Home Automation Glossary - HomeKit, HomeBridge, Home Assistant, RTSP, MQTT, etc

[Customer]

This is a quick first stab at a roundup of terms. I’m a complete home automation newbie but a central list like this would be valuable. (Disclaimer: I don’t know much about any of these - please feel free to correct any misunderstandings on my part.)

HomeKit:
Standard maintained by Apple Computer for integrating and controlling multiple vendor home automation hardware (cameras, sensors, locks, etc.) under a single Apple-designed control umbrella. Typically requires an Apple control module (e.g., HomePod). Typically works with Apple technologies such as Siri for voice recognition. Promises local offline / off-cloud control. Participating equipment requires certification by Apple. Not supported by Wyze hardware.

Apple HomeKit Integration

I have a fully integrated Smart Home, all powered by Apple’s HomeKit. I see from the topics on here that there are almost 2,000 people asking for this support. Is it something you’re going to add to your supported apps? It would certainly make life easier to connect the cam to HomeKit, alongside my outdoor cams, LIFX bulbs, Lutron Caseta dimmers, etc, etc, etc… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE add HomeKit to your supported structure! Hey people, if you like this, PLEASE click on it!

Home app

HomeBridge:
Open source community project designed to integrate equipment that is not certified by Apple into the Apple HomeKit environment. Not supported by Wyze, but integrated independently through 3rd party developers.

HomeBridge?

Has anyone considered writing a HomeBridge plugin to support the plugs and bulbs? I’m not counting on HomeKit integration, and HomeBridge is working brilliantly for my other smart devices. My Wyze bulbs have been sidelined due to lack of voice control, and I wouldn’t consider adding plugs that I can’t control via Siri. Looks like someone did some work on a plug-in for the cameras before RTSP was implemented, we could really use HomeBridge support for the bulbs and plugs.

Homebridge

Home Assistant:
Open source community project for integrating and controlling multiple vendor home automation hardware (cameras, sensors, locks, etc.) under a single vendor-independent control umbrella. Typically runs on a small Linux server such as a Raspberry Pi. Local offline / off-cloud control is a primary goal. Not supported by Wyze, but integrated independently through 3rd party developers.

Home Assistant Integration

Hello, I would love to see an integration in the open source project, Home Assistant. If something isn’t already in the works.     -Aaron

Home Assistant

RTSP:
Standard Real Time Streaming Protocol for video streams. Often handled by FFMPEG software, the VLC player, and NVRs/DVRs such as the open source ZoneMinder or the commercial Blue Iris. For Wyze cameras, supported officially in alternate firmware from Wzye as well as independent Dafang Hacks firmware. With the official Wyze firmware, RTSP features can be used while maintaining a connection to the Wyze “cloud”.

Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)

UPDATE 11/20/20: EDIT: We still have some improvements that we’re making to RTSP. You can learn more here: EDIT: As of 4/24/19, RTSP has been launched! EDIT: RTSP is now in early stage testing! RTSP has been one of our more popular requests since we launched. We’re looking into it but we have some stuff that’s in process and will come out before then. We aren’t going to make promises yet but we’re strongly leaning that direction and looking into it. This would enable local storage, viewi…

Real Time Streaming Protocol

ONVIF:
Interoperability standard for IP cameras, originally “Open Network Video Interface Forum”. This appears to focus more on the control layer (e.g., PTZ / Pan Tilt Zoom functions) than on the video codec layer such as RTSP. Not supported by Wyze.

ONVIF Protocol

Need ONVIF compliant and usable with 3rd party software like Blue Iris.

ONVIF

onvif vs rtsp - difference

MQTT:
IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity (messaging) protocol for sensors, low power devices, and home automation. Supported by Home Assistant and other management tools. Valuable in offline, off-grid use cases. Not supported by Wyze.

Support for MQTT

Definitely add MQTT support, or even better make them flashable to Tasmota. I’m in a rural area & we lose internet connection 3 to 4 times a week. Cloud controlled devices are worthless during these times. I won’t buy anything that can’t either be flashed over to Tasmota or has a MQTT option. I received a couple of your bulbs as a promo and really like them playing with them, but won’t buy any because of the cloud only control. I’ll most likely gift the ones I have to someone else.

MQTT - The Standard for IoT Messaging

Alexa:
Amazon’s platform, run through their servers with “skills” linking to the cloud software on other vendor servers (including Wyze). Voice recognition and low cost devices. No offline control. Fully supported by Wyze.

Google Home:
Google’s platform, very similar to Alexa, with similar features, voice recognition, integrations, and devices. No offline control. Fully supported by Wyze.

Siri:
Apple’s acquired voice recognition software that works with its HomeKit automation platform and a “hub” such as a HomePod or iPad. “To control your HomeKit accessories remotely with Siri, you need to set up a home hub.” Not supported by Wyze.

Of course this is far from a comprehensive rundown. I hope someone finds it helpful. Thanks.

[rbruceporter]

Good start! Just to be clear, there IS a Homebridge Wyze plugin that brings Wyze Plugs, Bulbs, Contact and Motion sensors into HomeKit.

There is another plugin available that uses ffmpeg to bring Wyze cameras running the Wyze RTSP firmware into HomeKit. Neither plugin is written by Wyze nor endorsed or supported by them.

[Customer]

Thanks, rbruce, I didn’t realize that. I’ve updated the language to mirror the HA 3rd party description.

[keithcroshaw]

So I think the one thing preventing me from jumping on a V3 is the lack of integration with Home Assistant.
I think MQTT opens so many doors but tbh even I dislike MQTT, it’s not “easy” to understand and it leaves a lot to the “user” to mess up.
If the V3 has/gets RTSP I suppose I could do my own person detection but that’s even more difficult than setting up a MQTT broker and what not.

Wyze I’ve been lurking for a while, I think it’s time to pull in the reins and either create an open API any smart home can pick up over the network.
It should be a local API for speed and robustness.

I think person detection might be cloud based now that Apple gobbled up their low footprint AI but local person detection with a local API would be worth so much more money to me.