Method and Apparatus for Training a Learning Movable Barrier Operator Transceiver

• US 20110205014A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,416,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00492 whereby the code is a rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00888 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00857 where the code of the data carrier can be programmed

Abstract

A system and method for training a learning transceiver to a movable barrier system includes a learning transceiver that is configured for being trained to the movable barrier system. To provide ease of use to consumers, a user is able to train the learning transceiver to the movable barrier system without needing to push a button on a movable barrier operator or use a pretrained transmitter. To this end, a movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a transmission signal to the learning transceiver including a rolling access code, which is used to train the learning transceiver. To maintain the security of the movable barrier system and to restrict unauthorized users from accessing the movable barrier system, the movable barrier operator waits to transmit the transmission signal, including the rolling access code, to the learning transceiver until it has received an indication that a predetermined event occurred.

Claims

1. A method for training a learning transceiver to operate with a movable barrier system, the method comprising:

receiving a transmission signal by the learning transceiver from a movable barrier operator, wherein the transmission signal includes a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion;

deriving from the transmission signal the fixed code portion and the rolling code portion by the learning transceiver;

using at least one of the fixed code portion and the rolling code portion to generate a new rolling access code by the learning transceiver; and

transmitting the new rolling access code to activate the movable barrier operator by the learning transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the learning transceiver transmitting an authorization signal to the movable barrier operator, in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, prior to the movable barrier operator transmitting the transmission signal to the learning transceiver, wherein the authorization signal informs the movable barrier operator that it is authorized to communicate with the learning transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a polling signal by the learning transceiver from the movable barrier operator.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a signal by the learning transceiver indicating actuation of a switch in the learning transceiver.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a signal by the learning transceiver indicating actuation of one or more components of a motor vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a signal indicating that a proximity detector detected a presence of a motor vehicle located within a predetermined distance from the proximity detector.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the learning transceiver transmitting an initiation signal to the movable barrier operator in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the initiation signal informs the movable barrier operator that it is authorized to initiate a training sequence of the learning transceiver if the movable barrier operator has previously received an authorization signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a signal by the learning transceiver indicating actuation of a switch in the learning transceiver.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined event comprises receiving a signal by the learning transceiver indicating actuation of one or more components of a motor vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the new rolling access code comprises transmitting a signal comprising the fixed code portion and the rolling code portion.

11. A learning transceiver capable of becoming trained to operate with a movable barrier system, the learning transceiver comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive from a movable barrier operator a transmission signal that contains a first rolling access code with a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion and to transmit a new transmission signal, including a second rolling access code, to the movable barrier operator;

a controller connected for operative communication with the transceiver, the controller configured to derive the fixed code portion and the rolling code portion from the transmission signal and to generate the second rolling access code for transmission to the movable barrier operator based, at least in part, on at least one of the fixed code portion or the rolling code portion; and

a memory device connected for operative communication with the controller, the memory device configured to store at least one of the fixed code portion or the rolling code portion to be available to the controller for generating the second rolling access code.

12. The learning transceiver of claim 11, wherein the transmission signal is sent to the learning transceiver by the movable barrier operator in response to the movable barrier operator receiving an authorization signal configured to verify that the learning transceiver is authorized to communicate with the movable barrier operator, wherein the authorization signal is sent to the movable barrier operator in response to occurrence of a predetermined event.

13. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the learning transceiver is configured to transmit the authorization signal to the movable barrier operator and wherein the predetermined event comprises the learning transceiver receiving a signal indicating actuation of a switch in the learning transceiver.

14. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the learning transceiver is configured to transmit the authorization signal to the movable barrier operator and wherein the predetermined event comprises the learning transceiver receiving a signal indicating actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.

15. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the learning transceiver is configured to transmit the authorization signal to the movable barrier operator and wherein the predetermined event comprises the learning transceiver receiving a polling signal from the movable barrier operator.

16. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the predetermined event comprises a proximity sensor detecting a motor vehicle being located within a predetermined distance from the proximity sensor.

17. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the predetermined event comprises actuation of a user-actuable switch on a protected side of the movable barrier.

18. The learning transceiver of claim 12, wherein the transmission signal is sent to the learning transceiver by the movable barrier operator in response to the movable barrier operator receiving an initiation signal and the authorization signal, the initiation signal configured to indicate initiation of a training sequence of the learning transceiver.

19. The learning transceiver of claim 18, wherein the learning transceiver is configured to transmit the initiation signal in response to receiving a signal indicating actuation of a switch in the learning transceiver.

20. The learning transceiver of claim 18, wherein the learning transceiver is configured to transmit the initiation signal to the movable barrier operator in response to the learning transceiver receiving a signal indicating actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.

