The only thing that seems to fix the problem so far is turning the console off (via the switch in the back) and then turning it back on. As a result, most of the time, I am tethered to the console via the USB cord, because the flashy lights go away when I plug the controller in. More than half the time when I try to turn the controllers on, all they do is blink 4 lights continuously, and never 'connect' to the console.
I've been having a problem with my PS3 controllers that my resident PS expert can't help me with, so I'm turning to you guys.