Control4 Corporation Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150213978 | MODULAR SWITCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A switching system may include a body and a set of key elements. The body may be electrically connectable to a first electrical device and a second electrical device, and may have a keypad with key element attachment features to which the key elements can be attached. The key elements may be attachable in various positions and/or combinations on the keypad. The key elements may include one or more buttons of various sizes and/or a rocker. The keypad may have multiple positions to which key elements can be attached, with larger key elements requiring multiple positions. The key element attachment features may be domes, which may be inserted into holes in tabs extending from the key elements to pivotably attach the key elements to the keypad. Each key element may be retained on the keypad independently of any other component aside from the keypad and the key element. | 07-30-2015 |
20140323108 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING POWER SETTINGS OF A WIRELESS DEVICE - A method of adjusting power settings on a wireless device is described. The method includes applying a default power setting. The method also includes receiving region information from a central configuration device. The method also includes determining a power setting based on the region information. The method also includes applying the power setting. | 10-30-2014 |
20140321294 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDICATING LINK QUALITY - A method for indicating communication link quality by an electronic device is described. The method includes tracking local link quality information corresponding to a local receive link between the electronic device and a neighboring device. The method also includes receiving a request to indicate a link quality. The method further includes indicating the link quality. | 10-30-2014 |
20140319932 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE LOAD CONTROL - A method for adaptive load control by an electronic device is described. The method includes determining a wiring mode. The method also includes determining a frequency of a power source. The method further includes capturing a voltage waveform. The method additionally includes capturing a current waveform. The method also includes determining a load type of a load based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform. The method further includes determining a power factor based on the voltage waveform, the current waveform and the wiring mode. The method additionally includes operating the load based on the load type, the power factor and the frequency. | 10-30-2014 |
20140267068 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GESTURE-BASED LIGHTING CONTROL - An electronic device for gesture-based lighting control is described. The electronic device includes a touch sensor that detects a gesture input. The electronic device also includes a lighting operation determination module that determines a lighting operation based on the gesture input. The electronic device further includes a lighting operation execution module that executes the lighting operation. | 09-18-2014 |
20130241527 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDUCTIVE LOAD SWITCHING - An electronic device for inductive load switching is described. The electronic device includes a voltage sensor module that monitors a voltage waveform. The electronic device also includes a current sensor module that monitors a current waveform. The electronic device additionally includes a computing module coupled to the voltage sensor module and to the current sensor module that determines a power factor based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform. The electronic device further includes a controller module coupled to the computing module that switches off an inductive load based on the power factor. The electronic device has dimensions for fitting within a wall box. | 09-19-2013 |
20130188097 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING MEDIA DEVICES - A method for controlling media devices by an electronic device is described. The method includes receiving a first control signal from a first media device in a first media device control network. The method also includes generating a second control signal based on the first control signal and a second media device in a second media device control network. The method further includes sending the second control signal to the second media device. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187631 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING A LOAD TYPE - A method for detecting a load type is described. The method includes placing an electronic device in a forward phase mode. The method also includes operating a load at a maximum allowable level. The method additionally includes capturing a voltage waveform. The method further includes capturing a current waveform. The method also includes obtaining a voltage zero-cross based on the voltage waveform. The method additionally includes obtaining a current zero-cross based on the current waveform. The method further includes determining the load type based on the voltage zero-cross and the current zero-cross. | 07-25-2013 |
20130057247 | WALL BOX DEVICE FOR MANAGING ENERGY - An electronic device for managing energy is described. The electronic device includes a voltage sensor module that monitors a voltage waveform. The voltage sensor module includes discrete components. The electronic device includes a current sensor module that monitors a current waveform. The current sensor module includes discrete components. The electronic device is coupled to the voltage sensor module and to the current sensor module. The computing module determines a phase margin based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform. The electronic device includes a control module coupled to the computing module. The control module controls a load based on the voltage waveform, current waveform and phase margin. The control module includes discrete components. The voltage sensor module, the current sensor module, the computing module and the control module are housed within a wall box. | 03-07-2013 |
20120130557 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING SAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities. | 05-24-2012 |
20110137826 | SYNCHRONIZING A COST ESTIMATE ON AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A method for synchronizing a cost estimate on an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining an estimated usage by an electronic device. The method also includes obtaining an estimated rate. The method further includes estimating, on the electronic device, a bill for a period-to-date to produce an estimated bill. The method also includes determining, on the electronic device, whether to synchronize. The method further includes synchronizing, on the electronic device, the estimated bill using actual bill information for the period-to-date if it is determined to synchronize. | 06-09-2011 |
