Barrier operator feature enhancement
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification