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

• US 6,970,751 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• 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:
  US10/977,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/11, 700/17, 700/19, 700/20, 700/75, 700/76, 700/83, 700/86, 700/87, 700/275, 700/276, 700/264, 340/3.1, 340/3.9, 340/3.3
• US Class Current: 700/87
• 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 suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance, the programmable device including a simplified programming interface, the programmable device suitable for inclusion in a scene creating automation and control system comprising a plurality of programmable devices, each suitable 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 including a memory for storing a plurality of modes of operation entered by the selective actuation of said manually actuatable input elements or the receipt of messages from other programmable devices generated 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 of said programming mode 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

(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 suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein said normal mode includes 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 actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

3. A programmable device suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of modes of operation also include a multi-way programming mode for controlling the operation of said programmable device in concert with the operation of other programmable devices.

4. A programmable device suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance as claimed in claim 3 wherein said multi-way programming mode includes 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 actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

5. A programmable device suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of modes of operation also include a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device.

6. A programmable device suitable for controlling the operational status of a product or appliance as claimed in claim 5 wherein said configuration mode includes 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 devices in response to the selective actuation of the manually actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

7. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance included in an automation and control system comprising a plurality of programmable devices, each suitable 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 from other programmable devices generated 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, said states including;

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

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

8. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 7 wherein said normal mode includes a plurality of states, and said method includes 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.

9. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 8 wherein said states of said normal mode include:

an idle state that is entered when said programmable device enters said normal mode; and

a control load state that is entered in response to the selective operation of said plurality of manually actuatable input elements.

10. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 7 wherein said plurality of modes of operation also include a multi-way programming mode of operation.

11. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 10 wherein said multi-way programming mode includes 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 in response to the selective actuation of said plurality of actuatable input elements of said other programmable devices.

12. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 7 wherein said plurality of modes of operation also include a configuration mode for configuring said programmable device.

13. A simplified method for programming a programmable device suitable for controlling the operation of a product or appliance 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 12 wherein said configuration mode includes a plurality of states, and said method includes 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.