Boca Raton, Fla.-b ased home automation company OpenPeak has applied for a patent for a method and product to control multiple devices in residential and non-residential settings, for network-based device control and automation.
The abstract, filed with the U.S. Patent Office, states: "A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality."The full application is available from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by searching for patent application number 6,792,323.