IT202000008503A1 - Corresponding electronic device, system, process and IT product - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

Corresponding electronic device, system, process and IT product

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Technical field

This description refers to building automation systems (? Building automation?).

In particular, various embodiments can be used in the field of home automation (? Home automation? Or? Domotics?).

In general, various embodiments can also be used in environments other than residential ones (homes), such as for example working environments (offices), commercial, hospitality, care and similar environments.

Technological background

The building automation sector, in particular that of home automation, has recently seen a strong evolution.

Are known and commercially available a variety? of home automation systems for the? smart home? (? smart home?), each of which? typically characterized by its own system architecture and / or its own communication protocol.

For example, Z-Wave? a wireless protocol designed for home automation, whose possible applications include remote surveillance, telemedicine, home entertainment, access control, efficiency and energy saving systems.

Another example of a protocol currently used in the field of home automation? the ZigBee protocol.

Yup ? noticed that the spread of home automation technologies? slowed down by some factors, such as:

- the difficulty? use, by a large part of users, of smart devices (? smart devices?) that make up home automation systems,

- the high cost of home automation systems, e

- the limited possibility? expansion of home automation systems.

Purpose and summary

Despite the extensive activity? in the field, improved solutions are desirable that allow to increase the comfort? of use of home automation systems, to reduce their cost and / or to expand their functionality? compared to known systems.

A purpose of one or more? forms of implementation? to provide such improved solutions.

According to one or more? forms of implementation, such a purpose can? be achieved by means of an electronic device having the characteristics set out in the following claims.

One or more? embodiments may refer to a corresponding electronic system, such as a home automation system.

One or more? embodiments may refer to a corresponding operating method of the home automation system.

One or more? embodiments may refer to a corresponding computer product that can be loaded into the memory of at least one processing circuit (e.g., a microcontroller? MCU - or microprocessor - CPU) and comprising portions of software code to perform the acts of the process when the product ? performed on at least one processing circuit. As used herein, the reference to such a computer product? understood as being equivalent to the reference to a computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling the processing system in order to coordinate the implementation of the procedure according to one or more? embodiments. The reference to? At least one? processing circuit? intended to highlight the eventuality? that one or more? embodiments are implemented in modular and / or distributed form.

The claims are an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the embodiments.

In short, one or more? embodiments refer to an electronic device configured to interface at least one home automation device to a local control terminal.

In various embodiments, the electronic device comprises a processing circuit, a local communication circuit configured to exchange signals with said local control terminal, and at least one wireless communication circuit configured to exchange signals encoded according to at least one respective wireless protocol with said at least one home automation device. The processing circuit? configured to receive control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device from said local control terminal, to code said control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, and to transmit said control signals coded to said at least one home automation device. The processing circuit? further configured to receive status signals coded according to said at least one wireless protocol from said at least one home automation device, to decode said status signals coded according to said at least one wireless protocol, and to transmit said decoded status signals to said local control terminal.

In various embodiments, the at least one wireless communication circuit comprises a (first) wireless communication circuit configured to exchange (for example, transmit and receive) signals encoded according to a ZigBee protocol and / or a (second) communication circuit wireless configured to exchange (for example, transmit and receive) signals encoded according to a Z-Wave protocol.

In various embodiments, said local communication circuit comprises a medium-short range wireless communication circuit, preferably a Bluetooth communication circuit, plus preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE communication circuit.

In various embodiments, said interface device comprises an input power supply port and an output power supply port. The output power supply port? configured to supply electrical power to said local control terminal when the electronic device receives electrical power through said input electrical power port.

In various embodiments, said interface device comprises a passive infrared motion sensor and / or a time-of-flight motion sensor. The processing circuit? configured to process a signal provided by said passive infrared motion sensor and / or by said time-of-flight motion sensor to detect the presence of a subject in the vicinity; of the electronic device, and transmitting to said local control terminal a signal indicative of the presence of a subject in the vicinity? of the electronic device.

