Patent Publication Number: US-2023157445-A1

Title: Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Lift Top Coffee Table having Concealed Locking Top Compartment

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly to computer stands. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As a result of the great increase in work-from-home that has occurred recently, the organizing, arranging, storing and deploying of computer equipment has become more important in residences that have not been organized and arranged to accommodate long-term, all-day use of computers. In particular, storing computers in residences that are small or whose decor does not aesthetically match computer, and then easily, quickly and efficiently deploying the equipment for use is a big problem 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,086 discloses a table with a movable top surface, but the table in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,086 does not work well for the purposes intended in this disclosure. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein, which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. 
     In one aspect, a lift top coffee table includes a base having a bottom and four adjacent sides; a fold-down keyboard tray having a bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between a closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base, and an open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base; a four-bar linkage apparatus comprising a fold-down keyboard tray mounting apparatus being pivotally interconnected to a front pivot link at a first pivot, and being further pivotally interconnected to a rear pivot link at a second pivot, the second pivot being positioned rearwardly from the first pivot, and a table base mounting apparatus rotatably fixed to the base, the front pivot link pivotally interconnected to the table base mounting apparatus at a third pivot, the rear pivot link pivotally interconnected to the table base mounting apparatus at a fourth pivot the second pivot being positioned rearwardly from the third pivot, the rear pivot link including an extension arm that extends generally rearwardly from the fourth pivot when the fold-down keyboard tray is in the open position; and a fold-down keyboard tray biasing apparatus attached to the extension arm of the rear pivot link and to the table base mounting apparatus for biasing the fold-down keyboard tray toward the open position. 
     Apparatus, systems, and methods of varying scope are described herein. In addition to the aspects and advantages described in this summary, further aspects and advantages will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  2    is an isometric left-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  3    is an isometric right-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  4    is a front-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  5    is a top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  6    is an isometric right-side-bottom-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  7    is an isometric right-side-top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  8    is an isometric left-side-top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  9    is a right-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  10    is a top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  11    is a front-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  12    is a bottom-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
         FIG.  13    is a block diagram of a lift-top-coffee-table-control computer, according to an implementation. 
         FIG.  14    is a block diagram of a data acquisition circuit of a lift-top-coffee-table-control computer, according to an implementation. 
         FIG.  15    is a block diagram of a lift-top-coffee-table-mobile device, according to an implementation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     The detailed description is divided into five sections. In the first section, apparatus of embodiments are described. In the second section, hardware and the operating environment in conjunction with which embodiments may be practiced are described. Finally, in the third section, a conclusion of the detailed description is provided. 
     Apparatus Embodiments 
     In the previous section, a system level overview of the operation of an embodiment was described. In this section, the particular apparatus of such an embodiment are described by reference to a series of diagrams. 
       FIG.  1    is a side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  100  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  100  includes a base  102  having a bottom and four adjacent sides. 
     The lift top coffee table  100  also includes a fold-down keyboard tray  104  having a bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between a closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and an open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as a concealed locking top compartment. 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  100  also include an apparatus to moveably connect the fold-down keyboard tray  104  relative to the base  102 , such as a four-bar linkage apparatus  106  or a slide rail that raises of lower the fold-down keyboard tray  104  over the base  102  without any horizontal movement. 
     A fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  is attached fixedly to the fold-down keyboard tray  104 . The fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  is pivotally interconnected to the front pivot link  110  at a first pivot  112 . The fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  is pivotally interconnected to the rear pivot link  116  at a second pivot  114 , the second pivot  114  being positioned rearwardly from the first pivot  112  when the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is in the open position. 
     The four-bar linkage apparatus  106  includes a table base mounting apparatus (not shown) that is fixed to the base  102 , the front pivot link  110  that is pivotally interconnected to the table base mounting apparatus (not shown) at a third pivot (not shown), the rear pivot link  116  is pivotally interconnected to the table base mounting apparatus at a fourth pivot (not shown) the second pivot (not shown) being positioned rearwardly from the first pivot (not shown) when the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is in the open position. The rear pivot link  116  includes an extension arm (not shown) that extends generally rearwardly from the second pivot (not shown) when the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is in the open position. 
