Method and system of conditionally operating a movable barrier

• US 8,421,591 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Chamberlain Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (The Chamberlain Group LLC)
• Inventors: Karasek, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US12/712,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/5.71
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00198 the keyless data carrier having more than one limited data transmission ranges
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00928 for garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/14 With a sequence of inputs of different identification information
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00182 operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks

Abstract

A method and system provides conditional allowance of access by operating a movable barrier such that access is not granted unless another condition is met. In one illustrative approach, a first signal is received and, if a second signal is received within a set time frame relative to receipt of the second signal, a movable barrier operator is then activated. By one approach, one of the signals is a long-range transmission, and the other signal is a visual-range transmission.

Claims

1. A method for operating a movable barrier, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first transmitter, the first signal comprising a long-range transmission to operate a movable barrier;

receiving a second signal from a second transmitter, the second signal comprising a visual-range transmission within a set time frame relative to receipt of the first signal; and

wherein the first and second signals are received by at least one receiver that is distinct from the first and second transmitters; and

operating the movable barrier with an operator, in response to receiving the second signal within the set time frame relative to receipt of the first signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the long-range transmission includes at least one of:

a cell phone transmission;

an internet transmission;

a local area network transmission;

long-range radio transmission;

or

a plain old telephone system transmission.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the long-range transmission is generated by at least one of:

a wireless transmitter, a communication system terminal, a network communication device, a mobile communication device, or a security system interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the visual-range transmission comprises receiving the visual-range transmission by at least one of a transmitter, a network communication device, a security system interface, a keypad, or a sensing device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the sensing device comprises at least one of:

a magnetic detector;

a motion detector device;

a short-range transmission detector;

a capacitive detector;

a weight-based detector;

or

a push button detector.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the short-range transmission detector includes at least one of:

a radio frequency detector;

or

an infrared detector.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the time frame comprises about ten minutes.

8. A method of operating a movable barrier via receipt of at least two signals, the method comprising:

receiving one of a long-range transmission signal from a first transmitter to operate a movable barrier or a visual-range signal from a second transmitter to operate a movable barrier;

in response to receipt of the long-range transmission signal to operate the movable barrier or the visual-range signal to operate the movable barrier at an at least one receiver, searching for the other of the long-range transmission signal or the visual-range transmissions signal at the at least one receiver, wherein the at least one receiver is distinct from the first and second transmitters; and

operating the movable barrier upon receipt of the long-range transmission signal and visual-range signal within a time period after receipt of later of the long-range transmission signal to operate the movable barrier or the visual-range signal to operate the movable barrier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a start period for the operation of the movable barrier after receipt of the later of the long-range transmission single or the visual-range signal is less than three minutes.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a long-range transmission signal from at least one of a transmitter, a network communication device, a mobile communication device, or a security system interface.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a visual-range signal may be received by at least one of a transmitter, a network communication device, a security system interface, a keypad, or a sensing device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the sensing device includes at least one of:

a magnetic detector;

a motion detector device;

a short-range transmission detector;

a capacitive detector;

a weight-based detector;

or

a push button detector.

13. A movable barrier system comprising:

a movable barrier operator connectable to a movable barrier, the movable barrier operator configured to control movement of the movable barrier between a first position and a second position;

at least one long-range receiver configured to receive a long-range transmission signal to operate the movable barrier and at least one visual-range receiver configured to receive a visual-range transmission signal; and

a controller connected to the at least one long-range receiver and the at least one visual-range receiver, upon receipt of the long-range transmission signal and upon the visual-range transmission signal being received by the at least one visual-range receiver, the controller being programmed to execute a command to control movement of the movable barrier operator.

14. The movable barrier system of claim 13 wherein the at least one long-range receiver configured and the at least one visual-range receiver comprise a single receiver.

15. The movable barrier system of claim 14, further comprising a long-range transmission signal transmitter.

16. The movable barrier system of claim 15 wherein the long-range transmission signal transmitter includes at least one of:

a wireless transmitter, a wired transmitter, a network communication device, a mobile communication device, or a security system interface.

17. The movable barrier system of claim 13, further comprising a visual-range signal transmitter.

20. The movable barrier system of claim 13, wherein long-range transmission signal received may be at least one of:

a mobile communication device signal;

an Internet communication;

a security system communication;

a long-range radio communication.

18. The movable barrier system of 17, wherein the visual-range signal transmitter includes at least one of:

a wireless transmitter, a wired transmitter, a network communication device, a mobile communication device, a security system interface, or a sensing device.

19. The movable barrier system of 18 wherein the sensing device includes at least one of:

a magnetic detector, an automatic motion detector, a loop detector, a short-range transmission detector, a capacitive detector, a weight based detector, a push button detector, a keypad, an RF detector, or an IR detector.

21. An entry control system for permitting authorized users access to a controlled area by moving a movable barrier, the entry control system comprising:

a movable barrier operator connected to a movable barrier, the movable barrier operator configured to control movement of the movable barrier between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position permits access to authorized users;

a controller operably coupled to the movable barrier operator, the controller generating a command to move the movable barrier from the closed position to the open position upon receipt of a verification signal within a time frame relative receipt of an operate signal;

at least one receiver configured to detect the verification signal and the operate signal;

wherein the verification signal comprises a long-range signal and the operate signal comprises a short-range signal.

22. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first transmitter, the first signal comprising a long-range transmission to operate an alarm system;

receiving a second signal from a second transmitter, the second signal comprising a visual-range transmission within a set time frame relative to receipt of the first signal; and

operating the alarm system, in response to receiving the second signal within the set time frame relative to receipt of the first signal at an at least one receiver that is distinct from the first and second transmitters, wherein operating the alarm system comprises disarming or arming the alarm system.