Abstract:
Apparatus for controlling access to a secure region has an audio transducer. A DTMF decoder is connected to the audio transducer. A processor is connected to the DTMF decoder to receive DTMF signals. A memory is connected to the processor storing a code. The processor compares the stored code to the signal from the DTMF decoder and generates an access enable signal in response thereto. A baseband signal output system for connection to a wall control of a garage door operator and for providing a base signal in response to the access enable signal. A radio frequency transmitter provides a radio frequency signal to a radio frequency receiver of the garage door operator in response to the access signal.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    Priority is claimed from U.S. provisional application No. 60/175,749, filed Jan. 12, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates in general to a home security system and in particular to a home security system which can be controlled remotely to allow entry to a dwelling.  
           [0003]    While local only security systems exist, there are not many systems that exist which will allow entry to a portion or all of the dwelling from a remote signaling system. One of the oldest types of systems, however, which will allow such entry at least to a portion of the dwelling if a remote control garage door operator which typically uses radio frequency transmitters. The RF transmitters emit modulated signals including code modulated signals which when received from a receiver identify the transmitter as an authorized transmitter and open the garage door. Upon obtaining access to the garage further access may be obtained to other portions of the dwelling.  
           [0004]    Other nonkeyed systems for obtaining access to dwellings are Weiser lock systems which a transmitter of the type usually use for operating a garage door operator may transmit a signal to a door lock of the type provided by the Weiser Company causing the lock to release or become unlocked. The system can cycle a deadbolt from locked to unlocked position and then from unlocked to lock position. It operates at the approximate range of a garage door operator transmitter.  
           [0005]    While these systems are convenient to use they nevertheless fail to address several important considerations. One of which is that a person wishing to allow access to the dwelling while the dwelling is unoccupied at particular times of the day. No such systems are presently available other than to leave the door of the dwelling unlock or to request a neighbor to provide access to a package delivery personnel, home maintenance tradesman and the like.  
           [0006]    What is needed then in the system which can operate almost over any range to provide immediate access to a home on a remote basis quickly and conveniently.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention is embodied in an apparatus for receiving audio signal of the DTMF type and supplying it to a DTMF decoder. The DTMF decoder supplies a decoded signal to a microcontroller which in turn is connected to non-volatile memory having codes stored therein. The code may be learned automatically via a variety of channels such as an RF channel, an Internet channel or the like. The system in one embodiment matches the DTMF code to the stored code and the microcontroller provides an access output signal in response thereto. The access output signal is sent both to a wall control signal generator as well as to an RF transmitter. They then supply output signals respectively available for a wall controller and for a radio receiver of a garage door operator.  
           [0008]    In addition this system has a phone network connection, a pager network connection, and an Internet connection for providing pre-authorized remote access signals to the system and also for providing access state output signals to the user at a remote location to indicate that a delivery has been made, a child has arrived home safely or the like.  
           [0009]    It is a principle aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for remotely enabled and locally enabled access to a dwelling which is simple and easy to use and in which remotely enabled pre-authorized access to be provided or withdrawn in real time.  
           [0010]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following specification and claims in light of the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an access system for providing access to a dwelling;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing further detail of the access system of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings and especially to FIG. 1, an apparatus embodying the present invention is generally shown therein and identified by numeral  10 . The apparatus  10  is an electronic apparatus for providing access to a dwelling on a remote basis. The apparatus  10  is adaptable and may receive relatively short range signals over a distance of a few inches to a few feet to long range signals which may travel more than half way around the world. The apparatus  10  may, for instance, comprise a portion of or be connected to a garage door operator which will include a motor for operating a door. The system includes an electrical output port  12  and a radio frequency output port  14 . The electrical output port  12  may be part of a baseband signal output system and may provide electrical signals such as baseband signals that are compatible with, for instance, a wall controller of a garage door operator. A radio frequency output port  14  may provide radio frequency signals, for instance, from an antenna which would be received by the receiving antenna of a garage door operator located a short distance away, for instance, within the garage or immediate adjacent to the garage.  
