Austin tech talent develops platform for Time Warner home management system

A team of 60 employees in Austin was behind the development of a platform used in Time Warner Cable's home management and security system, IntelligentHome, which launched March 25 in Austin.

Jim Johnson, executive vice president and general manager of the cable division for iControl Networks, which developed the platform, said it is rare for people in the technology industry to get to show their friends and family what they have worked on.

"Most of that technology is used behind-the-scenes," he said. "... [The IntelligentHome] technology comes to life through the mobile phone, the touch screen. It's very exciting for the folks who work on it."

IntelligentHome is a wireless home security system with other features built into it, such as the ability to control the system—including setting the alarm, scheduling when to turn on the lights or managing the thermostat—from one's computer or smartphone, Johnson said. The system also comes with cameras installed in the home to allow users to monitor their home off-site, and users can also be notified via text message or email if there is activity in the home.

"The home security system knows when there is activity in your house and when you're home or when you're away," Johnson said.

In 2005, Johnson started a company called uControl in Austin. He said his team starting developing the technology for the system about seven or eight years ago before connecting with Time Warner.

"We built the technology from the ground up that the cable company uses," Johnson said.

uControl later merged in November 2010 with a Redwood City, Calif.–based company called iControl. The merger allowed the company to grow from 25 to 60 employees at its Austin office, located at 5918 W. Courtyard Drive, near Capital of Texas Hwy.

"Austin has a great base of technology talent," Johnson said.