Event-Driven Home Automation Architecture: The Smart and Complete Guide

Introduction

Event-Driven home Automation Architecture is now new concept in smart home automation. Smart home are now not limited to only simple automation of appliances and lights. It has improved and evolved far better than that. It contains now modern intelligent eco system where devices directly communicate and react to real life events into real time. Event-Driven home Automation Architecture (EDA) is now heart of the system as devices responds to environmental changes, system events and behavior of the user. During traditional event organization delay may happen, or anything unusual can happen but due to this system tasks runs in fixed time.

Event-Driven home Automation Architecture (EDA) provides flexibility, real time responsiveness. So, this article is basically depends upon what is EDA, how it works, what are the benefits of using it, real life examples and future trends of the same. So, by reading it you will get idea about how this system converts home into smart home and effective living environment.

1.What is Event-Driven Home Automation Architecture in smart home?

Basically it is the system which responds according to detectable change in environment or event. In the smart home we can arrange events based on automation and, user interaction and sensors rather than manually intervention and preplanned schedules.

a) What is an Event?

It is and noticeable change in the environment or home that system can detect.
i. Temperature Fluctuation beyond set threshold

ii. Open/Closed doors or windows

iii. Motion of person in room

iv. Voice commands by assistant

v. Security breaches that can be detected by sensors and cameras

b) Schedule based/ Vs Event automation

In traditional event organizing home automation system is based on time. There will be executing pre programmed tasks like turn on light at specific time, turn on coffee machine at specific time. Sometimes there will be failing to real conditions or delay.

Event driven systems are driven. They only responds when they detect any change or event occurs. They provide :
i. Real time response

ii. Reduced energy wasting

iii. Personalized automation

c) Why event based systems are ideal for smart homes?

In smart home their may be multiple cross platforms or multiple devices and ecosystem. Event-Driven system coordinate all the devices and provide service by ensuring below points:

i. Responds when necessary
ii. Actions are based on real world triggers
iii. User can combine multiple event by defining complex rules.

2.Key Points of Event-Driven Home Automation Architecture in smart home

EDA system contains critical components on which it works. So, understanding each and every points is necessary before working with such system.

a) Event sources/ Sensors:

They are the primary content of the system. Which notices or detects the change in the environment and pass the information to the system. The below are the different types of the sensors.
1. Motion sensors- Detects movements in surrounding like rooms or hallways

2. Door/Window sensors- They track the opening and closing of the doors and windows

3. Cameras- The monitor recording, video, and AI- powered detection

4. temperature and Humidity sensors- They detects if temperature falls or raised beyond predefined limit or detects climatic changes

5. water/Gas/Smoke assistant- Detects any unusual incidence happens and triggers emergency action

6.Voice Assistant- Captures the commands and take action on the same

b) Event Bus/ Event broker:

If any event occurs first it get detected by event sources then next role is of event bus which is the backbone of communication. Which plays main role in the collecting, routing and distributing the events in the relevant components. Most popular technologies are:
– Apache Kafka
-MQTT
– Cloud based hub
Benefits of Event bus are:
i. Scalability
ii. Real-time event delivery
iii. Reliable communication

c) Event processor/Rules Engine

If event happens, firstly it is detected then it is routed towards relevant components now next step is to take action on the same. So, Event processor plays role like brain of home automation. It evaluates the event and decides what appropriate action should be taken.

Features of Event processor:

• Integration with AI
• Combining multiple events
• Conditional evaluation

Ex. If any motion detects in living room and after sunset then turn on the lights. Advanced processors learn this patterns and automatically rules for comfort and efficiency.

d) Event Consumers/ Actuators

These are the devices which carry out the actions in response to processed events.
ex. Alarm System, Smart switches, Thermostats, Door locks, Smart plugs, Appliances.

When the system detects that door is open at night time it may turn on entrance light, send notification to homeowner or may record video through camera.

e) Monitoring/ User Interface

The best user interface provides easy rule making and modifications, emergency notification and event logs.

3. Working of Event-Driven Home Automation Works (EDA):

Let understand this process by an example i.e. Automated light and climate control

Place: Smart living room Automation

Step 1: Event Detection:
Motion in the living room will be detected by motion sensor and room temperature will be detected by Temperature sensor.

Step 2: Event Transmission
This sensors sent detected event to event bus

Step 3: Event processing:

Rules engine evaluate the event.

• If motion is detected in living and after sunset lights will be turned on
• If temperature is below fixed temperature room heater will be activated

Step 4: Action Execution:
Lights turn on and heater will be adjusted to comfortable temperature

Step 5: Optional Notifications:
Smartphone apps will send alert notification to the user i.e Lights and heater is activated in living room.

This clarifies that how multiple events can simultaneously triggers the multiple actions, giving seamless smart home experience.