Electrical control system

• US 20070046492A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Fair, James, Goyal, Rahul, Malkowski, Mariusz
• Granted Patent: US 8,598,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

An electrical control system.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operation of one or more slave nodes using one or more remote master nodes, comprising:

a communication interface for operably coupling the slave nodes and the remote master nodes comprising;

a radio frequency communication interface; and

a power line communication interface.

2. A control system, comprising:

one or more master nodes;

a plurality of slave nodes;

at least one radio frequency communication interface for operably coupling the master and slave nodes; and

at least one powerline communication interface for operably coupling the master and slave nodes;

wherein the master node is adapted to remotely control the operation of the slave nodes;

wherein one or more of the master nodes comprise;

a radio frequency communication interface;

a memory comprising;

an operating system;

application programs comprising;

a devices program comprising;

 

an install devices program adapted to install one or more of the slave devices into the system;

 

an associate devices program adapted to associate one or more of the slave devices with a communication pathway;

 

an uninstall devices program adapted uninstall one or more of the slave devices from the system;

 

a remove devices program adapted to remove one or more of the slave devices from the system;

 

a replace devices program adapted to replace one or more of the slave devices of the system with one or more other slave devices;

 

a control devices program adapted to control the operation of one or more aspects of the slave devices of the system;

 

a child protection devices program adapted to control the operation of one or more of the slave devices during a child protection mode of operation; and

 

an all switch devices program adapted to control the operation of one or more of the slave devices during an all switch mode of operation;

a scenes program comprising;

 

a create scenes program adapted to create one or more scenes;

 

a delete scenes program adapted to delete one or more scenes;

 

an edit scenes program adapted to edit one or more scenes;

 

an activate scenes program adapted to activate one or more scenes; and

 

a deactivate scenes program adapted to deactivate one or more scenes;

an events program comprising;

 

a create events program adapted to create one or more events;

 

a delete events program adapted to delete one or more events;

 

an edit events program adapted to edit one or more events;

 

an activate events program adapted to activate one or more events; and

 

a deactivate events program adapted to deactivate one or more events;

a system program comprising;

 

a system panic program adapted to control one or more of the slave devices in a panic mode of operation; and

 

a system replicate program adapted to replicate one or more of the master devices;

an away program comprising;

 

an away edit program adapted to edit the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices;

 

an away activate program adapted to activate the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices; and

 

an away deactivate program adapted to deactivate the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices; and

an all devices on/off program for turning all slave device on/off; and

a device selection program for selecting a slave device comprising;

 

a device control program for turning a slave device on or off;

 

a device control program for brightening or dimming a slave device; and

 

a device control program for turning a slave device on or off with a delay; and

one or more databases comprising;

a devices database one or more node information frames corresponding to one or more of the slave devices comprising;

 

a generic device class;

 

a specific device class;

 

a command class;

 

a protection command class;

 

a version command class;

 

a manufacturing command class; and

 

an all switch command class;

a scenes database comprising information corresponding to one or more scenes;

an events database comprising information corresponding to one or more events;

a system database comprising information corresponding to one or more system wide information;

an away database comprising information corresponding to an away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices;

a communications pathway database comprising information corresponding to one or more communications pathways associated with one or more of the slave devices; and

a failed node ID listing database comprising information corresponding to one or more failed slave devices;

a user interface; and

a controller operably coupled to the radio frequency communication interface, the memory and the user interface comprising;

an operating system comprising;

a serial communications driver adapted to monitor and control the operation of the radio frequency communication interface;

a memory driver adapted to monitor and control the operation of the memory;

a display driver adapted to monitor and control the operation of the user interface; and

a button input driver adapted to monitor and control the operation of the user interface; and

application programs comprising a menu state engine comprising;

a devices engine adapted to configure and control the operation of one or more of the slave devices comprising;

 

an install engine adapted to install one or more of the slave devices into the system;

 

an associate engine adapted to associate one or more of the slave devices with a communication pathway;

 

an uninstall engine adapted to uninstall one or more of the slave devices from the system;

 

a remove engine adapted to remove one or more of the slave devices from the system;

 

a replace engine adapted to replace one or more of the slave devices of the system with one or more other slave devices;

 

a control engine adapted to control the operation of one or more aspects of the slave devices of the system;

 

a child protection engine adapted to control the operation of one or more of the slave devices during a child protection mode of operation; and

 

an all switch engine all switch engine is adapted to control the operation of one or more of the slave devices during an all switch mode of operation;

a scenes engine adapted to configure and control one or more scenes comprising one or more of the slave devices comprising;

