Patent Publication Number: US-2011050451-A1

Title: Method of selecting a transmission frequency of a one-way wireless remote control device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/239,764 filed Sep. 3, 2009, entitled ONE WAY RF REMOTE CONTROL FREQUENCY-SELECTING METHOD, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a one-way radio frequency (RF) remote control device for use in lighting control systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for selecting from one of a plurality of radio frequencies at which the one-way remote control device is to transmit during normal operation, and for activating, assigning, and/or associating the one-way remote control device to the lighting control system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Control systems for controlling electrical loads, such as electric lights, motorized window treatments, and fans, are known. Such control systems often use radio frequency (RF) transmission to communicate commands and data between two-way control devices in such systems. One example of a two-way RF lighting control system is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442, issued May 18, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     RF lighting control systems typically include a plurality of two-way control devices, such as, a wall-mounted load control device (e.g., a dimmer switch), a remote control device (e.g., a table-top or wall-mounted master control, or a car visor control), and one or more repeaters. The two-way control devices each include an RF antenna adapted to transmit and receive RF communication signals at a transmission frequency. The two-way control devices are each allocated a unique short device address during an addressing procedure, such that they can communicate commands and data to and from other two-way control devices in the system. The repeater helps to ensure error-free communication by repeating the RF signals so as to ensure that every device in the system reliably receives the RF signals, even in the presence of RF-attenuating structures such as walls, ceilings, and floors. In the prior art RF lighting control systems, the repeater has previously chosen from one of sixteen possible transmission frequencies at which to operate. The transmission frequency will be one that is relatively noise-free and free of interference from other systems possibly operating in the vicinity. 
     The addressing procedure, which provides for allocation of the short device addresses to each of the control devices, is executed during configuration of the RF lighting control system. In the RF lighting control system described in the &#39;442 patent, the addressing procedure is initiated at a repeater of the lighting control system (e.g., by pressing and holding a button on the repeater), which places all repeaters of the system into an “addressing mode.” The main repeater is responsible for allocating short device addresses to the RF control devices (e.g., master controls, wall-mounted load control devices, etc.) of the control system. The main repeater allocates a short device address to an RF control device in response to a request for an address sent by the control device. To initiate a request for the address, a user moves to one of the wall-mounted or table-top control devices and presses a button on the control device. The control device transmits a signal associated with the actuation of the button, which is received and interpreted by the main repeater as a request for an address. In response to the request for address signal, the main repeater allocates and transmits a next available short device address to the requesting control device. 
     Some simple prior art RF lighting control systems have included a one-way RF remote control devices that can only transit commands to the load control device being controlled (and the master or repeater devices). An example of a one-way RF remote control device is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/399,126, filed Mar. 6, 2009, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     If the remote control device is a two-way device, i.e., includes a transmitter and receiver, selecting the transmission frequency and assigning the remote control device to the control system can be done automatically by the master or repeater device because the remote control device can both receive commands from the master device and/or repeater and transmit information (i.e., its device or serial number) to the master and/or repeater device. For example, the remote control device can be configured to cycle through operating frequencies until the frequency of operation of the system is determined and thereafter inform the system of its presence. If the remote control device, on the other hand, is a one-way device, some other method must be developed to select the frequency of operation that is consistent with the repeater or master&#39;s frequency of operation and to assign the remote control device to the system. In addition, since the one-way remote control device cannot receive digital messages from the main repeater, the one-way remote control device cannot be allocated an address using the addressing procedure of the &#39;442 patent. 
     Therefore, there exists a need for a single RF load control system that includes both one-way and two-way remote control devices, and that provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way remote control devices into the system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of selecting a frequency of operation for a radio frequency remote control device comprises entering the remote control device into a frequency-selecting mode of operation; transmitting a test command at a first radio frequency from the remote control device; providing a human-perceptible indication, if the test command is received by a second radio frequency-receiving device; if no human-perceptible indication is provided, then transmitting the test command at a second radio frequency, different from the first radio frequency, from the remote control device; and if the human-perceptible indication is provided, then exiting from the frequency-selecting mode of operation. 
