SECURE REMOTE CONTROL FOR OPERATING CLOSURES SUCH AS GARAGE DOORS

• US 20150070132A1
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Candelore, Brant
• Granted Patent: US 9,373,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00222 by more than one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

Actuation of an access closure such as a garage door may be initiated by a remote control (RC) if a correct authentication code is received by the RC and/or if a designated authorization device such as a mobile phone is within near field communication transceiver range of the RC.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium that is not a carrier wave and that is accessible to a processor, the computer readable storage medium bearing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive an actuation command generated by user manipulation of an actuation selector element on a remote control (RC);

receive an authentication code that is not generated by user manipulation of a key pad on the RC if present;

responsive to a determination that the authentication code is correct, actuate a movable access closure in accordance with the actuation command; and

responsive to a determination that no correct authentication code is received, not actuating the movable access closure regardless of the presence of the actuation command.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a local processor associated with the closure, and the local processor must receive from the RC, along with the actuation command, a correct authentication code to execute the command.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication code is received from a key entry element on the RC that is not the actuation selector element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authentication code is received from a user device in wireless communication with the RC or the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the authentication code is received from one of a near field communication (NFC) transceiver of the user device, and a short-wavelength radio transceiver of the user device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the authentication code is initially established using communication over near field communication (NFC) or short-wavelength radio sent between the user device and the RC and/or the access closure during configuration of the RC and/or access closure.

7. A method comprising:

actuating an access closure by;

receiving from a remote control (RC) an actuation command; and

actuating the access closure according to the actuation command only if a correct authentication code also is received by the RC and/or if a designated wireless communication device (WCD) is within near field communication (NFC) or short-wavelength radio transceiver range of the RC and/or the access closure.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising actuating the access closure according to the actuation command only if a correct authentication code also is received by the RC.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising actuating the access closure according to the actuation command only if a designated wireless communication device (WCD) is within near field communication (NFC) or short-wavelength radio transceiver range of the RC.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising actuating the access closure according to the actuation command only if a designated wireless communication device (WCD) is within near field communication (NFC) or short-wave length radio transceiver range of the access closure.

11. An access closure apparatus comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium that is not a carrier wave and that is accessible to a processor configured for controlling a movable access closure, the computer readable storage medium bearing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive an actuation command generated by user manipulation of an actuation selector element on a remote control (RC);

receive a signal indicating the presence of a wireless communication device (WCD) different from the RC;

responsive to a determination that the WCD is an approved WCD, actuate the movable access closure in accordance with the actuation command; and

responsive to a determination that no approved WCD is present, not actuating the movable access closure regardless of the presence of the actuation command.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor must receive from the RC, along with the actuation command, a correct authentication code to execute the command.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the authentication code is received from a key entry element on the RC that is not the actuation selector element.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal indicating the presence of the WCD is received from a near field communication (NFC) or short-wavelength radio transceiver of the WCD.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a correct WCD identity against which the signal indicating the presence of the WCD is compared is initially established by NFC or short-wavelength messaging sent between the WCD and the RC during RC configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a correct WCD identity against which the signal indicating the presence of the WCD is compared is initially established by NFC or short-wavelength message sent between the WCD and the processor.

17. An apparatus comprising:

at least one computer readable storage medium that is not a carrier wave and that is accessible to a processor, the computer readable storage medium bearing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive an authentication code that is not generated by user manipulation of a key pad if present;

receive an actuation signal generated by user manipulation of a actuation selector element;

responsive to a determination that the authentication code is correct, sending an actuation command to a movable access closure; and

responsive to a determination that no correct authentication code is received, not sending the actuation command to the movable access closure.