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INTERNET-BASED HOME APPLIANCE CONTROLER
__________________________________________________
A Design Project
Presented to the Faculty of
Computer Engineering of the Allied Engineering Department
University of Cebu Lapu – Lapu and Mandaue
Mandaue City
___________________________________________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
By
BOHOLST, VERNILYN
LOBO, CIRILO JR.
SAGRANADA, EDWIN
WENCESLAO, MARLON
March 2010
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research Background
As people continue to discover the new technology, some things
were discovered over a period of time. For the past years, they're
using manually operated in switching an electronic device. In
addition, Internet is one of the strongest in present time. People spent
their times to access into Internet to search particular information or
just having fun. Through Internet you can access whatever you want.
Some information that you want to get Internet can provide you just
browse a specific sites then you obtain information that you are
looking for.
Internet-based device controller is the researchers proposed
project. The researchers decide to implement this it's because the
researchers wanted to minimize the time cause by manual operation
and also for the security purposes. Today, even there are still using
manual operation in switching a devices but much better if they are
used a unique type of controlling. The researcher was proposed
something that can help for the home owners and for those who are
busy in their business. Sometimes, if you are doing important things
on your office you can't go home early, and you think that you forget
to switch off an electronic devices such as TV, lights, fans, radio, etc.
in your home and this problem can cause of having damage of your
devices maybe it overheat or explodes and can cause fires. With this
scenario, we can prevent this through the Web simply you just open
your Web Application then you have an access on your devices and
you can control it.
The researchers decide and planned to implement this kind of
project not because we go the flow of the technology but we try to
help a small way but effective for anyone else. In most cases of fire
because of leaving electronic devices in ON state, even if they already
know it but they don't make action because it takes time for them to
go back on their home just turning OFF their appliances its just
wasted if they do that instead of continuing doing of their business. In
addition, to eliminate this kind of problem you can control your
electronic device through Internet, in this way will give you much
comfortable and lessen your nervous of thinking your home might
having unsecured.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Manual operation of controlling your electronics devices in your
home when you are outside gives hassle for the owners, especially
when they are in their individual works. And also it can cause fires
when overheat if the devices is on state. In addition, the safety of the
homes for individuals. In manual operation system, controlling
electronic devices when you are already outside it takes time for you
to get back in. Internet-based home device controller can fixed this
kind of problem.
Specifically, this research will answer the following questions:
1. How to create a system that will minimize the hassle of the
homeowners?
2. How these projects help for the homeowners?
3. How to control an electronic device using Internet?
4. Will the device reply to the Web?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
This study aims to improve on how to control electronic devices
outside homes.
Other specific objectives of this project are the following:
1. To provide a fast control outside homes.
2. To prevent damage of electronic devices.
3. To control an electronic devices through Internet.
4. To develop a client application (software) and server application
to control home appliances through the Internet.
5. To develop Graphical User Interface (GUI) software that will
gives a user easy to use and control home appliances.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This project is implemented because the researcher wants to
apply their past learning not only that but the researcher try to point
out some significance of this study. This project will be implemented
and expected to give good effect or beneficial to the following:
For the Institution, this will benefit to the institution
representing the University of Cebu Lapu-lapu and Mandaue in which
not only to satisfy the requirements of CHED but to gave name to the
school that they produces students that can procure a good project. In
further speaking this would be an achievement and a pride of the
school.
For the Home Owners, This will give security and help them
control their home appliances especially when the time they forgot to
shut it off and they are already in their office work which is far away
from their home. Instead of going back home, all they have to do is
access the internet and do some mouse clicking to turn it off.
The Researchers, This project is an achievement to help the
home owners control their appliances. It has been analyze and
planned well, a sympathetic outlook and strong determination to
develop a project that can be function accurately.
For the Students/future developers, they would be able to use
this data for them to get the ideas and references if they are planning
to conduct the same study. This study could inspire interested
students to make their own project or improvements and innovations
on our project. This helps them enhance their skills and potential in
their field of specialization.
1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study
The scopes of this project are the following:
1. Can control home appliances through Internet.
2. Client server programming operation.
3. The structure of internetworking (a.k.a Internet).
4. Microsoft Visual Basic for graphical User Interface.
5. PC interfacing
These projects also have a certain limitations such as:
1. Can control up to four appliances (lights, ceiling fan, TV, rice
cooker).
2. The devices that can be controlled will not exceed to
1000watts.
