Barrier movement operator human interface method and apparatus

• US 7,181,203 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Gregori, Eric Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/624,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/420, 455/88, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/14.05
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input

Abstract

A programmable transmitter that verbally questions a user with audible questions to determine a type of a transmitter being emulated. The transmitter receives indicia of the type the transmitter and determines the type of the necessary transmission parameters based upon the received indicia. For operator system types that utilize DIP switch programming, the transmitter provides a voice menu of possible DIP switch settings and the user responds to the voice menu. The transmitter receives responses from the user via buttons and/or the user'"'"'s voice commands.

Claims

1. A method for programming a transmitter for use in a system including an existing transmitter comprising the steps of:

audibly questioning a user, by the transmitter, to determine a type of system with which the transmitter is to be used and using questions relating to characteristics of the existing transmitter;

receiving, at the transmitter from the user, a response to the audibly questioning step; and

identifying the type of system with which the transmitter is to be used based on the response to the audibly questioning step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step identifies a DIP switch type system and comprising:

audibly providing to the user switch setting options; and

receiving DIP switch setting selections from the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system with which the transmitter is to be used includes a receiver and the method includes audibly questioning the user, by the transmitter, using questions relating to characteristics of the receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of audibly questioning the user comprises audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the type of system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the type of system comprises audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the system with closed ended questions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of receiving a response comprises receiving a voice input from the user, wherein the voice input is selected from the group consisting of:

“

yes” and

“

no”

.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the type of system comprises questioning the user about physical characteristics of the type of system.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about a brand of the operator system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a response comprises receiving a voice response from the user.

10. A method of programming a transmitter of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a push button and the method comprises receiving an indication of a push button activation by the user.

11. A method of claim 1 wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about a model of the transmitter.

12. A method of claim 1 wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about a series of the transmitter.

13. A method of claim 1 wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about a color of the transmitter.

14. A method of claim 1 wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about a color of an LED of the transmitter.

15. A method of claim 1 wherein the step of audibly questioning includes audibly questioning the user about text markings on the transmitter.

16. A programmable transmitter comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter;

a user input control for receiving a user input; and

a processing portion configured to operate a voice synthesizer to audibly question a user to determine a type of system with which the transmitter is to be used;

wherein the processing portion is configured to receive a response via the user input control, identify the type of system with which the transmitter is to be used, and set the transmitter to transmit at a frequency for the type of system via the radio frequency transmitter.

17. The programmable transmitter of claim 16, wherein the user input control comprises a speech recognition portion coupled to the processing portion.

18. The programmable transmitter of claim 16, wherein the processing portion comprises a memory portion, and the memory portion stores data identifying security code transmission characteristics associated with the identified type of system.

19. The programmable transmitter of claim 16, comprising a memory for storing type data identifying a plurality of types of systems.

20. The programmable transmitter of claim 19, wherein the memory stores attribute data identifying transmission characteristics for a plurality of types of systems.

21. A programmable transmitter comprising:

means for questioning a user with audible questions to determine a radio frequency of communication of a system with which the programmable transmitter is to be used;

means for receiving a response from the user in response to the audible questions;

means for identifying the radio frequency of communication of the system with which the transmitter is to be used based on the received response; and

means for setting the programmable transmitter to transmit at the identified radio frequency.

22. The programmable transmitter of claim 21, comprising:

means for providing audible DIP switch setting options; and

means for receiving DIP switch setting selections from the user.

23. The programmable transmitter of claim 22, wherein the type data for each type of system is associated a portion of the attribute data.

24. The programmable transmitter of claim 21, wherein the means for questioning the user comprises means for audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the system from which radio frequency can be determined.

25. The programmable transmitter of claim 24, wherein the means for audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the system comprises means for audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the system with closed ended questions.

26. The programmable transmitter of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving a response comprises means for receiving a voice input from the user, wherein the voice input is selected from the group consisting of:

“

yes” and

no.

27. The programmable transmitter of claim 24, wherein the means for audibly questioning the user about characteristics of the system comprises means for audibly questioning the user about physical characteristics of the system.

28. The programmable transmitter of claim 24, wherein the means for audibly questioning the user comprises means for audibly questioning the user about a brand of the system.

29. The programmable transmitter of claim 21, wherein the means for receiving a response comprises means for receiving a voice response from the user.