Patent ID: 7870232

Claim:
A method for updating a message display device in an automation network, the method comprising: installing a message display device in communication with the automation network, where the message display device is configured to display a human-readable message indicating a status passed to the message display device by the automation network; determining a messaging revision level indicating a currency of software included with the message display device; assigning the message display device to the automation network when the message display device has a non-zero messaging display size; comparing the messaging revision level with a most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the home automation network; wherein the most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the home automation network is associated with a pre-existing display device designated as an output display device; designating the message display device as an output display device for network system messages to be displayed for the automation network when the messaging revision level is higher than the most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automation network and not designating the message display device as an output display device when the messaging revision level is not higher than the most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automation network; and de-designating the pre-existing display device as an output display device when the messaging revision level is higher than the most current pre-existing messaging revision level stored in the automation network.