     In addition, a radio frequency load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is also described herein. The system comprises a remote control device operable to enter into a frequency-selecting mode of operation, and to subsequently transmit a test command at a first radio frequency from the remote control device, and a second radio frequency-receiving device operable to provide a human-perceptible indication if the test command is received by the second radio frequency-receiving device. The remote control device comprises an actuator operable to be actuated by a user, such that the remote control device transmits the test command at a second radio frequency, different from the first radio frequency if no human-perceptible indication is provided. The remote control device is operable to exit the frequency-selecting mode of operation if the human-perceptible indication is provided. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention that refers to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of a radio frequency (RF) load control system; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified timing diagram showing an example of the digital messages transmitted by each of a plurality of two-way control devices of the load control system of  FIG. 1  during a data event; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a one-way transmit-only remote control device of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of the remote control device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified flowchart of the method of selecting the transmission frequency of the remote control device of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a simplified system diagram illustrating a first way of addressing the remote control; 
         FIG. 7  shows a simplified system diagram illustrating a second way of addressing the remote control; 
         FIG. 8  shows a simplified system diagram illustrating a third way of addressing the remote control; 
         FIG. 9  shows a timing diagram for illustrating how signals from the transmit-only remote control device are received at a repeater; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a simplified system diagram illustrating yet another method of addressing a remote control device to the load control system using a GUI equipped device such as a PC. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that is presently preferred, in which like numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of a radio frequency (RF) load control system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The RF load control system  100  is operable to control the power delivered from a source of AC power (e.g., an AC mains voltage, such as 120V AC@60 Hz) to a plurality of electrical loads, for example, lighting loads  104 ,  106  and a motorized roller shade  108 . The RF load control system  100  utilizes a two-way wireless RF communication link for communication of digital messages between the control devices of the system via wireless RF signals  110  at a transmission frequency f TX . The two-way control devices of the RF load control system  100  comprise, for example, a wall-mounted dimmer  112 , a remote dimming module  120 , a motorized window treatment (MWT) control module  122 , a first wall-mounted master keypad  130 , a second wall-mounted master keypad  132 , and signal repeaters  140 ,  142 . Each of the two-way control devices is allocated a short device address (i.e., a unique identifier) during configuration of the load control system  100  to allow each of the control devices to transmit digital messages to and receive digital message from the other two-way control devices according to predetermined protocol. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the two-way control devices of the RF load control system  100  communicate the digital messages using a time division technique, i.e., each control device transmits a digital message during predetermined time slots. 
     The wall-mounted dimmer  112  and the remote dimming module  120  are each operable to toggle the respective lighting load  104 ,  106  on and off, and to control the intensity of the respective lighting load  104 , 106  between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity, i.e., across dimming range of the lighting load. The wall-mounted dimmer  112  includes a user interface for receiving inputs from a user and for providing feedback of the intensity of the controlled lighting load  104  to the user. Specifically, the dimmer  112  comprises a control actuator  114  for turning on and off (i.e., toggling) the lighting load  104  and an intensity adjustment actuator  116  (e.g., a slider control or a rocker switch) for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load. The wall-mounted dimmer  112  also comprises one or more visual indicators  118 , e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for providing feedback to the user of the dimmer. The remote dimming module  120  is typically mounted near the lighting fixture of the controlled lighting load  106 , and may comprise, for example, an electronic dimming ballast for controlling a fluorescent lamp or an LED driver for an LED light source. The MWT control module  122  is coupled to the motorized roller shade  108  (which is typically mounted in from of a window) for controlling the position of the shade fabric of the roller shade and thus the amount of daylight entering the space. The MWT control module  122  may be located inside the roller tube of the motorized roller shade  108 . 
