Levels of Home Automation

Level 3 – Conditional Control

The Level 2 unit is a sophisticated transmitter but does not monitor actions or do conditional control. That is where Level 3 takes over. Level 3 has the ability to do conditional logic. For example, turn on a sound device if the time is night time and the garage doors have been open for over 15 minutes, or turn on inside lights at a random time if the house is not occupied. Control your heating and cooling system based on not only the current room temperature, but the outside temperature and the weather forecast. The list is endless, only limited by your imagination

Screen shot from HomeSeer with Conditions- Click For Larger Image

The conditional logic might include knowing the day of the week, an actual date, whether it is daytime or night time, whether the house is occupied or not, whether another device is on or off, etc.

Generally this device is computer controlled or is based on a dedicated processor-based controller. One of the best controllers on the market today that can do conditional control is a software package from HomeSeer Technologies called HomeSeer. This software runs on a typical PC connected to various devices through standard computer ports.