Patent ID: 6823223
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G05B,H04L

Abstract:
A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said programmable device comprising:(a) a plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and (b) a controller for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller having a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices, said plurality of modes of operation including: (i) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device, said programming mode including a plurality of states that are entered in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements, said states including an idle state that is entered in response to the selective actuation of one of said manually actuatable input elements and a new scene state that is entered into if said programmable device is in said idle state of said programming mode and another of said manually actuatable input elements is actuated and a copy existing scene state, said programmable device entering said copy existing scene state if said programmable device is in said idle state of said programming mode and a further manually actuatable input element is actuated; and (ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status.