# US 11,028,633 B2 · Automatic control of a movable barrier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,633 B2 - Document ID: US11028633B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/212,109 - Filed: 2018-12-06 - Published: 2020-06-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-06 - Assignees: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. - Applicants: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. - Inventors: James J. Fitzgibbon; James D. Johnson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028633B2 ## CPC - E05F 15/73: responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects - G07C 9/00571: {operated by interacting with a central unit} - G07C 9/00896: {specially adapted for particular uses} - E05F 15/71: responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise - E05Y 2400/44: Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement - E05Y 2400/446: Vehicle state sensors, e.g. parked or inclination - E05Y 2400/66: Wireless transmission - E05Y 2400/80: User interfaces - E05Y 2400/8505: User authentication, e.g. biometric - E05Y 2400/851: Voice - E05Y 2400/8515: Smart phones; Tablets - E05Y 2900/106: for garages - G07C 2009/00928: {for garage doors} - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract In one aspect, an in-vehicle computing device is provided for controlling operation of a movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle computing device includes a sensor configured to detect a vehicle characteristic and communication circuitry operable to cause automatic operation of the movable barrier operator by communicating with the movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle device further includes a processor operatively coupled to the communication circuitry, the sensor, and the memory. The processor configured to determine satisfaction of a user account condition and, upon the user account condition not being satisfied, to inhibit the communication circuitry from initiating automatic operation of the movable barrier operator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A movable barrier operator comprising: a motor configured to be connected to a movable barrier; communication circuitry configured to receive data representative of a vehicle characteristic that indicates triggering of an automatic operation of the movable barrier operator; the communication circuitry configured to receive from an in-vehicle device a user account condition, established at the in-vehicle device, to be satisfied for automatic operation of the movable barrier operator to occur; the communication circuitry configured to receive information from the in-vehicle device; and a processor operatively coupled to the motor and the communication circuitry, the processor configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition based upon the information received by the communication circuitry from the in-vehicle device and, upon the user account condition not being satisfied based on the information, to inhibit operation of the motor despite the triggering. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive a radio frequency command signal from a remote control and the processor is configured to inhibit operation of the motor by ignoring the radio frequency command signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive the information from the in-vehicle device including one or more vehicle characteristics and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition based at least in part on the one or more vehicle characteristics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes an approved user identity, the communication circuitry is configured to receive the information from the in-vehicle device including information indicative of an in-vehicle user identity, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the in-vehicle user identity corresponds to the approved user identity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes a time window, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the vehicle characteristic occurs within the time window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes a direction of vehicle travel, the communication circuitry is configured to receive the information from the in-vehicle device including a detected direction of vehicle travel, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the detected direction of vehicle travel corresponds to the direction of vehicle travel of the user account condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes a vehicle speed, the communication circuitry is configured to receive the information from the in-vehicle device including a detected vehicle speed, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the detected vehicle speed corresponds to the vehicle speed of the user account condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes a user identity, the communication circuitry is configured to receive the information from the in-vehicle device including identity data of a person in a building associated with the movable barrier operator, the processor configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the identity data of the person in the building corresponds to the user identity of user account condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the user account condition includes a plurality of user account conditions, and the processor is configured to determine the user account condition has not been satisfied unless all of the user account conditions are satisfied. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The movable barrier operator of claim 1 wherein the vehicle characteristic includes a location of the vehicle, the communication interface is configured to receive data representative of an area associated with the movable barrier operator, and the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle characteristic indicates automatic operation of the movable barrier operator based at least in part on whether the location of the vehicle is within the area associated with the movable barrier operator. ### Claim 11 A movable barrier operator comprising: a motor configured to be connected to a movable barrier; communication circuitry configured to receive data representative of a vehicle characteristic that indicates triggering of an automatic operation of the movable barrier operator; the communication circuitry configured to receive a user account condition to be satisfied for automatic operation of the movable barrier operator to occur; and a processor operatively coupled to the motor and the communication circuitry, the processor configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition and, upon the user account condition not being satisfied, to inhibit operation of the motor; wherein the user account condition includes a weather condition, the communication circuitry is configured to receive weather data regarding an ambient weather condition, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the ambient weather condition corresponds to the weather condition of the user account condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator of claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive a radio frequency command signal from a remote control and the processor is configured to inhibit operation of the motor by ignoring the radio frequency command signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator of claim 11 wherein the user account condition includes a time window, and the processor is configured to determine satisfaction of the user account condition by determining whether the vehicle characteristic occurs within the time window. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator of claim 11 wherein the user account condition includes a plurality of user account conditions, and the processor is configured to determine the user account condition has not been satisfied unless all of the user account conditions are satisfied. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The movable barrier operator of claim 11 wherein the vehicle characteristic includes a location of the vehicle, the communication interface is configured to receive data representative of an area associated with the movable barrier operator, and the processor is configured to determine whether the vehicle characteristic indicates automatic operation of the movable barrier operator based at least in part on whether the location of the vehicle is within the area associated with the movable barrier operator. ### Claim 16 A method of operating a movable barrier operator, the method comprising: at the movable barrier operator: receiving data representative of a vehicle characteristic that indicates a trigger of an automatic operation of the movable barrier operator; receiving a user account condition from an in-vehicle device, wherein the user account condition is established at the in-vehicle device, and wherein the user account condition is to be satisfied for automatic operation of the movable barrier operator to occur; receiving information from the in-vehicle device; determining satisfaction of the user account condition based upon the information received from the in-vehicle device; and inhibiting, despite the trigger of the automatic operation of the movable barrier operator, operation of a motor of the movable barrier operator and movement of a movable barrier connected to the motor upon the user account condition not being satisfied based on the information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising receiving a radio frequency command signal from a remote control; and wherein inhibiting operation of the motor upon the user account condition not being satisfied includes ignoring the radio frequency command signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the information received from the in-vehicle device includes one or more vehicle characteristics; and determining satisfaction of the user account condition is based at least in part on the one or more vehicle characteristics. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes an approved user identity, wherein receiving information from the in-vehicle device includes receiving information including data indicative of an in-vehicle user identity; and wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the in-vehicle user identity corresponds to the approved user identity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes a time window and wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the vehicle characteristic occurs within the time window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes a direction of vehicle travel and wherein receiving information from the in-vehicle device includes receiving information including a detected direction of vehicle travel, wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the detected direction of vehicle travel corresponds to the direction of vehicle travel of the user account condition. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes a vehicle speed and wherein receiving information from the in-vehicle device includes receiving information including a detected vehicle speed, wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the detected vehicle speed corresponds to the vehicle speed of the user account condition. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes a user identity; wherein receiving information from the in-vehicle device includes receiving information including identity data of a person in a building associated with the movable barrier operator; wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the identity data of the person in the building corresponds to the user identity of the user account condition. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the user account condition includes a plurality of user account conditions, and inhibiting operation of the motor upon the user account condition not being satisfied includes inhibiting operation of the motor unless all of the user account conditions are satisfied. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the vehicle characteristic includes a location of the vehicle, the method further comprising: receiving, at the movable barrier operator, data representative of an area associated with the movable barrier operator; and wherein determining whether the vehicle characteristic indicates automatic operation of the movable barrier operator is based at least on part on whether the location of the vehicle is within the area associated with the movable barrier operator. ### Claim 26 A method of operating a movable barrier operator, the method comprising: at the movable barrier operator: receiving data representative of a vehicle characteristic that indicates a trigger of an automatic operation of the movable barrier operator; receiving a user account condition from a remote server computer, wherein the user account condition is to be satisfied for automatic operation of the movable barrier operator to occur; determining satisfaction of the user account condition; inhibiting operation of a motor of the movable barrier operator and movement of a movable barrier connected to the motor upon the user account condition not being satisfied; wherein the user account condition includes a weather condition, the method further comprising receiving, at the movable barrier operator, weather data regarding an ambient weather condition; and wherein determining satisfaction of the user account condition includes determining whether the ambient weather condition corresponds to the weather condition of the user account condition. ### Claim 27 A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising: at a movable barrier operator: receiving data representative of a vehicle characteristic that indicates a trigger of an automatic operation of the movable barrier operator; receiving a user account condition from an in-vehicle device, wherein the user account condition is established at the in-vehicle device, and wherein the user account condition is to be satisfied for automatic operation of the movable barrier operator to occur; receiving information from the in-vehicle device; determining satisfaction of the user account condition based upon the information received from the in-vehicle device; and inhibiting, despite the trigger of the automatic operation of the movable barrier operator, operation of a motor of the movable barrier operator and movement of a movable barrier connected to the motor upon the user account condition not being satisfied based on the information.