System and method for wireless control of home electronic systems based on location

A method of training a wireless control system on a vehicle for wireless control of a home electronic system based on the location of the vehicle, comprising:

• receiving a request to begin training from a user;
• receiving heading data from a vehicle compass;
• receiving distance data representing the distance traveled by the vehicle;
• recording the heading data and distance data in a set of data pairs as the vehicle makes at least one change in heading, wherein the set of data pairs represents a path beginning some distance from the home electronic system and ending in the vicinity of the home electronic system;
• and
• receiving a request to end training from the user.

A method of wirelessly controlling a home electronic system based on the location of a vehicle, comprising:

• receiving heading signals from a navigation data source;
• receiving distance signals representing the distance traveled by the vehicle;
• comparing the heading and distance signals to predetermined heading and distance data;
• and
• transmitting a wireless control signal having control data which will control the home electronic system when the heading and distance signals indicate that the vehicle is in the vicinity of the home.

A transmitter for wirelessly controlling a plurality of home electronic systems, comprising:

• a memory configured to store a plurality of control data messages, each control data message configured to control a different home electronic system;
• a transmitter circuit;
• and
• a control circuit configured to command the transmitter circuit to transmit a plurality of wireless control signals in response to a single event, each wireless signal containing a different control data message.

A wireless control system for wireless control of a garage door opener based on the location of the wireless control system, comprising:

• a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a wireless control signal having control data which will control the garage door opener;
• an interface circuit configured to receive navigation signals from a navigation data source;
• a control circuit coupled to the transmitter circuit and the interface circuit configured to receive the navigation signals and to command the transmitter circuit to transmit the wireless control signal based on the proximity between the wireless control system and the home electronic system;
• a receiver circuit configured to receive a wireless signal, wherein the control circuit is configured to identify a data code on the wireless signal and to store the data code in memory, wherein the wireless control signal transmitted by the transmitter circuit includes the stored data code;
• and
• an operator input device, wherein the control circuit is configured to identify and store the data code on the wireless signal and to record the location of the wireless control system based on the received navigation signals in response to one actuation of the operator input device.

An auxiliary wireless control system for providing “up only” functionality to an existing garage door opener configured to open and close a garage door, comprising:

• a housing;
• a garage door state sensor couplable to the garage door and configured to detect a state of the garage door;
• a receiver coupled to the housing configured to receive a wireless control signal from a remote transmitter;
• a control circuit coupled to the housing configured to detect a state of the garage door based on data from the garage door state sensor, to receive the wireless control signal from the remote transmitter, and to generate an “open door” command only when the garage door is not already open;
• and
• an interface circuit coupled to the housing configured to provide the “open door” command from within the housing to the existing garage door opener outside the housing.