WO2004049689A1

WO2004049689A1 - Home automation system using programmable logic controller and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2004049689A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/002580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae Yul Kim
Original assignee: Kim Jae Yul
Priority date: 2002-11-26
Filing date: 2003-11-26
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: KR20040045975A; AU2003284773A1

Abstract

Disclosed are a home automation system and a method thereof. The home automation system according to the invention has an appliance unit including an electric home appliance and criminal/disaster prevention sensors, a programmable logic controller for changing control status of the appliance unit, and an administration server for generating a message upon receipt of the control value of the appliance from the programmable logic controller and transmitting the same to the user, while controlling the control status of the corresponding appliance unit to be changed through the programmable logic controller if so demanded by the user through at least one of the wireless or wire communication networks. The invention enables the user to be reported of the current status of his/her own house irrespective of time and space as well as to control the same at real time by means of a wireless or wire communication network.

Description

HOME AUTOMATON SYSTEM USING PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER AND METHOD THEREOF

Technical Field The present invention relates to a home automation system and a method thereof, and in particular, to a home automation system and a method thereof όapable of reporting the current situation of a house to the user irrespective of time or space by using a wireless or wire network as well as of automatically controlling diverse kinds of communication apparatuses and electric home appliances by means of logic preset when a safety mode was set.

Background Art

With an increase of the aged and unmarried persons, the requisites of residents are also diversified. Therefore, the house suppliers make efforts to satisfy such demands of the residents by means of a home automation system.

The conventional home automation business provides residents at home with a variety of conveniences by focusing on the residents' convenience, state-of-the-art of diverse materials following the up-leveled demands and controlling electronic products using electric communication as well as building high speed communication network.

In the modem society, however, the residents are increasingly forced to empty their own houses due to change of their family members or living manners, etc. Under these circumstances, the residents switch off and abandon the electric home appliances, gas apparatuses, heating apparatuses or luminance in inactive states. This is not necessarily because an inactive state is required but the residents are unable to control those devices away from home. However, the modem society increasingly requires operating the electric home appliances and devices in active states even when the residents are away from home. For instance, where a fire has been caused or a thief has broken into home, it is required to report such accidents to a police or fire station. Further, if gas has been leaked, it is required to detect the leakage and automatically perfomi emergency remedies. In spite of such demands of diverse actions, the conventional home automation system is not capable of providing the residents away from home with any remedies or methods to remotely control machines or appliances switched off in the houses. Even in the affirmative, the scope of control is limited to a simple extent and not substantially helpful. Another reason for delaying development of the home automation lies in development failing to develop controllable temrinals.

Another problem of the conventional technology is that the home automation system collectively equipped in the apartments or complex buildings built on a large scale fails to provide a changing manner of the controlling logic of electric home appliances according to the users' tastes or circumstances. Even if provided, the change normally incurs a high cost. Thus, it is difficult to change layout of the home automation on a custom- tailored basis.

Disclosure of Invention

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a home automation system capable of reporting to a user the current situation of the user's house irrespective of time or space to satisfy the contemporary demands as well as a method of confrolling the same allowing the user to automatically control the home automation either within the house or from a distance at real time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a home automation system of a broad utility scope and low cost as well as a method of confrolling the same by using a programmable logic controller (hereinafter, referred to as the LC).

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a home automation system and a method of controlling the same intellectually operating in accordance with a preset safety mode by using the PLC.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a home automation system and a method of confrolling the same conceived to enable the user to lay out or change the custom-tailored logic meeting the user's taste apart from the logic collectively applied to the houses built on a large scale at their constructing stage by allowing the user to easily change the controlling logic of an appliance unit.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a home automation system and a method of controlling the same easily retrievable by means of a back-up between two appliances even when either one of the appliances becomes out of order by allowing the PLC inside of the house and an adnrinistration server outside of the house to share data of the appliance unit. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a home automation system and a method of controlling the same fundamentally preventing the appliance unit from causing possible errors due to communication disorder or communication traffic with an extemal adnrMstration server by additionally equipping a storage unit inside of the PLC so as not to pose any control problems even in the absence of communication of the PLC with the adnrinistration server.

In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, there is provided a home automation system comprising: an appliance unit including at least one of electric home appliances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors; a PLC for changing a control value of the appliance unit; and an aclministration server for trarisnritting the control value of the appliance unit to a user's control terminal through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks upon receipt of the same from the PLC, and controlling the control value of the appliance unit so as to be changed through the PLC when so demanded from the user's control terminal. There may be additionally provided a PC, PDA or a mobile phone as a control terminal for displaying an appliance control screen through at least one of wire and wireless communication networks upon receipt of the same from the administration server, and demanding change of the control value of the appliance unit through the appliance control screen.

The PLC may comprise: a power supply unit for supplying power to each unit; input/output units for connecting the appliance unit; a communication unit for communicating with the aώτιinistration server with a particular ID; and a control unit for transmitting a changed control value of the appliance unit, if the status thereof is changed by the user, to the adnrinistration server through the communication unit, and changing the control value of the corresponding appliance unit upon receipt of the control value of the appliance unit from the administration server through the communication unit. Here, the power supply unit includes not only a battery but also means for receiving a power supply from an extemal power source. The input/output units include a control panel comprising a keypad, touch screen, etc. so that the user can directly input and control data to the PLC through the control panel. Also, the PLC additionally includes a storage unit for storing the control value of the appliance unit so as to store or update the control value of the appliance unit, if the status thereof is changed by the user, and store or update the control value upon receipt of the same from the administration server. The storage unit is constructed to change the control value of each element of the appliace unit to a safety mode, which has been stored inside thereof irrespective of the extemal administration server, thereby overcoming a problem that might be caused due to a communication disorder. The administration server comprises: a database for storing information on the user and the control value; a database administration program module for controlling the database; a PLC control module for transmitting the control value of the appliance unit to the database through the database adnrMstration module upon receipt of the same from the PLC, and transmitting the control value of the appliance unit to the PLC through the data administration program module upon receipt of the same from the database; a communication server program module for providing the control terminal with the appliance unit control screen generated based on the information on the user and the control value, which have been transmitted from the database through the database adrri stjation program module, and changing the control value of the appliance unit, if so demanded from the control terminal through the appliance control screen, so as to be transferred to the database through the database ax ninistration program module; and a short message transmission program module for generating a short message by means of the infoπnation on the user and control value of the appliance unit transmitted from the database through the database aαBiinistration program module so as to be frarisferred to the control teirninal. The communication server program module is designed to use at least one of the wire and wireless webs or the WAP-type wire and wireless communication methods. The database stores the control value of each element of the appliace unit, which is a target of control, by being interlocked with the PLC. The database also stores a safety mode control value of the corresponding PLC.

