Amx Corporation

Other

William B McGrane

Mark Ray Lee

Ronald W Barber

Mark S Lewno

Aaron L Myer

Charles W Partridge

Thomas D Hite

Robert D Ward

A controller, method and computer medium are provided for controlling communications between a control area network and a data network. The method includes receiving user input at a controller coupled to the control area network from a node coupled to the data network, receiving user input at the controller from a node coupled to the control area network, and instructing an internet appliance coupled to the control area network to perform a command based on at least one of the received user inputs.

Internet control system communication protocol, method and computer program

A control system, method and computer program are provided for communicating control information in a control system. The control system includes a master controller and a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices have a number of channels. Each channel has an identifying number and a plurality of channel states. The method includes at least initially directing one or more messages sent to and from each device to the master controller, sending a first type of control message from the master controller to respective devices, and sending a second type of control message and a third type of control message from the master controller to respective devices. A control message of the first type directs the respective device to place one of its channels in a specified channel state. A control message of the second type directs the respective device to set the level of a specified parameter to a certain value, and a control message of the third type comprises a character string of variable length.

A control system of the present invention includes at least one device, a network interconnecting the at least one device, a control network portal coupled between the network and the Internet, and a master controller coupled to the network and operable to control the operations of the Internet and the at least one device, the Internet is controllable as a device coupled to the network.

Internet control system and method

A master controller in a control area network system in a larger control area network may have a plurality of devices coupled thereto. The master controller may further include a device manager which provides a virtual device. The virtual device operates to link a state associated with the virtual device to a plurality of states associated with the devices such that the respective states are maintained in a substantially similar condition. The substantially similar condition is maintained by propagating a change in the state of the virtual device to a change in the state of the devices and a change in the state of one or more of the devices is propagated to the virtual device and all other devices.

Method and system for operating virtual devices by master controllers in a control system

A method for sending messages to multiple locations in a control system is provided. The method includes defining a set of a plurality of locations in the control system. This set is capable of being dynamically changed to add and remove locations from the set. The method further includes executing an instruction to send a message to the set in order to send the message to each location in the set.

Method and system for sending messages to multiple locations in a control system

A communication protocol includes a packet protocol, which includes a protocol field for indicating the type of protocol, a length of data field for listing the length in bytes of the data field, a data field containing sub protocol data, and a checksum for determining the integrity of the packet.

Internet control system communication protocol and method

A communication system includes a communication server having a file storage cache, at least one control system coupled to the communication server via a communication path, and at least one client application in communications with the communication server. The communication server is operable to transmit files between the at least one client application and the at least one control system.

Control system communication server for transmitting files via multiple communication paths

A master controller ( ) in a control area network system in a larger control area network ( ) may have a plurality of devices ( ) coupled thereto. The devices generate data which the master controller directs to a destination device coupled to the same master controller, a different master controller in the same control area network or to a different master controller in a different control area network. The master controller directs the data using a connections table acquired from one or more other master controllers to which the master controller may communicate with.

Method and system for master to master communication in control systems

Electronic devices ( ) can be controlled by a control unit ( ), which in turn is responsive to infrared commands ( ) received from a remote ( ) utilized by an operator. The remote has a touch-panel display ( ), on which images can be displayed. The images are part of a user interface created by a program ( ) running in a personal computer ( ). An operator enters into the computer an identification of the devices ( ) which are to be controlled, and the computer then takes predefined images and automatically customizes them for the these devices. Some of the images have a size which is less than the overall size of the display, so that when one of these images is displayed, a portion of at least one other image will also be visible. For a controlled device which does not recognize each of a discrete power on, discrete power off and power toggle command, the computer automatically effects configuration so as to provide all three functions using a subset of commands which the controlled device actually does recognize.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

William B McGrane