AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF A BARRIER STATUS AND CHANGE OF STATUS OVER A NETWORK

• US 20160300415A1
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Published: 10/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rauscher, Brent Alan, Buescher, Brent Jr., Dragomier, Mike, Deneen, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 10,096,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/66 Wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/80 User interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

An Internet based system for remotely monitoring and changing the open/closed door status of a garage door. A position detector is coupled to the door. The position detector has at least one tilt switch, and preferably two substantially orthogonal with respect to one another, for determining the barrier status, which indicates whether the door is in the open or closed position, and a wireless transmitter that transmits the barrier status to a multi-functional control module based upon a change thereof and/or an automatic pre-established periodic pulse. A multi-functional control module transmits the barrier status, upon a change thereof and/or an automatic pre-established periodic pulse to the Internet Cloud, and thereafter to a Smartphone. No request is ever made to obtain door status. The control module also receives a command from the Internet Cloud to move one or more doors. The control module pushes the barrier status to the Internet in response to receipt thereof, and not in response to a request for the barrier status. A Smartphone sends the command to the Internet, receives the barrier status therefrom, and displays the barrier status.

Claims

1. An Internet based communication system for remotely monitoring and moving one or more barriers between open and closed positions based upon commands received over the Internet network, the system comprising:

a position detector respectively physically connected to each barrier, each position detector comprising;

a position sensor to determine a barrier status, wherein the barrier status indicates whether the barrier to which the position detector is coupled is in the open position or the closed position, wherein the position detector comprises;

first and second tilt switches oriented such that

the first tilt switch is closed and the second tilt switch open when the barrier to which the position detector is coupled is in the open position, and

the first tilt switch is open and the second tilt switch closed when the barrier to which the position detector is coupled is in the closed position,

a transmitter assembly that wirelessly transmits the barrier status based upon a change thereof indicated by transition of the first and second tilt switches between states and at a pre-established periodic pulse rate;

a barrier mover respectively operatively coupled to each barrier;

a multi-functional control module in bidirectional wireless communication with the Internet and with each position detector, the control module operatively associated with one or more normally-open relays respectively coupled to each barrier mover, the control module configured to;

receive commands from the Internet to change the open or closed status of a barrier but never request the status of a barrier,

selectively actuate a relay coupled to the barrier made the subject of the command,

receive a barrier status from a position detector without requesting such status,

push the barrier status to the Internet without a request therefor network in response to receipt thereof, and not in response to the command including a request for the barrier status; and

at least one mobile wireless communications device in bidirectional wireless communication with the Internet and configured to;

send the commands,

receive the barrier status, and

display the barrier status.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a server coupled to the network;

and wherein the server is configured to receive the command from the mobile wireless communications device over the network, and to send the command to the control module over the network.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless router facilitating connectivity between the control module and the network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wireless router also facilitates connectivity between the at least one mobile wireless communications device and the network.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one mobile wireless communications device is in wireless communication with the network via a cellular data network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module pushes the barrier status to the network at regular time intervals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module pushes an error message at the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon lack of receipt of the barrier status within a given period of time after actuation of a relay.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile wireless communications device comprises a Smartphone, the Smartphone being configured to send the command to the network, and to receive the barrier status from the network and to display the barrier status.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control module is configured to push the barrier status to the network in response to the determination that the barrier has been moved to a certain position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a designated server on the network is configured to transmit the status of a barrier to the Smartphone without any request therefor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is also configured to selectively control the barrier mover to move the barrier between the first position and the second position based upon a present time matching a given time of day.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the Smartphone is also configured to set the given time of day, and to send the given time of day to the network.

13. A system for remotely monitoring and changing the open and closed status of selected ones of multiple monitored barriers, the system comprising:

a position detector respectively physically coupled to each of the monitored barriers, each position detector wirelessly transmitting its barrier'"'"'s open or closed status;

barrier movers respectively operatively coupled to said barriers;

a multi-function control module in bidirectional wireless communication with the network and with the position detectors, the control module operatively coupled with multiple relays;

said multiple relays, when closed, enabling actuation of respective ones of the barrier movers;

the multi-functional control module;

initially pairing the multiple relays with respective barriers;

receiving the status of the barriers from the detectors without requesting such;

transmitting such barriers'"'"' status to the network;

receiving a command to change the status of one or more of the barriers;

selectively actuating one or more of the relays in response to the command so as to cause one or more barrier movers to move the barriers in accordance with the command;

at least one mobile wireless communications device in bidirectional wireless communication with the network and;

sending the command to the network,

receiving the barrier status from the network, and

displaying the barrier status.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module pushes the barrier status to the network a given period of time after receiving the barrier status from the position detector.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one mobile wireless communications device is also configured to set the given period of time, and to send the given period of time to the control module over the network.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module pushes the barrier status to the network at a given time of day.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one mobile wireless communications device is also configured to set the given time of day, and to send the given time of day to the control module over the network

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module pushes the barrier status to the network at regular time intervals.

19. A method of operating a system for moving a barrier between first and second positions based upon a command received over a network, the method comprising:

sending the command to the network, using at least one mobile wireless communications device in wireless communication with the network;

receiving the command with a control module in wireless communication with the network and the position detector, the command including a request to move the barrier and not a request for the barrier status;

selectively controlling a barrier mover to move the barrier between the first position and the second position based upon the command, using the control module;

determining a barrier status using at least one tilt switch of a position detector physically coupled to the barrier, wherein the barrier status indicates whether the barrier is in the first position or the second position;

wirelessly transmitting the barrier status to the control module using a wireless transmitter of the position detector, based upon a change in the barrier status;

receiving the barrier status from the position detector directly and not from the network, using the control module;

pushing the barrier status to the network in response to receipt of the barrier status, and not in response to the command including a request for the barrier status, using the barrier controller;

receiving the barrier status from the network, using the at least one mobile wireless communications device; and

displaying the barrier status, using the at least one mobile wireless communications device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein pushing the barrier status to the network comprises pushing the barrier status to the network a given period of time after receiving the barrier status.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein pushing the barrier status to the network comprises pushing the barrier status to the network at a given time of day.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising selectively controlling the barrier mover to move the barrier between the first position and the second position based upon a present time matching a given time of day, using the barrier controller.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising pushing an error message at the at least one mobile wireless communications device based upon lack of receipt of the barrier status within a given period of time after actuation of a relay, using the control module.