COMPREHENSIVE USER CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THERAPEUTIC WELLNESS DEVICES

• US 20110055720A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Human Touch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Human Touch, LLC
• Inventors: Corkill, Andrew Norman, Potter, David, Dehli, Hans Jorgen, Wood, David Riordan
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/747
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A comprehensive user control system for use with therapeutic wellness devices is described, comprising such a wellness device, data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network, and a removable data link capable of permitting data communication between the wellness device and data equipment. Other embodiments comprise a general purpose computer capable of connection to a data communications network and programmed to control a wellness device across a removable data link; a method of controlling a wellness device including obtaining over certain data communications connections a program for controlling the device and operating the device in accordance with the program; and a method of controlling a wellness device comprising presentation of a request for therapeutic relief not specifying a particular mechanical action to be performed by the device, and translation of that request into at least one command executable by at least one wellness device.

Claims

1. A system comprising a therapeutic wellness device, data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network, and a removable data link capable of permitting data communication between the therapeutic wellness device and the data equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data equipment comprises a general purpose computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data equipment comprises a software application capable of directing control of the therapeutic wellness device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data equipment comprises a means for graphically interacting with a user.

5. The system of claim 1, where the data equipment comprises a data communications network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic wellness device is a massage chair.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data link is wireless.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising a program that comprises instructions usable by the therapeutic wellness device and that is communicable across the data link.

9. The system of claim 3, comprising a program that comprises instructions capable of being used in conjunction with controlling the therapeutic wellness device and that is transferable across a data communications network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic wellness device is capable of transmitting data over the data link.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein data capable of being transmitted over the data link pertain to the condition of the therapeutic wellness device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein data capable of being transmitted over the data link pertain to the usage of the therapeutic wellness device.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising software residing in the therapeutic wellness device that is capable of being modified by data transmitted across the data link.

14. A system comprising a general purpose computer capable of connection to a data communications network and programmed to direct the control at least one therapeutic wellness device across a removable data link.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the general purpose computer is portable and the data link is wireless.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is configured to maintain a data link with at least one therapeutic wellness device when the system is brought into proximity with that therapeutic wellness device.

17. The system of claim 15, where in the system is configured to maintain a data link with at least one of a plurality of models of therapeutic wellness device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is configured to convert therapeutic wellness device model-independent information into data compatible with at least one particular model of therapeutic wellness device.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is configured to retain data pertaining to at least one user of a therapeutic wellness device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the retained data comprises a user'"'"'s preferences regarding the operation of the therapeutic wellness device.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is configured to select at least one particular item of therapy to suggest to a user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein time of day affects a selection of a particular item of therapy to suggest to a user.

23. The system of claim 14, comprising an interactive graphical user interface.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the interactive graphical user interface is configured to comprise displaying an image corresponding to at least a portion of a human body and receiving a user'"'"'s selection of a portion of said image.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the operation of the therapeutic wellness device is determined at least in part by which portion of the image is selected.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the interactive graphical user interface is configured to communicate intended benefits from at least one program that is available for selection by a user and that comprises instructions capable of being used in conjunction with controlling a therapeutic wellness device.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the therapeutic wellness device is a massage chair.

28. A method of controlling a therapeutic wellness device comprising:

obtaining, across at least one of a data communications network and a removable data link capable of permitting data communication between the therapeutic wellness device and data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network, a program comprising instructions capable of being used in conjunction with directing the control of the therapeutic wellness device; and

operating the therapeutic wellness device in a manner corresponding to at least one of the instructions in the program.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is selected from a plurality of programs made available to a user by a general purpose computer programmed to direct the control at least one therapeutic wellness device across the removable data link.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained over a data communications network.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained from a website.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained from a user of a therapeutic wellness device.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained from a medical provider.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained from a source identified with providing programs that comprise instructions capable of being used in conjunction with controlling at least one model of therapeutic wellness device.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein the program is obtained from a source of supply of at least one model of therapeutic wellness device.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the therapeutic wellness device is a massage chair.

37. A method of controlling a therapeutic wellness device comprising:

presentation of a request for therapeutic relief that does not specify a particular mechanical action to be performed by a therapeutic wellness device; and

translation of the request into at least one command executable by at least one therapeutic wellness device.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

transmitting at least one of the request or the at least one command across a removable data link between a therapeutic wellness device and data equipment capable of connection to a data communications network; and

execution of the at least one command by at least one therapeutic wellness device.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the presentation of a request comprises selection of a particular portion of a graphical image corresponding to at least a portion of a human body.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the presentation of a request comprises pointing a portion of the user'"'"'s actual body.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the presentation of a request comprises presenting information on a condition of a user'"'"'s body.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein an algorithm for performing the translation is selected from among a plurality of available algorithms for performing the translation.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the therapeutic wellness device is a massage chair.