Wireless movable barrier operating systems and methods

A method for operating a movable barrier, the method comprising:

• pairing a barrier operator with a transmitter detector and a receiver detector to establish an active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel between the barrier operator and each of the transmitter detector and the receiver detector;
• receiving, at the barrier operator, a movable barrier close command from a remote device;
• sending, with the barrier operator, a command to the transmitter detector to turn on an IR beam;
• receiving, at the barrier operator, a communication from the transmitter detector indicating the IR beam is turned on;
• sending, with the barrier operator, a command to the receiver detector to monitor the IR beam;
• receiving, at the barrier operator, a communication from the receiver detector indicating an obstruction or an interference of the IR beam;
• pausing or reversing a movement of the movable barrier based on the communication;
• and
• maintaining the active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel between the barrier operator and the transmitter detector when the IR beam is off such that the transmitter detector need not be prompted by the barrier operator before sending information to the barrier operator when the IR beam is off;
• or
• maintaining the active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel between the barrier operator and the receiver detector when the IR beam is not being monitored such that the receiver detector need not be prompted by the barrier operator before sending information to the barrier operator when the IR beam is not being monitored.

A method for operating a movable barrier, the method comprising:

• pairing a wireless receiver detector with a barrier operator to establish an active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel therebetween;
• receiving a first command to close the movable barrier;
• monitoring an IR beam with the wireless receiver detector, the IR beam transmitted by a wireless transmitter detector;
• detecting, based on the monitoring, an obstruction or an interference of the IR beam;
• communicating the obstruction or the interference to the barrier operator via the active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel;
• stopping the monitoring the IR beam;
• and
• then, maintaining the active wireless asynchronous two-way communication channel between the wireless receiver detector and the barrier operator when the IR beam is not being monitored such that the receiver detector need not be prompted by the barrier operator before sending information to the barrier operator when the IR beam is not being monitored.