Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WIRELESS TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR AUTOMATED
FURNITURE ACCESSORY INTEGRATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a wireless, two-way
communication protocol for integrating furniture accessories and generic
devices with
automated furniture items. More particularly, embodiments of the present
invention relate to
a communication protocol for using a remote device to control automated
furniture
accessories and/or generic devices coupled to a control component of an
automated furniture
item.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of methods exist for using a controller to manipulate an automated
furniture item. Such controllers direct the operation of various "standard"
integrated
elements for automated furniture items, such as a head motor or foot motor on
an adjustable
bed. However, external accessories may also be provided for use with an
automated furniture
item, such as a heating blanket. Unless the heating blanket is integrated into
the control
system of the automated furniture item, it will likely be controlled
separately from the
furniture item, requiring an additional device and/or remote. Further, the
controller of an
automated furniture item is typically equipped with the necessary fitinware to
operate the
standard devices provided with the furniture item (i.e., those devices that
the manufacturer
.. intended to be operated by the furniture item controller).
Accordingly, a need exists for a communication protocol that enables
additional, automated furniture accessories and/or external, generic wireless
devices to be
operated by an automated furniture controller without the need to update the
firmware of the
furniture item controller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for integrating
automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items. Embodiments of
the
invention include a communication protocol for using a remote device to
control an
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automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component of an automated
furniture
item.
One illustrative embodiment of the invention, a system for integrating
automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items includes a
control component
comprising: (1) a wireless communication device; (2) a CAN bus; and (3) at
least one
automated furniture accessory coupled to the CAN bus, wherein one or more
features of the
at least one automated furniture accessory are controlled by a remote device
wirelessly
coupled to the control component.
In another illustrative aspect, a method for integrating automated furniture
accessories with automated furniture items comprises: receiving an indication
of an
automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component; identifying one
or more
packets of information associated with the automated furniture accessory; and
communicating at least one of the one or more packets of information to a
remote device,
wherein the remote device is adapted to control one or more features of the
automated
furniture accessory based at least in part on communication between the remote
device and
the control component.
According to a third illustrative aspect, embodiments of a method for
integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items
comprises
receiving one or more items of identifying information associated with at
least one automated
furniture accessory coupled to a control component and communicating at least
one of the
one or more items of identifying information to a remote device, wherein the
remote device is
in wireless, two-way communication with the control component, wherein one or
more
features of the at least one automated furniture accessory are controlled by
the remote device
based on communication of the at least one of the one or more items of
identifying
information.
In a fourth illustrative aspect of an embodiment of the invention includes a
system for integrating one or more generic devices with an automated furniture
item. The
system includes a first generic device having a first wireless communication
device; and a
control component coupled to the first generic device, the control component
including a
second wireless communication device. In embodiments, one or more features of
the first
generic device are controlled by a remote device wirelessly coupled to the
control
component, said remote device including a third wireless communication device.
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According to a fifth illustrative aspect, an embodiment of the invention
includes a
method for integrating generic devices with automated furniture items. The
method includes
receiving, by a control component of an automated furniture item, an
indication of at least one
generic device wirelessly coupled to the control component, wherein the at
least one generic
device is external to the control component; receiving a first command from a
remote device
wirelessly coupled to the control component, wherein the first command
corresponds to one
or more features of the at least one generic device; wirelessly communicating
the received
first command from the control component to the at least one generic device;
receiving an
indication of occupancy associated with the automated furniture item; based at
least in part on
the received indication of occupancy, determining a second command
corresponding to a
feature of the at least one generic device; and wirelessly communicating the
determined
second command from the control component to the at least one generic device.
A sixth illustrative aspect of the invention is directed to a method for
establishing a
particular user environment corresponding to occupancy detection for an
automated furniture
item coupled to at least one generic device. The method includes: receiving an
indication of a
particular user environment selection from a remote device, the particular
user environment
selection comprising a set of commands corresponding to settings of the
particular user
environment for at least one generic device coupled to a control component of
the automated
furniture item; communicating at least one primary command corresponding to
the received
user environment selection from the control component to the at least one
generic device
wirelessly coupled to the control component; receiving an indication of a
change in occupancy
detection associated with the automated furniture item; determining at least
one secondary
command based at least in part on: (1) the set of commands for the at least
one generic device;
and (2) the received change in occupancy detection; and communicating the at
least one
secondary command to the at least one generic device coupled to the control
component.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a
system
for wirelessly integrating automated furniture accessories with automated
furniture items
comprising: a control component comprising: (1) a wireless communication
device; and (2) a
bus; at least one automated furniture accessory coupled to the bus, said at
least one automated
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According to a fifth illustrative aspect, an embodiment of the invention
includes a
method for integrating generic devices with automated furniture items. The
method includes
receiving, by a control component of an automated furniture item, an
indication of at least one
generic device wirelessly coupled to the control component, wherein the at
least one generic
device is external to the control component; receiving a first command from a
remote device
wirelessly coupled to the control component, wherein the first command
corresponds to one or
more features of the at least one generic device; wirelessly communicating the
received first
command from the control component to the at least one generic device,
receiving an indication
of occupancy associated with the automated furniture item; based at least in
part on the received
indication of occupancy, determining a second command corresponding to a
feature of the at
least one generic device; and wirelessly communicating the determined second
command from
the control component to the at least one generic device.
A sixth illustrative aspect of the invention is directed to a method for
establishing a
particular user environment corresponding to occupancy detection for an
automated furniture
item coupled to at least one generic device. The method includes: receiving an
indication of a
particular user environment selection from a remote device, the particular
user environment
selection comprising a set of commands corresponding to settings of the
particular user
environment for at least one generic device coupled to a control component of
the automated
furniture item; communicating at least one primary command corresponding to
the received
user environment selection from the control component to the at least one
generic device
wirelessly coupled to the control component; receiving an indication of a
change in occupancy
detection associated with the automated furniture item; determining at least
one secondary
command based at least in part on: (1) the set of commands for the at least
one generic device;
and (2) the received change in occupancy detection; and communicating the at
least one
secondary command to the at least one generic device coupled to the control
component.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a
system for
integrating one or more generic devices with an automated furniture item
comprising: a first
generic device comprising a first wireless communication device, wherein the
first generic
device is an automated furniture accessory; and a control component associated
with the
.. automated furniture item, wherein: the control component comprises a
control area network bus
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communicatively coupled to the first generic device, the control component
comprises a second
wireless communication device, the control component is configured to generate
and
communicate one or more packets of information corresponding to the first
generic device, the
control component is configured to receive a first command for controlling one
or more features
of the first generic device, the control component is configured to detect an
indication of
occupancy of the automated furniture item, and the control component is
configured to generate
and communicate a second command for controlling the one or more features of
the first generic
device, wherein the second command is generated based at least in part on the
indication of
occupancy; and a remote device wirelessly coupled to the control component,
said remote
device comprising a third wireless communication device, wherein the remote
device is
configured to: receive the one or more packets of information corresponding to
the first generic
device, and generate and communicate the first command for controlling the one
or more
features of the first generic device.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a
method
for integrating generic devices with automated furniture items, the method
comprising:
receiving, by a control component of an automated furniture item, an
indication of at least one
generic device wirelessly coupled to the control component, wherein the at
least one generic
device is external to the control component, and wherein the first generic
device is an automated
furniture accessory; generating and communicating, by the control component,
one or more
packets of information corresponding to the at least one generic device to a
remote device
wirelessly coupled to the control component; receiving a first command from
the remote device,
wherein the first command corresponds to one or more features of the at least
one generic
device; wirelessly communicating the received first command from the control
component to
the at least one generic device; receiving an indication of occupancy
associated with the
automated furniture item; based at least in part on the received indication of
occupancy,
determining a second command corresponding to a feature of the at least one
generic device;
and wirelessly communicating the determined second command from the control
component to
the at least one generic device.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-21
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According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a
method
for establishing a particular user environment corresponding to occupancy
detection for an
automated furniture item coupled to at least one generic device, the method
comprising:
generating and communicating, by a control component, one or more packets of
information
corresponding to at least one generic device to a remote device wirelessly
coupled to the control
component; receiving an indication of a particular user environment selection
from the remote
device, the particular user environment selection comprising a set of commands
corresponding
to settings of the particular user environment for the at least one generic
device coupled to a
control component of the automated furniture item; communicating at least one
primary
.. command corresponding to the received user environment selection from the
control component
to the at least one generic device wirelessly coupled to the control
component; receiving an
indication of a change in occupancy detection associated with the automated
furniture item;
determining at least one secondary command based at least in part on: (1) the
set of commands
for the at least one generic device; and (2) the received change in occupancy
detection; and
.. communicating the at least one secondary command to the at least one
generic device coupled
to the control component.
Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be
set forth in
part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to
those skilled in the art
upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the
invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the
attached drawing figures, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a system for integrating automated furniture accessories with
automated furniture items, in accordance with an einbodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is the system of FIG. 1 for integrating automated furniture accessories
with automated furniture items, including a plurality of packets of a
communication protocol,
in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for integrating automated furniture
accessories with automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment
of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for integrating automated furniture
accessories with automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment
of the
invention;
FIG. 5 is a system for integrating generic devices with automated furniture
items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a system for integrating generic devices with automated furniture
items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for integrating generic devices with
automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
and
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method for integrating generic devices with
automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a system 10 for integrating automated furniture accessories
with automated furniture items is seen in FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 1,
the system 10
generally includes a control component 12 having a wireless communication
device 14, a
controller area network (CAN) bus 16, integrated features 18 including a head
motor 20 and a
foot motor 22, and an automated furniture accessory 24 coupled to the CAN bus
16 of the
control component 12. Further, the control component 12 is depicted as being
in wireless
communication with a remote device 26 having a data port 28 and a wireless
communication
device 110.
