Alexa.RangeController Interface
Implement the Alexa.RangeController interface in your Alexa skill so that users can control the device settings represented by numbers within a minimum and maximum range. You can use the RangeController interface to model properties of a device that the user can set to one of a range of values, such as the speed settings on a blender or a fan. The RangeController interface is a generic controller interface.
The RangeController interface is highly configurable and enables you to model many different kinds of settings for many different kinds of devices. Use one of the following more specific interfaces if it's appropriate for your device:
- Alexa.PowerLevelController
- Alexa.PercentageController
- Alexa.BrightnessController
- Alexa.EqualizerController
- Alexa.StepSpeaker
- Alexa.Speaker
For the list of languages that the RangeController interface supports, see List of Alexa Interfaces and Supported Languages.
Utterances
When you use the Alexa.RangeController interface, the voice interaction model is already built for you. The following examples show some user utterances:
Alexa, set the bedroom fan speed to 7.
Alexa, set the fan speed on the bedroom fan to maximum.
Alexa, turn up the bedroom fan speed.
Alexa, decrease the fan speed on the bedroom fan by 3.
Alexa, what's the bedroom fan speed?
You can optionally enable additional utterances by using semantics. The following examples show some additional user utterances:
Alexa, raise the living room blinds.
Alexa, lower the living room blinds.
Alexa, open the bedroom blinds.
Alexa, close the bedroom blinds.
Alexa, fahre die Rollläden im Wohnzimmer hoch.
Alexa, fahre die Rollläden im Wohnzimmer runter.
Alexa, öffne das Rollo in der Küche.
Alexa, schließe das Rollo in der Küche.
After the user says one of these utterances, Alexa sends a corresponding directive to your skill.
Properties and objects
The rangeValue property
The Alexa.RangeController interface uses the rangeValue property as the primary property. The property values are numbers, and you specify the minimum value, maximum value, and precision in your discover response. If you use the rangeValue property to represent a change, valid values include negative numbers.
An endpoint can support multiple range controllers. To distinguish between range controllers, you must always include the instance attribute for a rangeValue property. You identify your instance names in your discovery response.
RangeValue property example
{
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "rangeValue",
"value": 10
}
The preset object
The preset object represents a preset value for a range.
Preset object details
| Field | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
rangeValue |
The value in the range for the preset. | Integer |
presetResources |
Friendly names that users can use to interact with the preset value. | A presetResources object. |
Preset object example
The following example shows three preset objects in a presets array. The presets represent low, medium, and high values for a range of 1 — 10.
"presets": [
{
"value": 1,
"presetResources": {
}
},
{
"value": 5,
"presetResources": {
}
},
{
"value": 10,
"presetResources": {
}
}
]
The presetResources object
Use the presetResources object to provide a set of friendly names that users can use to interact with preset values. The first friendly name is the name that appears in the Alexa app. For details, see Resources and Assets.
presetResources object example
The following example shows the preset resources for the high setting on a fan. Users can say phrases like "Alexa, set the fan to fast."
"presetResources":
{
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Maximum"
}
},
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.High"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Highest",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Fast",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Alta",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Élevée",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
}
Semantics
Use semantics to enable additional features, such as additional user utterances and announcements when your device requires attention. To use semantics, include a semantics object in your discover response as described in the discovery section.
Use semantics to enable additional utterances
When you use the Alexa.RangeController interface, the voice interaction model is already built for you. Users can interact with your device by saying the standard RangeController utterances. For details, see utterances.
You can optionally enable additional utterances by using semantics. When you use semantics, you manually map the phrases "open", "close", "raise", and "lower" to the RangeController directives SetRangeValue and AdjustRangeValue. For example, if you have a controller for a window shade, you can map the phrase "raise" to the AdjustRangeValue directive.
open on a RangeController instance, you can't map the phrase open on any other RangeController instances, any ModeController instances, or any ToggleController instances.Use semantics to enable announcements
You can use semantics to enable announcements to the user when your device requires attention. For example, Alexa can notify a user when their automatic vacuum cleaner gets stuck. Notifications to the user take the form, Your <instance friendly name> is <state>.
To enable announcements, implement the ProactiveNotificationSource interface in your Alexa skill. To indicate the states that you support, include a semantics object in your discovery response to map the rangeValue property to one of the Alexa.States values, such as Alexa.States.Full. You trigger announcements by sending ChangeReport to report a change in the device state. For details, see ProactiveNotificationSource.
