An air conditioner and a communication method for an air conditioner are provided. The air conditioner may include an outdoor unit; an indoor unit; and a central controller connected to the indoor unit through a communication line. The indoor unit may perform periodic communication for transmitting a plurality of periodic packets to at least one of the outdoor unit or the central controller at predetermined periods, and change and transmit the plurality oaf periodic packets so as to decrease a load on the communication line.

Systems and methods are provided for a network of relay drones utilized as a set of relays or linkages between a base station and a working drone controlled by the base station. The relay drones in the network may augment a communication link or communication signal between the base station and working drone. Relay drones may augment the communication link by acting as nodes that relay communication between the base station and the working drone by boosting the communication signal at each node to compensate for loss of signal power over a traveled distance and/or providing a path with a direct line of sight between the base station and working drone. Directional antennas may be utilized when a direct line of sight is established, which may improve communication signal efficacy when compared with omnidirectional antennas.

An accessory includes a main body including a communication module that is configured to communicate with a predetermined network, and a container including a main body-coupling portion that is configured to separably couple to the main body. The main body includes at least one of (i) a remote control module that is configured to transmit an optical signal for controlling a predetermined apparatus within a predetermined range or (ii) a sensor module that is configured to sense information about a surrounding environment. The container includes an external coupling portion that is configured to couple the container to an external object.

A control signal receiver of an equipment control device receives a control signal for equipment transmitted by a remote control terminal from a communication device via the Internet. A remote control authorization receiver receives, from a resident of a home, an authorization with respect to the control signal received by the control signal receiver. When the authorization receiver receives an authorization from the resident of the home, an equipment controller controls the equipment on the basis of the received control signal.

An apparatus includes a luminaire; power input for the luminaire; a modulation circuit for modulating the power input so that light output includes an identifier of the luminaire; and a programmable memory for storing at least one of the identifier of the luminaire and a modulation scheme for modulation of the luminaire to place a signal on the light. A method for modulating light includes storing in programmable memory an identifier for the luminaire, the identifier being used to modulate the light, and/or a modulation scheme for modulation of the luminaire; and changing content of programmable memory to change the identifier and/or the modulation scheme. A method of efficiently deploying the luminaires and identifying their locations to a network is disclosed. A method of multi-factor authentication using authentication data transmitted by modulating the light emitted by a luminaire is also disclosed.

A monitoring terminal includes a transceiver, a receiver, and a processor. The transceiver provides a two-way communication with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a first communication link and is configured to receive feedback data and a feedback data indication from the UAV and transmit control data to the UAV. The receiver is configured to receive the control data and a control data indication from a controlling terminal via a second communication link. The second communication link does not interfere with the first communication link. The processor is configured to determine whether the feedback data and the control data are being simultaneously transmitted via the first communication link based on the feedback data indication and the control data indication.

The present invention discloses a stage lamp based on the TCP/IP protocol and its control system. The control system comprises a control terminal and a stage lamp. The control terminal and the stage lamp access a same local area network; a lamp control operation module is installed on the control terminal, and a user controls the stage lamp by performing a corresponding operation on the stage lamp control operation module, and sends a control instruction of the operation according to an agreed data communication format to the stage lamp via wireless wifi or a wired network based on the TCP/IP protocol; and the stage lamp parses the control instruction to obtain a corresponding control signal and performs a corresponding mechanical action and light output according to the control signal. The present invention, by using communication over the TCP/IP protocol, not only features openness for convenience of expansion, operation, and maintenance, but also simplifies an operation process and decreases professional skill requirements for each operator.

The present invention relates to a remote control apparatus which can remotely control multiple devices. A remote control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a key input unit having multiple keys; a reception unit for receiving at least one device identification signal from at least one device or a transmission device corresponding to the device; a processor for detecting an identification signal for a device, which can be remotely controlled, from the at least one received device identification signal, and matching at least one of the multiple keys to a control command for the remote control of the device, on the basis of the detected identification signal; and a transmission unit for transmitting a signal corresponding to the control command when the key matched to the control command is selected. Accordingly, the present invention can remotely control multiple devices.

A multi-function remote control contains: a new remote control and a network control system. The new remote control includes two control panels, and each of the two control panels including a first learning unit, a learning button, and multiple blank buttons. A first learning unit of a first control panel includes a radio frequency (RF) module, and the RF module includes a first emitter element and a first receiver element. A second learning unit of a second control panel includes an infrared (IR) module which includes a second emitter element configured to send first infrared signals, and the IR module includes a second receiver element configured to receive second infrared signals of another electrical remote control. Furthermore, the second receiver element is also configured to send the second infrared signals to the integration chip.

Embodiments are directed to controlling an electronically-controlled appliance using a software application and providing a user interface for controlling an electronically-controlled appliance. In one scenario, a computer system receives an indication from a remote computing system indicating that an electronically-controlled appliance is communicably connected to the remote computing system. The computer system provides a notification in the software application indicating that the electronically-controlled appliance is available to receive instructions, and receives a user input at the software application indicating that certain functions are to be performed by the electronically-controlled appliance. The computer system further generates instructions configured to control the electronically-controlled appliance based on the functions specified in the received user input, and sends the generated instructions to the electronically-controlled appliance to perform the specified functions. These functions are then interpreted and carried out on the electronically-controlled appliance via the hardware controller.