     The first and second wall-mounted master keypads  130 ,  132  each comprise a plurality of preset buttons  134 , which may be programmed, for example, to recall lighting presets or toggle the lighting loads  104 ,  106  on and off. The keypads  130 ,  132  may also comprise a raise button  135  and a lower button  136  for respectively raising and lowering the intensities of the lighting loads  104 ,  106 . The preset buttons  134 , the raise button  135  and the lower button  136  may also be programmed to control the position of the motorized roller shade  108 . The keypads may also comprise a plurality of visual indicators  138  (e.g., LEDs) for display feedback of, for example, which preset is selected or which lighting loads  104 ,  106  are energized. 
     In response to an actuation of one of the buttons  134 ,  135 ,  136 , the keypads  130 ,  132  transmit addressed “command” digital messages via the RF signals  110  to the wall-mounted dimmer  112 , the remote dimming module  120 , and the MWT control module  122  to control the associated loads. The wall-mounted dimmer  112  is also operable to transmit command messages in response to actuations of the control actuator  114  and the intensity adjustment actuator  116 . After receiving a command message, the two-way control devices of the load control system  100  are operable to transmit acknowledgement (ACK) messages to the two-way control device that originated the command message (i.e., the originating control device). Each of the control devices of the load control system  100  is operable to transmit a new command message when the RF communication link is idle, i.e., no control devices are presently transmitting RF signals  110 . The originating control device is operable to re-transmit the command message multiple times to ensure that all control devices within the command message range of the originating control device receive the command message. 
     The signal repeaters  140 ,  142  retransmit any received digital messages to ensure that all of the two-way control devices of the load control system receive all of the RF signals  110 . The system may comprise, for example, one to five signal repeaters depending upon the physical size of the load control system  100 . Each of the two-way control devices of the load control system  100  are located within the communication range of one of the signal repeaters  140 ,  142 . The signal repeaters  140 ,  142  are powered by the AC mains voltage via power supply  144  plugged into electrical outlets  146 . According to the embodiment of the present invention, one of the signal repeaters (e.g., signal repeater  140 ) operates as a “main” repeater (i.e., a main controller) to facilitate the operation of the load control system  100 . The main repeater  140  has a database, which defines the operation of the load control system, stored in memory. For example, the main repeater  140  is operable to determine which of the lighting loads  104 ,  106  is energized and to use the database to control the visual indicators  118 ,  138  of the dimmer  112  and the keypads  130 ,  132  accordingly to provide the appropriate feedback to the user of the load control system  100 . 
     Each of the two-way control devices may store a portion of the database pertaining to the functionality of the specific control device. For example, each of the keypads  130 ,  132  may store a portion of the database that determines which lighting presets are selected in response to actuations of the preset buttons  134 . Accordingly, if the database directs that a first preset is selected in response to an actuation of the first preset button  134 , the keypads  130 ,  132  are operable to transmit an appropriate “preset” command message (i.e., for the first preset). However, some control devices of the load control system  100  may not have an appropriate amount of memory to store even a portion of the database. Therefore, these control devices alternatively transmit “button” command messages that simply include information regarding which one of the buttons was pressed rather than, for example, a specific preset. 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified timing diagram showing an example of the timing of the digital messages transmitted by each of the two-way control devices of the load control system  100  during a data event  200 , which begins with the first transmission of a command message  210 . In the example of  FIG. 2 , the originating two-way control device is the keypad  130  and the load control system  100  comprises the two signal repeaters (i.e., the main repeater  140  and an additional repeater  142 ). The command message  210  is transmitted multiple times, e.g., twelve times, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The main repeater  130  may be operable to change how many times the command message  210  is retransmitted depending upon how many signal repeaters  140 ,  142  are in the RF load control system  100 . 
     The time period between consecutive transmissions of the command message  210  by the originating control device is defined as a “cycle” and is, for example, 75 msec in length. Each cycle is split up into multiple “slots”, e.g., four slots when there are up to three signal repeaters in the load control system  100 . During the first slot of each cycle, the originating control device (i.e., the keypad  130 ) is operable to transmit the command message  210 . During the second and third slots, the two signal repeaters  140 ,  142  are operable to transmit respective repeater messages  220 ,  222 , which are simply re-transmissions of the original command message  210 . If the system  100  included a third signal repeater, the third signal repeater would transmit a repeater message  224  during the fourth slot of each cycle. When the load control system  100  includes more than three signal repeaters, the length of each cycle is increased, such that each cycle comprises five or six slots if the system has four or five signal repeaters, respectively. Each two-way control device of the load control system  100  may determine the number of signal repeaters and the resulting cycle time during configuration of the load control system. 