In various embodiments, a home automation system comprises at least one home automation device configured to exchange (for example, receive and transmit) signals encoded according to at least one respective wireless protocol, a local control terminal of the home automation system, a interface device between the at least one home automation device and the local control terminal according to various embodiments, and a remote control terminal of the home automation system.

In various embodiments, said local control terminal and said remote control terminal comprise respective processing circuits, respective data input / output means and respective wireless communication circuits configured to exchange signals via an internet network. Said local control terminal comprises a respective local communication circuit configured to exchange signals with said interface device. Said local control terminal and said remote control terminal are configured to exchange, via an internet network, control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device and / or status signals received from said at least one home automation device.

In various embodiments, said local communication circuit of said local control terminal comprises a medium-range wireless communication circuit, preferably a Bluetooth communication circuit, plus preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE communication circuit.

In various embodiments, said data input / output means of said local control terminal comprise at least one of a microphone, a loudspeaker and a video camera.

In various embodiments, said local control terminal comprises a smartphone, tablet or smart TV, such as for example a television equipped with an Android operating system, and said remote control terminal comprises a smartphone or tablet.

In various embodiments, said data input / output means of said local control terminal comprise a video camera which can be activated to capture at least one image. Said local control terminal? configured to transmit to said remote control terminal, via an internet network, a signal indicative of said at least one image.

In various embodiments, said data input / output means of said local control terminal comprise a microphone that can be activated for capturing an audio signal in proximity to it. of said local control terminal. Said local control terminal? configured to apply speech recognition processing to said audio signal and generate a respective control signal addressed to said at least one home automation device as a function of said audio signal.

In various embodiments, a method of operation of a home automation system according to various embodiments comprises:

- receiving in said interface device from said local control terminal control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device,

- coding said control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - transmitting said coded signals to said at least one home automation device,

- receiving in said interface device from said at least one home automation device status signals encoded according to said at least one respective wireless protocol,

- decoding said coded status signals according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - transmitting said decoded signals to said local control terminal, and

- exchanging, via an internet network, control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device and / or status signals received by said at least one home automation device between said local control terminal and said remote control terminal.

In various embodiments, said method comprises configuring at least one of said local control terminal, said remote control terminal and said interface device for:

- memorize sets of operating instructions of the home automation system, each set of operating instructions defining a respective mode? of operation of the home automation system,

- select a mode? operation of the home automation system as a function of at least one status signal received by said at least one home automation device and / or an input command given by a user, and

- transmitting a sequence of coded signals to said at least one home automation device and / or a plurality of of signals encoded to a respective plurality? of home automation devices, said coded signals comprising a set of operating instructions associated with said mode? selected operating mode.

In various embodiments, a computer product that can be loaded into the memory of at least one processing circuit comprises portions of software code for carrying out the acts of the method according to various embodiments, as a result of the execution of the computer product on said at least one processing circuit. processing.

Brief description of the figures

Will now be described one or more? embodiments, purely by way of example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

- Figure 1? an exemplary scheme of a home automation system according to one or more? forms of implementation, e

- Figure 2? an exemplary block diagram of the components of a device according to one or more? forms of implementation.

Detailed description

In the following description are illustrated one or more? specific details, aimed at providing a thorough understanding of examples of embodiments of this disclosure. The forms of implementation can be obtained without one or more? specific details, or other processes, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not illustrated or described in detail so that certain aspects of the embodiments will not be made unclear.

The reference to? An embodiment? in the context of the present description it intends to indicate that a particular configuration, structure or feature described in relation to the embodiment? included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as? In an embodiment? that can be present in one or more? points of the present description do not necessarily refer to the single and the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular conformations, structures, or features can be combined in any suitable way into one or more? forms of implementation.

In all the figures annexed hereto, similar parts or elements are indicated with similar references / numbers and a corresponding description will not be given. repeated for brevity. The references used here are provided simply for convenience. and therefore they do not define the extension of protection or the scope of the forms of implementation.