     The lift top coffee table  100  also includes a fold-down keyboard tray biasing apparatus (not shown) attached to an extension arm (not shown) of the rear pivot link  116  and to the table base mounting apparatus (not shown) for biasing the fold-down keyboard tray  104  toward the open position. 
     A lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via a hinge. The lid  118  includes a lock  120  that attaches to a latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. In some implementations of the lock  120 , the lock  120  is an electronic lid. In some implementations of the electronic lock, the electronic lock is a RFID-based lock. The base  102  can also include a fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
       FIG.  2    is an isometric left-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  100  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  100  includes the base  102  having the bottom and four adjacent sides. The lift top coffee table  100  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include the fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
       FIG.  3    is an isometric right-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  100  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  100  includes the base  102  having the bottom and four adjacent sides. The lift top coffee table  100  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include the fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
       FIG.  4    is a front-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  100  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  100  includes the base  102  having the bottom and four adjacent sides. The lift top coffee table  100  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  100  includes two four-bar linkages apparatus  106  and  402  that control the movement of the fold-down keyboard tray  104  between the open position and the closed position. As used herein, “four-bar linkage” refers to a series of four structures, or links, each of which is pivotally interconnected to two other links, so that the entire linkage has one degree of freedom of movement. Each four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  includes a fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  that is a fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  attached to the rear pivot link  116 , the front pivot link  110 , and a fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108 . The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include the fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
       FIG.  5    is a top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  100  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  100  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. 
       FIG.  6    is an isometric right-side-bottom-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . 
     The lift top coffee table  600  also includes a fold-down keyboard tray  104  having a bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between a closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and an open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes two four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  that control the movement of the fold-down keyboard tray  104  between the open position and the closed position. As used herein, “four-bar linkage” refers to a series of four structures, or links, each of which is pivotally interconnected to two other links, so that the entire linkage has one degree of freedom of movement. Each four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  includes a fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  that is attached to the rear pivot link  116 , the front pivot link  110 , and a fold-down keyboard tray  104 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include a fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  606 . 
       FIG.  7    is an isometric right-side-top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes the base  102  having the bottom and four adjacent sides. The lift top coffee table  600  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include the fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes a display device  604  that is fixedly or removably attached to the lid  118 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include outlets  702  that can include but is not limited to A/C power outlets, USB ports, DC power outlets and/or data ports. Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  606 . 
       FIG.  8    is an isometric left-side-top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes the base  102  having the bottom and four adjacent sides. The lift top coffee table  600  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include the fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes a display device  604  that is fixedly or removably attached to the lid  118 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include outlets  702  that can include but is not limited to A/C power outlets, USB ports, DC power outlets and/or data ports. Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  606 . 
       FIG.  9    is a right-side-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . The lift top coffee table  600  also includes a fold-down keyboard tray  104  having a bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between a closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and an open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes two four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  that control the movement of the fold-down keyboard tray  104  between the open position and the closed position. As used herein, “four-bar linkage” refers to a series of four structures, or links, each of which is pivotally interconnected to two other links, so that the entire linkage has one degree of freedom of movement. Each four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  includes a fold-down keyboard tray mounting bracket  108  that is attached to the rear pivot link  116 , the front pivot link  110 , and a fold-down keyboard tray  104 . The lift top coffee table  600  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include a fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a mount  902  for the display device  604 . 
       FIG.  10    is a top-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . The lift top coffee table  600  also includes the fold-down keyboard tray  104  having the bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between the closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and the open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as the concealed locking top compartment. The lid  118  is rotatably attached to the fold-down keyboard tray  104  via the hinge. The lid  118  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The lift top coffee table  600  includes a display device  604  that is fixedly or removably attached to the lid  118 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include an uninterruptable power supply (UPS)  1002  that is electrically coupled to electrical devices in the lift top coffee table  600 , such as the display device  604 , provides temporary back up power. Some implementations of the UPS  1002  include a surge protector. The UPS  1002  devices work independently, providing power when the main power supply fails. The UPS  1002  protects users as well as devices during disrupted power. The UPS  1002  delivers power almost instantly when the main power ceases, allowing for very little if any interruption in power at all. The power supplied tends to come from batteries, supercapacitors or flywheels. 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  606 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a control unit  1004 , such as the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300  or the lift-top-coffee-table-mobile device  1500 . 