     After the command message  210  or the repeater messages  220 ,  222 ,  224  are transmitted, there are three ACK sub-slots in each slot in which the two-way control devices of the load control system  100  (e.g., the wall-mounted dimmer  112 ) may transmit acknowledgement messages  230  in response to the command message  210 . Each of the two-way control devices has predetermined ACK sub-slots during which the control device may transmit the acknowledgement message  230 . Specifically, each two-way control device is provided with two ACK sub-slots during each command message event. The specific ACK sub-slots may be determined by each two-way control device during configuration of the load control system. The protocol of the RF load control system  100  is described in greater detail in co-pending, commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/033,223, filed Feb. 19, 2008, entitled COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A RADIO-FREQUENCY LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the RF load control system  100  also comprises a one-way RF remote control device  150 . The one-way remote control device  150  can only transmit digital messages via the RF signals  110  and cannot receive digital messages via the RF signals (i.e., the one-way remote control device operates as a transmit-only device). The RF signals  110  transmitted by the one-way remote control device  150  may be received by the dimmer  112 , as well as the keypads  130 ,  132  and the repeaters  140 ,  142 , that are within the transmission range of the one-way remote control device. The one-way remote control device  150  may be activated (i.e., assigned to the load control system  100 ) and may be programmed to operate with one or more of the two-way remote control devices (e.g., the dimmer  112 ). The dimmer  112  operates in response to the one-way remote control device  150  if the dimmer is in transmission range of the one-way remote control device and if the dimmer has been programmed to operate with the one-way remote control device. The one-way remote control device  150  must be assigned to the RF load control system  100 , and programmed to a particular dimmer  112  that is part of the system, as will be described in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the one-way remote control device  150  of  FIG. 1 . The one-way remote control device  150  comprises a housing that includes a front enclosure portion  152  and a rear enclosure portion  154 . The one-way remote control device  150  further comprises a plurality of actuators: an ON button  160 , an OFF button  162 , a RAISE button  164 , a LOWER button  166 , and a PRESET button  168 . The one-way remote control device  150  also comprises a visual indicator  169 , e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED), which is illuminated in response to actuation of one of the buttons  160 - 168 . The one-way remote control device  150  transmits commands via the RF signals  110  to the dimmer  112  and the repeaters  140 ,  142  in response to actuations of the buttons  160 - 168 . The particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  includes an attachment post  170 , a lanyard  172 , and a loop portion  174 . 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of the one-way remote control device  150  of  FIG. 3 . The one-way remote control device  150  comprises a controller  180  that is operable to receive inputs from the buttons  160 - 168  and to control the visual indicator  169 . The one-way remote control device  150  further comprises memory  182  for storage of information, such as, for example, a serial number for the remote control device  150 . A battery  184  provides a DC voltage V BATT  (e.g., approximately three volts) for powering the controller  180 , the memory  182 , and other low-voltage circuitry of the one-way remote control device  150 . The one-way remote control device  150  further includes an RF transmitter  186  coupled to the controller  180  and an antenna  188 . In response to an actuation of the buttons  160 - 168 , the controller  180  causes the RF transmitter  186  to transmit a packet of information, including which button has been actuated, to the dimmer switch  112 , the repeaters  140 ,  142 , or the other two-way control devices of the load control system  100  via the RF signals  110 . 
