Patent Application
20130147600
This generally relates to methods and devices for providing authorization from a location-aware device. More specifically, it relates to actuating movable barriers from a location-aware device.
Movable barrier operators are used to actuate various types of movable barriers. For example, garage door operators are used to move garage doors, and gate operators are used to open and close gates. Such barrier movement operators may include a wall control unit, which sends signals to a head unit thereby causing the head unit to open and close the barrier. In addition, these operators often include a receiver unit to receive wireless transmissions from a hand-held code transmitter or from a keypad transmitter, which may be affixed to the outside of the area closed by the barrier or other structure. However, use of keypad transmitters requires a user to be within the local vicinity of the movable barrier operator. Similarly, use of hand-held code transmitters requires a user to be within a limited transmission range of the movable barrier operator. For example, a user seeking to open a garage door using a transmitter cannot do so unless the user is close enough such that the transmitter can communicate with the movable barrier operator's receiver.
Devices such as mobile phones, personal data assistants, media players, and mobile computing devices such as laptops and tablets can be configured to allow users to accomplish multiple tasks using a single device. For example, a cellular phone may be programmed to allow users to send and receive telephone calls, emails, and data messages (including Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS)), play media content, and access the Internet. Internet-enabled mobile devices also allow users to communicate with other Internet-enabled devices.
While multi-functional mobile devices advantageously reduce the number of devices a user needs, operation of such devices can become cumbersome. Unlike standard hand-held transmitters (such as garage door openers) that may have a single button dedicated to a specific function, multi-functional mobile devices often lack such a feature. Thus, a user may need to perform many steps to execute a desired function on the mobile device. For example, on a smart phone, a user may have to scroll through a list of programs in order to find and select the desired program. This can be particularly disadvantageous when, for example, the user is operating a vehicle.
Generally speaking, an apparatus, computer readable medium, and method are provided to allow a user to authorize control of a remote device using a location-aware control device. A user possessing the location-aware control device is able to send commands or other information to a remote device. For example, a control device can offer a user the option to instruct a movable barrier operator to open a garage door when the user is within a defined proximity to the garage.
The control device is location-aware in that it is capable of determining its position using at least in part information received at a receiver. The control device compares its position to that of a user-defined target position to determine whether the control device is within a user-defined proximity to the target position. When within the user-defined proximity, the control device offers a user the ability to communicate with a remote device. The remote device may be a movable barrier operator. Alternatively, the remote device may be a web server. The web server may be in communication with another remote device, such as a movable barrier operator. Thus, the user may choose to instruct a web server to send a command to a movable barrier operator.
The apparatus and method described herein provide several advantages over previous approaches. For example, a user does not need to be located within a limited transmission range to control a remote device. Rather, the user can control the remote device any time the user is within a specified target range, which can be altered as desired by the user.
Another example advantage of the apparatus, computer readable medium, and method described herein is the user can be automatically presented with a prompt including an authorization request in response to the user's being within the target range. The prompt can also be automatically removed in response to the user's no longer being within the target range. This eliminates the need for the user to manually open and close an authorization program on the control device, thereby allowing the user to maintain focus on other activities such as driving.
The above needs are at least partially met through provision of the access authorization via location-aware authorization device described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
a and 4b comprise schematic views of a control device and remote device as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
a-5c comprise schematic views of a control device as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
a-6c comprise schematic diagrams of a target ranges as configured in accordance with various embodiments of the invention;
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a location-aware control device determines whether it is within a defined proximity of a predetermined target position. In response to determining that it is within the defined proximity, the control device alerts a user and offers the user the option to communicate with a remote device. In one approach, the communication with the remote device includes sending a command to a movable barrier operator. In another approach, the communication with the remote device includes sending a command to a web server, which then sends a command to a movable barrier operator.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
In the illustrative example of
As illustrated in
In one approach, the movable barrier operator 10 may include several receivers 50 for receiving different signals. For example, the movable barrier operator 10 may include a receiver 50 configured to receive transmission signals from a control device 53 described further below, a receiver 50 configured to receive transmission signals from a remote device transmitter 54, and a receiver 50 configured to receive transmission signals from a web server 55. In another approach, a single receiver 50 may be configured to receive a variety of different signals from a control device 53, a remote device transmitter 54, and a web server 55.
