Load Control System Having Independently-Controlled Units Responsive To A Broadcast Controller

• US 20140001977A1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Majewski, Timothy S., Spira, Joel S., Zacharchuk, Walter S., Buck, Christopher, VanderValk, Daniel, Bull, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,553,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0608 Antenna selection according to transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/00 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities 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: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/244 : the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 : the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of independent units responsive to a broadcast controller. Each independent unit includes at least one commander and at least one energy controller for controlling at least one of the electrical loads in response to a control signal received from the commander. The independent units are configured and operate independent of each other. The broadcast controller transmits wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units. The energy controllers do not respond to control signals received from the commanders of other independent units, but the energy controllers of both independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by broadcast controller. The energy controller may operate in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller.

Claims

1. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the load control system comprising:

a plurality of independent units, each independent unit comprising at least one commander and at least one energy controller operable to control at least one of the electrical loads in response to a control signal received from the at least one commander, the independent units configured and operating independent of each other; and

a broadcast controller operable to transmit wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units;

wherein the energy controllers ignore control signals received from the commanders of other independent units, and the energy controllers of each of the plurality of independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the energy controllers are each operable to be associated with the broadcast controller during a configuration procedure of the load control system.

3. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to be connected to a network.

4. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit the wireless signals to the energy controllers in dependence upon a timeclock.

5. The load control system of claim 4, wherein the broadcast controller has a timeclock schedule stored in memory, the broadcast controller operable to transmit commands to the control the loads of the energy controllers via the wireless signals in response to the timeclock schedule and a present time of day.

6. The load control system of claim 5, wherein the broadcast controller comprises a user interface for configuring the timeclock schedule.

7. The load control system of claim 5, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to determine the present time of day via the network.

8. The load control system of claim 4, wherein the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller include the present time of day, at least one of the energy controllers having a timeclock schedule stored in memory, the energy controller operable to control the load in response to the timeclock schedule and the present time of day.

9. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to receive data regarding the operation of the independent units.

10. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to receive data regarding the power consumption of the loads of each of the independent units, the broadcast controller operable to transmit the information regarding the power consumption of the loads via the network.

11. The load control system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the independent units comprises a power meter operable to measure the power consumption of the loads of the at least one of the independent units, the power meter adapted to be associated with the broadcast controller and to transmit the information regarding the power consumption of the loads of the at least one of the independent units to the broadcast controller.

12. The load control system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the energy controllers comprises an internal power metering circuit operable to measure the power consumption of the load being controlled by the at least one of the energy controllers, the energy controller operable to transmit the information regarding the power consumption of the load to the broadcast controller.

13. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the data comprises at least one of:

operational characteristics and settings of the energy controllers of the independent units, number type of commanders, present modes of operation, energy usage information, light intensities of lighting loads, load failures, occupancy status of spaces, ambient light levels measured by daylight sensors, present capacity of energy storage systems, status of plug-in electrical loads, number of occupants, direction of movement of occupants, security information, room and building utilitzation information, employee status information, and energy saving due to reduced usage of electrical lights and heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms.

14. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to log the data regarding the operation of the independent units.

15. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to receive via the network at least one of:

a timeclock command, a load shed command, a demand response command, a peak demand command, time-of-day pricing information, or XML data from a Web Services interface.

16. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the network in accordance with a predefined communication protocol comprising one of:

Ethernet, IP, WiFi, QS, DMX, BACnet, Modbus, LonWorks, and KNX protocols.

17. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one energy controller is operable to be associated with the at least one commander, such that the energy controller is responsive to the control signal transmitter by the commander.

18. The load control system of claim 17, wherein the at least one energy controller is operable to be associated with the at least one commander via either a walk-around programming procedure or a computer-aided programming procedure.

19. The load control system of claim 17, wherein the at least one energy controller is operable to be associated with the broadcast controller at a time after the energy controller is associated with the at least one commander and is responsive to the at least one commander.

20. The load control system of claim 17, wherein each commander is operable to be assigned to a plurality of energy controllers, and each energy controller is operable to be assigned to a plurality of commanders.

21. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the broadcast controller enters an association mode in response to an actuation of a first actuator on the broadcast controller, and repetitively transmits a broadcast address when in the association mode, each energy controller operable to be associated with the broadcast controller when a second actuator on the energy controller is actuated while the broadcast controller is in the association mode.