     The first step in associating the one-way remote control device  150  with the RF load control system  100  is to ensure that the one-way remote control device is using the same transmission frequency f TX  as the two-way control devices of the RF load control system. If the one-way remote control device  150  is already using the same transmission frequency f TX  as the two-way control devices of the RF load control system  100 , nothing needs to be done. However, if the one-way remote control device  150  is not using the same transmission frequency f TX  and the two-way control devices cannot presently receive digital messages from the one-way remote control device, a user must perform a frequency selection procedure  300  to adjust the transmission frequency f TX  of the one-way remote control device. For example, the transmission frequency f TX  may be adjusted between a minimum transmission frequency f MIN  (e.g., approximately 431.5 kHz) and a maximum transmission frequency f MAX  (e.g., approximately 436.6 kHz), and may be stepped up or down by a predetermined value Δf TX  (e.g., approximately 0.3 kHz). The one-way remote control device  150  may initially operate at a default frequency f BD  (e.g., approximately 433.6 kHz). 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified flowchart of the frequency selection procedure  300  for selecting the transmission frequency f TX  of the one-way remote control device  150  according to the embodiment of the present invention. At step  310 , the one-way remote control device  150  first enters a frequency-selecting mode of operation. For example, the one-way remote control device  150  may be put into the frequency-selecting mode of operation by cycling power to the remote control device (e.g., removing the battery  184  from the remote control device, and then re-installing the battery in the remote control device) while simultaneously holding down the ON button  160 , the OFF button  162 , and the PRESET button  168 , for three seconds, until the visual indicator  169  begins flashing. Alternatively, the user could press and hold the ON button  162  for a first predetermined period of time (e.g., approximately three to six seconds) to enter a programming mode, and then press and hold the PRESET button  168  for a second predetermined period of time (e.g., approximately three to six seconds) to enter the frequency-selecting mode. 
     At step  312 , the controller  180  then transmits a TEST command to the signal repeaters  140 ,  142  on the frequency at which the one-way remote control device  150  is currently configured to operate. If the TEST command is transmitted at the same frequency at which the repeater is operating (i.e., if the repeater heard the TEST command) at step  314 , the repeater will provide a human-perceptible indication of receipt of the TEST command at step  316 . In one embodiment, the human-perceptible command takes the form of an audible sound, such as a loud beep. When a user hears the beep at step  318 , the user exits the frequency-selecting mode at step  320  by holding PRESET button  168  for a predetermined period of time (e.g., approximately three to six seconds). After the predetermined time has passed, the visual indicator  169  stops flashing to indicate that the transmission frequency f TX  of the remote control device  150  has been set to the same transmission frequency as the repeater. 
     If the user does not hear the beep at step  318 , then the user may choose to either try a new (i.e., the next) transmission frequency at step  322 , repeat the same transmission frequency at step  324 , to go back to the previous transmission frequency at step  326 . To select the next transmission frequency, the user taps (i.e., presses momentarily) the ON button  160  to select the next frequency (e.g., the one-way remote control device  150  increments the transmission frequency f TX  by the predetermined value Δf TX , i.e., approximately 0.3 kHz) at step  328 , and the frequency selection procedure  300  loops around to transmit the TEST command at the next frequency at step  312 . To repeat the same frequency, the user taps the PRESET button  168  at step  330 , and the frequency selection procedure  300  loops around to try a transmission of the TEST command at the same frequency at step  312 . To select the previous frequency, the user taps the OFF button  162  at step  332 , and the frequency selection procedure  300  loops around to transmit the TEST command at the previous frequency at step  312 . By these operations, the user may cycle through the sixteen possible transmission frequencies until the appropriate transmission frequency is found, which will be indicated by at least one of the repeaters  140 ,  142  emitting the loud beep. As before, the transmission frequency f TX  is set, and the frequency-selecting mode of operation is exited by pressing and holding the PRESET button for the required amount of time at step  320 . 
     Now that the one-way remote control device  150  is operating on the same transmission frequency f TX  as the other control devices of the RF load control system  100  (or if the one-way remote control device was already using the same transmission frequency f TX ), the one-way remote control device may be assigned to the RF load control system. This can be accomplished in one of several ways. 
