Insteon

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Insteon is a proprietary home automation (domotics) system that enables light switches, lights, thermostats, leak sensors, remote controls, motion sensors, and other electrically powered devices to interoperate through power lines, radio frequency (RF) communications, or both. [1] [2] It employed a dual-mesh networking topology [3] in which all devices are peers and each device independently transmits, receives, confirm and repeats messages. [4] Like other home automation systems, it had been associated with the Internet of things. [5]

Contents

In mid-April 2022, the company appeared to have abruptly shut down. [6]

Corporate history

Insteon
Company type Private
Founded Irvine, California (2005)
DefunctApril 15, 2022
FateOpened back up, after suddenly shutting down.
Headquarters1621 Alton Parkway
Irvine, California 92606
United States
Key people
Joe Dada, Founder
ProductsProprietary dual-band home automation and lighting control systems using radio frequency (RF) and powerline technology
Parent Smartlabs, Inc.
Website www.insteon.com

Insteon-based products were launched in 2005 by Smartlabs, [7] the company which holds the trademark for Insteon. [8] A Smartlabs subsidiary, also named Insteon, was created to market the technology. [9] CEO Joe Dada had previously founded Smarthome in 1992, [10] a home automation product catalog company, and operator of the Smarthome.com e-commerce site. In the late 1990s, Dada acquired two product engineering firms which undertook extensive product development efforts to create networking technology based on both power-line and RF communications. In 2004, the company filed for patent protection for the resultant technology, [11] called Insteon, and it was released in 2005.

In 2012, the company released the first network-controlled light bulb using Insteon-enabled technology, and at that point Dada spun Insteon off from Smarthome. [10] [12]

In 2017, SmartLabs and the Insteon trademark were acquired by Richmond Capital Partners. [13]

The company produced over 200 products featuring the technology. [10]

As of April 15, 2022, there are reports that Insteon has shut down its servers and closed. [14] On April 16, reports emerged of users finding their Insteon Hubs offline. [15] The company forums, web servers and API servers went offline. [16] The company's CEO Rob Lilleness appeared to have scrubbed any references to Insteon from his LinkedIn page, and other employees also appeared to indicate on their LinkedIn profiles that their employment with the company ceased in April 2022. [17] [18]

In a community statement [19] published on the Insteon.com website, Smartlabs has revealed that it had been looking for a parent company to purchase and continue developing the Insteon ecosystem following supply-chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sale failed to materialize in March 2022 and subsequently a financial services firm had been tasked with optimizing the assets of the company.

As of June 9, 2022, a group of Insteon users acquired the company and committed to rebuild the business. [20] [21]

In October 2022, Insteon services were brought back by a group of customers who claim to have bought the company assets. [22]

Protocol

Every message received by an Insteon compatible device undergoes error detection and correction and is then retransmitted to improve reliability. All devices retransmit the same message simultaneously so that message transmissions are synchronous to the powerline frequency, thus preserving the integrity of the message while strengthening the signal on the powerline and reducing RF dead zones. Insteon powerline messaging uses phase-shift keying. Insteon RF messaging uses frequency-shift keying.

Each message contains a two-bit "hops" field that is initialized to 3 by the originating node and decremented each time a node in the network repeats the message. Individual Insteon messages can also carry up to 14 bytes of arbitrary user data for custom applications.

Network topology

Insteon is an integrated dual-mesh (formerly referred to as "dual-band") network that combines wireless radio frequency (RF) and a building's existing electrical wiring, [23] in which all devices are peers and each device independently transmits, receives, and repeats messages. [24] [25]

The electrical wiring becomes a backup transmission medium in the event of RF/wireless interference. Conversely, RF/wireless becomes a backup transmission medium in the event of powerline interference. As a peer-to-peer network, devices do not require network supervision, thus allowing optional operation without central controllers and routing tables.

Insteon devices can function without a central controller. Additionally, they may be managed by a central controller to implement functions such as control via smartphones and tablets, control scheduling, event handling, and problem reporting via email or text messaging. A computer can be used as a central controller by connecting it to an Insteon USB/serial PowerLinc modem, which serves as a communication bridge between the computer and the Insteon device network.

Products

Insteon produced over 200 products using its technology, including LED bulbs, wall switches, wall keypads, sensors, thermostats, plug in modules and embedded devices, along with central controllers for system management. [26]

Insteon marketed two different central controllers: its own brand, called the Insteon Hub, and a newer HomeKit-enabled Insteon Hub Pro designed for Apple HomeKit compatibility. [27] In 2012, the company introduced the first network-controlled LED light bulb. [28]

Security

Insteon network security is maintained via linking control to ensure that users cannot create links that would allow them to control neighbors’ Insteon devices, and via encryption within extended Insteon messages for applications such as door locks and security applications, should those applications choose to implement encryption. [29] : 53 

Insteon enforces linking control by requiring users to have physical possession of devices, or knowledge of their unique Insteon IDs in order to create links. Firmware in Insteon devices prohibits them from identifying themselves to other devices unless a user either physically presses a button on the device during the installation process or explicitly addresses the device via a central controller. Linking to a device by sending Insteon messages (e.g., from a central controller) requires knowledge of the address of the target Insteon device. As these addresses are unique for each device and assigned at the factory (and displayed on a printed label attached to each device), users must have physical access to the device to read the device address from the label and manually enter it when prompted during installation.

The security of Insteon RF devices was criticized in a DEF CON presentation in 2015. [30]

Installation

Insteon devices are configured by applying a sequence of "taps" (button presses) to a pushbutton on each device to establish direct device-to-device links. Alternatively, a central controller may be used to configure devices.

Each Insteon device has its own unique identifier code, similar to a MAC address, and the technology allows directly linked devices to manage their identifiers.

Compatibility

Older Insteon chip sets manufactured by Smartlabs can transmit, receive, and respond to (but not repeat) X10 power line messages, thus enabling X10 networks to interoperate with Insteon. [31] [32]

In 2014, Insteon released apps for Windows 8 and Windows Phone, as part of an agreement with Microsoft to sell its kits at Microsoft Store locations. [33] The Windows Phone also featured voice control via Cortana. [34] [35]

In 2015, voice control was added via compatibility with Amazon Echo. [36] That same year, Logitech announced that the remote for the Harmony Hub (a smart home hub) would support Insteon devices when deployed with an Insteon Hub. [37] Also in 2015, Insteon announced an initiative to integrate the Google-owned Nest learning thermostat with the Insteon Hub. [38]

Insteon was one of two launch partners for Apple's HomeKit platform, with the HomeKit-enabled Insteon Hub Pro. [39] In 2015, Insteon announced support for the Apple Watch, allowing watch owners to control their home with an Insteon Hub. [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X10 (industry standard)</span> Home automation communication protocol

X10 is a protocol for communication among electronic devices used for home automation (domotics). It primarily uses power line wiring for signaling and control, where the signals involve brief radio frequency bursts representing digital information. A wireless radio-based protocol transport is also defined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home automation</span> Building automation for a home

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNX</span> Standard in building automation

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power-line communication</span> Type of network

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Building automation (BAS), also known as building management system (BMS) or building energy management system (BEMS), is the automatic centralized control of a building's HVAC, electrical, lighting, shading, access control, security systems, and other interrelated systems. Some objectives of building automation are improved occupant comfort, efficient operation of building systems, reduction in energy consumption, reduced operating and maintaining costs and increased security.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home network</span> Type of computer network

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Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) is a proprietary software protocol developed by Powerline Control Systems for power-line communication between devices used for home automation. Household electrical wiring is used to send digital data between UPB devices via pulse-position modulation.

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Amazon Echo, often shortened to Echo, is an American brand of smart speakers developed by Amazon. Echo devices connect to the voice-controlled intelligent personal assistant service Alexa, which will respond when a user says "Alexa". Users may change this wake word to "Amazon", "Echo", "Computer", and other options. The features of the device include voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, and playing audiobooks, in addition to providing weather, traffic and other real-time information. It can also control several smart devices, acting as a home automation hub.

HomeSeer Technologies LLC is a technology company based in Bedford, New Hampshire, in the United States. HomeSeer makes home automation controllers and software, designed to integrate lighting, HVAC, security, AV and other subsystems in most homes. Additionally, the company maintains an online store of compatible home automation products and a free online community forum for users and dealers.

A smart speaker is a type of loudspeaker and voice command device with an integrated virtual assistant that offers interactive actions and hands-free activation with the help of one "hot word". Some smart speakers can also act as a smart device that utilizes Wi-Fi and other protocol standards to extend usage beyond audio playback, such as to control home automation devices. This can include, but is not limited to, features such as compatibility across a number of services and platforms, peer-to-peer connection through mesh networking, virtual assistants, and others. Each can have its own designated interface and features in-house, usually launched or controlled via application or home automation software. Some smart speakers also include a screen to show the user a visual response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home Assistant</span> Home automation software

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A smart home hub, sometimes also referred to as a "smart hub", "gateway'", "bridge", "controller" or "coordinator", is a control center/centre for a smart home, and enables the components of a smart home to communicate and respond to each other via communication through a central point. The smart home hub can consist of dedicated computer appliance, software appliance, or software running on computer hardware, and makes it possible to gather configuration, automation and monitoring of a smart house by communicating and controlling different smart devices that consist of for example home appliances, sensors and relays or robots, many of which are commonly categorized under Internet of things.

References

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  6. ↑ "Smart Home Company Insteon Shuts Down Servers Without Warning". The PC Mag. April 19, 2022.
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  10. 1 2 3 "Wired Innovation Insights". Wired.com. 2014-06-12. Archived from the original on 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
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  13. ↑ "Richmond Capital Partners Acquires Smartlabs and Fortifies Company with $7.3 Million in Funding to Accelerate the Company's Push in the IoT Industry". Insteon. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
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  15. ↑ "Insteon (The company) is dead... Can the hub be redirected?". 14 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Insteon is down and may not be coming back". 16 April 2022.
  17. ↑ "Smart home brand Insteon looks to have gone up in smoke".
  18. ↑ Claburn, Thomas (April 19, 2022). "IoT biz Insteon goes silent, smart home gear plays dumb". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved April 20, 2022. What's more, as noted by IoT reporter Stacey Higginbotham, company CEO Rob Lilleness and other executives have removed any mention of Insteon from their LinkedIn profiles.
  19. ↑ "Message to Insteon Community". Insteon. Archived from the original on 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
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  22. ↑ "Insteon smart homes resurrected as abruptly as they were bricked". 10 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "Refresh!: Insteon Technology". Electronic Design. Penton Media, Inc. April 5, 2006. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  24. ↑ "What is Insteon?". Archived from the original on 2007-05-28. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  25. ↑ "Can we talk? Internet of Things vendors face a communications 'mess'". Computer World. IDG. April 18, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  26. ↑ "New Insteon Hub Makes 200+ Products HomeKit Compatible". smarthome.reviewed.com. 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
  27. ↑ "Insteon HomeKit Enabled Hub Reviewed". SmallNetBuilder.com. July 14, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  28. ↑ Molly Oswaks, "Here it Is: The World's First Remote-Controlled (LED) Light Bulb", Gizmodo, June 20, 2012
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  40. ↑ "Insteon ships its HomeKit-enabled hub and app". macworld.com. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
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