Barrier operator feature enhancement
A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.
1. A system comprising:
a communication module configured to communicate with a garage door operator, the communication module comprising a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of a garage door associated with the garage door operator; and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and a wireless door position sensor, the wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, effect communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between an open position and a closed position;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device; and
information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator,
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive one or more commands to cause at least one of: operation of the garage door operator from the computing device via the Internet; and communication of status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device via the Internet.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein communications from the wireless door position sensor are received via a first protocol different from a second protocol used to communicate with the computing device.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the input/output module is configured to send status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device over at least one network, wherein the status information includes information based at least in part on the communication received from the wireless door position sensor regarding the garage door as moved by the garage door operator.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising the garage door operator.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a peripheral device configured to communicate with at least one of the garage door operator and the input/output module, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of an obstacle detector, a network adapter, a barrier operator, a hand-held transmitter, a wall control, a presence detector, or combinations thereof.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect flashing of the light in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a sound generator, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.
10. A kit comprising:
a wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding a garage door associated with a garage door operator; and
a barrier operator feature enhancement device including:
a communication module configured to communicate with the garage door operator via a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to the garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the communication module to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator; and
an input/output module in communication with the control circuitry, the input/output module configured to communicate with a computing device and the wireless door position sensor;
the input/output module configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device, and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of at least one of a position, a status, and movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device via the input/output module, cause the communication module to send a communication signal to the garage door operator that effects movement of the garage door by the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator, and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage includes at least one of: information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the input/output module in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device; and information pertaining to the determination of at least one of the position, the status, and the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the input/output module, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.
11. The kit of claim 10 wherein the input/output module is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.
12. The kit of claim 11 wherein the input/output module is configured to receive one or more commands to cause at least one of: operation of the garage door operator from the computing device via the Internet; and communication of status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device via the Internet.
13. The kit of claim 10 wherein communications from the wireless door position sensor are received via a first protocol different from a second protocol used to communicate with the computing device.
14. The kit of claim 10 wherein the input/output module is configured to send status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device over at least one network, wherein the status information includes information based at least in part on the communication received from the wireless door position sensor regarding the garage door as moved by the garage door operator.
15. The kit of claim 10 further comprising the garage door operator.
16. The kit of claim 15 further comprising a peripheral device configured to communicate with at least one of the garage door operator and the input/output module, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of an obstacle detector, a network adapter, a barrier operator, a hand-held transmitter, a wall control, a presence detector, or combinations thereof.
17. The kit of claim 10 wherein the barrier operator feature enhancement device further comprises a light, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect flashing of the light in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between an open position and a closed position.
18. The kit of claim 17 , wherein the barrier operator feature enhancement device further comprises a sound generator, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a wired communication port configured to be connected through one or more wires to a garage door operator;
control circuitry configured to cause the wired communication port to communicate with the garage door operator to control movement of a garage door associated with the garage door operator; and
communication circuitry operably coupled to the control circuitry, the communication circuitry configured to communicate with a computing device and a wireless door position sensor, the wireless door position sensor configured to provide information regarding the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
the communication circuitry configured to receive an instruction signal sent relative to an interaction with a user interface of the computing device and to receive a communication from the wireless door position sensor for determination of a position, a status, and/or a movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to, in response to receipt of the instruction signal from the computing device, cause the wired communication port to send a communication signal to the garage door operator that effects movement of the garage door by the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor usage of the garage door operator and to store information pertaining to a history of the usage in a memory, the information pertaining to the history of the usage including:
information pertaining to an instruction signal received by the control circuitry in response to an interaction with the user interface provided on the computing device; and/or
information pertaining to the determination of the position, the status, and/or the movement of the garage door associated with the garage door operator;
wherein the control circuitry is further configured to communicate, via the communication circuitry, the information pertaining to the history of usage to the computing device,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect a forced entry causing movement of the garage door based at least in part on the communication from the wireless door position sensor;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate, via the input/output module, an indication of the forced entry to the computing device.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to send communications to and receive communications from devices over the Internet.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive one or more commands to cause: operation of the garage door operator from the computing device via the Internet; and/or communication of status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device via the Internet.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein communications from the wireless door position sensor are received via a first protocol different from a second protocol used to communicate with the computing device.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to send status information regarding the garage door operator to the computing device over at least one network, wherein the status information includes information based at least in part on the communication received from the wireless door position sensor regarding the garage door as moved by the garage door operator.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising the garage door operator.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a peripheral device configured to communicate with at least one of the garage door operator and the communication circuit, the peripheral device selected from the group consisting of an obstacle detector, a network adapter, a barrier operator, a hand-held transmitter, a wall control, a presence detector, or combinations thereof.
26. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a light, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect flashing of the light in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between an open position and a closed position.
27. The apparatus of claim 26 , further comprising a sound generator, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to effect generation of a sound by the sound generator in coordination with communication with the garage door operator to control movement of the garage door between the open position and the closed position.