Terms and Definitions

Action

The end result or purpose for any event is to execute an action or sequence of actions.

Turn a smart product on, increment a counter, speak something, etc.

Condition

A parameter that works in conjunction with a trigger to launch an event. Conditions are true over a period of time.

The day of the week is Wednesday, the time is after 4 pm, Garage Door is open, motion is sensed, etc.

Device

Software entity that is designed to represent a physical smart home product. It may or may not be grouped with Features.

After adding a WD200 to your Z-Wave network, it gets listed as a HomeSeer device under the Devices page.

HomeSeer Device

Event

An action or sequence of actions set into motion by one or more triggers which may also include one or more conditions.

Turn on a light 30 minutes before sunset on weekdays, send an email if a temperature sensor report 80 degrees, etc.

Automations, Scenes, Robots, Routines, Applets, Recipes

Feature

Subset or attribute of a HomeSeer device.

For an HSM200, the features are Motion Sensor, Temp Sensor, Light Sensor, and Color Control.

Child Device

Interface

Hardware device that serves to link a technology (like Z-Wave) to HomeSeer Software

SmartStick+, Z-Net, 2413U, RFXCOM

Controller, USB Stick

Node

Unique identifier for smart product software address.

Z-Wave Node #12

Address

Plugin

Software designed to integrate with HomeSeer software to enhance capabilities or add features.

JowiHUE, EasyTrigger, Harmony Hub

Add-on

Smart Home Hub

A computer running smart home software packaged and marketed as a unique product.

HomeTroller Pi, HomeTroller Plus, HomeTroller Pro

Home Controller, Controller, Smart Hub

Smart Product

Hardware device that's designed to communicate with and/or be controlled by a Smart Home Hub.

HS-WD200+ Dimmer, HS-FLS100+ Sensor

Device

Trigger

Anything that happens in an instant that can launch an event

The time is Sunset, Smart Product turns On, Counter reaches 5

Update

A minor revision or "point" release of software.

HS4 v4.0.0.0 to v4.0.1.0

Upgrade

A major revision or "integer" release of software.

HS3 to HS4

Virtual Device

Software entity that's designed to reflect the status or value or something not necessarily linked to a Smart Product

Occupancy, Daytime/Nighttime, Seasons, Defcon 2

Status Device, State Device

Z-Wave Association

A linkage that causes Z-Wave products to communicate directly between themselves

Associating a Z-Wave motion sensor to a Z-Wave wall switch will turn the switch on (and off) when motion is sensed and then no longer sensed

Scene

Z-Wave Optimization

The process by which a Z-Wave smart product rediscovers its neighbors

After initial setup, running an optimization can help nodes discover the best routes back to your Z-Wave controller. Not to be run on large networks.

Z-Wave Network

The wireless web or mesh created by Z-Wave devices where they can see each other and report back to the Z-Wave Controller.

Z-Wave Networks are managed from Plugins > Z-Wave > Controller Management

Mesh Network

Z-Wave Controller

An Interface specifically for Z-Wave hardware.

SmartStick+, Z-Net, UZB, Aeotec Z-Stick

Interface