Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Using Multiple Carrier Frequencies

• US 20100087156A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chamblerlain Group LLC, The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Scaletta, John Steven, Lukas, Edward J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/91
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

A wireless radio frequency transmitter (400), upon detecting (101) an end user assertion of an end user interface and in automatic response thereto, uses a first rolling carrier frequency to transmit (102) a message. Upon then determining (104) that the end user is continuing to assert this end user interface, this transmitter then re-transmits (105) that message using a predetermined fixed carrier frequency. By one approach, the first rolling carrier frequency is selected from amongst a pool of candidate carrier frequencies using a carrier frequency calculation formula. By another approach, this carrier frequency is selected from one or more tables that comprise a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a wireless radio frequency transmitter;

detecting an end user assertion of an end user interface;

in automatic response to detecting the end user assertion;

transmitting, using a first rolling carrier frequency, a message;

upon determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface, re-transmitting the message using a predetermined fixed carrier frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface comprises, at least in part, determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface beyond use of the first rolling carrier frequency.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless radio frequency transmitter comprises a remote control transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the remote control transmitter comprises a remote entry control transmitter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the remote entry control transmitter comprises a remote control for a movable barrier operator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting an end user assertion of an end user interface comprises, at least in part, detecting an end user assertion of a push button.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting an end user assertion of an end user interface comprises, at least in part, detecting an end user'"'"'s proximity with respect to a proximity sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting an end user assertion of an end user interface comprises, at least in part, detecting an end user assertion of a keypad key.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein using a first rolling carrier frequency comprises, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency using a formula that calculates a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein using a first rolling carrier frequency comprises, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies comprises selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the table.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies comprises selecting a carrier frequency from amongst one of a plurality of tables that each comprise a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein selecting a carrier frequency from amongst one of a plurality of tables that each comprise a plurality of different carrier frequencies comprises selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the plurality of tables.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the different carrier frequencies is the same as the predetermined fixed carrier frequency.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in automatic response to detecting the end user assertion;

re-transmitting, using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second rolling carrier frequency is different from the first rolling carrier frequency.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

using a first rolling carrier frequency comprises, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies;

using a second rolling carrier frequency comprises, at least in part, selecting the second rolling carrier frequency from the table.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies comprises selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the table;

selecting the second rolling carrier frequency from the table also comprises selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the table.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface comprises, at least in part, determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface beyond use of the first and second rolling carrier frequency.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting, using a first rolling carrier frequency, a message comprises transmitting the message at least twice using the first rolling carrier frequency.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein transmitting the message at least twice using the first rolling carrier frequency comprises also transmitting only an incomplete portion of the message using the first rolling carrier frequency.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

in automatic response to detecting the end user assertion;

re-transmitting, at least twice and using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein re-transmitting, at least twice and using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message further comprises also transmitting only an incomplete portion of the message using the second rolling carrier frequency.

24. A wireless radio frequency transmitter comprising:

an end user interface;

a frequency-agile radio frequency transmitter;

a controller operably coupled to the end user interface and the frequency-agile radio frequency transmitter and being configured to, in automatic response to detecting an end user assertion via the end user interface;

use the frequency-agile radio frequency transmitter to transmit, using a first rolling carrier frequency, a message;

upon determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface, re-transmitting, using the frequency-agile radio frequency transmitter, the message using a predetermined fixed carrier frequency.

25. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to determine that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface by, at least in part, determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface beyond use of the first rolling carrier frequency.

26. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the wireless radio frequency transmitter comprises a remote control transmitter.

27. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 26 wherein the remote control transmitter comprises a remote entry control transmitter.

28. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 27 wherein the remote entry control transmitter comprises a remote control for a movable barrier operator.

29. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to detect an end user assertion of an end user interface by, at least in part, detecting an end user assertion of a push button.

30. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to detect an end user assertion of an end user interface by, at least in part, detecting an end user'"'"'s proximity with respect to a proximity sensor.

31. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to detect an end user assertion of an end user interface by, at least in part, detecting an end user assertion of a keypad key.

32. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to use a first rolling carrier frequency by, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency using a formula that calculates a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

33. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to use a first rolling carrier frequency by, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

34. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 33 wherein the controller is configured to select the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies by selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the table.

35. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 33 wherein the controller is configured to select the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies by selecting a carrier frequency from amongst one of a plurality of tables that each comprise a plurality of different carrier frequencies.

36. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 35 wherein the controller is configured to select a carrier frequency from amongst one of a plurality of tables that each comprise a plurality of different carrier frequencies by selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the plurality of tables.

37. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 33 wherein one of the different carrier frequencies is the same as the predetermined fixed carrier frequency.

38. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is further configured to, in automatic response to detecting the end user assertion:

re-transmit, using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message.

39. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 38 wherein the second rolling carrier frequency is different from the first rolling carrier frequency.

40. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 39 wherein the controller is configured to:

use a first rolling carrier frequency by, at least in part, selecting the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies;

use a second rolling carrier frequency by, at least in part, selecting the second rolling carrier frequency from the table.

41. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 40 wherein the controller is configured to:

select the first rolling carrier frequency from a table that comprises a plurality of different carrier frequencies by selecting a next sequential carrier frequency from the table;

40 wherein the controller is configured to determine that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface by, at least in part, determining that the end user is continuing to assert the end user interface beyond use of the first and second rolling carrier frequency.

42. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 24 wherein the controller is configured to transmit, using a first rolling carrier frequency, a message by transmitting the message at least twice using the first rolling carrier frequency.

43. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 42 wherein the controller is configured to transmit the message at least twice using the first rolling carrier frequency by also transmitting only an incomplete portion of the message using the first rolling carrier frequency.

44. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 42 wherein the controller is configured to, in automatic response to detecting the end user assertion:

re-transmit, at least twice and using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message.

45. The wireless radio frequency transmitter of claim 44 wherein the controller is configured to re-transmit, at least twice and using a second rolling carrier frequency, the message by also transmitting only an incomplete portion of the message using the second rolling carrier frequency.

46. A method comprising:

at a wireless radio frequency receiver;

in a learning mode of operation;

scanning each of a plurality of carrier frequencies as are included in each of a plurality of different carrier frequency groupings to identify which one or more of the carrier frequency groupings contain a carrier frequency being used by a wireless radio frequency transmitter to thereby provide at least one identified grouping;

in a normal mode of operation;

using the at least one identified grouping, but not groupings that were not identified as an identified grouping during the learning mode of operation, to scan each of the plurality of carrier frequencies as are included in each of the at least one identified grouping to thereby receive a message transmitted by the wireless radio frequency transmitter.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

in the normal mode of operation;

also using a predetermined fixed carrier frequency to also thereby monitor for reception of the message on the predetermined fixed carrier frequency.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein, in the normal mode of operation, using the at least one identified grouping, but not groupings that were not identified as an identified grouping during the learning mode of operation, to scan each of the plurality of carrier frequencies as are included in each of the at least one identified grouping to thereby receive a message transmitted by the wireless radio frequency transmitter comprises:

receiving the message using a first carrier frequency that comprises one of the plurality of carrier frequencies;

receiving the message also using a second carrier frequency that comprises one of the plurality of carrier frequencies that is different than the first carrier frequency.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein using a second carrier frequency comprises using a carrier frequency that is next in a sequence as corresponds to the first carrier frequency.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the sequence comprises a table-based sequence.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the sequence comprises a formula-based sequence.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the at least one identified grouping comprises at least two identified groupings and wherein the first carrier frequency comprises a member of first one of the at least two identified groupings and the second carrier frequency comprises a member of a second, different one of the at least two identified groupings.