Method and apparatus to facilitate use of background noise when providing secure access to equipment

• US 8,315,412 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Strait, Larry, Coates, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olaniran, Fatimat O
• Application Number:
  US11/873,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20090103739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 381 56- 58, 381104-110, 381/86, 381 711- 7114, 381 941- 949, 704/231, 704/233, 704225-226, 704270-275, 704/246, 340/506
• US Class Current: 381/110
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/20 Speech recognition techniques specially adapted for robustness in adverse environments, e.g. in noise, of stress induced speech G10L21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A user interface device provides secure access to equipment. An audio reception device is adapted to receive an audio input comprising background noise and to receive an audio user code from a user. A user input device receives a manual input comprising a manual user code from the user. A control unit stores one or more target user codes and receives an audio input and determines a noise level of the background noise. An instruction message is generated to inform the user to enter the manual user code in response to the noise level of the background noise exceeding a predetermined threshold level. An output device provides the instruction message to the user. A control unit provides secure access to the equipment in response to at least one of the audio user code and the manual user code.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a secured area the access to which is secured by a barrier, the method comprising:

activating an audio reception device in response to a detection of a user'"'"'s presence with a motion detector configured to detect a user'"'"'s presence;

receiving an audio input comprising background noise after activation of the audio reception device;

determining a noise level of the background noise from the audio input;

instructing the user to manually enter a manual user code to effect access to the secured area with a user input device after the determination of the background noise level and in response to the noise level exceeding a predetermined threshold level;

receiving by voice command an audio user code at the audio reception device after the determination of the background noise level and if the background noise level does not exceed a predetermined level to open the barrier and provide access to the secured area; and

effecting with a processor a transmission of a control signal to open the barrier upon receipt of and in response to the manual user code entered by the user matching a predetermined code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving an audio input comprising background noise and an audio user code, and the effecting the transmission comprises providing secure access to the secured area in response to the noise level not exceeding the predetermined threshold level and in response to the audio user code matching a predetermined code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructing is performed audibly via a speaker.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructing is performed visually via a display that displays an instruction message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the secured area includes a movable barrier operator in communication with a the barrier and wherein the control signal instructs the movable barrier operator to perform at least one movable barrier function.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the manual user code and the audio user code are identical.

6. A user interface device for providing access to a secured area, the user interface comprising:

an audio reception device configured to receive an audio input comprising background noise and a voice command to effect entry into the secured area;

a motion detector configured to detect a user'"'"'s presence and to send a signal to effect activation of the audio reception device in response to a detection of the user'"'"'s presence in an area proximate to the audio reception device;

a user input device configured to receive a manual input comprising a manual user code from a user to effect entry into the secured area;

an output device configured to provide an instruction message to the user to enter the manual user code; and

a control unit configured to effect storing of one or more target user codes, to receive the audio input, and determine a noise level of the background noise, wherein in response to the noise level of the background noise exceeding a predetermined threshold level, the control unit being configured to generate the instruction message to inform the user to enter the manual user code;

the control unit configured to automatically send a control signal to provide secure access to the equipment in response to the manual user code matching the one or more target user codes and the control unit further configured to effect a signal after the determination of the background noise level where the signal is effected by the voice command or an audio user code received at the audio reception device to effect entry into the secured area if the background noise does not exceed a predetermined level.

7. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the audio input further comprises an audio user code, and the control unit is further configured to automatically send the control signal to provide secure access to the equipment in response to the audio user code matching the one or more target user codes.

8. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the output device comprises a display configured to visually display the instruction message.

9. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the output device comprises a speaker configured to audibly render the instruction message.

10. The user interface device of claim 6, further comprising a memory configured to store the one or more target user codes.

11. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the equipment comprises a movable barrier operator in communication with a movable barrier and the control unit is configured to automatically send a control signal to instruct the movable barrier operator to perform at least one movable barrier function.

12. The user interface device of claim 6, wherein the user input device comprises at least one of a keypad, at least one button, and at least one rolling switch.

13. A system for providing access to a secured area and to effect opening and closing a movable barrier, the system comprising:

a barrier movement operator configured to control the movable barrier to perform movable barrier functions;

an audio reception device outside the secured area, the audio reception device configured to receive an audio input;

a motion detector configured to detect a user'"'"'s presence outside the secured area and in an area proximate to the audio reception device and to activate the audio reception device in response to sensing the user'"'"'s presence outside the secured area and in the area proximate to the audio reception device;

a user input device configured to receive a manual user code;

a control unit configured to determine a noise level of the background noise from the audio input and to instruct a user to manually enter the manual user code with the user input device in response to the noise level exceeding a predetermined threshold level, and the control unit configured to automatically send a control signal to the barrier movement operator in response to the manual user code entered by the user matching a predetermined code and the control unit further configured to effect a signal after the determination of the background noise level where the signal is effected by a voice command or audio user code received at the audio reception device to effect entry into the secured area if the background noise does not exceed a predetermined level.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a user interface device comprising a display configured to visually display an instruction message to instruct the user to enter the manual user code via the user input device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interface device further comprises a speaker configured to audibly render an instruction message to instruct the user to enter the manual user code via the user input device.