Abstract: A method and system that allow an ECU to be conveniently configured based on the contents of an ECU configuration profile database that stores ECU user profiles and living environment profiles, and that generates a user interface for a selected remote ECU displaying selectable living environment devices, each of which corresponds to a type of living environment device that can be controlled by a user through that ECU. The user interface further displays a representation of a current configuration of the remotely located ECU, and enables the administrator user to move the selectable living environment device representations into the current configuration representation for the remotely located environmental control unit, for example by dragging and dropping the living environment device representations using a mouse user interface device coupled to a computer system on which the administration tool is executing.

Abstract: An administration tool program generates a user interface displaying selectable living environment devices, each corresponding to a type of living environment device that can be controlled by a user through a remotely located ECU (environmental control unit). The user interface displays a representation of a current configuration of the remotely located ECU, and enables the administrator user to move the selectable living environment device representations into the current configuration representation for the remotely located ECU, for example by dragging and dropping the living environment device representations using a mouse user interface device coupled to a computer system on which the administration tool is executing.

Abstract: A system for managing a network of environmental control units (ECUs) enables an ECU user to more easily move from one living environment to another. The system allows an ECU to be conveniently configured based on the contents of an ECU configuration profile database that stores ECU user profiles and living environment profiles, without manual reprogramming of specific user or living environment characteristics. An ECU configuration profile database is maintained that stores user profiles made up of user specific ECU configuration information, and living environment profiles made up of living environment specific ECU configuration information. Each user profile contains user specific characteristics. Each living environment profile contains living environment characteristics. Individual user profiles and living environment profiles are independently stored in and retrieved from the ECU configuration profile database.

Abstract: A new method and system for providing dynamically configurable and extensible control of electronic devices. Text configuration files are used to generate a command tree that is used by command line interface logic to process input words from a user in order to generate output function calls. The text configuration files include master text configuration files that are user independent, and that reflect the functional capabilities of an control system. The text configuration files further include user specific text configuration files that indicate which devices an associated user uses, the commands associated with those devices that are used by that user, and the order in which those devices and commands are presented to the user in a user interface of the control system. The master text configuration files are used to generate a master command tree, and the user specific text configuration files are used to generate an operative command tree.