Barrier operator system with enhanced transmitter storage capacity and related methods of storage and retrieval

• US 7,280,031 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRH Newco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wayne-Dalton Corporation (HRH Door Corp.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Yan, Gagnon, Richard E
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/868,692
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 349/5.22, 349/5.23, 349/5.64, 349/5.71, 349/825.22, 349/825.69, 349/825.72, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00825 remotely by lines or wireless communication
• 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

Abstract

A method and related system for enabling receipt and storage of data by an operator from at least two types of transmitters, is disclosed. The method includes designating a number of records in a memory array; sub-dividing the memory array into at least two groups, wherein each group is associated with a specific type of transmitter. The method concludes by determining whether one of the number of records is available for writing of data to a specific one of the transmitters.

Claims

1. A method for enabling receipt and storage of data by a movable barrier operator from a plurality of transmitter devices, each transmitter device maintaining a transmitter code and a unique serial number, each transmitter device having specific operational features, the method comprising:

designating a number of records in a memory array maintained by the operator;

sub-dividing said records into at least two groups, wherein each group is associated with the transmitter devices having the same operational features;

associating a predetermined number of binary bits with each of said records;

designating by the operator one of said bits as a validity bit, and some of the remaining said bits as transmitter bits;

receiving a transmitter code from one of the transmitter devices by the operator;

sequentially comparing said transmitter bits of each said record with said transmitter code;

determining whether said transmitter bits of one of said records matches said transmitter code, wherein if a match occurs at said determining step, said validity bit associated with said record is set as usable and said transmitter serial number is associated with said record.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

designating one of said remaining bits as an overwritable bit.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initially designating all of said validity bits as “

unusable” and

all of said overwritable bits as “

writable.”

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

storing a transmitter serial number in said record in a first group of transmitters of said array if said validity bit is unusable; and

setting said validity bit as “

usable” and

said overwritable bit as “

unwritable”

for a first designated record in said first group upon completion of said storing step.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

accessing a next record within said first group of transmitters; and

setting said next available record'"'"'s overwritable bit as writable.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

checking said records of said first group of transmitters for any said validity bits designated as usable; and

detecting whether said record'"'"'s corresponding overwritable bit is designated as writable.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

storing a transmitter serial number in association with said record from the detecting step when said records'"'"' overwritable bit is set to writable.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

checking said validity bit if said transmitter code matches one of said transmitter bits to determine if said validity bit contains usable data;

testing a received transmitter serial number associated with said transmitter code with said stored transmitter serial number;

designating a flag as “

match found”

if said received serial number matches said stored serial number; and

accessing a next record if said received serial number does not match said stored serial number.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether all of said records have been accessed while checking said transmitter bits for said transmitter codes and testing said received serial numbers and, if so, designating another flag as “

no match found.”

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an erasure signal; and

accessing each said record and designating said validity bit as unusable and said overwritable bit as writable.

11. A barrier operator system for controlling movements of a barrier between limit positions, comprising:

a plurality of transmitter devices, each transmitter device capable of generating a uniquely identifiable transmitter code;

a controller for receiving said uniquely identifiable transmitter code;

a memory device associated with said controller, said memory device having a memory array sub-divided into groups, wherein each group is associated with said transmitter devices having the same operational features; and

at least one record associated with each group, each said record maintaining a validity bit, an overwrite bit, and one or more transmitter bits, wherein a serial number of said transmitter is associated with said record if said transmitter bits match said uniquely identifiable transmitter code and said validity bit is set to usable by said controller.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein all of said validity bits are initially set to unusable, and all of said overwritable bits are initially set to writable.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said controller is placed in a storage mode, wherein said uniquely identifiable transmitter codes are receivable by said controller and associated with one of said records in said groups, and wherein each associated record is modified so that a respective said validity bit is set as usable and a respective said overwritable bit is set as unwritable.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said controller, while in said storage mode, accesses a next record within said group after setting said respective validity bit as unwritable and sets said next record'"'"'s overwritable bit as writable.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller, while in said storage mode, checks said groups for validity bits designated as usable, and when all said validity bits are designated as usable, said controller checks for an overwritable bit within said group designated as writable and stores said most recently received transmitter code within said record, and resets an adjacent record'"'"'s overwritable bit within said transmitter group from unwritable to writable.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said controller is placed in a data retrieval mode and receives said transmitter codes for comparison with said records within said memory device, wherein said received transmitter type codes match with said transmitter bits of at least one said record.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said controller, if said received transmitter code matches said transmitter bit of at least one of said records, compares a received serial number associated with said received transmitter code with a record'"'"'s stored serial number and if a match is found sets a flag to “

match found.”

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said controller sets another flag to “

no match found”

if said received serial number does not match any of said records'"'"' stored serial number.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said controller is placed in a data erasure mode, and wherein said controller sets all of said validity bits to usable and all of said overwritable bits to writable.