Integration of intelligent home systems
Archived post from 2012, recovered from my old blog. The technology described here is probably out of date. Original at the Internet Archive.
DOMIQ Base – a universal controller of an intelligent building – supports a variety of technologies which can be seamlessly integrated together.
The module itself supports out-of-the box:
- MODBUS devices connected over Ethernet
- IP cameras
There are several integration modules available dedicated for different technologies:
- Serial-2SI – integration with Satel Integra alarm system
- Serial-4MB – integration with MODBUS devices
- Serial-4DX – controlling DMX-512 light systems
There are also unviersal modules:
- Serial-2SG – communication over RS232 interface
- Serial-4SG – communication over RS485 interface
It is also possible to send TCP/UDP packets to any device on the network to control those which are not supported natively by DOMIQ Base.
And the last but not least – there is a powerful integration mechanism available over Ethernet network. DOMIQ Base exposes a service on TCP port 4224. It utilizes a simple yet flexible text protocol to send commands and receive event notifications about each and every device controlled by DOMIQ Base. The module keeps track of the state of each connected device – states of inputs, outputs, values from sensors, etc. Every single value has its own channel. The identifier of the channel depends on the type of the device, type of the value and topology. Some example channel identifiers include:
IDS.input.5 – the fifth input of an alarm system (Intrusion Detection System)
IDS.output.8 – eight output of an alarm system
IDS.zone.2 – a state of an alarm zone number 2
LCN.output.0.2.1 – a first output of the LCN module of address 2 in a segment 0
LCN.relay.0.2.4 – a fourth relay of the same LCN module as above
A channel can be changed by sending a command CHANNEL=VALUE ended with a line break for example:
LCN.output.0.2.1=30
which dims a light to 30%.
LCN.relay.0.2.4=on
which switches on a relay
Every change of a any value is broadcasted immediately to all connected clients as a line CHANNEL=VALUE. A client may also query a specific channel by sending a question mark as a value:
LCN.relay.0.2.4=?
or may query for the whole state by sending a single question mark ended with a line break. In response the module will send all non-zero channels with their values.
The possibilities are endless.