form of ceiling speakers or Wi-Fi-connected smart speakers.

A user interface used for the control of smart devices. The management platform often takes the form of an iOS or Android application, or of a Website.

Is a type of smart shades and blinds powered by remote controllers and access from smart devices like touch panels, mobile phone applications or tablers.

These can be customized accordingly and they can work in groups.

N

In home automation a network is represented by two or more devices that are connected to each other via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

A set of devices, such as thermostats or smart switches, that are connected so that they can exchange, distribute or disseminate information.

Is a device used to control your smart home devices. These usually come in the form of a touch panel, dashboard, remote controls, menu screens displayed on TVs.

Is a specific point / device in the home automation network. This node comes with it’s own unique address which gets identified by the network controller for the purpose of getting control over it.

The technology behind smart devices can be split into two categories. The "network layer" and the "physical layer."

The network layer refers to the technology that's responsible for sending data collected by the physical layer to other devices.

The physical layer is the hardware that makes up a smart device. Using sensors, microphones, cameras, and other technology, it collects all the data needed for the device to function.

O

Internet-enabled electrical outlets can connect your existing electrical sockets to your smart home's Wi-Fi. This gives you remote control of anything plugged into them.

For instance, you can make your kid's night light turn off at midnight, or get your coffee machine to fire up at the same time every morning.

P

Is the process which involves connecting a device to another device via a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth or WiFi.

In order to function properly, each integration should follow certain protocols. A protocol is a set of rules / underlying mechanism that allows the communication between certain devices.

Example: Popular protocols include technologies such as: Bluetooth, ZigBee, WeMo, Insteon etc.

When you're studying the various smart home devices, you'll often comes across various protocols.

A protocol is an underlying mechanism that a device uses to communicate with other devices on the network. Some of the most popular include Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, X10, Insteon, and ZigBee.

Having several different devices all speaking a different "language" can pose problems, as they cannot talk to each other.

This is where the aforementioned hub comes in. It's like a bilingual translator: it can receive messages in lots of different protocols and change them into something other devices can understand.

Q

Qualcomm is primarily known as a chip maker. Its products are in everything from smartphones to computers.

Unsurprisingly, the company's expertise also underpins a lot of smart home devices. They include the Ecobee Thermostat, the Haier Vandelo Smart Fridge, the Gree U-Dignity Air Conditioning unit, the LIFX smart lights, the Pebble Bee Honey Tracker, and many more.

R

This refers to user access whenever the smart home user is away. Remote Access / control is basically control from anywhere in the world over a part of your smart devices or each and every one of them.

Example: Controlling the smart lighting status for your home from a mobile app during your holiday.

Remote Access lets you control your smart home when you're away from home, a key part of many devices. The accompanying apps and web portals connect to your in-house devices using your external IP address and home network.

You can then issue commands from anywhere in the world. For example, you can see if someone forgot to arm your alarm and remedy the problem, or ask your oven to start preheating as you leave the office.

Short for Radio Frequency. It’s the main communication signal sent between WiFi devices. Usually these RFs use technologies like: Z-Wave, ZigBee or LightwaveRF.

Abbreviation for radiofrequency. This term refers to wireless communication when used in the context of the smart home or the Internet of Things.

A router is quite similar to a Gateway. In simple words, the Router is the one who connects the LAN Network to the Internet and maintains the connection between WiFi enabled devices in your home.

A device that is plugged into the modem to broadcast the Internet connection over the Wi-Fi network.

A word used by Samsung in its management platform called SmartThings to designate a set of custom actions that can be performed automatically or at a given time by smart devices.

S

Name given by Sinopé Technologies in its Neviweb management platform to designate a set of actions coordinated and accomplished by smart devices at a given time.

A switch is a device which usually works via wireless connection and has the ability to make or break a connection in an electric circuit.

A small device that can be integrated in other home automation devices. Its purpose is to change the way a certain device is behaving when some conditions: position, movement, temperature, light, pressure etc.

Example: light sensor which turns on the light when you approach

A smart hub is an appliance designed to connect multiple smart devices in your home with the purpose of offering you the possibility to control them via a mobile application or a central / digital remote controller.

Is a smart controller device which has a fixed physical position. This can be in the form of a remote controller, touch panel or smart switch.

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection.

Any device or object that can communicate with other objects over an Internet connection. Synonym: connected home.

Management platform for smart devices designed by Samsung.

Smart home security is not to be taken lightly. Depending on the device in question, they might:

Have access to a significant number of your personal details.
Control access to your home.
Know everything about your daily routine.
Have the ability to spread malware around your home network.

Sadly, smart home security is not perfect. A cursory Google search reveals a litany of instances where device security has failed, sometimes catastrophically for the end user.

T

WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) are forms of security designed to encrypt data which is sent via your WiFi access point.

WEP is an older version and is rarely used. We recommend you to use WPA for better encryption.

Is a network of computers or smart devices that communicate between each other via Radio Frequency (RF).

The term automation is the ability to integrate different smart devices together for the purpose to control each and everyone of them from a central hub.

W

The Wi-Fi commonly refers to two things. It is used to designate wireless access to the Internet, as in the context of a Wi-Fi connection. It is also a widely used and standard communication protocol that allows communication between devices.

Intermediary between the user and his smart devices. In the context of Sinopé Technologies, Neviweb is the Web interface, which is also called a management platform.

Name that was given by Sinopé Technologies to its first product line designed for the smart home.

Wireless access to the Internet.

X

The oldest smart home protocols. It was developed in Scotland back in 1975 and is still the most widely used protocols in the world. However, this protocol is not recommended for a large variety of application due to slow response times, flaws in terms of security and virtually 0 encryption.

Z

Is one of the most popular radio frequency powered by a low-power communication network for low latency devices.

The interesting thing about ZigBee is that the signal becomes stronger when you add more ZigBee compatible devices in your home.

A standard and widely used communication protocol that allows communication between devices. The Zigbee protocol uses a secure mesh network architecture that requires little energy. It needs a hub or gateway to create a network of connected devices.

Z-Wave is quite similar to ZigBee and allows you to control Z-Wave compatible devices from a central source. This communication type uses a mesh network which means that it relies on devices to extend the network range.

The Z-Wave network has a device limit of 232 devices and operates around the 900 MHZ frequency range.

A standard and widely used communication protocol that allows communication between devices. The Z-wave protocol uses a secure mesh network architecture that requires little energy. It needs a hub or gateway to create a network of connected devices.

Is a specific room or area in a room or building for which there’s a set of certain events that take place.

GLOSSARY

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