Abstract: Electroacoustical speaker devices that synchronously play audio received from a source. In one embodiment, one speaker acts as the master and the other speaker acts as the slave. The master speaker receives digital audio data from a source and, in addition to playing the digital audio received from the source, the master speaker retransmits the digital audio to the slave speaker. The master speaker additionally sends synchronization data to the slave speaker, such as data that indicates the buffer status or playback position of the master speaker. The slave speaker utilizes the synchronization data from the master speaker to adjust, for example, its buffer status or playback position, so that the two speakers play the audio synchronously (e.g., within thirty milliseconds). In one embodiment, the master speaker uses a connection-oriented protocol, such as TCP/IP, to transmit buffered audio data to the slave speaker and uses a connectionless protocol, such as UDP or ICMP, for the synchronization data.

Abstract: A lavatory is provided. The lavatory includes at least one wash station, at least one electrically operated fixture associated with the wash station, a control system configured to control a flow of a fluid through the at least one electrically operated fixture, a power source selectively coupled to the control system, and a power management system coupled to the power source to control the power provided to the control system. The power management system includes a detector configured to monitor the output voltage of the power source, and a switch configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the control system when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A lavatory system is provided that includes a first wash station having a first fluid dispensing fixture and a first drain, a second wash station having a second fluid dispensing fixture and a second drain, a support structure extending between the first wash station and the second wash station and at least one array of photovoltaic cells supported at the support structure. The at least one array of photovoltaic cells is configured to provide power for operating both the first fluid dispensing fixture and the second fluid dispensing fixture.

Abstract: Electroacoustical speaker devices that synchronously play audio received from a source. In one embodiment, one speaker acts as the master and the other speaker acts as the slave. The master speaker receives digital audio data from a source and, in addition to playing the digital audio received from the source, the master speaker retransmits the digital audio to the slave speaker. The master speaker additionally sends synchronization data to the slave speaker, such as data that indicates the buffer status or playback position of the master speaker. The slave speaker utilizes the synchronization data from the master speaker to adjust, for example, its buffer status or playback position, so that the two speakers play the audio synchronously (e.g., within thirty milliseconds). In one embodiment, the master speaker uses a connection-oriented protocol, such as TCP/IP, to transmit buffered audio data to the slave speaker and uses a connectionless protocol, such as UDP or ICMP, for the synchronization data.

Abstract: A lavatory is provided. The lavatory includes at least one wash station, at least one electrically operated fixture associated with the wash station, a control system configured to control a flow of a fluid through the at least one electrically operated fixture, a power source selectively coupled to the control system, and a power management system coupled to the power source to control the power provided to the control system. The power management system includes a detector configured to monitor the output voltage of the power source, and a switch configured to electrically disconnect the power source from the control system when the output voltage of the power source drops below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A lavatory system having at least one wash station and at least one electrically operated fixture is disclosed. The lavatory system includes a control system for operating the at least one electrically operated fixture. The control system comprises a power supply system, a detection system, and a fixture actuation system. According to one embodiment, the detection system comprises a processor, a sensor configured to detect a user within a sensing region, and a sampling circuit configured to store a signal from the sensor that is used by the processor to activate the fixture. According to another embodiment, the power supply system includes a power source providing an output voltage for operating components of the control system, a detector monitoring the output voltage, and a switch for electrically disconnecting the power source from the components of the control system if the output voltage drops below a predetermined level.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system layer interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system layer interface includes messaging command libraries configured to implement human-readable messages for the automation network devices, where the automation network devices include at least one message output device. The system layer interface may provide commands and functions to establish messaging in the network, the length of supported messages, and scrolling of messages on output display devices.

