Abstract: An apparatus for controlling use of an electrical device. The apparatus includes at least one power connector, a first electrical plug, an electrical socket, a lock configured to retain an electrical plug in the electrical socket, a switch electrically coupling the at least one power connector and the electrical socket, and wireless communication circuitry communicatively coupled to the switch and configured to receive a signal for causing the switch to electrically couple the at least one power connector and the electrical socket.

Abstract: A motion detector camera is configured to differentiate between an object or objects passing through the field of view of the camera and an object or objects approaching the sensor. In one example, motion is detected with a camera configured to identify and selectively filter specific directions of motion. The motion detector compares pixel changes, corresponding to the basic area or size of the object, from frame to frame, and detects the amount of increase in change or decrease in change. An increasing change in the area or size of an object indicates that an object is approaching, and a decreasing change in the area or size of an object indicates that an object that is receding.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a remotely operable lock. In an example embodiment, a method comprises receiving credentials at a web service from a portable electronic device, authenticating the credentials, and based on a successful authentication, issuing a command for receipt by the lock from the web service or the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for a movable barrier system having a rotatable drum and an elongate member that winds up on and pays out from an external surface of the rotatable drum. The sensor apparatus includes a base portion, a sensing portion, and a controller. The sensing portion senses a first spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion and a second spaced apart proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion. The controller detects a change in the proximity of the elongate member relative to the sensing portion without the elongate member contacting the sensing portion.

Abstract: A method and a system provide a security system for simultaneously capturing events and generating alerts for security. The security system communicates with a data management server via a network. The security system includes an image capture device integrated with a wireless access point, a gateway device, and one or more alarm devices. The security system simultaneously receives event data associated with events from the image capture device and one or more electronic devices connected to the wireless access point, and alarm data simultaneously recorded by the alarm devices based on detection of one or more security conditions. The security system generates alerts for security using the simultaneously received event data and the recorded alarm data. The security system transmits the simultaneously received event data, the recorded alarm data, and the generated alerts to the data management server accessible by a control device and the electronic devices via the network.

Abstract: An interactive multimedia assistant device (IMAD) includes an interactive core component (ICC) and a swappable personality customizable skin (SPCS) for performing interactive communication and control actions based on multimedia inputs. The ICC includes multimedia sensors for recognizing multimedia inputs; a storage medium for storing the multimedia inputs and media content; a controller for processing the multimedia inputs, modulating an audio output, and performing control actions based on the multimedia inputs; output devices for rendering outputs of the controller, and one or more communication interfaces for communicating with the SPCS. The SPCS is operably coupled on and activated by the ICC. The SPCS is programmed with a unique identifier that identifies a personality of the SPCS. The SPCS directs and programs behavior of the ICC based on the unique identifier, thereby allowing the ICC to assume the personality for performing interactive communication and control actions based on the multimedia inputs.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for charging a movable barrier operator transmitter in a vehicle. The method includes connecting a transmitter and a component of the vehicle, transmitting an initiation signal from the transmitter to the component, and transmitting an inquiry signal from the component to the transmitter. The inquiry signal may include charging information. The method includes transmitting an answer signal from the transmitter to the component that includes information responsive to the charging information. The method further includes energizing a charging coil of the component to create an electromagnetic field and charge a battery of the transmitter.

Abstract: Generally speaking, and pursuant to these various embodiments, a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium is provided that allows a guest to contact an owner or operator of a secured premises or area to gain access to the secured premises. An access control device initiates contact with a guest device and provides a resource to contact an owner device. If the owner decides to grant access to the guest, the owner selects a suitable input on the owner device so that the owner device sends an authorized signal to the guest device. The guest device acts as a gateway and forwards the authorized signal to the access control device. The access control device operates in response to reception of the authorized signal to grant the guest access to the secured premises.

Abstract: In one aspect, a universal receiver is provided for being operably coupled to a movable barrier operator. The universal receiver includes at least one radio antenna adapted to receive signals transmitted at different frequencies and a controller operably coupled to the at least one radio antenna. The controller is adapted to determine a code of a signal received by the at least one radio antenna at any one of the different frequencies. The controller being further adapted to learn the code in response to a user-independent learning condition being met.

Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes an emitter that emits a wide angle signal, and a receiver that receives at least a portion of the wide angle signal. The obstacle detection system also includes a memory for storing a time window and a baseline signal characteristic, and a processing device that compares attributes of the received signal to information stored in the memory. The processing device determines whether at least a portion of the emitted signal was received at the receiver within the time window. The processing device also determines whether a signal characteristic of the received signal corresponds to the baseline signal characteristic.

Abstract: A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator.

Abstract: A movable barrier system allows for varying a linear actuator speed to account for speed variances caused by the physical configuration of the system. An example system includes a processor configured to variably control an operation speed of the linear actuator as the linear actuator moves the movable barrier between a first position of the movable barrier and a second position of the movable barrier as a function of a location of a movable barrier pivot connection relative to a linear actuator pivot connection. The function may be a function of a ratio of a distance from the linear actuator pivot connection to a fixed point and a distance from the movable barrier pivot connection to the fixed point. The function may be calculated by the processor or accessed by the processor according to information about the physical configuration of the system.

Abstract: A movable barrier system wherein the trolley system comprises at least two guiding rail portions. At least one of the guiding rail portions is supported by a support member secured to the headroom area of the building support structure. The trolley traverses the at least two guiding rail portions by a hinged coupling device.