Security code learning method and apparatus

• US 7,429,910 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Domenz, Meryldine
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US10/379,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/5.24, 340/5.71, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/5.64, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/5.23
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/82 Images, Symbols
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00849 programming by learning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed

Abstract

A barrier movement operator is disclosed which learns wirelessly transmitted access codes during a learn mode and subsequently in an operate mode receives wireless transmissions and determines whether action should be taken by consulting the learned access codes. Methods and apparatus are included which can be used to prohibit the learning of unauthorized access codes.

Claims

1. A method for teaching access codes in a security code system, the method comprising steps of:

generating by user interaction a first code learn mode signal with a first transmitter to operate a security system so that the user may gain access to a learn mode of the security system without the use of a deactivating source;

responding to the first learn mode signal generated by user interaction by initiating a code learn mode in which access codes are received and stored;

detecting a first code learn mode terminating event related to storage of the access codes by the access code system;

upon detection of the first code learn mode terminating event, operating the security code system in a secure mode wherein initiation of the code learn mode by user generation of the first code learn mode signal is prohibited;

detecting a deactivating event, the deactivating event generated by the deactivating source which deactivates the secure mode and allows initiation of the code learn mode by user generation of the first code learn mode signal, the deactivating source selected from the group consisting of a key which permits the generation of the deactivating event and a second transmitter which permits the generation of the deactivating event and permits the operation of the security code system in learn mode by user interaction.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the first code learn mode terminating event comprises detecting a a learn mode limiting signal identifying that no further access codes are to be learned.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the first code learn mode terminating event comprises detecting the storage of a predetermined number of access codes.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising setting the predetermined number of access codes.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the setting step comprises pressing a learn switch one or more times to represent the predetermined number of access codes.

6. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the learn mode limiting signal is generated in response to a user generated signal.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the user generated signal is generated by user interaction with a access code transmitter.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the learn mode limiting signal is generated by user interaction with a secure switch, access to which is limited.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the learn mode limiting signal is generated by a lock protected switch.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deactivating source re-enables the code learn mode after the prohibition of the learn mode.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the re-enabling step is performed in response to a re-enabling signal from the second transmitter.

12. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the re-enabling step is performed in response to a re-enabling signal as a result of the re-enabling signal being released by the key.

13. A method for preventing unauthorized learning of security codes by a security code receiver, comprising steps of:

activating code learn mode of the receiver with a first learn mode signal without the use of a deactivating source;

storing a predetermined number of valid security codes in the receiver; and

blocking the code learn mode of the receiver wherein initiation of the code learn mode by user generation of the first learn mode signal is prohibited without the use of the deactivating source; and

detecting a learn mode access event event, the learn mode access event generated by the deactivating source having an enhanced security configuration, and allowing initiation of the code learn mode by user generation of the first code learn mode signal, the deactivating source selected from the group consisting of a key which permits the generation of the learn mode access event and a second transmitter which permits the generation of the learn mode access event and permit the operation of the code learn mode of the security code receiver by the user.

14. A method of protecting a barrier movement operator from unauthorized learning of access codes, comprising steps of:

activating learn mode for the operator;

receiving and storing access codes from a predetermined number of transmitters in a memory of the operator without an activation of the learn mode from an enhanced security deactivation device;

blocking the learn mode of the operator after receiving and storing access codes from the predetermined number of transmitters; and

re-activation of the learn mode by an enhanced security deactivation device after the blocking, the enhanced security deactivation device selected from the group consisting of a key which permits reentry into the learn mode and a second transmitter, the reactivation permitting reentry into the learn mode and permitting the operation of the learn mode of the operator by the user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined number of transmitters is set in the operator by pressing a learn button of the operator a representative number of times.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising activating the learn mode of the operator for a learn mode term and indicating, during the learn mode term, a number of transmitters to be learned.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the learn mode is re-activated by pressing a learn button of the operator and receiving a unique signal from the second transmitter previously learned by the operator.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the learn mode is re-activated comprises receiving a learn mode signal from a master transmitter.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the learn mode is activated for a limited time.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the re-activation of learn mode of the operator comprises erasing all previously stored transmitter access codes from the memory of the operator.

21. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein blocking of the learn mode of the operator comprises activating a block switch.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the learn mode is blocked when all the locations of the access code memory store access codes.

23. A barrier movement operator system, comprising:

a receiver with an access code memory for receiving, learning and responding to transmitted access codes;

an activation device for enabling a learn mode of the receiver without the use of a deblocking apparatus;

at least one wireless transmitter having an access code to be trained into the access code memory of the receiver by a first code learn mode signal in order to operate the system in a learn mode of the receiver;

a controller for operating during the learn mode of the receiver and evaluating availability of the access code memory for storing new access codes;

apparatus for making learn mode inactive,

a blocking apparatus which blocks the learn mode of the receiver to prevent unauthorized activation of the learn mode by the first code learn mode signal and prevents re-entry into learn mode with enhanced security,

the de-blocking apparatus permiting re-entry into the learn mode by the first code learn mode signal, the de-blocking apparatus including an enhanced security device selected from the group consisting of a key and a second transmitter.

24. The operator system in accordance with claim 23, further comprising an indicator for showing a number of access codes to be learned during a learn mode term.

25. The operator system according to claim 23, wherein the deblocking apparatus includes the key.

26. The operator system according to claim 23, wherein the deblocking apparatus comprises the second transmitter.

27. The operator system according to claim 23, comprising a plurality of additional transmitters each having an access code, wherein the access code memory of the receiver has a predetermined number of access code locations, and during the learn mode stores the access codes from the transmitters and their copies in the locations until all the access code locations are full.

28. The operator system according to claim 27, wherein, prior to storing a new access code, the controller evaluates the memory looking for a copy of a stored access code, and overwrites the copy with the new access code.

29. The operator system according to claim 26, wherein the second transmitter is kept by a seller of the operator system.

30. A barrier movement operator for moving a barrier comprising

a motor apparatus connecting the motor to the barrier for movement thereof;

a controller, responsive to access codes from a transmitter, for controlling the motor to move and stop the barrier, the controller comprising a learn capability in a learn mode which is entered upon user generation of a first code learn signal and during the learn mode access codes from one or more transmitters can be learned without access to a learn mode through an enhanced security learn mode control apparatus; and

the enhanced security learn control apparatus responsive to a detection of a code learn capability terminating event for operating the operator in a secure mode wherein initiation of the code learn capability by user interaction is prohibited on the occurrence of a first learn mode deactivation event which thereafter protects the learn mode with an enhanced security secure learn mode, the enhanced security learn control apparatus effective for detecting a second event, the second event generated by a source having an enhanced security configuration, and the second event responsively deactivating the enhanced security secure mode and allowing initiation of the learn capability by user generation of the first code learn mode signal, the source including a key which permits the generation of the second event or a second transmitter which permits the generation of the second event and permit the operation of the operator in learn mode by the user.

31. A barrier movement operator according to claim 30 wherein the source includes the key.

32. A barrier movement operator according to claim 30 wherein the source comprises the second transmitter.

33. A barrier movement operator according to claim 30 wherein the learn control apparatus comprises a counter for counting a number of access codes learned by the controller.