A home automation and security system is provided in which a home
automation and security controller in a customer premises is coupled with
a remotely located central control facility using a continuous
connectivity access line providing a data channel separate from a voice
channel. The controller at the customer premises is responsible for
monitoring and applying control signals to devices in the home and for
supporting a human interface. The remotely located central control
facility is responsible for providing the computational and database
resources to the controller. By redistributing functionality, the
network-based structure of this home automation and security system can
overcome the disadvantages of conventional home automation and security
systems.