Unified Relationship-Establishment Mode for Movable Barrier Operators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless data communication systems for movable barrier operators, such as garage door openers, face challenges in implementing two-way data communications, leading to conflicts and compromises in system design and configuration, particularly due to differences in relationship-establishment techniques between one-way and two-way methodologies.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit that initiates a relationship-establishment mode of operation, allowing both learn and pairing modes to be initiated through a single button press, enabling flexible monitoring and transmission periods to accommodate both modes, and allowing for the disabling and maintenance of authorized wireless relationships based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If relationship-establishment techniques are made different for one-way and two-way methodologies, then each methodology can be optimized for its specific requirements, but conflicts and compromises arise in system design and configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines one-way learn mode and two-way pairing mode into a single unified relationship-establishment mode. The control circuit accepts both learn-mode transmissions and pairing-mode transmissions during the same operational period, eliminating the need for separate configuration procedures and reducing system design complexity while maintaining adaptability to different communication methodologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions within a single relationship-establishment mode: it can receive learn-mode transmissions from one-way remote platforms, receive pairing-mode transmissions from two-way remote platforms, and initiate both types of communications. This multi-functional approach allows the system to accommodate different communication methodologies without requiring separate specialized modes.
2Reliability
If separate relationship-establishment modes are used for one-way and two-way communications, then each mode can be optimized independently, but the number of operational modes and configuration steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate one-way learn mode and two-way pairing mode operations into a single unified relationship-establishment mode. The control circuit simultaneously accepts both learn-mode transmissions and pairing-mode transmissions during the same operational period, reducing the number of configuration steps from multiple separate modes to a single integrated mode while maintaining communication reliability through dedicated handling of each transmission type.
3Ease of operation
If a unified relationship-establishment mode accommodates both learn mode and pairing mode, then operational simplicity is improved, but monitoring and transmission periods must be flexibly managed to handle both modes simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic monitoring and transmission periods within the unified relationship-establishment mode. The control circuit flexibly manages time periods to accommodate both learn-mode transmissions and pairing-mode transmissions, adjusting its behavior based on the type of transmission received. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle both modes simultaneously with a single operational mode while maintaining proper protocol handling for each communication type.
Data Source
AI summary
A control circuit initiates a relationship-establishment mode of operation and operates in both a learn mode of operation and a pairing mode of operation. When the control circuit completes one of these modes of operation (for example, the learn mode of operation, the pairing mode of operation, or either) the relationship-establishment mode of operation can switch to only using the remaining mode of operation during a remainder of the relationship-establishment mode of operation. One can also disable a previously-established relationship for each of a first category of remote platforms (such as remote platforms that became authorized through a learn mode of operation) when the user presses a button. Upon then detecting a second end-user assertion of the end-user interface, the control circuit can further disable a previously-established relationship with each of a second category of remote platforms (such as remote platforms that became authorized through a pairing mode of operation).