Wireless control of an adjustable bed

• US 8,046,117 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Original Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, DOUGLAS S
• Application Number:
  US11/875,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,466 Days
• Field of Search: 700/13, 700/64, 700/66, 700/302, 560/0, 561/3, 561/6, 318/16, 340/573
• US Class Current: 700/302
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/12 Folding bedsteads travelling or camp beds A47C17/64
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/006 Oscillating, balancing or vibrating mechanisms connected to the bedstead for children's beds A47D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/04 Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• 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 controller for an adjustable bed manages at least one wireless communication function, such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.x, and peer-to-peer functions in association with controlling the bed. The controller also can control a second system associated with the adjustable bed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a controller that controls articulated portions of an adjustable bed, the controller including a wireless interface, the controller capable of;

wireless communication with a data network;

checking for a software update for the controller through the wireless interface;

transmitting, to a handheld remote, a notification of availability of the software update for the controller;

receiving a reply to the notification from the handheld remote authorizing installation of the software update on the controller;

downloading the software update through the wireless interface to the controller; and

installing the software update on the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is Internet-connected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is a Bluetooth communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is an IEEE 802.11 communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is cellular.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is universal serial bus (USB).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is ultra wideband (UWB).

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to operate on a cell phone.

8. A method comprising:

providing a controller that controls both articulated portions of an adjustable bed and a second system, the controller including a wireless interface, the controller capable of;

wireless communication with a data network;

checking for a software update for the controller through the wireless interface;

transmitting, to a handheld remote, a notification of availability of the software update for the controller;

receiving a reply to the notification from the handheld remote authorizing installation of the software update on the controller;

downloading the software update through the wireless interface to the controller; and

installing the software update on the controller, and

wherein the second system is selected from a group consisting of a lighting system, an air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, an alarm clock, a music player, a telephone, and a video system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controller is Internet-connected.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is an audio system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is a lamp.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is an alarm clock.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is a telephone.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is a video system.

33. The method of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to operate on a cell phone.

15. A system comprising:

an adjustable bed having machine-adjustable articulated portions;

a second system selected from a group consisting of a lighting system, an air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, an alarm clock, a music player, a telephone and a video system; and

a controller for the adjustable bed and the second system, the controller including a wireless interface, the controller capable of;

wireless communication with a data network;

checking for a software update for the controller through the wireless interface;

transmitting, to a handheld remote, a notification of availability of the software update for the controller;

receiving a reply to the notification from the handheld remote authorizing installation of the software update on the controller;

downloading the software update through the wireless interface to the controller; and

installing the software update on the controller.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is Internet-connected.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second system is a telephone.

34. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is adapted to operate on a cell phone.

18. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer code that, when executing on an adjustable bed controller having a wireless interface, performs the steps of:

communicating with a data network through a wireless interface;

checking for a software update for the controller through the wireless interface;

transmitting, to a handheld remote, a notification of availability of the software update for the controller;

receiving a reply to the notification from the handheld remote authorizing installation of the software update on the controller;

downloading the software update through the wireless interface to the controller; and

installing the software update on the controller.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the controller is Internet-connected.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication is a Bluetooth communication.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication is an IEEE 802.xx communication.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication is cellular.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication is universal serial bus (USB).

24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication is ultra wideband (UWB).

35. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the adjustable bed controller is adapted to operate on a cell phone.

25. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer code that, when executing on an adjustable bed controller having a wireless interface, performs the steps of:

communicating with a data network through a wireless interface;

checking for a software update for the controller through the wireless interface;

transmitting, to a handheld remote, a notification of availability of the software update for the controller;

receiving a reply to the notification from the handheld remote authorizing installation of the software update on the controller;

downloading the software update through the wireless interface to the controller; and

installing the software update on the controller, and

wherein the a second system is selected from a group consisting of a lighting system, an air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, an alarm clock, a music player, a telephone and a video system.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the controller is Internet-connected.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second system is the audio system.

28. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second system is the lamp.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second system is the alarm clock.

30. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second system is the telephone.

31. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the second system is the video system.

36. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the adjustable bed controller is adapted to operate on a cell phone.