IP Library Granted Patent US 10,092,242
Granted Patent B2
US 10,092,242 · App. 14/988,428 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Bed with user occupancy tracking

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,092,242
App. No.
14/988,428
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

If a user enters a bed, a sensor in the pump of the bed can detect the user's presence in the bed.

Claims (53)

1. A method performed by data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receiving, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identifying, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each received pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value:

calculating, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determining, by the computing device, the difference between the pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, engaging a peripheral device comprising engaging the peripheral device in a way that physically alters an environment around the mattress.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises:

determining that the mattress is occupied for a threshold period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises:

determining that the time of day is within a particular window of time.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the particular window of time is determined from historical data.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device comprises:

determining that the user is asleep on the mattress.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, based on the stream of pump pressure readings, a supplemental indication of presence in the bed; and

wherein, responsive to the computing device determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device further comprises:

combining the supplemental indication of presence in the bed with the determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the supplemental indication of presence in the bed comprises identifying biological activity by an occupant of the bed.

8. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising modifying the threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8 , the method wherein the threshold value is modified to account for seasonality.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the threshold value is modified to account for growth of the user.

11. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising updating a user-facing computer interface to show that a user is detected in the bed.

12. A method performed by data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receiving, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identifying, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each received pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value:

calculating, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determining, by the computing device, the difference between the pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event, storing a value in computer readable memory, and engaging a peripheral device wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.

13. A bed system comprising:

a mattress having an air bladder;

a pressure sensor fluidically connected to the air bladder; and

a controller in communication with the pressure sensors and configured to receive pressure signals from the pressure sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, by a computing device, that a mattress is unoccupied;

receive, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording the air pressure of the mattress;

identify, by the computing device, an increase in pump pressure readings within a time window;

after identifying the increase in pump pressure readings within the time window and for each pump pressure readings, until the computing device determines that a difference is significant compared to a threshold value:

calculate, by the computing device, a trailing average pressure that represents an average of N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings; and

determine, by the computing device, the difference between the received pump pressure reading and the trailing average pressure; and

responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, engage a peripheral device comprising engaging the peripheral device in a way that physically alters an environment around the mattress;

a pump fluidically connected to the air bladder, wherein the controller comprises a pump controller for driving the pump to inflate the air bladder to a desired pressure upon command by a user.

14. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising, responsive to the computing device determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value, performing one of the group consisting of: issuing a presence event; and storing a value in computer readable memory.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.

16. The bed system of claim 13 , wherein the bed system further comprises means for data network communication with a user device.

17. The bed system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify, based on the stream of pump pressure readings, a supplemental indication of presence in the bed; and

wherein, responsive to the computing device determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, engage a peripheral device further comprises:

combining the supplemental indication of presence in the bed with the determining that the difference is significant compared to the threshold value.

18. The bed system of claim 13 , wherein the pressure sensor is a component of the pump.

19. The bed system of claim 13 , wherein the peripheral device is one of the group consisting of a lighting device, a television, a thermostat, a security system, a garage door, an oven, a coffee maker, a window blind, and a door.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2018
From: SLEEP NUMBER CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047505/0815 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2018
From: SLEEP NUMBER CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 044943/0560 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 15, 2017
From: SELECT COMFORT CORPORATION
To: SLEEP NUMBER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044456/0132 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2016
From: NUNN, ROB; PALASHEWSKI, WADE DANIEL; ERKO, ROBERT
To: SELECT COMFORT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039142/0845 →
Cited By (44)
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