Patent ID: 7099723

Claim:
A programmable device suitable for directly controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, the programmable device including a simplified programming interface, the programmable device suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising a plurality of similar programmable devices, each suitable for directly 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 directly controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller including a memory for storing a plurality of modes of operation entered by at least one of the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements and the receipt of messages from other similar programmable devices generated in response to the selective actuation of the plurality of manually actuatable input elements of said other similar programmable 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; and (ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance directly 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.