         [0018]    In order to actuate the device in a preferred embodiment a listening device such as a microphone  20  is connected by a line  22  to electronics  24  which are conventional and which may be used for the detection of DTMF type signals of the type which might be emitted in an audio stream from a DTMF encoder of the type which might be included for instance in a cellular telephone. No electrical connection need be made between the microphone  20  and the DTMF encoder. It merely needs to “hear” the tone codes which are then detected by the detector  24  which forwards the signal to a microcontroller  26  which will then interpret the tone codes as a code and send a signal to a control interface (or electrical access control) 30  such as a baseband signal output system or to an RF generator  32  to provide the RF access signal at the unit  14 .  
         [0019]    The unit may also include a video camera such as a CCD camera  40  connected via a cable  42  to the microcontroller  26 . This would provide an input indication to the microcontroller  26  as to the presence of an individual and may also be used to send a video signal from the camera via a packet switched network interface  50  to an Internet or intranet  52  which may remotely supply information about the person attempting to gain access to the garage door or other portions of the interior of the dwelling.  
         [0020]    While it is often desirable in order to conform with standards making bodies such as Underwriters Laboratory to only provide final access authorization through a channel which can only be locally accessed requiring a person to be within a very short distance for instance of the garage door operator. Pre-authorization for that person or class of persons can be provided over a relatively long distance for instance over the Internet. Signals may be received over a phone network connection  60 , by pager network connection  62 , or from the Internet  52  through the Internet interface  50  being supplied to the microcontroller  26  to provide preauthorization for a subset of persons such as delivery persons and the like in order to limit the likelihood that the system  10  may be spoofed into allowing an unauthorized person to enter the premises.  
         [0021]    A radio frequency receiver  70  feeds an RF receiver and detector circuit  72 . The radio receiver  70  may be similar to a radio receiver in a garage door operator it may be a super-heterodyne receiver a super regenerative receiver capable of receiving a amplitude modulated, a frequency modulated, a pulse code modulated signal or the like. However, it only receives a relatively short range signal from an RF transmitter such as a garage door operator transmitter. The signal is then supplied to the microcontroller  26  which can compare it with a code stored in non-volatile memory  27  and take action through emitters  12  and  14  to open and close a garage door or a front door of a house or the like.  
         [0022]    In addition, another local method of detection is a fingerprint identification system  80  connected  82  to fingerprint system  84  which performs fingerprint processing for identification. It feeds the fingerprint signal to the microcontroller  86  to actuate either the electrical connection access control device  12  or the RF signal access control device  14 . A display which might be a liquid crystal display or light emitting display, a vacuum fluorescent display or the like provides a local output to a user to indicate the state of the apparatus  10  for instance to provide information such as enable, disable, etc. The system can also be preprogramed, for instance by a vendor that a package will be received on a certain date and a certain time. The display will indicate that the system has received that message. It also has provided that it remotely, for instance over the Internet, at a phone network connection to the owner of the dwelling. After the authorized person has delivered the package cycling of the controller may be indicated on the display as well and an output indication may be provided via the Internet, phone network, pager network or the like remotely to the person having provided the access authorization to indicate that the transaction was completed.  
         [0023]    One advantage of using the local fingerprint identification systems in combination with the remote information transfer channels whether over the phone line, pager network, or the Internet will allow data representative of a particular fingerprint or thumbprint to be transferred from a remote location to the microcontroller  26  and stored in the non-volatile memory  27  in a compressed or uncompressed form. That data would then be used to match with a fingerprint presented to the fingerprint identification device  80 . This allows the system to be custom configured on the fly for allowing access to a new temporary user via the fingerprint identification channel. In addition, the system  10  can have permissions provided to it remotely to allow for only a limited number of access or attempts to access via the fingerprint identification channel. That a particular fingerprint will not provide access after the transaction has been completed. Such access can also be limited on a time and date basis through either local loading or remote loading via the Internet or the like.  
         [0024]    A further advantage of the system is that the return messaging which can occur over the Internet channel, pager channel, phone network channel or the like allows messages to be sent to the company whose drivers or repair personnel are providing the service. This indicates that the authorized person has arrived at the dwelling at a particular date and time. In this way it allows the service providing company to determine whether the person will be able to complete his or her scheduled tasks for the day or will need to reschedule some for a later time.  
         [0025]    In addition, either through the fingerprint channel or the other authorization channels, a child may have authorization to come and go in the house. The system will provide a parent or other authorizing party with information at their office or place of business on a real time basis that the child has arrived home and has been granted admission to the dwelling. This provides parents with a heightened sence of security by knowing on a real time basis that their children have arrived home safely.  
