CONTROL INTERFACE FOR HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A control interface apparatus for a home automation system comprising:
- a selection wheel adapted for display on the control interface;
wherein the selection wheel includes a plurality of control buttons for controlling devices in the home automation system; and
a data structure for linking the selection wheel'"'"'s control buttons in a continuous ring, so that a complete unidirectional traversal on the selection wheel returns to the control button where the traversal started.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The control interface is adapted for display on a control point for a home automation device and includes a plurality of control buttons, that when selected, invoke services of devices in a home automation network. The control buttons are displayed in a selection wheel, which is preferably implemented in a circular, double linked list data structure. The control interface includes a horizon that extends along the horizontal axis of the display screen and is vertically centered. The user'"'"'s focal point, preferably colored differently than other elements on the display, remains centered on the horizon as the user scrolls from one control button in the selection wheel to another. Choosing a control button on a first selection wheel results in display of a second adjacent selection wheel.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A control interface apparatus for a home automation system comprising:
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a selection wheel adapted for display on the control interface; wherein the selection wheel includes a plurality of control buttons for controlling devices in the home automation system; and a data structure for linking the selection wheel'"'"'s control buttons in a continuous ring, so that a complete unidirectional traversal on the selection wheel returns to the control button where the traversal started. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A control interface apparatus for a home automation system comprising:
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at least one horizon extending from a first edge of the control interface to a second opposite edge; and at least one focal point for tracking a control button to display along the horizon;
wherein the focal point changes from one control button to another as the user navigates the home automation system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A control interface apparatus comprising:
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a first selection wheel having a plurality of control buttons displayable as a continuous ring on a control interface;
wherein the first selection wheel'"'"'s control buttons are adapted to for controlling devices in a home automation network; andat least one horizon on the control interface extending from a first edge of the user interface to a second opposite edge;
wherein the horizon provides a centering point for at least one of first selection wheel'"'"'s control buttons. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for controlling operations of a home automation system comprising:
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displaying a first selection wheel on a control interface of a home automation system; wherein the first selection wheel includes a plurality of control buttons for controlling devices in the home automation system; and linking the first selection wheel'"'"'s control buttons in a data structure so that a complete unidirectional traversal on the first selection wheel returns to the control button where the traversal began. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for displaying a control interface on a control point for a home automation system comprising the steps of:
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highlighting portion on the control interface to form a horizon that extends from a first edge of the control interface to a second opposite edge; tracking a user'"'"'s current preference on the control interface with at least one focal point as the user navigates the home automation system; and displaying the focal point along the horizon. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of displaying further comprises coloring the focal point differently than other elements on the control interface.
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23. A method for displaying a control interface on a control point for a home automation system comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one selectable control button positioned along a vertical access of a display screen on a control point; providing at least one command control button for invoking services of a device in a home automation system;
wherein the at least one command control button is centered displayed a horizontal access of the display screen on a control point; andwherein the at least one selectable control button and at least one command control button are displayed as part of a selection wheel.
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Specification