Skip to main content

This Apple patent could lead to a much smarter smart home

apple homekit bug siri idevices switch
Image used with permission by copyright holder
You could soon have a much smarter smart home, if you’re an Apple user.

Apple’s HomeKit was a great first step into the smart home market for the company, but if these new patents are anything to go by, Apple is set to play a much bigger part in the smart home landscape.

Recommended Videos

The patent is for “aggregating user routines in an automated environment,” and details a way for the smart home to be controlled based on user habits, especially in a family setting, largely detected through the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Through the system, iPhones and Apple Watches will find patterns in user behavior and then trigger smart home devices according to that behavior. So, if it knows that when you get home from work you normally switch on the lights, TV, and heater, it could have these things ready to go for when you get home.

Like other systems on the market, the patent describes a local device called the “coordinator” — in other words, a smart home hub.

apple-smart-home-patent
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of course, to get to a point where it can accurately predict your intent, the coordinator will first have to gather data on your routines. For this the system will use location data such as GPS, but it will also collect data about the state of different smart home devices throughout the day. Not only that, but sensors like the accelerometer, gyroscopes, and other motion sensors could be used to determine how a user moves and when — things like when a user is sleeping or when they’re moving around the house. The coordinator will also use data from multiple users — for example if a family rather than one person is living inside the home.

Using data from multiple users, the system can then compare and contrast different user preferences and routines, making decisions by monitoring users in real time.

This won’t be Apple’s first venture into the smart home, but it will shift the focus away from the iPhone, which currently acts as the control hub through HomeKit. While this new system does seem to be drastically different from anything offered in HomeKit, however, we should still expect to see HomeKit at the center of Apple’s smart home vision for at least the next year or so — Apple is even rumored to be working on a standalone “Home” app.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Prepare for Halloween with these smart home gadgets
A Ring Video Doorbell next to Halloween decorations.

It’s officially spooky season, and that means Halloween is right around the corner. And if you’re hoping to have the most haunted house on the block, it’s worth looking at how today’s best smart home devices can help you achieve your goal. Whether you’re throwing a costume party, spending the night curled up with a scary movie, or expecting to have hundreds of trick-or-treaters lining up at your door, there’s a good chance upgrading your smart gadgets can make the spooky season all the more exciting.

Here’s a look at how video doorbells, smart lights, and other smart devices can help you celebrate Halloween.
Update your video doorbell with a terrifying chime

Read more
The next Apple HomeKit device could blend HomePod, iPad, and AI
Apple HomePod 2023

Apple HomeKit has always lagged behind Alexa and Google Assistant, notably lacking a smart display similar to that of the Echo Show 15 or the Nest Hub. Rumors suggest that the company's next gadget might rectify that. MacRumors reported code found in Apple's backend that referenced something called HomeAccessory17,1. That might not seem like much to go on until you realize that HomePod is similarly named AudioAccessory.

There are still too few details to make any definitive conclusions, but we can venture an educated guess that the upcoming device might be powered by the A18 chip and feature AI-focused features. Apple already has plans to integrate OpenAI and Siri. Adding AI-powered intelligence into a smart home system would potentially give it never-before-seen functionality — perhaps even more than what Alexa can currently offer, although Google Assistant's use of Gemini could level the playing field.

Read more
Home Depot expands Hubspace with a smart door, smart lock, and other cool gadgets
The new Hubspace smart door and smart lock.

Home Depot held its Hubspace Fall Preview event today, showcasing a variety of smart home products arriving later this year. One of the coolest new additions to the catalog is the Smart Glass Door by Feather River Doors, as it lets you toggle between clear or opaque glass via voice commands and syncs with most smart home platforms. Home Depot also revealed a smart lock, smart freezer, string lights, and home alarm system -- all of which are fully supported by the simple-to-use Hubspace app.

The Smart Glass Door is undoubtedly the most unique item in the upcoming collection. Pricing starts at $798 with a launch date of September 30, and it’s looking to bring some seriously cool features to your home. The big allure is the central glass pane, which can quickly change between clear and opaque styles using voice commands or a physical button. That means you can activate clear mode when you want a bit of sunshine, then swap to opaque mode for privacy. Beyond Hubspace, it integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Read more