Status signal method and apparatus for movable barrier operator and corresponding wireless remote control
First Claim
1. A method for use with a movable barrier operator comprising:
- automatically wirelessly transmitting a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state, wherein the status signal of the movable barrier operator further includes a substantially unique identifier that corresponds to an intended recipient device that is the movable barrier operator;
receiving a wireless remote control signal;
automatically taking a predetermined action in response to the remote control signal to thereby effect a change to a corresponding movable barrier operator operating state.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A movable barrier operator (11) transmits status signals from time to time to reflect its own operational states. A corresponding wireless remote control apparatus (14) receives such status signals and used the informational content of such status signals to effect a variety of automatic and/or user-facilitated control strategies. In one embodiment, the wireless remote control apparatus can use the status signal to determine a distance (or at least an approximate distance) between the movable barrier operator and the wireless remote control apparatus. This distance information, in turn, can also be used to inform and enrich the control strategies and possibilities of the wireless remote control apparatus.
66 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A method for use with a movable barrier operator comprising:
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automatically wirelessly transmitting a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state, wherein the status signal of the movable barrier operator further includes a substantially unique identifier that corresponds to an intended recipient device that is the movable barrier operator; receiving a wireless remote control signal; automatically taking a predetermined action in response to the remote control signal to thereby effect a change to a corresponding movable barrier operator operating state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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at a movable barrier operator; automatically wirelessly transmitting a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state; at a wireless remote control apparatus; receiving the status signal; determining whether the status signal includes an identifier that corresponds to a predetermined movable barrier operator, wherein the status signal is not responded to when the status signal does not include the identifier; transmitting a wireless remote control signal; at the movable barrier operator; receiving the wireless remote control signal; automatically taking a predetermined action in response to the remote control signal to thereby effect a change to a corresponding movable barrier operator operating state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for use with a movable barrier operator remote control apparatus, comprising:
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receiving a wireless transmission comprising a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state; in response to receiving the status signal, automatically making a corresponding predetermined response; assessing a parameter that corresponds to a likely distance between the remote control apparatus and a source of the status signal; taking a first course of action when the parameter is at least less than a predetermined value; taking a second course of action when the parameter at least exceeds the predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method for use with a movable barrier operator remote control apparatus, comprising:
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receiving a wireless transmission comprising a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state; in response to receiving the status signal, automatically making a corresponding predetermined response; receiving an instruction from a user; determining whether the instruction conflicts with content of the status signal; determining not to transmit a wireless remote control signal that corresponds to the instruction when the instruction does conflict with the content of the status signal. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A movable barrier operator remote control apparatus comprising:
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a wireless movable barrier operator status condition signal receiver; a human-discernable prompt that is operably coupled to the receiver and that is responsive to reception of at least a first movable barrier operator status condition signal; a user input interface; a remote control movable barrier operator command signal transmitter that is responsive to the user input interface; a stored plurality of remote control movable barrier operator commands that are operably coupled to the user input interface and the transmitter; a signal strength tester that is operably coupled to the receiver and to the stored plurality of remote control movable barrier operator commands, such that at least a first command can be automatically selected when signal strength of a received signal is less than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (63)
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61. A movable barrier operator remote control apparatus comprising:
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a wireless movable barrier operator status condition signal receiver; a human-discernable prompt that is operably coupled to the receiver and that is responsive to reception of at least a first movable barrier operator status condition signal; a user input interface; a remote control movable barrier operator command signal transmitter that is responsive to the user input interface; a stored plurality of remote control movable barrier operator commands that are operably coupled to the user input interface and the transmitter; a signal strength tester that is operably coupled to the receiver and to the stored plurality of remote control movable barrier operator commands, such that at least a first command can be automatically selected when signal strength of a received signal is greater than a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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64. A movable barrier operator remote control apparatus comprising:
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a wireless movable barrier operator status condition signal receiver; a human-discernable prompt that is operably coupled to the receiver and that is responsive to reception of at least a first movable barrier operator status condition signal; a user input interface; a remote control movable barrier operator command signal transmitter that is responsive to the user input interface; controller means for automatically activating the human-discernable prompt in response to receiving a predetermined movable barrier operator status condition signal, wherein the controller means further determines whether a previously selected remote control command has been associated with a given movable barrier operator status condition signal and for automatically causing transmission of that previously selected remote control command upon receiving the given movable barrier operator status condition signal. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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67. A method for use with a movable barrier operator remote control apparatus, comprising:
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monitoring reception of a wireless transmission comprising a status signal regarding at least a first movable barrier operator operating state; using the status signal to determine a likely distance between the movable barrier operator remote control apparatus and a movable barrier operator that transmits the status signal; receiving a user command via a movable barrier operator remote control apparatus user interface; when the movable barrier operator remote control apparatus is not within a predetermined likely distance of the movable barrier operator, storing the user command; when at least within the predetermined likely distance of the movable barrier operator, automatically transmitting to the movable barrier any previously stored user commands. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification