Virtual room-based light fixture and device control
First Claim
1. A method for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure, comprising:
- coupling the one or more devices in the structure, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the one or more devices;
displaying, on a display screen, a virtual room-based user interface, the virtual room-based user interface including one or more of virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, the substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure including substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure, one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, and one or more devices located within the portion of the structure;
receiving a selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a particular device within a particular virtual room;
in response to the selection of the particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, issuing, by the programmable multimedia controller, control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the particular device; and
updating the appearance of the particular virtual room, such that the substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, as well as the substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of the one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure and of the one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, reflect the changed state of the particular device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a technique for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure is provided. One or more devices in the structure are coupled, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the devices. A virtual room-based user interface is displayed on a display screen. The virtual room-based user interface may include one or more virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, including substantially photo-realistic depictions of one or more devices located within the portion of the structure. In response to the selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction, the programmable multimedia controller may issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of a particular device. The appearance of the particular virtual room may be updated to reflect the changed state.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure, comprising:
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coupling the one or more devices in the structure, either directly or indirectly, to a programmable multimedia controller configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the one or more devices; displaying, on a display screen, a virtual room-based user interface, the virtual room-based user interface including one or more of virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, the substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure including substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure, one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, and one or more devices located within the portion of the structure; receiving a selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a particular device within a particular virtual room; in response to the selection of the particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, issuing, by the programmable multimedia controller, control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the particular device; and updating the appearance of the particular virtual room, such that the substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, as well as the substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of the one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure and of the one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, reflect the changed state of the particular device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure, comprising:
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a display screen; a programmable multimedia controller coupled to the one or more devices in the structure and configured to issue control commands which, when implemented, change a state of the one or more devices, the programmable multimedia controller further configured to cause display of a virtual room-based user interface on the display screen, the virtual room-based user interface including one or more of virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, the substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure including substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure, one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, and one or more devices located within the portion of the structure, the appearance of the one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure and the one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure dependent upon the state of the one or more devices; an interface device configured to receive a selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a particular device within a particular virtual room; wherein the programmable multimedia controller is further configured to, in response to the selection of the particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a device, issue control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the particular device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling one or more devices within a physical room of a structure, comprising:
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means for issuing control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the one or more devices; means displaying a virtual room-based user interface, the virtual room-based user interface including one or more of virtual rooms, each virtual room including a substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure, the substantially photo-realistic depiction of a portion of the structure including substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure, one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, and one or more devices located within the portion of the structure; means for receiving a selection of a particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a particular device within a particular virtual room; means for, in response to the selection of the particular substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of a device, issuing control commands which, when implemented, change the state of the particular device; and means for updating the appearance of the particular virtual room, such that the substantially photo-realistic visual depiction of the particular device, as well as the substantially photo-realistic visual depictions of the one or more boundaries of the portion of the structure and of the one or more furnishings located within the portion of the structure, reflect the changed state of the particular device.
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Specification