Bed with user occupancy tracking

• US 10,092,242 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Inventors: Nunn, Rob, Palashewski, Wade Daniel, Erko, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US14/988,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

If a user enters a bed, a sensor in the pump of the bed can detect the user'"'"'s presence in the bed.

Claims

1. A method performed by data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receiving, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identifying, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each received pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value;

calculating, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determining, by the computing device, the difference between the pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, engaging a peripheral device comprising engaging the peripheral device in a way that physically alters an environment around the mattress.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of:

issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises;

determining that the mattress is occupied for a threshold period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of:

issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises;

determining that the time of day is within a particular window of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the particular window of time is determined from historical data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of:

issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises;

determining that the user is asleep on the mattress.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, based on the stream of pump pressure readings, a supplemental indication of presence in the bed; and

wherein, responsive to the computing device determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of;

issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device further comprises;

combining the supplemental indication of presence in the bed with the determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the supplemental indication of presence in the bed comprises identifying biological activity by an occupant of the bed.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising modifying the threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8, the method wherein the threshold value is modified to account for seasonality.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the threshold value is modified to account for growth of the user.

11. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising updating a user-facing computer interface to show that a user is detected in the bed.

14. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising, responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of:

issuing a presence event; and

storing a value in computer readable memory.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.

12. A method performed by data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receiving, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identifying, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each received pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value;

calculating, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determining, by the computing device, the difference between the pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of;

issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.

13. A bed system comprising:

a mattress having an air bladder;

a pressure sensor fluidically connected to the air bladder; and

a controller in communication with the pressure sensors and configured to receive pressure signals from the pressure sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to;

determine, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receive, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identify, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value;

calculate, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determine, by the computing device, the difference between the received pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, engage a peripheral device comprising engaging the peripheral device in a way that physically alters an environment around the mattress;

a pump fluidically connected to the air bladder, wherein the controller comprises a pump controller for driving the pump to inflate the air bladder to a desired pressure upon command by a user.

16. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the bed system further comprises means for data network communication with a user device.

17. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify, based on the stream of pump pressure readings, a supplemental indication of presence in the bed; and

wherein, responsive to the computing device determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, engage a peripheral device further comprises;

combining the supplemental indication of presence in the bed with the determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value.

18. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensor is a component of the pump.

19. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the peripheral device is one of the group consisting of a lighting device, a television, a thermostat, a security system, a garage door, an oven, a coffee maker, a window blind, and a door.