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AU T O M AT I O N O V E R V I E W
Overview: Home Control Network
A home control (or "home automation") network is a system used for remotely controlling light switches, light dimmers,
drapes/blinds, appliances, air conditioning, heating, security systems, door locks and other devices within a home or office.
Z-Wave is a reliable and robust wireless home control network standard that operates within a redundant and interconnected
wireless network. This intelligent Z-Wave system even responds to changing conditions in real time, to ensure your devices
will reliably operate when needed.
The
IBR-ITAB
iBridge
®
Touch Screen Tablet Keypad
is fully compatible with your Z-Wave system, allowing you to add and
control multiple Z-Wave devices and configure them to your needs. You can even connect your security alarm system to
your Z-Wave devices, allowing a security system event to trigger Z-Wave devices, video cameras and even trigger notifica-
tion emails.
The simplest Z-Wave network consists of a primary "controller" (master) and single controllable "device" (slave) such as a
light switch, thermostat, etc. Additional controllers and devices can be "included" into (or "excluded" from) the network at any
time (by means of simple button presses on both the controller and the device). Controllers can be "static" (physically immo-
bile such as a wall-switch controller) or "mobile" (such as a portable key-fob controller). If you are new to home automation,
you may wish to read the following glossary of definitions to help familiarize yourself with these terms.
•
Node:
Can be a "
device
" or a "
controller
". An example of a
device
is a Z-Wave enabled light switch. A
controller
allows you to add or remove this device from the network. Each node not only captures and disseminates its own
network data, but also relays data for other nodes. If one node can no longer operate, the rest of the nodes can still
communicate with each other, either directly or through other nodes in the network. In this way, Z-Wave networks
self-form and self-heal.
•
Primary Controller:
Also a "node" on the network, the Primary Controller is the controller that was used to create a
new Z-Wave network. The “master” controller in the network, only one Primary Controller is allowed within a net-
work. Only Primary Controllers can include/exclude nodes, and therefore always possess the latest network
