Bed with user occupancy tracking
If a user enters a bed, a sensor in the pump of the bed can detect the user's presence in the bed.
1. A method performed by data processing apparatuses, the method comprising:
determining, by a computing device, that a mattress of a bed is unoccupied;
receiving, from a mattress pump and at a computing device, an empty pump pressure reading, the empty pump pressure reading recording air pressure of the mattress when the mattress is not subject to pressure from a person;
receiving, from the mattress pump and at a computing device, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording air pressure of the mattress when the mattress is subject to pressure from an external body;
for each received pump pressure readings:
calculating, by the computing device, a test value that includes the most recent pump pressure reading in the stream of pump pressure readings; and
determining, by the computing device, if the test value is greater than a threshold value that is greater than the empty pump pressure reading; and
responsive to the computing device determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, engaging a peripheral device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test value is a trailing average pressure that represents the average of the N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings.
3. The method of claim 1 , the method 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, 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.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the supplemental indication of presence in the bed comprises identifying biological activity by an occupant of the bed.
5. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising modifying the threshold value.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the threshold value is modified to account for seasonality.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the threshold value is modified to account for growth of the user.
8. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising updating a user-facing computer interface to show that a user is detected in the bed.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the computing device comprises a controller having a computing processor and computing memory, the controller being physically couplable to the bed; and
the pump comprises:
a motor configured to be energized in response to a command to increase pressure of the mattress; and
a pressure transducer configured to sense air-pressure of the mattress;
wherein the pump is in fluid communication with at least one air chamber of the mattress.
11. A controller configured to:
determine that a mattress is unoccupied;
receive, from a mattress pump, an empty pump pressure reading, the empty pump pressure reading recording air pressure of the mattress when the mattress is not subject to pressure from a person;
receive, from the mattress pump, a stream of pump pressure readings, the pump pressure readings recording air pressure of the mattress when the mattress is subject to pressure from an external body;
for each received pump pressure readings:
calculate a test value that includes the most recent pump pressure reading in the stream of pump pressure readings; and
determine if the test value is greater than a threshold value that is greater than the empty pump pressure reading; and
responsive to determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, engage a peripheral device.
12. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the test value is a trailing average pressure that represents the average of the N most recent pump pressure readings in the stream of pump pressure readings.
13. The controller of claim 11 , 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 determining that the test value is greater than the threshold value, 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.
14. The controller of claim 13 , wherein the supplemental indication of presence in the bed comprises identifying biological activity by an occupant of the bed.
15. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to modify the threshold value.
16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the threshold value is modified to account for seasonality.
17. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the threshold value is modified to account for growth of the user.
18. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to update a user-facing computer interface to show that a user is detected in the bed.
19. The controller of claim 11 , wherein engaging a peripheral device comprises engaging an under-bed lighting system.
20. The controller of claim 11 , wherein:
the controller comprises a computing processor and computing memory, the controller being physically couplable to the bed; and
the pump comprises:
a motor configured to be energized in response to a command to increase pressure of the mattress; and
a pressure transducer configured to sense air-pressure of the mattress;
wherein the pump is in fluid communication with at least one air chamber of the mattress.