Remote garage door monitoring system

• US 20060187034A1
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justin R. Styers, Ryan H. Mcdowell
• Original Assignee: Justin R. Styers, Ryan H. Mcdowell
• Inventors: Styers, Justin R., McDowell, Ryan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/545.100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for implementing a garage door monitoring system coupled to a garage door opener. The door monitoring system allow a user to actuate the door under control via a network connection. In at least one embodiment, the door monitoring system is controlled by a cell phone or networked appliance capable of transmitting information and data via a cellular telephone network. The door monitoring system provides the added advantage of allowing a remote user to view the areas or regions near to the door under control prior to actuating the door. At least one embodiment comprises a method to validate reception of the pictures or video clips of the areas or regions near to the door prior to enabling the system to actuate the door. In another embodiment a pass code is embedded into the pictures or video provided to the remote user.

Claims

1. A method for overriding a notification feature of a door monitoring system that allows a user to remotely actuate a garage door by controlling a garage door opener operably coupled to the garage door;

the garage door monitoring system comprising;

a notification feature, wherein the notification feature comprises a means for sending a notification message to a user that a door is open for a period of time greater than a timer alarm period;

a control unit comprising a system override state wherein the notification feature of a garage door monitoring system is disabled while allowing other functions to continue, and a system enabled state wherein the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is enabled;

a door status sensor operably coupled to the control unit, the door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state, and positioned to detect the status of the garage door;

wherein the door open state indicates that the door is open and the door closed state indicates that the door is closed; and

an override switch operably coupled to the control unit, the override switch comprising an override state and a enabled state, wherein asserting the override switch to the override state puts the door monitoring system in the system override state and asserting the enable state puts the door monitoring system in the system enable state;

the method comprising steps of;

sensing the state of the override switch;

setting the door monitoring system in the system override state when the override switch is in the override state, wherein the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is disabled while allowing at least one other monitoring or control feature of the door monitoring system to continue functioning; and

setting the door monitoring system in an enabled state when the door status sensor is in the door closed state, wherein the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is enabled to send a message to the user in the event the garage door is later opened for a period of time greater than the timer alarm period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

setting the door monitoring system in a system enabled state when the override switch is in the enable state, wherein the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is enabled.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the garage monitoring system further comprises a timer and a maximum override period parameter, the method further comprising the step of:

calculating the period of time that the door monitoring system is in a the system override state; and

setting the door monitoring system in the system enabled state after passage of a period of time equal to the maximum override period parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, the garage door monitoring system further comprising a timer and a parameter specifying a time of day when the door monitor system should be placed in the system enable state, the method further comprising the step of:

calculating the time of day; and

setting the door monitoring system in the system enabled state at a time equal to the parameter specifying a time of day when the door monitor system should be placed in the system enable state.

5. The method of claim 4, the garage door monitoring system further comprising a means for detecting sunlight;

the method further comprising;

measuring a level of sunlight; and

determining the time of day based upon the ambient level of sunlight detected.

6. A method for providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;

a timer;

a timer alarm period parameter that specifies the period of time the door status sensor can be in the door open state prior to sending a notification message;

a voice message generator capable of generating at least one voice notification message for the user; and

at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination for the voice message to be sent via the network connection to the user;

the method comprising steps of;

detecting the state of the door status sensor;

calculating an open door time period, wherein the open door time period is the time period that the door status sensor is in the door open state;

sending at least one voice notification message via the network connection to the message destination to inform the user that the door status sensor has been in the door open state for a time period not less than the timer alarm period.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising the step of generating a voice message requesting the user provide a password to gain access to the functions of the door monitoring system.

8. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising the step of generating at least one voice message to enable remote actuation of the garage door.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the door comprises an interior side and an exterior side, and the door monitoring system further comprises:

a first camera oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;

a second camera oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;

the method further comprising;

providing the user with a picture from the first and second cameras.

10. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising the step of setting the timer alarm period to a different period of time depending upon the time of day.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the door monitoring system further comprises a means of measuring the amount of sunlight, the method further comprising the steps of:

measuring the amount of sunlight present in an area on the exterior side of the door; and

adjusting the timer alarm period depending upon the light level.

12. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising the step of:

providing a user interface to the user to implement a message delivery prioritization scheme, wherein the user interface comprises a means for specifying and ranking message destinations by specifying at least one prioritization parameter, and wherein the user identifies the order of the messages destinations to which the door monitoring system sends messages;

selecting message destinations based upon the prioritization scheme, wherein the door monitoring system selectively sends messages indicating that the door status sensor is in the door open state to at least one destination based.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising the steps of:

sending a message indicating that the door status sensor has been in the door open state for a period of time at least equal to the timer alarm period to a first message destination;

sending a message indicating that the door status sensor has been in the door open state for the timer alarm period to at least one alternative message destination.

14. The method of claim 13, the method further comprising the step of:

selecting a message destination depending upon the time of day.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising the step of:

selecting the message destination depending upon the day of the week.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the control unit further comprises an activity log, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a command to provide an activity log of the control unit from a device connected to the network;

sending the activity log of the garage door to the device connected to the network.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the hand held device is capable of connecting to a cellular telephone network.

18. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a command to actuate a garage door;

providing a picture of an area on the interior side of the garage door and a picture of an area on the exterior side of the garage door via the network connection to a device connected to the network, wherein the pictures allow the user to deduce the desirability of actuating the garage door;

receiving a message verifying that the device connected to the network received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door.

19. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising the step of:

providing updates of the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior sides of the garage door, wherein the user is able to view the areas during the time preceding, during and subsequent to executing a command to actuate the garage door.

20. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising the step of:

enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after receiving verification that the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior side of the garage door were successfully received.

21. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising the steps of:

embedding a pass code in at least one of the pictures provided to the hand held networked appliance;

providing a voice message to prompt the user to provide the pass code embedded in the picture; and

enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after receiving the pass code.

22. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising the steps of:

generating a voice message to prompt confirmation of the request to actuate the garage door after the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door is enable;

receiving an indication confirming the command to actuate a garage door;

actuating the garage door.

23. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising the steps of:

enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after receiving verification that the user received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door;

tracking the passage of time after enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door;

disabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after the passage of a time out period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, the method further comprising the steps of:

providing the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior side of the garage door to a hand held networked appliance; and

receiving an indication from the hand held networked appliance that the pictures of the area on the interior and exterior side of the garage door were received.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the hand held device is capable of connecting to a cellular telephone network.

26. A method for providing a user with a notification message that a door is in an open state from a door monitoring system operably connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a means for determining the time of day;

a message generator capable of creating at least one message for a user; and

at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination, wherein the message destination is dependent upon the time of day;

the method comprising steps of;

determining a time of day;

selecting the message destination to send at least one notification message via the network connection based upon the time of day.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the door monitoring system further comprises a timer;

and wherein the timer is uses as a means of determining the time of day.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the message generator comprises a voice message generator capable of generating at least one voice message, the method further comprising

sending at least one message sent to the user is the voice message generated by the voice message generator.

29. The method of claim 26, the door monitoring system further comprising a means for detecting the level of sunlight, the method further comprising the steps of:

measuring an ambient level of sunlight present in an area near to the door being controlled by the door monitoring system; and

determining the time of day based upon the ambient level of sunlight detected.

30. A method for providing a user with a notification message that a door is in an open state from a door monitoring system operably connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a timer providing a day of week parameter;

a message generator capable of generating at least one message for a user; and

at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination, wherein

the message destination is dependent upon the day of the week;

the method comprising steps of;

determining the day of the week from the timer;

selecting the message destination to send at least one notification message via the network connection, wherein the message destination is selected based upon the day of the week.

