Industry Leaders Unite to Define Open Standard for Home Automation and Entertainment Control

Strategic Insights -

Industry leaders Compaq Computer Corporation, Honeywell, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corp., Mitsubishi Electric, and Philips Electronics have formed the Home API Working Group to develop an open industry specification for application programming interfaces (APIs) that will enable developers to build more functionality and ease-of-use into home automation software and allow the operation of home devices from anywhere in and around the home.

The Home API Working Group aims to provide a foundation for supporting a broad range of consumer devices by establishing an open industry specification that defines APIs. These APIs will be protocol and network media independent, enabling software developers to more quickly build applications that operate these devices. The group expects to complete the Version 1.0 Specification in the first half of 1999, with a Windows SDK available shortly thereafter.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Home API Working Group includes Compaq, Honeywell, Intel, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, and Philips Electronics, and aims to develop an open industry specification for application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable developers to build more functionality and ease-of-use into home automation software.
  • The APIs will be protocol and network media independent, enabling software developers to more quickly build applications that operate these devices.
  • The Home API Working Group expects to complete the Version 1.0 Specification in the first half of 1999, with a Windows SDK available shortly thereafter.
  • The group's goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of software applications that can monitor and control home devices.
  • Initial users of the Home API SDK include software vendors who will use the Home API to write applications that monitor or interact with home devices.
  • Vendors of home networks and controllable home devices will provide Home API compatible driver software to expose features of their hardware to developers of home applications.
  • Since Home API does not define communication protocols but rather provides a framework for integrating and exposing existing protocols, it is not necessary for device or network vendors to modify their hardware products to enable them to work with Home API.

Statistics:

  • The Home API Working Group includes six industry leaders: Compaq, Honeywell, Intel, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric, and Philips Electronics.
  • The group expects to complete the Version 1.0 Specification in the first half of 1999.
  • The Home API SDK will be available for the Windows operating system, with availability expected in the first half of 1999.
  • The group's initial software vendors include companies that will use the Home API to write applications that monitor or interact with home devices.
  • The Home API Working Group's goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of software applications that can monitor and control home devices.

Sources:

  • Business Wire, "Compaq, Honeywell, Intel, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric and Philips Electronics Unite to Define Open Industry Specification for Home Automation and Entertainment Control" (October 12, 1998)
  • Compaq Computer Corporation, "Compaq Computer Corporation" (no date)
  • Honeywell, "Honeywell" (no date)
  • Intel Corporation, "Intel Corporation" (no date)
  • Microsoft Corp., "Microsoft Corp." (no date)
  • Mitsubishi Electric America, Inc., "Mitsubishi Electric America, Inc." (no date)
  • Philips Electronics, "Philips Electronics" (no date)