A position-sensing method and device for sensing the installation location (F1, . . . , Fi) of slave units (SE1, . . . , SEi) in an operating region (A1, . . . , Ai) of a system (A) comprising a number i of adjacent operating regions (A1, . . . , Ai) each having a slave unit, wherein the individual slave units (SE1, SEi) have a changeable operating function for achieving or changing the physical state in the operating region in question of the system, and wherein a respective sensor (S1, . . . , Si) is provided in each operating region in question in order to sense a measurement variable (T) proportional to the physical state in the operating region in question and an evaluating device is provided in order to determine, upon the activation or changing of the operating function of at least one slave unit (SE1, . . . , SEi), the installation location (F1, . . . , Fi) of said slave unit from the change in the measurement variables (T) over time.

An electric motor addressing system and method for an agricultural implement receives, at an electronic control unit (ECU), an address claim request from each motor of a plurality of motors coupled to the ECU via a first bus. Each address claim request includes a requested bus address and a binary value corresponding to a pin connector setting associated with a harness connector of the respective motor. The system associates the binary value with a physical address for each motor without reference to the bus address and maps each bus address to the physical address.

A system includes a high speed bus and a plurality of multi-function modules coupled to the high speed bus. The plurality of multi-function modules includes at least one controller configured to execute control logic for the system. The plurality of multi-function modules also includes at least one arbitrator configured to manage the at least one controller. The plurality of multi-function modules further includes at least one input/output (IO) manager configured to interface between the at least one controller and at least one field device.

An electric motor addressing system and method for a planter implement receives, at an electronic control unit (ECU), an address claim request from each motor of a plurality of motors coupled to the ECU via a first bus. Each address claim request includes a requested bus address and a binary value corresponding to a pin connector setting associated with a harness connector of the respective motor. The system associates the binary value with a physical address for each motor without reference to the bus address and maps each bus address to the physical address.

A system includes a high speed bus and a plurality of multi-function modules coupled to the high speed bus. The plurality of multi-function modules includes at least one controller configured to execute control logic for the system. The plurality of multi-function modules also includes at least one arbitrator configured to manage the at least one controller. The plurality of multi-function modules further includes at least one input/output (IO) manager configured to interface between the at least one controller and at least one field device.

A method and apparatus for use with a plurality of resources integrated within a space for performing a process and a program run by a processor for controlling the process, the apparatus for associating the resources with the program and comprising a processor running a program to perform the steps of identifying at least a first reference point within the space, identifying the relative juxtaposition of at least a first resource with respect to the first reference point and associating the first resource with the program as a function of the relative juxtaposition of the first resource to the reference point.

A pool or spa system includes networked pool or spa devices that can be dynamically configured with network addresses by a controller. The controller can transmit a device discovery request on a network and can receive a discovery response from pool or spa devices that require a network address. The system determines and assigns the network addresses for the pool or spa devices based on unique device identifiers associated with the responding pool or spa devices. The network addresses assigned to the pool or spa device are transmitted to the pool or spa device to be used by the pool or spa devices to communicate with the controller over the network. The system can be used to discover and assign addresses to various types of pool or spa devices, such as pumps, underwater lights, chlorinators, water feature controllers, remote controllers, and/or other types of devices.

A visual display method involves storing, in multiple portable display units, visual information to individually be displayed by each of the multiple portable display units located within a venue in response to instructions broadcast wirelessly for receipt by at least some of the multiple portable display units within the venue; establishing, for each portable display unit within the venue, a first ad hoc address based upon each portable display unit's physical location; and wirelessly broadcasting instructions for receipt by the portable display units instructing at least some or the multiple portable display units to display a specific portion of the visual information associated with their respective first ad hoc addresses, so that each of the multiple portable display units will display their specific portions of the visual information associated with their ad hoc addresses as specified by the broadcast instructions.

A monitoring and reporting system involves a master control unit; multiple geographically dispersed monitor units, each comprising a base unit including a self addressing radio controller repeater having at least a microcontroller, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and a multi-band communications transceiver; multiple sensors, communicatively coupled to the base unit, including at least one motion, temperature, and electrical sensor; each of the monitor units self-addresses according to complex self-addressing and communicates with at least one other of the monitor units to collectively form an ad hoc network; at least a first of the monitor units operates as a repeater with respect to communications received from either or both (i) of a second of the monitor units located at an equipment location or (ii) the master control unit; and the second of the monitor units will take local readings and report at least one to the master control unit.

A pool or spa system includes networked pool or spa devices that can be dynamically configured with network addresses by a controller. The controller can transmit a device discovery request on a network and can receive a discovery response from pool or spa devices that require a network address. The system determines and assigns the network addresses for the pool or spa devices based on unique device identifiers associated with the responding pool or spa devices. The network addresses assigned to the pool or spa device are transmitted to the pool or spa device to be used by the pool or spa devices to communicate with the controller over the network. The system can be used to discover and assign addresses to various types of pool or spa devices, such as pumps, underwater lights, chlorinators, water feature controllers, remote controllers, and/or other types of devices.