Alarm system interaction with a movable barrier operator method and apparatus

• US 8,144,011 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• 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:
  US12/967,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 bather operator (23) and a peripheral 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. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator responsive to signals from a remotely located user interface; and

a secure encrypted communication link interface operatively connected between the movable barrier operator and a peripheral alarm system;

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to;

control movement of a movable barrier in response to signals from the remotely located user interface,

use the secure encrypted communication link interface to receive from the peripheral alarm system at least one signal representative of an encrypted information communication comprising, at least in part, a movable barrier movement command, and

perform a movable barrier operator action in response to receiving the signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the peripheral alarm system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 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 moveable barrier operator'"'"'s operating strategy;

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, an ambient light-state command.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to effect at least one signal representative of an encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator to the peripheral alarm system using the secure encrypted communication link interface, wherein the encrypted information comprises, at least in part, status information regarding a positional state of the movable barrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the movable barrier operator status information comprises, at least in part, information regarding detection of attempted movement of the movable barrier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the secure encrypted communication link interface is configured to communicate through a secure encrypted communication link that employs a rolling code-based authentication protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the rolling code-based authentication protocol employs ternary data.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a movable barrier operator configured to be responsive to signals from a remotely located user interface and to control movement of a movable barrier in response to signals from the remotely located user interface; and

a peripheral alarm system;

a secure encrypted communication link interface operatively connected between the movable barrier operator and the peripheral alarm system;

wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to effect at least one signal representative of an encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator to the peripheral alarm system using the secure encrypted communication link, wherein the encrypted information comprises, at least in part, status information regarding a positional state of the movable barrier, the at least one signal originating from the moveable barrier operator; and

wherein the peripheral alarm system is configured to performing a peripheral alarm system action in response to the peripheral alarm system receiving the signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the moveable barrier operator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the peripheral alarm system action comprises an action regarding a system enablement state of the peripheral alarm system.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the peripheral alarm system action comprises an action regarding providing an alarm.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the movable barrier operator status information comprises, at least in part, information regarding detection of attempted movement of the movable barrier.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the secure encrypted communication link interface is configured to communicate through a secure encrypted communication link that employs a rolling code-based authentication protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rolling code-based authentication protocol employs ternary data.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the movable barrier operator is configured to:

use the secure encrypted communication link interface to receive from the peripheral alarm system at least one signal representative of an encrypted information communication comprising, at least in part, a movable barrier movement command; and

perform a movable barrier operator action in response to receiving the signal representative of the at least one encrypted information communication from the peripheral alarm system.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 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 moveable barrier operator'"'"'s operating strategy;

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

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, an ambient light-state command.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an alarm system peripheral to a movable barrier operator; and

a secure encrypted link interface operatively connected between the alarm system and the movable barrier operator;

wherein the alarm system is configured to;

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

perform a peripheral alarm system action in response to receiving the at least one encrypted information communication from the movable barrier operator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the peripheral alarm system action comprises an action regarding a system enablement state of the peripheral alarm system.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the peripheral alarm system action comprises an action regarding providing an alarm.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the movable barrier operator status information comprises, at least in part, information regarding detection of attempted movement of the movable barrier.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the alarm system is configured to send via the secure encrypted link interface at least one signal representative of an encrypted information communication comprising, at least in part, a movable barrier movement command.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 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 moveable barrier operator'"'"'s operating strategy;

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

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one encrypted information communication comprises, at least in part, an ambient light-state command.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the secure encrypted communication link interface is configured to communicate through a secure encrypted communication link that employs a rolling code-based authentication protocol.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the rolling code-based authentication protocol employs ternary data.