In the detailed description that follows you will do? reference to a home automation system in order to illustrate an example of at least one embodiment. Such an example? to be understood in a non-limiting way of the forms of implementation. Various embodiments can in fact be used in the automation of environments and buildings other than a home, such as an office for example.

Figure 1? an exemplary diagram of a home automation system 10 according to one or more? forms of implementation.

The home automation system 10 comprises a set of peripherals P, a local control terminal LC and an interface device A between the local control terminal LC and the peripherals P. The peripherals P, the local control terminal LC and the device interface A can be located in a certain environment E, such as for example a house, an office, a shop or any environment in which a home automation system is to be provided.

The set of peripherals P can? understand one or more? suitable devices to perform one or more? home automation functions, for example in the safety, energy efficiency, health and personal care sectors. Such peripherals? Intelligent? can be of the type known per se, and may be equipped with respective communication interfaces (also known per se) configured to communicate according to one or more? known protocols, such as the Z-Wave and ZigBee protocols mentioned above. For example, in Figure 1? represented in a completely schematic way a first subset P1 of peripherals equipped with connectivity? of the ZigBee type, which are part of a first ZigBee communication network in the E environment, and a second P2 subset of peripherals equipped with connectivity? of the Z-Wave type, which are part of a second Z-Wave communication network in the E.

Regardless of the type of connectivity? and communication protocol, the set of peripherals P pu? understand one or more? of the following? intelligent? devices, listed as a non-limiting example: a smoke detector, a presence sensor, an intrusion sensor (for example, applied to a door or a window), a surveillance camera, a device lighting, an electrical outlet, a thermostat, an actuator for a window or curtain, an air conditioning device, and similar devices.

The local control terminal LC comprises at least one processor and at least one memory area, so that on the local control terminal LC? installed an operating system that allows the installation of a computer product (for example, in the form of a? software application or? app?).

Furthermore, the local control terminal LC comprises a communication module via connection to the internet network (for example, via any known long-range wireless communication protocol via 3G / 4G / 5G and / or Wi-Fi network), and includes furthermore a local communication module (for example, by means of any known medium-short range wireless communication protocol; in the embodiment example, a Bluetooth protocol, preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE protocol).

Optionally, the local control terminal LC can? also include a communication module in the vicinity? (? near field communication ?, NFC). The NFC communication module can? be used with beacon-type devices, for example to manage an object archive. For example, a beacon can? be physically associated with an object in order to be able to easily find it (purely by way of non-limiting example, think of keys, bags, wallets, and the like). In addition or alternatively, the NFC communication module can? be used as a contactless payment system.

Optionally, the local control terminal LC can? include a microphone to pick up audio signals in room E (for example, the voice of a local LU user in room E), and / or a loudspeaker to broadcast audio signals in room E. The local control terminal LC can also include other data input / output tools, such as a touchscreen display.

Optionally, the local control terminal LC can? understand one or more? cameras (for example, a front camera and a rear camera) to take pictures of the environment E.

In various preferred embodiments, the local control terminal LC can? understand a device such as a smartphone, a tablet or a TV? smart? (smart TV), by itself? known. The use of a smartphone, a tablet or a conventional smart TV as an LC local control terminal is particularly advantageous as these conventional devices can be equipped with the hardware tools necessary for carrying out the functions of the LC local control terminal described below ( for example: processor, internet and / or Bluetooth and / or NFC communication modules, microphone, loudspeaker, video camera, display screen possibly touchscreen, etc.), making the provision of an ad hoc LC local control terminal superfluous.

In any case, the use of a smartphone, a tablet or a smart TV as a local control terminal LC must be understood as a non-limiting example of the embodiments of the present description.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises a local communication module for medium-short range communication with the local control terminal LC (in the embodiment example, via Bluetooth protocol, preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE protocol ) and at least one interface module for communicating with the? intelligent? P in environment E. In particular, the interface device A comprises a module for receiving and transmitting signals configured to operate according to the ZigBee standard, and / or a receiving and transmitting module for signals configured to operate according to the Z- standard. Wave.