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In one embodiment, control component 12 controls various features of an
automated furniture item that are operated based on commands received by the
control
component 12. For example, the control component 12 may control integrated
features 18
that are integral to the operation of the automated furniture item, such as a
head motor 20 that
raises and lowers the head of an adjustable bed. Although exemplary integrated
features 18
are shown in FIG. 1, such as the head motor 20 and the foot motor 22, it
should be
understood that any number or combination of integrated features 18 may be
coupled to the
control component 12, such as a massage motor, a programming port, a wired
remote device,
and the like.
In some embodiments, the control component 12 includes a processor and a
memory capable of receiving and processing commands that are identifiable
using the
firmware of the control component 12. For example, the control component 12
may receive a
command to operate one or more of the integrated features 18 coupled to the
automated
furniture item. Accordingly, a remote device 26 may receive an input command
from a user,
which the remote device 26 transmits, wirelessly, to the wireless
communication device 14 of
control component 12, using wireless communication device 110. The command may
relate
to one or more of the integrated features 18 coupled to the control component
12, such as a
command to lower both the head and the foot of an automated bed (using head
motor 20 and
foot motor 22).
Wireless communication device 14 may be used in the transmission of
wireless commands to and from the control component 12. As such, wireless
communication
device 14 may be any wireless communication device used to transmit wireless
communication to and from one or more remote devices that communicate
wirelessly with
the control component 12. For example, the wireless communication device 14
may be a
wireless device that executes a two-way communication protocol, such as a MiWi
and/or
Zigbee protocol. In further embodiments, wireless communication device 14
communicates
using 2.4G1Iz protocols, including 2.4G1Iz side bands or 2.4111z stacks.
Additionally, in one
example, wireless communication device 14 may execute a R1-.4CE protocol. In
some
embodiments, wireless communication device 14 is used to communicate
wirelessly between
the control component 12 and the remote device 26, which may also be referred
to as a
remote control.
In addition to communicating via wireless communication device 14, the
control component 12 may also interact with external devices that are coupled
to the control
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component 12, such as the automated furniture accessory 24 coupled to the CAN
bus 16 of
the control component 12. In embodiments, the CAN bus 16 may directly or
indirectly
couple one or more automated furniture accessories 24 to the control component
12. In one
example, integrated features 18 may be directly coupled to the control
component 12 (e.g.,
distributed with the control component 12 upon manufacture of the automated
furniture
device), while automated furniture accessories 24 may be coupled to the
control component
12 at any time (e.g., after purchase of the automated furniture item having
the control
component 12). In other words, in some enthodiments, automated furniture
accessories 24
may be coupled to the control component 12 of an automated furniture item that
was not sold
with such accessories.
In embodiments of the present invention, remote device 26 may be used to
control one or more automated furniture accessories 24 coupled to a control
component 12 of
an automated furniture item. For example, an automated furniture accessory 24,
such as an
electric heating blanket, may be plugged in to the CAN bus 16 of the control
component 12.
Upon connection with the CAN bus 16, items of infoimation regarding the
particular
automated furniture accessory 24 plugged into the CAN bus 16 may be
transmitted to the
control component 12. Such items of information may include the identity of
the automated
furniture accessory 24, its manufacturer, a particular type of device (such as
a type of heating
blanket), general identifying information, placeholders, and other types of
information that
are identifiable by the control component 12. In some embodiments, items of
identifying
information may be retrieved from the automated furniture accessory 24 by the
control
component 12, by virtue of the connection via CAN bus 16.
Having received identifying infounation regarding the particular automated
furniture accessory 24 plugged in to the CAN bus 16, control component 12 may
then
transmit one or more packets of information to the remote device 26, such as a
remote
control, according to a communication protocol. The remote device 26 receives
the items of
information over a wireless connection between the control component 12 and
the remote
device 26, utilizing the wireless communication device 14. In embodiments, the
packets of
information communicated between control component 12 and remote device 26
identify the
particular automated furniture accessory 24 according to a protocol for
communication
between the control component 12 and the remote device 26. In further
embodiments,
control component 12 acts as a 2-way wireless/CAN bridge such that an
automated furniture
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accessory 24 (e.g., an inexpensive CAN accessory) can receive direct commands
from the
remote device 26.
