Glossary

4Sight: An Internet service that provides a connection to the home automation system any time and from any place worldwide.

AAC: Advanced Audio Coding. A successor to the MP3 format. A standard, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Touts better sound quality.

action: An activity that occurs when an event prompts it to do so.

agent: In Control4 programming, agents provide the ability to perform complex programming by using functional modules. There are various types of agents; for example, Announcements, Email Notifications, Scheduler, Lighting Scenes, Wakeup, etc.

Anywhere Access: Lets users access and control their Control4 systems remotely using a mobile device or tablet anywhere in the world.

AV: Audio Video

Boolean: The computer logic used to determine if a statement is ‘True’ or ‘False.’

button-link binding: The LED colors used based on the device; the Installer can set these colors independently from the device to which the colors are bound.

CD: (Compact Disc) - An optical disc that stores digital data. This format is compatible with Control4 products.

client: A software or hardware device that communicates to a server for feedback from the server via an application for the user.

Command: A ‘do’ statement; actions the Director communicates to a device.

Composer: The Control4 software used to design and define a Control4 home automation system.

Composer Pro: Composer is used to set up and configure Control4 devices to communicate with each other in a home automation system.

conditional: An ‘if’ statement that asks a true/false questions which are acted upon in Composer programming.

configuration worksheet: Used in Composer software training to design and configure a project in Composer.

connection: Binding or linking devices together in Composer so they can communicate with each other.

contact: Contacts are generally used to monitor the status of something (door, window, water sensor, etc.) and can be hooked up through a security panel or directly using a Control4 controller or Contact/Relay Extender. Contacts connected to a Control4 controller or contact/relay extender can be configured either as NC (normally closed) or NO (normally open).

Control4 App: A Control4 graphical Navigator that runs on mobile devices or a PC or tablet.

Control4 system: A home automation system designed and developed by Control4.

controller: The main device that makes home automation possible. There may be multiple controllers within a Control4 system. The controller that runs Director is referred to as the primary controller.

cover art: An illustration of the cover of a DVD or CD album that displays in the Graphical or on-screen Navigators when playing music or watching videos.

CSV: comma-separated value. Can be used when adding media to a Control4 system.

Detective Suite: A set of tools that perform diagnostics tests on the Control4

device: A component that requires a device driver; code that is used to allow the Control4 system to work with that device.

device driver: Every device in the Control4 system needs a corresponding device driver to control the device.

DHCP: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A protocol used between a network client and a DHCP server (usually a router or access point) that dynamically assigns IP addresses from a pre-defined list to clients on a network.

Director: Each Control4 controller (such as a Home Controller HC-500) ships with pre-installed Director software (Linux based) embedded in the device. The Director communicates with Control4 products and third-party products to enable home automation and interaction of individual devices. Director runs the Control4 devices. Composer Pro is the software used to connect to and program a system Director that resides on a controller.

DriverWorks: The DriverWorks SDK is used to create two-way drivers for audio video (AV) and non-AV devices.

DVD: (Digital Versatile Disc) – A media format for video and data storage.

end point: The end point is the final point (device) on the defined path over which audio and/or video content is routed to a room. An example of this would be a TV or Receiver.

Ethernet: Uses Ethernet category 5 (CAT5 or CAT5e) wiring to transfer data. Ethernet uses a star network topology that allows multiple points to communicate to a single point. The Speaker Point® and Mini Touch Screens use Ethernet to communicate to the Control4 controller.

event: An action; used to trigger Composer programming when programming Control4 devices.

forward-phase dimming (also known as leading edge dimming): A type of phase-cut dimming in which the load is dimmed by cutting off the leading edge of each electrical cycle. This type of dimming must be used with magnetic transformers (magnetic low-voltage loads) and works well for many other load types including incandescent and cold cathode. It should not be used with electronic transformers (electronic low-voltage loads) unless the transformer specifications specifically state that Forward Phase dimming is allowed.

file format: A format used by applications to store/read files.

FLAC: Supported by Control4 for software release 1.8, this is a free, open source, lossless audio codec format that supports tagging, cover art and fast seeking. Audio is compressed with no loss in quality.

full duplex: The simultaneous transfer of data in both directions. For example, on a 5” or 7” In-Wall Touch Screen the caller can send out a call and the receiver on the other end of the call can answer via his or her 5” or 7” In-Wall Touch Screen and then respond.

gateway: (router)- Provides a means of communicating between two separate networks.

home network: A network installed in the customer’s home that provides an Ethernet or wireless connection so that Control4 devices can communicate with each other.

home automation system: The Control4 system: a line of home automation products that communicate with each other over Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Zigbee for a total home automation experience.

intercom: A two-way audio and/or video communication among supported Control4 touch screens.

IR: A device controlled using a wireless remote control device. Commands are sent via pulses of infrared light to the device.

keypad managed: On a keypad, the LED state is controlled by the buttons on the keypad.

keypad unmanaged: On a keypad, the LED state of the buttons is controlled through programming rather than from the keypad buttons.

LCD: (Liquid Crystal Display) - A display used with some Control4 interfaces.

LCD Navigator: An LCD device used to control lighting, music, videos, etc., on an LCD screen.

List Navigator: A system remote control device uses a Navigator that lists the options.