Communications with the external sources 51 may be wired or wireless. The receiver 50 may wirelessly communicate with the external sources 51 via at least one antenna 52 associated with the receiver 50. Wireless transmissions may be in the form of any wireless communication technology, including cellular communications (such as cellular data networks, text, and short message services), radio waves and other radio communications, wireless local area networks (such as Wi-Fi or WiMax networks), personal area networks (such as a Bluetooth, IrDA, or ZigBee), and other internet communications. The receiver 50 may also be capable of receiving commands via a wired connection, such as through electrical transmission cables, coaxial cables, Ethernet cables, fiber optic communication cables, or other communication cables. Additional forms of known wired and wireless communication may also be utilized.
The movable barrier operator also includes a processing device 56. The processing device 56 is in operative communication with the receiver 50 and configured to interpret signals from the receiver 50. As illustrated in
The processing device 56 may further be configured to provide commands to control aspects of the movable barrier operator 10. Thus, for example, when the movable barrier operator 10 is so instructed by the processing device 56, the operator 10 activates and moves the movable barrier 16. For example, in the illustrative example of
In addition to controlling movement of the movable barrier 16, the processing device 56 may be configured to provide commands to control one or more peripheral devices 60. Such peripheral devices may include operator lights, external lights, fans, air compressors, security cameras, motion sensors, and alarm systems to name but a few examples. Additional peripheral devices common to households and garages may also be controlled by the movable barrier operator 10.
Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that such a processing device 56 can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired platform, which could be as simple as an analog threshold circuit, or can comprise a partially or wholly programmable platform. All of these architectural options are well known and understood in the art and require no further description here.
Turning now to
The receiver 302 of
The control device 53 may also include a memory device 310 capable of storing information. In this way, the control device is able to store received information such as positioning information received at the receiver 302. The memory device 310 of the control device 53 may also store information input by a user.
The control device 53 also includes a processing device 308. The processing device 308 is configured to determine a control device position using at least in part the information from the receiver. The processing device 308 is also configured to compare the control device position to a target position 404 (an example of which is shown in
The control device 53 may also include a user interface 312. The user interface 312 is configured to convey information to a user. Information may be conveyed visually or audibly. Audible information may include a chime or other audio alert. Visual information can be conveyed to a user, for example, through the illumination of one or more light-emitting diodes. In another approach, visual information is conveyed to a user through a display screen such as a liquid crystal display screen, a light-emitting diode backlit liquid crystal display screen, or other screen capable of conveying information.
The user interface 312 is also configured to receive a user input. In one approach, user input is provided to the control device 53 through a dedicated user input interface. A dedicated user input interface can be separate and apart from the interface used to convey information to the user. Such a dedicated input interface may include a single button, a keypad, or a touch-sensitive surface responsive to a user's touch. In another approach, the user input is provided to the control device 53 through an integrated user input interface. An integrated user input interface may be, for example, in the form of a touch-sensitive display screen. For example, the touch-sensitive display screen may display a virtual button that allows a user to provide an input. In this manner, the same interface that conveys information to a user can also receive a user input.
The control device 53 also includes a transmitter 304. As illustrated in
The transmitter 304 is capable of transmitting information from the control device 53 to a remote device. The remote device may be an intermediate remote device or a target remote device. In one example, the transmitter 304 is configured to transmit a command to effect a function of a movable barrier operator 10 in response to the user interface's receiving a user input. Examples of commands sent by the transmitter 304 may include “operate door,” “open,” “close,” “turn on,” “turn off,” “lock,” and “unlock.” The transmitter 304 may also be configured to transmit positioning information identifying the position of the control device 53, identification information identifying the target remote device, and authentication information authenticating the control device 53.
