Buses, Protocols and Systems for Home and Building Automation

Evropský sociální fond. Praha & EU: Investujeme do vaší budoucnosti.
functional units (star topology) – Fig. 2.3.2. “Nikobus bus” is physically realized by a twistedpair
and is used also as a power supply for sensors. Nikobus can take care of basic
automation tasks, for example: light, HVAC and shutter/blinds control, switching of electric
devices, security and alarms or energy management. Central functional units are not
universal – these devices are specialized on some kind of tasks: a shutter/blinds unit, a
dimming unit or a switching unit. These units have functions prepared inside, so users have
to only configure them (by the computer or using the screwdriver). It is possible to
incorporate RF components into the Nikobus system. Today the Nikobus is a little bit oldfashioned
and not much adaptive system, but can be cost-effective for some basic, simple
installations.
Fig. 2.3.3: Nikobus topology – translated from (5)
Fig. 2.3.4: X-Comfort
Xcomfort (6) is an example of relatively cheap complex wireless solution for home
automation (especially suitable for building reconstruction). The system is made of fully
decentralized units communicating together using a proprietary wireless protocol (with a
carrier frequency 868.3 MHz). Both actors and sensors (usually using batteries) are able to
route packets, so if one device sends a message for a device which is not in the range of the
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