The interface device A can? be shaped so as to provide physical support to the local control terminal LC, for example by presenting a suitably sized recess or any equivalent support structure, creating a sort of docking station for the local control terminal LC. This solution is particularly advantageous when the local control terminal LC comprises a conventional smartphone or tablet.

In addition, a 10 second home automation system or more? embodiments as exemplified in Figure 1 comprises a remote control terminal RC. Similarly to the local control terminal LC, also the remote control terminal RC comprises a device equipped with at least one processor and at least one memory area, so that on the remote control terminal RC? installed an operating system that allows the installation of an IT product (for example, a? software application or? app?). The RC remote control terminal includes a communication module via connection to the internet network (for example, via any known long-range wireless communication protocol via 3G / 4G / 5G and / or Wi-Fi network). The remote control terminal RC also includes data input / output tools (for example, via a touchscreen), so that a remote user RU in the vicinity of the of the remote control terminal RC pu? interacting with the home automation system 10, for example by means of a suitable software application installed on the remote control terminal LU and on the local control terminal LC to exchange data via the internet.

Therefore, in a similar way to the local control terminal LC, in various preferred embodiments also the remote control terminal RC can? understand a device such as a smartphone or tablet, per se? known, it being understood that the use of a smartphone or a tablet as a remote control terminal RC must be understood as a non-limiting example of the embodiments of the present description.

In various embodiments, the local control terminal LC and the remote control terminal RC are configured to exchange data via the connection to the internet. This data exchange between the two terminals LC and RC can? be managed by means of an application installed both on the local control terminal LC and on the remote control terminal RC. In this way, the two control terminals LC and RC can perform substantially the same functions, in relation to the management of the home automation system 10, as will happen? further described below.

In various embodiments, the local control terminal LC and / or the remote control terminal RC can be configured to exchange data through the connection to the internet network also with a remote server C, for example a cloud server. The remote server C can? be configured to play one or more? of the following functions: connect the two LC and RC terminals via the internet, store configuration, event and image files, and send notifications (for example, alarms) to the LC and RC terminals.

Figure 2? an exemplary block diagram of the components of an interface device A according to one or more? forms of implementation.

The interface device A? configured to allow interfacing of the peripherals P in environment E with the local control terminal LC, in order to allow the control of the home automation system 10 via the local control terminal LC (by the local user LU) or the remote control terminal RC (by the remote user RU). In addition, the interface device A can be in turn equipped with sensors and / or input / output devices to allow the local user LU to control the peripherals P even in the absence of the local control terminal LC.

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? comprise an input power port 200, for example a USB port (preferably, of the USB-C type), for receiving PWRin power supply from a power supply network in a manner known for itself? (for example, by suitably transforming the voltage supplied by a 220 V domestic power supply network).

Optionally, the interface device A can? comprise a backup rechargeable battery 202 for supplying electrical power to the interface device A even in the absence of power from the power port 200. be advantageous, for example, in the event that the home automation system 10 comprises one or more? peripherals intended to perform security and / or surveillance functions, which must be guaranteed, at least for a certain period of time, even in the absence of power from the domestic power supply network. The backup rechargeable battery 202 can? be of the type normally supplied in current production smartphones, and sized to provide an autonomy of about 8 hours.

In alternative embodiments, the interface device A can? be devoid of an input power port 200 and the battery 202 (for example, replaceable type) can? constitute the main power source of the device.

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? comprising an output power port 204, for example a USB port (preferably, of the USB-A type), for supplying PWRout power to the local control terminal LC by connection via a power cable.

In various embodiments, when the interface device A? off, the output power port 204? disabled and no PWRout power is supplied to the local control terminal LC. When the interface device A? turned on, the output power port 204? enabled to supply PWRout power to the local control terminal LC if the interface device A? powered through the input power port 200, while the output power port 204? disabled if the interface device A does not receive electrical power through the input power port 200 (but receives it, for example, from the battery 202).

