Abstract: In one embodiment, an architecture for redundant control of wireless devices (e.g., wireless light fixtures, wireless light strips, wireless window shades, or other wireless devices) of a home automation system is provided that uses a combination of WLAN and WPAN communication. During normal operation of the home automation system, control commands generated in response to user input in a control application (app) on a control device (e.g., a remote control, mobile device, or other electronic device) are transmitted via a WLAN (e.g., Wi-Fi) to a bridge device (e.g., a lamp module or wireless keypad) proximate to the wireless device, which forwards the commands over a WPAN (e.g., BLE) to the wireless device. In the absence of an available WLAN connection (e.g., due to failure, prior to its configuration, etc.), the control device may send control commands via the WPAN (e.g., BLE) directly to the wireless device.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an architecture is provided for implementing circadian lighting in a home automation system having diverse lighting devices of different capabilities and manners of control. The architecture utilizes an outdoor sensor to capture current intensity and color temperature data for the outdoor environment. Color temperatures and intensities from a user-created circadian lighting curve are dynamically adjusted based on the current intensity and color temperature data for the outdoor environment to approximate changes that are occurring. The diverse lighting devices are controlled based on the dynamically adjusted temperatures and intensities.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of components from a component library are displayed. Each representation of a component corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system and associated with a corresponding component profile for that physical component that includes information regarding the component's capabilities. A selected plurality of representations of components from the component library are placed in a configuration workspace of the graphical user interface, to indicate their inclusion in the system. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based on the selected plurality of components; and indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are displayed to the user.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an architecture is provided for implementing circadian lighting in a home automation system having diverse lighting devices of different capabilities and manners of control. The architecture utilizes an outdoor sensor to capture current intensity and color temperature data for the outdoor environment. Color temperatures and intensities from a user-created circadian lighting curve are dynamically adjusted based on the current intensity and color temperature data for the outdoor environment to approximate changes that are occurring. The diverse lighting devices are controlled based on the dynamically adjusted temperatures and intensities.

Abstract: An energy management system interoperates with an automation system to provide integrated control over essentially all power-consuming, power-generating, and power storage devices in a home or other environment. The energy management system provides configurable energy management scenes in which one or more values, each representing a desired operating condition, are associated with some or all of the loads of a home, business or other environment. Different energy management scenes may be configured for different environmental conditions including season, day of week, time of day, grid status, battery condition, and generator condition among others.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an architecture for redundant control of wireless devices (e.g., wireless light fixtures, wireless light strips, wireless window shades, or other wireless devices) of a home automation system is provided that uses a combination of WLAN and WPAN communication. During normal operation of the home automation system, control commands generated in response to user input in a control application (app) on a control device (e.g., a remote control, mobile device, or other electronic device) are transmitted via a WLAN (e.g., Wi-Fi) to a bridge device (e.g., a lamp module or wireless keypad) proximate to the wireless device, which forwards the commands over a WPAN (e.g., BLE) to the wireless device. In the absence of an available WLAN connection (e.g., due to failure, prior to its configuration, etc.), the control device may send control commands via the WPAN (e.g., BLE) directly to the wireless device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of components from a component library are displayed. Each representation of a component corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system and associated with a corresponding component profile for that physical component that includes information regarding the component's capabilities. A selected plurality of representations of components from the component library are placed in a configuration workspace of the graphical user interface, to indicate their inclusion in the system. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based on the selected plurality of components; and indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are displayed to the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC and/or security components are displayed in a graphical user interface. Each representation corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system. A zone map that represents one or more zones is displayed in the graphical user interface. A selected representation of an audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC or security component is dragged and dropping to a selected zone of the zone map to indicate installation of a selected physical component in the corresponding room. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based at least in part on the selected zone of the zone map. Thereafter, an output is provided based on the one or more realized services.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless lighting application (app) is executed on a mobile device to configure a wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices. A connection is established between the mobile device and a wireless lighting control device. In response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the wireless lighting app, the wireless lighting app configures at least one of a lighting controller, keypads or lamp modules by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name. Further, the wireless lighting app defines a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name. Still further, the wireless lighting app assigns the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

