Patent ID: 8170693

Claim:
A method, comprising: receiving status information relating to a plurality of devices into a processing device; using programming in the processing device for first determining whether a first device of the plurality of devices should be stopped, wherein the determining includes evaluating a condition relating to the status of at least the first device of the plurality of devices; said programming operating for automatically asserting an autostop signal that stops operation of the first device if the determining determines that said first device is malfunctioning by opening a first switch of a plurality of switches that are in series and are connected to supply power to said first device; second determining using programming in the processing device whether the plurality of devices should be stopped, wherein the second determining includes evaluating a condition relating to the status of a control that controls the entire plurality of devices, and opening a second switch of said plurality of switches to interrupt said power to said first device, and opening other switches to interrupt power to others of said plurality of devices; transmitting data to at least one of said devices indicative of an effect sequence to be carried out by said one of said devices only if said first determining and said second determining both determine that the one of the plurality of devices do not need to be stopped; using the processing device for asserting an autostop signal directed to the plurality of devices if the second determining determines that the control that controls the entire plurality of devices is malfunctioning; and using a second auto stop signal, which is not created by any processing device, for controlling at least a third switch of said plurality of switches to interrupts said power to said first device, and opening other switches to interrupt power to others of said plurality of devices.