Rolling code security system

• US 6,690,796 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Farris, Bradford L., Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US09/489,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 380/262, 380/239, 380/44, 380/28, 370/335, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 341/173
• US Class Current: 380/239
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00555 comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00587 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

A rolling code transmitter is useful in a security system for providing secure encrypted RF transmission comprising an interleaved trinary bit fixed code and rolling code. A receiver demodulates the encrypted RF transmission and recovers the fixed code and rolling code. Upon comparison of the fixed and rolling codes with stored codes and determining that the signal has emanated from an authorized transmitter, a signal is generated to actuate an electric motor to open or close a movable barrier.

Claims

1. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal, comprising:

receiving apparatus for receiving an encrypted radio frequency signal;

a demodulator for demodulating the encrypted radio frequency signal into a demodulated encrypted signal;

code separating apparatus for synchronizing with and separating the demodulated encrypted signal into a variable code portion and a fixed code portion;

testing apparatus for testing the fixed code portion and generating a portion receipt signal in response thereto;

window testing apparatus for testing whether a rolling code value is within a windowed range of rolling code values to avoid false triggering on a spurious rolling code having been transmitted by a person not having permission to authorize generation of the actuator signal and producing a rolling code signal in response thereto;

a code updater for updating the variable code to an incremented rolling code; and

signal generating apparatus for producing an actuator signal to produce an actuator command in response to the verified fixed code portion and the variable code.

2. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal, comprising:

a receiver for receiving an encrypted radio frequency signal;

a demodulator for demodulating the encrypted radio frequency signal into a demodulated encrypted signal;

a first comparator for comparing the encrypted signal to a first plurality of signal code values defining a valid signal window and in response thereto generating an actuator signal;

a second comparator for comparing the encrypted signal to a second set of values and generating a security code signal in response thereto;

a third comparator for comparing a second signal transmission; and

a fourth comparator responsive to said security code signal for comparing a second successive transmission to said second window values and producing an actuation signal in response thereto and an inhibitor for inhibiting actuation responsive to receipt of a signal having a value within a trailing signal window.

3. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter for generating an actuation signal according to claim 2, further comprising apparatus for determining whether the second of the two successive codes is valid by comparing the first received code to the second received code and producing the actuation signal only when the first received code and the second received code are separated by a single rolling code increment.

4. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal according to claim 2, further comprising a code signal generator for generating a fixed code signal in response to said encrypted radio frequency signal, said fixed code signal being compared to a stored fixed code signal and enabling actuation only upon a match.

5. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal according to claim 2, wherein said demodulated encrypted signal comprises an interleaved fixed code portion and a variable code portion both said fixed code and said variable code portions comprising multi-valued digits and each digit having at least 3 possible values.

6. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal according to claim 5, further comprising a converter for converting said multi-valued digits to binary digits.

7. A receiver for receiving an encrypted signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal according to claim 5, further comprising a converter for converting the demodulated encrypted signal into a binary fixed code signal and a binary variable code signal.

8. A receiver for receiving an encrypted radio frequency signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal, comprising:

a receiver for receiving an encrypted radio frequency signal;

a demodulator for demodulating the encrypted radio frequency signal into a demodulated encrypted signal;

a rolling code generator responsive to the demodulated encrypted signal for producing a rolling code signal;

a forward tester for testing whether the rolling code signal is within a forward rolling code window and generating an actuation authorization in response thereto;

a backward tester for testing whether the rolling code is within a backward rolling code window and inhibiting actuation of an actuator in response thereto;

a resynchronization tester for testing whether the rolling code is within a rolling code resynchronization window and generating a resynchronization signal in response thereto;

a rolling code resynchronizer for resynchronization of a receiver rolling code value in response to the resynchronization signal; and

a control signal generator for generating a control signal in response to the actuation authorization for control or actuation of the actuator.

9. A receiver for receiving an encrypted radio frequency signal from a transmitter and for generating an actuation signal according to claim 8 further comprising:

an authenticity determiner for determining the authenticity of the rolling code and the decrypted fixed code signal and generating a control signal in response thereto for control or actuation of an actuator.