In another example, a communication protocol may specify particular packets
of information that are required to be received by the remote device 26 before
the remote
device 26 can remotely direct the operation of the automated furniture
accessory 24.
Referring now to FIG. 2, packets of information 30 may be transmitted between
control
component 12 and remote device 26 using wireless communication device 14. Such
exemplary packets may include a header packet 32, a message ID packet 34,
message content
packet 36, and a device ID packet 38. As will be understood, the type and
number of packets
transmitted as part of the communication protocol may vary, and any number of
packets may
be communicated between the control component 12 and the automated furniture
accessory
24.
In one embodiment, header packet 32 provides information that identifies
items such as a type of sender of a packet, a type of intended receiver of the
packet, a
message type, and the like. For example, header packet 32 may identify a
control component
12 as the sender of a packet of data according to a communication protocol. In
another
embodiment, message ID packet 34 provides information regarding a CAN bus
and/or MiWi
wireless communication device 14 involved in a transmission according to a
communication
protocol. For example, a message ID packet 34 may identify CAN bus 16 as being
involved
with the transmission according to a communication protocol. As such, the
header packet 32
and/or the message ID packet 34 provide identifying information regarding the
sender and
receiver of a message, and the type of message that will be transmitted using
one or more
devices.
In further embodiments, a message content packet 36 provides the content of a
message transmitted according to a communication protocol. For example, a
message
content packet 36 may include instructions to manipulate one or more automated
furniture
accessories 24 coupled to the CAN bus 16 of a control component 12. As such,
in some
embodiments, message content packet 36 may include status data 40 and/or
command data
42. In embodiments, status data 40 provides a status of one or more devices
coupled to the
control component 12. For example, status data 40 may indicate, as part of a
message
content packet 36, whether an automated furniture accessory 24 (such as a
heating blanket) is
turned to a highest power. Similarly, command data 42 may indicate, as part of
a message
content packet 36, a particular command directed at one or more devices
coupled to the
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control component 12. For example, command data 42 may indicate, as part of a
message
content packet 36, a direction to manipulate one or more features of an
automated furniture
accessory 24 coupled to the control component 12, such as directing the
lowering of
temperature on a heating blanket.
In yet another embodiment, exemplary packets of information 30 may include
a device ID packet 38 that specifically identifies one or more items of
hardware coupled to
the control component 12. For example, device ID packet 38 may indicate a
particular type
of automated furniture accessory 24 for control by the remote device 26.
Accordingly, any
number of device ID packets 38 may be transmitted between control component 12
and
.. remote device 26.
In some embodiments, a communication protocol for controlling one or more
automated furniture accessories 24 coupled to the control component 12 may
include the
transmission of one or more packets of information 30 between the control
component 12 and
the remote device 26. As such, in some embodiments, a control component 12 may
determine one or more packets of information 30 to transmit to remote device
26. The
determined one or more packets of information 30 may then enable the remote
device 26 to
control one or more automated furniture accessories 24 coupled to the control
component 12,
by virtue of the wireless connection between the remote device 26 and the
control component
19.
In some embodiments, an automated furniture accessory 24 may be associated
with one or more items of updateable information that may be changed after a
user has
initially coupled the particular automated furniture accessory 24 to the
control component 12.
In other words, after a remote device 26 has been configured to control a
particular automated
furniture accessory 24, one or more updates may become available for the
automated
.. furniture accessory 24. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the firmware of
remote device
26 may be updated using data port 28. Data port 28 may be any feature
associated with the
remote device 26 that is capable of receiving data, such as a USB port. In one
example, an
updated feature of the automated furniture accessory 24 may be communicated to
the control
component 12 based on inputting the new and/or updated information into data
port 28, such
as plugging in a USB device containing such updated information.
In a further embodiment, a new and/or updated automated furniture accessory
24 may be coupled to the control component 12. In one embodiment, the control
component
12 may be unable to recognize the newly-added automated furniture accessory
24. For
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example, the control component 12 may have been manufactured without the
ability to
recognize and/or process particular commands associated with the new and/or
updated
automated furniture accessory 24. In another example, the control component 12
may be
unable to determine one or more items of information to communicate according
to the
communication protocol, in order to delegate control of the automated
furniture accessory 24
to the remote device 26. As such, one or more updates may be provided to the
remote device
26 via data port 28, and communicated from the remote device 26 to the control
component
12 using wireless communication device 14. Accordingly, the remote device 26
may receive
updates via data port 28, communicate such updates to the control component
12, and enable
the control component 12 to exchange communication with the remote device 26
regarding
the control of the automated furniture accessory 24.
