Patent ID: 7737819

Claim:
A method for operating a node protocol converter for use in theatrical lighting and control system employing a single local area network (LAN) for common communication between a plurality of node protocol converters and multiple control consoles and peripheral controllers, the method comprising: coupling a communications interface to the LAN; storing parameters and protocol information for operation of a rack of a plurality of effect control elements; coupling a controller to the communications interface and receiving effect settings from the said multiple consoles and peripheral controllers connected to the LAN; coupling the controller to a memory means to receive a predetermined priority from the said consoles and peripheral controllers and operating on said effect settings based on said priority with said parameters and protocol information to establish an output protocol; configuring the controller to receive non-networked effect settings, said controller further including controlling pile-on of effect settings received over the LAN and the non-networked effect settings; and connecting an output interface between the controller and the rack for providing the output protocol to the effect control elements of the rack.