Preferably, the battery 202 constantly supplies electrical power to a real time clock (RTC) included in the interface device A. In various embodiments, it can be used. be provided with a capacitor to store energy and power the real time clock even in the absence of power from the battery 202, for a limited period of time (for example, up to 2 minutes).

The interface device A further comprises a set of circuits, for example integrated circuits arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) 20, configured to implement the functions described in the following of the present description.

For example, the interface device A pu? include a power management circuit 206. The power management circuit 206? configured to manage the power supply of the electrical components of the interface device A and the power supply of the output port 204. Optionally, the power management circuit 206? configured to also manage the use of the battery 202.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises a processing circuit 208. The processing circuit 208 can be, for example, a? unit? microcontroller (MCU) or microprocessor (MPU). The processing circuit 208? coupled to at least one memory area, such as for example a RAM memory 210 and / or a memory of the flash type 212. The processing circuit 208 can? understand the real time clock (RTC) described above.

The processing circuit 208? therefore configured to run the firmware of the interface device A. In various embodiments, the firmware of the interface device A can? be updated, for example by using the connection to the internet of the local control terminal LC.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises a medium-short range communication circuit 214 for communication with the local control terminal LC. In the embodiment example, the communication circuit 215 comprises a communication circuit using the Bluetooth protocol, preferably Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE. Purely by way of non-limiting example, the medium-short range communication circuit 214 can? be implemented using a card such as the card commercially available under the designation nRF52840 from Nordic Semiconductor.

In various preferred embodiments, the protocol implemented by the medium-short range communication circuit 214? a Bluetooth 4.2+ protocol. In various forms of implementation, the functionality? of the communication circuit 214 pu? be carried out by the processing circuit 208 (microcontroller / microprocessor).

In alternative embodiments, the communication between the interface device A and the local control terminal LC can? take place in a wired manner, for example by means of the same gate 204 which supplies electrical power to the local control terminal 204.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises a first interface circuit 216 configured to communicate by means of the ZigBee protocol with the? Intelligent? Peripherals. P1 in the environment E. In various forms of implementation, the functionalities? of the communication circuit 214 and of the interface circuit 216 can be carried out by the same circuit.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises a second interface circuit 218 configured to communicate by means of the Z-Wave protocol with the? Intelligent? Peripherals. P2 in environment E. Purely by way of non-limiting example, the second interface circuit 218 pu? be implemented using a card such as the card commercially available under the designation ZM5304 from Silicon Labs.

Optionally, the interface device A can? comprising, on the printed circuit board 20, a free space 220 for the connection of a circuit or an expansion board. For example, this additional circuit can? be advantageously included in the interface device A in order to implement a further communication protocol for? intelligent? peripherals, different from the ZigBee and Z-Wave protocols already? mentioned above.

In various embodiments, the interface device A comprises one or more? input / output devices. For example, the interface device A pu? include a physical button 222 for switching the device on, off and / or resetting it. The interface device A can? also include a physical button 224 to reconfigure the device with the factory default settings, i.e. to erase all pairing data stored in the interface device A (both pairing data with the? intelligent? P peripherals, and pairing data with the local control terminal LC).

In addition, the interface device A can comprise a status LED 226 which provides indications about the operating status of the interface device A or, more? in general, of the home automation system 10. For example, the status LED 226 pu? blinking blue during a pairing function (for example, between the interface device A and the local control terminal LC, or between the interface device A and one of the peripherals P), can? take on green color to indicate the correct power supply of device A, and / or pu? flashing red to indicate an alarm condition (for example, depending on a signal received from one of the P peripherals in room E, such as a smoke detector or intrusion sensor).

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? be provided with one or more? sensors, for example arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) 22. In this way, the interface device A can? provide one or more? functions that are typical of home automation systems (in particular, surveillance functions) even in the absence of peripherals P connected to interface device A.