     The first assignment method is known as “association” and occurs in a peer-to-peer system as shown in  FIG. 6 . In the peer-to-peer system, the one-way remote control device  150  communicates directly with the dimmer  112  with which it is to operate (i.e., the dimmer to be controlled by the one-way remote control device  150 ). The one-way remote control device  150  is operable to be associated directly with the dimmer  112  using either a forward or reverse programming mode. An example of a peer-to-peer system is described in greater detail in co-pending, commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/559,166, filed Nov. 13, 2010, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     In the reverse assignment mode, the device that is to be controlled, i.e., the dimmer  112 , is placed in an association mode by holding a button or buttons on the device for a preset period of time, for example, approximately six seconds. Then, the user goes to the one-way remote control device  150  and operates the one-way remote control device to associate it with that dimmer  112 . The one-way remote device  150  then transmits the unique serial number stored in the memory  182  to the dimmer  112 , which stores the unique serial number in a memory of the dimmer to thus associate the one-way remote control device to the dimmer. 
     In the forward assignment mode, the one-way remote control device  150  is placed in an association mode by pressing a particular button or buttons, e.g., for approximately six seconds. The one-way remote control device  150  then transmits the unique serial number stored in the memory  182  to the dimmer  112 . Then, the user goes to the dimmer  112  (to be controlled) and places the dimmer in the association mode by holding down an assigned button or buttons for a preset period of time. The dimmer  112  then receives the signal having the unique serial number from the one-way remote control device  150  to thus associate that one-way remote control device with that dimmer. 
     In a second assignment method, shown in  FIG. 7 , a separate programming box  190  is used during configuration of the load control system  100  to “activate” the one-way remote control device  150  (i.e., assign the one-way remote control to the system) and “program” the one-way remote control to operate with a particular dimmer  112 . The assignment of the remote control device  150  to the load control system  100  according to the second assignment method can also be performed in a forward or reverse mode. In the forward mode, the assignment function is originated at the one-way remote control device  150  and in the reverse programming mode the assignment function is originated at the dimmer  112 . 
     When the one-way remote control device  150  is “activated”, the programming box  190  stores the unique serial number of the one-way control device  150  is a memory. The operation of the one-way remote control device  150  may then be “programmed,” i.e., causing a particular device, e.g., the one-way remote control device, to operate a particular control device, e.g., the dimmer  112 . Thus, after activating a one-way remote control device  150 , the steps of programming are used to cause that one-way remote control device to operate the specific control device (e.g., the dimmer  112 ). The programming box  190  causes the controlled device (e.g., the dimmer  112 ) to store the appropriate programming data along with the serial number of the one-way control device  150  in the memory, such that the dimmer  112  knows to how to respond to digital messages received from the one-way remote control device. Note that in the “association” method of the peer-to-peer system of  FIG. 6 , both the steps of “activating” and “programming” (both allocation of an address to the remote control device and programming the operation of the remote control device with the load control device (i.e., the dimmer  112 ) are combined into a single step, i.e., association. 
     In yet a third assignment method, the one-way remote control device  150  is assigned to the RF load control system  100  via the main repeater  140 , as shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 9  is a timing diagram showing how the main repeater  140  transmits digital messages during the third assignment method in order to assign the one-way remote control device  150  to the RF load control system  100 . During an activation (i.e., addressing) mode of the third activation method, the main repeater  140  repeatedly transmits (i.e., streams) an “enter address mode” command (i.e., an original command message  210  as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to the two-way control devices of the RF load control system  100  as part of consecutive two-way data events  200 . Upon receiving the enter address mode command, the two-wire control devices of the RF load control system  100  may request an address from the main repeater by transmitting acknowledgement messages  230  in response to the enter address mode command (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The main repeater  140  may then cease transmission of the enter address mode command in response to receiving an acknowledgement message  230  in order to assign an address to the two-way control device that transmitted the acknowledgement message. When complete, the main repeater  140  may generate an audible sound to indicate that the assignment has been made. 