31. The method 30, the door monitoring system further comprising a at least one parameter for specifying a preferred destination address for a message dependent upon time of day and a timer providing the time of day, the method further comprising the step of:

selecting a message destination dependent upon the time of day.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the message generator comprises a voice message generator capable of generating at least one voice message, and at least one message sent to the user is the voice message generated by the voice message generator.

33. A method of sharing a phone line between a door monitoring system and other appliances using the phone line, the door monitoring system comprising a call director operably coupled to the phone line and a means for receiving and processing information received over a phone line operably coupled to the call director;

the method comprising the steps of;

the call director sensing the phone line to detect whether an incoming call is intended for the door monitoring system;

the call director connecting the door monitoring system'"'"'s means for receiving and processing information received over a phone line to the phone line when the incoming call is intended for the door monitoring system.

34. A method of storing an image sequence associated with the actuation of a door comprising an interior side and an exterior side by a door monitoring system controlling the operation of a door actuator, wherein the door actuator is operatively coupled to the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

a control unit;

an interior camera proving pictures operably coupled to the control unit, and positioned to view an area near to the interior side of the door;

a exterior camera providing pictures operably coupled to the control unit and positioned to view an area near to the exterior side of the door;

a recording device, wherein the control unit is operably coupled to the door actuator and can command the door actuator to actuate the door;

the method comprising the steps of;

capturing pictures from the interior and exterior camera to the recording device;

setting the pictures in a circular buffer;

storing to a recording device the pictures in the circular buffer corresponding to a time period beginning a prospective time prior to the actuation of the door and ending a retrospective time after the actuation of the door.

35. A method for varying a period providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a timer;

a timer alarm period parameter that specifies the period of time the door status sensor can be in the door open state prior to sending a notification message;

the method comprising steps of;

calculating the time of day;

modifying the timer alarm period parameter based upon the time of day, wherein the open door time period is the time period that the door status sensor is in the door open state.

36. A method for selecting a message destination for providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a timer;

at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination for the voice notification message to be sent via the network connection to the user;

the method comprising steps of;

calculating the time of day;

selecting the message destination based upon the time of day, wherein the voice notification message indicating the is in the open state is sent to the message destination.

37. A method for verifying that a user has an opportunity to view potential hazards while remotely attempting to actuate a door having an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the user interfaces with a door monitoring system via a networked appliance connected to a network;

wherein the door monitoring system comprises;

a control unit comprising;

a means for generating a pass code;

a means for overlaying the pass code onto a video picture;

a user interface;

a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;

a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;

the method comprising;

embedding a pass code in at least one of the pictures provided to the networked appliance;

providing a user interface message to prompt the user to provide the pass code embedded in the picture to the door monitoring system; and

enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after receiving the pass code.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the door monitoring system further includes a voice message generator capable of generating at least one voice message for the user, and wherein the user interface message prompting the user to provide the pass code is a voice message.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the user interface includes a voice recognition system;

the method further comprising;

decoding the verbal response of the user to receive the pass code.

40. A method for verifying that a networked appliance used by a user to remotely actuate a door with a door monitoring system, wherein the door comprises an exterior side and an interior side, has received a picture of an area near to the interior side of the door and a picture of an area near to the exterior side of the door prior to actuating the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

a control unit;

a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;

a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;

the method comprising;

providing a picture of an area on the interior side of the garage door and a picture of an area on the exterior side of the garage door via the network connection to a device connected to the network, wherein the pictures allow the user to deduce the desirability of actuating the garage door;

receiving a message verifying that the networked appliance used by the user to interface with the door monitoring system via the network received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door;

enabling the door monitoring system to actuate the garage door after receiving verification that the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior side of the garage door were successfully received.

41. The method of claim 40, the method further comprising the step of:

providing updates of the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior sides of the garage door, wherein the user is able to view the areas during the time preceding, during and subsequent to executing a command to actuate the garage door.

