Separating automated switching from user input

Hi,

I have an Homematic light switch. Light is switched on either by user or by a rule. If light is switched on by a rule there are several other parameters that are configured as well.
How do you separate user switching from rule-based switching?
At the moment I just have an additional global variable set (and unset via timer), if a rule based switching occurs.

However, is there an easier way?

Daniel

Here are some different ways to do it.