Rolling code security system

• US 7,492,898 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J., Farris, Bradford L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Song; Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US10/884,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 380/239, 380/262, 726/2, 726/4, 726/16, 726/17, 726 27- 30, 341/173, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 340/825.73
• US Class Current: 380/239
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00214 by one push button
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0023 with encription of the transmittted data signal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00238 the transmittted data signal containing a code which is changed
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00253 dynamically, e.g. variable code - rolling code
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00555 comprising means to detect or avoid relay attacks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00587 by battery
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/06 Involving synchronization or resynchronization between transmitter and receiver; reordering of codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00817 where the code of the lock can be programmed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A rolling code transmitter is useful in a security system for providing secure encrypted RF transmission comprising an interleaved trinary bit fixed code and rolling code. A receiver demodulates the encrypted RF transmission and recovers the fixed code and rolling code. Upon comparison of the fixed and rolling codes with stored codes and determining that the signal has emanated from an authorized transmitter, a signal is generated to actuate an electric motor to open or close a movable barrier.

Claims

1. A method of sending codes to operate a controller for a barrier movement operator, the method comprising:

rf transmitting in trinary format a sequence of security codes, the sequence of security codes comprising a first code having a first relationship to a security code stored in the controller such that the first code will not cause operation of the controller and an additional code, which has a second relationship to the first code of the sequence for causing operation of the controller;

wherein the controller characterizes received security codes to be in one of a valid window, an invalid window or an insecure window based on the relationship between a received security code and the security code stored in the controller and a received code having the first relationship to the expected security code results in an insecure window characterization.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the rf transmitting is performed by an rf transmitter which generates a carrier frequency and the first and additional codes are transmitted by modulating the carrier frequency.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein modulating comprises selectively gating carrier frequency in intervals at a first level and a second level where the second level is less than the first level.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the second level comprises substantially no carrier frequency.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the intervals of modulation are approximately 0.5 milliseconds in length.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the controller comprises an algorithm for producing a rolling code sequence of security codes and the additional code comprises a portion which is the next code in the rolling code sequence after the first code.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the controller includes a receiver which converts received codes into a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion and the fixed code portion of the first code and the additional code are the same.

8. A method of operating a transmitter to operator a controller for a barrier movement operator which includes an algorithm to generate a sequence of generated security codes in which a predetermined portion of a security code differs from the predetermined portion of previous security codes in the sequence and which controller interprets received codes in trinary format to be one of an invalid window, a valid window or an insecure code window, the method of operating the transmitter comprising:

rf transmitting in a trinary format, a first transmitted code representing a first security code to be interpreted as being in the insecure code window; and

rf transmitting in a trinary format after the transmission of the first transmitted code a second transmitted code representing a second security code having a predetermined relationship to the first code.

9. The method accordance with claim 8 wherein the second transmitted code represents a second security code which is next after the first security code in the sequence of generated security code.

10. The method accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller receives rf transmitted codes in trinary format and converts them into a fixed portion and a rolling portion and wherein the transmitter transmits, in trinary format, a second transmitted code representing the same fixed portion as does the first transmitted code.

11. The method accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of rf transmitting comprises modulating an rf carrier signal.

12. A transmitter for controlling a controller for a barrier movement operator, comprising an rf transmitter which rf transmits, in trinary format, a sequence of security codes, the sequence of security codes comprising a first code having a first relationship to security code previously stored in the controller such that the first code will not cause operation of the controller and an additional code, which has a second relationship to the first code transmitted by the rf transmitter for causing operation of the controller;

wherein the controller characterizes received security codes to be in one of a valid window, an invalid window or an insecure window based on the relationship between a received security code and the security code stored in the controller and the controller characterizes a received code having the first relationship to the security code stored in the controller as being in the insecure window.

13. The transmitter according to claim 12 comprising a carrier frequency generator and a modulator to transmit the first and additional codes by modulating the carrier.

14. The transmitter according to claim 13 comprising apparatus for selectively gating carrier frequency in intervals of modulation at a first level and a second level where the second level is less than the first level.

