Digital messages in a load control system

• US 9,985,436 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Courtney, Brian Michael, Gill, Timothy, Gopalakrishnan, Sriram, Shah, Roshni Ashwin, Sukumar, Vidya, Taipale, Mark S., Yorgey, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US14/683,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20150295411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 700295
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30094 Condition code generation, e.g. Carry, Zero flag
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/30189 according to execution mode, e.g. mode flag
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3867 using instruction pipelines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

A load control system may comprise load control devices for controlling respective electrical loads, and a system controller operable to transmit digital messages including different commands to the load control devices in response to a selection of a preset. The different commands may include a preset command configured to identify preset data in a device database stored at the load control device and/or a multi-output command configured to define the preset data for being stored in the device database. The system controller may decide which of the commands to transmit to the load control devices in response to the selection of the preset.

Claims

1. A load control system comprising:

a plurality of load control devices configured to control respective electrical loads; and

a system controller configured to;

in response to a first selection of a preset, communicate a first command to at least one of the plurality of load control devices, wherein the first command comprises preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device in response to a selection of the preset and further comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data;

store within a database an indication for the preset that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device;

in response to a second selection of the preset;

determine from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device; and

based at least in part on determining from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device, communicate a second command to the at least one load control device, wherein the second command comprises the preset identifier for referencing the preset data and does not include the preset data; and

wherein the at least one load control device is configured to;

receive the first command;

in response to receiving the first command;

store the preset identifier and at least a portion of the preset data in a device database of the at least one load control device; and

control a respective electrical load using the preset data;

receive the second command; and

in response to receiving the second command;

use the preset identifier from the second command to access the preset data from the device database of the at least one load control device; and

control the respective electrical load using the preset data accessed from the database of the at least one load control device.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein each load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured to receive the first command and to store in a respective device database at least a portion of the preset data, wherein the stored preset data defines operation of the respective load control device in response to a selection of the preset.

3. The load control system of claim 2, wherein, in response to receiving the second command, each load control device of the plurality of load control devices is configured to control a respective electrical load using preset data accessed from the respective device database.

4. The load control system of claim 3, wherein, in response to receiving the first command, each load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured to control the respective electrical load using the preset data included in the first command.

5. The load control system of claim 1,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the at least one load control device is further configured to store preset data that defines one or more operations of a second preset in the device database of the at least one load control device during a commissioning mode.

6. The load control system of claim 5, wherein the system controller is further configured to communicate the preset data that defines the one or more operations of the second preset to the at least one load control device during the commissioning mode.

7. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is further configured to:

determine whether to communicate the first command or the second command in response to the first selection of the preset based on a determination of whether the system controller has previously communicated the first command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices for the preset.

8. The load control system of claim 7, wherein each load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured to receive the first command and in response to receiving the first command, to store at least a portion of the preset data defining an operation of the respective load control device in response to a selection of the preset.

9. The load control system of claim 8, wherein each load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured to store the preset data defining the operation of the respective load control device when the respective load control device is indicated in the first command to operate in response to the first command.

10. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured, in response to receiving the first command, to store the preset data when a number of digital messages used to transit the first command exceeds a predetermined maximum number.

11. The load control system of claim 1,

wherein the system controller is further configured to set a flag in the first command when a number of digital messages used to transit the first command exceeds a predetermined maximum number, and

wherein the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is further configured to store, in response to receiving the first command, the preset data when the flag is set in the first command.

12. The load control system of claim 1,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the system controller is further configured to;

determine whether any of the plurality of load control devices are communicating digital messages to the system controller; and

communicate, to one or more load control devices of the plurality of load control devices, preset data that defines one or more operations of a second preset when none of the plurality of load control devices are communicating the digital messages.

13. The load control system of claim 1,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the system controller is further configured to;

receive a load control database comprising preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to a selection of a second preset, and

analyze, during a commissioning mode, the load control database to determine whether to communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device during the commissioning mode.

14. The load control system of claim 13, wherein the system controller is further configured to:

determine a number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices; and

communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to the selection of the second preset when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is less than or equal to a predetermined number.

15. The load control system of claim 14, wherein the system controller is configured to:

when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is greater than the predetermined number;

communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices during the commissioning mode; and

in response to the selection of the second preset, communicate a third command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices, wherein the third command comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data of the second preset.

16. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is further configured to delay communication of the first command by a delay time, wherein the delay time is an amount of time to delay the communication of the first command after selection of the preset.

17. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the preset identifier comprises at least one of a preset identification number and a preset identification name.

18. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is further configured to communicate the second command to a single load control device.

19. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the first command defines the preset in a single message.

20. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is further configured to communicate the first and second commands to at least two load control devices of the plurality of load control devices.

21. A method of controlling at least one load control device of a plurality of load control devices configured to control respective electrical loads, the method comprising:

receiving by at least one processor a first selection of a preset;

in response to receiving the first selection of the preset, communicating by the at least one processor a first command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices, wherein the first command comprises preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device in response to a selection of the preset and further comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data,

wherein receipt of the first command by the at least one load control device causes the at least one load control device to store the preset identifier and at least a portion of the preset data in a device database of the at least one load control device, and to control a respective electrical load using the preset data;

storing by the at least one processor within a database an indication for the preset that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device;

receiving by the at least one processor a second selection of the preset;

in response to receiving the second selection of the preset;

determining by the at least one processor from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device; and

based at least in part on determining from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device, communicating by the at least one processor a second command to the at least one load control device, wherein the second command comprises the preset identifier for referencing the preset data and does not include the preset data,

wherein receipt of the second command by the at least one load control device causes the at least one load control device to use the preset identifier from the second command to access the preset data from the device database of the at least one load control device, and to control the respective electrical load using the preset data accessed from the database of the at least one load control device.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

receiving a load control database comprising preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to a selection of a second preset; and

analyzing, during a commissioning mode, the load control database to determine whether to communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device during the commissioning mode.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices; and

communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to the selection of the second preset when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is less than or equal to a predetermined number.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is greater than a predetermined number;

communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices during the commissioning mode; and

in response to the selection of the second preset, communicating a third command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices, wherein the third command comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data of the second preset.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

delaying communicating the first command for a delay time, wherein the delay time is an amount of time to delay communicating the first command after selection of the preset.

26. The method of claim 21,

wherein receipt of the first command by each load control device of the plurality of load control devices causes each load control device to store in a respective device database at least a portion of the preset data, wherein the stored preset data defines operation of the respective load control device in response to a selection of the preset.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether to communicate the first command or the second command in response to the first selection of the preset based on a determination of whether the first command has been previously communicated to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices for the preset.

28. A system controller comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a first selection of a preset;

in response to receiving the first selection of the preset, communicate a first command to at least one load control device of a plurality of load control devices, wherein the first command comprises preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device in response to a selection of the preset and further comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data,

wherein receipt of the first command by the at least one load control device causes the at least one load control device to store the preset identifier and at least a portion of the preset data in a device database of the at least one load control device, and to control a respective electrical load using the preset data;

store within a database an indication for the preset that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device;

receive a second selection of the preset;

in response to receiving a second selection of the preset;

determine from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device; and

based at least in part on determining from the indication for the preset stored within the database that the preset data was communicated to the at least one load control device, communicate a second command to the at least one load control device, wherein the second command comprises the preset identifier for referencing the preset data and does not include the preset data,

wherein receipt of the second command by the at least one load control device causes the at least one load control device to use the preset identifier from the second command to access the preset data from the device database of the at least one load control device, and to control the respective electrical load using the preset data accessed from the database of the at least one load control device.

29. The system controller of claim 28,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

receive a load control database comprising preset data that defines one or more operations of the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to a selection of a second preset, and

analyze, during a commissioning mode, the load control database to determine whether to communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device during the commissioning mode.

30. The system controller of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices; and

communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices in response to the selection of the second preset when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device is less than or equal to a predetermined number.

31. The system controller of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

when the number of digital messages associated with communicating the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices is greater than the predetermined number;

communicate the preset data of the second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices during the commissioning mode; and

in response to the selection of the second preset, communicate a third command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices, wherein the third command comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data of the second preset.

32. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to delay communication of the first command by a delay time, wherein the delay time is an amount of time to delay the communication of the first command after selection of the preset.

33. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether to communicate the first command or the second command in response to the first selection of the preset based on a determination of whether the system controller has previously communicated the first command to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices for the preset.

34. The system controller of claim 28,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set a flag in the first command when a number of digital messages associated with communicating the first command exceeds a predetermined maximum number;

and

wherein the flag being set in the first command causes the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices to store, in response to receiving the first command, the preset data.

35. The system controller of claim 28,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

determine whether any of the plurality of load control devices are communicating digital messages to the system controller; and

communicate, to one or more load control devices of the plurality of load control devices, preset data that defines one or more operations of a second preset when none of the plurality of load control devices are communicating the digital messages.

36. The system controller of claim 28,

wherein the preset comprises a first preset;

and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate preset data that defines the one or more operations of a second preset to the at least one load control device of the plurality of load control devices during a commissioning mode.

37. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the preset identifier comprises at least one of a preset identification number and a preset identification name.

38. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate the second command to a single load control device.

39. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the first command defines the preset in a single message.

40. The system controller of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate the first and second commands to at least two load control devices of the plurality of load control devices.