In canying out the invention according to another aspect thereof, there is also provided a method of operating the home automation system, which comprises: an appliance unit including at least one of electric home appliances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors; a PLC for changing the control value of the appliance unit; an adnrjrήsfration server for controlling change of the control value of the appliance unit through the PLC; and a control terminal connectable to the administration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks. To be specific, the method of operating the home automation system according to the present invention comprises the steps of: Mtializing the system in the adiTiinistration server; updating a changed control value of the appliance unit, if the status thereof is changed by the user, in the database of the aώriinistration server upon receipt of the same from the PLC; and confrolling the PLC so that the control value of an appliance unit can be changed if so demanded from the control terminal, which has been connected to the adnrinistration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks. Here, the step of initializing the system comprises the steps of: sensing switch-on of the power supply in the aαministration server; reading a current confrol value Dt2 of the appliance unit from the PLC, and reading a pre-stored confrol value Dtl from the database of the admMsti tion server in the adnrjrύstration server; comparing the control value Dt2 read from the PLC with the control value Dtl read from the database in the admMstration server; waiting for a future change of the control value of the appliance unit in the actnrinistration server if the compared values are identical; updating the control value Dt2 read from the PLC in the internal database, if the compared values are different, and waiting for a future change of the control value of the appliance unit in the adrri stration server.

The step of changing the control value by the user further comprises the steps of: sensing a user's change of the control value of the appliance unit by the PLC; changing the confrol value of the appliance unit by the PLC; storing the changed control value in an internal storage unit of the PLC; transmitting the changed control value to the administration server by the PLC; and updating the changed control value in the internal database by the aώτιinistration server upon receipt of the same from the PLC. Here, the user's changing of the control value of the appliance unit refers to a case when the user operates a boiler, etc. by directly switching on the appliance unit.

The step of demanding change of the control value of a predetermined appliance unit from the control tenτιinal refers to a manner of remotely confrolling the control terminal, which is located at a distance from the PLC. To be specific, the change of the control value of a predetennined appliance is demanded from the control tenninal through taking the steps of: connecting of the control terminal to the adiTiMsfration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks; providing the control terminal with an appliance unit control screen, which has been generated by the infomiation on the user and confrol value transmitted from the database, by the administration server; demanding a change of the control value of a predetermined appliance unit by the control terminal through the appliance unit control screen; transmitting the changed control value to the PLC by the adminisfration server upon receipt of the demand for change of the control value; changing the control value of the corresponding appliance unit by the PLC in accordance with the control value transmitted from the administration server; storing the changed control value of the appliance unit in an internal storage unit by the PLC; transmitting the changed control value of the appliance unit to the acministration server by the PLC; and storing the changed control value in an internal database by the acbriinistration server upon receipt of the same from the PLC. In carrying out the invention according to another aspect thereof, there is also provided a method of setting a safety mode in a home automation system, which comprises: a PLC having an appliance unit including at least one of electric home appliances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors allocated inside of a house and having control means including a switch, a control unit connected to the control means of the appliance unit, a storage unit for storing a current control value of the appliance unit, a communication unit for communicating with outside on the control value of the appliance unit, and input output units connected between the control means of the appliance unit and the confrol unit for inputting/outputting and controlling the appliance unit; and an admMsfration server having a PLC control module for controlling the PLC and conτmunicating on the control value of the appliance unit through the communication unit of the PLC, a database for storing the control value of the appliance unit in a database administration module upon receipt of the same from the control module of the PLC, a communication server module for communicating with the control terminal on the confrol value of the appliance unit for changing the same through at least one of wire and wireless communication networks away from home, and an aαnrinistration server confrol unit module for Iransnώting information on the changed control value and on the corresponding appliance to the confrol terminal through the communication server module upon receipt of the same from the PLC, if the control value of the appliance unit has been changed, and reporting a demand for change of the control value of the appliance unit to the PLC, if so demanded from the control terminal through the communication server module, so as to allow the PLC control module to change the control value of the corresponding appliance. Here, the safety mode refers to a mode for automatically operating each appliance in a pre-set manner when the user is unable to actively control the appliance unit or take measures against the circumstances inside of the house on a remote basis or due to sleeping. Therefore, the safety mode is either pre-set in the storage unit of the PLC or stored in the database of the aώτιinisfration server by being interlocked with the corresponding PLC.

If the safety mode has been stored in the PLC, the safety mode is implemented by taking the steps of: designating a particular appliance group of the appliance unit by using the confrol terminal and the input or output unit of the PLC, i.e., any one of a control panel or a keypad, etc. to set a control value of the designated appliances, and setting a designated control value as a safety mode; storing the set safety mode in the storage unit as a safety mode by a PLC control unit; switching on the safety mode switch by the user with the input/output units of the PLC control unit; reporting the safety mode to the PLC control unit by the input/output unit thereof; reading the control value corresponding to the safety mode of each element of the appliace unit pre-stored in the storage unit by the PLC confrol unit; changing the conesponding control value in accordance with the read safety mode control value by the PLC control unit through the control means of the appliance unit; reporting the changed control value to the administration server by the PLC control unit; and storing the reported control value in the corresponding database by the administration server control unit module. Here, the step of setting on the safety mode switch by using the input/output unit of the PLC, i.e., a confrol panel, etc., refers that switching on of the safety mode is reported to the PLC control unit through a control panel. This does not necessarily mean that a safety mode switch is physically constructed on a control panel.

Also, if the safety mode has been stored in the database of the aαnrinistration server in the identical system, the safety mode is implemented by taking the steps of: designating a particular appliance group of the appliance unit by the user with either one of the control terminal or the input/output unit of the PLC to set a control value of the designated appliances, and setting the control value as a safety mode; storing the set safety mode control value of the appliances by the administration server in the internal database of the corresponding PLC by being interlocked therewith upon receipt of the same from either one of the control terminal or the input/output unit of the PLC; setting on the safety mode switch by the user with the input/output unit of the PLC; reporting the safety mode to the PLC through the input output unit thereof; demanding a safety mode control value to the admiriistration server through the communication unit by the PLC control unit; reading the pre-set control value corresponding to the safety mode of each element of the appliace unit from the database by being interlocked with the corresponding PLC; transmitting the read safety mode control value to the PLC through the PLC control module by the administration server control unit module; changing the corresponding control value through the confrol means of the appliance unit by the PLC control unit upon receipt of the report of the safety mode control value through the communication unit; reporting the changed control value to the aobiώύstration server by the PLC control unit; and storing the reported control value in the corresponding database by the aαhτώτistration server control unit module.

Here, the safety mode may be implemented by taking the additional steps of feedback comprising: comparing by the adnrinistration server control unit module whether or not the changed control value is identical to the safety mode control value stored in the database of each appliance after the changed control value has been reported to the aαbriMstration server by the PLC control unit; and in the negative, reporting to the PLC to change the different control value of the appliance unit to be the safety mode control value stored in the database.

