Barrier operator feature enhancement

• US 9,141,099 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Cate, Casparus, Fitzgibbon, James J., Keller, Robert R. Jr., Pudipeddi, Sapta Gireesh, Sorice, Cory
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/010,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.5, 340 57- 571
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/85 User input means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/70 Retrofitting of elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25209 Device status answer, response, acknowledge
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2628 Door, window
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 : using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 : using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing containing at least;

a barrier operator communication module configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types that use different communication protocols by sending communication signals by wireless or wired communication protocols;

control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate with any of the plurality of barrier operator types, the control circuitry configured to use the barrier operator communication module to communicate to at least one pre-installed barrier operator to control operation of at least one feature of the at least one pre-installed barrier operator;

an input/output module operatively in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device configured to provide information regarding an operation status of the pre-installed barrier operator and at least one second peripheral device configured to effect operation of the pre-installed barrier operator, and wherein the input/output module is configured to send and receive communications over a long range network through a router;

the control circuitry configured to, in response to the communication with the at least one second peripheral device, effect communicating with the pre-installed barrier operator to effect a movement of a barrier,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the barrier operator communication module to send communication signals using the different communication protocols to the pre-installed barrier operator;

wherein the input/output module is configured to receive an instruction signal configured to set a particular communication protocol used by the barrier operator through a user interface provided on a mobile device;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving the instruction signal, configure the barrier operator communication module to use a communication protocol, of the different communication protocols, that effects the movement of the barrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a computing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a computing device of one or more of the group consisting of:

a home computer;

a server computing device;

a mobile computing device;

a gateway device configured to enable communications with one or more of a home computer, server computing device, or a mobile computing device over a network;

and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a door position sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to communicate with at least one peripheral device comprising a network adaptor to effect a connection to Internet.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive commands to one or both of operate the pre-installed barrier operator from a device over the Internet and send status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to a device over the Internet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from at least one peripheral device comprising a sensor disposed to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the sensor using a protocol different from a protocol used to communicate with the at least one pre-installed barrier operator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the barrier operator communication module is configured to be able to communicate with a plurality of barrier operator types by sending communication signals by one or more of the group consisting of:

wire-line relay switch activation,

wire-line serial communications,

wire-line encrypted serial communications,

a first wireless transmission protocol based on a handheld transmitter frequency,

a second wireless transmission protocol different from the first wireless transmission protocol,

radio frequency communications based on a frequency different from handheld transmitter frequencies,

radio frequency communications based on frequency hopping for spread spectrum, and combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive communications from the sensor using one or more of a communication in accord with IEEE 802.11 or in a frequency range between 2.402 GHz to 2.480 GHz.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a housing containing at least;

a wireless communication interface configured to;

exchange communications including wireless local area network communications with peripheral devices including exchange of information regarding a status of a pre-installed barrier operator, and

send radio frequency communications in a plurality of formats to the pre-installed barrier operator;

control circuitry configured to;

effect sending radio frequency communications in individual ones of the plurality of formats to the pre-installed barrier operator to effect movement of the barrier,

receive an instruction signal configured to set a particular communication protocol used by the barrier operator through a user interface provided on a mobile device,

in response to receiving the instruction signal from the mobile device, control future communications with the pre-installed barrier operator to use a communication protocol, of the plurality of formats, that effects the movement of the barrier;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect sending at least one of a plurality of communications to the pre-installed barrier operator from the wireless communication interface to effect a movement of a barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator in response to receipt of a communication from a peripheral device configured to effect movement of the barrier.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to receive communications from at least one peripheral device comprising a computing device of more of the group consisting of:

a home computer;

a server computing device;

a mobile computing device;

a gateway device configured to enable communications with one or more of a home computer, server computing device, or a mobile computing device over a network;

and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving from the at least one peripheral device or from the pre-installed barrier operator a communication indicating an attempt at forced entry, send a communication to another of the at least one peripheral devices to effect a security system response.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a sound generator and a light.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the control circuitry is configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator and flashing of the light in coordination with effecting sending a signal to effect closing of the barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the wireless communication module is configured to one or both of receive commands to operate the pre-installed barrier operator from a device over the Internet and send status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to a device over the Internet.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication module is configured to receive communications from at least one peripheral device comprising a sensor disposed to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.

20. A method comprising:

sending communication signals from a communication module contained within a housing via a plurality of communication protocols to a pre-installed barrier operator;

receiving at the communication module a communication comprising an instruction signal through a user interface provided on a mobile device indicating a response from the pre-installed barrier operator;

configuring the communication module to operate according to a communication protocol, of the plurality of communication protocols, that corresponds to a protocol of a signal sent to the barrier operator that resulted in a response being received at the communication module that effects the response from the pre-installed barrier operator in response to receiving the instruction signal;

receiving at the communication module information from a peripheral device;

determining at the communication module an action or setting change for the pre-installed barrier operator based on the information from the peripheral device;

sending from the communication module a communication signal according to the communication protocol to the pre-installed barrier operator, the communication signal configured to effect movement of a barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator in response to receipt of a communication from a peripheral device configured to effect movement of the barrier.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the receiving the communication indicating a response from the pre-installed barrier operator comprises receiving a signal from a door position sensor indicating movement of the door.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the receiving information from a peripheral device further comprises receiving information from one or more from the group consisting of:

an obstacle detector, a network adaptor, a separate barrier operator, a handheld transmitter, a wall controller, a door position sensor, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising detecting presence of a vehicle with a presence detector and effecting communication with one or more peripheral devices in response to an initial detection of absence of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the effecting communication with one or more peripheral devices in response to an initial detection of absence the vehicle is one or more from the group consisting of:

effecting communication with a thermostat device to effect a change in temperature setting for a climate control system;

effecting communication with a lighting controller device to effect a change in a lighting configuration;

effecting communication with a security system to effect a change in status of the security system;

effecting communication with a home-based computing device to effect sending a message to a user of the home-based computing device;

effecting communication with a gateway communication device configured to communicate with one or more of a thermostat device, climate control system, lighting controller, computing device, security system, and home-based computing device;

and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising effecting generation of a sound by a sound generator and flashing of a light in coordination with sending a signal to effect closing of the barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising disabling generation of a sound by a sound generator and flashing of a light in response to determining that the pre-installed barrier operator includes a sound generator and light effective to provide an alert regarding closing of a barrier by the pre-installed barrier operator.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising sending communications to and receiving communications from devices over the Internet.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising receiving commands to operate the pre-installed barrier operator from a device over the Internet.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising sending status information regarding the pre-installed barrier operator to a device over the Internet.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the receiving information from a peripheral device further comprises receiving information from at least one peripheral device comprising a sensor disposed to detect a location of a barrier operated by the pre-installed barrier operator.