System and method of actuating a movable barrier operator

Abstract

A system and method for actuating a moveable barrier operating system. A wireless time signal at a receiver. A time-of-day signal is supplied at the output of the receiver. The receiver is automatically reset using the wireless time signal when the time-of-day signal is different than the time represented by the wireless time signal. A moveable barrier is actuated using the time-of-day signal at the output of the receiver.

1. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operating system comprising:
 receiving a generally available wireless time signal at a receiver;  
 supplying a time-of-day at the output of the receiver;  
 automatically resetting the receiver using the generally available wireless time signal when the time-of-day signal is different than a time represented by the generally available wireless time signal; and  
 actuating a moveable barrier operator in response to the time-of-day output of the receiver.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the generally available wireless time signal includes receiving a time signal indicating time from a clock reference. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating the moveable barrier operator to close the movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating a movable barrier operator to prevent the movement of a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator includes actuating the movable barrier operator to open a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       6. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operator comprising:
 receiving user input indicating when a moveable barrier should be actuated;  
 adjusting a time signal representing the time-of-day in response to a received generally available wireless time signal;  
 comparing the user input to the time signal; and  
 actuating a movable barrier operator based upon comparing the user input to the signal.  
 
     
     
       7. A system for controlling a movable barrier operator comprising:
 a receiver receiving a generally available wireless time signal and adjusting a time signal in response to the generally available received wireless time signal; and  
 a movable barrier operator coupled to the receiver and receiving the generally available wireless time signal output, the movable barrier operator selectively actuating a movable barrier operator based upon the time signal output.  
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a keypad communicatively coupled to the movable barrier operator for receiving user input, the user input including information indicating when an actuation of the movable barrier should occur.  
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the information indicates closing the movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8  wherein the information indicates preventing the movement of a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 8  wherein the information indicates opening a movable barrier operator at a predetermined time. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 7  wherein the time signal is received from is a clock reference. 
     
     
       13. A method for controlling a moveable barrier operating system comprising:
 receiving a generally available wireless time signal at a receiver;  
 supplying the generally available wireless time signal at the output of the receiver; and  
 actuating the moveable barrier operator using the generally available wireless time signal output of the receiver.  
 
     
     
       14. A method for actuating a movable barrier operator comprising:
   operating a clock at a moveable barrier operator, the clock having an associated time of day;        programming an alarm time for the clock and storing the alarm time in a memory;        receiving other information at the moveable barrier operator;        comparing the alarm time to the time of day, and when the alarm time matches the time of day, actuating the moveable barrier operator to move a barrier; and        controlling the actuation of the moveable barrier operator using, at least in part, the other information.     
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator causes the opening of the barrier. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  comprising displaying the time of day on a display to the user. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  wherein actuating the moveable barrier operator causes the closing the barrier. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14  wherein programming an alarm time comprises entering the alarm time using a keypad. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14  wherein programming an alarm time comprises entering the alarm time using at least one button. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14  wherein controlling the actuation of the moveable barrier operator using, at least in part, the other information comprises determining whether an obstruction is present in a path of the barrier and preventing the actuating of the moveable barrier operator when the obstruction is present. 
     
     
       21. A moveable barrier operator for moving a moveable barrier comprising:
   only one motor, the one motor coupled to a barrier;        a clock, the clock having an associated time of day;        an interface device adapted to receive commands from a user, the commands setting an alarm time for the clock; and        a controller coupled to the clock, the interface device, and the one motor, the controller programmed to actuate the one motor to move the moveable barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user.     
     
     
       22. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the interface device comprises a keypad. 
     
     
       23. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the interface device comprises at least one button. 
     
     
       24. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the one motor to open the barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user. 
     
     
       25. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the controller is programmed to actuate the motor to close the barrier when the time of day of the clock matches the alarm time set by the user. 
     
     
       26. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  comprising a clock display for displaying the time of day to the user. 
     
     
       27. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the controller is programmed to determine whether an obstruction is present in a path of the barrier based upon sensed inputs and prevent the actuating of the motor when the obstruction is present. 
     
     
       28. The moveable barrier operator of  claim 21  wherein the clock is based upon a  24 - day period.