The safety mode according to the present invention may be implemented in the following manner as a post-measure to a particular event such as a fire or a gas leakage, if ever occurred. When the criminal/disaster prevention sensors of the appliance unit sense a particular event, the safety mode is implemented through taking the steps of: automatically sensing a change of the control value of the criminal/disaster prevention sensors by the PLC due to the event; alarming occurrence of the event by the PLC to a safety terminal, which is an element of the appliance unit connected to the PLC; changing the control value of an darming bell switch to be "on" by the PLC; transmitting the changed control value to the adnrinistration server by the PLC; updating the control value transmitted from the PLC in the intemal database by the aώτιinistration server; checking by the adnrinistration server whether or not the status of the PLC, in which the corresponding event has occurred, is a safety mode; and in the affirmative, searching the user's control terminal interlocked with the PLC from the database, and alamiing occurrence of the event to the corresponding control terminal. Here, if a gas leakage has occurred under the state that mechanical opening/closing means for automatic opening or closing is mounted on a gas valve and windows of the appliance unit, and the mechanical opening/closing means is electrically controllable, the PLC may additionally perform the post-measure step of: switching-off the power control value of a predetermined electric home appliance and confrolling the mechanical opening/closing means so as to change the control value of the gas valve to be a closed state and change the control value of the windows to be an open state. Also, if the event is a fire and if an operation of an automatic fire extinguisher of the appliance unit is controllable, the PLC may additional perform the post-measure step of controlling the control value of the automatic fire extinguisher to be an operation mode. Where a storage unit is mounted on the PLC, the PLC may additionally perform the step of storing the changed control value in the storage unit. Where a thief or a robber has invaded into a house in the above safety mode, the present invention can sense such state by means of the ciTminal prevention sensor mounted on doors or windows. To be specific, in case where either the criminal prevention sensor or a disaster prevention sensor of the appliance unit senses opening of either doors or windows, the invaded state can be sensed through taking the steps of: sensing automatic change of the control value of the corresponding sensor due by the PLC to the event; checking the control value of the safety mode switch directly by the PLC or ctiscerrjfng whether or not the current mode is a safety mode either from the intemal storage unit or from the administration server; in the affirmative, checking by the PLC whether or not the safety mode is released after elapse of a predetennined period of time; unless the safety mode is released after elapse of a predetermined period of time, alarming occurrence of an event to a connected safety terminal by the PLC; changing the control value of the connected alairning bell switch by the PLC; trarismitting the changed control value to the aαnrMstration server by the PLC; updating the control value transmitted from the PLC to the intemal database by the administration server; and searching the user's control tenninal interlocked with the PLC from the database by the adnrMstration server so as to alarm occurrence of the event to the corresponding control teixninal.

Brief Description of Drawings The above object, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a construction of the home automation system according to the present invention; FIG 2 is a block diagram iUustrating detailed constructions of the electric home appliance, criminal/disaster prevention sensor and PLC in FIG i;

FIG 3 is a block diagram iHiistrating a detailed construction of the admirύstration server in FIG 1 ; FIG 4 is a schematic flow chart iftu^trating the home automation system and a method of confrolling the same according to the present invention;

FIG 5 is a flow chart iUustrating a step of initializing the system of an adnrinistration server;

FIG 6 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of operating the system according to the present invention when the user has manually changed a control value of an appliance unit;

FIG 7 is a flow chart iUustrating the steps of operating the system according to the present invention when the user has changed the control value of the appUance unit from a confrol terminal; FIG 8 is a flow chart iUustrating the steps of operating the system in setting a safety mode according to the present invention when the safety mode has been stored in a PLC;

FIG 9 is a flow char illustrating the steps of operating the system in setting a safety mode according to the present invention when the safety mode has been stored in an adnrinistration server;

FIG 10 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of operating the system according to the present invention where a fire has been caused;

FIG 11 is a flow chart iUustrating the steps of operating the system according to the present invention where a gas leakage has been caused; FIG 12 is a flow chart Ulustratihg the steps of operating the system according to the present invention where a door has been opened;

FIG 13 is a diagram , Ulustrating a screen menu to confrol an appUance unit according to the present invention; and

FIG 14 is a diagram Ulustrating a best mode of a screen to control an appUance according to the present invention.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

Best modes for carrying out the present invention wiU now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are use for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known tunctions or constitutions are not described in detaU since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detaU.

FIG 1 is a schematic block diagram Ulustrating a construction of the home automation system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG 1, the home automation system according to the present invention comprises an appliance unit 30 of an electric home appUance 10 for confroUing a confrol value including a point of contact, etc., a criminal/disaster prevention sensor 20, a PLC 40 for changing the control status of the appliance unit 30, an administration server 50 for generating an alarming message in accordance with the control value of the appUance unit 30, and transmitting the same to a user upon receipt of the same from the PLC 40, while confroUing change of the control status of a predetermined appliance unit 30 through the PLC 40 if so demanded from a user's confrol terniinal through a wireless or wire communication network, and a control teπrώial unit for displaying or alarming the alarming message upon receipt of the same from the administration server 50, and remotely confroUing the control value of the appUance unit through manipulation by the user. The tenninal unit comprises a home automation terminal (hereinafter, referred to as the 'control terminal') 80, which includes at least one of a mobile communication terminal 60 connectable to the aαministration server 50 through the wireless communication network and a PC 70 connectable to the adrninistration server 50 through the wire communication network.

In case of an apartment, if the PLC 40 is instaUed in each house and the administration server 50 is installed in each bu ding, it is possible to allow a single PLC 40 to integrally control the appUance unit 30 including a plurality of electronic appUances and a criminal/disaster prevention sensor that are control targets and allocated inside of each house as well as to allow a single adir stration server 50 to intensively control a plurality of PLC 40. In case of a coUective residence buUding or an ordinary house as weU, the same construction can be appUed by dividing a certain area or a number of famiUes by a single acuTi stration server.

FIG 2 is a block diagram iUustrating a detailed construction of the appliance unit 30 and the PLC 40 in FIG 1. As shown in FIG 2, the electric home appUance group 10 comprises

Ulumination apparatuses, heating apparatuses, cooling apparatuses, a gas valve, a safety mode switch and an emergency bell switch, etc. Also, as shown in FIG 2, the crrminal/disaster sensors 20 comprise a fire sensor, a gas sensor, a window sensor, and a front door sensor, etc. Diverse kinds of electric home appUances or sensors may be further added. The safety mode switch may be physicaUy constructed together with or independently from input/output units 45, which will be referred to later. However, the control value of the safety mode switch is always transmitted to the control unit through the input/output units, as in case of the other elements of the appliance unit.

As shown in FIG 2, the PLC 40 comprises a power supply unit 41 for supplying the power source to each unit, a storage unit 43 for storing the control value of the appliance unit 30, input/output units 45 for connecting the appliance unit to the PLC, a communication unit 47 for communicating with the administration server 50 by means of an assigned particular ID, and a control unit 49 for updating a changed control value of the appliance unit in the storage unit 43, if the control status of the appUance unit 30 is changed by the user, trammitting the same to the actministration server 50 through the communication 47, and updating a control value of a predetermined appliance unit in the storage unit 43 upon receipt of the same from the administration server 50 from the communication unit 47 and changing the control status of the corresponding unit. The input/output unit may includes a confrol panel of a keypad type or a touch screen type for allowing the user to directly control the appUance unit so as to perform another function in addition to an interface function for changing the control value of the appUance unit. Here, the power supply unit refers to a concept of including a simple input port of an ordinary extemal alternate power supply as well as of a housed battery. In particular, where the battery is a power supply unit, the data stored in the storage unit is apt to be lost due to consumption of the battery. Thus, the storage unit may comprise a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or FeRAM. A product of Micro Logix 1000-type manufactured by Allen-

Bradley may be used for the PLC. Also, RS-Linx and RS-Logix are provided as a programming tool of the PLC. The RS-Linx is a program for communication between the PLC and the administration server 50, and assists in diverse communication methods such as DDE communication, OPC communication or series communication, etc. The RS-Logix is a program for producing an intemal program of the PLC, such as a counter, a timer or the control unit of the PLC.

The PLC should be capable of being operated under the stand-alone state in preparation for release of communication traffic with the administration server, communication disorder or abnormal operation of the aώninistration server, etc. Therefore, the PLC must comprise the storage unit inside thereof.

