Movable barrier operator configured for remote actuation

Abstract

The present invention is generally a movable barrier operator configured for remote actuation, and more specifically, to a movable barrier operator configured to generate a barrier command in response to an authorized mobile device joining wireless network. The authorization may be established by connecting the mobile device to the operator through a wireless communication means. The wireless communication means may include known protocols such as Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi, NFC, ZigBee™, or any other type of wireless communication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for operating a movable barrier from a vehicle, comprising:
 an onboard computer on a vehicle including a wireless network interface configured to connect to a local wireless network, the onboard computer including one or more sets of programmable instructions for:
 detecting an access point to the local wireless network, and 
 requesting access to the local wireless network whenever the onboard computer is within a programmable proximity to the access point; and 
   a movable barrier operator including:
 a motor mechanically connected to the movable barrier, and 
 a controller configured to operate the motor and communicate with the local wireless network, the controller including a processor, a memory, and one or more programs stored in the memory to be executed by the processor, the one or more programs include instructions for:
 sending an invitation to join the local wireless network via the access point; 
 receiving an access request from the onboard computer within a programmable proximity to the access point; and 
 generating a movable barrier actuation command in response to the vehicle onboard computer joining the local wireless network. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sets of programmable instructions of the vehicle onboard computer further include instructions for:
 determining the distance of the vehicle to the movable barrier using received signal strength indication (RSSI).   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more programs stored in the memory of the controller are further for:
 determining the distance of the vehicle to the movable barrier using received signal strength indication (RSSI).   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local wireless network is a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the WPAN utilizes the ZIGBEE protocol, the BLUETOOTH protocol, Near Field Communication (NFC), or the WI-FI protocol to communicate with the vehicle onboard computer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions of the onboard computer further include instructions for:
 a launching a graphical user interface (GUI);   providing an output on a display requesting a barrier actuation command from a user, the barrier actuation command including a request to open the movable barrier; and   sending the request to the movable barrier operator to open the movable barrier.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database accessible to the controller of the movable barrier operator, wherein the database includes one or more unique identifiers associated with onboard computer, and wherein the access request includes the one or more unique identifiers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the database accessible to the controller of the movable barrier operator further includes one or more sets of temporary user identification codes associated with one or more mobile devices with a temporary authorization to access the movable barrier. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a server in communication with the movable barrier operator, the server for managing the database. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the server includes a user interface for controlling user permissions concerning the one or more unique identifiers associated with the onboard computer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user permissions include a time designation during which the onboard computer associated with the unique identifier may access the movable barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface further includes a means to provide access to historical data concerning times during which the onboard computer has accessed the movable barrier. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the invitation for the onboard computer to join the local wireless network includes instructions for automatically launching a graphical user interface (GUI) on the onboard computer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the GUI on the onboard computer includes an output requesting a user input for authenticating the onboard computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the GUI on the onboard computer includes an output for displaying historical data concerning times during which the onboard computer has accessed the movable barrier. 
     
     
         15 . A system for operating a movable barrier, comprising:
 a movable barrier;   a local wireless network;   a server for managing access to the movable barrier, the server connected to the local wireless network;   an access point for providing wireless access to the local wireless network;   a movable barrier operator, including:
 a motor configured to control the movable barrier, 
 a network interface connecting the movable barrier operator to the local wireless network, and 
 a controller connected to the network interface and the motor, the controller configured to generate a barrier actuation command in response to an authorized mobile device joining the local wireless network. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the authorized mobile device is a vehicle onboard computer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the vehicle onboard computer includes a wireless network interface configured to connect to the local wireless network, the vehicle onboard computer including one or more sets of programmable instructions for:
 detecting the access point to the local wireless network, and   requesting access to the local wireless network whenever the vehicle onboard computer is within a programmable proximity to the access point.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the request to access the local wireless network includes an authentication code for joining the local wireless network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the local wireless network is a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the WPAN utilizes the ZIGBEE protocol, the BLUETOOTH protocol, or the WI-FI protocol to communicate with the authorized remote device. 
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling a movable barrier, comprising:
 transmitting, through an access point in proximity from the movable barrier, an invitation for a mobile device to join a local wireless network;   receiving, from the mobile device, a request to join the local wireless network, wherein the request includes a unique identifier associated with an authorized user;   requesting, from the mobile device, user input comprising user credentials to confirm the identity of the authorized user;   accessing a database to match the unique identifier and the user credentials to authenticate the mobile device;   authorizing the mobile device and establishing communication between the mobile device and the local wireless network; and   generating a movable barrier command in response to the mobile device joining the local wireless network.