Patent ID: 8296669
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: G05B,G06F,G06T,H04L,H05B

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure, comprising: coupling the one or more devices in the structure, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the one or more devices; displaying, on a display screen, a virtual room-based user interface, the virtual room-based user interface including one or more of virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, the substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure including substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure, one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, and one or more devices located within the portion of the structure; receiving a selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a particular device within a particular virtual room; in response to the selection of the particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, issuing, by the programmable multimedia controller, control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the particular device; and updating the appearance of the particular virtual room, such that the substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, as well as the substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of the one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure and of the one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, reflect the changed state of the particular device.