20110047370 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RE-COMMISSIONING A CONTROLLED DEVICE IN A HOME AREA NETWORK - Systems and methods for preparing and re-commissioning a controlled device in a home area network are described. A utility meter is communicated with. An authentication key and encryption data for communicating with the utility meter may be determined. The authentication key and encryption data are sent to a controlled device. A set of translation rules for a message are determined. The translation rules are sent to the controlled device. The controlled device establishes a secure communication link with the utility meter using the authentication key and the encryption data. The controlled device receives a request to change power usage from the utility meter over the secure communication link. The controlled device translates the request to change power usage into control instructions using the translation rules. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046806 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING THE EFFECTS OF A REQUEST TO CHANGE POWER USAGE - Systems and methods for estimating the effects of a request to change power usage are described. Device data about one or more devices may be received. User behavior data about past and anticipated user behavior may be received. Effects of a request to change power usage on a power grid may be estimated using the device data and the user behavior data. Whether to send the request to change power usage may be determined based on the estimated effects. | 02-24-2011 |
20100321151 | HOME AUTOMATION SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A control system for allowing access to the use of home automation devices. The control system can include at least one home automation device. A biometric scanner can gather biometric data from a user. An automation controller can be in networked communication with the home automation device and the biometric scanner. The receive controller can process biometric data from the biometric scanner to enable access to the at least one home automation device. | 12-23-2010 |
20100318198 | Automation Control of Electronic Devices - A system is provided for remote control of electronic devices. An automation controller can be used to control electronic devices via a network. A communication port for the automation controller is used to provide control signals for at least one electronic device via the network. An analog receiver module receives analog video signals from analog sources. A digital display module can receive a digital control interface from the automation controller. The digital control interface can include automation graphical interface controls. A display module, coupled to the automation controller, is used to composite the digital control interface received from the digital display module into a composite image with analog video signals. | 12-16-2010 |
20100115623 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA CONTENT USING VERIFICATION - A system and method are provided to enable distribution of media content across a network using physical verification. The system includes a media server configured to send media content across a local network. A storage device can be in communication with the media server, and the storage device may store media content having encryption and provide the media content to the media server. A media reader that is in communication with the media server can be checked by the media server to determine whether a recording of the media content on removable physical media is loaded in the media reader in order to allow the media server to distribute the media content previously stored on the storage device. An output device can be enabled to receive media content from the media server and to reproduce the media content for an end user. | 05-06-2010 |
20100023639 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMING AUDIO USING A SEND QUEUE - A system and method are provided for preparing a streaming media system for initial presentation of a media stream. The system includes a media server configured to send out media packets for a media stream at periodic clocked intervals. A framer can be located with the media server to divide the media stream into media packets. A media client is also provided to receive the media packets for the media stream from the media server. A send queue can be located in the server. The send queue can be configured to store a defined length of programming from the media stream, and the send queue can immediately fill a client's user buffer when an activation event occurs. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STREAMING AUDIO - A system and method is provided of synchronizing data streaming. The method can include the operation of receiving an incoming media packet having a timestamp from a media server at a client device. A further operation is synchronizing the clocks for a client device with a clock for a media server. The timestamp can be compared with a next play time for a packet. Another operation can be placing the incoming media packet into a user buffer at a playing position in the user buffer based on the next play time. The incoming media packet can then be played using a media output device accessible to an end user. | 01-28-2010 |
20100004791 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING SAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities. | 01-07-2010 |
20080313566 | DYNAMIC INTERFACE FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A HOME AUTOMATION NETWORK - A home automation network system having an automation controller and a remote control is described. The automation controller can dynamically download extracts from a menu database to the remote control as a user navigates through the menus. Downloading can be based on remote control configuration parameters communicated to the automation controller. Menus can be selected based on display limitations and input control types available on the remote control. | 12-18-2008 |
20080253386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH A DENSE MESH NETWORK - A system and method for distributing communications through a dense mesh network having a plurality of nodes coupled to one of at least two gateway controllers is disclosed. A node location of each node is calculated relative to other nodes in the mesh network. Nodes that are less than a predetermined distance of each other are assigned to separate gateway controllers. Radio frequency interference levels between the nodes in the mesh network are measured and channels or PN codes of nodes having interference levels greater than a predetermined amount are changed. | 10-16-2008 |
20080238668 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURITY MONITORING BETWEEN TRUSTED NEIGHBORS - A system and method for security monitoring by a trusted neighbor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system allows a security monitor in a first building to communicate with a building automation network in a second building to enable monitoring of a security sensor in the second building. | 10-02-2008 |
20080231544 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM CONTROL - A system and method are provided for automating control of a plurality of video displays coupled to a plurality of video sources through a switchable network. The method includes the operation of mapping a signal path for each signal between the plurality of video sources and the plurality of video displays to form a binding map. The binding map can be stored in a controllable device. In addition, a graphical user interface on a navigator can be generated. The graphical user interface is configured to represent the plurality of video displays. A further operation is connecting the plurality of video displays to the plurality of video sources through the switchable network based on the binding map and a user selection made with the graphical user interface in the controllable device. | 09-25-2008 |
20080220722 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING A WIRED NETWORK TO SEND RESPONSE MESSAGES IN AN AUTOMATION SYSTEM - A system and method for sending a response message over a wired communication channel in an automation network is disclosed. The method includes the operation of defining a radio frequency (RF) network between a central controller and a plurality of automation devices. A control signal is transmitted from the central controller to at least one of the plurality of automation devices over the RF network. A response message is sent from at least one of the plurality of automation devices to the central controller using a wired network. | 09-11-2008 |