22. The load control system of claim 21, wherein each energy controller is further operable to be assigned to a group of energy controllers when the second actuator on the energy controller is actuated while the broadcast controller is in the association mode.

23. The load control system of claim 22, wherein the broadcast controller comprises a user interface having a plurality of buttons representing a plurality of groups of energy controllers.

24. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one energy controller is programmed to operate out-of-box, such that the energy controller is responsive to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controllers as soon as the energy controller is associated with the broadcast controller.

25. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to discover all of the commanders and energy controllers of the independent units after the energy controller is associated with the broadcast controller.

26. The load control system of claim 1, at least one of the energy controllers comprises a dimmer switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and a lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising a toggle actuator for turning the lighting load on and off, and an intensity adjustment actuator for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity.

27. The load control system of claim 26, wherein the dimmer switch is operable to adjust the minimum and maximum intensities using a tuning procedure.

28. The load control system of claim 27, wherein the dimmer switch is operable to enter a maximum intensity tuning mode in response to the substantially simultaneous actuation of the toggle actuator and an upper portion of the intensity adjustment actuator, the maximum intensity adjusted in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator in the maximum intensity tuning mode;

and

wherein the dimmer switch is operable to enter a minimum intensity tuning mode in response to the simultaneous actuation of the toggle actuator and a lower portion of the intensity adjustment actuator, the minimum intensity adjusted in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator in the minimum intensity tuning mode.

29. The load control system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the commanders comprises an occupancy sensor, the dimmer switch operable to control the intensity of the lighting load to an occupied intensity in response to receiving an occupied command from the occupancy sensor, and to a vacant intensity in response to receiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensor.

30. The load control system of claim 29, wherein the dimmer switch is operable to adjust the occupied and vacant intensities using a tuning procedure.

31. The load control system of claim 26, wherein the dimmer switch is operable to adjust the minimum and maximum intensities in response to digital messages received from the broadcast controller.

32. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of independent units consist of separate and at least partially enclosed rooms in a common building and wherein all the units are contained within an area which is within the range of the wireless signal produced by the broadcast controller.

33. The load control system of claim 32, wherein the area is about 5,000 to 15,000 square feet.

34. The load control system of claim 32, wherein the range of the wireless signal covers a lateral area of from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet.

35. The load control system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of independent units are separate and adjacent rooms.

36. The load control system of claim 32, the broadcast controller is adapted to be mounted to a surface of a ceiling, a wall, to a junction box, in an electrical closet, or above a ceiling.

37. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the energy controllers each operate in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller, each energy controller controlling its respective electrical load in response to the control signal received from the at least one commander in different manners depending upon a present operating mode of the energy controller.

38. The load control system of claim 37, wherein the operating mode comprises a demand response mode, the energy controller operable to reduce the amount of power consumed by the load by a predetermined amount in the demand response mode.

39. The load control system of claim 38, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to generate one of an audible sound or a visual indication when first entering the demand response mode.

40. The load control system of claim 38, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to generate one of an audible sound or a visual indication when first entering the demand response mode.

41. The load control system of claim 37, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to provide at least one of a first standard demand response signal that causes each of the energy controllers to modify their control of their respective electrical loads in a first predetermined manner, and an emergency demand response signal that causes each of the commanders to modify their control of their respective electrical loads in a second predetermined manner.

42. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit digital messages to the energy controllers via radio-frequency (RF) signals in accordance with a predefined RF communication protocol.

43. The load control system of claim 42, wherein the predefined RF communication protocol comprises one of:

Clear Connect, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, Wireless M Bus, 6LoWPAN, KNX-RF, and EnOcean Radio protocols.

44. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the control signal transmitted by the at least one commander to the at least energy controller comprises a wireless signal, such that the energy controller is responsive to only wireless signals received from the commander and the broadcast controller.

45. The load control system of claim 44, wherein the energy controller is responsive to wireless signals received directly from the commander.

46. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one commander comprises a sensor, the energy controller operable to automatically control the load in response to the wireless signal received from the commander.

47. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one commander comprises a remote control having an actuator for providing manual control of the energy controller.

48. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit the wireless signal via one of a plurality of wireless mediums, the wireless medium comprising one of radio-frequency signals, infrared signals, and sound.

49. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to be connected to a wired communication link comprising one of:

a network communication link, a serial digital communication link, an RS-485 communication link, an RS-232 communication link, a DALI communication link, and an Ecosystem communication link.

50. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the broadcast controller is responsive to a contact closure signal received from an external device via a contact closure input.

51. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one commander comprises one of:

an occupancy sensor, a vacancy sensor, a daylight sensor, a radiometer, a cloudy-day sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, an air-quality sensor, a security sensor, a proximity sensor, a fixture sensor, a partition sensor, a keypad, a battery-powered remote control, a kinetic or solar-powered remote control, a key fob, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a personal computer, a laptop, a timeclock, an audio-visual control, a keycard switch, a power monitoring device, a power meter, an energy meter, a utility submeter, a utility rate meter, a safety device, a fire protection device, a water protection device, a medical emergency device, a central controller, a residential controller, a commercial controller, and an industrial controller.

52. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy controller comprises one of:

a lighting control circuit, such as a dimmer circuit, for controlling the intensity of a lighting load;

an electronic dimming or switching ballast for driving a gas-discharge lamp;

a light-emitting diode driver for driving a light-emitting diode light source;

a screw-in luminaire including a dimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp;

a screw-in luminaire including a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp;

a screw-in luminaire including an LED driver and an LED light source;

an electronic switch, controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turning an appliance on and off;

a plug-in load control device, controllable receptacle, or controllable power strip for controlling one or more plug-in loads;

a motor control unit for controlling a motor load, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan;

a drive unit for controlling a motorized window treatment or a projection screen;

motorized interior or exterior shutters;

a thermostat for a heating and/or cooling system;

a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of an HVAC system;

an air conditioner;

a compressor;

an electric baseboard heater controller;

a controllable damper;

a variable air volume controller;

a fresh air intake controller;

a ventilation controller;

a hydraulic valve for a radiator or radiant heating system;

a humidity control unit;

a humidifier;

a dehumidifier;

a water heater;

a boiler controller;

a pool pump;

a refrigerator;

a freezer;

a TV or computer monitor;

a video camera;

an audio system or amplifier;

an elevator;

a power supply;

a generator;

an electric charger;

electric vehicle charger;

an energy storage system; and

an alternative energy controller.

53. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the load control system comprising:

a plurality of independent units, each independent unit comprising at least one commander and at least one energy controller operable to control at least one of the electrical loads in response to a wireless control signal received from the at least one commander, the independent units configured and operating independent of each other; and

a broadcast controller operable to transmit wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units;

wherein the energy controllers respond only to the wireless control signals received from their respective commanders and wherein all energy controllers of both independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by broadcast controller.

54. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the load control system comprising:

a plurality of independent units, each independent unit comprising at least one commander and at least one energy controller operable to control at least one of the electrical loads in response to a wireless signal received from the at least one commander, the independent units configured and operating independent of each other, such that the energy controllers are not responsive to the wireless signals received from the commanders of other independent units; and

a broadcast controller operable to transmit wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units, the energy controllers responsive to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller;

wherein the broadcast controller is further operable to receive wireless signals from the commanders and the energy controllers, the wireless signals including data regarding the operation of the independent units.

55. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to be connected to a network, the broadcast controller operable to transmit via the network at least part of the data received from the commanders and the energy controllers.

56. The load control system of claim 55, wherein the data comprises information regarding the power consumption of the loads of each of the independent units.

57. The load control system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the independent units comprises a power meter operable to measure the power consumption of the loads of the at least one of the independent units, the power meter adapted to be associated with the broadcast controller and to transmit the information regarding the power consumption of the loads of the at least one of the independent units to the broadcast controller.

58. The load control system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the energy controllers comprises an internal power metering circuit operable to measure the power consumption of the load being controlled by the at least one of the energy controllers, the energy controller operable to transmit the information regarding the power consumption of the load to the broadcast controller.

59. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the data comprises energy usage information from the energy controllers.

61. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to log data from one or more of the commanders.

62. The load control system of claim 61, wherein the logged data from the commanders is used to predict energy savings of the load control system before the energy controllers are installed.

63. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the at least one controller comprises one of an occupancy sensor and a vacancy sensor, the data comprising occupancy information from the sensor.

64. The load control system of claim 54, wherein each commander is operable to be assigned to a plurality of energy controllers, and each energy controller is operable to be assigned to a plurality of commanders.

65. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the at least one commander comprises a sensor, the energy controller operable to automatically control the load in response to the wireless signal received from the commander.

66. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the at least one commander comprises a remote control having an actuator for providing manual control of the energy controller.

60. The load control system of claim 60, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit a query message to the energy controllers, the energy controller operable to transmit the energy usages information to the broadcast controller in response to receiving the query message.

67. A load control system for controlling an electrical load, the load control system comprising:

at least one energy controller operable to control the electrical load in response to a control signal received from at least one commander; and

a broadcast controller operable to transmit wireless signals to the at least one energy controller;

wherein the at least one energy controller operates in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller, the energy controller controlling the electrical load in different manners depending upon the present operating mode of the energy controller.

68. The load control system of claim 67, further comprising:

at least one commander for generating a control signal;

wherein the energy controller controls the electrical load in response to the control signal received from the at least one commander in different manners depending upon the present operating mode of the energy controller.

69. The load control system of claim 68, wherein the energy controllers are each operable to be associated with the broadcast controller during a configuration procedure of the load control system.

70. The load control system of claim 69, wherein the broadcast controller enters an association mode in response to an actuation of a first actuator on the broadcast controller, and repetitively transmits a broadcast address when in the association mode, each energy controller operable to be associated with the broadcast controller when a second actuator on the energy controller is actuated while the broadcast controller is in the association mode.

71. The load control system of claim 68, wherein each commander is operable to be assigned to a plurality of energy controllers, and each energy controller is operable to be assigned to a plurality of commanders.

72. The load control system of claim 68, wherein the at least one commander comprises a sensor, the energy controller operable to automatically control the load in response to the wireless signal received from the commander.

73. The load control system of claim 68, wherein the at least one commander comprises a remote control having an actuator for providing manual control of the energy controller.

74. The load control system of claim 67, wherein the operating mode comprises a demand response mode, the energy controller operable to reduce the amount of power consumed by the load by a predetermined amount in the demand response mode.

75. The load control system of claim 74, wherein broadcast controller is operable to generate one of an audible sound or a visual indication when first entering the demand response mode.

76. The load control system of claim 74, wherein broadcast controller is operable to generate one of an audible sound or a visual indication when first entering the demand response mode.

77. The load control system of claim 74, wherein, when operating in the demand response mode, the energy controller is operable to control the load in response to at least one of the present time of day and the present time of year.

78. The load control system of claim 74, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to provide at least one of a first standard demand response signal that causes each of the energy controllers to modify their control of their respective electrical loads in a first predetermined manner, and an emergency demand response signal that causes each of the commanders to modify their control of their respective electrical loads in a second predetermined manner.

79. The load control system of claim 67, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to be connected to a network.

80. The load control system of claim 79, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to adjust the operating mode of the energy controller in response to a digital message received via the network.

81. The load control system of claim 79, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to adjust the operating mode of the energy controller in dependence upon a timeclock.

82. The load control system of claim 67, wherein the operating mode comprises one of a normal mode, a demand response mode, an afterhours mode, and a pre-condition mode.

83. A load control device controlling an electrical load in response to a remote control device, the load control device comprising:

a wireless receiver operable to receive a first wireless signal from the remote control device; and

a controller coupled to the wireless receiver for controlling the electrical load in response to the first wireless signal from the remote control device;

wherein the wireless receiver is further operable to receive a second wireless signal indicating an operating mode for the load control device, the controller automatically operating according to one of a plurality of control algorithms in response to the operating mode received in the second wireless signal.

84. The load control device of claim 83, wherein the operating mode comprises a demand response mode, the controller operable to reduce the amount of power consumed by the load by a predetermined amount in the demand response mode.

85. The load control device of claim 84, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the controller for adjusting the amount of power consumed by the load.

86. The load control device of claim 85, wherein the controller is operable to increase the amount of power consumed by the load in response to an actuation of the actuator, such that the amount of power consumed by the load is no longer reduced by the predetermined amount in the demand response mode.