 

a scenes create engine adapted to create one or more scenes;

 

a scenes delete engine adapted to delete one or more scenes;

 

a scenes edit engine adapted to edit one or more scenes;

 

a scenes activate engine adapted to activate one or more scenes; and

 

a scenes deactivate engine adapted to deactivate one or more scenes;

an events engine adapted to configure and control one or more events comprising one or more scenes comprising;

 

an events create engine adapted to create one or more scenes;

 

an events delete engine adapted to delete one or more events;

 

an events edit engine adapted to edit one or more events;

 

an events activate engine adapted to activate one or more events; and

 

an events deactivate engine adapted to deactivate one or more events;

a system engine adapted to configure and control one or more system wide modes of operation comprising;

 

a panic engine adapted to control one or more of the slave devices in a panic mode of operation; and

 

a replicate engine adapted to replicate one or more of the master devices; and

an away engine adapted to configure and control one or more aspects of an away group of slave devices comprising;

 

an away edit engine adapted to edit the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices;

 

an away activate engine away activate engine is adapted to activate the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices; and

 

an away deactivate engine adapted to deactivate the away mode of operation for one or more of the slave devices.

3. A method for controlling the operation of one or more slave devices using one or more remote master devices, comprising:

communicating information between and among the master and slave devices comprising radio frequency communications and power line communications.

4. A method of operating a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or slave devices, wherein the master devices are adapted to remotely monitor and control the operation of the slave devices, comprising:

providing a communication interface for communicating information between and among the master and slave devices that comprises a radio frequency communication interface and a powerline communication interface;

providing a menu state engine in one or more of the master devices for controlling the operation of the control system; and

allowing a user of the menu state engine to select one of the following;

a devices engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, or an away engine;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an on button associated with the master device, then all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned on;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an off button associated with the master device, then all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned off;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a value, then a slave device associated with the selected value is selected for control by the user;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be adjusted to a plurality of operational states, then allowing the user to turn the operational state for the selected slave device, wherein the operational state for the selected slave device corresponds to a value;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to install one or more master or slave devices into the system;

if a user of the device to be installed in the system depresses an install button associated with the device, then determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system as a system information server;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system as a member of an away group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to associate first and second slave devices with a communication pathway;

if a user of the first slave device depresses an associate button for the first slave device, then determining if a node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices, then determining if a user of the second slave device depresses an associate button for the second slave device;

if a user of the second slave device depresses the associate button for the second slave device, then determining if a node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices, then creating a transmission pathway comprising the first and second slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to uninstall one or more master or slave devices from the system.

if a user of the device to be uninstalled from the system depresses an uninstall button associated with the device, then determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then uninstalling the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to remove one or more master or slave devices from the system;

if the device to be removed from the system is designated as a non functioning device, then removing the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to replace one or more first master or slave devices with one or more second master or slave devices;

if the first device to be replaced within the system is designated as a non functioning device, then replacing the first device with the second device by installing the second device in the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to child protect one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for child protection, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling selecting child protection;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a level of child protection for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling configuration of the slave device;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device, wherein configuring the slave device comprises;

defining a time delay for changing an operational state of the slave device;

defining a duty cycle for a panic mode of operation for the slave device; and

defining whether or not a panic mode of operation is enabled for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured for operation in an all switch mode of operation, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling configuration of the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation, wherein configuring the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation comprises;

defining whether or not the slave device is part of an all switch group;

if the slave device is part of the all switch group, then defining permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group, wherein the permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group comprise;

all on only;

all off only; and

all on and off only;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to create one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more scenes, then permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to delete one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to edit one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects editing one or more scenes, then permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to activate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to deactivate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to create one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more events, then permitting the user to define the event using one or more of the scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to delete one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to edit one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to activate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to deactivate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then permitting the user to define a panic group for operation in a panic mode of operation;

permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a slave device for inclusion in the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for inclusion in the panic group, then determining if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation;

if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation, then adding the selected device to the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then permitting the user to replicate a configuration of a first master or slave device into a second master or slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the first and second devices, then transmitting the node information for the first and second devices to the one master device;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the replication;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, permitting a user of one of the master devices to select the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device;

if the user of one of the master devices has selected the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device, then replicating the selected portion of the configuration of the first device into the second device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to edit an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to activate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation, wherein in the away mode of operation, the slave devices of the away group are randomly operated by the system to all of the possible operational states for each slave device; and

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to deactivate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for no longer operating in an away mode of operation.