Discovery
You describe endpoints that support Alexa.RangeController using the standard discovery mechanism described in Alexa.Discovery.
Set retrievable to true for the properties that you report when Alexa sends your skill a state report request. Set proactivelyReported to true for the properties that you proactively report to Alexa in a change report.
You can model properties of an endpoint that users can't change by setting nonControllable to true. Set nonControllable to true for range controller properties that you want to report to the user, but don't want the user to change.
For each RangeController entry in the capabilities array, you can optionally include a semantics object. For details, see use semantics to enable additional utterances and use semantics to enable announcements.
For the full list of display categories, see display categories.
In addition to the usual discovery response fields, for each RangeController entry in the capabilities array, include the following fields.
| Field | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
instance |
The name of the range. For example: Fan.Speed, Camera.Pan, Camera.Tilt, Camera.Zoom |
String |
capabilityResources |
Friendly names that users can use to interact with the mode. If you enable announcements for the instance friendly name, include @type set to text. |
A CapabilityResources object. |
configuration.supportedRange.minimumValue |
The minimum value for the range. | Number |
configuration.supportedRange.maximumValue |
The maximum value for the range. | Number |
configuration.supportedRange.precision |
The amount by which the values change when moving through the range. This also serves as the default when a user asks to change the value but doesn't specify by how much. | Number |
unitOfMeasure |
The unit of measure for the range. | A unit of measure string. |
presets |
Named options that users can specify instead of numbers, such as "medium" or "maximum". | An array of preset objects. |
Discover response examples
Example
The following example shows a Discover.Response message for a fan that supports the Alexa.RangeController and Alexa.PowerController interfaces.
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa.Discovery",
"name": "Discover.Response",
"payloadVersion": "3",
"messageId": "<message id>"
},
"payload": {
"endpoints": [
{
"endpointId": "<unique ID of the endpoint>",
"manufacturerName": "Fan manufacturer name",
"description": "<description that appears in the Alexa app>",
"friendlyName": "<device name that appears in the Alexa app>",
"displayCategories": ["FAN"],
"additionalAttributes": {
"manufacturer" : "Fan manufacturer name",
"model" : "Sample Model",
"serialNumber": "the serial number",
"customIdentifier": "your custom identifier"
},
"cookie": {},
"capabilities": [
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"version": "3",
"properties": {
"supported": [
{
"name": "rangeValue"
}
],
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true,
"nonControllable": false
},
"capabilityResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Setting.FanSpeed"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Speed",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Velocidad",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Vitesse",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
},
"configuration": {
"supportedRange": {
"minimumValue": 1,
"maximumValue": 10,
"precision": 1
},
"presets": [
{
"rangeValue": 10,
"presetResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Maximum"
}
},
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.High"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Highest",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Fast",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Alta",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Élevée",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
}
},
{
"rangeValue": 1,
"presetResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Minimum"
}
},
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Low"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Lowest",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Slow",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Baja",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Faible",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
}
}
]
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.PowerController",
"version": "3",
"properties": {
"supported": [
{
"name": "powerState"
}
],
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa",
"version": "3"
}
]
}
]
}
}
}
Example with semantics for blinds
The following example shows a Discover.Response message for blinds that support the Alexa.RangeController interface and uses semantics. Use the RangeController interface for blinds that can raise and lower to a range of positions. If your blinds only fully open and fully close, use the ModeController interface instead.
You can use the RangeController interface for your skills that control blinds in the following locales: de-DE, en-AU, en-GB, en-IN, en-US, es-ES, es-MX, es-US, it-IT, ja-JP.