It is very important that the PLC should be capable of being operated under the stand-alone state because, if the PLC always need to control the appliance unit based on the control value upon receipt of the same from the database of the aαnrMstration server, the PLC should be able to communicate with the aαn inistration server for 24 hours. Then, the communication traffic becomes heavy. Besides, if abnonnal circumstances arise in the communication and the administration server, the entire buildings of an apartment or a residence area would fall into a paralyzed state.

The current confrol value of the appUance unit is always first reported to the PLC through the input/output unit. Therefore, the control value of the storage unit of the PLC is a true value. Accordingly, under the circumstances except when the confrol value of the appUance unit has been changed from the extemal control terminal, the appliance unit is constructed to change the value stored in the administration server based on the value stored in the storage unit of the PLC with respect to the confrol value of the appUance unit, if the value stored in the admir stration server discords with that stored in the storage unit of the PLC.

The conrniunication unit of the PLC may be connected to a safety terminal 120, which is administered by a guardroom, poUce station, fire station or other safety companies as well as by a house resident, so as to alarm an emergency situation based on the change of the control value of diverse sensors.

FIG 3 is a block diagram iUustrating a deta ed construction of the adminisfration server 50 in FIG 1. As shown in FIG 3, the administration server 50 comprises an administration server control unit module 61 for aώninistering all the modules within the server and processing incoming/outgoing data, a database aώτώτisfration program module 51 for aώninistering information on the user and control value of the appUance unit, DB 52, which is interlocked with the database actministration program module 51 for storing and providing the information on the user and/or PLC as well as on the confrol value of the appliance unit, a PLC control module 53 for transmitting the control value of the appliance unit to the confrol unit module 61 upon receipt of the same from the PLC 40, and transrrutting the control value of the appliance unit upon receipt of the same from the administration server control unit module 61, a wire communication sewer program module 57 for providing the mobile communication terminal 60 with the appliance unit control screen, which has been generated based on the information on the user and confrol value of the appUance unit upon receipt of the same from the administration server confrol unit module 61 through connection to a wireless communication network, if the control terminal 80 is a mobile terminal 60, and providing a PC 70 with the appUance unit control screen, which has been generated based on the information on the user and control value of the appUance unit, upon receipt of the same from the administration server control unit module 61 through connection with a wire cornmunication network, if a wireless communication server program module 55 or/and the confrol terminal 80 for transmitting the control value of a predetermined appUance unit 30 to the administration server control unit module 61, when so demanded from the mobile communication teiminal 60, by changing the control value of the corcesponding appUance unit 30 through the appUance unit confrol screen is a wire terminal 70 such as the PC or a wire telephone, whUe changing the control value of the predetermined appUance unit 30, when so demanded from the PC 70 through the appUance unit confrol screen, and transmitting the same to the aαnrinistration server control unit module 61, and an anriing message service transmission program module 59 for generating an damiing message based on the information on the user and the control value of the appUance unit upon receipt of the same from the aαrninistration server confrol unit module 61 so as to be transferred to the control terminal and/or the safety tenxiinal 90 at the guardroom or the poUce station.

Here, the database administration program module 51 may realize the database by using MS-SQL Server 2000. The wireless communication server program module 55 may comprise wireless application protocol (WAP) server program module, for example, which can be constructed by using wireless markup language (WML) and active server page (ASP). Also, the wire communication server program module 57 may be constructed by using hyper text markup language (HTML), which is a web server program module, and the ASP. Here, the reason for exemplifying the web server lies in that web is generally used as a standard system of wire Internet. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to the web. Accordingly, it is out of question that other wire communication network systems, such as power line communication, etc., is also appUcable to the present invention in the future as an example of a wire communication.

The above alanning message may be an ordinary short message or an e-maU, etc. However, the concept includes all kinds of electronic messages. If the alarming message transmission program module 59 is a short message service (SMS) transmission program module, LG-WSM 1 port SMS server of LG Electronics Inc. may be used.

The present invention realized a home automation system of a broad utility scope and low cost by integraUy confroUing the appUance unit 30, which comprises a plurality of control targets, in one house with the single PLC 40. It is out of question that each PLC has an original ID number of its own, which is interlocked with each data and stored in the database of the administration server. The present invention also enabled the user to be reported of the current situation of his her own house irrespective of time and space and to confrol the home automation system at real time by using a wireless or wire communication network.

The "electric home appliances" according to the present invention refer to a concept including aU the controllable home appUances such as a gas valve or an emergency bell switch as well as the electric home appliances in general such as TV, luminance appliances or heating apparatuses, etc.

The "confrol" according to the present invention refers to a concept including a control of micro-level, such as setting up a temperature in case of a heating apparatus, in addition to the contact point control, such as switching on and off the power supply of each appliance. The "confrol" according to the present invention also includes the control of an intemal control unit, which is housed in each appliance at the time of manufacturing the same, by using the PLC, or the control of an interface confrol unit, which is not mounted on each appUance at the time of manufacfriring the same but is mounted later. For example, the temperature of a boUer, which is the heating apparatus, is generally controlled by confroUing its electric voltage. However, the PLC according to the present invention controls the temperature by controlling the electric voltage through a control unit of the boUer. Another example is a gas valve, which can be automatically opened or closed by additionaUy mounting a mechanical switch of a stepping motor-type or of a solenoid-type that is confroUable. Therefore, the PLC according to the present invention is constructed to perform a function of interfacing with intemal control units of each element of the appUace unit as well as with the adminisfration server, which wiU be described later, in addition to the function of controlling in a stand-alone manner. The operation and advantageous effects of the present invention constructed above wiU now be described in further detail.

The method of confroUing a home automation system according to the present invention is mainly divided into two: a method of confroUing the confrol value of the appUance unit in accordance with the user's intention; and the control value is changed irrespective of the user's intention.

FIG 4 is a schematic flow chart iUustrating the method of confrolling the home automation system according to the present invention by particularly focusing on the steps performed by the adnrinistration server 50.

The method in FIG 4 comprises: step 10 of irύtializing the entire system (S10); step 30 of updating the changed confrol value of the appUance unit, upon receipt of the same, in a record interlocked with the corresponding PLC of DB 52 by means of the database adminisfration program module 51 (S30); step 90 of re-updating the changed confrol value of a predetermined appliance unit, if so demanded from the user's confrol terminal 80 connected through the wireless or wire communication network, in the record interlocked with the corresponding PLC (S90); and step 110 of confrolling the PLC 40 to change the confrol status of the corresponding appUance unit. The above steps wiU now be described in fuither detail.

Operation flow of initializing the system wUl first be described with reference to FIG 5. If an adnrinisfrator switches on the power supply to initialize the adnrinistration server 50, the control unit 54 of the aαniinisfration server 50 senses the switched-on state (Sll), and reads the current status including the contact point values of the electric home appUance 10 and the criminal/disaster prevention sensor 20 from the storage unit 43 of the PLC 40, while reading the confrol value of the corresponding electric home appliance and crrmmal/disaster prevention sensor pre-stored from the DB 52 (S13). Subsequently, the administration server 50 compares the control value DT52 read from the PLC 40 with the confrol value DTI read from the intemal DB52 (SI 5). If the compared values are identical, the admimsteation server 50 operates the system to be a normal state (SI 7). If the compared values are different, the admimstration server 50 updates the confrol value DTI of the intemal DB52 based on the confrol value DT2 read from the PLC 40 as a true value, since the control value DT2 always reflects the cunent status of each element of the appliace unit. Then, the adrriinisfration server 50 returns to S13 (S19).