5. A system for controlling the operation of one or more slave devices using one or more remote master devices, comprising:

means for communicating information between and among the master and slave nodes comprising means for radio frequency communications and means for power line communications.

6. A system for operating a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or slave devices, wherein the master devices are adapted to remotely monitor and control the operation of the slave devices, comprising:

means for providing a communication interface for communication information between and among the master and slave devices that comprises radio frequency communication means and powerline communication means;

means for providing a menu state engine in one or more of the master devices for controlling the operation of the control system; and

means for allowing a user of the menu state engine to select one of the following;

a devices engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, or an away engine;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an on button associated with the master device, then means for all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned on;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an off button associated with the master device, then means for all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned off;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a value, then means for a slave device associated with the selected value is selected for control by the user;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then means for allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then means for allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then means for allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then means for allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be adjusted to a plurality of operational states, then means for allowing the user to turn the operational state for the selected slave device, wherein the operational state for the selected slave device corresponds to a value;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to install one or more master or slave devices into the system;

if a user of the device to be installed in the system depresses an install button associated with the device, then means for determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then means for canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for installing the device in the system;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for installing the device in the system as a system information server;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for installing the device in the system as a member of an away group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to associate first and second slave devices with a communication pathway;

if a user of the first slave device depresses an associate button for the first slave device, then means for determining if a node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices, then means for determining if a user of the second slave device depresses an associate button for the second slave device;

if a user of the second slave device depresses the associate button for the second slave device, then means for determining if a node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices, then means for creating a transmission pathway comprising the first and second slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to uninstall one or more master or slave devices from the system.

if a user of the device to be uninstalled from the system depresses an uninstall button associated with the device, then means for determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then means for canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then means for uninstalling the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to remove one or more master or slave devices from the system;

if the device to be removed from the system is designated as a non functioning device, then means for removing the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to replace one or more first master or slave devices with one or more second master or slave devices;

if the first device to be replaced within the system is designated as a non functioning device, then means for replacing the first device with the second device by installing the second device in the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to child protect one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for child protection, then means for transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling selecting child protection;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a level of child protection for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured, then means for transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling configuration of the slave device;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device, wherein means for configuring the slave device comprises;

means for defining a time delay for changing an operational state of the slave device;

means for defining a duty cycle for a panic mode of operation for the slave device;

and means for defining whether or not a panic mode of operation is enabled for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then means for permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured for operation in an all switch mode of operation, then means for transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling configuration of the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation, wherein means for configuring the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation comprises;

means for defining whether or not the slave device is part of an all switch group;

if the slave device is part of the all switch group, then means for defining permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group, wherein the permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group comprise;

all on only;

all off only; and

all on and off only;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then means for permitting the user to create one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more scenes, then means for permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then means for generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then means for permitting the user to delete one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then means for permitting the user to edit one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects editing one or more scenes, then means for permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then means for generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then means for permitting the user to activate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then means for permitting the user to deactivate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then means for permitting the user to create one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more events, then means for permitting the user to define the event using one or more of the scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to delete one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then means for permitting the user to edit one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then means for permitting the user to activate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then means for permitting the user to deactivate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then means for permitting the user to define a panic group for operation in a panic mode of operation;

means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a slave device for inclusion in the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for inclusion in the panic group, then means for determining if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation;

if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation, then means for adding the selected device to the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then means for permitting the user to replicate a configuration of a first master or slave device into a second master or slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the first and second devices, then means for transmitting the node information for the first and second devices to the one master device;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then means for canceling the replication;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, means for permitting a user of one of the master devices to select the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device;

if the user of one of the master devices has selected the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device, then means for replicating the selected portion of the configuration of the first device into the second device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then means for permitting the user to edit an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then means for permitting the user to activate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation, wherein in the away mode of operation, the slave devices of the away group are randomly operated by the system to all of the possible operational states for each slave device; and

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then means for permitting the user to deactivate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for no longer operating in an away mode of operation.

7. A computer program for controlling the operation of one or more slave devices using one or more remote master devices, comprising program instructions for:

communicating information between and among the master and slave devices comprising radio frequency communications and power line communications.