As previously described, the transmitter 304 may be configured to communicate with various remote devices, including intermediate and target remote devices. In one approach 400, as shown in
The transmitter 304 may be capable of transmitting the command using various known communication technologies, including cellular communications (such as cellular voice networks, data networks, text, and short message services), radio waves and other radio communications, wireless local area networks (such as Wi-Fi or WiMax networks), personal area networks (such as a Bluetooth, IrDA, or ZigBee), and other internet communications. The transmission of information by the transmitter 304 may be an encoded transmission encoded through any known encoding methods. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,544, U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,850, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0005806, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2007/0058811, each of which is incorporated by reference as if wholly rewritten herein.
Turning now to
As previously discussed, the processing device 308 is configured to compare the control device position to a target position 404 to determine a geographical relationship between the control device 53 and the target position 404. A target position 404 can be the geographic location that is associated with a target remote device. For example, the target position 404 may be represented by GPS coordinates of a movable barrier 16, a movable barrier operator 10, a driveway location 406, or any other location generally associated with a target remote device sought to be controlled. Alternatively, the target position 404 may be any distance away from the target remote device.
Target positions 404 can be stored in the memory 310 of the control device 53. The memory 310 may store multiple target positions. The multiple target positions may be associated with multiple target remote devices. For example, a user may define a target position 404 at each of a first house, a second house, and an office building. The multiple target positions 404 may also be associated with a single target remote device.
In one approach, the geographic location of the target position 404 is acquired by the control device 53 via the receiver 302. For example, a user may wish to identify a movable barrier operator 10 as the target position 404. To set the target position 404, the control device 53 is positioned near the movable barrier operator 10. The control device 53 receives information at the receiver 302 while located near the movable barrier operator 10. Using at least in part this received information, the control device 53 is able to determine the geographic position of the control device. The user can instruct the control device 53 to store the geographic information as the target position 404 in the memory 310. Alternatively, the control device 53 can automatically store the geographic information in the memory 310.
In another approach, the control device 53 can receive geographic location information from a web server, computer network, or other external source. For example, a user can input a postal address of a house or business located near the target position 404. The control device 53 can then retrieve the geographic location of the desired target position 404 from the external source. In another example, the user may input a postal address or geographic location into a separate device, such as a computer. The user-input information may then be stored on a web server and be subsequently retrieved by the control device 53. This user-input information may then be stored as the target position 404 in the memory 310 of the control device 53.
In another approach, the user can manually input the target position 404 into the control device 53. For example, if the user knows the GPS coordinates of the desired target position 404, the user can input this geographic location information via the user interface 312 of the control device 53. This manually-input geographic location information may then be stored in the memory 310 of the control device 53.
Through any of the previously described approaches, the user can teach the control device 53 the desired target position 404.
As previously stated, the processing device 308 of the control device 53 is configured to compare the control device position to a target position 404 to determine whether the control device 53 is within a target range 600. The target range 600 will now be described in further detail.
The target range 600 is a defined geographic relationship. In one approach, the target range 600 is a user-defined zone or location. In another approach, the target range 600 is a predefined zone or location (such as one or more selectable default ranges) defined by a relationship with the target position 404 and selectable by a user.
In one approach, as shown in
For instance, where the target position 404 is a garage door operator, the target range 600 can be configured to match certain streets that approach the target position 404 such that the prompt for a user input is provided in response to the control device's determining that it has crossed into a target range 600 by approaching along a street toward the garage door operator. The prompt allows a user to transmit a command to open the garage door such that the garage door is open by the time the user reaches the target position 404 such that the user need not wait for the garage to open upon arrival.
In yet another approach, the target range 600 can be set to a “universal” mode such that all geographic locations are encompassed within the target range 600. Alternatively, the target range 600 can be disabled. The target range 600 may be modified by the user.
In one approach, the target range 600 is stored in the memory 310 of the control device 53. In another approach, the control device 53 accesses the target range 600 from a separate memory location such as a remote memory or cloud storage device.
The control device 53 may be configured to access multiple target ranges. The multiple target ranges may be associated with multiple target remote devices. For example, a user may define a target range 600 for each of a first house, a second house, and an office building. Additionally, the multiple target ranges may be associated with a single target remote device.