Referring next to FIG. 3, an exemplary flow diagram 44 of a method for
integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items is
provided. At
block 46, an indication of an automated furniture accessory coupled to a
control component is
received. For example, such an indication may be received based on plugging an
automated
furniture accessory 24 into a CAN bus 16. At block 48, one or more packets of
information
associated with the automated furniture accessory are identified. As discussed
above, in
some embodiments, a control component 12 may identify one or more items and/or
packets
of information 30 according to a communication protocol for control of the
automated
furniture accessory 24 by a remote device 26. As such, at block 50, at least
one of the one or
more packets of information is communicated to a remote device that is then
adapted to
control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory based on the
communication between the remote device and the control component. For
example, having
received one or more packets of information 30 from the control component 12,
the remote
device 26 may control one or more features of the automated furniture
accessory 24.
Turning now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram 52 of a method for integrating
automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items is provided. At
block 54, one
or more items of identifying information associated with at least one
automated furniture
accessory coupled to a control component are received. For example, a control
component
12 may receive items of identifying information (e.g., a device type or a
manufacturer)
associated with a particular automated furniture accessory 24. At block 56, at
least one of the
one or more items of identifying information is communicated to a remote
device, with the
remote device being in wireless, two-way communication with the control
component, and
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one or more features of the at least one automated furniture accessory being
controlled by the
remote device based on communication of the at least one of the one or more
items of
identifying information. Accordingly, in one embodiment, features of an
automated furniture
accessory 24 may be controlled by the remote device 26 based on communication
between
the remote device 26 and the control component 12. In other words, by virtue
of the direct
connection of the automated furniture accessory 24 to the CAN bus 16 of the
control
component 12, as well as the wireless connection between the remote device 26
and the
wireless communication device 14 of control component 12, the remote device 26
may
control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory 24.
An embodiment of a system 58 for integrating automated furniture accessories
and generic devices with automated furniture items is seen in FIG. 5. In the
embodiment of
FIG. 5, the system 58 generally includes a control component 60 having a
wireless
communication device 62, a controller area network (CAN) bus 64, and an
automated
furniture accessory 66 coupled to the CAN bus 64 of the control component 60.
Further, the
control component 60 is depicted as being in wireless communication with a
remote device
68 having a wireless communication device 70 and a data port 72. In one
embodiment,
control component 60 controls various features of a user environment based on
commands
received by the control component 60. For example, the control component 60
may control
generic device 74, having a wireless communication device 76 configured to
communicate
with the wireless communication device 62 of control component 60. As used
herein, a
generic device 74 refers to an external device configured to wirelessly couple
to a control
component of an automated furniture item. In one embodiment, a generic device
refers to
one or more devices used to establish a feature of a selected user
environment, such as a
lighting element, heating element, sound element, and/or other user
environment device.
Additionally, although a single, exemplary generic device 74 is shown in FIG.
5, it should be
understood that any number or combination of generic devices 74 may be coupled
to the
control component 60.
In some embodiments, the control component 60 includes a processor and a
memory capable of receiving and processing commands that are identifiable
using the
firmware of the control component 60. For example, the control component 60
may receive a
command to operate one or more generic devices 74 in wireless communication
with the
automated furniture item coupled to control component 60.
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Accordingly, a remote device 68 may receive an input command from a user,
which the remote device 68 transmits, wirelessly, to the wireless
communication device 62 of
control component 60, using wireless communication device 70. The command may
relate to
one or more generic devices 74 in wireless communication with (i.e.,
wirelessly coupled to)
the control component 60, such as a command to control a generic device
external to the
control component 60. In embodiments, remote device 68 is a wireless, handheld
device,
such as a remote controller, smartphone, and/or tablet device configured to
communicate with
the control component 60 using a wireless connection. In one embodiment, the
remote
device 68 is configured to communicate one or more commands to the control
component 60,
while in further embodiments, the remote device 68 provides an indication of
presence to the
control component 60. For example, in one embodiment, remote device 68 may be
configured to provide an indication of proximity of a user of the remote
device 68 to the
control component 60 of an automated furniture item. In one embodiment, a
proximity
profile of a wireless remote device 68, such as a smartphone and/or tablet
device, may
provide an occupancy indication of a user of an automated furniture item.
In embodiments, wireless communication device 62 may be used in the
transmission of wireless commands to and from the control component 60. As
such, wireless
communication device 62 may be any wireless communication device used to
transmit
wireless communication to and from one or more remote devices 68 that
communicate
wirelessly with the control component 60. For example, the wireless
communication device
62 may be a wireless device that executes a two-way communication protocol,
such as a
MiWi and/or Zigbee protocol. In further embodiments, wireless communication
device 62
communicates using 2.4GHz protocols, including 2.4GHz side bands or 2.4GHz
stacks.
Additionally, in one example, wireless communication device 62 may execute a
RF4CE
protocol. In some embodiments, wireless communication device 62 is used to
communicate
wirelessly between the control component 60 and the remote device 68, which
may also be
referred to as a remote control.
