System and method for securely operating a barrier actuating device

• US 7,365,634 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Brookbank, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/167,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340 564- 567, 340 57- 574, 340/825.72, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/5.7
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/64 using a proximity sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A barrier actuating device is placed in close proximity to an authorization device. Electromagnetic enabling information that has been automatically sent from the authorization device is detected. Responsive to the detecting of the electromagnetic enabling information, an operation of the barrier actuating device is enabled so that the actuating device is operable to transmit a signal. The operation of the actuating device is disabled in the absence of the enabling information.

Claims

1. A method of operating a barrier actuating device in a moveable barrier operator system comprising:

placing a non-enabled barrier actuating device in close proximity to an authorization device, the actuating device having previously stored code for operating the barrier operator system;

placing the actuating device proximate to a barrier operator so that the barrier operator can receive signals from the actuating device;

automatically sending enabling electromagnetic information from the authorization device to the non-enabled barrier actuating device;

detecting the automatically sent electromagnetic enabling information with the barrier actuating device;

responsive to the detecting of the electromagnetic enabling information, enabling an operation of the barrier actuating device so that the actuating device is operable to transmit a signal to the barrier operator, the signal in response to a received input and representative of the previously stored code in the actuating device; and

disabling the operation of the barrier actuating device in the absence of the enabling information from the authorization device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein placing a barrier actuating device in close proximity to an authorization device comprises positioning a portable transmitter in close proximity to a personally carried authorization device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the personally carried authorization device is a fob.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein placing a barrier actuating device in close proximity to an authorization device comprises positioning a portable transmitter in close proximity to an RFID signal source.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising carring the RFID signal source on a person.

6. The method of claim 4 comprising placing the RFID signal source in an authorized vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal from the actuating device is sent directly to the operator to actuate the operator when the actuating device is enabled.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting a signal from the actuating device directly to the operator to actuate a light control device when the barrier actuating device is enabled.

9. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting a signal from the actuating device directly to the operator to actuate an alarm when the barrier actuating device is enabled.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the electromagnetic enabling information comprises detecting a signal selected from from the group consisting of a wireless signal, an RF signal, a visible light signal, and a sonic signal.

11. A method of operating a user portable barrier actuating device in a barrier operator system comprising:

placing a non-enabled barrier actuating device having a previously stored code to operate a barrier operator in close proximity to an authorization device;

transmitting a request to an authorization device;

responsive to transmitting the request, detecting electromagnetic enabling information automatically emitted from the authentication device;

responsive to detecting the automatically emitted electromagnetic enabling information, enabling an operation of the non-enabled barrier actuating device to be enabled to be operable to send a signal to the barrier operator, the signal in response to a received input and representative of the previously stored code; and

disabling the operation of the barrier actuating device in the absence of the transmitted electromagnetic enabling information from the authorization device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal from the actuating device is sent directly to the operator to actuate a moveable barrier operator when the barrier actuating device is enabled.

13. The method of claim 11 comprising transmitting a signal from the actuating device directly to the operator to actuate a light control device when the barrier actuating device is enabled.

14. The method of claim 11 comprising transmitting a signal from the actuating device directly to the operator to activate an alarm when the barrier actuating device is enabled.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting the electromagnetic information comprises detecting a signal selected from the group consisting of a wireless signal, an RF signal, a visible light signal, and a sonic signal.

16. A barrier actuating device for use in a barrier operator system comprising:

a receiver having an input;

a transmitter having an output; and

a controller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the controller being programmed to receive electromagnetic enabling information at the input of the receiver, the controller being programmed to receive the enabling information which is automatically being sent from an authorization device and to enable an operation of the barrier actuating device when the electromagnetic enabling information is detected so as to transmit a signal to a barrier operator from the output of the transmitter, and the controller being programmed to disable the operation of the barrier actuating device in the absence of electromagnetic enabling information.

17. The barrier actuating device of claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic enabling information comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of a wireless signal, an RF signal, a visible light signal, and a sonic signal.

18. A user portable transceiver device to be used by a user to transmit a previously stored code to a barrier operator system, the transceiver device having a non-enabled and enabled state and comprising:

a receiver having an input;

a transmitter having a transmitting output; and

a controller coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, the controller being programmed to transmit a request message to an authorization device from the transmitting output and to responsively receive electromagnetic enabling information from the authorization device at the receiver input, the controller being programmed to change the transceiver device to the enabled state from the non-enabled state and which enabled state is effective to provide an operation of the user portable transceiver device so as to permit the transmission of the previously stored code, to a barrier operator from the transmitting output of the transceiver device when electromagnetic enabling information is detected, and the controller being programmed to disable the operation of the user portable transceiver device to the non-enabled state in the absence of electromagnetic enabling information.

19. The barrier actuating transceiver device of claim 18 wherein the electromagnetic enabling information is signal selected from the group consisting of a wireless signal, an RF signal, a visible light signal, and a sonic signal.

20. A transmitter to be used by a user to transmit a previously stored code to a barrier operator system, the transmitter, the transmitter having a non-enabled and enabled state and comprising:

having a previously stored code which is effective for transmission directly to an operator;

a receiver having an input;

a transmitting output; and

a controller coupled to the receiver and the transmitting output, the controller being programmed to receive electromagnetic enabling information from an actuation device at the input of the receiver, the controller being programmed to move the transmitter to the enabled state, which enabled state is effective to provide an operation of the transmitter which operation includes directly transmitting the previously stored code to an operator when the electromagnetic enabling information is detected at the receiver input so as to permit the transmission of the previously stored code, and the controller being programmed to disable the operation of the transmitter to the non-enabled state in the absence of the electromagnetic enabling information.

21. The barrier actuating device of claim 20 wherein the electromagnetic enabling information comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of a wireless signal, an RF signal, a visible light signal, and a sonic signal.