In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Remote Access Server (RAS) to provide a communication channel between UPnP Remote Access Clients (RACs) connected thereto. The UPnP RAS maintains local discovery information for UPnP devices connected to a local network and remote discovery information for remote UPnP devices communicating therewith. The UPnP RAS provides the remote UPnP devices communicating therewith with the local discovery information and the remote discovery information. The remote discovery information is utilized by a first remote UPnP device to discover a second UPnP device and vice versa. After discovery, a first remote UPnP device can communicate with a second UPnP device and vice versa.

A server apparatus receives a device ID indicating one electrical home appliance among one or more electrical home appliances and a gateway ID indicating that the one electrical home appliance belongs to a same owner, a same group, or a same home as the one or more electrical home appliances, determines whether or not the one electrical home appliance is a newly connected electrical home appliance, using a management database that manages device IDs indicating the one or more electrical home appliances and the gateway ID, and when it is determined made that the one electrical home appliance is a newly connected electrical home appliance, provides an information device, which is associated with the gateway ID and which differs from the one electrical home appliance, with notification information for confirming whether or not it is to be permitted to collect the log information from the one electrical home appliance.

A wireless thermostat may be associated with a user account of an external web service that may facilitate remote access and/or control of the wireless thermostat. A remote device may be used to access a user's account hosted by the external web service. The wireless thermostat may be identified to the external web service and associated with the user's account by one or more unique identifiers previously delivered to the remote device from the wireless thermostat.

Embodiments are provided for enabling a user to control multiple media playback systems with a single mobile device. The mobile device may connect with a first or second media playback system based on receiving a first or second household identifier (HHID), respectively. If the mobile device receives both the first and second HHIDs, the mobile device may connect with either the first or second media playback system based on a priority of the two systems. If neither the first nor second HHIDs are received by the mobile device, a user may be prompted to add a third media playback system if the mobile device receives a third HHID. The user interface of the mobile device may receive an input to connect the mobile device to the third media playback system, and a connection may be established between the mobile device and the third media playback system.

Technologies for switching network traffic include a network switch. The network switch includes one or more processors and communication circuitry coupled to the one or more processors. The communication circuity is capable of switching network traffic of multiple link layer protocols. Additionally, the network switch includes one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed, cause the network switch to receive, with the communication circuitry through an optical connection, network traffic to be forwarded, and determine a link layer protocol of the received network traffic. The instructions additionally cause the network switch to forward the network traffic as a function of the determined link layer protocol. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Techniques for suggesting accessory devices controlled by an application executing on a mobile device are disclosed. A method includes measuring one or more sensor values using one or more sensors of a mobile device and the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices. An area of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices can be determined based on the one or more sensor values. A second one or more accessory devices associated with the same area as the first one or more accessory devices can be suggested to a user.

An apparatus for determining individual consumption for a plurality of users through computer network monitoring. The apparatus comprises a memory and a processor. The processor is configured to receive data from one or more smart devices associated with a first user and a second user through data streaming between the one or more smart devices and a server. The processor is further configured to determine that a first home associated with the first user and a second home associated with a second user are located within a distance threshold from each other based, at least in part, on geolocation information. The processor is further configured to determine that the first user and the second user are comparable peers. The processor is further configured to determine that an individual consumption of one of the comparable peers is greater than an average total consumption and to transmit an alert.

An example electronic apparatus includes a communication circuitry; a power supply; a first processor configured to have a first mode which receives first power from the power supply and connects with a server through the communication circuitry to transmit and receive information, and a second mode which receives no power or second power lower than the first power from the power supply; and a second processor configured to repetitively output a mode switching signal within a preset range of time interval based on the second mode of the first processor, wherein the first processor is switched over to the first mode based on the mode switching signal, is configured to transmit connectivity keeping information to the server through the communication circuitry and is switched over to the second mode.

A premises management system may comprise a gateway device. The gateway device may configured to determine one or more premises devices of a premises management system. The gateway device may be configured to receive an indication of a communication protocol associated with the premises devices. The gateway device may be configured to communicate with the premises devices using the communication protocol.

Brushless direct current (BLDC) motors are becoming more common, such as in cars and other vehicles. Unreliable BLDC motors or control systems can lead to risk of people's safety. A redundant BLDC control system is provided to control two or more BLDC motors. A safety module controls an enabling switch in each of the motor drivers, so that in response to detecting a fault condition, a currently active BLDC motor is disabled and a redundant BLDC motor is enabled. A digital processor computes and transmits digital signals to all the motor drivers continuously and simultaneously, so that the transition from a currently active BLDC motor to a redundant BLDC motor is smooth and almost unnoticeable.