In addition to communicating via wireless communication device 62, the
control component 60 may also interact with external devices that are coupled
to the control
component 60, such as the automated furniture accessory 66 coupled to the CAN
bus 64 of
the control component 60. In embodiments, CAN bus 64 may directly or
indirectly couple
one or more automated furniture accessories 66 to control component 60. In one
example, an
automated furniture accessory 66 may be directly coupled to the control
component 60 (e.g.,
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distributed with the control component 60 upon manufacture of the automated
furniture
device), while in further embodiments, an automated furniture accessory 66 may
be coupled
to the control component 60 at any time (e.g., after purchase of the automated
furniture item
having the control component 60). In other words, in some embodiments, an
automated
furniture accessory 66 may be coupled to the control component 60 of an
automated furniture
item that was not sold with such accessories. In embodiments of the present
invention,
remote device 68 may be used to control one or more automated furniture
accessories 66
coupled to a control component 60 of an automated furniture item. Accordingly,
remote
device 68 may be used to wirelessly control an automated furniture accessory
66 coupled to
control component 60 based on a command communicated from wireless
communication
device 70 to wireless communication device 62.
In further embodiments, remote device 68 may be used to indirectly control
one or more generic devices 74 wirelessly coupled to the control component 60.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, a wireless communication protocol utilized
between the
wireless communication device 70 and the wireless communication device 62 may
correspond to a wireless communication protocol utilized between the wireless
communication device 62 and the wireless communication device 76. In one
embodiment,
packets of information communicated from remote device 68 to control component
60 (i.e.,
between wireless communication device 70 and wireless communication device 62,
respectively), may identify a particular generic device 74 as an intended
recipient device of
the packets of information. For example, a command received from a user of the
remote
device 68 may provide instructions to the control component 60 to activate a
particular
feature of a user environment 112, such as dimming lights. Accordingly, a
light fixture
associated with generic device 74 may receive a command transmitted from
wireless
communication device 62 to wireless communication device 76. In other words,
control
component 60 serves as a central repository for commands related to the user
environment
112, by virtue of the common wireless communication protocol utilized between
the remote
device 68, the control component 60, and the generic device 74.
In another example, a wireless communication protocol may specify particular
packets of information communicated between the remote device 68 and the
control
component 60, and between one or more generic devices 74 and the control
component 60.
As discussed above with reference to FIG. 2, exemplary packets of information
may be
transmitted between a control component and a remote device, which may include
a header
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packet, a message Ill packet, message content packet, and a device ID packet.
As will be
understood, the type and number of packets transmitted as part of the wireless
communication protocol may vary, and any number of packets may be communicated
between the remote device 68 and the control component 60, and control
component 60 and
the generic device 74.
In one embodiment, a header packet provides information that identifies items
such as a type of sender of a packet, a type of intended receiver of the
packet, a message type,
and the like. For example, a header packet may identify a control component 60
as the
sender of a packet of data according to a wireless communication protocol. In
another
embodiment, a message ID packet may provide infonnation regarding a CAN bus
and/or
MiWi wireless communication device involved in a transmission according to a
communication protocol. For example, a message ID packet may identify CAN bus
64 as
being involved with the transmission according to a communication protocol. As
such, the
header packet and/or the message ID packet provides identifying information
regarding the
sender and receiver of a message, and the type of message that will be
transmitted using one
or more devices.
In further embodiments, a message content packet provides the content of a
message transmitted according to a wireless communication protocol. For
example, a
message content packet may include instructions to manipulate one or more
generic devices
74 coupled to the control component 60 based on wireless communication between
the
wireless communication device 62 and the wireless communication device 76. As
such, in
some embodiments, a message content packet may include status data and/or
command data.
In embodiments, status data provides a status of one or more devices coupled
to the control
component 60. For example, status data may indicate, as part of a message
content packet,
whether a generic device 74 is turned on, and to what level of power it is
currently set.
Similarly, command data may indicate, as part of a message content packet, a
particular
command directed at one or more generic devices 74 coupled to the control
component 60.
In yet another embodiment, exemplary packets of infoimation may include a
device ID packet that specifically identifies one or more items of hardware
coupled to the
control component 60. For example, a device ID packet may indicate a
particular type of
automated furniture accessory 66 for control by the remote device 68 (via
control component
60). Accordingly, any number of device Ill packets may be transmitted between
control
component 60 and remote device 68. In further embodiments, a device ID packet
may
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indicate a particular type of generic device 74 for control by the remote
device 68 (via control
component 60).
