Discovery procedure for a remote fan-speed control device in a wireless load control system

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are described herein for configuring (e.g., activating) a fan-speed control device in a wireless control system. The fan-speed control device may control a rotational speed of a ceiling fan. The fan-speed control device may enter a discovery mode and turn off the ceiling fan in response to entering the discovery mode. The network device may receive a selection of a discovered fan-speed control device. The fan-speed control device may transmit a discovery request message for being discovered by a network device. The network device may transmit a message including an identify command to the discovered fan-speed control device. The fan-speed control device may turn on the ceiling fan to an identification speed in response to receiving the identify command. The user may identify the fan-speed control device corresponding to the ceiling fan being identified in the space to be activated in the wireless control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for configuring a fan-speed control device in a wireless control system using a network device, the fan-speed control device configured to control a rotational speed of a ceiling fan, the method comprising:
 entering, by the fan-speed control device, a discovery mode;   controlling, by the fan-speed control device during the discovery mode, the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn off the ceiling fan;   transmitting, by the fan-speed control device during the discovery mode, a discovery request message;   displaying, by the network device, an indicator representing the fan-speed control device on a visible display of the network device in response to receiving the discovery request message from the fan-speed control device;   receiving, by the network device, a selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device;   transmitting, by the network device after the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device, a message including an identify command to the fan-speed control device;   controlling, by the fan-speed control device, the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn the ceiling fan on at an identification speed in response to receiving the identify command at the fan-speed control device;   receiving, by the network device, an input to activate the fan-speed control device to which the identify command was transmitted;   storing, by the network device, a device identifier of the fan-speed control device in response to receiving the input to activate the fan-speed control device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 cycling power to the fan-speed control device, wherein the discovery mode is entered by the fan-speed control device in response to the power to the fan-speed control device being cycled.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the network device, an indication to activate one or more control devices in the wireless control system; and   in response to the indication to activate the one or more control devices in the wireless control system, display a prompt to a user to cycle the power to the one or more control devices.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the fan-speed control device, a discovery initiation message from the network device, wherein the discovery mode is entered by the fan-speed control device in response to the receipt of the discovery initiation message at the fan-speed control device or in response to the receipt of the discovery initiation message above a discovery threshold at the fan-speed control device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the discovery initiation message comprises a broadcast message configured to trigger transmission of discovery request messages from a plurality of fan-speed control devices. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fan-speed control device comprises a first fan-speed control device, wherein the ceiling fan comprises a first ceiling fan, wherein the discovery request message comprises a first discovery request message, the method further comprising:
 entering, by a second fan-speed control device, a discovery mode;   controlling, by the second fan-speed control device during the discovery mode, the rotational speed of a second ceiling fan to turn off the second ceiling fan; and   transmitting, by the fan-speed control device during the discovery mode, a second discovery request message; and   displaying, by the network device, an indicator representing the second fan-speed control device on the visible display of the network device in response to receiving the second discovery request message from the second fan-speed control device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 storing, by the second fan-speed control device, a present speed of the ceiling fan before controlling the rotational speed of the second ceiling fan to turn off the second ceiling fan;   determining, at the second fan-speed control device, that an identify command fails to be received before an expiration of a timeout period; and   returning the ceiling fan to the stored speed after determining that the identify command fails to be received before the expiration of the timeout period.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the network device, a selection of the indicator representing the second fan-speed control device;
 transmitting, by the network device after the selection of the indicator representing the second fan-speed control device, a message including an identify command to the second fan-speed control device; 
 controlling, by the second fan-speed control device, the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn the ceiling fan on at the identification speed in response to receiving the identify command at the second fan-speed control device; 
 receiving, by the network device, an input to activate the second fan-speed control device to which the identify command was transmitted; 
 storing, by the network device, a device identifier of the second fan-speed control device in response to receiving the input to activate the second fan-speed control device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by the fan-speed control device, a present speed of the ceiling fan before controlling the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn off the ceiling fan; and   returning the ceiling fan to the stored speed before or after exiting the discovery mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 starting, by the fan-speed control device when entering the discovery mode, a timeout timer configured for an amount of time the fan-speed control device is to be in the discovery mode; and   exiting the discovery mode at an expiration of the timeout timer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, by the network device, an activation message configured to activate the fan-speed control device in the wireless control system in response to receiving the input to activate the fan-speed control device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the activation message comprises activation data that is received with programming data or association data generated as a result of activating the fan-speed control device, the method further comprising storing the activation data at the fan-speed control device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the activation data comprises at least one of a device name, a device type, a device location, a configuration address for communicating with other control devices, or other network credentials for communicating on a wireless network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command:
 displaying, by the network device, a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   receiving, by the network device, an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command:
 displaying, by the network device, a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating;   receiving, by the network device, an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   wherein the message including an identify command is transmitted to the fan-speed control device after the input is received indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification speed is included in the identify command. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a fan-speed control device configured to:
 enter a discovery mode; 
 control, during the discovery mode, a rotational speed of a ceiling fan to turn off the ceiling fan; and 
 transmit, during the discovery mode, a discovery request message; and 
   a network device configured to:
 display an indicator representing the fan-speed control device on a visible display of the network device in response to receiving the discovery request message from the fan-speed control device;
 receive a selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device; and 
 transmit, after the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device, a message including an identify command to the fan-speed control device, 
 
