A Component Framework for Telecare and Home Automation

Many sensors, appliances and smart devices for within the home are becoming readily available to the general public. These can not only enhance everyday living but also allow people requiring care to stay in the comfort of their own homes for longer. Users need to be provided with the ability to easily customise their home and the devices within it. A service component architecture is described for representing various services within a home environment. The resulting system has a simple plug-and-play mechanism for easy addition and integration of a range of components. A collection of services is presented using both off-the-shelf and novel components.