Abstract: A battery powered wireless apparatus, method, and system. A battery powered wireless node operates to communicating with a gateway on a local area network through the network communication device, cease communication with the gateway after a predetermined period for a predetermined interval of time, and communicate with the gateway continuously when an event occurs.

Abstract: In embodiments, a system and method backs up and restores data stored on a gateway using a signature having sub-signatures that represent specific categories of data elements of the data, the categories regarding the operation of one or more actuating devices and possibly other items, the system and method changing the operation of the one or more actuating devices and possibly the other items based on restored or updated data elements of the data stored on the gateway.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing inrush power. The method includes transmitting a load energization signal from a primary microcontroller to a logic latch or secondary microcontroller, transmitting a zero-cross voltage signal from a zero-cross sensor coupled to the load power to the logic latch or secondary microcontroller, and transmitting an energize signal from the logic latch or secondary microcontroller to a relay after the receipt of an energize signal from the primary microcontroller and after receipt of a zero-cross signal.

Abstract: A user interface transient communication apparatus, method, and system. A user interface selects a communication path with a gateway without experiencing repeated failure. The user interface includes a network communication device for communicating with a remote device and a processor coupled to the network communication device. The processor includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a system notification of a local area network on which the network communication device is communicating, communicate with a target gateway on the local area network through the network communication device if the target gateway is communicating on the local area network, and communicate with the target gateway through a wide area network through the network communication device if the target gateway is not communicating on the local area network.

Abstract: A control network communication apparatus, method, and system. The method of communicating control network information to a user interface includes a wireless gateway receiving control system information from a control node wirelessly over a local area mesh network, the wireless gateway receiving a request for control system information when it polls a remote server over a wide area network, the request transmitted to the remote server from a user interface, and the wireless gateway providing the requested control system information to the remote server for delivery to the user interface.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for network traffic management. The method includes establishing a building zone corresponding with a physical space in the building, determining how many networked devices are in the building zone, determining a current multicast use level, establishing a virtual group threshold based on a current portion of a network multicast capacity that is being used, and unicast transmitting a message to a plurality of networked devices in the building zone when the number of networked devices in the building zone is less than the virtual group threshold.

Abstract: A message retransmission apparatus, method, and system. The method includes transmission of a multicast message to a plurality of nodes by a network communication device, receipt by the network communication device of return status messages from the plurality of nodes during a predetermined period of time, and retransmission by the network communication device of the message that was multicast by unicast to at least one of the plurality of nodes, that node having provided a state that does not correspond with the command included in the multicast message.

Abstract: A control network communication apparatus, method, and system. The method of communicating control network information to a user interface includes a wireless gateway receiving control system information from a control node wirelessly over a local area mesh network, the wireless gateway receiving a request for control system information when it polls a remote server over a wide area network, the request transmitted to the remote server from a user interface, and the wireless gateway providing the requested control system information to the remote server for delivery to the user interface.

Abstract: A user interface transient communication apparatus, method, and system. A user interface selects a communication path with a gateway without experiencing repeated failure. The user interface includes a network communication device for communicating with a remote device and a processor coupled to the network communication device. The processor includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a system notification of a local area network on which the network communication device is communicating, communicate with a target gateway on the local area network through the network communication device if the target gateway is communicating on the local area network, and communicate with the target gateway through a wide area network through the network communication device if the target gateway is not communicating on the local area network.

Abstract: In embodiments, a system and method updates data stored on a user interface device using a signature having sub-signatures that represent specific categories of data elements of the data, the categories regarding the operation of one or more actuating devices and possibly other items, the system and method changing the operation of the one or more actuating devices and possibly the other items based on the updated data and changing a display on the user interface device to reflect the changed operation.

Abstract: A battery powered wireless apparatus, method, and system. A battery powered wireless node operates to communicating with a gateway on a local area network through the network communication device, cease communication with the gateway after a predetermined period for a predetermined interval of time, and communicate with the gateway continuously when an event occurs.

Abstract: In embodiments, a system and method backs up and restores data stored on a gateway using a signature having sub-signatures that represent specific categories of data elements of the data, the categories regarding the operation of one or more actuating devices and possibly other items, the system and method changing the operation of the one or more actuating devices and possibly the other items based on restored or updated data elements of the data stored on the gateway.

Abstract: A message retransmission apparatus, method, and system. The method includes transmission of a multicast message to a plurality of nodes by a network communication device, receipt by the network communication device of return status messages from the plurality of nodes during a predetermined period of time, and retransmission by the network communication device of the message that was multicast by unicast to at least one of the plurality of nodes, that node having provided a state that does not correspond with the command included in the multicast message.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for network traffic management. The method includes establishing a building zone corresponding with a physical space in the building, determining how many networked devices are in the building zone, determining a current multicast use level, establishing a virtual group threshold based on a current portion of a network multicast capacity that is being used, and unicast transmitting a message to a plurality of networked devices in the building zone when the number of networked devices in the building zone is less than the virtual group threshold.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for network traffic and processor activity management. The invention includes a network communication device for communicating data to remote devices, a data storage device for storing a plurality of messages to be communicated on the network by the network communication device, a real-time clock, and a processor. The processor includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a signal from the real-time clock that at least one message in the data storage device is to be communicated on the network through the network communication device, retrieve the at least one message from the data storage device, transmit the at least one retrieved message and up to a predetermined number of retrieved messages onto the network through the network communication device, and prevent any messages retrieved from the data storage device that are more than the predetermined number from being transmitted on the network for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for network traffic management. The method includes receiving a message to be broadcast over a network, assigning a predefined delay time to the transmission the message, and transmitting the message over the network after passage of the predefined delay time.

Abstract: A high-powered ISM band radio board includes a microprocessor, a radio transceiver coupled to the microprocessor, a timer crystal coupled to the radio transceiver, and a low-pass filter coupled to the radio transceiver. A transmission and reception line extends from the radio transceiver and terminates at an antenna and a transmission line stub extends from the transmission and reception line at a first end of the stub, has a length of one-quarter of a wavelength of a third harmonic of a signal output by the radio, and is open at a second end opposite the first end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retrofitting a wired luminaire to wireless control. The method includes coupling a sensor and the luminaire to the controller by wire and further includes controlling a separate memory device, a radio, a relay for switching power to a luminaire, a zero to ten-volt luminaire control output, and a hardware switch with a single microcontroller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a universal wireless luminaire. The method includes controlling a separate memory device, a radio, a relay for switching power to a luminaire, two zero to ten volt luminaire control outputs, a tunable white temperature luminaire control output, a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter, and a hardware switch with a single microcontroller.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for network traffic management. The method includes receiving a message to be broadcast over a network, assigning a predefined delay time to the transmission the message, and transmitting the message over the network after passage of the predefined delay time.