       FIG.  11    is a front-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  602  and a display device  604  that are fixedly or removably attached to a lid  118 . The lift top coffee table  600  also includes a fold-down keyboard tray  104  having a bottom and four adjacent sides and being movable between a closed position, wherein the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed adjacent and above the base  102 , and an open position, in which the fold-down keyboard tray  104  is horizontally disposed above and forward of the base  102 . The fold-down keyboard tray  104  is also known as a concealed locking top compartment. 
     The lift top coffee table  600  includes two four-bar linkage apparatus  106  and  402  that control the movement of the fold-down keyboard tray  104  between the open position and the closed position. As used herein, “four-bar linkage” refers to a series of four structures, or links, each of which is pivotally interconnected to two other links, so that the entire linkage has one degree of freedom of movement. The lift top coffee table  600  includes the lock  120  that attaches to the latch  122  when the lid  118  is in the closed position. The base  102  can also include a fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
       FIG.  12    is a bottom-view block diagram of a lift top coffee table  600  according to an implementation having a concealed locking top compartment. The lift top coffee table  600  includes the base  102  that can also include a fixed feet or caster wheels  124 . 
     Some implementations of the lift top coffee table  600  include a camera/light mount video conferencing web camera mount  606 . 
     Hardware and Operating Environment 
       FIG.  13    is a block diagram of a lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , according to an implementation. The lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300  includes a processor  1302  (such as a Pentium III processor from Intel Corp. in this example) which includes dynamic and static ram and non-volatile program read-only-memory (not shown), operating memory  1304  (SDRAM in this example), communication ports  1306  (e.g., RS-232 COM1/2  1308  or Ethernet  1310 ), a data acquisition circuit  1312  with analog inputs  1314 , analog output  1316  and digital I/O port(s)  1317 . 
     In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the processor  1302  and the operating memory  1304  are coupled through a bridge  1318 . In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the bridge  1318  includes a video port  1320  having display outputs  1322  and  1324 . 
     In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the communication ports  1306  are coupled through a bridge  1326  and a bus  1328  to the bridge  1318 . In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the RS-232  1308  communication port  1306  also includes an integrated drive electronics (IDE) port  1330  such as an ultra direct memory access 33 (UDMA33) port, and universal serial bus (USB) ports  1332 , and a PS/2 keyboard and mouse port  1334 . In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , a port  1336  for audio, microphone, line and auxiliary devices is coupled through a coder/decoder (CODEC)  1338  to the bridge  1326 . 
     In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the data acquisition circuit  1312  is also coupled to counter/timer ports  1340  and watchdog timer ports  1342 . In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , an RS-232 port  1344  is coupled through a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART)  1346  to the bridge  1326 . 
     In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus expansion port  1348  is coupled to the bridge  1326 . In some implementations of the lift-top-coffee-table-control computer  1300 , the Ethernet port  1310  is coupled to the bus  1328  through an Ethernet controller  1350  and a magnetics  1352 . 
       FIG.  14    is a block diagram of a data acquisition circuit  1400  of a lift-top-coffee-table-control computer, according to an implementation. The data acquisition circuit  1400  is one example of the data acquisition circuit  1312  in  FIG.  13    above. Some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400  provide 16-bit A/D performance with input voltage capability up to +/−10V, and programmable input ranges. 
     The data acquisition circuit  1400  includes a bus  1402 , such as a conventional PC/ 104  bus. The data acquisition circuit  1400  is operably coupled to a controller chip  1404 . Some implementations of the controller chip  1404  include an analog/digital first-in/first-out (FIFO) buffer  1406  that is operably coupled to controller logic  1408 . In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the FIFO  1406  receives signal data from and analog/digital converter (ADC)  1410 , which exchanges signal data with a programmable gain amplifier  1412 , which receives data from a multiplexer  1414 , which receives signal data from analog inputs  1416 . 
     In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller logic  1408  sends signal data to the ADC  1410  and a digital/analog converter (DAC)  1418 . The DAC  1418  sends signal data to analog outputs. In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller logic  1408  receives signal data from an external trigger  1422 . 
     In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller chip  1404  includes a 24-bit counter/timer  1424  that receives signal data from a +10 component  1426  and exchanges signal data with a “CTR 0”  1428 . In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller chip  1404  includes a 16-bit counter/timer  1430  that receives signal data from a +100 component  1432  and exchanges signal data with a “CTR 1”  1428 . The 24-bit counter/timer  1424 , the +10 component  1426 , the 16-bit counter/timer  1430  and the +100 component  1432  all receive signal data from a oscillator (OSC)  1436 . 
     In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller chip  1404  includes a digital input/output (I/O) component  1438  that sends digital signal data to “port C”  1440 , “port B”  1442  and “port A”  1444 . 
     In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller logic  1408  sends signal data to the bus  1402  via a control line  1446  and an interrupt line  1448 . In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the controller logic  1408  exchanges signal data to the bus  1402  via a transceiver  1450 . In some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400 , the bus supplies +5 volts of electricity to a DC-to-DC converter  1452 , that in turn supplies +15V and −15V of electricity. 
     Some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400  include 4 14-bit D/A channels, 24 programmable digital I/O lines, and two programmable counter/timers. Placement of the analog circuitry away from the high-speed digital logic ensures low-noise performance for important applications. Some implementations of the data acquisition circuit  1400  are fully supported by operating systems that can include, but are not limited to, DOS™, Linux™, RTLinux™, QNX™, Windows 98/NT/2000/XP/CE™, Forth™, and VxWorks™ to simplify application development. 
       FIG.  15    is a block diagram of a lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 , according to an implementation. The lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  includes a number of components such as a main processor  1502  that controls the overall operation of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through a communication subsystem  1504 . The communication subsystem  1504  receives messages from and sends messages to a wireless network  1505 . In this exemplary implementation of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 , the communication subsystem  1504  is configured in accordance with the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) standards, 3G, 4G, 5G and/or 6G. It will also be understood by persons skilled in the art that the implementations described herein are intended to use any other suitable standards that are developed in the future. The wireless link connecting the communication subsystem  1504  with the wireless network  1505  represents one or more different Radio Frequency (RF) channels, operating according to defined protocols specified for GSM/GPRS communications. With newer network protocols, these channels are capable of supporting both circuit switched voice communications and packet switched data communications. 
     Although the wireless network  1505  associated with lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is a GSM/GPRS, 3G, 4G, 5G and/or 6G wireless network in one exemplary implementation, other wireless networks may also be associated with the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  in variant implementations. The different types of wireless networks that may be employed include, for example, data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric wireless networks, and dual-mode networks that can support both voice and data communications over the same physical base stations. Combined dual-mode networks include, but are not limited to, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or CDMA2000 networks, GSM/GPRS networks, 3G, 4G, 5G and/or 6G. Some other examples of data-centric networks include WiFi 802.11, Mobitex™ and DataTAC™ network communication systems. Examples of other voice-centric data networks include Personal Communication Systems (PCS) networks like GSM and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems. 
     The main processor  1502  also interacts with additional subsystems such as a Random Access Memory (RAM)  1506 , a flash memory  1508 , a display  1510 , an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem  1512 , a data port  1514 , a keyboard  1516 , a speaker  1518 , a microphone  1520 , short-range communications  1522  and other device subsystems  1524 . 
     Some of the subsystems of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. By way of example, the display  1510  and the keyboard  1516  may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over the wireless network  1505 , and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list. 
     The lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  can send and receive communication signals over the wireless network  1505  after required network registration or activation procedures have been completed. Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . To identify a subscriber, the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  requires a SIM/RUIM card  1526  (i.e. Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module) to be inserted into a SIM/RUIM interface  1528  in order to communicate with a network. The SIM card or RUIM  1526  is one type of a conventional “smart card” that can be used to identify a subscriber of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  and to personalize the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 , among other things. Without the SIM card  1526 , the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is not fully operational for communication with the wireless network  1505 . By inserting the SIM/RUIM card  1526  into the SIM/RUIM interface  1528 , a subscriber can access all subscribed services. Services may include: web browsing and messaging such as e-mail, voice mail, Short Message Service (SMS), and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS). More advanced services may include: point of sale, field service and sales force automation. The SIM/RUIM card  1526  includes a processor and memory for storing information. Once the SIM/RUIM card  1526  is inserted into the SIM/RUIM interface  1528 , it is coupled to the main processor  1502 . In order to identify the subscriber, the SIM/RUIM card  1526  can include some user parameters such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using the SIM/RUIM card  1526  is that a subscriber is not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile device. The SIM/RUIM card  1526  may store additional subscriber information for a mobile device as well, including datebook (or calendar) information and recent call information. Alternatively, user identification information can also be programmed into the flash memory  1508 . 
     The lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is a battery-powered device and includes a battery interface  1532  for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries  1530 . In one or more implementations, the battery  1530  can be a smart battery with an embedded microprocessor. The battery interface  1532  is coupled to a regulator  1533 , which assists the battery  1530  in providing power V+ to the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Although current technology makes use of a battery, future technologies such as micro fuel cells may provide the power to the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . 
     The lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  also includes an operating system  1534  and modules  1536  to  1548  which are described in more detail below. The operating system  1534  and the modules  1536  to  1548  that are executed by the main processor  1502  are typically stored in a persistent store such as the flash memory  1508 , which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that portions of the operating system  1534  and the modules  1536  to  1548 , such as specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as the RAM  1506 . Other modules can also be included. 
     The subset of modules  1536  that control basic device operations, including data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  during its manufacture. Other modules include a message application  1538  that can be any suitable software program that allows a user of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  to send and receive electronic messages. Various alternatives exist for the message application  1538  as is well known to those skilled in the art. Messages that have been sent or received by the user are typically stored in the flash memory  1508  of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  or some other suitable storage element in the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . In one or more implementations, some of the sent and received messages may be stored remotely from the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  such as in a data store of an associated host system with which the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  communicates. 
     The modules can further include a device state module  1540 , a Personal Information Manager (PIM)  1542 , and other suitable modules (not shown). The device state module  1540  provides persistence, i.e. the device state module  1540  ensures that important device data is stored in persistent memory, such as the flash memory  1508 , so that the data is not lost when the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is turned off or loses power. 
     The PIM  1542  includes functionality for organizing and managing data items of interest to the user, such as, but not limited to, e-mail, contacts, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. A PIM application has the ability to send and receive data items via the wireless network  1505 . PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless network  1505  with the mobile device subscriber&#39;s corresponding data items stored and/or associated with a host computer system. This functionality creates a mirrored host computer on the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  with respect to such items. This can be particularly advantageous when the host computer system is the mobile device subscriber&#39;s office computer system. 
     The lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  also includes a connect module  1544 , and an IT policy module  1546 . The connect module  1544  implements the communication protocols that are required for the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  to communicate with the wireless infrastructure and any host system, such as an enterprise system, with which the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is authorized to interface. 
     The connect module  1544  includes a set of APIs that can be integrated with the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  to allow the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  to use any number of services associated with the enterprise system. The connect module  1544  allows the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  to establish an end-to-end secure, authenticated communication pipe with the host system. A subset of applications for which access is provided by the connect module  1544  can be used to pass IT policy commands from the host system to the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . This can be done in a wireless or wired manner. These instructions can then be passed to the IT policy module  1546  to modify the configuration of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Alternatively, in some cases, the IT policy update can also be done over a wired connection. 
     The IT policy module  1546  receives IT policy data that encodes the IT policy. The IT policy module  1546  then ensures that the IT policy data is authenticated by the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . The IT policy data can then be stored in the flash memory  1506  in its native form. After the IT policy data is stored, a global notification can be sent by the IT policy module  1546  to all of the applications residing on the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Applications for which the IT policy may be applicable then respond by reading the IT policy data to look for IT policy rules that are applicable. 
     The IT policy module  1546  can include a parser  1548 , which can be used by the applications to read the IT policy rules. In some cases, another module or application can provide the parser. Grouped IT policy rules, described in more detail below, are retrieved as byte streams, which are then sent (recursively) into the parser to determine the values of each IT policy rule defined within the grouped IT policy rule. In one or more implementations, the IT policy module  1546  can determine which applications are affected by the IT policy data and send a notification to only those applications. In either of these cases, for applications that are not being executed by the main processor  1502  at the time of the notification, the applications can call the parser or the IT policy module  1546  when they are executed to determine if there are any relevant IT policy rules in the newly received IT policy data. 
     All applications that support rules in the IT Policy are coded to know the type of data to expect. For example, the value that is set for the “WEP User Name” IT policy rule is known to be a string; therefore the value in the IT policy data that corresponds to this rule is interpreted as a string. As another example, the setting for the “Set Maximum Password Attempts” IT policy rule is known to be an integer, and therefore the value in the IT policy data that corresponds to this rule is interpreted as such. 
     After the IT policy rules have been applied to the applicable applications or configuration files, the IT policy module  1546  sends an acknowledgement back to the host system to indicate that the IT policy data was received and successfully applied. 
     Other types of modules can also be installed on the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . These modules can be third party applications, which are added after the manufacture of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Examples of third party applications include games, calculators, utilities, etc. 
     The additional applications can be loaded onto the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  through at least one of the wireless network  1505 , the auxiliary I/O subsystem  1512 , the data port  1514 , the short-range communications subsystem  1522 , or any other suitable device subsystem  1524 . This flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . 
     The data port  1514  enables a subscriber to set preferences through an external device or software application and extends the capabilities of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  by providing for information or software downloads to the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  other than through a wireless communication network. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryption key onto the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to provide secure device communication. 
     The data port  1514  can be any suitable port that enables data communication between the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  and another computing device. The data port  1514  can be a serial or a parallel port. In some instances, the data port  1514  can be a USB port that includes data lines for data transfer and a supply line that can provide a charging current to charge the battery  1530  of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . 
     The short-range communications subsystem  1522  provides for communication between the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  and different systems or devices, without the use of the wireless network  1505 . For example, the subsystem  1522  may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components for short-range communication. Examples of short-range communication standards include standards developed by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, and the 802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE. 
     In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download will be processed by the communication subsystem  1504  and input to the main processor  1502 . The main processor  1502  will then process the received signal for output to the display  1510  or alternatively to the auxiliary I/O subsystem  1512 . A subscriber may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, using the keyboard  1516  in conjunction with the display  1510  and possibly the auxiliary I/O subsystem  1512 . The auxiliary subsystem  1512  may include devices such as: a touch screen, mouse, track ball, infrared fingerprint detector, or a roller wheel with dynamic button pressing capability. The keyboard  1516  is preferably an alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad. However, other types of keyboards may also be used. A composed item may be transmitted over the wireless network  1505  through the communication subsystem  1504 . 
     For voice communications, the overall operation of the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  is substantially similar, except that the received signals are output to the speaker  1518 , and signals for transmission are generated by the microphone  1520 . Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, can also be implemented on the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500 . Although voice or audio signal output is accomplished primarily through the speaker  1518 , the display  1510  can also be used to provide additional information such as the identity of a calling party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information. 
     In some implementations, the lift-top-coffee-table-control mobile device  1500  includes a camera  1550  receiving a plurality of images  1554  from and examining pixel-values of the plurality of images  1554 . 
     CONCLUSION 
     A lift top coffee table is described. Although specific embodiments are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations. For example, although described in home residential terms, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that implementations can be made in office or any other industrial furniture terms that provides the required function. 
     In particular, one of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the names of the methods and apparatus are not intended to limit embodiments. Furthermore, additional methods and apparatus can be added to the components, functions can be rearranged among the components, and new components to correspond to future enhancements and physical devices used in embodiments can be introduced without departing from the scope of embodiments. One of skill in the art will readily recognize that embodiments are applicable to future lift top coffee table devices, different computers, and new coffee tables. 
     The terminology used in this application with respect to coffee table is meant to include all furniture environments and alternate technologies which provide the same functionality as described herein