21. A movable barrier operator system for training a learning transceiver, the movable barrier operator system comprising:

a movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator comprising;

a transceiver configured to receive an authorization signal indicating that the movable barrier operator is authorized to communicate with a learning transceiver and to transmit a transmission signal including a first rolling access code to the learning transceiver;

a controller connected for operative communication with the transceiver, the controller configured to generate the first rolling access code; and

a memory device connected for operative communication with the controller, the memory device configured to store a representation of the first rolling access code to be available to the controller,

wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a transmission signal from the learning transceiver including a second rolling access code based, at least in part, on the first rolling access code, and

wherein the controller is configured to compare the second rolling access code with the stored representation of the first rolling access code to determine whether a correlation exists.

22. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21, wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating occurrence of a predetermined event.

23. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21, wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating the actuation of a switch on the learning transceiver.

24. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21, wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating the actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.

25. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit a polling signal and wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating receipt of the polling signal by the learning transceiver.

26. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21, further comprising a proximity detector configured to detect a vehicle located within a predetermined distance from the proximity detector and to send a signal comprising the authorization signal in response to detecting the vehicle.

27. The movable barrier operator system of claim 21,

wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive an initiation signal indicating initiation of a training sequence of the learning transceiver, and

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to wait to transmit the transmission signal to the learning transceiver until it has received both the authorization signal and the initiation signal.

28. The movable barrier operator system of claim 27, wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit the transmission signal to the learning transceiver in response to receiving the initiation signal within a predetermined time of receipt of the authorization signal.

29. The movable barrier operator system of claim 28, wherein the initiation signal comprises a signal indicating actuation of a switch on the learning transceiver.

30. The movable barrier operator system of claim 28, wherein the initiation signal comprises a signal indicating actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.

31. The movable barrier operator system of claim 28, wherein the initiation signal comprises a signal indicating actuation of a wall mounted wired transmitter located on a protected side of a movable barrier.

32. A system for training a learning transceiver to a movable barrier system, the system comprising:

a learning transceiver;

a movable barrier operator configured to receive an authorization signal indicating that the movable barrier operator is authorized to communicate with the learning transceiver and in response to receiving the authorization signal, the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a transmission signal including a rolling access code;

wherein the movable barrier operator stores a representation of the rolling access code to recognize a new rolling access code generated by the learning transceiver;

wherein the learning transceiver is configured to receive the transmission signal and derive from the transmission signal a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion, wherein the learning transceiver generates a new rolling access code based at least in part on the transmission signal and transmits a learning transceiver signal to the movable barrier operator including the new rolling access code; and

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to receive the learning transceiver transmission signal, derive the new rolling access code therefrom and compare the new rolling access code with the stored representation of the rolling access code to determine whether a correlation exists, and wherein if a correlation exists, the movable barrier operator is configured to actuate the movable barrier in response to receipt of transmissions from the learning transceiver.

33. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, further comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a vehicle located within a predetermined distance from the proximity sensor and to transmit a signal comprising the authorization signal in response to detecting the vehicle.

34. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, further comprising a wall mounted wired transmitter in communication with the movable barrier operator configured to transmit a signal to the movable barrier operator comprising the authorization signal in response to receiving an indication that an authorization switch on the wall mounted wired transmitter has been actuated.

35. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating the actuation of a switch on the learning transceiver.

36. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, wherein the authorization signal comprises a signal indicating the actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.

37. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a polling signal and wherein the authorization signal comprises a response signal indicating receipt of the polling signal by the learning transceiver.

38. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 37, wherein the movable barrier operator further comprises a signal strength detector,

wherein the signal strength detector is configured to measure a strength of the response signal received by the movable barrier operator,

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to determine whether the strength of the response signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit the transmission signal in response to determining that the strength of the response signal exceeds the predetermined threshold.

39. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 32, wherein the movable barrier operator is further configured to receive an initiation signal indicating that initiation of a training sequence of the learning transceiver and wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit the transmission signal in response to receiving both an authorization signal and an initiation signal.

40. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 39, wherein the movable barrier operator further comprises a timer configured to determine an amount of time that passes between receipt of the authorization signal and receipt of the initiation signal,

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to determine whether the initiation signal is received within a predetermined amount of time relative to receipt of the authorization signal, and

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to transmit the transmission signal in response to determining that the initiation signal is received within the predetermined amount of time.

41. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 38, further comprising a wall mounted wired transmitter in communication with the movable barrier operator, wherein the wall mounted wired transmitter is configured to transmit a signal to the movable barrier operator comprising the initiation signal in response to receiving an indication that an initiation switch on the wall mounted wired transmitter has been actuated.

42. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 38, wherein the initiation signal comprises a signal indicating actuation of a switch on the learning transceiver.

43. The system for training a learning transceiver of claim 38, wherein the initiation signal comprises a signal indicating actuation of a component of a motor vehicle.