87. The load control device of claim 85, wherein the controller is operable to further decrease the amount of power consumed by the load in response to an actuation of the actuator in the demand response mode.

88. The load control device of claim 85, wherein the controller is not operable to adjust the amount of power consumed by the load in response to an actuation of the actuator in the demand response mode.

89. The load control device of claim 84, wherein the controller is programmed to operate out-of-box in the demand response mode to automatically reduce the amount of power consumed by the load by the predetermined amount.

90. The load control device of claim 84, further comprising:

an audible sound generator for generating an audible sound when first entering the demand response mode.

91. The load control device of claim 84, further comprising:

a visual indicator operable to be illuminated in the demand response mode.

92. The load control device of claim 83, wherein the load control device is operable to be associated with the remote control device during a configuration procedure.

93. The load control device of claim 92, further comprising:

an actuator coupled to the controller for receiving a user input;

wherein the load control device is operable to be associated with the remote control device in response to an actuation of the actuator.

94. The load control device of claim 92, wherein the load control device is operable to be associated with a plurality of remote control devices.

95. The load control device of claim 83, wherein the controller controls the electrical load in response to the first wireless signal received from the remote control device in dependence upon the operating mode received in the second wireless signal.

96. The load control device of claim 83, wherein the broadcast controller is operable to transmit a third wireless signal to the energy controller, the third wireless signal including one of a command to turn the load on or off, a command to adjust the amount of power delivered to the load, a command to increase or decrease a setpoint temperature of a heating and cooling system, a delay time, and a fade time.

97. A method for configuring a load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads disposed in a plurality of separate rooms in a common building, the method comprising the steps of:

programming at least one commander in each of the rooms for the control of at least one energy controller which controls a respective load in its respective room for normal operation; and

programming each of the commanders to receive overriding wireless control signals from a common broadcast controller to modify the control of each of the energy controllers in response to a standard demand response wireless signal or an emergency demand response wireless signal produced by the broadcast controller.

98. A broadcast controller for communication with one or more independent units, each of the one or more independent units including at least one commander and at least one energy controller, the at least one energy controller operable to control at least one electrical load in response to a control signal received from the at least one commander, the broadcast controller configured to:

receive a first signal indicating a first condition corresponding to one or more operations of which the at least one energy controller is operable to perform; and

transmit a second signal to the at least one energy controller, the second signal interpretable by the at least one energy controller to perform at least one of the one or more operations, the at least one energy controller being configured to prioritize the second signal over the control signal received from the at least one commander.

99. The broadcast controller of claim 98, wherein the broadcast controller receives the first signal from at least one of an electric utility or a remote control device.

100. The broadcast controller of claim 98, wherein the first condition corresponds to more or more demand response compliance requirements.

101. The broadcast controller of claim 98, wherein the broadcast controller includes a memory, the memory including at least one timeclock schedule, the broadcast controller transmitter being further configured to:

determine a second condition, the second condition corresponding to the at least one timeclock schedule and one or more functions of which the at least one energy controller is operable to perform; and

transmit a third signal to the at least one energy controller, the third signal interpretable by the at least one energy controller to perform the one or more functions.

102. The broadcast controller of claim 98, wherein the broadcast controller includes a user interface.

103. A method performed by a broadcast controller, the broadcast controller being in communication with one or more independent units, each of the one or more independent units including one or more commanders and one or more energy controllers, the method comprising:

communicating with a first node of a first independent unit, the first node being at least one of a first commander or a first energy controller;

obtaining an address of the first node;

obtaining from the first node an address of at least one second node of the first independent unit, the at least one second node being at least one of a second commander or a second energy controller and the at least one second node being in communication with the first node;

determining if at least one of the first node or the at least one second node is an energy controller;

identifying at least one of the first node or the at least one second node as an energy controller according to the determination; and

identifying at least one of the address of the first node or the address of the at least one second node as an energy controller address according to the determination.

104. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

determining an operational relationship between the first node and the at least one second node.

105. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

determining if the first node communicates with a node of the first independent unit other than the at least one second node;

communicating with the at least one second node;

determining if the at least one second node communicates with a node of the first independent unit other than the first node; and

determining that all of the nodes of the first independent unit have been identified upon the determinations indicating that the first node communicates with no other nodes other than the at least one second node and the at least one second node communicates with no other nodes other than the first node.

106. The method of claim 103, further comprising:

communicate with the at least one second node;

obtaining an address of at least one third node of the first independent unit from the at least one second node, the at least one third node being at least one of a third commander or a third energy controller and the at least one third node being in communication with the at least one second node;

determining if the at least one third node is an energy controller;

identifying the at least one third node as an energy controller according to the determination; and

identifying the address of the at least one third node as an energy controller address according to the determination.

107. An energy controller operable to control at least one electrical load in response to a control signal received from at least one commander, the energy controller comprising:

a wireless communication transceiver, the wireless communication transceiver operable to;

receive a first signal from a broadcast controller, the first signal including a request for information regarding one or more nodes of an independent unit that includes the energy controller; and

transmit a second signal to the broadcast controller in response to the first signal, the second signal including the information regarding the one or more nodes of the independent unit.

108. The energy controller device of claim 107, wherein the energy controller is at least one of a dimmer switch, a plug-in load control device (PID), a temperature control device, a contact-closure output (CCO) pack, a digital ballast controller, or a motorized window treatment.

109. The energy controller device of claim 107, wherein the information regarding the one or more nodes of the independent unit includes respective addresses of the one or more nodes.

110. The energy controller device of claim 107, wherein the information regarding the one or more nodes of the independent unit includes an operational relationship between the energy controller and the one or more nodes.

111. A broadcast controller, for communication with one or more independent units, each of the one or more independent units including at least one commander and one or more energy controllers, each of the one or more one energy controllers operable to control at least one electrical load in response to a control signal received from the at least one commander, the broadcast controller being configured, at least in part, to:

register respective addresses of the one or more energy controllers;

arrange one or more of the energy controllers into a first group according to at least one user-defined characteristic of the one or more energy controllers;

assign a first group address to the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group; and

transmit the first group address to the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group.

112. The broadcast controller of claim 111, wherein at least two of the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group are respectively associated with two different independent units.

113. The broadcast controller of claim 111, wherein the broadcast controller is further configured to associate a user-defined label with the first group, the user-defined label being at least one of hallway, conference room, office, executive office, bathroom, open office, signage, limited access, or public area.

114. The broadcast controller of claim 111, wherein the broadcast controller is further configured to:

determine a first condition, the first condition corresponding to one or more operations of which the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group are operable to perform; and

transmit a command signal to the first group address associated with the first group, the command signal interpretable by the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group to perform at least one of the one or more operations, the one or more energy controllers arranged into the first group being configured to prioritize the command signal over the control signal received from the at least one commander.

115. The broadcast controller of claim 111, wherein the at least one user-defined characteristic is at least one of a location, a typical occupancy level, a time-of-day occupancy level, a security access level, a functional use, or an organizational hierarchy.

116. The broadcast controller of claim 111, wherein the at least one user-defined characteristic of the one or more energy controllers is a first at least one user-defined characteristic, and the broadcast controller is further configured to:

arrange one or more of the respective energy controllers into a second group according to a second at least one user-defined characteristic of the one or more respective energy controllers;

assign a second group address to the one or more respective energy controllers arranged into the second group; and

transmit the second group address to the one or more respective energy controllers arranged into the second group.

117. A method of associating a broadcast controller with an independent unit having at least one transmit-only commander and at least one energy controller operable to control at least one electrical load in response to the commander, the method comprising:

receiving by the broadcast controller a first wireless signal including a first identifier of the transmit-only commander;

transmitting by the broadcast controller a second wireless signal including a query for the serial numbers of energy controllers that are responsive to the commander having the identifier of the first wireless signal;

transmitting by the energy controller a third wireless signal including a second identifier of the energy controller; and

associating the energy controller with the broadcast controller in response to the broadcast controller receiving the third wireless signal including the second identifier.

118. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

transmitting by the broadcast transmitter a fourth wireless signal including a query for the serial numbers of commanders to which the energy controller is responsive;

transmitting by the energy controller the serial numbers of the commanders to which the energy controller is responsive.

119. The method of claim 117, further comprising:

transmitting the first signal from the transmit-only commander in response to an actuation of a button of the transmit-only commander.