42. A method for a networked appliance used by a user to remotely actuate a door with a door monitoring system, wherein the door comprises an exterior side and an interior side, has received a picture of an area near to the interior side of the door and a picture of an area near to the exterior side of the door prior to actuating the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

a control unit;

a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;

a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;

the method comprising the steps of;

receiving a picture of an area on the interior side of the garage door and a picture of an area on the exterior side of the garage door via the network connection to a device connected to the network, wherein the pictures allow the user to deduce the desirability of actuating the garage door;

sending a message verifying that the networked appliance used by the user to interface with the door monitoring system via the network received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door.

43. The method of claim 42, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving a prompt requesting the user to confirm the initial request to actuate the door;

sending a response to the door monitoring system confirming the request to actuate the door, wherein the response cause the door monitoring system to actuate the door.

44. A garage door monitoring system to allow a user to remotely control a garage door opener, the garage door opener comprising:

a garage door opener control input, wherein the garage door opener is operably connected to a garage door comprising an interior side and an exterior side, and wherein the garage door opener actuates the garage door,

the garage door monitoring system comprising;

a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;

a control unit operably coupled to the door status sensor, and the control unit comprising;

a timer;

a timer alarm period parameter;

an interface operably coupled to a network; and

a voice message generator providing at least one voice message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter.

45. The garage door monitoring system of claim 44, wherein the control unit further comprises a control output operably coupled to the garage door opener control input.

46. The garage door monitoring system further of claim 45;

wherein the garage door monitoring system further comprises;

an interior camera operably coupled to the control unit, and positioned to view an area near to the interior door side of the garage door, and providing at least one picture of the area near to the interior side of the door;

an exterior camera operably coupled to the control unit and positioned to view an area near to the exterior door side of the garage door, and providing at least one picture of the area near to the exterior side of the door;

a user interface allowing the user to remotely actuate the garage door using a remote device capable of displaying a picture;

a safety interlock system that confirms the remote device has received at least one picture of the area near to the exterior door side of the garage and at least one picture of the interior door side of the garage prior to enabling the user to actuate the garage door.

47. A system override mechanism for a garage door monitoring system that allows a user to remotely actuate a garage door, the garage door monitoring system comprising:

a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;

a control unit comprising a door status input operably coupled to the door status sensor;

a network interface operably coupled to a network connection;

a timer;

a timer alarm period parameter for setting the maximum period of time prior to notifying the user that the door status sensor is in the door open state;

a voice message generator that provides at least one message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter; and

a notification feature that initiates at least one message to the user when the timer indicates the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time greater than the timer alarm period parameter;

wherein the control unit governs the operation of a garage door opener that actuates a garage door; and

wherein the voice message generator providing at least one voice message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter;

the system override mechanism comprising;

an override switch operably coupled to the control unit, the override switch comprising;

a system override state; and

a system enable state;

wherein, the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is disabled when the override switch is in a system override state; and

at least one other feature of the of the garage door monitoring system is enabled when the override switch is in a system override state.

48. A method for limiting access to a door monitoring system comprising a caller id function and at least one parameter providing a specified phone number from which to accept a call, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the caller id of a received call;

screening the received call to accept phone calls from the specified phone number.

49. A method for limiting access to a door monitoring system comprising a network identification function and at least one parameter specifying a networked device identification parameter from which to accept messages, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the network device identification parameter of a received message;

screening the received message to accept phone calls from a networked device matching at least one networked device identification parameter.

50. A method for monitoring and controlling a door monitoring system for monitoring a device capable of being opened and closed comprising a server comprising a user interface and a network connection to a network, wherein the server is able to communicate with other devices operably coupled to the network;

a control unit operably coupled to the network;

means for monitoring and controlling the door monitoring system;

the method comprising;

a user logging into the server;

the server providing a user interface for the door monitoring system;

the server communicating with the control unit to provide the user with the means for monitoring and control functions of the door monitoring system.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the door monitoring system further comprises a means for providing images of the area near the device capable of being opened and closed;

the method further comprising providing images to the user of the area near the device capable of being opened and closed.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the server is a portion of the control unit.