ACEMIND: improve hybrid networks management and allow customer to control transparently his home equipment
In the Eureka/Celtic+ framework, the European research project ACEMIND (Advanced Convergent and Easily Manageable Innovative Networks Design), launched in October 2013 for a three years period, aims to simplify the installation and use of intelligent home equipment, regardless of supported technologies.
ACEMIND project follows the OMEGA European research project (2008-2011) to propose a vision of a single network from multiple heterogeneous connectivity and this concept has led to the IEEE 1905.1 standard (transparent use of heterogeneous technologies or hybrid networks: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Powerline, MoCA).
ACEMIND goals are to offer:
- A single, standardized network infrastructure enabling the customer to have a choice in the purchase of equipment and benefit from lower costs.
- Multimedia and smart home products and services on a single network.
- A simple solution for monitoring and management of home network, locally for the user or remotely for the after-sale support service.
ACEMIND project concept
ACEMIND project concept: over single management interface, the user controls his “smart” home. The heteroheneous technologies used is transparent to the user: for him, fridge consumption, light switching, data exchange, etc. are centralized information and available from a single application
Several proof of concept demonstrators will integrate additional communication technologies outside the perimeter tackled today by IEEE 1905.1 standard (e.g. Wi-Fi 802.11ad/ah, LiFi (http://www.lificonsortium.org/) or ZigBee/Bluetooth), to increase convergence layer features (green path selection, intrusion detection … ) with home automation solutions (safety, health care, comfort …) integrated on a single customer interface. These elements will be potentially contributed to standardization (IEEE P1905.2, IEEE 802.1 …).
Participants to the kick-off meeting
Last but not least, the final user views will be taken into account through interviews, questionnaires or field tests. The purpose is to provide a user-friendly interface driving a robust hybrid network with self-management capabilities and to improve securely remote management by network operators.
With a 4 million euros budget, ACEMIND consortium brings together several European industrial players in this market (Orange – FR, OledComm – FR, Devolo – DE, Flowmon Networks – CZ, Arcelik – TR) as well as universities and institutes recognized in this area (IHP Microelectronics – DE, University of Athens-Dept. of Informatics and Telecommunications – GR).