Abstract: A door lock controller receives sensor data from a sensor, such as a motion sensor or an RF envelope sensor, and determines whether to permit operation of a keypad associated with the door lock based at least in part on the sensor data. The door lock controller further sends messages including key pad data to a local receiver, receives messages containing door lock commands from the local receiver, and controls a state of the door lock based at least in part on the door lock commands.

Abstract: An electronic door lock system automatically controls locking and unlocking of a door. A door lock controller interfaces with an electronic door lock, sends messages including door lock data to a local receiver, and receives messages including door lock commands from the local receiver. In turn, the local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network. The hub receives the door lock data, applies a rule set to make lock operation decisions, and sends messages, which may comprise commands to operate the door lock, through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the commands to the door lock controller to automatically control the electronic door lock.

Abstract: Disconnected from the powerline, a battery-powered receiver is configured to conserve power. The receiver communicates information between a local controller and a communication network that uses the powerline and a radio frequency (RF) band to propagate messages. An antenna wirelessly detects the presence of the powerline carrier signal that radiates into free space, which indicates a first message encoded onto the powerline. A computer processor wakes up from an inactive state based on the presence of the carrier signal and receives a second message via a second RF signal having a different frequency than the powerline carrier signal, and determines whether the device address in the second message is the assigned address of the receiver. If the message is not addressed to the receiver, the receiver returns to an inactive state.

Abstract: The presently described apparatus and method extends the capabilities of an Insteon network of devices. The method includes transmitting a group command message from a first device to a selected group of devices having a common group number, and receiving the group command message by a second device of the group or receiving a clean-up message transmitted by the first device, and resetting the state of the second one of the devices, and transmitting an acknowledgement message to the first devices from the second device, and receiving the first acknowledgement message by a third one of the devices that had not received the group command message or a clean-up message previously, and restoring the state of the third one of the devices.

Abstract: An LED illumination device is configured to receive coded messages by at least one of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space, process the coded messages, and transmit the coded messages by two or more of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space.

Abstract: Disconnected from the powerline, a battery-powered receiver is configured to conserve power. The receiver communicates information between a local controller and a communication network that uses the powerline and a radio frequency (RF) band to propagate messages. An antenna wirelessly detects the presence of the powerline carrier signal that radiates into free space, which indicates a first message encoded onto the powerline. A computer processor wakes up from an inactive state based on the presence of the carrier signal and receives a second message via a second RF signal having a different frequency than the powerline carrier signal, and determines whether the device address in the second message is the assigned address of the receiver. If the message is not addressed to the receiver, the receiver returns to an inactive state.

Abstract: An LED illumination device is configured to receive coded messages by at least one of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space, process the coded messages, and transmit the coded messages by two or more of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space.

Abstract: A sensor lighting control system automatically controls lighting on a home automation network without creating unnecessary network traffic. A sensor module uses the light level to determine when a command to turn the light ON should be resent over the network.

Abstract: An electronic window covering control system automatically controls the position and orientation of a window covering. A window covering controller interfaces with a light intensity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an electronic window covering configured to raise and lower the covering and tilt the slats. The window covering controller sends sensor data to a local receiver and receives window covering commands from the local receiver. The local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network and sends the sensor data to the hub. The hub applies a rule set to make operation decisions based on sensor data and user preferences, and sends messages comprising commands to operate the window covering through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the window covering commands to the window covering controller to automatically control the electronic window covering.

Abstract: An electronic window covering control system automatically controls raising, lowering, and rotating a window covering of a window. A window covering controller interfaces with an electronic window covering, sends messages including sensor data to a local receiver, and receives messages including window covering commands from the local receiver. In turn, the local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network. The hub receives the sensor data, applies a rule set to make window covering operation decisions, and sends messages, which may comprise commands to operate the window covering, through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the window covering commands to the window covering controller to automatically control the electronic window covering.

Abstract: Disconnected from the powerline, a battery-powered receiver is configured to conserve power. The receiver communicates information between a local controller and a communication network that uses the powerline and a radio frequency (RF) band to propagate messages. An antenna wirelessly detects the presence of the powerline carrier signal that radiates into free space, which indicates a first message encoded onto the powerline. A computer processor wakes up from an inactive state based on the presence of the carrier signal and receives a second message via a second RF signal having a different frequency than the powerline carrier signal, and determines whether the device address in the second message is the assigned address of the receiver. If the message is not addressed to the receiver, the receiver returns to an inactive state.

Abstract: An electronic door lock system automatically controls locking and unlocking of a door. A door lock controller interfaces with an electronic door lock, sends messages including door lock data to a local receiver, and receives messages including door lock commands from the local receiver. In turn, the local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network. The hub receives the door lock data, applies a rule set to make lock operation decisions, and sends messages, which may comprise commands to operate the door lock, through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the commands to the door lock controller to automatically control the electronic door lock.

Abstract: A door lock controller receives sensor data from a sensor, such as a motion sensor or an RF envelope sensor, and determines whether to permit operation of a keypad associated with the door lock based at least in part on the sensor data. The door lock controller further sends messages including key pad data to a local receiver, receives messages containing door lock commands from the local receiver, and controls a state of the door lock based at least in part on the door lock commands.

Abstract: A door lock/unlock system for a building automatically controls locking and unlocking of a door. A door lock controller interfaces with an electronic door lock and receives messages including door lock commands from a local receiver. In turn, the local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network. The hub applies a rule set to make lock operation decisions, and sends messages comprising commands to operate the door lock through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the commands to the door lock controller to automatically control the electronic door lock. A door state device checks the state of the door. When the checking mechanism indicates that the message was not received or the lock operation failed, the system alerts the user to take appropriate lock action.

Abstract: An LED illumination device is configured to receive coded messages by at least one of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space, process the coded messages, and transmit the coded messages by two or more of radio signals in free space, electrically conducted signals by wire, and light wave propagated signals in free space.

Abstract: Low-cost intelligent control and communication devices are arranged to communicate with one another over one or more shared physical media, such as a powerline or a radio frequency band. No network controller is needed, because any device can act as a master, slave, or repeater. Adding more devices makes the system more robust, by virtue of a simple protocol for communication retransmissions and retries.

Abstract: A home automation module having an externally powered communications port. The module includes an automation microprocessor for controlling the module, a communications port for enabling the module to draw power in limited quantities from an external source, a receiver/transmitter section, a power line carrier (PLC) coupler for enabling the transfer of signals between the module and a main while electrically isolating the module from the main, a zero-crossing detector for monitoring the phase of the power on the main while maintaining substantial electrical isolation of the module from the main, and a boost regulator for enabling the module to derive sufficient power from the communications port to drive the PLC coupler during signal transmissions from the module to the main. The detector maintains substantial electrical isolation through an opto-isolator. The boost regulator stores up power over time so that sufficient power will be available when the demand is made.