Remote garage door monitoring system

A method for providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;
• a timer;
• a timer alarm period parameter that specifies the period of time the door status sensor can be in the door open state prior to sending a notification message;
• a voice message generator capable of generating at least one voice notification message for the user;
• and
• at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination for the voice message to be sent via the network connection to the user;
• the method comprising steps of:
• detecting the state of the door status sensor;
• calculating an open door time period, wherein the open door time period is the time period that the door status sensor is in the door open state;
• sending at least one voice notification message via the network connection to the message destination to inform the user that the door status sensor has been in the door open state for a time period not less than the timer alarm period.

A method for providing a user with a notification message that a door is in an open state from a door monitoring system operably connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a means for determining the time of day;
• a message generator capable of creating at least one message for a user;
• and
• at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination, wherein the message destination is dependent upon the time of day;
• the method comprising steps of:
• determining a time of day;
• selecting the message destination to send at least one notification message via the network connection based upon the time of day.

A method for providing a user with a notification message that a door is in an open state from a door monitoring system operably connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a timer providing a day of week parameter;
• a message generator capable of generating at least one message for a user;
• and
• at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination, wherein
• the message destination is dependent upon the day of the week;
• the method comprising steps of:
• determining the day of the week from the timer;
• selecting the message destination to send at least one notification message via the network connection, wherein the message destination is selected based upon the day of the week.

A method of storing an image sequence associated with the actuation of a door comprising an interior side and an exterior side by a door monitoring system controlling the operation of a door actuator, wherein the door actuator is operatively coupled to the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

• a control unit;
• an interior camera proving pictures operably coupled to the control unit, and positioned to view an area near to the interior side of the door;
• a exterior camera providing pictures operably coupled to the control unit and positioned to view an area near to the exterior side of the door;
• a recording device, wherein the control unit is operably coupled to the door actuator and can command the door actuator to actuate the door;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• capturing pictures from the interior and exterior camera to the recording device;
• setting the pictures in a circular buffer;
• storing to a recording device the pictures in the circular buffer corresponding to a time period beginning a prospective time prior to the actuation of the door and ending a retrospective time after the actuation of the door.

A method for varying a period providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a timer;
• a timer alarm period parameter that specifies the period of time the door status sensor can be in the door open state prior to sending a notification message;
• the method comprising steps of:
• calculating the time of day;
• modifying the timer alarm period parameter based upon the time of day, wherein the open door time period is the time period that the door status sensor is in the door open state.

A method for selecting a message destination for providing a user with a voice notification message that a door is open from a door monitoring system connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a timer;
• at least one parameter for specifying at least one message destination for the voice notification message to be sent via the network connection to the user;
• the method comprising steps of:
• calculating the time of day;
• selecting the message destination based upon the time of day, wherein the voice notification message indicating the is in the open state is sent to the message destination.

A method for verifying that a user has an opportunity to view potential hazards while remotely attempting to actuate a door having an interior side and an exterior side, wherein the user interfaces with a door monitoring system via a networked appliance connected to a network;

• wherein the door monitoring system comprises:
• a control unit comprising:
• a means for generating a pass code;
• a means for overlaying the pass code onto a video picture;
• a user interface;
• a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;
• a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;
• the method comprising:
• embedding a pass code in at least one of the pictures provided to the networked appliance;
• providing a user interface message to prompt the user to provide the pass code embedded in the picture to the door monitoring system;
• and
• enabling the control unit function to remotely actuate the garage door after receiving the pass code.

A method for verifying that a networked appliance used by a user to remotely actuate a door with a door monitoring system, wherein the door comprises an exterior side and an interior side, has received a picture of an area near to the interior side of the door and a picture of an area near to the exterior side of the door prior to actuating the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

• a control unit;
• a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;
• a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;
• the method comprising:
• providing a picture of an area on the interior side of the garage door and a picture of an area on the exterior side of the garage door via the network connection to a device connected to the network, wherein the pictures allow the user to deduce the desirability of actuating the garage door;
• receiving a message verifying that the networked appliance used by the user to interface with the door monitoring system via the network received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door;
• enabling the door monitoring system to actuate the garage door after receiving verification that the pictures of the areas on the interior and exterior side of the garage door were successfully received.

A method for a networked appliance used by a user to remotely actuate a door with a door monitoring system, wherein the door comprises an exterior side and an interior side, has received a picture of an area near to the interior side of the door and a picture of an area near to the exterior side of the door prior to actuating the door, the door monitoring system comprising:

• a control unit:
• a first camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an interior side of the door;
• a second camera operably coupled to the control unit, and oriented to view an area near to an exterior side of the door;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• receiving a picture of an area on the interior side of the garage door and a picture of an area on the exterior side of the garage door via the network connection to a device connected to the network, wherein the pictures allow the user to deduce the desirability of actuating the garage door;
• sending a message verifying that the networked appliance used by the user to interface with the door monitoring system via the network received the pictures of the interior side and exterior side of the garage door.

A garage door monitoring system to allow a user to remotely control a garage door opener, the garage door opener comprising:

• a garage door opener control input, wherein the garage door opener is operably connected to a garage door comprising an interior side and an exterior side, and wherein the garage door opener actuates the garage door,
• the garage door monitoring system comprising:
• a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;
• a control unit operably coupled to the door status sensor, and the control unit comprising:
• a timer;
• a timer alarm period parameter;
• an interface operably coupled to a network;
• and
• a voice message generator providing at least one voice message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter.

A system override mechanism for a garage door monitoring system that allows a user to remotely actuate a garage door, the garage door monitoring system comprising:

• a door status sensor comprising a door open state and a door closed state;
• a control unit comprising a door status input operably coupled to the door status sensor;
• a network interface operably coupled to a network connection;
• a timer;
• a timer alarm period parameter for setting the maximum period of time prior to notifying the user that the door status sensor is in the door open state;
• a voice message generator that provides at least one message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter;
• and
• a notification feature that initiates at least one message to the user when the timer indicates the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time greater than the timer alarm period parameter;
• wherein the control unit governs the operation of a garage door opener that actuates a garage door;
• and
• wherein the voice message generator providing at least one voice message to the user via the network connection when the door status sensor is in the door open state for a time period greater than the timer alarm period parameter;
• the system override mechanism comprising:
• an override switch operably coupled to the control unit, the override switch comprising:
• a system override state;
• and
• a system enable state;
• wherein, the notification feature of the garage door monitoring system is disabled when the override switch is in a system override state;
• and
• at least one other feature of the of the garage door monitoring system is enabled when the override switch is in a system override state.

A method for monitoring and controlling a door monitoring system for monitoring a device capable of being opened and closed comprising a server comprising a user interface and a network connection to a network, wherein the server is able to communicate with other devices operably coupled to the network;

• a control unit operably coupled to the network;
• means for monitoring and controlling the door monitoring system;
• the method comprising:
• a user logging into the server;
• the server providing a user interface for the door monitoring system;
• the server communicating with the control unit to provide the user with the means for monitoring and control functions of the door monitoring system.