Method of securing the learning mode of a home automation device

• US 7,941,846 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Activites SA (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Bejean, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Henning; Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US10/532,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,741 Days
• Field of Search: 726/20
• US Class Current: 726/20
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

A method of securing the learning mode of a device includes an assembly of at least one command transmitter, communicating with a command receiver capable of driving an element providing for the security and/or the comfort of a building and capable of being switched to learning mode by one or more activation functions, wherein one or more actions of which at least one is applied to a particular command transmitter of the assembly, termed secure, causes the disabling of at least one function of activation of the learning mode of the command receiver.

Claims

1. A method of securing a learning mode of a device, the device including a secure first command transmitter and a command receiver, the command receiver being capable of driving an element providing for at least one of the security and the comfort of occupants of a building, the method comprising:

providing at least one first activation function for switching the command receiver to the learning mode, the first activation function being associated with the secure first command transmitter;

providing at least one second activation function for switching the command receiver to the learning mode, the second activation function being associated with at least one of the command receiver, a second command transmitter, and a main power supply;

applying at least one action to the secure first command transmitter;

the application of the at least one action to the secure first command transmitter causing a disabling of the second activation function for switching the command receiver to the learning mode;

the disabling of the second activation function preventing the command receiver from being switched to the learning mode by the second activation function; and

maintaining a capability of the secure first command transmitter to switch the command receiver to the learning mode via the first activation function after the disabling of the second activation function.

2. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one action comprises at least a first action that is undertook on at least one secure command transmitter and successively or simultaneously at least a second action that is undertook on at least one other command transmitter.

3. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one action on the secure command transmitter activates the learning mode of the receiver.

4. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one action on the secure command transmitter disables the at least one activation function of the learning mode with the exception of the at least one activation function of the secure command transmitters.

5. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling of the activation function is irreversible.

6. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling of the activation function is temporary.

7. The method of securing as claimed in claim 1, wherein an action on a secure command transmitter causes, in the memory of the receiver, the erasure of the identity numbers of at least certain transmitters.

8. A device comprising:

at least one secure command transmitter, and possibly other command transmitters, communicating with a command receiver capable of driving an element providing for the security and/or the comfort of a building, and implementing the method as claimed in claim 1.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the secure command transmitters comprise wireless means of remote communication with the command receiver.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the secure command transmitters have two dimensions small enough so that the secure command transmitters are capable of being stored in a strongbox.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the secure command transmitters have two dimensions small enough so that the secure command transmitters are capable of being stored in a strongbox.