15. The transmitter according to claim 14 wherein the second level comprises substantially no carrier frequency.

16. The transmitter according to claim 14 wherein the intervals of modulation are approximately 0.5 milliseconds in duration.

17. The transmitter according to claim 12 wherein the controller comprises an algorithm for producing a rolling code sequence of security codes to be stored by the controller and the additional code comprises a portion which is the next expected code in the rolling code sequence after the first code.

18. The transmitter according to claim 12 wherein the controller converts received codes into a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion and the fixed code portion of the first code and the additional code are the same.

19. A remote actuation system comprising:

an rf transmitter to control an operator which includes an rf receiver and an algorithm to generate a sequence of security codes in which a predetermined portion of a generated security code differs from the predetermined portion of previous security codes in the sequence and which operator interprets security codes received from the rf transmitter, in trinary format, to be in one of an invalid window, a valid window or an insecure code window, and the rf transmitter includes apparatus which rf transmits in trinary format, a first transmitted code representing a first security code to be interpreted by the operator as being in the insecure code window and rf transmits in a trinary format after the transmission of the first transmitted code a second transmitted code representing a second security code having a predetermined relationship to the first code.

20. The system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the second transmitted code represents a second security code which is next after the first transmitted security code in the generated sequence of security codes.

21. The system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the operator receives rf transmitted codes in trinary format and converts them into a fixed portion and a rolling portion and wherein the rf transmitter transmits, in trinary format, a second transmitted code representing the same fixed portion as does the first transmitted code.

22. A method of sending codes to operate a controller for a barrier movement operator, the method comprising:

rf transmitting in trinary format a sequence of security codes, the sequence of security codes comprising a first code having a first relationship to a security code stored in the controller such that the first code will not cause operation of the controller and an additional code, which has a second relationship to the first code of the sequence for causing operation of the controller;

wherein the controller includes a receiver which converts received codes into a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion and the fixed code portion of the first code and the additional code are the same.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the controller characterizes received security codes to be in one of a valid window, an invalid window or an insecure window based on the relationship between a received security code and the security code stored in the controller and a received code having the first relationship to the expected security code results in an insecure window characterization.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the rf transmitting is performed by an rf transmitter which generates a carrier frequency and the first and additional codes are transmitted by modulating the carrier frequency.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein modulating comprises selectively gating carrier frequency in intervals at a first level and a second level where the second level is less than the first level.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the second level comprises substantially no carrier frequency.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein the intervals of modulation are approximately 0.5 milliseconds in length.

28. The method according to claim 22 wherein the controller comprises an algorithm for producing a rolling code sequence of security codes and the additional code comprises a portion which is the next code in the rolling code sequence after the first code.

29. A transmitter for controlling a controller for a barrier movement operator, comprising:

an rf transmitter which rf transmits, in trinary format, a sequence of security codes, the sequence of security codes comprising a first code having a first relationship to security code previously stored in the controller such that the first code will not cause operation of the controller and an additional code, which has a second relationship to the first code transmitted by the rf transmitter for causing operation of the controller;

a carrier frequency generator and a modulator to transmit the first and additional codes by modulating the carrier;

apparatus for selectively gating carrier frequency in intervals of modulation at a first level and a second level where the second level is less than the first level.

30. The transmitter according to claim 29 wherein the controller characterizes received security codes to be in one of a valid window, an invalid window or an insecure window based on the relationship between a received security code and the and the security code stored in the controller and the controller characterizes a received code having the first relationship to the security code stored in the controller as being in the insecure window.

31. The transmitter according to claim 29 wherein the second level comprises substantially no carrier frequency.

32. The transmitter according to claim 29 wherein the intervals of modulation are Approximately 0.5 milliseconds in duration.

33. The transmitter according to claim 29 wherein the controller comprises an algorithm for producing a rolling code sequence of security codes to be stored by the controller and the additional code comprises a portion which is the next expected code in the rolling code sequence after the first code.

34. The transmitter according to claim 29 wherein the controller converts received codes into a fixed code portion and a rolling code portion and the fixed code portion of the first code and the additional code are the same.