In some embodiments, a communication protocol for controlling one or more
generic devices 74 coupled to the control component 60 may include the
transmission of one
or more packets of information between the control component 60 and the remote
device 68,
and one or more packets of information between the control component 60 and
the generic
device 74. As such, in some embodiments, a control component 60 may determine
one or
more packets of information to transmit to remote device 68. The determined
one or more
packets of information may then enable the remote device 68 to indirectly
control one or
more generic devices 74 wirelessly coupled to the control component 60, by
virtue of the
wireless connection between the wireless communication devices 70, 62, and 76.
In some embodiments, generic device 74 may be associated with one or more
items of updateable information that may be changed after a user has
initially, vvirelessly
coupled the particular generic device 74 to the control component 60. In other
words, after a
remote device 68 has been configured to control a particular generic device 74
via the control
component 60, one or more updates may become available for the generic device
74.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, the firmware of remote device 68 may be
updated using
data port 72. Data port 72 may be any feature associated with the remote
device 68 that is
capable of receiving data, such as a USB port. In one example, an updated
feature of the
generic device 74 may be communicated to the control component 60 based on
inputting the
new and/or updated information into data port 72, such as plugging in a USB
device
containing such updated information.
In a further embodiment, a new and/or updated generic device 74 may be
coupled to the control component 60. In one embodiment, the control component
60 may be
unable to recognize the newly-added generic device 74. As such, one or more
updates may
be provided to the remote device 68 via data port 72, and communicated from
the remote
device 68 to the control component 60 using wireless communication devices 70
and 62.
Accordingly, the remote device 68 may receive updates via data port 72,
communicate such
updates to the control component 60, and enable the control component 60 to
exchange
communication with the remote device 68 regarding the control of the generic
device 74.
With reference to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a system 58 for integrating
automated furniture accessories and generic devices with automated furniture
items is shown.
In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the system 78 generally includes a control
component 60
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having a wireless communication device 62, a controller area network (CAN) bus
64, and an
automated furniture accessory 66 coupled to the CAN bus 64 of the control
component 60.
Further, the control component 60 is depicted as being in wireless
communication with a
remote device 68 having a wireless communication device 70 and a data port 72.
In one
embodiment, control component 60 controls various features of a user
environment based on
commands received by the control component 60. For example, the control
component 60
may control multiple types of generic devices having wireless communication
devices
configured to communicate with the wireless communication device 62 of control
component
60. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the control component 60 is coupled
to an
under-bed lighting controller 80, having a wireless communication device 82,
and an AC
socket controller 84, having a wireless communication device 86. Although the
control
component is coupled to two "generic" devices (the under-bed lighting
controller 80 and the
AC socket controller 84) in FIG. 6, it should be understood that any number or
combination
of generic devices may be wirelessly coupled to the control component 60.
In one embodiment, a control component 60 may be used to establish a
particular user environment 112, having one or more customizable features that
satisfy one or
more requests from a user of an automated furniture item. For example, the
user of the
automated furniture item coupled to control component 60 may provide an
indication to the
remote device 68 that the user selects a particular user environment setting,
such as an
evening setting from a set of "favorites" environment profiles. Upon selection
of the
particular user environment setting, the remote device 68 may communicate a
set of
commands to the control component 60 for distribution (by the control
component 60) to one
or more generic devices 74 coupled to the control component 60. As such, a
single indication
to the remote device 68 may trigger a series of commands to be executed by the
various
generic devices 74 coupled to the control component 60. In a further
embodiment, in
response to a single indication of a particular user environment (received by
the remote
device 68 and communicated to the control component 60), control component 60
detemiines
a set of commands corresponding to the received user environment selection. In
one
embodiment, a set of commands corresponding to a selected user environment may
include
both commands for execution by a control component 60 and commands for
execution by
one or more generic devices coupled to the control component 60. For example,
a control
component 60 may be directly coupled to the motor of an automated bed, and
wirelessly
coupled to an external lighting fixture (i.e., a generic device). As such, a
set of commands
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received by the control component 60 may be directed to an intended
"recipient" of such
commands based on the communication between the remote device 68, the control
component 60, and one or more generic devices 74.
In another embodiment, a control component 60 may be used to establish a
particular user environment 112 based on receipt of an indication of occupancy
received by
the control component 60 coupled to an automated furniture item.
For example, an occupancy detection system may be coupled to the control
component 60, such as the capacitive occupancy detection system and/or method
described in
one or more of the following: U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application
13/346,386, entitled
"Capacitive Wire Sensing for Furniture," filed January 9, 2012; U.S.