 wherein the fan-speed control device is configured to control the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn the ceiling fan on at an identification speed in response to receiving the identify command at the fan-speed control device, and wherein the network device is configured to receive an input to activate the fan-speed control device to which the identify command was transmitted and store a device identifier of the fan-speed control device in response to receiving the input to activate the fan-speed control device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fan-speed control device is configured to enter the discovery mode in response to the power to the fan-speed control device being cycled. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the network device is configured to:
 receive an indication to activate one or more control devices; and   in response to the indication to activate the one or more control devices, display a prompt to a user to cycle the power to the one or more control devices.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fan-speed control device is configured to:
 receive a discovery initiation message from the network device; and   enter the discovery mode in response to the receipt of the discovery initiation message or in response to the receipt of the discovery initiation message above a discovery threshold.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the discovery initiation message comprises a broadcast message configured to trigger transmission of discovery request messages from a plurality of fan-speed control devices. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fan-speed control device comprises a first fan-speed control device, wherein the ceiling fan comprises a first ceiling fan, wherein the discovery request message comprises a first discovery request message, and wherein the system comprises a second fan-speed control device, the second fan-speed control device configured to:
 enter a discovery mode;   control, during the discovery mode, the rotational speed of a second ceiling fan to turn off the second ceiling fan; and   transmit, during the discovery mode, a second discovery request message, and wherein the network device is configured to:   display an indicator representing the second fan-speed control device on the visible display of the network device in response to receiving the second discovery request message from the second fan-speed control device.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the second fan-speed control device is configured to:
 store a present speed of the ceiling fan before controlling the rotational speed of the second ceiling fan to turn off the second ceiling fan;   determine that an identify command fails to be received before an expiration of a timeout period; and   return the ceiling fan to the stored speed after determining that the identify command fails to be received before the expiration of the timeout period.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the network device is configured to:
 receive a selection of the indicator representing the second fan-speed control device;   transmit, after the selection of the indicator representing the second fan-speed control device, a message including an identify command to the second fan-speed control device;   receive an input to activate the second fan-speed control device to which the identify command was transmitted; and
 store a device identifier of the second fan-speed control device in response to receiving the input to activate the second fan-speed control device, and wherein the second fan-speed control device is configured to: 
 control the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn the ceiling fan on at the identification speed in response to receiving the identify command. 
   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fan-speed control device is configured to:
 store a present speed of the ceiling fan before controlling the rotational speed of the ceiling fan to turn off the ceiling fan; and   return the ceiling fan to the stored speed before or after exiting the discovery mode.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the fan-speed control device is configured to:
 start, when entering the discovery mode, a timeout timer configured for an amount of time the fan-speed control device is to be in the discovery mode; and   exit the discovery mode at an expiration of the timeout timer.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command, the network device is configured to:
 display a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   receive an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command, the network device is configured to:
 display a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   receive an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   transmit the message including an identify command to the fan-speed control device after the input is received indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the identification speed is included in the identify command. 
     
     
         30 . A network device comprising:
 a display; and   a control circuit, the control circuit configured to:
 receive a discovery request message from a fan-speed control device; 
 display, on the display, an indicator representing a fan-speed control device in response to receiving the discovery request message from the fan-speed control device;
 receive a selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device; 
 transmit, after the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device, a message including an identify command to the fan-speed control device; 
 
 receive an input to activate the fan-speed control device to which the identify command was transmitted; and
 store a device identifier of the fan-speed control device in response to receiving the input to activate the fan-speed control device. 
 
   
     
     
         31 . The network device of  claim 30 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
 receive an indication to activate one or more control devices in a wireless control system; and   in response to the indication to activate the one or more control devices in the wireless control system, display a prompt to a user to cycle the power to the one or more control devices.   
     
     
         32 . The network device of  claim 30 , wherein, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command, the control circuit is configured to:
 display, on the display, a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing a ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   receive an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating.   
     
     
         33 . The network device of  claim 30 , wherein, after receiving the selection of the indicator representing the fan-speed control device and prior to transmitting the message including the identify command, the control circuit is configured to:
 display, on the display, a warning notifying a user to ensure that there are no obstructions preventing a ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   receive an input indicating a confirmation that there are no obstructions preventing the ceiling fan controlled by the fan-speed control device from rotating; and   transmit the identify command to the fan-speed control device after the input is received indicating the confirmation that there are no obstructions.   
     
     
         34 . The network device of  claim 30 , wherein an identification speed to control a rotational speed of a ceiling fan to turn the ceiling fan on at the identification speed is included in the identify command. 
     
     
         35 - 68 . (canceled)