In other words, the adminisfration server 50 is initialized by taking the above steps to realize precise central intensive confrol by reading the current confrol value of the appliance unit 30, which is a target of confrol, from the PLC and updating the same in preparation for the case when the aώτuhistration server becomes down or has an error value due to an inevitable reason.

Step S30, i.e., the operation flow when the confrol status of a predetennined appUance unit is changed by the user's intention within a house rather than by the confrol terminal 80, wUl now be described with reference to FIG 6.

If the user changes the confrol status of the predetermined appliance unit, e.g., from switch-on to switch-off or vice versa (S31), the control unit 49 of the PLC 40 senses the changed status, and changes the confrol value of the appliance unit (S33). The confrol unit 49 of the PLC 40 updates the changed confrol value in the storage unit 43 (S35), and transmits the same to the adrrrinisfration server 50 through the cornmunication unit 47 (S37). Subsequently, the PLC confrol module 53 of the adminisfration server 50 transmits the changed control value to the database adminisfration program module 51 upon receipt of the same from the PLC. The database admimsfratron program module 51 updates the transmitted control value in the database record of the corresponding appUance interlocked with the corresponding PLC of the DB52.

As a consequence, the adrriinisfration server 50 can identify the corresponding user based on the original ID assigned to the communication unit 47 of the PLC 40, which has been instaUed in each house, while updating the information on the control value.

The acjnrirfrstration server 50 can intensively control the confrol the targeting electric home appUance 10, e.g., a luminance apparatus, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, a gas valve, a safety mode switch, or an emergency beU switch, etc., by updating the changed control value in the DB52 whenever changed. The DB52 of the adnrinistration server 50 stores information on the user and the control value of the appUance unit. The information on the user includes an ID, password, name and mobile communication terminal of the user as well as an ID or a connected Internet IP address, etc. of a PC. The information on the confrol value includes a contact point value or a controllable numerical value of the luminance apparatus, heating apparatus, cooling apparatus, gas valve, safety mode switch, emergency bell switch, fire sensor, window sensor and front door sensor, etc.

Step S90 of confroUing the appliance unit by the user away from home with the confrol tenninal 80 wiU now be described with reference to FIG 7.

When wishing to confrol a confrol target from outside by means of the confrol terminal 80, the user first connects the control terminal 80 to the aαmirύstration server 50 through the wire/wireless communication network (S71). Subsequently, the communication server program modules of the adminisfration server 50 provides the confrol terminal 80 with the appUance unit control screen generated from the information on the user and the control value upon receipt of the same from the database administration program module 51 through the aclministration server control unit module 61 (S72).

FIG 13 shows a construction of contents menu of an appUance unit control screen according to a best mode of the present invention. FIGs. 14 show constructions of the appUance unit control screens according to the best modes of the present invention. If the user has employed the mobUe communication terminal 60 as the confrol terminal 80, the WAP server program module, which is used as the wireless communication server program module 55 of the aαmimsfration server 50, provides the mobUe communication terminal 60 with the contents menu as shown in FIG 13.

If the user connects the mobile communication teiminal 60 to the aciministration server 50, the wireless communication server program module 55 provides a log-in screen from the appliance unit confrol screen as shown in FIG 14(a). If the user subsequently inputs hisher own ID and password, the wireless communication server program module 55 determines whether or not the user is an authorized user upon receipt of the ID and password from the database administration module 51. In the affirmative, the wireless communication server program module 55 provides the mobile communication tenninal 60 with the menu screen as shown in FIG 14(b). If the user subsequently selects a menu, the wireless communication server program module 55 provides the mobile communication terminal 60 with the appUance unit confrol screen as shown inFIGs. 14(c)(d)(e) (S72).

Then, the mobile communication terminal 60 may demand a change of the confrol value of a predetermined appliance through the appliance unit control screen. For example, if the user selects the "heating apparatus" from the menu screen, the wireless communication server program module 55 provides the screen as shown in FIG 14(c). If the user subsequently changes the control status from 'on' to 'off of the "heating apparatus," the adrriinisfration server 50 updates the changed confrol value of the heating apparatus, which is interlocked with the corresponding PLC of the DB52, by means of the database adrninistration program module 51 upon receipt of the changed confrol status (S74). At this stage, the admimsfration server 50 can identify the corresponding user and the PLC and update the information on the confrol value based on the ID inputted by the user through the log-in screen or on the provided information on the transmitter's number of the mobile communication terminal 60. In case of identifying the corresponding user based on the information on the transmitter's number of the mobile communication terminal 60, the log-in step may be omitted by assuming that the transmitter is an authorized user. Further, if the user uses the appUance unit confrol screen pre-stored in the control terminal, the user may sunply activate the appUance unit confrol screen from the mobUe communication terminal of his/her own. If the user then changes the control value of a predetermined appliance and transmits the same, the admMstration server can recognize the user and perform necessary confrolling procedure.

The PLC confrol module 53 of the aώτιinistration server 50 transmits the changed confrol value of the heating apparatus to the corresponding PLC 40 (S75). Subsequently, the confrol unit 49 of the PLC 40 changes the control status of the heating apparatus 15 based on the control value transmitted from the aαmiiustration server 50 through the communication unit 47 (S76). Before or after the step S96, the control unit 49 of the PLC 40 also updates the confrol value of the heating apparatus transmitted from the admMsfration server 50 in the storage unit 43 (S77). In other words, the user can change the confrol value of the electric home appUances 10, which are targets of the control, e.g., the luminance apparatus 11, the heating apparatus 13, the cooling apparatus 15, the gas valve 17, the safety mode switch 31 or the emergency bell switch 33, etc., by connecting the mobile communication terminal 60 to the adnrhistration server 50 from outside.

The aώτιinistration server 50 may comprise a wire communication server program module 57 for wire communication. In that case as weU, the user can also control the confrolling target from outside by means of a PC or a wireless telephone 70 with a manner identical or similar to the above. Operation flow when a safety mode on the appliance unit is set according to another best mode of the present invention wiU now be described with reference to FIG 8.

The safety mode is set by means of the safety mode switch 31, which is aUocated on a front door or a gate of a house of the user, for instance. The safety mode switch 31 may be of a keypad type activated by a simple click or by inputting a password, or of an automatic type automatically activated at a pre-set time or on a predeteimined condition. For example, if the confrol value of the safety mode switch is automatically changed from Off to 'on' state at 11 o'clock every night, the PLC and/or the aώninistration server can confrol the appUance unit under the safety mode. Another example of the automatic type is that the safety mode switch 31 is activated on a predetermined condition such as 'if more than 30 minutes have elapsed from closure of the front door and if the confrol value of the other elements of the appUance unit within the house has not been changed in the meantime.' Such setting can be perfoπned on a menu of the appliance unit control screen described above. Release of the setting can also be perfomied on the menu of the appliance unit control screen.

