Patent ID: 8042049
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: G06F,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A graphical user interface for managing a plurality of system components within a controlled environment, comprising: a first set of control objects configured for selecting a system component within the controlled environment, wherein, a second set of control objects displayed concurrently with said control options associated with said selected system component, wherein, a third set of control objects representing one or more affiliate system components, the one or more affiliate system components configured to provide an input to said selected system component, and wherein the third set of control objects are configured to be pre-configured by a user to be hidden from display on the user interface; and device definition device configured to specify associations among one or more affiliate system components and a primary system component, and thereby establishing a chain of system components including said primary system component and said one or more affiliate system components, wherein said primary system component is associated with a primary control object from said first set, wherein activation of said primary control object populates the user interface with control options for executing commands to send instructions to control operations or functions of said chain of system components.