Abstract: A lavatory system is provided that includes a first wash station having a first fluid dispensing fixture and a first drain, a second wash station having a second fluid dispensing fixture and a second drain, a support structure extending between the first wash station and the second wash station and at least one array of photovoltaic cells supported at the support structure. The at least one array of photovoltaic cells is configured to provide power for operating both the first fluid dispensing fixture and the second fluid dispensing fixture.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system level interface includes proxy command libraries configured to designate a proxy device from the automation network devices. The proxy device accepts commands or messages to be transmitted to another automation network device.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system layer interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the home automation network. The system layer interface includes command libraries configured to upgrade a remote network device. The automation network queries the network devices to determine if there are lost network devices or newly added network devices. The automation network may update a new remote device with scene information related to any lost network devices.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. A method is disclosed that programs an automation network device in communication with an automation network, where the automation network includes an access point coupled with an external network. The method includes receiving application upgrade data at the access point, where the application upgrade data includes upgrade data associated with a target automation network device in communication with the automation network. Application upgrade data is transmitted through the home to the target automation network device. A next application upgrade data packet to be transmitted across the automation network is requested from the target automation network device.

Abstract: A home automation protocol system provides a network consisting of a number of node devices, controllers, and servers for storing information about node device settings and scene settings in a home environment is provided. The node devices are controlled by the controllers, in that the node devices are set to create scenes, which are stored in a scene server, while the operational states of the node devices are stored in a status server. The status server and scene server may be provided as separate units. The home automation protocol network is controlled by sending commands to the devices and servers, and new devices and controllers are added or updated, and new scenes are programmed. The network protocol allows devices running different protocols to be incorporated into the network.

Abstract: A lavatory system having at least one wash station and at least one electrically operated fixture is disclosed. The lavatory system includes a control system for operating the at least one electrically operated fixture. The control system comprises a power supply system, a detection system, and a fixture actuation system. According to one embodiment, the detection system comprises a processor, a sensor configured to detect a user within a sensing region, and a sampling circuit configured to store a signal from the sensor that is used by the processor to activate the fixture. According to another embodiment, the power supply system includes a power source providing an output voltage for operating components of the control system, a detector monitoring the output voltage, and a switch for electrically disconnecting the power source from the components of the control system if the output voltage drops below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A system layer interface provides an abstraction interface to implement the system layer, and applications to interface with the network transport layer without requiring the developer to understand or work with the network transport layer functionality directly. A software architecture implements human-readable device types and human-readable units for network devices in an automation network. The software architecture includes command libraries to assign a human-readable device type to a network device and command libraries to assign a human-readable device unit to the network device in communication with the automation network. The human-readable device type and the human-readable device unit provide additional layers of description for a network description for each network device.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system level interface includes proxy command libraries configured to designate a proxy device from the automation network devices. The proxy device accepts commands or messages to be transmitted to another automation network device.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system layer interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system layer interface includes messaging command libraries configured to implement human-readable messages for the automation network devices, where the automation network devices include at least one message output device. The system layer interface may provide commands and functions to establish messaging in the network, the length of supported messages, and scrolling of messages on output display devices.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system level interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. A method is disclosed that programs an automation network device in communication with an automation network, where the automation network includes an access point coupled with an external network. The method includes receiving application upgrade data at the access point, where the application upgrade data includes upgrade data associated with a target automation network device in communication with the automation network. Application upgrade data is transmitted through the home to the target automation network device. A next application upgrade data packet to be transmitted across the automation network is requested from the target automation network device.

Abstract: A software architecture for an automation network is disclosed that implements a high level, protocol-independent interface for a network system. The software architecture includes a system layer interface to maintain a protocol-independent interface with a transport layer and an application layer of the automation network. The system layer interface includes command libraries to route data within the network system, a node map to store data related to locations of network nodes, and a bridge table to store data related to network bridges. Using the software architecture, a programmer may not need to understand the network protocols run by nodes within the network system.

Abstract: An automation network includes automation network devices connected to the network and a system layer interface that interfaces with a transport layer and an application layer of the home automation network. The system layer interface includes command libraries configured to upgrade a remote network device. The automation network queries the network devices to determine if there are lost network devices or newly added network devices. The automation network may update a new remote device with scene information related to any lost network devices.

Abstract: A home automation protocol system provides a network consisting of a number of node devices, controllers, and servers for storing information about node device settings and scene settings in a home environment is provided. The node devices are controlled by the controllers, in that the node devices are set to create scenes, which are stored in a scene server, while the operational states of the node devices are stored in a status server. The status server and scene server may be provided as separate units. The home automation protocol network is controlled by sending commands to the devices and servers, and new devices and controllers are added or updated, and new scenes are programmed. The network protocol allows devices running different protocols to be incorporated into the network.