For example, the interface device A pu? include a passive infrared (PIR) motion detector 228. Optionally, the interface device A can? include a time-of-flight (TOF) motion detector 230 (laser). Advantageously, a time-of-flight motion detector can allow not only to detect the presence of an individual in the vicinity? of the interface device A, but can? also function as an input device, for example through the implementation of gesture recognition algorithms.

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? comprise a further status LED 232. For example, such a status LED 232 can? provide visual signals relating to alarms and modes? of operation.

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? be designed as a class B product with regard to compatibility standards? electromagnetic (electromagnetic compatibility, EMC). In addition, the interface device A can satisfy one or more? of the following standards or directives:

- CE / RoHS 2 / Radio Equipment Directive / REACH, - Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30 / EU, - Low Voltage Directive 2014/35 / EU,

- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, - EN60950-1 / EN301489 / EN300328,

- ZigBee,

- Z-Wave certification.

A 10 second home automation system or more? forms of implementation can? therefore be configured to function as described later in this description.

In various embodiments, a set of? Intelligent? Peripherals are provided in a certain environment. P which constitute a home automation network of a known type per se, for example a ZigBee P1 network or a Z-Wave P2 network. In various embodiments, both ZigBee type peripherals and Z-Wave type peripherals can be provided in environment E.

In a configuration phase of the home automation system 10, a user downloads and installs a software application on the local control terminal LC and on the remote control terminal RC, for example by means of the internet connection provided by both the terminal local LC, and the RC remote terminal.

Using the software application installed on the local control terminal LC, the user then performs the pairing (i.e. the pairing), for example via Bluetooth BLE, between the local control terminal LC and the interface device A.

Also during a system configuration phase 10, the interface device A connects to the peripherals P in the environment E via the respective wireless communication protocol, for example ZigBee, Z-Wave, or both.

Once the connection between the peripherals P and the local control terminal LC has been configured through the interface device A, the user can? manage the peripherals P (and in general, can manage the home automation system 10) by making use of the functionalities? provided by the application installed on the local control terminal LC and / or, even more? advantageous, on the RC remote control terminal.

For example, the interaction between the control terminal (remote or local) and the interface device A, mediated through the application installed on the control terminal and the firmware executed on the interface device, allows to perform one or more? of the following operations:

- identify, associate (i.e., perform pairing), remove and configure the devices connected to the interface device A (i.e. both the peripherals P and the local control terminal LC),

- manage connected devices (for example, switch connected devices on and / or off, receive information about their operational status),

- receive data from connected devices and / or transmit data (for example, configuration data) to connected devices (for example, from / to any of the P peripherals),

- receive data from sensors 228, 230 and / or transmit data (for example, configuration data) to sensors 228, 230 provided in the interface device A,

- manage external IP cameras via Wi-Fi connection,

- update the firmware of the interface device A.

In the event that the local control terminal LC is equipped with a camera, an automation system 10 according to one or more? forms of implementation can? be configured to:

- transmit to the RC remote control terminal the images captured, even in real time, by the camera of the local LC terminal,

- memorize the captured images, also in the form of video streams, from the camera of the local LC terminal; the storage of such data pu? be carried out on an internal memory of the local control terminal LC, or on a remote server C to which the control terminal can? connect,

- activate the recording of the images captured by the camera automatically, following the occurrence of a certain condition (for example, the detection of an intrusion by one of the P peripherals),

- activate a feature? facial recognition of a local LU user via the LC terminal camera.

In various embodiments, the application installed on the control terminal (local or remote) and the firmware of the interface device A can cooperate to realize some functionalities. on the basis of a so-called? rules engine ?, in which certain functions are activated automatically according to the occurrence of certain conditions, also by relating more? P peripherals connected to the interface device, even if these use different communication protocols.

