Abstract: In one aspect, a movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a motor configured to turn a drum to pay out a cable from the drum and permit a door connected to the cable to move from an open position toward a closed position. The system includes a memory configured to store an expected variable of the door, and a sensor configured to detect movement of the door. The system further includes a processor circuit operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the sensor. The processor circuit is configured to: use the sensor to estimate an actual variable of the door; determine whether the actual variable is acceptable based at least in part on the expected variable and the processor circuit causing the motor to turn the drum; and change operation of the movable barrier upon the actual variable of the movable barrier being unacceptable.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for using a remote control to train a trainable transmitter is provided. The method includes receiving a user input at a user interface of the remote control, broadcasting to a controllable device a first radio frequency communication via a first security protocol in response to receiving the user input at the user interface, the first communication including a first fixed code and a first changing code. The method further includes measuring a duration of the user input and broadcasting to the controllable device and the trainable transmitter a second radio frequency communication via a second security protocol different than the first security protocol in response to the measured duration of the user input satisfying a user input duration condition, the second radio frequency communication including the first fixed code and the first changing code.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a motor configured to turn a drum to pay out a cable from the drum and permit a door connected to the cable to move from an open position toward a closed position. The system includes a memory configured to store an expected variable of the door, and a sensor configured to detect movement of the door. The system further includes a processor circuit operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the sensor. The processor circuit is configured to: use the sensor to estimate an actual variable of the door; determine whether the actual variable is acceptable based at least in part on the expected variable and the processor circuit causing the motor to turn the drum; and change operation of the movable barrier upon the actual variable of the movable barrier being unacceptable.

Abstract: In one respect, a method of controlling a movable barrier operator including receiving, via communication circuitry of an in-vehicle device, a wireless signal indicating communication of a state change request to the movable barrier operator, the state change request configured to cause the movable barrier operator to move a movable barrier from a first state toward a second state; presenting, via a user interface of the in-vehicle device, a notification of the communication of the state change request and an option to cancel the state change request; receiving, via the user interface of the in-vehicle device, a user input to cancel the state change request; and effecting cancelation of the state change request in response to the user interface receiving the user input to the cancel the state change operation.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a movable barrier operator system is provided that includes a motor configured to turn a drum to pay out a cable from the drum and permit a door connected to the cable to move from an open position toward a closed position. The system includes a memory configured to store an expected variable of the door, and a sensor configured to detect movement of the door. The system further includes a processor circuit operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the sensor. The processor circuit is configured to: use the sensor to estimate an actual variable of the door; determine whether the actual variable is acceptable based at least in part on the expected variable and the processor circuit causing the motor to turn the drum; and change operation of the movable barrier upon the actual variable of the movable barrier being unacceptable.

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 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 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 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: An appliance wirelessly receives any of a plurality of different signals that comprise control instructions from a transmitter for a second appliance other than the appliance and of a different class of appliance. The appliance then provides, in the absence of learning, any of a plurality of different control instructions to be used by the appliance as a function of that received signal. By one approach those wirelessly-received control instructions relate to controllable functions for the second appliance. Pursuant to these teachings, the receiving appliance effectively converts a received control instruction that relates to one kind of functionality for a given kind of appliance into a control instruction that relates to a different kind of functionality and that is usable by a different kind of appliance.

Abstract: A method for use in relation to a security system includes receiving one or more items of information that each identify things or users associated with the security system, and forming a fixed portion of a security code using the one or more items of information. The fixed portion of the security code is stored in an apparatus that is configured to transmit the security code. A method and apparatus involving the receipt of such a security code are also disclosed. A method for use in relation to a security system includes generating a fixed portion of a security code, and setting a value of the fixed portion of the security code to a value that has a relationship to a fixed portion of a previously learned security code. The relationship indicates that the fixed portion of the security code is a replacement for the fixed portion of the previously learned security code. The fixed portion of the security code is stored in an apparatus that is configured to transmit the security code.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator remote controller can comprise a vibration-powered electrical generator, a user interface, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a movable barrier operator communication in response to the user interface and as powered, at least in part, by the vibration-powered electrical generator. The controller can further comprise an electrical-energy storage unit (such as a battery and/or a capacitor) that is coupled to an electric power output of the vibration-powered electrical generator to thereby receive and store electric power from the vibration-powered electrical generator. So configured, the electrical-energy storage unit can provide operating power to the wireless transmitter on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: An appliance wirelessly receives any of a plurality of different signals that comprise control instructions from a transmitter for a second appliance other than the appliance and of a different class of appliance. The appliance then provides, in the absence of learning, any of a plurality of different control instructions to be used by the appliance as a function of that received signal. By one approach those wirelessly-received control instructions relate to controllable functions for the second appliance. Pursuant to these teachings, the receiving appliance effectively converts a received control instruction that relates to one kind of functionality for a given kind of appliance into a control instruction that relates to a different kind of functionality and that is usable by a different kind of appliance.

Abstract: A system and method for training a learning transceiver to a movable barrier system includes a learning transceiver that is configured for being trained to the movable barrier system. To provide ease of use to consumers, a user is able to train the learning transceiver to the movable barrier system without needing to push a button on a movable barrier operator or use a pretrained transmitter. To this end, a movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a transmission signal to the learning transceiver including a rolling access code, which is used to train the learning transceiver. To maintain the security of the movable barrier system and to restrict unauthorized users from accessing the movable barrier system, the movable barrier operator waits to transmit the transmission signal, including the rolling access code, to the learning transceiver until it has received an indication that a predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator system includes a motor that is used to move a movable barrier. The system also includes an audio amplifier device. First power is supplied to the audio amplifier device to thereby render corresponding content locally audible. Information regarding starting of the motor is received and the first power supplied to the audio amplifier device is automatically reduced in response to receiving the information.

Abstract: A system and method for training a learning transceiver to a movable barrier system includes a learning transceiver that is configured for being trained to the movable barrier system. To provide ease of use to consumers, a user is able to train the learning transceiver to the movable barrier system without needing to push a button on a movable barrier operator or use a pretrained transmitter. To this end, a movable barrier operator is configured to transmit a transmission signal to the learning transceiver including a rolling access code, which is used to train the learning transceiver. To maintain the security of the movable barrier system and to restrict unauthorized users from accessing the movable barrier system, the movable barrier operator waits to transmit the transmission signal, including the rolling access code, to the learning transceiver until it has received an indication that a predetermined event occurred.

Abstract: A secure communication link (24) is provided between a movable barrier operator (23) and a peripheral alarm system (20). Information conveyed via this link is used by one, the other, or both such elements to further inform or direct their respective actions.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator system includes a motor that is used to move a movable barrier. The system also includes an audio amplifier device. First power is supplied to the audio amplifier device to thereby render corresponding content locally audible. Information regarding starting of the motor is received and the first power supplied to the audio amplifier device is automatically reduced in response to receiving the information.

Abstract: A secure communication link (24) is provided between a movable barrier operator (23) and a peripheral alarm system (20). Information conveyed via this link is used by one, the other, or both such elements to further inform or direct their respective actions.

Abstract: Dim lighting can be provided in a given area that is monitored by a camera. Though such lighting is not bright enough to ensure capturing an image that can in turn be used with assurance to, for example, recognize the visage of a person in this given area, this dim lighting is nevertheless sufficient to permit using the camera's captured images for motion detection purposes. Accordingly, images from this camera are processed to detect motion in the given area. In response to detecting such motion, these teachings then provide for automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area that is sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with this camera.