CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) today announces an update to its technically disruptive Bluetooth® Smart solution - CSRmesh™. CSRmesh Home Automation is suitable for a range of applications including control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, door locks and window sensors. Whole home automation from a smartphone, tablet, PC or wearable device is now possible with CSRmesh, as it allows an almost unlimited amount of Bluetooth Smart enabled sensors and actuators to be simply networked together.
The CSRmesh protocol was first announced last year and optimized for lighting control. CSRmesh Home Automation extends this capability to allow for control of a wide variety of sensors or actuators that you want to add to the mesh network. “The launch of our mesh protocol is already bringing exciting new capabilities to the Internet of Things and our customers are bringing smart lighting solutions to market that are easy to set up and use, as they don’t have a limited range or require a hub,” says Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President, Business Group at CSR. “Our new version empowers developers looking to offer a wide range of effective, secure and scalable home automation solutions that meet the consumer demand for smarter homes.”
CSRmesh combines a configuration and control protocol with CSR’s proven Bluetooth Smart devices, including the CSR101x™ family. It uses Bluetooth Smart to send messages to other devices in the network, which in turn relay them onward. Crucially for the consumer experience, solutions based on the protocol don’t require the complex setup, pairing, or use of an access device such as a router. As well as providing control via any Bluetooth Smart enabled smartphone, tablet, PC or wearable device, consumers can also use standard control devices, such as light switches or control panels that have been Bluetooth Smart enabled.
A recent study commissioned by CSR found that consumers are increasingly interested in “smart home” solutions. For instance, 72% of respondents wanted lights that would automatically turn on and off depending on what room they are in. Manufacturers using CSRmesh are developing cloud-connectivity solutions that enable a wide range of home control and could allow a user to manage specific actions, such as automatically being notified if a door or window is left open, an appliance is left on, or a smoke detector goes off. CSRmesh Home Automation can also be used to control and monitor the home remotely from anywhere in the world as it controls the entire infrastructure from chip to cloud.
CSR is working in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group’s (SIG) Smart Mesh Study Group to help create a global standard for Bluetooth Smart mesh as soon as possible. “CSR is committed to supporting the development of the Internet of Things and is working in the Bluetooth SIG to standardize Bluetooth Smart mesh to ensure interoperability of all compatible devices and prevent fragmentation that could slow market growth,” concludes Murray.
The CSRmesh Home Automation release will be available from the beginning of Q2 2015. To ensure developers can get products to market quickly a CSRmesh Development Kit, which provides a complete set of tools for evaluation and software development including Android and iOS source code, is available now and already supports the forthcoming Home Automation release.