Switching 'on' of the safety mode switch connotes that no one is inside of the house or available to actively confrol the appUance unit inside of the house. Therefore, 'on' state of the safety mode switch can be set when the user is away from home or is sleeping at home. If the safety mode switch is switched on (S81), the PLC 40 controls each appliance upon receipt of the safety logic stored in the DB52 of the adirMstration server therefrom (S82). If the use switches on the safety mode switch 31, for example, the confrol unit 49 of the PLC senses the 'on' state and automatically switches off the luminance apparatus 11, the heating apparatus 13, the cooling apparatus 15, the gave valve 17, etc. or activates diverse sensors. Further, the control unit 49 of the PLC also changes the to- be-stored safety mode switch confrol value to an 'on' state (S83). Taking an example of No. 209 of the third apartment of an apartment area "A," the safety logic can be that aU the interior luminance is switched off except the luminance of the Uving room, whUe the boUer is set to maintain the temperature of 20°C, and all the sensors on the doors and windows are activated, whUe aU the interior luminance is switched on after 8 o'clock in the evening. Such a taUor-type mode is produced by the user with a wire or wireless control terminal through the appUance unit confrol screen or a safety mode set screen separately provided. The taUor-type mode is transmitted by the control terminal, and stored in the DB52 by being interlocked with each PLC or in the storage unit of the PLC. The control unit 49 of the PLC changes the confrol value of each appUance in according to the safety logic, and updates the changed control value in the storage unit 43 thereof (S84).

Then, the control unit 49 of the PLC transmits the changed confrol value to the administration server 50 through the communication unit 47 (S85). Subsequently, the PLC control module 53 of the achniriistration server 50 transmits the confrol value to the database aαn inistration program module 51 through the confrol unit module 61 upon receipt of the same from the PLC 40. The database adminisfration program module 51 updates the received control value in a designated DB record (S86). To be specific, if the safety mode switch 31 is switched on, the PLC automatically switches on or off the contact point value, etc., which are targets of confrol. The adnrinistration server 50 updates the changed confrol value in the DB so as to provide the user with an environment of connecting the control terminal 80 to the aclminisfration server 50 and confroUing the confrol targets away from home. Furthermore, the adrninistration server may also automatically report to the control tenriinal of the user in a short message form that the safety- mode has just been set.

Another example is a case when the safety logic is to be controlled by the admimsfration server as shown in FIG 9. Referring to FIG 9, if the safety mode switch 31 is switched on (S91), the control unit 49 of the PLC reports the 'on' state to the administration server 50 (S92). Upon receipt of such status, the adnrinistration server control unit module 61 of the adminisfration server reads the safety logic of the corresponding PLC, which has been pre-stored inside of the DB52, and transmits the same to the corresponding PLC 40 through the database adrnirnstration program module 51 (S93).

Upon recognition of the received confrol value, the PLC controls each appUance accordingly (S94), and updates the changed control value in the storage unit 43 thereof (S95). In addition, the PLC may also report the control value, which has been changed by the safety mode, to the administration server (S96). In that case, the adnrinistration server can update the reported actual control value in the DB52 (S98). Besides, the administration server can additionally take a feedback step (S97) of checking whether or not the confrol value, which has been changed prior to storage, is identical to the confrol value of the safety logic. In the negative, the aαmirύstration server can report the error to the PLC again so that the ereor can be corrected.

Operation flow in the course of setting the safety mode, e.g., when the confrol status of a fire sensor 21 has been changed due to a fire will now be described with reference to FIG 10. Where a fire has been caused in a house, a fire sensor 21 senses the fire, and changes the confrol status thereof. The fire sensor 21 then reports the fire based on the changed confrol status. For instance, if the confrol status is changed from 'on' to Off (SI 01), the confrol unit 49 of the PLC 40 senses the 'off' state, and changes the confrol value of the fire sensor (S 102). The control unit 49 of the PLC updates the changed confrol value in the storage unit 43 (S103), and switches on an emergency bell switch 33 (SI 04). The confrol unit 49 of the PLC 40 further transmits the changed control value to the aώ nistration server 50 through the communication unit 47 (SI 05). Subsequently, the PLC confrol module 53 of the adnrinistration server transmits the received control value to the database achxiirύsfration program module 51 through the adminisfration server control unit module 61. The database admimstration program module 51 updates the received control value in a designated record of the DB52 (SI 06).

A step of ti"ansmitting a fire alarm signal to an emergency terminal at a guardroom or an adjacent fire station (S107) may be directly taken by the control unit 49 of the PLC through a connected communication network or by the aώniriistration server 50. It is also possible that both the PLC and the aα rinistration server report the emergent state to the emergency terminal. Emergency measures may be taken only when the emergent state has been reported by both the PLC and the aαnrinistration server, and is acknowledged as a true value.

The adnrinistration server control unit module 61 of the adniinistration server 50 determines whether or not the user is away from home based on the confrol value of the safety mode switch 31 transmitted from the database aαministration program module 51 (SI 08). If the safety mode switch has been switched on, an alarming message service transmission program module 59 calls out the user's mobUe communication terminal 60 based on the information on the user transmitted from the database admimstration program module 51, i.e., the mobile communication tenninal number of the user, and transmits the fire alarming message to the mobile communication terminal 60 (S 109). In other words, if the control status of the fire sensor 21 is changed due to the fire, the adiT±Hstration server 40 updates the changed confrol value in the database 52, and transmits a fire alarming message to the user's mobile communication terminal 60 so that the user can acknowledge the fire conditions at real time and take relevant measures. If an automatic fire extinguisher (not shown in the drawing) is instaUed inside of the house, it is also possible to separately confrol the automatic fire extinguisher to eject water like an emergency bell.

Operation flow when the confrol status of a gas sensor 23 has been changed due to gas leakage according to a second best mode of the present invention wiU now be described with reference to FIG 11. The case when gas has been leaked is basically similar to the case of fire as far as: the control value of the gas sensor 23 is changed (Sill); the PLC senses the gas leakage and changes the control value of the DB (SI 12). However, an outstanding characteristic in case of the gas leakage is that all the windows of the house are opened, and all the electric appUances are switched off (S 114-2) so as to prevent exploration and fire in advance.

The aforementioned examples have been explained under the assumption that the safety mode has been set. In case of fire, gas leakage or in other emergent states, however, it is also possible to set the above sensors to operate irrespective of whether or not the safety mode has been set.

Operation flow when a thief, etc. has invaded into a house through a window, a front door or a veranda door under the 'on' state of the safety mode will now be described with reference to FIG 12 according to a third best mode of the present invention.

If an unauthorized invasion has occurred through a window, for instance, under the 'on' state of the safety mode (S121), and the control value of a window sensor 25 is changed from 'on' to 'off state due to an extemal invasion (S122), the confrol unit 49 of the PLC senses the changed status and changes the confrol value of the window sensor 25 (S 123).

The PLC updates the changed confrol value in the storage unit 43 (S124), and reports the same to the administration server (S125) so that the value of the adrninistration server can also be synchronized (S 126).

Thereafter, the PLC checks whether or not the safety mode is released while waiting for a predeteimined period of time because the window might have been opened by the user of the house. If the safety mode is released within the predetermined period of time, the PLC terminates all the conditions (S 127). Since the user of the house might forget releasing of the safety mode, the PLC may remind the user through a speaker instaUed inside of the house or through a confrol terminal that the safety mode has currently been set, and that a post-procedure can be proceeded unless the safety mode is released (S129). Unless the safety mode is released nevertheless even after elapse of the predetermined period of time, the alarming message service transmission program module 59 of the adτιinistration server 50 calls for the user's mobile communication terminal, etc. based on the user's mobUe communication terminal number, which has been transmitted from the database administration program module 51, and generates an alarming message reporting an invasion from outside so as to be transmitted to the mobUe communication tenninal 60 (S 128-2). At the same time, the alarming message service transmission program module 59 also transmits the danning message to a safety terminal at a guardroom or an adjacent poUce station (S 128-3). The alarming message service transmission program module 59 may also switch on the connected emergency switch (S 128-1). Such a series of procedures (S128) may be performed directly by the confrol unit 49 of the PLC 40 through a connected conimunication network and/or by the administration server 50.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention has an advantageous effect of realizing a home automation system of broad utility and low cost by integrally controlling the electric home appliances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors with a single PLC rather than with a complex constitutional elements such as a router, a coupler, a modem or a confroUer, which has been employed in the conventional home automation system.

