Enhanced motion-enabled sleep surface

1 . A system, said system comprising:

a rocking bed structure that includes an upper frame and one or more actuators configured to move the upper frame in accordance with at least one motion selected from the group consisting of a rocking motion, a vertical motion, and both the rocking motion and the vertical motion, wherein each motion of the at least one motion includes each phase of the following phases (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) occurring at least once:

(i) a point on the upper frame accelerates from a first endpoint to a mid-cycle range of locations between the first endpoint and a second endpoint;

(ii) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range of locations to the second endpoint;

(iii) the point on the upper frame accelerates from the second endpoint to the mid-cycle range of locations; and

(iv) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range locations to the first endpoint,

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a level detection mechanism configured to return the upper frame to a level, horizontal position,

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a pivot attached to the upper frame in an off-center position and one or more vertical motion actuators of the one or more actuators configured to achieve, during the rocking motion, designed ratios of vertical travel distance and vertical travel cycle time at a head end and a foot end of the upper frame and of associated maximum angles of the upper frame with respect to a reference surface parallel to a floor, and

wherein a commencement of motion of the upper frame from parallel to a ground or floor at a commencement point is characterized by acceleration of the upper frame from the commencement point to a mid-point of the mid-cycle range to the first end point, followed by deceleration of the upper frame from the mid-point to the first endpoint, followed by commencement of phases (i)-(iv).

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein after completion of phase (i) or phase (iii), the upper frame moves with constant velocity in the mid-cycle range of locations to an end location of the mid-cycle range of locations after which phase (ii) or phase (iv) occurs, respectively.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each motion ceases at completion of phase (i), phase (ii), phase (iii) or phase (iv) after each phase has occurred at least once.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein each motion that does not cease at completion of phase (ii) or phase (iv) is paused at completion of phase (ii) or phase (iv) after which phase (iii) or phase (i) occurs, respectively.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein each motion that does not cease at completion of phase (i) or phase (iii) is paused at completion of phase (i) or phase (iii) after which phase (ii) or phase (iv) occurs, respectively.

6 . The system of claim 1 , said system further comprising:

one or more power sources configured to provide electrical power to the one or more actuators which enables the one or more actuators to impart the rocking motion and/or the vertical motion to the upper frame and

a base frame structure that comprises a base frame and one or more pivots attached to the base frame, wherein the one or more pivots collectively support the upper frame and provide pivot points for the rocking and/or vertical motion.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the base frame structure further comprises a push rod and rocket pivoting arms coupled by the push rod, wherein each rocket pivoting arm couples a respective pivot of the one or more pivots to the base frame, and wherein the push rod, the rocket pivoting arms, the respective pivots, and rocking motion actuators of the one or more actuators are used collectively to impart the rocking motion to the upper frame.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame is a portion of: a bed, a crib, or a seat.

9 . The system of claim 1 , said system further comprising:

a control unit comprising one or more processors, said control unit being communicatively coupled to the rocking bed structure, said control unit configured to adjust parameters of the rocking motion and/or the vertical motion in response to measured biological parameters of a user positioned on the upper frame and/or measured ambient parameters in a vicinity of the user positioned on the upper frame.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the biological parameters are measured by one or more biological sensors and the ambient parameters are measured by one or more environmental sensors.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one biological sensor of the one or more biological sensors is within a smart mattress resting on, and supported by, the upper frame, and wherein the at least one biological sensor is configured to measure at least one biological parameter of the biological parameters of the user positioned on the smart mattress.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein one biological sensor of the one or more biological sensors is configured to send an emergency help alert based on at least one biological parameter of the biological parameters of the user positioned on the upper frame being indicative of a danger to the user.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the level detection mechanism comprises a kill switch configured to return the upper frame to the level, horizontal position, or to a pre-determined position, for convenience and/or safety, in response to a measured biological parameter of the user and/or an environmental parameter having a value outside of a specified range of values.