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa.Discovery",
"name": "Discover.Response",
"payloadVersion": "3",
"messageId": "<message id>"
},
"payload": {
"endpoints": [
{
"endpointId": "<unique ID of the endpoint>",
"manufacturerName": "Blinds manufacturer name",
"description": "<description that appears in the Alexa app>",
"friendlyName": "<device name that appears in the Alexa app>",
"displayCategories": ["INTERIOR_BLIND"],
"additionalAttributes": {
"manufacturer" : "Blinds manufacturer name",
"model" : "Sample Model",
"serialNumber": "the serial number",
"customIdentifier": "your custom identifier"
},
"cookie": {},
"capabilities": [
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Blind.Lift",
"version": "3",
"properties": {
"supported": [
{
"name": "rangeValue"
}
],
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true
},
"capabilityResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Setting.Opening"
}
}
]
},
"configuration": {
"supportedRange": {
"minimumValue": 0,
"maximumValue": 100,
"precision": 1
},
"unitOfMeasure": "Alexa.Unit.Percent"
},
"semantics": {
"actionMappings": [
{
"@type": "ActionsToDirective",
"actions": ["Alexa.Actions.Close"],
"directive": {
"name": "SetRangeValue",
"payload": {
"rangeValue": 0
}
}
},
{
"@type": "ActionsToDirective",
"actions": ["Alexa.Actions.Open"],
"directive": {
"name": "SetRangeValue",
"payload": {
"rangeValue": 100
}
}
},
{
"@type": "ActionsToDirective",
"actions": ["Alexa.Actions.Lower"],
"directive": {
"name": "AdjustRangeValue",
"payload": {
"rangeValueDelta" : -10,
"rangeValueDeltaDefault" : false
}
}
},
{
"@type": "ActionsToDirective",
"actions": ["Alexa.Actions.Raise"],
"directive": {
"name": "AdjustRangeValue",
"payload": {
"rangeValueDelta" : 10,
"rangeValueDeltaDefault" : false
}
}
}
],
"stateMappings": [
{
"@type": "StatesToValue",
"states": ["Alexa.States.Closed"],
"value": 0
},
{
"@type": "StatesToRange",
"states": ["Alexa.States.Open"],
"range": {
"minimumValue": 1,
"maximumValue": 100
}
}
]
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa",
"version": "3"
}
]
}
]
}
}
}
Example with both range and toggle controllers
The following example shows a Discover.Response message for a fan that supports the PowerController interface and both the RangeController and ToggleController interfaces.
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa.Discovery",
"name": "Discover.Response",
"payloadVersion": "3",
"messageId": "<message id>"
},
"payload": {
"endpoints": [
{
"endpointId": "<unique ID of the endpoint>",
"manufacturerName": "Fan manufacturer name",
"description": "Tower Fan by Sample Manufacturer",
"friendlyName": "Tower Fan",
"displayCategories": ["FAN"],
"additionalAttributes": {
"manufacturer" : "Fan manufacturer name",
"model" : "Sample Model",
"serialNumber": "the serial number",
"customIdentifier": "your custom identifier"
},
"cookie": {},
"capabilities": [
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.ToggleController",
"version": "3",
"instance": "SampleManufacturer.Fan.Oscillate",
"capabilityResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Setting.Oscillate"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Rotate",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Rotation",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Girar",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Rotation",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
},
"properties": {
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true,
"supported": [
{
"name": "toggleState"
}
]
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.RangeController",
"version": "3",
"instance": "SampleManufacturer.Fan.Speed",
"capabilityResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Setting.FanSpeed"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Speed",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Velocidad",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Vitesse",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
},
"properties": {
"supported": [
{
"name": "rangeValue"
}
],
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true
},
"configuration": {
"supportedRange": {
"minimumValue": 1,
"maximumValue": 10,
"precision": 1
},
"presets": [
{
"rangeValue": 10,
"presetResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Maximum"
}
},
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.High"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Highest",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Fast",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Alta",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Élevée",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
}
},
{
"rangeValue": 1,
"presetResources": {
"friendlyNames": [
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Minimum"
}
},
{
"@type": "asset",
"value": {
"assetId": "Alexa.Value.Low"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Lowest",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Slow",
"locale": "en-US"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Baja",
"locale": "es-MX"
}
},
{
"@type": "text",
"value": {
"text": "Faible",
"locale": "fr-CA"
}
}
]
}
}
]
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa.PowerController",
"version": "3",
"properties": {
"supported": [
{
"name": "powerState"
}
],
"proactivelyReported": true,
"retrievable": true
}
},
{
"type": "AlexaInterface",
"interface": "Alexa",
"version": "3"
}
]
}
]
}
}
}
Directives
SetRangeValue directive
Support the SetRangeValue directive so that users can set the level of features on devices.
The following examples show user utterances:
Alexa, set the bedroom fan speed to 7.
Alexa, set the fan speed on the bedroom fan to maximum.
SetRangeValue directive payload details
| Field | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
rangeValue |
The value to set the feature of the device to. | Number |
SetRangeValue directive example
The following example illustrates a SetRangeValue directive that Alexa sends to your skill.
{
"directive": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "SetRangeValue",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"correlationToken": "<an opaque correlation token>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>",
"cookie": {}
},
"payload": {
"rangeValue": 7
}
}
}
SetRangeValue response event
If you handle a SetRangeValue directive successfully, respond with an Alexa.Response event. In the context object, include the values of all properties that changed. You can respond synchronously or asynchronously. If you respond asynchronously, include a correlation token and a scope with an authorization token.
SetRangeValue response event example
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa",
"name": "Response",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"correlationToken": "<an opaque correlation token>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>"
},
"payload": {}
},
"context": {
"properties": [
{
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "rangeValue",
"value": 7,
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 500
}
]
}
}
SetRangeValue directive error handling
If you can't handle a SetRangeValue directive successfully, respond with an Alexa.ErrorResponse event. If your error is safety related, respond with an Alexa.Safety.ErrorResponse.
AdjustRangeValue directive
Support the AdjustRangeValue directive so that users can adjust the level of features on devices.
The following examples show user utterances:
Alexa, turn up the bedroom fan speed.
Alexa, decrease the fan speed on the bedroom fan by 3.
AdjustRangeValue directive payload details
| Field | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
rangeValueDelta |
The amount by which to change the feature of the device. If the user doesn't specify the amount, precision is used. |
Number |
rangeValueDeltaDefault |
False if the user specified the amount of the change. | Boolean |
AdjustRangeValue directive example
The following example illustrates an AdjustRangeValue directive that Alexa sends to your skill.
{
"directive": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "AdjustRangeValue",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"correlationToken": "<an opaque correlation token>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>",
"cookie": {}
},
"payload": {
"rangeValueDelta": -3,
"rangeValueDeltaDefault": false
}
}
}
AdjustRangeValue response event
If you handle an AdjustRangeValue directive successfully, respond with an Alexa.Response event. In the context object, include the values of all properties that changed. You can respond synchronously or asynchronously. If you respond asynchronously, include a correlation token and a scope with an authorization token.
AdjustRangeValue response event example
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa",
"name": "Response",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"correlationToken": "<an opaque correlation token>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>"
},
"payload": {}
},
"context": {
"properties": [
{
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "rangeValue",
"value": 4,
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 500
}
]
}
}
AdjustRangeValue directive error handling
If you can't handle an AdjustRangeValue directive successfully, respond with an Alexa.ErrorResponse event. If your error is safety related, respond with an Alexa.Safety.ErrorResponse.
State reporting
Alexa sends a ReportState directive to request information about the state of an endpoint. When Alexa sends a ReportState directive, you send a StateReport event in response. The response contains the current state of all the retrievable properties in the context object. You identify your retrievable properties in your discovery response. For details about state reports, see Understand State and Change Reporting.
Support the ReportState directive so that users can ask about the features of their devices.
The following examples show some user utterances:
Alexa, what is the fan speed?
StateReport response event example
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa",
"name": "StateReport",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"correlationToken": "<an opaque correlation token>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>"
},
"payload": {}
},
"context": {
"properties": [
{
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "rangeValue",
"value": 4,
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 500
},
{
"namespace": "Alexa.PowerController",
"name": "powerState",
"value": "ON",
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 0
}
]
}
}
Change reporting
You send a ChangeReport event to proactively report changes in the state of an endpoint. You identify the properties that you proactively report in your discovery response. For details about change reports, see Understand State and Change Reporting.
ChangeReport event example
{
"event": {
"header": {
"namespace": "Alexa",
"name": "ChangeReport",
"messageId": "<message id>",
"payloadVersion": "3"
},
"endpoint": {
"scope": {
"type": "BearerToken",
"token": "<an OAuth2 bearer token>"
},
"endpointId": "<endpoint id>"
},
"payload": {
"change": {
"cause": {
"type": "PHYSICAL_INTERACTION"
},
"properties": [
{
"namespace": "Alexa.RangeController",
"instance": "Fan.Speed",
"name": "rangeValue",
"value": 10,
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 500
},
{
"namespace": "Alexa.PowerController",
"name": "powerState",
"value": "ON",
"timeOfSample": "2017-02-03T16:20:50.52Z",
"uncertaintyInMilliseconds": 0
}
]
}
}
},
"context": {}
}