Moreover, the present invention enables the user to check the current status of his/her own house irrespective of time and space by connecting to a single adnfrnisfration server through a wireless or wire communication network and allowing the aώτrirUstration server to intensively confrol a plurality of PLC. Further, the plurality of PLC can be controlled by the user at real time.

The present invention has another advantage of enabling the user to actively respond to dangerous circumstances by reporting to the user the dangerous circumstances caused at his/her own house at real time through his/her mobile cor nunication tenxiinal and or a wire terminal such as PC after generating an arming message. The alarming message according to the present invention refers to a concept of including aU kinds of messages transiTiittable in an electronic format in addition to the short messages conventionally displayed on a mobUe communication terminal or a wire/wireless e-mail.

The present invention has another advantageous effect of enabling the user to easUy change a control logic with respect to an appUance unit, such as taUoring a safety logic or other kinds of logics apart from the logic forcibly appUed to an apartment area of a large scale at its building stage. Another advantageous effect of the present invention is an easy restoration of disorder, which might be caused to either one of the PLC inside of the house or an extemal aαniinistration server, by allowing the PLC and the adnr sfration server to share data on the appUance unit for the purpose of backup between the two.

Another advantageous effect of the present invention is eliminating a problem in confrolling the appUance unit even if the PLC encounters disorder in communication with an extemal adxiinistration server or faUs to communicate with the administration server by additionally equipping a storage unit within the PLC.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain best modes to carry out the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detaUs may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A home automation system comprising: at least one appliance unit from a group comprising electric home appUances and crinrinal/disaster prevention sensor appUances; a programmable logic confroUer for changing a control value of the appliance unit; and an administration server for transnfrtting the confrol value of the appliance unit to a user's confrol ten inal upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic controller through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks , and confroUing the confrol value of the appUance unit so as to be changed by using the programmable logic controller when so demanded from the user's confrol terminal.

2. The home automation system of claim 1, further comprising a confrol terminal for displaying an appliance unit controls screen upon receipt of the same from the aώτιinistration server through at least one of wire and wireless communication networks, and demanding change of the confrol value of the appliance unit through the appliance unit control screen.

3. The home automation system of claim 2, wherein the control terminal is at least one of a personal computer, a PDA and a mobile telephone.

4. The home automation system of claim 1, wherein the programmable logic controller comprises: a power supply unit for supplying a power source to each unit; input/output units connected to the appUance unit; a communication unit for communicating with the actmiiύstration server based on an assigned original ID; and a confrol unit for transmitting a control value of the appliance unit changed by the user to the administration server through the communication unit, and changing the control value of the appliance upon receipt of the confrol value of the corresponding appUance unit from the actmihistration server through the communication unit.

5. The home automation system of claim 4, further comprising a storage unit, wherein the confrol unit updates the confrol value of the appUance unit in the storage unit, if changed by the user, and updates the confrol value of the appUance unit in the storage unit, upon receipt of the same from the adminisfration server.

6. The home automation system of claim 5, wherein the storage unit stores the pre-set confrol value of the appliance unit as a safety logic so as to automatically confrol the appliance unit based only on the safety logic stored in the storage unit irrespective of the aαniinistration server when activating the safety logic.

7. The home automation system of clahn 1, wherein the adminisfration server comprises: a database for storing inforniation on the user and the control value; a database adrriMstration program module for confrolling the database; a programmable logic controller confrol module for transmitting the control value of the appUance unit to the database through tiie database adminisfration program module upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic confroUer, and transmitting the confrol value of the appliance unit to the programmable logic confroUer upon receipt of the same from the database through the database administration program module; a communication server program module connected to a communication network for providing the confrol terminal with the appUance unit confrol screen generated based on the information on the user and the control value, which have been transmitted from the database through the database aαministration program module, and changing the control value of the appUance unit, if so demanded from the control terminal through the appUance unit control screen, so as to be transferred to the database through the database adiriMstration program module; and a short message transmission program module for generating a short message by means of the infoiniation on the user and the confrol value of the appUance unit transmitted from the database through the database adiriMstration program module so as to be transferred to the confrol terminal.

8. A method of confrolling a home automation system, which comprises an appliance unit including at least one of electric home appUances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors, an aαjninistration server including a database for confrolling the control value of the appUance unit through the programmable logic confroUer, and a control terminal connectable to the admimstration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks, the met od comprising the steps of: updating a changed control value of the appliance unit, if the status thereof is changed by the user, in the database of the admimstration server upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic controller; and controlling the programmable logic controUer so that the control value of a predetennined appUance unit can be changed if so demanded from the confrol terminal, which has been connected to the aώninistration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the confrol value of the appliance unit is changed by the user through taking the steps of: sensing a user's change of the confrol value of the appliance unit by the programmable logic controller; changing the control value of the appUance unit by the programmable logic controller; transmitting the changed confrol value to the acminisfration server by the programmable logic controller; and updating the changed control value in an intemal database by the admimstration server upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic controller.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the change of the confrol value of a predetermined appUance unit is demanded from the confrol terminal through taking the steps of: connecting of the control terminal to the administration server through at least one of wireless and wire communication networks; providing the control terminal with an appUance unit control screen, which has been generated based on the Mormation on the user and the control value transmitted from the database, by the adnrinistration server; demanding change of the confrol value of a predetermined appUance by the control terminal through the appUance unit confrol screen; framnfrtting the changed confrol value to the programmable logic controller by the administration server upon receipt of the demand for change of the confrol value; changing the control value of the corresponding appliance unit by the programmable logic controller in accordance with the confrol value transmitted from the admimstration server; transmitting the changed confrol value of the appUance unit to the adminisfration server by the programmable logic controller; and storing the changed control value of the appUance unit in an intemal database by the admimstration server upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic confroUer.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the programmable logic controller further comprises a storage unit inside thereof for storing the confrol value of the appliance unit if changed by the user, and storing the demand for change of the control value of a predetermined appliance unit if so demanded from the aα xiinistration server.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the cιτminal/disaster prevention sensor of the appliance unit senses a particular event through taking the steps of: automatically sensing a change of the confrol value in the ciTminal disaster prevention sensors due to an event by the programmable logic confroUer; darming occurrence of the event by the programmable logic confroUer to a safety terminal, which is an element of the appUance unit connected to the programmable logic confroUer; changing the confrol value of an alarming beU switch to be "on" to activate the darming beU switch by the programmable logic confroUer; transmitting the changed confrol vdue to the adnrinistration server by the programmable logic controUer; updating the control vdue transmitted from the programmable logic controller in the internd database by the ackmmstration server; checking by the adminisfration server whether or not the control vdue of the safety mode switch, which is an element of the appUance unit where the corresponding event has occurred, is a safety mode; and in the affirmative, searching the user's confrol termind interlocked with the programmable logic confroUer from the database, and darming occurrence of the event to the corresponding control termind.

