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).