Abstract: An automation system includes a lighting controller having a WiFi interface through which wireless communication may be established with one or more mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. Using a mobile device, an installer may rapidly and reliably configure the lighting controller including creating or modifying bindings and settings for keypads which are associated with the lighting controller. The lighting controller includes a dynamic snubber circuit which automatically adjusts itself to operate with different types of loads.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure a home multimedia system. Software executing on a controller or other device access component profiles describing attributes of components, one or more zone configurations that indicate components that are present in one or more zones, and one or more connection configurations that indicates how components that are present in the one or more zones are interconnected. The software applies a set of predefined service rules to the data structures to generate workflows for possible services, wherein each service rule defines one or more components and one or more interactions required for providing a corresponding service, and each workflow indicates how one or more of the components that are present in the one or more zones interact to provide a service. Executable forms of the workflows are generated, and executed to provide services to a user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure a home multimedia system. Software executing on a controller or other device access component profiles describing attributes of components, one or more zone configurations that indicate components that are present in one or more zones, and one or more connection configurations that indicates how components that are present in the one or more zones are interconnected. The software applies a set of predefined service rules to the data structures to generate workflows for possible services, wherein each service rule defines one or more components and one or more interactions required for providing a corresponding service, and each workflow indicates how one or more of the components that are present in the one or more zones interact to provide a service. Executable forms of the workflows are generated, and executed to provide services to a user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless lighting application (app) is executed on a mobile device to configure a wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices. A connection is established between the mobile device and a wireless lighting control device. In response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the wireless lighting app, the wireless lighting app configures at least one of a lighting controller, keypads or lamp modules by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name. Further, the wireless lighting app defines a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name. Still further, the wireless lighting app assigns the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

Abstract: An integrated multimedia, entertainment, communications and control system. The system is based on a general purpose computer and is capable of interfacing with, controlling or managing a wide variety of audio, video, telecommunications, data communications or other devices. The system includes a programming environment for creating services or user experiences that may incorporate features or functionalities of several devices that are conventionally operated as separate, standalone devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure and remotely control a system. A system configuration is created based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition. The system configuration includes information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure, information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of the system, information about at least one function which the at least one physical component is capable of performing, and information about at least one command which the at least one physical component recognizes. A cell phone is used to discover the system by transmitting a name service discovery request to the system, which responds with a name service registration confirmation. The cell phone is then used to remotely control the system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, graphical programming is used to configure a system of audio, video, lighting, HVAC and/or security components. Representations of audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC and/or security components are displayed in a graphical user interface. Each representation corresponds to a physical component that is available for inclusion in the system. A zone map that represents one or more zones is displayed in the graphical user interface. A selected representation of an audio, video, lighting, heating, HVAC or security component is dragged and dropping to a selected zone of the zone map to indicate installation of a selected physical component in the corresponding room. One or more realized services that the system is capable of providing are determined based at least in part on the selected zone of the zone map. Thereafter, an output is provided based on the one or more realized services.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a component library stores representations of audio/video components, the representations of audio/video components corresponding to physical audio/video components that are available for inclusion in a system. A configuration workspace is provided into which a selected plurality of representations of audio/video components from the component library are placed to indicate their inclusion in the system. A drawing tool may be used to draw connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components in the configuration workspace. Further, a configuration compiler may determine one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing based on the selected plurality of audio/video components and the drawn connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components, and may display to the user indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided to configure and remotely control a system. A system configuration is created based, at least in part, on information collected from a user using speech synthesis and speech recognition. The system configuration includes information representing at least one zone that corresponds with at least one room in a physical structure, information identifying at least one physical component which represents at least a part of the system, information about at least one function which the at least one physical component is capable of performing, and information about at least one command which the at least one physical component recognizes. A cell phone is used to discover the system by transmitting a name service discovery request to the system, which responds with a name service registration confirmation. The cell phone is then used to remotely control the system.

Abstract: An automation system includes a lighting controller having a WiFi interface through which wireless communication may be established with one or more mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. Using a mobile device, an installer may rapidly and reliably configure the lighting controller including creating or modifying bindings and settings for keypads which are associated with the lighting controller. The lighting controller includes a dynamic snubber circuit which automatically adjusts itself to operate with different types of loads.

Abstract: A web browser-equipped device, such as a personal digital assistant, tablet, notebook or other computer, wireless telephone handset or other device, to function as a remote control unit for a programmable multimedia controller. Web pages served by the multimedia controller to the web browser-equipped device present a user interface which may include programmable background motifs, colors and indicators. The user interface also typically includes one or more user-operable buttons whose functionalities are programmable. A method is provided for automatically converting a user interface device configuration for the multimedia controller into web pages suitable for a browser-equipped device.