13. The method of claim 12, if the event is a gas ledcage and the appliance unit includes electricaUy confroUable mechanicd opening/closing means mounted on a gas vdve and windows for automatic opening and closing thereof, further comprising the step of changing a control vdue of the power supply of a predetennined electric home appliance to an "off" state and confrolling the mechanicd opening/closing means by the programmable logic confroUer so as to change the confrol vdue of the gas vdve to a closed state and the control vdue of the windows to an open state.

14. The method of claim 12, if the event is a fire and an automatic fire extinguisher of the appliance unit is controllable, further comprising the step of changing the control vdue of the automatic fire extinguisher to an operation mode by the programmable logic confroUer.

15. The method of claim 12, if the crimMal/disaster prevention sensors of the appUance unit sense opening any one of doors and windows, further comprising the steps of: sensing automatic change of the confrol vdue of either a crimind prevention sensor or a disaster prevention sensor by the programmable logic confroUer due to the event; checking the control vdue of the safety mode switch by the programmable logic confroUer to discern whether or not the current mode is a safety mode; in the affirmative, checking by the programmable logic confroUer whether or not the safety mode is released after elapse of a predetermined period of time; unless the safety mode is released after elapse of a predetermined period of time, transmitting the changed control vdue to the aώτι stration server by the programmable logic confroUer; changing the control vdue of the connected danning bell switch to be "on" by the programmable logic confroUer; transmitting the changed confrol vdue to the aαn inisfration server by the programmable logic confroUer; updating the confrol vdue transmitted from the programmable logic controller to the internd database by the adrriinistration server; and searching the user's confrol termind interlocked with the PLC from the database by the aαjninistration server so as to darm occurrence of the event to the corresponding confrol termind.

16. A method of setting a safety mode in a home automation system, which comprises: a programmable logic controller having an appUance unit including at least one of electric home appliances and crτminal/disaster prevention sensors dlocated inside of a house and having confrol means including a switch, a confrol unit connected to the confrol means of the appUance unit, a storage unit for storing a current control vdue of the appliance unit, a communication unit for communicating with outside on the control vdue of the appUance unit, and input/output units connected between the confrol means of the appUance unit and the control unit for inputting/outputting and confroUing the appliance unit; and an adminisfration seiver having a programmable logic controller control module for confrolling the programmable logic confroUer and communicating on the confrol vdue of the appUance unit through the communication unit of the programmable logic confroUer, a database for storing the confrol vdue of the appUance unit in a database admimstration module upon receipt of the same from the control module of the programmable logic controller, a communication seiver module for corximumcating with the control termind on the control vdue of the appUance unit for changing the same through at least one of wire and wireless communication networks away from home, and an adminisfration seiver control unit module for tramnfrtting information on the changed confrol vdue and on the corresponding appliance to the control termind through the communication server module upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic confroUer, if the confrol vdue of the appUance unit has been changed, and reporting a demand for change of the confrol vdue of the appUance unit to the programmable logic controller, if so demanded from the confrol termind through the communication seiver module, so as to dlow the programmable logic controller confrol module to change the control vdue of the conesponding appliance, the method comprising the steps of: designating a particular appUance group of the appUance unit by using the confrol termind and the input or output unit of the programmable logic controller to set a control vdue of the designated appUances, and setting a designated confrol vdue as a safety mode; storing the set safety mode in the storage unit as a safety mode by a programmable logic confroUer control unit; switching on the safety mode switch, which is an element of the appliance unit of the programmable logic confroUer, by the user; reporting the safety mode to the PLC control unit by the programmable logic controller through the input/output units; reading the confrol vdue corresponding to the safety mode of each element of the appUance unit pre-stored in the storage unit by the programmable logic controller confrol unit; changing the corresponding confrol vdue in accordance with the read safety mode confrol vdue by the programmable logic confroUer confrol unit through the confrol means of the appUance unit; reporting the changed confrol vdue to the aαrnimstration server by the programmable logic confroUer control unit; and storing the reported confrol vdue in the corresponding database by the admimstration seiver confrol unit module.

17. A method of setting a safety mode in a home automation system, which comprises: a programmable logic confroUer having an appUance unit including at least one of electric home appUances and criminal/disaster prevention sensors aUocated inside of a house and having control means including a switch, a control unit connected to the confrol means of the appUance unit, a storage unit for storing a current control vdue of the appUance unit, a communication unit for communicating with outside on the confrol vdue of the appUance unit, and input/output units connected between the control means of the appUance unit and the confrol unit for inputting/outputting and controlling the appliance unit; and an aαjninistration server having a programmable logic controller confrol module for controlling the programmable logic confroUer and communicating on the confrol vdue of the appliance unit through the communication unit of the programmable logic confroUer, a database for storing the confrol vdue of the appliance unit in a database adminisfration module upon receipt of the same from the confrol module of the programmable logic controller, a communication server module for coimnunicating with the control termind on the confrol vdue of the appUance unit for changing the same through at least one of wire and wireless communication networks away from home, and an administration server confrol unit module for transnfrttihg information on the changed confrol vdue and on the corresponding appliance to the control termind through the communication server module upon receipt of the same from the programmable logic controller, if the confrol vdue of the appUance unit has been changed, and reporting a demand for change of the control vdue of the appUance unit to the programmable logic confroUer, if so demanded from the confrol termind through the communication server module, so as to dlow the programmable logic controller control module to change the control vdue of the conesponding appliance, the method comprising the steps of: designating a particular appliance group of the appUance unit by using the confrol termind and the input or output unit of the programmable logic confroUer to set a confrol vdue of the designated appUances, and setting a designated control vdue as a safety mode; storing the safety mode control vdue of the set appUances in an intemd database as a safety mode by the administration server upon receipt of the same from any one of the confrol termind or input/output units of the programmable logic confroUer by being interlocked with the corresponding programmable logic controller; switching on the safety mode switch, which is an element of the appliance unit of the programmable logic confroUer, by the user; reporting the safety mode to the programmable logic controller unit by the input/output units; demanding change of the confrol vdue to the aώτιinistration seiver by the programmable logic confroUer through the communication unit; reading the control vdue conesponding to each element of the appliace unit, which has been pre-stored by being interlocked with the corresponding programmable logic controller, from the database through the database aαmiristration module by the admimstration server control unit upon receipt of the demand through the programmable logic controller confrol module; transmitting the read safety mode confrol vdue to the programmable logic confroUer by the aώnimsfration seiver control unit module through the programmable logic controller control module; changing the control vdue by the programmable logic controller through confrol means of the appUance unit upon receipt of the safety mode control vdue through the communication unit; reporting the changed control vdue to the aanrinistration server by the programmable logic controller confrol unit; and storing the reported confrol vdue to the corresponding database by the aαhriinistration seiver confrol unit.

18. The method of claim 15 or 16, further comprising the steps of: comparing whether or not the changed confrol vdue is identicd to the safety mode confrol vdue stored in the database of each appliance by the adiriinistration seiver control unit module after reporting the changed control vdue to the aώninistration server by the programmable logic confroUer control unit; and in the negative, reporting to the programmable logic confroUer so as to change the different control vdue of the appliance unit to be the confrol vdue of the safety mode control vdue stored in the database.