For example, such rules can be based on? If-then-else? Logic. and can be combined with AND or OR logic. The execution of a certain rule can? be subject to manual intervention by the user, who can? ? overwrite? the output of the rule itself. For example, a rule can? foresee that, if one of the peripherals P detects the opening of a door, then a certain light (also of the? intelligent? type) is switched on. The user can? have the faculty? to intervene (via the local or remote control terminal, or even by acting directly on the light, if possible) to turn off the light even if the door remains open.

Similarly, the application installed on the local or remote control terminal can? allow the user to define one or more? ? scenarios? of use of the home automation system 10, in which each scenario represents a sort of container of rules. By way of example, can you? imagine the definition of a scenario called? night ?, which includes a series of rules that cause the activation of an anti-theft system and the turning off of the lights in room E. Such a scenario can? be activated and deactivated manually by the user, or can? be subject to automatic time-based activation and deactivation (e.g. automatic activation at 11 pm and automatic deactivation at 7 am).

The rules and scenarios described above can be stored in the memory of the local control terminal LC or remote RC, and / or in a remote server C accessible via internet connection from the control terminals LC and RC.

In various embodiments, the interface device A can? be commanded via voice commands by a user. The voice command can? be received in a microphone provided on the local control terminal LC and / or on the remote control terminal RC. For example, voice commands can be used to:

- activate or deactivate a peripheral P connected to interface device A,

- program, activate or deactivate a certain rule and / or a certain scenario, as defined above,

- activate an emergency call, using the microphone and loudspeaker possibly provided on the local control terminal LC,

- request support or information about the features? of the devices and peripherals connected to the interface device A.

In addition, in various embodiments the application installed on the local control terminal LC or remote RC can be used. be arranged to carry out a certain image processing on the images acquired by means of a camera of the system 10 (be it a remote camera P, or a camera integrated in the terminal LC). For example, such processing can? include a processing for the recognition of movements and / or gestures, facial detection and / or facial recognition.

One or more? forms of implementation therefore allow to simplify the use of home automation systems, as the functionalities? system 10 can be managed in a centralized and uniform way by means of an application installed on the local control terminal LC or remote RC, this application being able to adapt to the needs of the user (for example, you can imagine that the application provides some rules or preset scenarios for those users who would find it too complicated to configure the automation system themselves).

One or more? embodiments can also provide an automation system of reduced cost, since the local and / or remote control terminals can be implemented through conventional smartphones, tablets or smart TVs, allowing for example the user to reuse a smartphone for this purpose or tablet, even dated.

Finally, one or more? forms of implementation can expand the functionality? of an automation system compared to known systems, for example by providing wide possibilities? programming of rules and / or scenarios through the local or remote control terminal, and also allowing the cooperation of? intelligent? peripherals. equipped with different communication protocols.

Without prejudice to the underlying principles, the details and forms of implementation can vary, even considerably, with respect to what? that ? has been described here only as an example, without departing from the scope of protection.

