Abstract: Electronic mail software includes a main email component and a number installable components. The installable components include authoring/reading components for creating/reading different kinds of documents and mailbox components for listing different kinds of messages or for listing messages in different styles. The main email component provides an underlying graphical user interface for functions directly associated with the storage and transfer of electronic mail messages, and also handles all data bundling and unbundling required to transform a message created by an authoring component into a MIME compliant message. The authoring/reading components act like applications embedded within the email program and allow specific types of documents such as spreadsheets, graphics, databases, etc. to be created from within the email program and emailed directly.

Abstract: Electronic mail client software has a mailbox displayer which lists messages together with an icon for each message where the icon is associated with the MIME type of the message. Mail which contains a file attachment is listed in the inbox with an icon indicative of the type of file attached to the email. The mailbox displayer interprets the MIME type and selects the appropriate icon either from the icon registry in the OS or from a directory of icons maintained by the email client software. The mailbox displayer component preferably includes all of the functionality of state-of-the-art mailbox displayers and includes the functionality of looking to a directory of icons for display with information about the message based on the MIME type and subtype of the message. If there is no appropriate icon in the directory of icons, the mailbox displayer uses icon image data contained in a subpart of the MIME message if it is available. Otherwise, no icon or a generic icon is used.

Abstract: A stand-alone thermostat that mounts flush to a wall and obtains improved accuracy in ambient temperature measurement by actively intaking air from the room interior. An internal temperature measurement chamber communicates between air inlet and outlet. A heat generator located within the temperature measurement chamber causes thermal convection, the convection generating an air flow thus drawing ambient room air into the measurement chamber, across a temperature sensor, and out the outlet air opening. This feature assures that the temperature of room interior air is accurately measured.

Abstract: Described is a user interface particularly suited for use in a home automation system. This interface combines advantages of a conventional touch screen (such as ease of use and accurate "key" placement) with the advantages of a conventional mechanical keypad (such as reduced cost and tactile feedback). The interface is well suited for use on any wallspace and may be easily reconfigured as necessary to support a host of system functions. The interface utilizes a backlit LCD separated into separate display sections, each having a durable, scratch resistant lens. Cantilevered switches associated with each display are used detect a user's selection of a displayed option.

Abstract: A control system is extremely flexible and modular and can be equipped or upgraded to have any number or combination of features, such as security, home theater/audio, HVAC, energy management, and lighting with each feature having a separate task unit. The task units can be added or removed from a core set of units within minimal impact on the core set of units. The core set of units includes a control database unit that stores sets of commands in a relational database according to an input/output event and a command execution unit that routes the commands to the appropriate task units for execution. The core set of units do not need to understand the input/output event or the commands but rather routes the commands to the task units addressed for execution. The system has a variable database that contains a relational database of variables shared between the various task units and stores such things as all keypad displays.

Abstract: A home automation system comprises a number of sub-systems for controlling various aspects of a house, such as a security sub-system, an HVAC sub-system, a lighting control sub-system, and an entertainment sub-system. The network comprises a host computer connected through a host interface to a plurality of nodes. The network is in a free form topology and employ asynchronous communication. The host computer polls each node on the network to determine system configuration and to perform a diagnostic check on the system. The messages that are transmitted between the nodes are comprised of a source address, a destination address that uniquely identifies the location of each piece of hardware on the system, a message type field, and a data length segment. Each hardware device has a mirror image software object in the host computer to which messages are directed. The user interfaces for the various sub-systems share a common interfacing method whereby use of the system is greatly simplified.

Abstract: Disclosed is an AC power module for controlling the level of power to multiple electrical devices such as lights and household appliances according to control signals supplied from a processor unit. The apparatus utilizes low voltage control signals which are synchronous with the standard AC power supply to control several solid state relay which in turn regulate the AC power supplied to the devices. Each relay is optically isolated from the module. The module incorporates additional terminals through which back-up switching or control of additional relays (with different power ratings) may be provided.The module may be constructed on a single printed circuit board (PCB) to facilitate installation and removal. According to this embodiment, the PCB has pins which matably attach to a corresponding number of L-shaped tabs provided on a standard electrical box.