The overall system design for home automation offers many choices. The two extremes are highly decentralized and highly centralized. The decentralized is to have a subsystems for each functional area — security, audio distribution, solar shades, irrigation, etc. The centralized approach would utilize a central control computer to interconnect and supervise all activities and functions, including some sub-systems. That is the approach that I have taken. It allows you to create personalized sequences of events, often called "scenes". For example, the "go to bed" scene might turn on upstairs light and musics, turn off down stairs lights and music, close garage doors, set security, and turn back the thermostat. The central system I chose is the AMX NetLinx Integrated Controller.