Communicating with and Controlling Load Control Systems

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating via a communications network with a load control system of a respective user environment, receiving information on the load control system via the communications network, displaying graphical user interfaces based on the received information, and controlling and configuring the load control system via graphical user interfaces by communicating via the communications network messages the load control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processor, information via a communications circuit from a communications network,
 wherein the information is associated with control devices located within an environment, 
 wherein the control devices comprise lighting control devices that are each configured to control a respective lighting load located within the environment, 
 wherein the control devices further comprise a first occupancy sensor and a second occupancy sensor, 
 wherein the first occupancy sensor and a first of the lighting control devices are located within a first location of the environment, and 
 wherein the second occupancy sensor and a second of the lighting control device are located within a second location of the environment; 
   determining, by the at least one processor, from the received information that the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state, and that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state;   determining, by the at least one processor, from the received information that the first occupancy sensor detected an occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, and that the second occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied;   displaying, by the at least one processor, on a display screen a graphical user interface that comprises a first pane corresponding to the first location and a second pane corresponding to the second location;   displaying, by the at least one processor, in the first pane a first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and wherein to display the first icon comprises to display an appearance of the first icon to indicate the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   displaying, by the at least one processor, in the second pane a second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, and wherein to display the second icon comprises to display an appearance of the second icon to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   based at least in part on determining that the first occupancy sensor detected the occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, displaying, by the at least one processor, within the first pane an occupancy indicator that indicates to a user that the first location is occupied; and   based at least in part on determining that the second occupancy sensor detected the vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied, displaying, by the at least one processor, the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device is selectable by a user; and   wherein the method further comprises:   detecting, by the at least one processor, a selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device;   responsive to detecting the selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, displaying, by the at least one processor, on the display screen a control interface to control the second lighting control device, wherein the control interface comprises an actuator;   determining, by the at least one processor, actuation of the actuator; and   responsive to determining actuation of the actuator, communicating, by the at least one processor, via the communications circuit one or more messages to control the second lighting control device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 based at least in part on communicating one or more messages, receiving, by the at least one processor, information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an off state; and   responsive to the information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state, displaying, by the at least one processor, the appearance of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises displaying the second pane without the occupancy indicator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises displaying within the second pane a vacancy indicator that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the at least one processor, information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied, updating, by the at least one processor, the first pane to indicate to the user that the first location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, by the at least one processor, another graphical user interface on the display screen, and further displaying within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state, wherein displaying within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state comprises displaying within the another graphical user interface:
 the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and the occupancy indicator together with the first icon to indicate the first location is occupied; and 
 the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the at least one processor, information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant, updating, by the at least one processor, the another graphical user interface to display the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device without the occupancy indicator.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a display screen;   a communications circuit;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:   receive information via the communications circuit from a communications network,
 wherein the information is associated with control devices located within an environment, 
 wherein the control devices comprise lighting control devices that are each configured to control a respective lighting load located within the environment, 
 wherein the control devices further comprise a first occupancy sensor and a second occupancy sensor, 
 wherein the first occupancy sensor and a first of the lighting control devices are located within a first location of the environment, and 
 wherein the second occupancy sensor and a second of the lighting control device are located within a second location of the environment; 
   determine from the received information that the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state, and that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state;   determine from the received information that the first occupancy sensor detected an occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, and that the second occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied;   display on the display screen a graphical user interface that comprises a first pane corresponding to the first location and a second pane corresponding to the second location;   display in the first pane a first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and wherein to display the first icon comprises to display an appearance of the first icon to indicate the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   display in the second pane a second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, and wherein to display the second icon comprises to display an appearance of the second icon to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   based at least in part on determining that the first occupancy sensor detected the occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, display within the first pane an occupancy indicator that indicates to a user that the first location is occupied; and   based at least in part on determining that the second occupancy sensor detected the vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied, display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device is selectable by a user; and   wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:   detect a selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device;   responsive to detecting the selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, display on the display screen a control interface to control the second lighting control device, wherein the control interface comprises an actuator;   determine actuation of the actuator; and   responsive to determining actuation of the actuator, communicate via the communications circuit one or more messages to control the second lighting control device.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 based at least in part on communicating one or more messages, receive information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an off state; and   responsive to the information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state, display the appearance of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein to display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises to display the second pane without the occupancy indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein to display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises to display within the second pane a vacancy indicator that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 receive information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied, update the first pane to indicate to the user that the first location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 display another graphical user interface on the display screen, and further display within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state, wherein to display within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state comprises to display within the another graphical user interface:
 the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and the occupancy indicator together with the first icon to indicate the first location is occupied; and 
 the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 receive information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant, update the another graphical user interface to display the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device without the occupancy indicator.   
     
     
         17 . A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
 receive information via the communications circuit from a communications network,
 wherein the information is associated with control devices located within an environment, 
 wherein the control devices comprise lighting control devices that are each configured to control a respective lighting load located within the environment, 
 wherein the control devices further comprise a first occupancy sensor and a second occupancy sensor, 
 wherein the first occupancy sensor and a first of the lighting control devices are located within a first location of the environment, and 
 wherein the second occupancy sensor and a second of the lighting control device are located within a second location of the environment; 
   determine from the received information that the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state, and that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an on state;   determine from the received information that the first occupancy sensor detected an occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, and that the second occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied;   display on a display screen a graphical user interface that comprises a first pane corresponding to the first location and a second pane corresponding to the second location;   display in the first pane a first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and wherein to display the first icon comprises to display an appearance of the first icon to indicate the first lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   display in the second pane a second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, and wherein to display the second icon comprises to display an appearance of the second icon to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the on state;   based at least in part on determining that the first occupancy sensor detected the occupancy event that indicates the first location is occupied, display within the first pane an occupancy indicator that indicates to a user that the first location is occupied; and   based at least in part on determining that the second occupancy sensor detected the vacancy event that indicates the second location is unoccupied, display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         18 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device is selectable by a user; and   wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:   detect a selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device;   responsive to detecting the selection of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device, display on the display screen a control interface to control the second lighting control device, wherein the control interface comprises an actuator;   determine actuation of the actuator; and   responsive to determining actuation of the actuator, communicate via the communications circuit one or more messages to control the second lighting control device.   
     
     
         19 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 based at least in part on communicating one or more messages, receive information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in an off state; and   responsive to the information indicating that the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state, display the appearance of the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device to indicate the second lighting control device has its respective lighting load in the off state.   
     
     
         20 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein to display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises to display the second pane without the occupancy indicator. 
     
     
         21 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein to display the second pane in a manner that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied comprises to display within the second pane a vacancy indicator that indicates to the user that the second location is unoccupied. 
     
     
         22 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 receive information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is unoccupied, update the first pane to indicate to the user that the first location is unoccupied.   
     
     
         23 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 display another graphical user interface on the display screen, and further display within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state, wherein to display within the another graphical user interface a respective icon corresponding to each of the lighting control devices that has its respective lighting load in the on state comprises to display within the another graphical user interface:
 the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device, and the occupancy indicator together with the first icon to indicate the first location is occupied; and 
 the second icon corresponding to the second lighting control device. 
   
     
     
         24 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:
 receive information that indicates the first occupancy sensor detected a vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant; and   based at least in part on the first occupancy sensor detecting the vacancy event that indicates the first location is vacant, update the another graphical user interface to display the first icon corresponding to the first lighting control device without the occupancy indicator.