Abstract: The present invention provides a reliable communication protocol that provides multicasting of digital messages on an interprocessor link coupling together a plurality of processors of a load control system. Preferably, the load control system includes a plurality of sub-systems, with a number of the processors in each sub-system. The processors are each characterized by a unique individual address, while all of the processors of a single sub-system are characterized by an identical multicast address. The processors re-transmit digital messages on the communication link if a target address of the digital message is equal to the multicast address. The processors determine if acknowledgement messages are received from each of the processors from which acknowledgement messages were expected during a predetermined amount of time after transmitting an initial digital message, and transmit a retry message in response to determining that the acknowledgement messages were not received.

Abstract: In an electric system that controls electrical or state variable devices through inputs received from device operators such as switches, buttons and the like, where some of the button control or set sequences for the electrical devices and others predefined “presets”, an automatic sequence tracking process monitors the system and adjusts the position of the sequence steps for buttons that are associated therewith, to ensure that they always track the current condition of the electrical devices. Thereby, actuation of sequence generating buttons will always choose the next step in a sequence for the corresponding electrical device.

Abstract: In an electric system that controls electrical or state variable devices through inputs received from device operators such as switches, buttons and the like, where some of the buttons control or set sequences for the electrical devices and others predefined “presets”, an automatic sequence tracking process monitors the system and adjusts the position of the sequence steps for buttons that are associated therewith, to ensure that they always track the current condition of the electrical devices. Thereby, actuation of sequence generating buttons will always choose the next step in a sequence for the corresponding electrical device.