Network ID Activated Transmitter

• US 20080130791A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/310
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

A security code transmitter is provided to transmit a control signal to a barrier movement operator to controlling movement of a movable barrier. The barrier movement operator is proximate to a wireless communication network having a network ID. A receiver of the security code transmitter receives a transmitted network signal comprising the network ID from the wireless communication network. A memory of the security code transmitter stores a predetermined ID. A processor of the security code transmitter determines whether the wireless network ID of the transmitted network signal matches the predetermined wireless network ID. When a match is determined, the security code transmitter is controlled to transmit the control signal to the barrier movement operator.

Claims

1. A security code transmitter to transmit a control signal to a barrier movement operator for controlling movement of a movable barrier, the barrier movement operator being proximate to a wireless communication network having a network ID, the security code transmitter comprising:

a receiver to receive a transmitted network signal comprising the network ID from the wireless communication network;

a memory to store a predetermined ID; and

a processor to determine whether the wireless network ID of the transmitted network signal matches the predetermined wireless network ID, and when a match is determined, controlling the security code transmitter to transmit the control signal to the barrier movement operator.

2. The security code transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a user input device to receive instructions from a user to perform at least one of:

associating the wireless network ID with a movable barrier function to be performed, and implementing a learning mode to program the predetermined ID into the memory of the security code transmitter.

3. The security code transmitter of claim 2, wherein the movable barrier function to be performed includes a movable barrier function comprising at least one of:

opening the movable barrier, closing the movable barrier, turning on a light in communication with the barrier movement operator, turning off the light in communication with the barrier movement operator, and turning on an electrical load.

4. The security code transmitter of claim 1, wherein the memory stores at least two wireless network IDs.

5. The security code transmitter of claim 1, wherein the receiver is adapted to detect the transmitted network signal only in response to a loss of detection of a previously transmitted network signal containing the network ID.

6. The security code transmitter of claim 1, further comprising a signal strength detector for determining a strength of the transmitted network signal, wherein the controlling the security code transmitter to transmit the control signal to the barrier movement operator is performed only in response the strength of the transmitted network signal exceeding a predetermined threshold strength.

7. A system for controlling movement of a movable barrier, comprising:

a wireless communication network to broadcast a wireless network ID;

a barrier movement operator located proximate to the wireless communication network, the barrier movement operator being adapted to move the movable barrier and perform additional movable barrier functions;

a security code transmitter to detect the wireless network ID, compare the wireless network ID with a predetermined ID stored in a memory of the security code transmitter, and transmit a control signal to the barrier movement operator for controlling the movement of the movable barrier in response to a match of the wireless network ID and the predetermined ID.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication network comprises at least one of a Wi-Fi network, a Bluetooth network, an alarm network, and a home automation network.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a user input device to receive instructions from the user to perform at least one of:

associating the wireless network ID with a movable barrier function to be performed, and implementing a learning mode to program the predetermined ID into the memory of the security code transmitter.

10. A method for commanding a barrier movement operator, located proximate to a wireless communication network having a network ID, to control movement of a movable barrier and perform additional movable barrier functions, comprising:

detecting a transmitted network signal comprising the network ID from the wireless communication network;

determining whether a predetermined ID stored in a memory matches the network ID of the transmitted network signal; and

transmitting a control signal to the barrier movement operator in response to a successful match of the predetermined ID and the wireless network ID.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving instructions from the user to perform at least one of:

associating the wireless network ID with a movable barrier function to be performed, and implementing a learning mode to program the predetermined ID into the memory.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the memory stores at least two wireless network IDs.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the movable barrier function to be performed comprises at least one of:

opening the movable barrier, closing the movable barrier, turning on a light in communication with the barrier movement operator, turning off the light in communication with the barrier movement operator, and turning on an electrical load.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting the transmitted network signal only in response to a loss of a previously transmitted network signal containing the wireless network ID.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a strength of the transmitted network signal, wherein the transmitting the control signal to the barrier movement operator is performed only in response the strength of the transmitted network signal exceeding a predetermined threshold strength.

16. A method of programming a security code transmitter to transmit a control signal to a barrier movement operator to control movement of a movable barrier, the barrier movement operator being proximate to a wireless communication network having a network ID, the method comprising:

initiating a learning mode in response to a user input;

receiving a transmitted network signal comprising the network ID from the wireless communication network; and

storing the wireless network ID in a memory of the security code transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the learning mode is initiated in response to at least one of a user providing an input via an input device of the security code transmitter, and the user providing the user input to the barrier movement operator.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the memory is adapted to store multiple different wireless network IDs.

19. The method of claim 16, further storing a function to be performed in response to detection of the wireless network ID in the memory based on a second user input.