Method for controlling a seat by a mobile device, a computer program product, and a system

• US 10,235,416 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Hong, Jon-Chao, Yang, Kai-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Abby Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US15/152,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1, 701 2, 701 3, 701 22, 701 36, 701 45, 701 49, 701 14, 701532, 200200, 2972171, 2972173, 2973441, 318461, 180305, 725 26, 340438, 34053926, 307 101, 177 1, 310 68 R
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0248 with memory of positions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method for controlling a seat is performed by a mobile device in cooperation with a database. The database contains at least one reference data set which contains a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data. The method includes the steps of: a) upon receipt of an input, searching the database to identify which one(s) of the at least one reference data set contains the physical characteristic data that matches the input, the one(s) serving as candidate data set(s); and b) when a total number of the candidate data set(s) identified in step a) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data contained in the candidate data set for controlling the seat.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a seat, comprising:

a mobile device; and

a database containing at least one reference data set which contains a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data, said mobile device being capable of establishing communication with said database,

said mobile device including an input unit for receiving a user input, a processor electrically connected to said input unit, and an output unit electrically connected to said processor, said processor being configured to;

search, upon receipt of the user input, the database to identify which one(s) of the at least one reference data set contains the physical characteristic data that matches the user input, the one(s) serving as candidate data set(s), wherein each of the user input and the physical characteristic data includes at least one of a height of a user, a weight of the user, or a body size/type of the user, and the at least one reference data set includes a plurality of reference data sets, and the database is established, updated and maintained by a manufacturer;

control the seat, when the total number of the candidate data set(s) is greater than one, group the candidate data sets into subset(s) based on the seat setting data thereof, the seat setting data of the candidate data set(s) in each of the subset(s) being identical;

when a total number of the subset(s) is one, control said output unit to output to the seat the seat setting data corresponding to the subset for controlling the seat;

when a total number of the subset(s) is greater than one, determine which one(s) of the subsets has a greatest number of candidate data set(s); and

when a total number of the one(s) of the subsets having the greatest number of candidate data set(s) is one, control said output unit to output to the seat the seat setting data corresponding to the one of the subsets.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said mobile device further includes a display;

said processor is further configured to, when the total number of the one(s) of the subsets having the greatest number of candidate data set(s) is greater than one, control said display to display a list containing a plurality of items for user selection, each of the items corresponding to the seat setting data corresponding to a corresponding one of the ones of the subsets; and

said processor is further configured to, upon receipt of selection of one of the items via said input unit, control said output unit to output, to the seat, the seat setting data that corresponds to the one of the items for controlling the seat.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said mobile device further includes a communication unit capable of communicating with the database; and

said processor is further configured to, upon receipt, via said input unit, of a data set containing a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data, control said communication unit to transmit the data set to the database for the database to store the data set therein as a reference data set.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

said communication unit being further capable of communicating with the seat; and

said processor is further configured to, upon receipt, via said communication unit from the seat, of a data set containing a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data, control said communication unit to transmit the data set to the database for the database to store the data set therein as a reference data set.

5. The system of claim 1, the seat setting data being associated with at least one of

a front-rear displacement of the seat relative to the seat in a reference state;

an inclination angle of a back of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an inclination angle of a seat body of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an orientation/position of an armrest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an up-down position of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an orientation/position of a headrest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

or

an orientation/position of a leg rest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

when the total number of the one(s) of the subsets having the greatest number of candidate data set(s) is greater than one, displaying a list containing a plurality of items for user selection, each of the items corresponding to the seat setting data corresponding to a corresponding one of the ones of the subsets; and

upon receipt of selection of one of the items, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data that corresponds to the one of the items for controlling the seat.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the seat setting data is associated with at least one of:

a front-rear displacement of the seat relative to the seat in a reference state;

an inclination angle of a back of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an inclination angle of a seat body of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an orientation/position of an armrest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an up-down position of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

an orientation/position of a headrest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state;

or an orientation/position of a leg rest of the seat relative to the seat in the reference state.

6. A method for controlling a seat to be performed by a system that includes a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a database containing at least one reference data set which contains a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data, wherein the database is established, updated and maintained by a manufacturer;

b) upon receipt of a user input, searching the database to identify which one(s) of the at least one reference data set contains the physical characteristic data that matches the user input, the one(s) serving as candidate data set(s), wherein each of the user input and the physical characteristic data includes at least one of a height of a user, a weight of the user, or a body size/type of the user, and the at least one reference data set includes a plurality of reference data sets;

when the total number of the candidate data set(s) identified in step b) is greater than one, grouping the candidate data sets into subset(s) based on the seat setting data thereof, the seat setting data of the candidate data set(s) in each of the subset(s) being identical;

when a total number of the subset(s) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data corresponding to the subset for controlling the seat;

when a total number of the subset(s) is greater than one, determining which one(s) of the subsets has a greatest number of candidate data set(s); and

when a total number of the one(s) of the subsets having the greatest number of candidate data set(s) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data corresponding to the one of the subsets.

9. A computer program product, comprising a non-volatile computer readable storage medium that includes program instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method comprising:

a) establishing a database containing at least one reference data set which contains a physical characteristic data and a seat setting data, wherein the database is established, updated and maintained by a manufacturer;

b) upon receipt of a user input, searching the database to identify which one(s) of the at least one reference data set contains the physical characteristic data that matches the user input, the one(s) serving as candidate data set(s), wherein each of the user input and the physical characteristic data includes at least one of a height of a user, a weight of the user, or a body size/type of the user;

when the total number of the candidate data set(s) identified is greater than one, grouping the candidate data sets into subset(s) based on the seat setting data thereof, the seat setting data of the candidate data set(s) in each of the subset(s) being identical;

when a total number of the subset(s) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data corresponding to the subset for controlling the seat;

when a total number of the subset(s) is greater than one, determining which one(s) of the subsets has a greatest number of candidate data set(s); and

when a total number of the one(s) of the subsets having the greatest number of candidate data set(s) is one, outputting, to the seat, the seat setting data corresponding to the one of the subsets.