Method and apparatus for creating and modifying graphical schedules

摘要

A graphical user interface enables a user to create and modify graphical schedules for a wide variety of devices that may be controlled by a programmable multimedia controller. A graphical schedule graphically depicts a relationship between time and at least one user-selected condition to be satisfied or at least one user-selected action to be taken. The user may create or modify graphical schedules using familiar techniques such as taps and swipes, drag and drop and the like.

主权项

1. A 1 method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface operable to create or modify two or more presets, each preset representing a user selected environmental state for a predetermined physical space, said environmental state caused by a plurality of different types of devices taking actions defined by the preset, said plurality of different types of devices including two of more of audio/video (A/V) devices, lighting devices, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) devices, closed circuit television (CCTV) devices or motor-operated devices, create a graphical schedule, said graphical schedule reflecting a relationship between time and said two or more presets, wherein said graphical schedule includes a first axis that indicates time and a second axis that indicates said two or more presets, and in response to graphical manipulations by a user in said graphical user, modify said graphical schedule to change when at least one of said two or more presets is scheduled to execute; providing said graphical schedule and presets to a programmable multimedia controller which includes a general purpose computer and an interface for said plurality of different types of devices; and using said programmable multimedia controller to control said plurality of different types of devices in accordance with said graphical schedule.