Smart and energy-efficient home implementation: Wireless communication technologies role

Smart home vision aims for the integration of key electrical appliances and services, communications and information technologies into one intelligent network to be controlled, monitored and managed by the building user. A wireless infrastructure as a smart home communication backbone is the logical choice for a so high level of integration. This paper updates on wireless communication technologies state-of-the-art for short range applications, and discusses their suitability according to major functional areas or services that may benefit from smart home implementation.