Everything under control from the TV – with Moeller's TVolutionX

Schrems, March 2008 – From now on, all lighting sources and Xcomfort RF installation loads can be easily controlled at home through the TV set while sitting on the couch. A collaboration between Moeller and the companies TARA Systems GmbH and KATHREIN-Werke KG have made this possible. This new benchmark in comfort and ease will first be admired at this year's Light+Building Trade Show in Frankfurt.

My home is my castle – there is hardly a single home that doesn't have at least one television set as part of its basic equipment. Watching TV is considered as one of the most popular forms of leisure entertainment and an important source of information. Thanks to Moeller it can now be more than this. All electrically-controlled home functions and RF installation loads can now be operated from a menu on a receiver that has a so-called eHome function. In this manner, the user can comfortably view and control his entire surroundings from the couch at all times, without missing even a second of his television programme.

Moeller has made a firm commitment to offering its customers the highest level of comfort in addition to exemplary safety and trend-setting energy management. Moeller meets this demand with superbly structured, high-performance products and solutions from the Xcomfort RF system for building automation. As the central control unit for all components of a Moeller comfort installation, the Room Manager is supported by the newest software application, TVolutionX, from the home's TV set. Everything that is shown and can be controlled from the Room Manager's display can also be viewed on the TV screen in HD quality, thanks to TVolutionX. Even with smaller television models, the screen's diameter is significantly larger than the Room Manager's display, offering a large-screen view of the building's functions. The overview of Moeller’s Xcomfort RF installation is of panoramic proportions in the giant-screen TVs that are currently finding their way into viewers' living rooms. Homeowners do not only obtain wonderful views, however. Now all RF components can be visualised and controlled on the TV set. The new demand on comfort in handling building automation is the future trend of modern living. This system is characterised specially: it is the simple usability on the TV screen in high definition quality. Both young techies and the elderly, who can enjoy their Indian summer, benefit from the multimedia terminal. The user gains full control over his dominions thanks to the remote control, which also makes daily life much easier, particularly for older or even bedridden persons.

Moeller searched for strong communications technology partners for the purpose of visualisation and control of the RF components on the TV screen, and found such partners in TARA Systems GmbH of Munich, and KATHREIN Werke KG of Rosenheim.
The combination of the operator interface by TARA, the UFS-910 satellite receiver by KATHREIN, upon which the operator interface can run, as well as Moeller’s Xcomfort RF installation, has created the revolutionary application TVolutionX.

The first step toward TVolutionX – should the homeowner not own one – is procuring a Moeller Xcomfort RF installation, as well as the communication interface. The second step is downloading the corresponding software TVolutionX through Moeller’s internet portal which is installed in the KATHREIN receiver, a software that enriches the receiver's menu program with its "eHome" item. The connection between RF installation and the receiver will be established with the communication interface, which is connected via an USB port. The main user features can be found, in turn, under eHome. Under the menu item "Settings", all actuators and sensors that are to be displayed in the "device overview" can be selected. Subsequently, the status of the configured sensors (e.g. a temperature sensor) can be read here in actual values (outside temperature). In terms of the defined actuators (e.g. the dimmer), not only is their status displayed (ON / OFF / dimming percentage), but they can also be directly controlled - quite comfortably we must say, with the receiver's remote control, while enjoying some relaxing TV viewing. But we are not stopping here. Under the "Profile" item, target values for multiple actuators can be individually combined and put into execution at any time by the user. In this manner, certain saved profiles such as "day", "evening", "film" or "party", for which combinations in terms of lighting, shading and heating have been predefined in advance, can be activated for such occasions in a matter of seconds. Should sensors and actuators reach a previously defined (limit) value, corresponding information will be displayed over the running TV show, letting the TV-viewing resident know, in a timely manner, of certain events (e.g. "the motion sensor has detected movement"). You are thus warned of danger even while watching TV. Another future consideration is linking the whole energy management with a scale of statistics of individual power consumers to TVolutionX using energy software. All these analysis the Room Manager is doing by now. A special feature is a screen alarm that will also go off when limit values are exceeded. The simple counter reading like gas-, electricity- and water counter can be shown on directly on TV screen by now. All of these events (f.i. closing windows and blinds, dimming lights) will also be recorded so that there is access at all times to the happenings of the Xcomfort RF installation under "Record of events".

TVolutionX does not mean, however, the maximisation of comfort and safety just for TV and radio frequency enthusiasts. Should someone become bedridden because of a cold, that person has firm control over the home's access, lighting, heating, and much more, via the receiver’s remote control. As a result, a person remains the lady / master of the house even when ill. Dangers can be discerned with a single view, and countermeasures can be taken immediately.

Moeller GmbH, 53105 Bonn
Phone: +49 (0)228 602-0
Fax: +49 (0)228 602-2275
E-Mail: presse@moeller.net
Internet: www.moeller.net
Please direct your enquiries to:
Corporate Communications, Tel.: +49 (0)228 602-2915

  (145 KB) Text as Word-File

  (2.3 MB) Image as ZIP-File