The control device 53 may further be able to access identification information to identify the target remote device. The control device 53 may further be able to access authentication information for authenticating the control device 53 to the target remote device. Additionally, the memory 310 can store authentication information for authenticating the control device 53 to the target remote device. The identification information and/or the authentication information may be stored in the memory 310 of the control device 53. In another approach, the control device 53 accesses the identification information and/or the authentication information from a separate memory location such as a remote memory or cloud storage device.
When the processing device 308 determines that the control device 53 is within the target range 600, the processing device 308 is configured to provide a prompt for user input. In one approach, the processing device 308 can prompt a user for an input via the user interface 312. In one example, the prompt includes an authorization request. In this example, the prompt may request authorization to transmit a command or other information to one or more remote devices. The prompt may be in the form of a message provided visually or audibly by the user interface 312. A user of the control device 53 may respond to a prompt by providing an input via the user interface 312. This can be done through any manner provided by the user interface 312 discussed above, including pressing a button or tapping a location on a touch-sensitive screen. Additionally, the user can provide input in the form of an audio command.
In one approach, the prompt may be provided visually through a program such as an authorization request program running on the control device 53. In this approach, to provide the prompt to the user of the control device 53, the processing device 308 may transform the control device 53 from a first state to a second state. For example, the processing device 308 may transform the program from an inactive state to an active state, from a background state to a foreground state, or from a closed state to an open state. The second state allows the user to interact with the program. In this approach, the user is presented with an authorization request when the program is in the second state. In one example, the authorization request provides the user with the option to control a target remote device, such as a movable barrier operator 10. In another example, the authorization request may provide the user with the option to control multiple target remote devices. In another example, the authorization request may provide the user with the option to send multiple commands to a single target remote device. In this example, the authorization request may provide the user with the option to command a movable barrier operator 10 to control a movable barrier 16 and a peripheral device 60. When presented with the authorization request, the user may choose to control all of the remote devices, a selection of the remote devices, or none of the remote devices.
To control the one or more remote devices, the user inputs one or more selections. For example, the user may authorize the control device to transmit an “open” command to a movable barrier operator 10 by tapping the appropriate button on a touch-sensitive display screen. The user may also choose to control more than one remote device through a single user input. In one approach, a user may be required to provide authorization information such as an authorization code prior to controlling the remote device.
In one approach, the processing device 308 is configured to remove the prompt for the user input in response to determining that the control device 53 is not within the target range 600. In another approach, the processing device 308 is configured to remove the prompt for the user input after a period of time has elapsed. In yet another approach, the processing device 308 is configured to remove the prompt for the user input in response to receiving the user input.
In another approach, the target range 600 is a defined geographical relationship. As in previous approaches described herein, with reference to
In this approach, the processing device 308 is configured to compare the control device position to a target position 404 to determine a geographical relationship between the control device 53 and the target position 404. In one example, the processing device 308 is configured to compare the control device position to the target position 404 to determine the distance between the between the control device 53 and the target position 404. When the processing device 308 determines that the geographical relationship is within the defined geographical relationship, i.e., within the target range 600, the processing device 308 is configured to provide a prompt for a user input.
Turning now to
In another approach, shown in
So configured, such a method automatically prompts a user when the user possessing the control device 53 is within a defined geographical relationship with a target position 404. This automatic prompt allows a user to quickly and simply control a remote target device such as a movable barrier operator 10 without the need to manually open and close an authorization program on the control device 53, thereby allowing the user to maintain focus on other activities such as driving. Furthermore, because the user may communicate with a target remote device via a web server 55, the user does not need to be located within a limited transmission range to control the target remote device.
With reference again to
The above teachings can be employed in an example entry control apparatus 200 as described with reference to
The above teachings can also be employed in an example method 900 for controlling operation of a movable barrier operator, as described with reference to
So configured, such an entry control apparatus 200 and method 900 for controlling operation of a movable barrier operator allow a user to quickly and simply command a movable barrier operator to perform commands, such as opening a garage door, when the user is approaching. Because the control device 53 is location-aware, it is able to automatically prompt the user when the user has entered a predetermined proximity to the garage door.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.