3. It can only on and off in controlling the devices.
1.6 Assumption
The researchers assume that:
1. The PC (client or user) and PC (server) must have Internet
connection.
2. PC (server) must have continuous internet connection and
must always
be on.
3. The client must be web browser accessible (web page, Flash,
etc.)
4. The client must detect the input of the user.
5. The client must be able to send User/Password information to
the
server.
6. The client must detect the output of the server and display
needed
information to the user like the status or get feedback from
the devices.
7. The server must be accessible from the internet.
8. The server should accept and authenticates a client
connection.
9. The server can interprets commands from the client and
sends device
level commands to the device controller.
10. The microcontroller must be able to control the device.
11. The microcontroller must be able to parse and interpret
commands.
1.7 Definitions of Terms
Internet - A computer network consisting of a worldwide network of
computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate
data transmission and exchange.
Server - Server will host a web application that will authenticate
users and allow them to send commands to the devices. It will
interpret user commands and send device level commands to the
Device Control Unit through the Internet using a wireless access
point.
User Interface - The user should start a web browser and connect to
the server through a known IP address or host name. The user will
login to a software graphic user interface (GUI) in order to
authenticate. If the username and password combination is valid, the
GUI would lead the user to the Home Appliance main menu, where
the user would be able to select the specific home appliance he/she is
wishes to control or communicate with. Depending on the selected
appliance, the GUI would start a new frame that displays a list of
options that the user can select in order to communicate and/or
control the appliance. For example, the TV options would be either
ON or OFF.
Devices - This refers to the home appliance that is controlled by the
microcontroller. Appliances considered for this project are lights, TV,
and fan.
System – it is a collection of elements or components that are
organized for a common purpose.
Client – a workstation on a network that gains access to central data
files, programs, and peripheral devices through a server.
Microsoft Visual Basic – is the third generation eve-driven
programming language and integrated environment (IDE) from
Microsoft for its COM programming model. Visual Basic is also
considered a relatively easy to learn and use programming
language, because of its graphical development features and
BASIC heritage.
Web – is a system of interlinked hypertext documents contained on
the Internet.
1.8 Organization of the Study
Chapter 1 talks about the Research Background then the
Statement of the Problem in which the researcher state the problem
based on their research followed by the Objective of the Study that
answers the statement of the problem. Then, the Significance of the
Study in which it gives the important of different areas regarding the
project. Scope and limitations talks about on what are the limitations
and the scope of the project, next is assumption where it includes
some assumption of the project by the researchers. And lastly is the
Organization of the Study which is the summary of all chapters.
Chapter 2 started by Historical Overview of the Theory and
Related Literature wherein the group conducted a research about the
origins and history of Internet. Then the Theory and Related
Literature Specific of the Project in which talks about the past related
studies of this project. Lastly, the Theoretical Background wherein
Internet was clearly introduced in the field.
Chapter 3 is about the Conceptual Framework. With this, the
whole operation of the project are shown here, the Block Diagram,
System Flowchart, Design Layouts, and Program Flowchart, etc.
Chapter 4 talks about the Research Methodology, on how the
data gathered. It also talks the Research Procedures, Research
Environment, Respondents, and the Research Instrument.
CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Historical Overview of the Theory and Related Literature
The Internet is named after the Internet Protocol, the standard
communications protocol used by every computer on the Internet. The
Internet can powerfully leverage your ability to find, manage, and
share information. Never before in human history has such a valuable
resource been available to so many people at such little cost.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, prior to the widespread inter-
networking that led to the Internet, most communication networks
were limited in that they only allowed communications between the
stations on the networks had gateways or bridges between them, but
these bridges were often limited or built specifically for a single use.
On prevalent computer networking method was based on the central
mainframe method, simply allowing its terminal to be connected via
long leased lines. This method was used in the 1950s by Project RAND
to support researchers such as Herbert Simon, at Carnegie Mellon
University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when collaborating across the
continent with researchers in Sullivan, Illinois, on automated theorem
proving and artificial intelligence (Crocker, 1969).
Following commercialization and introduction of privately run
Internet service providers in the 1980s, and the Internet’s expansion
for popular use in the 1990s, the Internet has had a drastic impact on
culture and commerce. This includes the rise of near instant
communication by electronic mail (e-mail), text based discussion
forums, and the World Wide Web. Investor speculation in new markets
provided by these innovations would also lead to the inflation and
subsequent collapsed of the Dot-com bubble. But despite this, the
Internet continues to grow (Taylor, 1980).
