Table of Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Installing the System and Deployment 3

2.1 The Controller 3

2.1.1 Appliances 3

2.1.2 Remote Access: The Internet 3

2.2 The Software: A Java Server Application 3

3. Login 4

3.1 Login Sequence 4

4. Commanding Appliances 6

4.1 Selecting an Appliance 6

4.2 Selecting an Appliance Command 7

4.3 Selecting Command Parameters 9

5. Administration 10

5.1 Appliance Command Administration 11

5.1.1 Selecting an Appliance 12

5.1.2 Selecting an Appliance Command 13

5.1.3 Modifying a User Command 14

5.1.4 Adding a User Command 15

5.1.5 Removing a User Command 16

5.2.1 Modifying a User 18

5.2.2 Adding a User 19

5.2.3 Removing a User 20

1. Introduction

This document is the user guide and instruction manual for the Home Appliance Control System (HACS). For this purpose the document contains instructions for installing, running and accessing the HACS system. This manual has been developed in order to walk through some scenarios using the HACS system. A wide variety of functionality is made available to the user for our three home appliances: Microwave, Heating and Air Conditioning Unit (HVAC), and Light Fixture.

2. Installing the System and Deployment

2.1 The Controller

The controller requires a server computer with J2EE installed. The server requires internet access as a domain host to the internet.

2.1.1 Appliances

Appliances are attached to the server through TCP/IP, or some other standard means to facilitate communication to the controller. The appliances should conform to the industry standard communication method for Home Appliance Control Systems with standardized command structures.

2.1.2 Remote Access: The Internet

Remote users gain access to the HACS through hand held devices through the internet. Connections can also be made through standard PC’s with internet access. Users connect to the HACS by accessing the domain host address: http://yourdomainhost/HACS.

2.2 The Software: A Java Server Application

The HACS server software is deployed on the J2EE server using the deploytool. The deploytool deploys the HACS.ear file. Open the HACS.ear file by locating the HACS software directory and selecting the HACS.ear file. Deploy the application. Once the deploytool deploys the HACS application the J2EE server, the HACS application it can be shut down.

The HACS database is a Microsoft Access database. It requires an ODBC driver to be set up in order for the controller to access it. Open the Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Data Sources (ODBC). Go to the System DSN tab. Click the Add… button. Select “Microsoft Access Driver ( *.mdb)” and click the Finish button. In the Data Source Name field enter “HACSdbTables”. In the Database group, select the Database button. Navigate to the directory where the HACSdbTables.mdb file is located and select it (this should be where the server software was installed). Click the OK button. Click the OK button on the next screen. Click the OK button on the last screen.

3. Login

3.1 Login Sequence

The user selects the ‘Login’ button from the HACS homepage.

The user enters their user name and password and clicks on the ‘submit’ button.

4. Commanding Appliances

4.1 Selecting an Appliance

After a successful login, the user is presented with the list of appliances in a drop-down menu. The user can select the ‘LightFixture’ appliance as shown below.

4.2 Selecting an Appliance Command

The user is now presented with a screen showing an operation that can performed with the LightFixture. The user can select an entry from the list of operations and then select the ‘submit’ button. In the example below the user chooses to turn the LightFixture ‘On’ and selects the ‘Continue’ button to proceed.

The next command option page appears. In the example below the user selects the ‘Romantic’ level for the LightFixture.

4.3 Selecting Command Parameters

The user can enter appliance command parameters to control other aspects of the appliance. The user can select the LightFixture setting to 75 as shown below. After entering the dim level, the user may select the ‘Submit’ button to continue, or select ‘Back’ to go back to the previous screen.

5. Administration

After successfully logging in, the administrative users have an option to add, modify, or delete users by selecting the ‘Admin: Users’, add, modify or delete appliance commands by selecting ‘Admin: Appliance Commands’, or to command an appliance by selecting ‘User: Command Appliance’. In the example below the user has selected ‘User: Command Appliance’. The user then selects the ‘Continue’ button to go to the next page.

5.1 Appliance Command Administration

The following screen shot depicts the ability for the administrator to manipulate appliances that are connected to the HACS system. The user can choose ‘Add Command’ to add a command to an appliance, ‘Modify Command’ to modify a command to an appliance, or ‘Remove Command’ to delete a command to an appliance. In the example below the user selects the ‘Modify Command’ button and selects ‘Continue’ to move to the next page.

5.1.1 Selecting an Appliance

The administrator can select the appliance they want to manipulate. In the example below the user selects the ‘LightFixture’ and selects ‘Continue’.

5.1.2 Selecting an Appliance Command

The administrator now must select the appliance command they want to modify. In the example below the administrator selects the ‘Romantic’ command.

5.1.3 Modifying a User Command

The administrator can modify the user commands in the command list of the appliance.

5.1.4 Adding a User Command

The administrator can add user commands to the command list of the appliance.

5.1.5 Removing a User Command

The administrator can delete user commands in the command list of the appliance.

5.2 User Administration

The following screen shots depict the ability for the administrator to add, modify or delete users that can access the HACS system.

5.2.1 Modifying a User

The administrator can choose to modify a user and enter the new parameters of the user.

5.2.2 Adding a User

The administrator can choose to add a user by entering the user name and password of the user. There is also and option to select the security level of the new user, ‘Normal User’ or ‘Administrator’.

5.2.3 Removing a User

The administrator can choose to remove user by deleting their username from the list.