Home automation system including shareable capacity determining hub devices and related methods
A home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure may include a communications network extending within the structure and HA operation devices within the structure. The HA system may also include HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure and HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the HA user interface devices and the HA operation devices. Each HA hub device may have a processing capacity associated therewith and determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other HA hub device based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the HA operation devices. Each HA hub device may also communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another HA hub device and perform processing operations for the other HA hub device based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity.
1. A home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure, the HA system comprising:
a communications network extending within the structure;
a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure;
a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure; and
a plurality of HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the plurality of HA user interface devices and the plurality of HA operation devices, each HA hub device having a processing capacity associated therewith and configured to
determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices,
communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and
perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity.
2. The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy.
3. The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy.
4. The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA user interface device is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to perform at least one HA operation.
5. The HA system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of HA user interface devices comprises a plurality of HA user interface tablet computers.
6. The HA system of claim 1 wherein each HA hub device is configured to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices.
7. The HA system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
8. The HA system of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a senior living center.
9. The HA system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises at least one of a motion detector, a thermostat, a light switch, an audio controller, a door lock, and a camera.
10. A hub device from among a plurality thereof for a home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure, the HA system comprising a communications network extending within the structure, a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure, and a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure, the hub device having a processing capacity associated therewith and comprising:
a processor and a memory coupled thereto, the processor configured to
provide communications via the communications network for a respective one of the plurality of HA user interface devices and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices,
determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and the at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices,
communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and
perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity.
11. The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy.
12. The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy.
13. The hub device of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices.
14. The hub device of claim 10 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
15. A method of performing processing operations in a home automation (HA) system to be used within a structure and comprising a communications network extending within the structure, a plurality of HA operation devices within the structure, a plurality of HA user interface devices for respective users within the structure, and a plurality of HA hub devices within the structure to provide communications via the communications network for the plurality of HA user interface devices and the plurality of HA operation devices, the method comprising:
using a given one of the plurality of HA hub devices having a processing capacity associated therewith to
determine a shareable processing capacity for sharing with at least one other of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon a current processing capacity and at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices,
communicate the amount of shareable processing capacity to another one of the plurality of HA hub devices, and
perform processing operations for the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices based upon the communicated shareable processing capacity.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to determine an occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the occupancy.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to predict scheduled occupancy of an area in the structure and determine the shareable processing capacity based upon the predicted scheduled occupancy.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein each HA user interface device is configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the plurality of HA operation devices to perform at least one HA operation.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the plurality of HA user interface devices comprises a plurality of HA user interface tablet computers.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the given HA hub device is used to wirelessly communicate the shareable processing capacity to the other one of the plurality of HA hub devices.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of HA operation devices comprises a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.