Glossary

Purpose

Those new to home automation may be assaulted with acronyms and terms that they do not understand. While the list of terms is not long, often there are few contextual cues to figure out what an acronym might mean.

Technology

• INSTEON - First available August 2005 - Whitepaper (PDF)
• X10 - First available 1975 - Theory
• Z-Wave - First available Early 2005 - Whitepaper (PDF)
• ZigBee - First available Late 2004? - Get Whitepapers
• Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) - First available 1999 - Whitepaper (PDF)
• Consumer Electronics Bus (CEBus also EIA-600) - First available September 1992 - Get Whitepapers
• RC5 - is a standard consumer infrared data communication protocol used in remotes. This protocol was developed by Philips. It has 2048 different commands which are divided into 32 addresses each of 64 commands.
• Representational State Transfer (REST) - defined in 2000

General

• Address - A hardcoded or logical numerical name for hardware or software.
• Bridge - Allows communication from one type of network to another. For example, automation traffic may be transmitted over a computer network before being sent over the powerlines or by radio frequency, thus allowing control of your automation from any computer in the world.
• Controller - Sends out a message to cause an action in another device
• Home Automation (Domotics) - The application of automation techniques for the comfort and security of its residents
• Link - A defined connection between two devices described by a numeric address
• Radio Frequency (RF) - Method to wirelessly communicate in a small area
• Power Line (PL) - Wire that carries electricity through a house
• Responder - Takes an action based on messages from a controller
• Scene - Group of devices that can be activated from a single controller

Brand Specific

• Elk (Elk Products) - Security and automation company
• Intelligent SYstem (ISY) - Universal Devices Bridge/Controller combination
• Smarthome (SH) - Catalog and ecommerce retailer and distributor of home technology products.
• SmartLabs Technology - Inventor of INSTEON home control technology
• SmartLabs Design - Manufacturer of home automation and lighting control products

INSTEON

• AccessPoint (AP) - Wired to wireless bridge for the INSTEON network
• ApplianceLinc (AL) - Plugs into an outlet for control of an appliance that is plugged into the module; does not allow dimming
• ContoLinc (CL) - A collection of buttons that can control multiple devices/scenes collected into a single case, controller only
• InLineLinc (ILL) - Allows automated control of lights and appliances without a wall switch or exposed outlet by connecting to the power lines in a fixture box
• KeyPadLinc (KPL) - A collection of buttons that can control multiple devices/scenes collected into a single case, unlike a CL this may also be a responder
• LampLinc (LL) - Plugs into an outlet for control of a lamp that is plugged into the module; often allows dimming
• OutletLinc (OL) - Replaces an outlet for automated control of anything plugged into that outlet
• PowerLinc Controller (PLC) - Module with memory allowing control events to be downloaded and run without a dedicated computer
• PowerLinc Modem (PLM) - Allows a computer to send signals to the power lines for control events to be run
• RemoteLinc (RL) - A collection of buttons that can control multiple devices/scenes collected into a single case, wireless and controller only
• SignalLinc (SIGL) - Wired to wireless bridge for the INSTEON network which is now replaced by a new prodcut called AccessPoints
• SwitchLinc (SL) - A button panel that normally replaces a light switch allowing control of a single device
• ToggleLinc (TL) - Uses a switch rather than a button for the same control a SwitchLinc offers