Abstract

Home automation can range in complexity from the simple gadgets and gizmos that provide control over individual components to individual home sub-systems and integrated whole house systems. As a very basic definition, home automation is anything that gives you remote or automatic control of things around your home. Remote control gives you the convenience of controlling lighting, appliances, security systems and consumer electronics from wherever you happen to be at the time like your couch, car or even in your bed. There are several different methods of controlling devices remotely: Infrared IR, Power line, Radio Frequency RF, Insteon and Hardwired. Some home automation systems are packaged as fully integrated systems whereas others provide only a limited set of functions. Both wireless and hard-wired systems are available. And here we are using a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone as the remote.

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The key features of Bluetooth technology are robustness, low power, and low cost. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate with each other.
Bluetooth technology has achieved global acceptance such that any Bluetooth enabled device, almost everywhere in the world, can connect to other Bluetooth enabled devices in proximity. Bluetooth enabled electronic devices connect and communicate wirelessly through short-range, ad hoc networks known as piconets. Each device can simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices within a single piconet. Each device can also belong to several piconets simultaneously. Piconets are established dynamically and automatically as Bluetooth enabled devices enter and leave radio proximity. A fundamental Bluetooth wireless technology strength is the ability to simultaneously handle both data and voice transmissions. This enables users to enjoy variety of innovative solutions such as a hands-free headset for voice calls, printing and fax capabilities, and synchronizing PDA, laptop, and mobile phone applications to name a few.

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