         [0026]    Furthermore the apparatus  10  can learn a touch code via the RF channel and store it in the non-volatile memory to provide a temporary touch code simulator function for operating the garage door operator. The temporary code is received during the learn phase from a touch code transmitter after having been placed in learn mode via a signal received over the RF channel.  
         [0027]    In a second embodiment of the present invention an apparatus  200  or system  200  may be retrofitted to an existing movable barrier operator or garage door operator  202  of a type which is currently commercially available. The system  200  includes an external keypad unit  204  for monitoring outside a protected area such as a garage having a standard keypad  206  with nine digit keys on it, as well as a liquid crystal display  208  associated with the keypad  204  for displaying information related thereto. A microcontroller  210  is connected to receive key input signals from the keypad  204  and to drive the LCD display  208 . A radio frequency transmitter  212  and a radio frequency transceiver  214  are also associated with the keypad  204 . The radio frequency transmitter  212  may communicate via fixed or rolling code with the existing garage door operator to provide commands to it through its existing radio frequency receiver. The microcontroller  210  can likewise receive identifying or authorizing inputs from an infrared detector  220 , a biometric detector  222 , which may include a fingerprint reader, or the like, or a transponder  224  which may be carried on a key fob. The system  200  is driven from a power supply  226  which, in the present embodiment, would be battery operated.  
         [0028]    A desktop control device or indoor unit  230  includes a display  232 , which may be a liquid crystal display, a video monitor display, or the like. A keypad  234  may provide user input to a microcontroller  236  having on-board memory  238  including RAM and ROM. The user input would control permission and various other control aspects of barrier operator  202 . A plurality of dedicated function keys  240  would also be associated with the microcontroller  236  for providing control inputs, which would then be fed to an onboard radio frequency transmitter  242  which can emit coded radio frequency signals for receipt by the existing garage door operator  202 . A communication section  250  may communicate with the Internet  252  or other packet switching network, receive signals from a biometric input device  254 , such as a fingerprint reader, or the like, or receive signals from a camera  256 . A radio frequency transceiver  260  may receive communication from the radio frequency transceiver  214  of the keypad transmitter  204  or from a door-position transmitter  262  associated with a garage door for indicating a position of a garage door to other portions of the access control  200 .  
         [0029]    In a third embodiment of the present invention an apparatus  300  or system  300  may be attached to an existing movable barrier operator or garage door operator  302  of the type which is currently commercially available. The system  300  includes an external keypad unit  304  having a standard keypad  306  with nine digits on it, as well as a liquid crystal display  308  associated with the keypad  306  for displaying information related thereto. A microcontroller  310  is connected to receive signals from the keypad  306  and to drive the display  308 . A radio frequency transmitter  312  and a radio frequency transceiver  314  are also associated with the keypad  304 . The radio frequency transmitter  312  may communicate with the existing garage door operator  302  to provide commands to it through its existing radio frequency receiver. The microcontroller  310  can likewise receive inputs from an infrared detector  320 , a biometric detector  322 , which may include a fingerprint reader, or the like, or a transponder  324  which may be carried on a key fob. The system is driven from a power supply  326  which, in the present embodiment, would be battery operated.  
         [0030]    A desktop control device or indoor unit  330  includes a display  332 , which may be a liquid crystal display, a video monitor display, or the like. A keypad  334  may provide input to a microcontroller  336  having onboard memory  338  including RAM and ROM. A plurality of dedicated function keys  340  would also be associated with the microcontroller  336  for providing control inputs, which would then be fed to an onboard radio frequency transmitter  342  which can emit coded radio frequency signals for receipt by the existing garage door operator. A communication section  350  may communicate with the Internet  352  or other packet switching network, with a biometric input device  354 , such as a fingerprint reader, or the like, or with a camera  356 . An authorized user on the Internet could access the barrier operator and change its state and permission levels as well as determine whether the operator is open, closed or in a fault condition. A radio frequency receiver  360  may communicate with the radio frequency transceiver  314  of the keypad transmitter  304  or with a door-position transmitter  362  associated with a garage door for indicating a position of a garage door to other portions of the access control  300 .  
