Method and system of programming at least one appliance to change state upon the occurrence of a trigger event

Abstract

An automation system for programming appliances having programmable controllers, programmable devices and trigger devices that communicate over a communication link. The user programs the programmable devices by placing the programmable controller in its training mode, activating the trigger device to generate a trigger signed and places select programmable devices in their programmed state. After all of the desired programmable devices have been put in then programmed states, the user takes the programmable controller out of its training mode. When the programmable controller is out of its training mode, it monitors the communication link for the trigger event. Upon detecting the trigger event, the programmable controller sends messages to the selected programmable devices instructing them to go to their programmed state.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for programming a controller, the method comprising:
 receiving a trigger signal, by a processor of the controller, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in communication with the controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a lighting fixture;   receiving a message and a unique address at the processor of the controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in an environment and is in the desired state for the environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and   subsequently, exiting the training mode at the processor of the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the controller is not in the training mode;   detecting the trigger signal; and   in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the controller, the switch having at least two states. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger signal is generated by detecting an environment change by the sensor coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting a motion by the sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting an alarm condition from a security system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the receiving the trigger signal and the message comprises a radio frequency communication. 
     
     
         9 . A tangible computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a controller, cause the processor to perform operations for programming a controller, the operations comprising:
 receiving a trigger signal at the controller, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in communication with the controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a lighting fixture;   receiving a message and a unique address at the controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in the environment and is in the desired state for an environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and   subsequently, exiting the training mode at the controller.   
     
     
         10 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at the controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the controller is not in the training mode;   detecting the trigger signal; and   in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.   
     
     
         11 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device. 
     
     
         12 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the controller, the switch having at least two states. 
     
     
         13 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the trigger signal is generated by detecting an environment change by the sensor coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting a motion by the sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the detecting the environmental change comprises detecting an alarm condition from a security system. 
     
     
         16 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein each of the receiving the trigger signal and the message comprises a radio frequency communication. 
     
     
         17 . A controller for use in an environment, comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving a trigger signal, wherein the trigger signal is associated with a trigger event at a trigger device, wherein the trigger device comprises a sensor for sensing the trigger event, while the controller is in a training mode, the trigger device being in communication with the controller, wherein the trigger signal is for causing a programmable device to change to a desired state, wherein the programmable device comprises a lighting fixture; 
 receiving a message and a unique address at the controller from the programmable device, wherein the programmable device is in the environment and is in the desired state for the environment, wherein the message indicates that the programmable device is in the desired state and the unique address is for the programmable device; and 
 subsequently, exiting the training mode at the controller. 
   
     
     
         18 . The controller of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 at the controller, monitoring for the trigger signal while the controller is not in the training mode;   detecting the trigger signal; and   in response to the detecting of the trigger signal, broadcasting a control signal for reception by the programmable device to change the programmable device to the desired state.   
     
     
         19 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the message that the programmable device is in the desired state is broadcasted by the programmable device as an instruction which will later be rebroadcasted as the control signal to the programmable device. 
     
     
         20 . The controller of  claim 17 , wherein the trigger signal is generated by changing a state of a switch coupled to the controller, the switch having at least two states.