Operating system and methods for seeding a random serial number for radio frequency control of a barrier operator's accessories

1. An operator system for a motorized barrier and related accessory, comprising:

at least one transmitter capable of generating wireless signals, said at least one transmitter configured to send a transmitter number;

an accessory device which controls an electrical load, said device capable of receiving wireless signals; and

an operator which controls the motorized barrier, said operator initially provided without a serial number, said operator capable of receiving said wireless signals to control the motorized barrier, said operator receiving said transmitter number from said at least one transmitter when in a learn mode, verifying that said transmitter number is in a proper format and generating a serial number for said operator upon receipt of said transmitter number, wherein said serial number is subsequently taught to said accessory device to enable operation thereof.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said operator comprises:

a transceiver for at least receiving said wireless signals; and

a controller connected to said transceiver, said controller having said serial number associated therewith that is recognizable by said accessory device.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said transceiver of said operator receives an accessory signal from said at least one transmitter and generates a corresponding relay signal received by said accessory device for operation thereof.

4. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said controller randomly generates said serial number upon first learning of said at least one transmitter to said controller.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein said serial number is non-erasable once determined.

6. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said controller derives said serial number from a timer.

7. The system according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one transmitter has a pre-stored transmitter number, and wherein said controller derives said serial number from said pre-stored transmitter number.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein said pre-stored transmitter number has a predetermined number of bits, and wherein said serial number is derived from a number of bits less than or equal to said predetermined number of bits.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter generates said wireless signals at a first frequency range, and said operator generates operator wireless signals received by said accessory device at a second frequency range different from said first frequency range when said transmitter wireless signals are received.

10. A method for enabling an operator to control a motorized barrier and an accessory device, comprising:

receiving a transmitter number at an operator without an initially assigned serial number;

verifying by said operator that said transmitter number is in a proper format;

associating a serial number with said operator, if said transmitter number is in a proper format; and

recognizing said serial number by an accessory device for operation thereof.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

providing a controller with the operator; and

storing said serial number in association with said controller.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said associating step comprises:

learning a first transmitter to said operator; and

generating said serial number upon completion of said learning step.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

designating permanently said serial number.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

deriving said serial number from a timer maintained by said controller.

15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

pre-storing said transmitter number in a first transmitter; and

deriving said serial number from said transmitter number.

16. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

parsing said transmitter number to derive said serial number.

17. An operator system for a motorized barrier and related accessory, comprising:

at least one transmitter capable of generating wireless signals;

an accessory device which controls an electrical load, said device capable of receiving wireless signals;

an operator without an initially assigned serial numbers which controls the motorized barrier; and

a controller associated with said operator, said controller receiving said wireless signals to control the motorized barrier and generating wireless signals to control said accessory device, said controller randomly generating an operator serial number from a transmitter number sent from said transmitter at the time of learning said at least one transmitter to said operator, wherein said controller emits said operator serial number when sending signals to said accessory device.

18. An operator system for a motorized barrier operator and related accessory comprising:

at least one transmitter capable of generating wireless signals, said at least one transmitter having a pre-stored transmitter number;

an accessory device which controls an electrical load, said device capable of receiving wireless signals;

an operator without an initially assigned serial number which controls the motorized barrier; and

a controller associated with said operator, said controller receiving said wireless signals to control the motorized barrier and generating wireless signals to control said accessory device, said controller when in a learn mode deriving an operator serial number from said pre-stored transmitter number, wherein said controller emits said operator serial number when sending signals to said accessory device.