RFID smart office chair

• US 6,964,370 B1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rozich, Ryan, Hagale, Anthony Richard, Kelley, Jason Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/912,474
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/380, 235/493, 235/435, 235/487, 235/451, 235375-376, 235/385, 235/382, 701/49, 297/361.1, 2972173-2176, 297/232, 731/46, 340/5.72, 455/41.2, 330/344.17, 330/344.2, 330/344.22, 312/223.1, 312/223.3, 312/233.6
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like

Abstract

Smart furniture is provided that automatically adjusts to a person'"'"'s preferences based on an identification of the person. A person may be equipped with an identification device, such as a radio frequency identification device. The smart furniture may include a reader for the identification device to identify a person using the piece of furniture. The smart furniture may also include storage in which settings profiles of users are stored. The smart furniture may then receive a profile that matches the person using the furniture and set adjustable features according to the profile. Settings profiles may be uploaded to or downloaded from a remote storage using a wireless communications interface, such as a wireless network interface.

Claims

1. A method, in an item of smart furniture, for adjusting settings for adjustable features, the method comprising:

receiving a set of profiles, wherein each profile within the set of profiles includes first settings information for a person;

receiving identification information from a person using a first item of smart furniture;

matching the identification information with a given profile within the set of profiles;

receiving second settings information from a second item of smart furniture; and

automatically setting at least one adjustable feature of the first item of smart furniture based on the first settings information in the given profile and the second settings information received from the second item of smart furniture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving identification information from a person includes reading a personalized identification device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the personalized identification device is a radio frequency identification device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying settings of adjustable features of the first item of smart furniture in the given profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a set of profiles includes receiving the set of profiles from a remote server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the set of profiles from a remote server includes receiving the set of profiles through a wireless network access point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically setting at least one adjustable feature includes causing at least one actuator to adjust a position of a portion of the first item of smart furniture.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second settings information includes dimensions of the second item of smart furniture.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second settings information includes setting values for at least one adjustable feature of the second item of smart furniture.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second settings information includes a priority value for the second item of smart furniture and wherein automatically setting at least one adjustable feature is performed responsive to the priority value for the second item of smart furniture being higher than a priority value for the first item of smart furniture.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first item of smart furniture is a chair and the second item of smart furniture is a desk.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first item of smart furniture is a desk and the second item of smart furniture is a chair.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first item of smart furniture is one of an office chair, an automobile seat, or a desk.

14. An apparatus, in an item of smart furniture, for adjusting settings for adjustable features, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a set of profiles, wherein each profile within the set of profiles includes first settings information for a person;

means for receiving identification information from a person using a first item of smart furniture;

means for matching the identification information with a given profile within the set of profiles;

means for receiving second settings information from a second item of smart furniture; and

means for automatically setting at least one adjustable feature of the first item of smart furniture based on the first settings information in the given profile and the second settings information received from the second item of smart furniture.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for receiving identification information from a person includes means for reading a personalized identification device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the personalized identification device is a radio frequency identification device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for identifying settings of adjustable features of the first item of smart furniture in the given profile.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for receiving a set of profiles includes means for receiving the set of profiles from a remote server.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for receiving the set of profiles from a remote server includes means for receiving the set of profiles through a wireless network access point.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for automatically setting at least one adjustable feature includes means for causing at least one actuator to adjust a position of a portion of the first item of smart furniture.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second settings information includes dimensions of the second item of smart furniture.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second settings information includes setting values for at least one adjustable feature of the second item of smart furniture.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second settings information includes a priority value for the second item of smart furniture and wherein the at least one adjustable feature are adjusted responsive to the priority value for the second item of smart furniture being higher than a priority value for the first item of smart furniture.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first item of smart furniture is a chair and the second item of smart furniture is a desk.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first item of smart furniture is a desk and the second item of smart furniture is a chair.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first item of smart furniture is one of an office chair, an automobile seat, or a desk.

27. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for adjusting settings for adjustable features in an item of smart furniture, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for receiving a set of profiles, wherein each profile within the set of profiles includes first settings information for a person;

instruction for receiving identification information from a person using a first item of smart furniture;

instructions for matching the identification information with a given profile within the set of profiles;

instructions for receiving second settings information from a second item of smart furniture; and

instructions for automatically setting at least one adjustable feature of the first item of smart furniture based on the first setting information in the given profile and the second settings information received from the second item of smart furniture.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the first item of smart furniture is one of an office chair, an automobile seat, or a desk.