Barrier Operator Feature Enhancement
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a barrier operator communication module configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols;
control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate with any of the plurality of barrier operator types, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to at least one pre-installed barrier operator to control operation of at least one feature of the at least one pre-installed barrier operator;
an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device configured to provide information regarding an operation status of the pre-installed barrier operator and at least one second peripheral device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator;
the control circuitry configured to, in response to the communication with the at least one second peripheral device, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator,wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals using the different communication protocols to the pre-installed barrier operator;
wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal, configure the barrier operator communication module to use a communication protocol, of the different communication protocols, that effects an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a barrier operator communication module configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols; control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate with any of the plurality of barrier operator types, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to at least one pre-installed barrier operator to control operation of at least one feature of the at least one pre-installed barrier operator; an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device configured to provide information regarding an operation status of the pre-installed barrier operator and at least one second peripheral device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator; the control circuitry configured to, in response to the communication with the at least one second peripheral device, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator, wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals using the different communication protocols to the pre-installed barrier operator; wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device; wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal, configure the barrier operator communication module to use a communication protocol, of the different communication protocols, that effects an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving at a communication module a communication comprising an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device, the instruction signal comprising information pertaining to a particular barrier operator type; in response to receipt of the instruction signal, accessing, via control circuitry, a memory that associates at least one communication protocol, of a plurality of communication protocols, with barrier operator types and configuring the communication module to operate according to an assigned communication protocol, of the plurality of communication protocols, that is associated with the particular barrier operator type; receiving at the communication module information from a peripheral device; determining at the communication module an action or setting change for a pre-installed barrier operator based on the information from the peripheral device; sending from the communication module a communication signal according to the communication protocol to the pre-installed barrier operator, the communication signal configured to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator r in response to receipt of a communication from a peripheral device configured to effect an action or setting change of the pre-installed barrier operator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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a communication module configured to communicate with a pre-installed barrier operator by sending communication signals by wired communication protocol, the communication comprising a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the barrier operator; control circuitry configured to use the communication module to communicate with the pre-installed barrier operator, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to the pre-installed barrier operator to control movement of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator; an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding movement of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator, and at least one mobile computing device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator; wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device; wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals to the barrier operator according to communication protocols that effect movement of the barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator; and wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal from the mobile computing device via the input/output module, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to control movement of the barrier between an open and closed position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification