IP Library Granted Patent US 8,078,337
Granted Patent B2
US 8,078,337 · App. 11/875,864 · Granted Dec 13, 2011

Control of an adjustable bed through a network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,078,337
App. No.
11/875,864
Granted
Dec 13, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adjustable bed is controlled through a network. When controlled through a telephone network, a phone provides communication with a control box for the adjustable bed, and optionally a second system associated with the bed and controlled through the control box. When controlled through an internetwork such as the Internet, functions of the adjustable bed and optionally functions of a second system associated with the adjustable bed can be controlled. The network can be wired, wireless, near field, or wide band.

Claims (39)

1. A method comprising:

identifying, on a wireless device having a touch screen, both a first control for an articulating adjustment that is supported by a controller of an articulating, adjustable bed and a second control for a second system that is supported by the controller of the articulating, adjustable bed, wherein the second system is selected from the group consisting of a lighting system, an air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, and alarm clock, a music player, a telephone and a video system;

presenting, on the touch screen, a first visual representation of the first control and a second visual representation of the second control, the first visual representation graphically depicting a physical state of the articulating adjustment;

receiving a user input via the touch screen for at least one of the first control and the second control; and

in response to the user input, communicating a signal from the wireless device to the controller to change a state of the articulating, adjustable bed in accordance with the user input.

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

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

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

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

presenting the first and second visual representations includes presenting a plurality of functions for each of the first and second controls, the plurality of functions including an increase function, a decrease function, and a store function.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the functions are presented in a circular arrangement along with functions of other controls supported by the controller, and wherein the circular arrangement is divided into sections, each of which corresponds to a control supported by the controller.

7. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer code that, when run on a wireless device having a touch screen, performs the following steps:

identifying both a first control for an articulating adjustment that is supported by a controller of an articulating, adjustable bed and a second control for a second system that is supported by the controller of the articulating, adjustable bed, wherein the second system is selected from the group consisting of a lighting system, and air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, an MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, an alarm clock, a music player, a telephone and a video system;

presenting, on the touch screen, a first visual representation of the first control and a second visual representation of the second control, the first visual representation graphically depicting a physical state of the articulating adjustment;

receiving a user input via the touch screen for at least one of the first control and the second control; and

in response to the user input, communicating a signal from the wireless device to the controller to change a state of the articulating, adjustable bed in accordance with the user input.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the second system is the lighting system.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the second system is the air purification system.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the second system is the telephone.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein:

presenting the first and second visual representations includes presenting a plurality of functions of reach of the first and second controls, the plurality of functions including an increase function, a decrease function, and a store function.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the functions are presented in a circular arrangement along with functions of controls supported by the controller, and wherein the circular arrangement is divided into sections, each of which corresponds to a control supported by the controller.

13. A system, comprising:

a wireless device having:

a touch screen;

a first control for an articulating adjustment that is supported by a controller of an articulating, adjustable bed; and

a second control for a second system that is supported by the controller of the articulating, adjustable bed, wherein

the second system is selected from the group consisting of:

a lighting system, an air purification system, an audio system, a CD player, and MP3 player, a DVD player, a lamp, an alarm clock, a music player, a telephone and a video system, and wherein

the wireless device is adapted to perform the following steps:

presenting, on the touch screen, a first visual representation of the first control and a second visual representation of the second control, the first visual representation graphically depicting a physical state of the articulating adjustment;

receiving a user input via the touch screen for at least one of the first control and the second control; and

in response to the user input, communicating a signal from the wireless device to the controller to change a state of the articulating, adjustable bed in accordance with the user input.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second system is the lighting system.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second system is the air purification system.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second system is the telephone.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein:

presenting the first and second visual representations includes presenting a plurality of functions for each of the first and second controls, the plurality of functions including an increase function, a decrease function, and a store function.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein presenting the plurality of functions includes presenting the plurality of functions in a circular arrangement along with functions of other controls supported by the controller, and wherein the circular arrangement is divided into sections, each of which corresponds to a control supported by the controller.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 11855354 · Sep 14, 2007
Provisional Application 60825607 · Sep 14, 2006
Related Publication 20080115280A1 · May 22, 2008