Remote garage door monitoring system

• US 8,218,739 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justin R. Styers, Ryan H. Mcdowell
• Original Assignee: Justin R. Styers, Ryan H. Mcdowell
• Inventors: Styers, Justin R., McDowell, Ryan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US12/273,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 379/106.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.05, 379/37, 379/45, 379/90.01, 340/505, 340/686.1, 340/545.1, 340 5- 7, 340/5.71, 49/14, 49/26, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153
• US Class Current: 379/106.01
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for implementing a garage door monitoring system coupled to a garage door opener. The door monitoring system allow a user to actuate the door under control via a network connection. In at least one embodiment, the door monitoring system is controlled by a cell phone or networked appliance capable of transmitting information and data via a cellular telephone network. The door monitoring system provides the added advantage of allowing a remote user to view the areas or regions near to the door under control prior to actuating the door. At least one embodiment comprises a method to validate reception of the pictures or video clips of the areas or regions near to the door prior to enabling the system to actuate the door. In another embodiment a pass code is embedded into the pictures or video provided to the remote user.

Claims

1. A method of storing an image sequence associated with the actuation of a door comprising an interior side and an exterior side by a door monitoring system controlling the operation of a door actuator, wherein the door actuator is operatively coupled to the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

a control unit;

an interior camera providing pictures operably coupled to the control unit, and positioned to view an area near to the interior side of the door;

a exterior camera providing pictures operably coupled to the control unit and positioned to view an area near to the exterior side of the door;

a recording device, wherein the control unit is operably coupled to the door actuator and can command the door actuator to actuate the door;

the method comprising the steps of;

capturing pictures from the interior and exterior camera to the recording device;

setting the pictures in a circular buffer;

storing to a recording device the pictures in the circular buffer corresponding to a time period beginning a prospective time prior to the actuation of the door and ending a retrospective time after the actuation of the door.

2. A garage door monitoring system to allow a user to remotely control a garage door opener, the garage door opener comprising:

a garage door opener control input, wherein the garage door opener is operably connected to a garage door comprising an interior side and an exterior side, and wherein the garage door opener actuates the garage door;

the garage door monitoring system comprising;

a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;

a control unit operably coupled to the door status sensor, and the control unit comprising;

a timer;

a timer alarm period parameter;

an interface operably coupled to a network; and

a voice message generator providing at least one voice message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter;

an interior camera operably coupled to the control unit, and positioned to view an area near to the interior door side of the garage door, and providing at least one picture of the area near to the interior side of the door;

an exterior camera operably coupled to the control unit and positioned to view an area near to the exterior door side of the garage door, and providing at least one picture of the area near to the exterior side of the door;

a user interface allowing the user to remotely actuate the garage door using a remote device capable of displaying a picture;

a safety interlock system that confirms the remote device has received at least one picture of the area near to the exterior door side of the garage and at least one picture of the interior door side of the garage prior to enabling the user to actuate the garage door.