As the Internet has become ubiquitous, faster, and increasingly
accessible to non-technical communities, social networking and
collaborative services have grown rapidly, enabling people to
communicate and share interests in many more ways.
2.2 The Theory and Related Literature Specific of the Project
This project is related to 'Home Automation uses SMS',
developers at Eneo Labs in Barcelona have put together a prototype
system that uses SMS to let you interact with your home appliances,
using the setup, you can send messages to everything from your lights
to your heating system from anywhere you can use a mobile phones.
Other related project is Infrared Remote Switch, used to switch
ON/OFF the Home Appliances by using a standard Remote control.
This system is used to switch on/off up to six electrical devices. All the
above processes are controlled by the 8 bit Microcontroller AT89C52.
The Microcontroller receives the Infrared Signal from the receiver
and it decodes and switch on/off the appropriate Device (developed by
8051projects).
Device Control using Telephone, this project can control up to
ten devices, home phone or office phone can be used to control by
using a DPDT switch. The user needs to dial to the local telephone (to
which the interfacing circuit is connected) then the respective code of
the device is dialed (design by Ranjith, 2008).
Ethernet based Security System, the system should be installed
near an Internet source and a cable (crossover or straight-through as
it depends) should be plugged in to the module Rj-45 jack. If the
system is in rest mode it is acting as TCP server. It waits for
commands from the client (its IP Address can be programmed or
change initially or during operation) and execute them (after a
password is entered obviously) while still inspecting for any Alarm
which would arises from the PIR sensor. When any Alarm triggers, it
switches into client mode (acts as a TCP client) and start sending
warning sign (admin, 2008).
2.3 Theoretical Background
The advancement of technologies has offered convenience to us.
This was the observation of the world today. Sometimes the public
forgot to think how this technology will change the world in electronic
field. The theory in electronic device is very broad to understand, the
researchers sum up the research in order for us to understand where
the background of the study begins. According to (livinginternet.com)
Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that
use the standard Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users
worldwide. With this, we can control our electronic devices via
Internet.
Years ago, the thought of being able to control what goes on at
home when you're not there was unheard-of. If planning to leave for
the day, most folks were forced to leave an appliance on, and lock up
before they went out. An appliance would have been running all day.
In recent years, the Web has changed that scenario. Today, the
Internet allows homeowners to control their homes while they're
away, as never before. They can decide when lights in the house
should turn on and off or any devices. They can even monitor their
homes with the help of Web-connected surveillance equipment.
Simply, put the Internet has revolutionized the way homeowners can
manage their homes. And it's getting easier by the day.
This project Internet-Based Home Appliance Controller is
basically based on remote accessing of the home appliances and
gadgets etc. and the medium for this remote access will be Internet
which means that we can access our things from anywhere. This is
useful for long distance device control. In addition, since this project
uses an Internet the researchers provide another component called
RS-232, in order to connect the devices through with it. According to
(telecommunications) RS-232 is a standard for serial binary data
signals connecting between a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and
DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment) and it is commonly used in
computer serial ports. The researchers provide also an Internet
connection so that the users can control the devices via Internet.
Since, this system needs a Web Application in order to get in the
status of the devices it needs to have an access of Internet connection.
In addition, Graphical User Interface will be implemented through
Microsoft Visual Basic. This language capable of communicating other
program. Visual Basic is the third- generation even-driven
programming language and integrated development environment
from Microsoft for its COM programming model. Visual Basic is also
considered a relatively easy to learn and use programming language,
because of its graphical development features and BASIC heritage.
Visual Basic was derived from BASIC and enables the rapid
application development of Graphical User Interface applications,
Remote Data Objects (Lahiri, 2005).
CHAPTER III
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
3.1 Conceptual Framework
Fig. 1: Conceptual Framework
The concept of the project shows the entire framework and the
design of the project. Here, are the predictions of outcomes of the
project or result. In addition, all information that you want to know
about the project is provided here. This section presents a concept
sketch of the system which serves to illustrate the system, its
interface and its use. Shown in Figure 1, is a user accessing the
Server
Circuit Control
Home devices
PCUSER INTERNE
T
computer to control and communicate with the appliance by sending
commands via Internet.
3.2 Project Design and Layouts
Project design and layouts are shown in this part to enable us to
visualize the procedures that the project is going through.
