Method and apparatus for providing distributed scene programming of a home automation and control system

• US 6,823,223 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Baker, Brian D., Gonzales, Greg, White, Sara
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US10/154,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 315/294, 315/295, 315/297, 315/291, 315/307, 315/312, 315/324, 700/83, 700/86, 700/87, 700/76, 700/9, 700/11, 700/19, 700/17, 700/276, 700/264, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.9, 345/866
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25218 Broadcast mode, originator, destinator address, command, check data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25232 DCS, distributed control system, decentralised control unit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a simple user interface for programming scenes and multi-way groups in a home automation and control system is provided. Each device participating in the home automation and control system is equipped with control logic for providing the simple programming interface. Through the control logic, each device maintains its status in a system-wide programming mode and retains knowledge of its inclusion or exclusion in the current scene or multi-way group being programmed. When any device in the system receives indications that affect the system programming mode, such as a press on one of the buttons on the devices, the device broadcasts a notification message to all devices within the home automation and control system. The message maintains the integrity of the system programming mode. Each device knows when a scene or multi-way group being programmed is finally captured and the programming of a new scene or multi-way group has started.

Claims

1. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said programmable device comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(b) a controller for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller having a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(i) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device, said programming mode including a plurality of states that are entered in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements, said states including an idle state that is entered in response to the selective actuation of one of said manually actuatable input elements and a new scene state that is entered into if said programmable device is in said idle state of said programming mode and another of said manually actuatable input elements is actuated and a copy existing scene state, said programmable device entering said copy existing scene state if said programmable device is in said idle state of said programming mode and a further manually actuatable input element is actuated; and

(ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status.

2. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programmable device also enters said new scene state of said programming mode if said programmable device is in said copy existing scene state of said programming mode and said other manually actuatable input element is actuated.

3. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said programmable device also changes from said idle state of said programming mode to said copy existing scene state in response to the receipt of a message from another programmable device created by the selective actuation of said further manually actuatable input element of said other programmable device.

4. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said programmable device also changes from said idle state of said programming mode to said new scene state in response to the receipt of a message from another programmable device created by the selective actuation of said further manually actuatable input element of said other programmable device.

5. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said programmable device also changes from said copy existing state of said programming mode to said new scene state in response to the receipt of a message from another programmable device created by the selective actuation of said further manually actuatable input element of said other programmable device.

6. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said programmable device comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(b) a controller for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller having a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(i) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device, and

(ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input element or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said normal mode including;

(1) an idle state, said programmable device being in said idle state of said normal mode in the absence of the selective actuation of said manually adjustable input elements or the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices;

(2) a matching house scene state, said programmable device entering said matching housing scene state of said normal mode in response to the receipt of a predetermined selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the predetermined selected actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of the other programmable devices indicating that a scene state change is to occur; and

(3) an adjust load to requested scene definition state, said programmable device entering said adjust load to requested scene definition state if, when said programmable device is in said matching house scene state, said programmable device determines that a scene state change message received by said programmable device requires that the operational status of said product or appliance should be adjusted.

7. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said normal mode also includes a control load state, said programmable device entering said control load state in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements.

8. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said normal mode also includes a scene bound to selected trigger state, said programmable device entering said scene bound to selected trigger state in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements.

9. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said normal mode also includes a transmit scene state change message state, said programmable device entering said transmit scene state change message state if said programmable device determines that a scene is bound to a selected trigger when in said scene bound to selected trigger state, said programmable device transmitting a scene state change message when in said transmit scene state change message state.

10. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said normal mode also includes a matching multi-way group member state, said programmable device entering said matching multi-way group member state in response to the receipt of a receive multi-way change message generated by other programming devices.

11. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said programmable device returns to said idle state of said normal mode if said programmable device is not a matching multi-way member upon receipt of a multi-way change message generated by another programmable device or transitions to said control load sate if said programmable device is a matching multi-way member upon receipt of a multi-way change message generated by another programmable device.

12. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said normal mode also includes a multi-way group member state, said programmable device entering said multi-way group member state in response to the receipt of a predetermined selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements.

13. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said normal mode also includes a transmit multi-way change message state and wherein said programmable device transitions to said transmit multi-way change message state if said programmable device determines that said programmable device is a multi-way group member when in said multi-way group member state or transitions to said control load state if said programmable device determines that said programmable device is not a multi-way group member when in said multi-way group member state.

14. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said programmable device comprising:

(a) a plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(b) a controller for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller having a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(i) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(iii) a multi-way programming mode for controlling the operation of said programmable device in concert with the operation of other programmable devices, said multi-way programming mode including a plurality of states entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input element or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said multi-way programming mode including;

(1) an idle state, said idle state of said multi-way programming mode entered in response to the selective actuation of predetermined ones of said manually actuatable input elements when said programmable device is in said normal mode; and

(2) a new multi-way state, said programmable device entering said new multi-way state in response to the selective actuation of a manually actuatable input element of said programmable device while said programmable device is in said idle state of said multi-way programming mode.

15. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said multi-way programming mode also includes a copy existing multi-way state, said programmable device entering said copy existing multi-way state of said multi-way programming mode in response to the selective actuation of a predetermined one of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the predetermined one of the manually actuatable input elements.

16. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system said states of said configuration mode including:

comprising programmable devices for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said programmable device comprising;

(a) a plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(b) a controller for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, said controller having a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other devices, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(i) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(ii) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operational status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(iii) a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device, said configuration mode including a plurality of states, said states being entered into by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable device in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements,

(1) a configuration master state, said programmable device transmitting configuration data to other programmable devices when said configuration mode is in said configuration master state; and

(2) a master available state, said programmable device responding to configuration data received from other programmable devices when said configuration mode is in said master available state.

17. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said states of said configuration mode also includes a wait for address state, said programmable device, in response to receiving an address while said configuration mode is in said wait for address state transitioning to said normal mode.

18. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said states of said configuration mode also includes a wait to become configuration master state, said programmable device transmitting a message that said programmable device desires to become a master when in said wait to be come configuration master state.

19. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said programmable device shifts from said wait to become configuration master state of said configuration mode to said configuration master state if said programmable device does not receive a negative response to said message that said programmable device desires to become a configuration master.

20. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said programmable device when in said configuration master state of said configuration mode cycles the power applied to other programmable devices and sends a message to said other devices to enter said wait for address state.

21. A programmable device for including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said states of said configuration mode also includes a power cycled state, said programmable device entering said power cycled state when the power applied to said programmable device is cycled and changing from said power cycled state to said wait for address state in response to the receipt of a signal from a configuration master after said power is cycled.

22. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said programmable device when in said configuration master state of said configuration mode cycles the power applied to other programmable devices and sends a message to said other devices to enter said wait for address state.

23. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said states of said configuration mode also includes a power cycled state, said programmable device entering said power cycled state when the power applied to said programmable device is cycled and changing from said power cycled state to said wait for address state in response to the receipt of a signal from a configuration master after said power is cycled.

24. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said states of said configuration mode also includes a wait to become configuration master state, said programmable device transmitting a message that said programmable device desires to become a master when in said wait to become configuration master state.

25. A programmable device including a simplified programming interface suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said programmable device shifts from said wait to become configuration master state of said configuration mode to said configuration master state if said programmable device does not receive a negative response to said message that said programmable device desires to become a configuration master.

26. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device, said programming mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said programming mode including;

(i) an idle state that is initially entered when said programmable device enters said programming mode;

(ii) a new scene state that is entered in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input devices; and

(iii) a copy existing scene state that is entered by said programmable device in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

27. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 26 wherein said states of said programming mode also include a copy existing scene state that is entered by said programmable device in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

28. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device; and

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable device, said states of said normal mode including;

(1) an idle state that is entered when said programmable device enters said normal mode;

(2) a control load state that is entered in response to the selective operation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(3) a matching house scene state that is entered upon receipt of a scene state change message; and

(4) an adjust load to requested scene definition state that is entered if a scene state change message is received that indicates that said programmable device is a member of a scene, said programmable device adjusting said load to a predetermined level in response to said programmable device receiving a scene state change message for a scene that the programmable device is a member of.

29. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 28 wherein said states of said normal mode also include:

a scene bound to selected trigger state that is entered when said programmable device is in said idle state of said normal mode in response to the selective actuation of one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

a transmit scene state change message that is entered if said programmable device determines when in said scene bound to selected trigger state that said actuation of said one of said manually actuatable input elements indicates that said programmable device is a member of a scene associated with said one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements.

30. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device; and

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable device, said states of said normal mode including;

(1) an idle state that is entered when said programmable device enters said normal mode;

(2) a control load state that is entered in response to the selective operation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(3) a multi-way group member state, and wherein said method comprises placing said programmable device in said matching multi-way group member state in response to the receipt of a receive multi-way change message generated by other programmable devices.

31. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 30 wherein said method comprises returning said programmable device to said idle state of said normal mode if said programmable device is determined not to be a matching multi-way member upon receipt of a multi-way change message generated by another programmable device or transitions said programmable device to said control load state if said programmable device is determined to be a matching multi-way member upon receipt of a multi-way change message generated by another programmable device.

32. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device; and

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable device, said states of said normal mode including;

(1) an idle state that is entered when said programmable device enters said normal mode;

(2) a control load state that is entered in response to the selective operation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

(3) a multi-way group member state, and wherein said method comprises placing said programmable device in said multi-way group member state in response to the receipt of a predetermined selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements.

33. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 32 wherein said states of said normal mode also include a transmit multi-way change message state and wherein said method comprises transitioning said programmable device to said transmit multi-way change message state if said method determines that said programmable device is a multi-way group member when in said multi-way group member state or to said control load state if said method determines that said programmable device is not a multi-way group member when in said multi-way group member state.

34. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device; and

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable device, said states of said normal mode including;

a matching house scene state that is entered upon receipt of a scene state change message; and

an adjust load to requested scene definition state that is entered if a scene state change message is received that indicates that said programmable device is a member of a scene, said programmable device adjusting said load to a predetermined level in response to said programmable device receiving a scene state change message for a scene that the programmable device is a member of.

35. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device; and

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status, said normal mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable device, said states of said normal mode including;

a scene bound to selected trigger state that is entered when said programmable device is in said idle state of said normal mode in response to the selective actuation of one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements; and

a transmit scene state change message that is entered if said programmable device determines when in said scene bound to selected trigger state that said actuation of said one of said manually actuatable input elements indicates that said programmable device is a member of a scene associated with said one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements.

36. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programmable mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a multi-way programming mode of operation, said multi-way programming mode including a plurality of states, said plurality of states entered by said programmable device in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by the programmable device is in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said multi-way programming mode including an idle state initially entered when said programmable device enters said multi-way programming mode of operation.

37. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 36 wherein said states of said multi-way programming mode also includes a new multi-way state entered in response to the selective actuation of a predetermined one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements.

38. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 37 wherein said states of said multi-way programming mode also includes a copy existing multi-way state entered in response to the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of one of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

39. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a multi-way programming mode of operation, said multi-way programming mode including a plurality of states, said plurality of states entered by said programmable device in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by the programmable device is in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said multi-way programming mode including a new multi-way state entered in response to the selective actuation of a predetermined one of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements.

40. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a product or appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a multi-way programming mode of operation, said multi-way programming mode including a plurality of states, said plurality of states entered by said programmable device in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by the programmable device is in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said multi-way programming mode including a copy existing multi-way state entered in response to the receipt of a message generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of one of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

41. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programmable mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device, said configuration mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, said states of said configuration mode including;

(1) a configuration master state for sending configuration data to other programmable devices; and

(2) a master available state for responding to configuration data received from other programmable devices.

42. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 41 wherein the states of said configuration mode also include a wait for address state.

43. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 42 wherein the states of said configuration mode also include a wait to become master state.

44. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes as claimed in claim 43 wherein the states of said configuration mode also include a power cycle state.

45. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device, said configuration mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, the states of said configuration mode include a wait for address state.

46. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control system comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device, said configuration mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, the states of said configuration mode also include a wait to become master state.

47. A simplified method for programming a programmable device included in an automation and control comprising programmable devices for controlling the operation of a production appliance to create scenes, each of said programmable devices including a plurality of actuatable input elements, said method comprising:

in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, placing said programmable device in one of a plurality of modes of operation, said plurality of modes of operation including;

(a) a programming mode for controlling the storage of the operational status of said product or appliance controlled by said programmable device;

(b) a normal mode for retrieving the stored operation status of the product or appliance controlled by said programmable device in response to the receipt of a scene launch command and adjusting the operational status of said product or appliance in accordance with said stored operational status; and

(c) a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device, said configuration mode including a plurality of states, and said method including placing said programmable device in one of said states in response to the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages generated by other programmable devices in response to the selective operation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices, the states of said configuration mode also include a power cycle state.