Movable barrier operator configured for remote actuation

• US 10,192,377 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elika Access Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Elika Access Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Tehranchi, Ali, Karimi, Pezhman, Perez, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US15/066,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20160196706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 340 561
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 : Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention is generally a movable barrier operator configured for remote actuation, and more specifically, to a movable barrier operator configured to generate a barrier command in response to an authorized mobile device joining wireless network. The authorization may be established by connecting the mobile device to the operator through a wireless communication means. The wireless communication means may include known protocols such as Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi, NFC, ZigBee™, or any other type of wireless communication.

Claims

1. A method performed by an onboard computer on a vehicle for controlling a movable barrier, comprising:

receiving a communication initiated by a movable barrier operator, the communication including an invitation from a movable barrier operator to join a local wireless network of the movable barrier operator;

sending a request to join the local wireless network, wherein the request includes a unique identifier associated with an authorized user;

launching an application in response to receiving the invitation, the application for requesting a user input associated with actuation of the movable barrier;

detecting whether the onboard computer has joined the local network; and

automatically generating a movable barrier actuation command in response to the vehicle onboard computer joining the local wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending user credentials to confirm the identity of the authorized user to the movable barrier operator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the invitation from the movable barrier operator includes an instruction to automatically launch the application on the onboard computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the application launched by the onboard computer comprises graphical user interface (GUI).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the GUI includes an output for requesting the user input for authenticating the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing via an output of the GUI historical data concerning times during which the onboard computer has accessed the movable barrier.

7. A method performed by an onboard computer on a vehicle for controlling a movable barrier, comprising:

detecting a message initiated by a movable barrier operator, the message inviting the onboard computer on the vehicle to join a local wireless network of the movable barrier operator whenever the onboard computer is within a programmable proximity of the movable barrier;

launching an application, in response to the message, requesting a user input associated with actuation of the movable barrier;

sending an access request in response to receiving the user input; and

joining the local wireless network of the movable barrier operator, wherein joining the local wireless network causes the movable barrier operator to automatically generate a movable barrier actuation command for moving the movable barrier.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining the distance of the vehicle to the movable barrier using received signal strength indication (RSSI).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein joining the local wireless network comprises joining a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the WPAN utilizes the ZIGBEE protocol, the BLUETOOTH protocol, Near Field Communication (NFC), or the WI-FI protocol to communicate with the movable barrier operator.

10. A method performed by a movable barrier operator, comprising:

initiating a communication with an onboard computer on a vehicle to join a local wireless network of the movable barrier operator, wherein initiating the communication includes transmitting an invitation from the movable barrier operator to the onboard computer;

receiving a request from the onboard computer to join the local wireless network, wherein the request includes a unique identifier associated with an authorized user;

accessing a database to match the unique identifier to authenticate the onboard computer;

authorizing the onboard computer to join the local wireless network; and

generating a movable barrier command in response to the onboard computer joining the local wireless network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the invitation to the onboard computer includes an instruction for the onboard computer to automatically launch an application.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving from the onboard computer user input comprising user credentials to confirm the identity of the authorized user.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a request to the onboard computer for user input comprising user credentials to confirm the identity of the authorized user; and

receiving from the onboard computer the user input comprising the user credentials to confirm the identity of the authorized user.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining the distance of the vehicle to the movable barrier using received signal strength indication (RSSI).

15. The method of claim 10, wherein accessing the database includes:

retrieving one or more sets of temporary user identification codes associated with one or more mobile devices with a temporary authorization to access the movable barrier.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether to allow the onboard computer to join the local wireless network based on user permissions associated with the unique identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user permissions include a time designation during which the onboard computer associated with the unique identifier may access the movable barrier.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a user interface for managing the database.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a user interface for accessing historical data concerning times during which the onboard computer has accessed the movable barrier.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing a server in communication with the movable barrier operator, the server for managing the database.