Communicating with and controlling load control systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11445584-B2
Application number	US-202016879708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	May 20, 2019
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

The network device may be configured to define or update a scene for controlling a zone in a certain area or location of a load control system. For example, the load control system may be installed in a residential home or building. At least one lighting control device that is configured to control a corresponding lighting load may be assigned to each of the one or more zones. The network device may be configured to display one or more graphical user interfaces that a user of the network device may interact with to define or update a scene. The network device may also be configured to display one or more graphical user interfaces that a user of the network device may interact with to define or update natural show functionality. After a scene and/or natural show have been configured, the may enabled or activated in response to a triggering event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
defining a scene for controlling a plurality of zones in an area of a building, wherein each zone comprises at least one lighting control device configured to control a corresponding lighting load;
displaying a lighting intensity for each of the plurality of zones in the scene on a graphical user interface;
determining that the lighting intensity for at least two zones of the plurality of zones is different;
receiving an indication of a relative change in the lighting intensity for the at least two zones of the plurality of zones;
displaying at least one palette on the graphical user interface, wherein each palette of the at least one palette identifies a color setting for controlling the at least one lighting load for the respective zone for which the palette is being displayed, wherein each palette of the at least one palette is configured to display colors at different color temperatures at which the at least one lighting load of the respective zone is capable of being controlled or a full color gamut of colors at which the at least one lighting load of the respective zone is capable of being controlled;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the color setting on each palette for controlling the at least one lighting load for the respective zone for which the palette is being displayed;
storing the lighting intensity and the selected color setting for each of the plurality of zones in the scene, wherein the stored lighting intensity comprises the lighting intensity for the at least two zones after the indication of the relative change in the lighting intensity has been received;
receiving a triggering event configured to trigger the scene; and
controlling the plurality of zones in the area of the building according to the stored lighting intensity and color setting in response the triggering event.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a control interface for each of the plurality of zones in the scene on the graphical user interface, wherein displaying the control interface for each of the plurality of zones is based on the functionality of the at least one lighting control device comprised in each of the plurality of zones.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
displaying a first control interface for a first zone, wherein the first control interface comprises a first palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the first zone, and wherein the first palette is configured to display colors at different color temperatures;
displaying a second control interface for a second zone, wherein the second control interface comprises a second palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the second zone, and wherein the second palette is configured to display a full color gamut of colors; and
storing the selected color setting for the first zone and the selected color setting for the second zone.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
displaying a first control interface for controlling a lighting intensity for a first zone;
displaying a second control interface for controlling a lighting intensity for a second zone; and
displaying a third control interface that comprises the palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the first zone and the second zone.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the color setting on the palette for controlling the first zone and the second zone; and
storing the selected color setting for controlling the first zone and the second zone.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication to provide real-time feedback at the at least one at least one lighting control device comprised in each of the plurality of zones; and
controlling the at least one at least one lighting control device comprised in each of the plurality of zones according to the lighting intensity and the selected color settings in the scene in real time.

7. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a control circuit, cause the control circuit to:
define a scene for controlling a plurality of zones in an area of a building, wherein each zone comprises at least one lighting control device configured to control a corresponding lighting load;
display a lighting intensity for each of the plurality of zones in the scene on a graphical user interface;
determine that the lighting intensity for at least two zones of the plurality of zones is different;
receive an indication of a relative change in the lighting intensity for the at least two zones of the plurality of zones;
display at least one palette on the graphical user interface, wherein each palette of the at least one palette identifies a color setting for controlling the at least one lighting load for the respective zone for which the palette is being displayed, wherein each palette of the at least one palette is configured to display colors at different color temperatures at which the at least one lighting load of the respective zone is capable of being controlled or a full color gamut of colors at which the at least one lighting load of the respective zone is capable of being controlled;
receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of the color setting on each palette for controlling the at least one lighting load for the respective zone for which the palette is being displayed;
store the lighting intensity and the selected color setting for each of the plurality of zones in the scene, wherein the stored lighting intensity comprises the lighting intensity for the at least two zones after the indication of the relative change in the lighting intensity has been received;
receive a triggering event configured to trigger the scene; and
control the plurality of zones in the area of the building according to the stored lighting intensity and color setting in response the triggering event.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the control circuit to:
display a control interface for each of the plurality of zones in the scene on the graphical user interface, wherein the control interface is displayed for each of the plurality of zones based on the functionality of the at least one lighting control device comprised in each of the plurality of zones.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the control circuit to:
display a first control interface for a first zone, wherein the first control interface comprises a first palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the first zone, and wherein the first palette is configured to display colors at different color temperatures;
display a second control interface for a second zone, wherein the second control interface comprises a second palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the second zone, and wherein the second palette is configured to display a full color gamut of colors; and
store the selected color setting for the first zone and the selected color setting for the second zone.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the control circuit to:
display a first control interface for controlling a lighting intensity for a first zone;
display a second control interface for controlling a lighting intensity for a second zone; and
display a third control interface that comprises the palette that identifies a color setting for controlling the first zone and the second zone.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further ca

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Barnes Bryan Robert
• Sarode Shilpa
• Tian Shenchi
• Priester Kenneth
• Kreschollek Brad Michael

Classifications

• H05B47/196

  characterised by user interface arrangements · CPC title

• H05B47/1965

  using handheld communication devices · CPC title

• H05B47/1985

  Creation of lighting zones or scenes · CPC title

• H05B47/19 Primary

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/16

  by timing means · CPC title