Live Connection: A term used in Composer Pro to indicate an actual connection to the network.

loop: A type of conditional in programming; a ‘while’ statement; for example, “while the sprinklers are on…”

Media Manager: Media information is stored in the Media Manager database, which will permit users to view the media information from the Navigators.

MP3: A music format that makes streaming audio available.

MP4: An audio and video format. Can also store images and subtitles.

Navigator: A Control4 Navigator used with the Control4 system to control lights, music, videos, etc. Navigator is software that the customer interacts with using a universal remote control, on-screen Navigator, touch screen, or LCD Screen.

on-screen device: Allows you to select the controller (Media Controller or Home Theater Controller) in the room that controls the source for the on-screen display.

playlist: A list of songs compiled in a list. The list can be compiled by songwriter, album, song type, or any combination.

Power Over Ethernet (POE): Network cabling that provides Ethernet connectivity and device power over a single cable for Control4 devices.

programming: A machine-readable artificial language used to express computations that can be performed by a device.

project tree: A tree view in Composer where the project is layered by the larger branches (Home, Office, etc.) and then the lower branches (floor, rooms, etc.), and finally to the leaf level (drivers).

ramp rate: The rate that a dimmer ramps up its voltage.

relay: An electrical switch that opens and closes. A relay is controlled by another electrical circuit.

remote access: The ability to access a device from a remote location.

Remote Director: Connects you to the home network while working in Composer from a remote location.

retrofit: The ability to set up a home automation system in an existing structure or home. Compare this with new building construction.

reverse-phase dimming (also known as trailing edge dimming): A type of phase-cut dimming in which the load is dimmed by cutting off the trailing edge of each electrical cycle. This type of dimming must be used with electronic transformers (electronic low-voltage loads), and works well for many other load types including incandescent; some types of dimmable fluorescent and compact fluorescent; and some LED power supplies. It should never be used with magnetic transformers (magnetic low-voltage loads).

RJ-45 jack: An eight-pin jack used to connect CAT5e network cables to devices through Ethernet signals.

router: See gateway. Functions similar to an AP but with additional functionality for controlling the network; for example, coordinating traffic between different networks.

SDDP (Simple Device Discovery Protocol): A protocol developed by Control4 to allow devices to be easily added to a control system. It has the ability to leverage other protocols and work on almost any physical layer. SDDP offers four primary functions:

Enable devices to use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) while still being able to identify them uniquely.
Enable Director to discover devices residing within the Control4 system.
Enable Director to identify devices residing within the Control4 system.
Enable automatic installation of drivers for discovered devices.

serial-controlled device: Serial-controlled devices with an RS-232 interface and control protocol often have a higher level of controllability than IR-controlled devices. Examples of serial-controlled devices are projectors, multi-disc DVD changers, etc.

switch: An extension of a router that adds more Ethernet ports to support additional devices or clients on the local network.

system event: An action that causes another action; for example, if a projector turns on, it enables the other devices in the system that work with the projector.

system remote: System remote control

system remote control: A Control4 system remote control is a universal solution that replaces system remote control devices from other manufacturers, and includes programmable buttons. This system remote control can access on-screen (graphical) Navigators.

touch screen: A touch screen is a home automation system Navigator that controls the home’s lighting, music, videos, and other devices on the home automation system.

UI (user interface): The preferred term is Navigator. The Control4 interface used with Control4 devices to control home automation, such as touch screens, Control4 apps, or on-screen Navigators.

universal remote: Universal remote control. A third-party remote control that can be programmed to replace other remotes in the home so that only one remote is needed, replacing all others. Control4 system remote control devices are a type of universal remote control.

USB (Universal Serial Bus): A format used with USB sticks that plug in to a USB port on Control4 devices.

Virtual Connection: A term used in Composer Pro to indicate a connection outside the network.

Virtual Director: A connection to a virtual controller only (a PC is the Director host rather than the controller). Projects created or edited here are benign until the saved project is loaded onto a controller.

WAP: Wireless Access Protocol. The protocol used to enable wireless access of Control4 devices.

Wi-Fi: Uses bi-directional wireless technology to transfer data. Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) devices “connect” to each other by transmitting and receiving signals on a specific frequency of the radio band using a wireless access point. This technology uses the star network topology. Wi-Fi uses high bandwidth 802.11.

wired network: Uses Ethernet Category 5 (CAT5) wiring to send and receive data between devices connected to a network.

wireless access point: A router extension with an antenna that communicates with Wi-Fi devices and clients in the home. A wireless hub that connects to the wired network, and distributes the wireless signal.

wireless switch: Uses the Zigbee. UL listed dimmer. Single or multi-gang. Has an air gap to cut power.

WLAN: Wireless local area network.

WMA (Windows Media Audio): – Audio data compression technology developed at Microsoft; an audio file format that competes with MP3.

Zigbee: A wireless network that uses bi-directional wireless mesh network technology to transfer messages from one device to another. Unlike a star network topology where devices can only send messages to each other by sending them first to a single central device (which then delivers the message to the recipient device), a mesh network topology allows the devices to forward messages from one device to another, thereby extending the effective range of the network. Uses low bandwidth 802.15.4. 250 devices are allowed per controller but Control4 recommends 125.

Zigbee Pro: The 1.1 version of Zigbee that provides improvements in standardization by: allowing more interoperability with other Control4 devices, support for home automation profiles, and improves the scalability of multiple Zigbee access points.

Zserver: A Zigbee server that contains software which runs on a Control4 HC-class controller.