News

OpenRemote Debuts First Open Database for Home Automation (29/10/2008)

The open source OpenRemote project today announced the first public release of its Beehive database, a web-based open source application to collect, format, and distribute home automation codes.

Until now, no web-based open source central database effort of this scope existed to bring cohesiveness to a fragmented home automation, or domotics, market. Beehive is seeded with 100,000 codes that are compatible with 2,500 devices. Anyone can browse through Beehive, download whichever codes they need, and contribute new codes.

"Today, there is simply no central database for these kinds of codes - only scattered collections in different and proprietary formats," said Christian Bauer, Beehive project lead. "Beehive attempts to change this. We believe there is a need for a truly open, unified way to collect and share all code formats and enforce a clean database schema for easy consumption by both professionals and hobbyists alike."

Beehive is the first public community effort released by OpenRemote. The project aims to create an open source standard for today's predominantly proprietary home automation market. This first version of Beehive uses Linux Infrared Remote Control (LIRC) as a seed and supports infrared command codes for entertainment systems, such as Bang & Olufsen, Denon, DirectTV, Elite, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Lutron, Marantz, Mitsubishi, NEC, Panasonic, Phillips, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, and many other leading consumer brands.

Stewart Allen, founder of the open source Tonto project and a member of the OpenRemote community commented: "The unique promise of OpenRemote's Beehive effort is that of a unified, open, high quality source for device control codes. Beehive provides tools that tap the power of the community to accelerate collection, validation and sharing. The open nature of the database allows continuous improvement while providing the confidence of transparency. With Beehive, we finally have the chance to merge our isolated knowledge bases in a way that far exceed the sum of the parts."

The database features an interactive web interface for browsing and uploading codes and a web service interface designed specifically for integrators and other third parties that need to embed codes automatically in their software. Hobbyists will find it easy to browse and use as well. For this latter interface, OpenRemote intends to use the REST API in its forthcoming software package.

Marc Fleury, founder and former CEO of JBoss, commented on why he started the OpenRemote project: "We've seen open source level the playing field in many areas of technology. Home automation is ready for open source. It is a multi-billion dollar industry with a lot of proprietary fragmentation and the resulting integration frustrations. It is an industry that will benefit from embracing the fundamental change that an open standards approach brings."

On Beehive in particular, Fleury adds, "We want to acknowledge the contribution of LIRC.org, the long standing Linux IR community. By building on their work we were able to deliver a fairly unique and powerful contribution to HA in a relatively short time. Now professional integrators and hobbyists alike can look forward to having an easy to use, free, open, and central database of certified IR codes. Enjoy."

www.openremote.org