         [0031]    In a fourth embodiment of the present invention an apparatus  400  or system  400  may be attached to a movable barrier operator on garage door operator  402 . The system includes an external keypad unit  404  having a standard keypad  406  with nine digits on it, as well as a liquid crystal display  408  associated with the keypad for displaying information related thereto. A microcontroller  410  is connected to receive signals from the keypad  406  and to drive the display  408 . A radio frequency transmitter  412  and a radio frequency transceiver  414  are also associated with the external keypad unit  404 . The radio frequency transmitter  412  may communicate with the garage door operator  402  to provide commands to it through its radio frequency receiver. The microcontroller  410  can likewise receive inputs from an infrared detector  420 , a biometric detector  422 , which may include a fingerprint reader, or the like, or a transponder  424  which may be carried on a key fob. The system is driven from a power supply  426  which, in the present embodiment, would be battery operated.  
         [0032]    A desktop control device or indoor unit  430  includes a display  432 , which may be a liquid crystal display, a video monitor display, or the like. A keypad  434  may provide input to a microcontroller  436  having onboard memory  438  including RAM and ROM. A plurality of dedicated function keys  440  would also be associated with the microcontroller  436  for providing control inputs, which would then be fed to an onboard radio frequency transmitter  442  which can emit coded radio frequency signals for receipt by the existing garage door operator. A communication section  450  may communicate with the Internet  452  or other packet switching network with a biometric input device  454 , such as a fingerprint reader, or the like, or with a camera  456 . A radio frequency receiver  460  may communicate with the radio frequency transceiver  414  of the keypad transmitter  404  or with a door-position transmitter  462  associated with a garage door for indicating a position of a garage door to other portions of the access control  400 .  
         [0033]    In a fifth embodiment of the present invention an apparatus  500  or system  500  includes a movable barrier operator or garage door operator  502 . The system  500  also includes a user entry device comprising an external keypad unit  504  having a standard keypad  506  with nine digits on it, as well as a liquid crystal display  508  associated with the keypad for displaying information related thereto. A microcontroller  510  is connected to receive signals from the keypad  506  and to drive the display  508 . A radio frequency transmitter  512  and a radio frequency transceiver  514  are also associated with the keypad  504 . The radio frequency transmitter  512  may communicate with the existing garage door operator to provide commands to it through its existing radio frequency receiver. The microcontroller can likewise receive inputs from an infrared detector  520 , a biometric detector  522 , which may include a fingerprint reader, or the like, or a transponder  524  which may be carried on a key fob. The system is driven from a power supply  526  which, in the present embodiment, would be battery operated.  
         [0034]    The garage door operator  502  includes a microcontroller  561  having a memory  560  associated with it for storing instructions and operands for execution. The receiver  564  and a radio frequency transmitter  563  are available for communicating with other units including the user entry device  504 . The communications unit is also available for providing communications protocols along the microcontroller to communicate remotely with the user via the Internet to receive biometric input signals from a fingerprint reader, retinal reader, or the like, or facial reader  566 , or from a camera  567 .  
         [0035]    In addition to the user entry device  504  which may be located on the outside of the area to which access is to be secured, a wall control device  568  may also be provided which includes a liquid crystal display, or the like,  569  driven by a microcontroller  573 . The microcontroller  573  would include RAM memory for holding temporary operands and ROM memory for holding a program, as well as possibly a nonvolatile or flash memory. In addition, transceiver  571  and a radio frequency receiver  572  would be available for communication via radio frequency link either with the user entry device  504  or with the garage door operator  502  allowing display conditions for the garage door operator  502  to be displayed on the display  568 , and they may also be on the LCD display  504 .  
         [0036]    The microcontroller  573  would have connected to it an infrared sensor  574  for determining when persons might be present in the garage or secure area for controlling access to and security aspects thereof. In addition, a biometric reader  575 , which might be a fingerprint reader a retinal reader, or a facial scanner, would be available for providing an input to the microcontroller, which would allow the microcontroller to determine whether the garage door operator should be opened or closed depending upon the identity of the person providing the biometric information. A transponder  576  may also communicate with the microcontroller via, ultrasonics, or the like. The transponder  576  may be carried from a key fob, for instance, of user and identify the user to the microcontroller, allowing the user to provide control inputs to the movable barrier operator  502 . In addition, a keypad  570  may be used to provide inputs to the movable barrier operator  572 . The wall control device  568  would be driven from a power supply  577 , which might include AC power or might be driven from battery power.  
         [0037]    While there have been illustrated and described particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.