Nonprovisional Patent
Application 13/749,120, entitled "Capacitive Wire Sensing for Furniture,"
filed January 24,
2013; and U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application 13/854,720, entitled
"Occupancy
Detection for Furniture," filed April 1, 2013. As such, a presence-sensing
technology (e.g., a
system coupled to and/or integrated with the control component 60, and/or
method of
presence-sensing performed by the control component 60 and/or additional
components
coupled to the control component 60) may be used to detect the presence or
absence of a user
of an automated furniture item. As such, a presence-sensing technology may be
used to
detect the presence or absence of a user of an automated furniture item. Based
on such
presence detection, the control component 60 may then direct the corresponding
commands
to generate a desired user environment 112 based on a previously-determined
set of
commands corresponding to a particular user environment setting. In
embodiments, the
commands corresponding to a particular user environment setting may be
communicated
from the control component 60 to one or more generic devices 74, such as an
under-bed
lighting controller 80 and/or AC socket controller 84.
For example, a control component 60 of an automated furniture item, such as a
bed, may receive a command from a user via the remote device 68 to select an
"evening" user
environment setting. In response to the command input into the remote device
68, and
communicated from the wireless communication device 70 to the wireless
communication
device 62 of the control component 60, the control component 60 may direct
commands
corresponding to one or more generic devices 74. For example, the control
component 60
may deliver commands corresponding to one or more settings and/or energy
levels of one or
more generic devices 74. For example, to establish the "evening" user
environment setting
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selected by a user of the remote device 68, the control component 60 may
direct the under-
bed lighting controller 80 to provide dimmed light, while the AC socket
controller 84 may be
directed to turn on a device plugged into the socket, such as a particular
lamp. Accordingly, a
subsequent indication of user presence received by the control component 60
may cause one
or more changes to the settings established as part of the "evening" user
environment setting.
In some embodiments, based on the indication of the user's presence (e.g.,
detected using
presence-sensing technology such as a capacitive wire sensing technology
integrated into the
automated furniture item), a predetermined set of commands corresponding to a
particular
"evening" favorites and/or user environment setting may be executed by the
control
component 60. As such, the control component 60 may deliver the corresponding
commands
to individual, generic devices 74 according to the detected change in presence
sensing and its
relation to the particular room settings. In
embodiments, based on the wireless
communication protocol between the control component 60 and the individual,
generic
devices 74, one or more features of the user environment 112 may be changed in
response to
commands received from the control component 60. In one example, a user's
presence may
be detected on an automated bed, after which the control component 60 coupled
to the
automated bed directs the under-bed lighting controller 80 to turn off the
under-bed lights,
and similarly, directs the AC socket controller 84 to turn off a lamp coupled
to the AC socket
controller 84. In another example, a user may temporarily exit the bed, at
which time the
control component 60 may direct the under-bed lighting controller 80 to
illuminate, while the
control component 60 need not also activate the AC socket controller 84.
Accordingly, in
response to a presence detection, a corresponding change in one or more
features of a user
environment may be triggered by a command received from the control component
60.
Referring next to FIG. 7, an exemplary flow diagram 88 for integrating
.. generic devices with an automated furniture item is provided. At block 90,
a command is
received from a remote device. In embodiments, the received command may
include a
received selection of a particular user environment, while in other
embodiments, the received
command may correspond directly to a particular generic device coupled to the
control
component. At block 92, a command destination is identified for the received
command. For
example, a received command including a selection of a particular user
environment may
include multiple commands for delivery to multiple generic devices coupled to
a control
component. In another embodiment, the received command may relate directly to
a
particular generic device, for which the control component determines the
command' s
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destination (i.e., determines to send the command received from the remote
device to the
intended recipient ¨ the particular generic device). As such, at block 94, a
command is
delivered to its destination.
Turning now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram 96 of a method for integrating generic
devices with automated furniture items is provided. At block 98, occupancy
detection
information is received. At block 100, a selection of a particular user
environment is
received from the remote device. As such, at block 102, a plurality of command
destinations
are identified from the selected user environment. For example, a plurality of
generic devices
may correspond to the settings of a particular user environment, such as a
generic device for
lighting, a generic device for sound, etc. At block 104, the commands
corresponding to the
user environment settings are delivered (e.g., primary commands) to the
plurality of
destinations (e.g., multiple generic devices used to create the selected user
environment
and/or commands directed to the control component). Accordingly, at block 106,
a
subsequent change in occupancy detection is received by the control component
of the
automated furniture item, which indicates a change in occupancy since the
initial occupancy
determination was received. In response to the received change in occupancy,
at block 108, a
command(s) (e.g., secondary command(s)) is delivered to a destination, such as
a subsequent
command delivered to a particular generic device. For example, a user
environment may be
established having dimmed lights and light music. Upon an occupant exiting the
automated
furniture item, a command directing the lighting to increase in intensity may
be delivered to a
generic device, such as a lamp coupled to a wireless AC socket controller.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to
attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other
advantages, which are
obvious and inherent to the structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility
and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.
This is
contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter
herein set forth or
shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and
not in a limiting
sense.
