Patent ID: 7162517

Claim:
Apparatus operable for providing both time-based normative function and premises automation input to a premises automation system, the apparatus comprising: a display unit operable to at least display a time; a network interface operable to provide two-way messaging capability; an input panel operable to accept user input; and a processing system operatively connected to the display unit, the network interface, and the input panel, the processing system operable to control the apparatus to provide the time-based normative function and the premises automation input function, the premises automation input being provided to the premises automation system by sending and receiving messages connected with the time-based normative function over the network interface from and to the apparatus, wherein the messages are formatted to enable premises automation function and at least some of the messages comprise a packet including an identifier specifying at least one of an output, an input, and a unit number so that the identifier alone can specify any of a plurality of distributed inputs and outputs in the premises automation system.