Method and apparatus regarding a movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit

• US 8,207,818 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Keller, Robert Roy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US11/760,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2, 340/5.22, 340/5.26, 340/5.64, 340/5.71, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/12.22, 340/12.23, 340/12.28, 340/12.29, 455/418, 455/419, 341/173
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system

Abstract

A movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit comprises a transmitter (200) and, if desired, a user discernable listing (402) of a plurality of different remote control signal instruction protocols. This transmitter can be configured and arranged to automatically incrementally configure the transmitter using a series of protocols with each assertion of a user input (203) and also to cause the test configured transmitter to transmit a test transmission (701) to permit the user to ascertain whether a corresponding movable barrier operator responds positively. This listing can present the protocols in an order that matches a sequential order (401) by which the transmitter controller (201) will incrementally configure and test the transmitter. User discernable instructions (601) can provide advice to a user with respect to using the list (402) to quickly advance through the listing (401 to begin the compatibly testing with a particular selected candidate protocol.

Claims

1. A movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit for use with a movable barrier operator that uses a particular remote control instruction signal protocol, the kit comprising:

a movable barrier operator remote control transmitter comprising;

a dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter;

a user input;

a memory having stored therein a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols as correspond to a plurality of different movable barrier operators; and

a controller operably coupled to the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter, the user input, and the memory, and being configured and arranged to;

during a user selectable learning mode of operation;

automatically at least begin to incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter using a next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols with each user assertion of the user input to thereby provide a test configured transmitter;

cause the test configured transmitter to transmit a test transmission corresponding to the next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols to thereby permit the user to ascertain whether a corresponding movable barrier operator responds positively to the test configured transmitter;

automatically halt the test transmission corresponding to the next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols upon detecting a subsequent user assertion of the user input prior to completion of the test transmission.

2. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise at least fifteen different movable barrier operators.

3. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise, at least in part, both fixed code and rolling code-based movable barrier operators.

4. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 wherein the memory has remote control instruction signal protocols as comprise fixed code-based protocols stored therein as a first table and remote control instruction signal protocols as comprise rolling code-based protocols stored therein as a second table that is logically discrete from the first table.

5. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise movable barrier operators as offered by differing manufacturers.

6. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 further comprising:

a user discernable listing of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols.

7. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 6 wherein the user discernable listing presents the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols in an order that matches a sequential order by which the controller will incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter during the learning mode of operation.

8. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 7 wherein the user discernable listing comprises alphanumeric characters.

9. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 7 wherein the user discernable listing comprises graphic content.

10. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 9 wherein the graphic content comprises, at least in part, depictions of a plurality of different movable barrier operator remote control transmitters as correspond to various ones of the different remote control instruction signal protocols.

11. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 7 further comprising:

user discernable instructions regarding use of the user discernable listing to determine a particular number of times to rapidly assert the user interface during the learning mode of operation to thereby begin the test transmission with a particular selected entry in the listing.

12. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 7 wherein the sequential order by which the controller will incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter during the learning mode of operation is configured and arranged to tend to prompt reconfiguration of at least one radio frequency transmission parameter of the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter to thereby tend to delay the test transmission.

13. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 1 wherein the test transmission comprises a series of transmissions of the particular remote control instruction signal protocol.

14. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 13 wherein the series of transmissions comprises, at least in part, a plurality of repeated transmissions of a particular remote control instruction using the particular remote control instruction signal protocol.

15. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 14 wherein the plurality of repeated transmissions of a particular remote control instruction each comprise an iteration of a rolling code as corresponds to the particular remote control instruction signal protocol.

16. A movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit for use with a movable barrier operator that uses a particular remote control instruction signal protocol, the kit comprising:

a movable barrier operator remote control transmitter comprising;

a dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter;

a user input;

a memory having stored therein a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols as correspond to a plurality of different movable barrier operators;

a controller operably coupled to the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter, the user input, and the memory, and being configured and arranged to;

during a user selectable learning mode of operation;

automatically at least beginning to incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter using a next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols with each user assertion of the user input to thereby provide a test configured transmitter, a given user assertion of the user input halting a previous one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols prior to completion of a test transmission for the previous one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols;

causing the test configured transmitter to transmit a test transmission corresponding to the next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols to thereby permit the user to ascertain whether a corresponding movable barrier operator responds positively to the test configured transmitter; and

a user discernable listing of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols that presents the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols in an order that matches a sequential order by which the controller will incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter during the learning mode of operation.

17. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise at least fifteen different movable barrier operators.

18. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise, at least in part, both fixed code and rolling code-based movable barrier operators.

19. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the memory has remote control instruction signal protocols as comprise fixed code-based protocols stored therein as a first table and remote control instruction signal protocols as comprise rolling code-based protocols stored therein as a second table that is logically discrete from the first table.

20. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of different movable barrier operators comprise movable barrier operators as offered by differing manufacturers.

21. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the user discernable listing comprises alphanumeric characters.

22. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the user discernable listing comprises graphic content.

23. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 22 wherein the graphic content comprises, at least in part, depictions of a plurality of different movable barrier operator remote control transmitters as correspond to various ones of the different remote control instruction signal protocols.

24. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 further comprising:

user discernable instructions regarding use of the user discernable listing to determine a particular number of times to rapidly assert the user interface during the learning mode of operation to thereby begin the test transmission with a particular selected entry in the listing.

25. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the sequential order by which the controller will incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter during the learning mode of operation is configured and arranged to tend to prompt reconfiguration of at least one radio frequency transmission parameter of the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter to thereby tend to delay the test transmission.

26. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 16 wherein the test transmission comprises a series of transmissions using a same one of the remote control instruction signal protocols.

27. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 26 wherein the series of transmissions comprises, at least in part, a plurality of repeated transmissions of a particular remote control instruction using the same one of the remote control instruction signal protocols.

28. The movable barrier operator remote control transmitter kit of claim 27 wherein the plurality of repeated transmissions of a particular remote control instruction each comprise an iteration of a rolling code as corresponds to the same one of the remote control instruction signal protocols.

29. A method comprising:

providing a movable barrier operator remote control transmitter that comprises;

a dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter;

a user input;

a memory having stored therein a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols as correspond to a plurality of different movable barrier operators; and

a controller operably coupled to the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter, the user input, and the memory, and being configured and arranged to;

during a user selectable learning mode of operation;

automatically at least beginning to incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter using a next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols with each user assertion of the user input to thereby provide a test configured transmitter, a given user assertion of the user input halting a previous one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols prior to completion of a test transmission for the previous one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols;

causing the test configured transmitter to transmit a test transmission corresponding to the next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols to thereby permit the user to ascertain whether a corresponding movable barrier operator responds positively to the test configured transmitter to thereby permit the user to ascertain whether a corresponding movable barrier operator responds positively to the test configured transmitter;

providing a user discernable listing of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols that presents the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols in an order that matches a sequential order by which the controller will incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter during the learning mode of operation.

30. A method comprising:

entering a learn mode for a dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter to determine a remote control instruction signal protocol suitable for effecting operation of a movable barrier operator;

at least beginning to dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter using one of a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols;

receive a user assertion at a user input in operative communication with the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter prior to completion of a test transmission corresponding to the one of a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols;

in response to receiving the user assertion at the user input;

halting the completion of the test transmission corresponding to the one of a plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols, and

at least beginning to incrementally dynamically configure the dynamically configurable remote control instruction signal transmitter using a next one of the plurality of different remote control instruction signal protocols.