Method and apparatus for monitoring a movable barrier over a network

• US 6,998,977 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Gregori, Eric M., Peterson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/606,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/686.1, 340/545.1, 340/5.7, 340/5.71, 49/14
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a movable barrier operator for controlling the movable barrier; and a network interface electronically connected to the movable barrier operator for connecting the movable barrier to a network; wherein the network board sends a status of the movable barrier over the network to a requesting device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator including a controller for controlling movement of a movable barrier; and

a network interface electronically connected to the controller for connecting the controller to a network;

wherein the network interface responds to requests received on the network by sending a status of the movable barrier over the network and;

wherein the network interface receives a status change request from the network and the controller responds to the status change request by moving the barrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a push button control unit for the movable barrier operator.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a serial interface between the push button control unit and the network interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a modem coupled to the network interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the modem is a cable modem.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the modem is a DSL modem.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is connected to a home digital network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is connected to a home digital network.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface is a TCP/IP network interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the network interface couples the controller to the Internet.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an arrangement for establishing authorization for received status change requests.

12. A method for checking the status of a movable barrier comprising the steps of:

receiving from a network client over a network, a status request for a movable barrier;

determining a status of the movable barrier;

sending a status of the movable barrier over the network to the network client in response to the status request and;

wherein the movable barrier comprises a barrier movement operator for controlling the movement of the barrier and the method comprises receiving a status change request from the network client and controlling movement of the barrier in response to the status change request.

13. A method of claim 12 further comprising the step of receiving access authorizing information from the network client.

14. A method of claim 12 further comprising the step of retrieving from a memory a web page in response to the receiving step.

15. A method of claim 12 wherein the status of the movable barrier is open.

16. A method of claim 12 wherein the status of the movable barrier is closed.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the network client is a computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the status of the movable barrier is displayed on a monitor of the computer.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the network client is a personal digital assistant.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the network client is a cellular telephone.

21. A method in accordance with claim 12 comprising receiving authorizing information from the network client before controlling movement of the barrier in response to the status change request.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a barrier status monitor coupled to a movable barrier; and

a network interface electronically connecting the barrier status monitor to a network;

a controller coupled to the network interface and the moveable barrier;

wherein the network interface responds to network conveyed requests by sending a status of the movable barrier over the network in response to a request for the status of the movable barrier; and

wherein the network interface receives a status change request from the network and the controller responds to the status change request by moving the barrier.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the status monitor is wirelessly connected to the network interface.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a modem coupled to the network interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 comprising an arrangement for establishing authorization for requested status.