Commissioning load control systems
A load control system may include load control devices for controlling power provided to an electrical load. The load control devices may include a control-source device and a control-target device. The control-target device may control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device. A user device may discover load control devices when the load control devices are within an established range associated with the user device. The user device and the load control devices may communicate via a wireless communications module. The established range may be adjusted based on the configurable transmit power of the user device or the wireless communications module associated with the user device. A discovered control-target device may be associated with a control-source device to enable the control-target device to control the power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device.
1. A control-target device for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load, the control-target device comprising:
a memory for storing a device type associated with the control-target device;
a communications circuit; and
a control circuit configured to:
receive, via the communications circuit, a discovery message from a user device, wherein the discovery message comprises an indication of a type of control-target device;
compare the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message with the device type associated with the control-target device;
send, via the communications circuit, a discovery response to the discovery message when the device type is the same as the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message, wherein the discovery response indicates whether the control-target device is within an established range of the user device;
receive, via the communications circuit, an association message from the user device, wherein the association message comprises identification information of a control-source device; and
store, in the memory, the identification information of the control-source device, wherein the identification information of the control-source device enables the control-target device to recognize digital messages from the control-source device.
2. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the discovery response includes a discovery message signal strength that indicates whether the control-target device is within the established range of the user device.
3. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect a discovery message signal strength at which the discovery message was received;
compare the discovery message signal strength with a threshold transmit power level; and
send, via the communications circuit, the discovery response to the discovery message when the device type is the same as the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message and the discovery message signal strength is greater than the threshold transmit power level.
4. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the communications circuit is further configured to communicate with the user device via a communications module.
5. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to include an indication of the device type of the control-target device in the discovery response.
6. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control-target device is a load control device configured to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages from the control-source device.
7. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive, via the communications circuit, a disassociation message from the user device and disassociate the control-source device such that the control-target device is unable to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on the digital messages from the control-source device.
8. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive and store a group identifier that indicates a broadcast control group, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages directed towards the broadcast control group using the stored group identifier.
9. The control-target device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive a notification message and vary the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on the notification message.
10. A method for discovering devices in a load control environment, the method comprising:
storing, in memory, a device type associated with a control-target device;
receiving, at the control-target device, a discovery message from a user device, wherein the discovery message comprises an indication of a type of control-target device;
comparing the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message with the device type associated with the control-target device;
sending, from the control-target device, a discovery response to the discovery message when the device type is the same as the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message, wherein the discovery response indicates whether the control-target device is within an established range of the user device;
receiving, at the control-target device, an association message from the user device, wherein the association message comprises identification information of a control-source device; and
storing, in the memory, the identification information of the control-source device, wherein the identification information of the control-source device enables the control-target device to recognize digital messages from the control-source device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the discovery response includes a discovery message signal strength that indicates whether the control-target device is within the established range of the user device.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
comparing a discovery message signal strength with a threshold transmit power level; and
sending, from the control-target device, the discovery response when the device type is the same as the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message and the discovery message signal strength is greater than the threshold transmit power level.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control-target device communicates with the user device via a first protocol to a communications module, and wherein the control-target device communicates with other devices via a second protocol.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, including an indication of the device type of the control-target device in the discovery response.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control-target device is a load control device for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load based on digital messages from the control-source device.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, at the control-target device, a disassociation message from the user device; and
performing disassociation of the control-source device such that the control-target device is unable to control an amount of power provided to an electrical load based on the digital messages from the control-source device.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving and storing a group identifier that indicates a broadcast control group, the method further comprising controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load based on digital messages directed towards the broadcast control group using the stored group identifier.
18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving, at the control-target device, a notification message and varying an amount of power provided to an electrical load based on the notification message.