The scope of protection? defined by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. Electronic device (A) configured to interface at least one home automation device (P) to a local control terminal (LC), the electronic device (A) comprising: - a processing circuit (208), - a local communication circuit (214) configured to exchange signals with said local control terminal (LC), - at least one wireless communication circuit (216, 218) configured to exchange signals encoded according to at least one respective wireless protocol with said at least one home automation device (P), wherein said processing circuit (208)? configured for: - receiving from said local control terminal (LC) control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P), - coding said control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P) according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - transmitting said coded control signals to said at least one home automation device (P), - receiving from said at least a home automation device (P) coded status signals according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - decode said coded status signals according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, and - transmit said decoded status signals to said local control terminal ( LC). Electronic device (A) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one wireless communication circuit (216, 218) comprises a wireless communication circuit (216) configured to exchange signals encoded according to a ZigBee protocol and / or a circuit of wireless communication (218) configured to exchange signals encoded according to a Z-Wave protocol. Electronic device (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said local communication circuit (214) comprises a medium-short range wireless communication circuit, preferably a Bluetooth communication circuit, plus? preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE communication circuit. Electronic device (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an input power supply port (200) and an output power supply port (204), wherein said output power supply port (204)? configured to supply power supply (PWRout) to said local control terminal (LC) when the electronic device (A) receives power supply (PWRin) via said input power supply port (200). Electronic device (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a passive infrared motion sensor (228) and / or a time-of-flight motion sensor (230), wherein said processing circuit (208)? configured for: - processing a signal provided by said passive infrared motion sensor (228) and / or by said time-of-flight motion sensor (230) to detect the presence of a subject (LU) in the vicinity; of the electronic device (A), e - transmitting to said local control terminal (LC) a signal indicative of the presence of a subject (LU) in the vicinity? of the electronic device (A). 6. Home automation system (10) comprising: - at least one home automation device (P) configured to exchange signals encoded according to at least one respective wireless protocol, - a local control terminal (LC) of the home automation system (10), - an interface device (A) between the at least one home automation device (P) and the local control terminal (LC) according to any one of the preceding claims, and - a remote control terminal (RC) of the home automation system (10), in which: - said local control terminal (LC) and said remote control terminal (RC) comprise respective processing circuits, respective data input / output means and respective wireless communication circuits configured to exchange signals via an internet network, - said local control terminal (LC) comprises a respective local communication circuit configured to exchange signals with said interface device (A), and - said local control terminal (LC) and said remote control terminal (RC) are configured to exchange, via said internet network, control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P) and / or received status signals said at least one home automation device (P). A home automation system (10) according to claim 6, wherein said local communication circuit of said local control terminal (LC) comprises a medium-range wireless communication circuit, preferably a Bluetooth communication circuit, plus? preferably a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE communication circuit. Home automation system (10) according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said data input / output means of said local control terminal (LC) comprises at least one of a microphone, a speaker and a video camera. Home automation system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said local control terminal (LC) comprises a smartphone, tablet or smart TV, and said remote control terminal (RC) comprises a smartphone or tablet. Home automation system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said data input / output means of said local control terminal (LC) comprises a video camera which can be activated to capture at least one image, and wherein said local control terminal (LC)? configured to transmit to said remote control terminal (RC), via an internet network, a signal indicative of said at least one image. Home automation system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein said data input / output means of said local control terminal (LC) comprise a microphone that can be activated to capture an audio signal in proximity to it. of said local control terminal (LC), and wherein said local control terminal (LC)? configured to apply speech recognition processing to said audio signal and generate a respective control signal addressed to said at least one home automation device (P) as a function of said audio signal. Method for operating a home automation system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 11, said method comprising: - receiving in said interface device (A) from said local control terminal (LC) control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P), - coding said control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P) according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - transmitting said coded control signals to said at least one home automation device (P), - receiving in said device interface (A) from said at least one home automation device (P) status signals encoded according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - decoding said coded status signals according to said at least one respective wireless protocol, - transmitting said decoded status signals to said local control terminal (LC), and - exchanging, via an internet network, control signals addressed to said at least one home automation device (P) and / or status signals received from said at least one home automation device (P) between said local control terminal (LC) and said remote control terminal (RC). 13. A method according to claim 12, comprising configuring at least one of said local control terminal (LC), said remote control terminal (RC) and said interface device (A) for: - memorize sets of operating instructions of the home automation system (10), each set of operating instructions defining a respective mode? operating mode of the home automation system (10), - select a mode? operation of the home automation system as a function of at least one status signal received by said at least one home automation device (P) and / or an input command given by a user (LU, RU), and - transmitting a sequence of coded signals to said at least one home automation device (P) and / or a plurality of of signals encoded to a respective plurality? of home automation devices (P), said coded signals comprising a set of operating instructions associated with said mode? selected operating mode. 14. Computer product loadable into the memory of at least one processing circuit (RC, LC, A) and comprising portions of software code for executing the acts of the method according to claim 12 or claim 13 as a result of the execution of the computer product on said at least one processing circuit (RC, LC, A).