Method and system for control and maintenance of residential service networks
The present invention discloses a system for controlling at least one residential property in a plurality of connected residential networks. The system comprises a remote control unit arranged to control residential properties, which remote control unit via the Internet is in connection with an access network, which is provided and supported by a telecommunications operator. Each connected residential network is divided into an open branch containing content terminals, such as a personal computer and an interactive information terminal. Furthermore the system includes a service gateway arranged in a secure branch of the residential network, the secure branch is provided with sub-controller means, each of which is in bi-directional connection with at least one sensor, the sub-controller means being adapted to activate various residential properties, measurement values from the sensors are transmitted via the sub-controller means to the service gateway, where they are compiled, and the service gateway is controlled by the remote control unit in a way that measurement values from different sensors are combined.
1. A system for controlling at least one residential property in a plurality of connected residential networks ( 40 ), the system comprising:
a remote control unit ( 10 ) arranged to control residential properties, which remote control unit ( 10 ) via an interconnecting network ( 20 ) is in connection with
an access network ( 30 ), which is provided and managed by a telecommunications operator ( 35 ),
each connected residential network ( 40 ) is divided into an open branch ( 50 ) containing content terminals such as a personal computer ( 52 ) and an inter-active information terminal ( 54 ), and a secure branch ( 60 ),
characterised in that
a service gateway ( 70 ) is arranged in any one of the open ( 50 ) or secure branches ( 60 ) of the residential network ( 40 ),
the secure branch ( 60 ) is provided with sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ), each of which is in bi-directional connection with at least one sensor ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ), the sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ) being adapted to activate various residential properties,
measurement values from the sensors ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ) are transmitted via the sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ) to the service gateway ( 70 ), where they are compiled, and
the service gateway ( 70 ) is controlled by the remote control unit ( 10 ) in a way that measurement values from different sensors ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ) are combined.
2. A system according to claim 1 , characterised in that
the remote control unit ( 10 ) is hosted by the service gateway ( 70 ), inde-pendently of the open branch ( 50 ) and the network environment ( 20 , 30 ).
3. A system according to claim 1 , characterised in that
the remote control unit ( 10 ) is a mobile terminal, such a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or any other mobile communication means.
4. A system according to claim 1 , characterised in that
the various residential properties are measured by means of at least one of the following types of sensors ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ): temperature, movement, light, radiation, humidity, contact or touch sensors, vibration, volume, etc.
5. A system according to claim 1 , characterised in that
the access network ( 30 ) is a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
6. A method for controlling at least one residential property in a plurality of con-nected residential networks ( 40 ), the method
characterised by the steps of:
arranging a service gateway ( 70 ) in anyone of the open ( 50 ) or secure ( 60 ) branches of the residential network ( 40 ),
providing the secure branch ( 60 ) of the residential network ( 40 ) with sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ), each of which is in bi-directional connection with at least one sensor ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ),
adapting the sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ) to activate various residential properties,
transmitting measurement values from the sensors ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ) via the sub-controller means ( 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 ) to the service gateway ( 70 ), where they are compiled, and
controlling the service gateway ( 70 ) by the remote control unit ( 10 ) in a way that measurement values from different sensors ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ) are combined.
7. A method according to claim 6 , characterised in that
determining by the remote control unit ( 10 ) which residential functions can still be controlled when connection can not be established with at least one sensor ( 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 ).
8. A method according to claim 6 , characterised by
controlling the service gateway ( 70 ) by means of a mobile terminal, such a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or any other mobile communication means.
9. A method according to claim 6 , characterised by
accessing connecting residential networks ( 40 ) via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
10. A computer program product for controlling at least one residential property in a plurality of connected residential networks ( 40 ), the computer program product characterised by
means for controlling the execution of the method steps of claim 6 .