Controlling an adjustable bed and a second system with a modular controller

• US 8,046,116 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:
  US11/875,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115276A1
• 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

An adjustable bed is associated with a second system and both the bed and the second system are controlled by a modular control system. The modular controller further facilitates using a global command input to control both the bed and the second system. In an embodiment the modular control system includes a touchscreen for accepting user input to control the bed and the second system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a modular controller for controlling an adjustable bed and at least one second system associated with the adjustable bed, the modular controller configured to receive a global command as a single command that activates a sequence of commands to the adjustable bed, wherein controlling the adjustable bed includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is an air purification system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is an alarm clock.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is a music player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is a telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second system is a video system.

8. A method comprising:

using a global command input to command more than one facility associated with an adjustable bed using a single input, wherein the global command input is enabled by a modular controller capable of controlling the adjustable bed and a second system associated with the adjustable bed, wherein controlling the adjustable bed includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

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

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

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the modular controller is Internet connected.

13. A method comprising:

using a touch screen to command more than one facility associated with an adjustable bed via a global command that executes a sequence of commands, the global command user-defined based on a user-input command sequence, wherein the touch screen is for accepting user input and is associated with a modular controller that is capable of controlling the adjustable bed and a second system associated with the adjustable bed by;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the touch screen is located on a remote control for the adjustable bed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote control is a wireless remote control.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the modular controller is Internet-connected.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second system is a air purification system.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the second system is a audio system.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the second system is a music player.

21. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer code that, when run on a modular controller for controlling an adjustable bed and at least one second system associated with the adjustable bed, performs the following steps:

receiving a single command; and

activating, in response to the single command, a sequence of commands to the adjustable bed, wherein the activating includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is a lighting system.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is an air purification system.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is an alarm clock.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is a music player.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is a telephone.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the at least one second system is a video system.

28. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer code that, when run on a computing system having a global command input, performs the following steps:

controlling an adjustable bed and a second system associated with the adjustable bed, wherein controlling the adjustable bed includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

30. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the second system is a air purification system.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the second system is a audio system.

32. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the second system is a music player.

33. A system, comprising:

a modular controller for controlling an adjustable bed; and

at least one second system associated with the adjustable bed, wherein

the modular controller is configured to receive a global command as a single command that activates a sequence of commands to the adjustable bed, wherein controlling the adjustable bed includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is an air purification system.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is an alarm clock.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is a music player.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is a telephone.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the second system is a video system.

40. A system comprising:

a global command input adapted to command more than one facility associated with an adjustable bed using a single input, wherein the global command input is enabled by a modular controller capable of controlling the adjustable bed; and

a second system associated with the adjustable bed, wherein controlling the adjustable bed includes;

identifying a row in a data table, the row representing a position of the adjustable bed;

within the row, identifying an increment value specifying an available position of the adjustable bed; and

causing a component of the adjustable bed to meet the increment value.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the modular controller is Internet-connected.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the second system is a lighting system.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the second system is a air purification system.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the second system is a audio system.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the second system is a music player.