CEA and LONMARK Introduce Two New Home & Building Automation Standards

Home Building Automation

 

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and LonMark International recently announced two new standards available for home and building automation. These standards provide multiple parties – including users, developers, vendors, integrators and specifiers of open building control systems – a mechanism to develop and deliver a higher level of device-to-device interoperability using any open control networking communication platform.

“Our intent is to offer to the market a very proven, well adopted approach to solving the Internet of Things (IoT) interoperability issue,” said Ron Bernstein, chief ambassador for LonMark International. “These profiles can be de-coupled from the core ANSI/CEA-709.1 control network protocol and be implemented on any transport, providing a unique opportunity for other standards development bodies to jumpstart their interoperability efforts.”

Added Bernstein, “The process of taking the LonMark documents through the CEA standards process proved to be exceptionally efficient. With the help of key CEA staff and committee members, we are very pleased with the process and with the initial outpour of interest.”

Standard Specifications:
• CEA-709.5 Implementation Guidelines defines the application layer requirements for interoperable devices and how they share key information, status and data across an open control network. Typically deployed on an ANSI/CEA-709.1 LonWorks® protocol network, these application elements define how to interact with disparate devices from multiple vendors in the same system. This significantly improves the system installation time and integration of typical home and building systems by defining units, range and resolution, configuration, and enumeration requirements along with device self-documentation information within the standard. The new standard now enables other transports the option of adopting a common application layer element description library.
• CEA-709.6 Application Elements built upon the .5 Implementation Guidelines by providing a catalog of more than 100 common device profiles, with more than 380 specific implementation options. These profiles define the mandatory and optional design requirements for standard data variables, standard configuration properties, enumeration types and standard interface file requirements. This extensive library of device profiles includes definitions for a broad collection of devices for HVAC, Lighting, Security, Access, Metering, Energy Management, Fire and Smoke Control, Gateways, Commercial and Industrial I/O, Gas Detection, Generators, Room Automation, Renewable Energy, Utility, Automated Food Service, Semiconductor Fabrication, Transportation, Home Appliances and others.
“LonMark’s member community has helped build standards over the last 22 years,” said Dave Wilson, vice president, technology & standards, CEA. “Given that level of dedication and contribution to the sector, we wanted to ensure that taking the LonMark documents through the CEA standards process would be exceptionally efficient. As the initial outpouring of interest indicates, the process worked quite well.”

These new standards were developed in task groups with topic experts contributing to a final consensus for each device profile. A complete testing and certification program offered by LonMark International ensures compliance to the standards. CEA is the natural home of these standards for the U.S. market, with many new profiles and standards updates planned for the future.

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    Skills Ontario Supports Ontario’s Investments in Skilled Trades in Budget Announcement

    March 28. 2024 As demand for skilled trades professionals rises, Skills Ontario is commending the government for continued investments in skilled trades and technology programing, working to address the shortfall and need to build the workforce of the future in Ontario.  The skilled trades shortage is costing Ontario approximately $25 billion in foregone GDP. A… Read More…

  • IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

    IVRY Launches 7 New VR Lessons

     IVRY Technologies, a division of IDEAL Electrical, is launching seven new virtual reality (VR) lessons in Canada as part of its Virtual Electrical Training (VET) Series 2 training module. The cutting-edge training will serve as a learning resource for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training centers across Canada. Read More…

  • PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    PEI Budget 2024 Signals Continued Focus on Healthcare, Housing and Affordability for all Islanders 

    March 28, 2024 Hon. Jill Burridge, Minister of Finance, presented government’s 2024-25 operating budget to the legislative assembly, outlining $3.2 billion in investments for Prince Edward Island with a continued focus on healthcare, housing and affordability measures. “This budget signals where we’re headed as a province and shows Islanders where we will be making key… Read More…

  • BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    BC’s Budget 2024 Prioritizes Actions for Low-Carbon Economy

    March 28, 2024 Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston, met with community climate leaders in Nelson to discuss how Budget 2024 can help support people in the region to transition to a low-carbon economy and meet shared CleanBC goals. “Our government’s budget this year reflects the… Read More…