Vehicle garage door opener security
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling operation of a garage door opener from a vehicle, the method comprising:
- receiving an actuation signal from a garage door opener switch located in a vehicle;
displaying a keypad on a touch-sensitive display device that is located in the vehicle, in response to receiving the actuation signal, the keypad configured to accept as input a plurality of alpha-numeric characters of a garage-door-access multi-digit security code;
receiving as input from the keypad displayed on the touch-sensitive display device the garage-door-access multi-digit security code;
receiving occupant-identifying information from at least one occupant sensor, the at least one occupant sensor provides information corresponding to a person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems and the person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems is evaluated to identify the person in the vehicle, the occupant sensors include at least one of a seat position detector for measuring seat height, lumbar support position sensor, headrest position sensor, seat angle sensor, seat length for a behind-the-knee bolster sensor, seat title angle sensor, seat forward-back position and occupant weight sensor, steering wheel angle and column length sensors, mirror position sensors, and brake and accelerator pedal height sensors;
comparing the input received at the keypad to a predetermined access code for allowing operation of the garage door opener;
if the input received at the keypad matches the predetermined access code, comparing the received occupant-identifying information to pre-stored occupant-identifying information; and
if the received occupant-identifying information corresponds to a previously known occupant, wirelessly transmitting a door open signal from the vehicle to the garage door opener.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The integrated garage door opener controller in a vehicle, i.e., a garage door controller embedded in a vehicle, is prevented from operating pending receipt of a personal identification number (PIN) into a display device. In an alternate embodiment, the embedded garage door controller is enabled by information from occupant sensors, which indicate whether a driver or other person in the vehicle previously used the vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, an alarm is transmitted to a telematics service provider after a predetermined number of attempts to unlock the system have been made.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of controlling operation of a garage door opener from a vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving an actuation signal from a garage door opener switch located in a vehicle; displaying a keypad on a touch-sensitive display device that is located in the vehicle, in response to receiving the actuation signal, the keypad configured to accept as input a plurality of alpha-numeric characters of a garage-door-access multi-digit security code; receiving as input from the keypad displayed on the touch-sensitive display device the garage-door-access multi-digit security code; receiving occupant-identifying information from at least one occupant sensor, the at least one occupant sensor provides information corresponding to a person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems and the person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems is evaluated to identify the person in the vehicle, the occupant sensors include at least one of a seat position detector for measuring seat height, lumbar support position sensor, headrest position sensor, seat angle sensor, seat length for a behind-the-knee bolster sensor, seat title angle sensor, seat forward-back position and occupant weight sensor, steering wheel angle and column length sensors, mirror position sensors, and brake and accelerator pedal height sensors; comparing the input received at the keypad to a predetermined access code for allowing operation of the garage door opener; if the input received at the keypad matches the predetermined access code, comparing the received occupant-identifying information to pre-stored occupant-identifying information; and if the received occupant-identifying information corresponds to a previously known occupant, wirelessly transmitting a door open signal from the vehicle to the garage door opener. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for controlling operation of a garage door opener from a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a garage door opener transmitter, configured to transmit a wireless signal, which when received by a garage door opener will cause the opener to operate; a garage door opener control switch; a touch-sensitive display device, configured to be able to receive a tactile input and display images; a plurality of occupant sensors including at least one of a seat position detector for measuring seat height, lumbar support position sensor, headrest position sensor, seat angle sensor, seat length for a behind-the-knee bolster sensor, seat title angle sensor, seat forward-back position and occupant weight sensor, steering wheel angle and column length sensors, mirror position sensors, and brake and accelerator pedal height sensors; a controller coupled to the garage door opener transmitter, the garage door opener control switch, the occupant sensors and coupled to the touch-sensitive display device; a memory device coupled to the controller and storing executable program instructions for said controller, the instructions being selected and arranged to; detect an actuation of the garage door opener control switch; in response to detecting actuation of the garage door opener control switch, cause the display of a keypad on the touch-sensitive display device, the keypad being configured to accept as input a plurality of alpha-numeric characters of a garage-door-access multi-digit security code; receive as input from the touch-sensitive display device the garage-door-access multi-digit security code; compare the input received from the touch-sensitive display device to a predetermined access code that allows operation of the garage door opener, the predetermined access code being stored in the memory device; receive and evaluate information from the occupant sensors, wherein the occupant sensors provide information corresponding to a person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems and wherein the person'"'"'s configuration of vehicle control systems is evaluated to identify the person in the vehicle; and cause the controller to send signals to the garage door opener transmitter, which cause wireless transmission of a door open signal from the garage door opener transmitter, if the input received from the displayed keypad is determined by the controller to be the same as the predetermined access code and if the occupant sensor information indicates that a person in the vehicle is authorized to access a garage, the door of which is opened and closed by a garage door opener. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification