Alarm system interaction with a movable barrier operator method and apparatus

• US 7,876,218 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fitzgibbon, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/341,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.1, 340/539.14, 340/541, 340/5.7, 340/5.71
• US Class Current: 340/545.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

A secure communication link (24) is provided between a movable barrier operator (23) and a peripheral alarm system (20). Information conveyed via this link is used by one, the other, or both such elements to further inform or direct their respective actions.

Claims

1. A method of controlling access to a secured area with a movable barrier operator and a movable barrier, a secure wireless encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and a control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator responsive to signals from a remotely located user interface and which movable barrier operator controls movement of the barrier, the control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator controlling devices peripheral to the movable barrier operator and controlling egress to the secured area, the communication link employing a rolling code-based authentication protocol, the method comprising:

effecting at least one wireless signal representative of an encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator to the control system using the secure wireless encrypted communication link, the at least one wireless signal originating from the movable barrier operator; and

performing a control action in response to the control system receiving the wireless signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein effecting at least one wireless encrypted information communication further comprises:

providing data from the movable barrier operator to the control system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein effecting at least one wireless encrypted information communication further comprises:

effecting at least one control system action as a function, at least in part, of the data.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the encrypted information comprises, at least in part, movable barrier operator status information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein providing an instruction to the movable barrier operator further comprises providing an instruction regarding subsequent movement of a movable barrier as is controlled, at least in part, by the movable barrier operator.

6. An egress control system comprising:

a movable barrier operator;

a movable barrier operator secure encrypted information communication link interface, the communication link interface employing a rolling code-based authentication protocol;

a system controller peripheral to the movable barrier operator and which controls devices peripheral to the movable barrier operator and controls egress to a secured area and is responsive, at least in part, to data from the movable barrier operator as the data is received via the movable barrier operator secure encrypted information communication link interface, the system controller and movable barrier operator configured to effect signals to each other via the movable barrier secure encrypted information link interface, the signals originating from the movable barrier operator or the system controller.

7. The egress control system of claim 6 wherein the system controller further comprises an actuator having a corresponding actuation time delay, wherein a first mode of operation of the actuation time delay is alterable, at least in part, in response to reception of data from a movable barrier operator via the movable barrier operator secure encrypted information communication link interface.

8. The egress control system of claim 7 wherein the data comprises information regarding at least one of:

reception by the movable barrier operator of a remotely transmitted command;

a predetermined state of a movable barrier as is controlled by the movable barrier operator.

9. The egress control system of claim 8 wherein the data comprises information regarding both the reception by the movable barrier operator of the remotely transmitted command and the predetermined state of the movable barrier.

10. A method of controlling access to a secured area with a movable barrier operator and a movable barrier, a secure wireless encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and a control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator responsive to signals from a remotely located user interface and which movable barrier operator controls movement of the barrier, the control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator controlling devices peripheral to the movable barrier operator and controlling egress to the secured area, the communication link employing a rolling code-based authentication protocol, the method comprising:

effecting at least one wireless signal representative of an encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator to the control system using the secure wireless encrypted communication link, the encrypted information comprising at least in part status information regarding a positional state of the movable barrier and the at least one wireless signal originating from the movable barrier operator; and

performing a control action in response to the control system receiving the wireless signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator.

11. A method of controlling access to a secured area with a movable barrier operator and a movable barrier, a secure wireless encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and a control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator, the movable barrier operator responsive to signals from a remotely located user interface and which movable barrier operator controls movement of the barrier, the control system peripheral to the movable barrier operator controlling devices peripheral to the movable barrier operator and controlling egress to the secured area, the communication link employing a rolling code-based authentication protocol, the method comprising:

effecting at least one wireless signal representative of an encrypted information communication from the control system to the movable barrier operator using the secure wireless encrypted communication link, the at least one wireless signal originating from the control system; and

performing a movable barrier operator action in response to the movable barrier operator receiving the wireless signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the control system.

12. A method for communicating between a movable barrier operator, which controls movement of a movable barrier, and a peripheral device outside of the movable barrier operator, a secure encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and the peripheral device, the method comprising:

effecting at least one encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator to the peripheral device using the secure encrypted communication link, wherein the encrypted information comprises, at least in part, movable barrier operator status information; and

performing a peripheral device action in response to receiving the at least one encrypted information communication.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the peripheral device action comprises an action regarding a system enablement state of the peripheral device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the peripheral device action comprises an action regarding providing egress to a secured area.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the movable barrier operator status information comprises information regarding detection of attempted movement of the movable barrier.

16. A method for communicating between a peripheral device and a movable barrier operator controlling movement of a movable barrier, a secure encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and the peripheral device outside of the movable barrier operator the method comprising:

effecting at least one encrypted information communication from the peripheral device to the movable barrier operator using the secure encrypted communication link; and

performing a movable barrier operator action in response to receiving the at least one encrypted information communication, wherein providing a secure encrypted communication link comprises providing a secure encrypted non-wireless communication link; and

wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, an ambient light-state command.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, a movable barrier movement command.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the movable barrier movement command comprises at least one of:

a command to move the movable barrier to a particular position;

a command to maintain a present position of the movable barrier;

a command to take an action that is otherwise contrary to the movable barrier operator'"'"'s operating strategy;

a command to control at least one light associated with the movable barrier operator.

19. A method for communicating between a peripheral device and a movable barrier operator controlling movement of a movable barrier, a secure encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and the peripheral device which is outside of the movable barrier operator, the method comprising:

effecting at least one encrypted information communication from the peripheral device to the movable barrier operator using the secure encrypted communication link; and

performing a movable barrier operator action in response to receiving the at least one encrypted information communication, wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, a movable barrier movement command;

wherein the secure encrypted communication link employs a rolling-based authentication protocol.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the movable barrier movement command comprises at least one of:

a command to move the movable barrier to a particular position;

a command to maintain a present position of the movable barrier;

a command to take an action that is otherwise contrary to the movable barrier operator'"'"'s operating strategy;

a command to control at least one light associated with the movable barrier operator.

21. A method for communicating between a peripheral device and a movable barrier operator controlling movement of a movable barrier, the method comprising:

providing a secure encrypted communication link between the movable barrier operator and the peripheral device which is outside of the movable barrier operator;

effecting at least one encrypted information communication from the peripheral device to the movable barrier operator using the secure encrypted communication link; and

performing a movable barrier operator action in response to receiving the at least one encrypted information communication, wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, an ambient light-state command.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the encrypted secure communication link is wireless.

22. A method for use by a peripheral device for communicating with a garage door opener controlling movement of a garage door, the method comprising:

receiving from the garage door opener, via a secure encrypted communication link, information regarding at least one of operational status and received operational commands as corresponds to the garage door opener;

effecting at least one action by the peripheral device in response to the information received from the garage door opener.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein effecting at least one action further comprises effecting an action with respect to an actuation of the peripheral device.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the method further comprises effecting at least one an external communication.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein transmitting an external communication further comprises transmitting at least one of:

a command to the garage door opener;

an inquiry to the garage door opener;

a command to a peripheral alert mechanism;

a message.