METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND MODIFYING GRAPHICAL SCHEDULES

• US 20120260166A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Cipollo, Nicholas J., Silva, Michael C., Locascio, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A graphical user interface enables a user to create and modify graphical schedules for a wide variety of devices that may be controlled by a programmable multimedia controller. A graphical schedule graphically depicts a relationship between time and at least one user-selected condition to be satisfied or at least one user-selected action to be taken. The user may create or modify graphical schedules using familiar techniques such as taps and swipes, drag and drop and the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface operable to

receive user input to create or modify one or more presets, each preset representing a user-selected environmental state for a predetermined physical space, said environmental state caused by a plurality of different types of devices taking actions defined by the preset,

enable a user to create a graphical schedule, said graphical schedule reflecting a relationship between time and said one or more presets;

providing said graphical schedule and presets to a programmable multimedia controller which includes a general purpose computer and an interface for said plurality of different types of devices; and

using said programmable multimedia controller to control said plurality of different types of devices in accordance with at least one associated graphical schedule.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface is provided in connection with a touch-sensitive display.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface is provided in connection with an on-screen display.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein said graphical user interface further enables said user to create and modify said graphical schedule by graphical manipulation.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said presets defines a predetermined operational state that said-at least one device will enter in response to a command from said programmable multimedia controller.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

changing a selected time at which at least one of said one or more presets is scheduled to run based on graphical manipulations from the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said graphical schedule includes a first axis that indicates time and a second axis that indicates the one or more presets.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include one or more electronic lighting controllers and said actions include turning on certain lights.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include one or more motor operated device controllers and said actions include setting a position of certain shades.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include a television and said actions include setting said television to a particular channel.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined physical space is a room within a structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a general purpose computer configured to execute software processes.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said graphical schedule includes a first axis that indicates time and a second axis that indicates the one or more presets.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include one or more electronic lighting controllers and said actions include turning on certain lights.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include one or more motor operated device controllers and said actions include setting a position of certain shades.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said plurality of different types of devices include a television and said actions include setting the television to a particular channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said predetermined physical space is a room within a structure.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said graphical user interface device includes a touch-sensitive display and said graphical manipulations from the user include swipes or gestures on the touch-sensitive display.

12. An apparatus comprising

a scheduler process configured to issue commands to a plurality of devices of different types in accordance with one or more presets and a graphical schedule, each preset representing a user-selected environmental state for a predetermined physical space caused by devices taking actions defined by said preset;

and

a user interface device that includes a screen with a graphical user interface, said graphical user interface operable to

receive user input to create or modify said one or more presets,

display said graphical schedule to a user, and

receive graphical manipulations from the user that indicate modifications to said graphical schedule.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a general purpose computer configured to execute software processes;

means for issuing commands to a plurality of devices of different types in accordance with one or more presets and a graphical schedule, each preset representing a user-selected environmental state for a predetermined physical space caused by devices taking actions defined by the preset, said graphical schedule indicating a relationship between time and the one or more presets;

means for providing a graphical user interface operable to receive user input to create or modify the one or more presets, display the graphical schedule to the user, and receive graphical manipulations from the user that indicate modifications to said graphical schedule.