Programmable timer unit for use in a remote control load management system

A programmable timer unit for use in a remote control load management system, said system using a central controller, a switch terminal, and a load terminal that are connected with each other over a transmission line for a time-division multiplexing signal intercommunication therebetween;

• said central controller storing an address table relating each of switch addresses to at least one load address, and a control table relating each of control codes to a control method for operating the load or loads,
• said switch terminal having at least one switch that is manipulated by a user and that is allocated with a particular one of said switch addresses, said switch terminal generating an event signal upon said switch being manipulated and transmitting it to said central controller together with said switch address and a particular one of said control codes assigned to said switch;
• said central controller, in response to said event signal accompanied with said switch address and said control code, referencing said address table and said control table to obtain the corresponding load address and the corresponding control method, and to providing a control signal indicating thus obtained load address and the control method to said load terminal;
• said load terminal being connected to at least one load and having a particular one of said load addresses allocated to said load, said load terminal responding to said control signal for actuating the corresponding load in a manner as designated by said control method;
• said programmable timer unit being a combination switch and timer which determines anyone of said switch addresses defined in said address table and determines an actuation time at which the corresponding load is intended to be actuated in one of said control method defined in said control table, said programmable timer unit comprising:
• an input section configured to select the switch address corresponding to said at least one load and configured to select a schedule specifying said actuation time and said control code for said at least one load;
• a programming section configured to make up a load management program based upon said schedule given at said input section for said at least one load;
• a memory configured to store said load management program;
• a clock configured to keep time to give a present time;
• a transceiver which is configured to communicate with said central controller for controlling and monitoring the load;
• a processor configured to execute said load management program to generate the event signal and configured to give said control code when the present time comes coincidence with said actuation time, and configured to transmit said event signal, said control code, and said selected switch address to said central controller, such that said central controller responds to actuate the corresponding load in accordance with said schedule.