8. A computer program for operating a control system comprising one or more master devices and one or slave devices, wherein the master devices are adapted to remotely monitor and control the operation of the slave devices, comprising program instructions for:

providing a communication interface between and among the master and slave devices that comprises a radio frequency communication interface and a powerline communication interface;

providing a menu state engine in one or more of the master devices for controlling the operation of the control system; and

allowing a user of the menu state engine to select one of the following;

a devices engine, a scenes engine, an events engine, a system engine, or an away engine;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an on button associated with the master device, then all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned on;

if a user of one of the master devices presses an off button associated with the master device, then all of the slave devices in an all on/off group are turned off;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a value, then a slave device associated with the selected value is selected for control by the user;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off;

if the slave device selected for control may be turned on or off, then allowing the user to turn the selected slave device on or off with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device;

if the slave device selected for control may be dimmed or brightened, then allowing the user to dim or brighten the selected slave device with a time delay;

if the slave device selected for control may be adjusted to a plurality of operational states, then allowing the user to turn the operational state for the selected slave device, wherein the operational state for the selected slave device corresponds to a value;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to install one or more master or slave devices into the system;

if a user of the device to be installed in the system depresses an install button associated with the device, then determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the installation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system as a system information server;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then installing the device in the system as a member of an away group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to associate first and second slave devices with a communication pathway;

if a user of the first slave device depresses an associate button for the first slave device, then determining if a node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the first slave device was received by one of the master devices, then determining if a user of the second slave device depresses an associate button for the second slave device;

if a user of the second slave device depresses the associate button for the second slave device, then determining if a node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices;

if the node information for the second slave device was received by one of the master devices, then creating a transmission pathway comprising the first and second slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to uninstall one or more master or slave devices from the system.

if a user of the device to be uninstalled from the system depresses an uninstall button associated with the device, then determining if a node information associated with the device has been received by one of the master devices;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices and if the user of the device depresses a cancel button associated with the device, then canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be uninstalled from the system has not been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the uninstallation of the device;

if the node information associated with the device to be installed in the system has been received by one of the master devices within a timeout, then uninstalling the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to remove one or more master or slave devices from the system;

if the device to be removed from the system is designated as a non functioning device, then removing the device from the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to replace one or more first master or slave devices with one or more second master or slave devices;

if the first device to be replaced within the system is designated as a non functioning device, then replacing the first device with the second device by installing the second device in the system;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to child protect one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for child protection, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling selecting child protection;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a level of child protection for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling configuration of the slave device;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device, wherein configuring the slave device comprises;

defining a time delay for changing an operational state of the slave device;

defining a duty cycle for a panic mode of operation for the slave device; and

defining whether or not a panic mode of operation is enabled for the slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the devices engine, then permitting the user to configure one or more of the slave devices for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device to be configured for operation in an all switch mode of operation, then transmitting node information for the selected slave device to one or more of the master devices;

if the node information for the selected slave device is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling configuration of the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation;

if the node information for the selected slave device is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to configure the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation, wherein configuring the slave device for operation in an all switch mode of operation comprises;

defining whether or not the slave device is part of an all switch group;

if the slave device is part of the all switch group, then defining permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group, wherein the permissible modes of the operation of the slave device within the all switch group comprise;

all on only;

all off only; and

all on and off only;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to create one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more scenes, then permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to delete one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to edit one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects editing one or more scenes, then permitting the user to define the scene using one or more of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are not controllable, then generating an error message and permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the scene using one or more other of the slave devices;

if the one or more slave devices are controllable, then permitting a user of one of the master devices to define the operational level for each of the slave devices within the scene;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to activate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the scenes engine, then permitting the user to deactivate one or more scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to create one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects creating one or more events, then permitting the user to define the event using one or more of the scenes;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to delete one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to edit one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to activate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the events engine, then permitting the user to deactivate one or more events;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then permitting the user to define a panic group for operation in a panic mode of operation;

permitting a user of one of the master devices to select a slave device for inclusion in the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects a slave device for inclusion in the panic group, then determining if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation;

if the selected slave device enables a panic mode of operation, then adding the selected device to the panic group;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the system engine, then permitting the user to replicate a configuration of a first master or slave device into a second master or slave device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the first and second devices, then transmitting the node information for the first and second devices to the one master device;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is not received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, then canceling the replication;

if the node information for the selected first and second devices is received by one or more of the master devices within a timeout, permitting a user of one of the master devices to select the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device;

if the user of one of the master devices has selected the portions of the configuration of the first device to be replicated into the second device, then replicating the selected portion of the configuration of the first device into the second device;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to edit an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation;

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to activate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for operating in an away mode of operation, wherein in the away mode of operation, the slave devices of the away group are randomly operated by the system to all of the possible operational states for each slave device; and

if a user of one of the master devices selects the away engine, then permitting the user to deactivate an away group comprising one or more slave devices for no longer operating in an away mode of operation.