14 . A method for moving an upper frame disposed within a rocking bed structure, said method comprising:

moving, by one or more actuators, the upper frame in accordance with at least one motion selected from the group consisting of a rocking motion, a vertical motion, and both the rocking motion and the vertical motion, wherein each motion of the at least one motion includes each phase of the following phases (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) occurring at least once:

(i) a point on the upper frame accelerates from a first endpoint to a mid-cycle range of locations between the first endpoint and a second endpoint;

(ii) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range of locations to the second endpoint;

(iii) the point on the upper frame accelerates from the second endpoint to the mid-cycle range of locations; and

(iv) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range locations to the first endpoint; and

commencing motion of the upper frame from parallel to a ground or floor at a commencement point is characterized by acceleration of the upper frame from the commencement point to a mid-point of the mid-cycle range to the first end point, followed by deceleration of the upper frame from the mid-point to the first endpoint, followed by commencement of phases (i)-(iv),

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a level detection mechanism configured to return the upper frame to a level, horizontal position; and

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a pivot attached to the upper frame in an off-center position and one or more vertical motion actuators of the one or more actuators configured to achieve, during the rocking motion, designed ratios of vertical travel distance and vertical travel cycle time at a head end and a foot end of the upper frame and of associated maximum angles of the upper frame with respect to a reference surface parallel to a floor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein after completion of phase (i) or phase (iii), the upper frame moves with constant velocity in the mid-cycle range of locations to an end location of the mid-cycle range of locations after which phase (ii) or phase (iv) occurs, respectively.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each motion ceases at completion of phase (i), phase (ii), phase (iii) or phase (iv) after each phase has occurred at least once.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein each motion that does not cease at completion of phase (ii) or phase (iv) is paused at completion of phase (ii) or phase (iv) after which phase (iii) or phase (i) occurs, respectively.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each motion that does not cease at completion of phase (i) or phase (iii) is paused at completion of phase (i) or phase (iii) after which phase (ii) or phase (iv) occurs, respectively.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one motion is the rocking motion.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one motion is the vertical motion.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one motion is both the rocking motion and the vertical motion, and wherein the rocking motion and the vertical motion are each a cyclic motion comprising cycles.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the cycles of the vertical motion are in phase with the cycles of the rocking motion.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the cycles of the vertical motion are out of phase with the cycles of the rocking motion.

24 . The method of claim 14 , said method further comprising:

measuring, by one or more biological sensors, biological parameters of a user positioned on the upper frame;

measuring, by one or more environmental sensors, ambient parameters in a vicinity of the user; and

adjusting motion parameters of the rocking motion and/or the vertical motion, in response to the measured biological parameters and/or the measured ambient parameters.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the biological parameters include parameters selected from the group consisting of sleep state, degree or duration of REM sleep, extent of snoring, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, body temperature, physical movement of the user unrelated to the rocking motion and/or the vertical motion, and combinations thereof.

26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the ambient parameters include parameters selected from the group consisting of temperature, air currents, light intensity, sound level, aromas, atmospheric pressure, humidity level, seasons, times of day, and combinations thereof.

27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the parameters of the rocking motion and/or the vertical motion include parameters selected from the group consisting of an endpoint ratio of the vertical motion to the rocking motion, a cycle time ratio of the vertical motion to the rocking motion, vertical motion features, and combinations thereof.

28 . A computer program product, comprising one or more computer readable hardware storage devices having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code containing instructions executable by one or more processors of a computer system to implement a method for moving an upper frame disposed within a rocking bed structure, said method comprising:

moving, by one or more actuators, the upper frame in accordance with at least one motion selected from the group consisting of a rocking motion, a vertical motion, and both the rocking motion and the vertical motion, wherein each motion of the at least one motion includes each phase of the following phases (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) occurring at least once:

(i) a point on the upper frame accelerates from a first endpoint to a mid-cycle range of locations between the first endpoint and a second endpoint;

(ii) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range of locations to the second endpoint;

(iii) the point on the upper frame accelerates from the second endpoint to the mid-cycle range of locations; and

(iv) the point on the upper frame decelerates from the mid-cycle range locations to the first endpoint; and

commencing motion of the upper frame from parallel to a ground or floor at a commencement point is characterized by acceleration of the upper frame from the commencement point to a mid-point of the mid-cycle range to the first end point, followed by deceleration of the upper frame from the mid-point to the first endpoint, followed by commencement of phases (i)-(iv),

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a level detection mechanism configured to return the upper frame to a level, horizontal position; and

wherein the rocking bed structure includes a pivot attached to the upper frame in an off-center position and one or more vertical motion actuators of the one or more actuators configured to achieve, during the rocking motion, designed ratios of vertical travel distance and vertical travel cycle time at a head end and a foot end of the upper frame and of associated maximum angles of the upper frame with respect to a reference surface parallel to a floor.