     When placed in an activation mode, the one-way remote control device  150  is operable to periodically transmit (i.e., stream) an activation request message to the main repeater  140  as part of consecutive one-way data events  200 ′. The one-way remote control device  150  may be placed into the activation mode, for example, by holding a particular button or buttons on the remote control device for a predetermined period of time, for example, approximately six seconds. During each one-way data event  200 ′, the one-way remote control device  150  periodically repeats the activation request message a predetermined number (e.g., approximately twelve) times, with a predetermined period (e.g., approximately 75 msec) between the beginning of each transmission. The activation request message includes the unique identifier of the one-way remote control device  150 , and may be, for example, approximately 10 msec long. As a result, each of the one-way data events  200 ′ is approximately the same length as the two-way data events  200  generated by the main repeater  140  and other two-way control devices of the load control system  100  (e.g., approximately 900 msec). 
     The one-way remote control device  150  is not able to receive the enter address mode command from the main repeater  140  and thus cannot properly time the transmission of an acknowledgement message  230  during the two-way data events  200 . In other words, the one-way remote control device  150  is only operable to transmit digital messages asynchronously with respect to the digital messages transmitted by the main repeater  140  and other two-way control devices. Accordingly, the main repeater  140  is operable to periodically pause the transmission of the enter address mode commands in order to allow the one-way remote control device  150  to transmit to the main repeater an activation request message indicating that the one-way remote control device is in an addressing mode. Specifically, the main repeater  140  is operable to transmit the enter address mode command to the two-way control devices for a predetermined number (e.g., four) of consecutive two-way data events  200 , and then cease transmission of the enter address mode command during a pause event  400  as shown in  FIG. 9 . During the pause event  400 , the main repeater  140  is then able to receive the activation request message from the one-way remote control device  150 . 
     The pause event  400  should be long enough and occur frequently enough that at least one pause event  400  will occur while the one-way remote control device  150  is streaming the activation request message. For example, the pause event  400  may be equal in length to the length of each of the two-way data events  200  (e.g., approximately 900 msec). Since the lengths of the two-way data events  200  are approximately equal to the lengths of the one-way data events  200 ′, the total amount of time that is required for the main repeater  140  to transmit the four consecutive two-way data events  200  and the pause  400  is approximately equal to the amount of time required for the one-way remote control device  150  to transmits five consecutive one-way data events  200 ′ (as shown in  FIG. 9 ). 
     In all of the three above-reference activation methods, the one-way remote control device  150  transmits an RF signal  110  including a unique identifier, for example, a device serial number, to the receiving device, i.e., either the main repeater  140 , the programming box  190 , or directly by the dimmer  112 . For example, in the third activation method of  FIG. 8 , the one-way remote control device  150  may transmit a unique serial number along with the activation request message. When a device receives the RF signal including the unique identifier from the one-way remote control device  150 , the receiving device checks in its internal memory to determine if the serial number is present. If the serial number is present, the device is already assigned to the system. If the serial number is not present in the memory, the receiving device adds it into the memory so that the device is now assigned to the RF load control system  100 . After making the assignment, the device may generate an audible sound to indicate that the assignment between the one-way remote control device  150  and the RF load control system  100  has been completed. 
     In the case of the peer-to-peer association, once the one-way remote control device  150  is associated with the dimmer  112 , the one-way remote control device can now control the dimmer to the desired settings. The dimmer  112 , being a two-way control device, informs its master keypad  132 , via any repeaters if necessary, of the new settings. When the main repeater is used to assign a remote one-way transmitter device to the system, the repeater thereafter transmits the address of the remote control device to the system. Now that the device is addressed, the remote control device can now be programmed to control a particular dimmer device. For example, the programming may be completed by using a “walk-around” programming method, which is similar to the steps of the peer-to-peer association shown in and described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Another alternative programming method is to use a personal computer (PC)  195  or other GUI (graphical user interface) equipped device as shown in  FIG. 10 . The PC  195  is connected to download data to the main repeater  140 ,  142 , and can be used to both activate and program the operation of the one-way remote control device  150 . The user then defines the operation of the one-way remote control device  150  with a load control device of the system  100 , i.e., a dimmer  112 , using the GUI equipped device. The GUI equipped device builds a database of the programming of the one-way remote control devices with the corresponding two-way control devices. This database is then downloaded to the main repeater  140 , which broadcasts at least portions of the database to the respective load control devices to inform these devices of the one-way remote control device programmed to operate them. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.