3.2.1 Block Diagram
Figure 2.0 Block Diagram
This section presents a block diagram of the system and its
components, which serves to illustrate principal parts or functions of
the system and the interaction between them. For our system, the
main hardware parts are the server, and the micro controller which
controls the appliance or device. In order to control the devices you
need an Internet connection first. The PC users is the transmitter that
gives a command to the receiver (server) and the receiver will pass
the data came from the user to the PIC and the data will convert into
binary code and compared this code to the program that pre-stored in
DEVICES
Via internet
PCUSER
RELAYS
SERVERCONTROLCIRCUIT
the PIC. From the PIC the data is converted into signals that pass
through the relays to give this command to the devices to perform the
given task. The device will give feedback to the relay and pass to the
PIC and the PIC will give task to the receiver to give reply to the
transmitter.
3.2.2 System Flowchart
Figure 3.0 Show the flow of the program
Right
Wrong
START
If username & password
Is?
PC Server-User input command
Microcontroller
Devices
Status Check
End
PC Client-User Log In
This section explains how the system works. We used this diagram to
show the flow of data in the system. The user can never access the
server without authentication. The user must enter the correct
username and password first in order to communicate with the server.
After authentication the user can now manipulate the devices by
accessing the server. The server is now responsible of sending that
command to the microcontroller and from the microcontroller to the
devices. After the devices received that command it will feedback its
status so that the user will know if it has being on or off, basically for
verification purposes and then it will end.
CHAPTER IV
METHODOLOGY
4.1 Research Methods
This research is in a descriptive basis. The research applied a
Quasi Experimental Method. Quasi-Experiment is a research design
having some but not all of the characteristics of a true experiment.
The element most frequently missing is random assignment of sub-
jects to the control and experimental conditions. The word "quasi"
means as if or almost, so a quasi-experiment means almost a true ex-
periment. There are many varieties of quasi-experimental research
designs, and there is generally little loss of status or prestige in doing
a quasi-experiment instead of a true experiment, although you occa-
sionally run into someone who is biased against quasi-experiments.
One of the intended purposes for doing quasi-experimental research
is to capture longer time periods and a sufficient number of different
events to control for various threats to validity and reliability. The re-
searcher used this method because it takes time for them to study to
implement the project. The researcher decides to make a research
based on this method.
4.2 Research Procedures
1. Gathering Data
The researcher pass a survey questions to the homeowners in
which they are asking certain question regarding the security of their
homes and also they ask if there is a hassle to get back in their homes
just turning OFF of their home appliances when they are already in
their individuals works.
2. Analysis
After surveying, the researchers carefully planned and analyzed
and suggested some different system that might be a solution on this
kind of problem for the homeowners. After planning, the researchers
choose a system that can be used and applied for the homeowners.
And this system is an Internet-Based Device Controller.
3. Design
Internet-Based Device Controller is created using some different
medium, first the Internet connection which is capable of communi-
cating home server. In addition, the researcher use a high level lan-
guage which is Microsoft Visual Basic for Graphical User Interface
with this language it gives an access to the homeowners to their indi-
viduals homes.
4.3 Research Respondents
Basically the homeowners are the main target for this study.
The researcher asked their individuals opinion with regards on the
hassle of turning ON or OFF when they are already outside homes.
4.3 Research Instrument
It is very important in doing research to have a research instru-
ment in order to have a good result, not only for the basis but also as
a proved that the researchers doing research. In this project the re-
searchers used the questionnaire for the homeowners to gather infor-
mation.
4.4 Research Environment
Basically, the project targets the households where home
owners living there are always on the go or in a busy schedule. The
researchers used quasi-experimental method in doing the project.
This is with the commitment to give quality program that can help
individuals control and monitor their household devices.
CHAPTER 2
2.1 Historical Overview of the Theory and Related Literature
Everyone knows Internet is now a part of communication
networking and spends around 10 to 20 hours a week or more online.
If Internet allows people to access bank online, office files, shop and
do business, thus, it is possible to give access and control the home
appliances over the Internet.
Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks. Users at
any one computer can get information from any other computer in the
Internet. It was conceived by the Advanced Research Projects Agency
(ARPA) of the U.S. government in 1969 and was first known as the
ARPANET. The original aim was to create a network that would allow
users of a research computer at one university to be able to "talk to"
research computers at other university [11].Today, the Internet is a
public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility accessible to hundreds
of millions of people worldwide. Physically, the Internet uses a portion
of the total resources of the currently existing public telecommunica-
tion networks. Technically, what distinguishes the Internet is its use
of a set of protocols called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP).