Barrier operator feature enhancement

• US 10,597,928 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2018
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Cate, Casparus, Fitzgibbon, James Joseph, Keller, Jr., Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US16/194,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20190085615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25209 Device status answer, response, acknowledge
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 : using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 : using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a barrier operator communication module configured to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols;

an input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device over a network;

the input/output module further configured to receive an operation status of a barrier operator indicative of whether an associated barrier is closed;

control circuitry communicatively coupled to the barrier operator communication module and the input/output module, the control circuitry configured to cause the barrier operator communication module to communicate with any of the plurality of barrier operator types, the control circuitry of the apparatus further configured to communicate with a presence detector configured to detect a presence of a vehicle;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect synchronization, in response to detection of the presence of the vehicle by the presence detector and the operation status indicating that the barrier is closed, between vehicle data stored by a storage device of the vehicle and computing device data stored by the computing device;

wherein synchronization includes communication of data between the vehicle and the computing device via the input/output module and the network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a server remote from at least one of the vehicle and the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to effect synchronization between the vehicle data and the computing device data by causing the input/output module to communicate data from the computing device to the storage device of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle data includes media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicle operation information, vehicle maintenance information, or a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computing device data includes media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicle operation information, vehicle maintenance information, or a combination thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the presence detector comprises a passive infrared detector, a photo beam system, a magnetic detector, a capacitance detector, a sound detector, a camera, or a combination thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the presence detector comprises a communication system configured to detect identification information from a vehicle, a cell phone, or a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is further configured to communicate with the barrier operator.

9. A method of operating an apparatus comprising a barrier operator communication module configured to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols, an input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device over a network, a presence detector configured to detect a presence of a vehicle, and control circuitry operatively coupled to the barrier operator communication module, the input/output module, and the presence detector, the method comprising:

receiving an operation status of a barrier operator indicative of whether an associated barrier is closed;

detecting a presence of a vehicle in a garage by the presence detector; and

effecting synchronization, in response to the detecting the presence of the vehicle in the garage and the operation status indicating the barrier is closed, between vehicle data stored by a storage device of the vehicle and computing device data stored by the computing device;

wherein synchronization includes communication of data between the vehicle in the garage and the computing device via the input/output module and the network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein effecting synchronization includes the input/output module downloading data from the computing device to the storage device of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein effecting synchronization includes transmitting a signal from the input/output module to the computing device causing the computing device to synchronize data with the storage device of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

transmitting a control signal from the barrier operator communication module to the barrier operator to cause the barrier operator to move the barrier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting the control signal to the barrier operator is in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle by the presence detector.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting the presence of the vehicle by the presence detector includes detecting the vehicle using:

a passive infrared detector;

a photo beam system;

a magnetic detector;

a capacitance detector;

a sound detector;

a camera;

a communication system configured to detect identification information from a vehicle;

a communication system configured to detect identification information from a cell phone;

or

a combination thereof.

15. A system comprising:

a barrier operator; and

a barrier operator enhancement device comprising;

a housing configured to mount in a garage;

a barrier operator communication module in the housing and configured to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that includes the barrier operator;

an input/output module in the housing and configured to communicate with a computing device over a network, the input/output module further configured to receive an operation status of a barrier operator indicative of whether an associated barrier is closed;

a presence detector configured to detect a presence of a vehicle; and

control circuitry in the housing and communicatively coupled to the barrier operator communication module, the input/output module, and the presence detector;

the control circuitry configured to effect synchronization, in response to detection of the vehicle by the presence detector and the operation status indicating that the barrier is closed, between vehicle data stored by a storage device of a vehicle and computing device data stored by the computing device;

wherein synchronization includes communication of data between the vehicle and the computing device via the input/output module and the network.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a gateway communication device configured to relay signals between at least two of the barrier operator enhancement device, the computing device, and the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the gateway communication device is a wireless router.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the computing device is configured to communicate with the vehicle via the barrier operator enhancement device.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the control circuitry is configured to effect synchronization between the vehicle data and the computing device data by causing synchronization of media files, mapping data, navigation data, vehicle information, or a combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the presence detector includes:

a passive infrared detector;

a photo beam system;

a magnetic detector;

a capacitance detector;

a sound detector;

a camera;

a communication system configured to detect identification information from a vehicle;

a communication system configured to detect identification information from a cell phone;

or

a combination thereof.