Patent Publication Number: US-9412262-B2

Title: Wireless two-way communication protocol for automated furniture accessory integration

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a wireless, two-way communication protocol for integrating furniture accessories with automated furniture items. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a communication protocol for using a remote device to control an automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component of an automated furniture item. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of methods exist for using a controller to manipulate an automated furniture item. Such controllers direct the operation of various “standard” integrated elements for automated furniture items, such as a head motor or foot motor on an adjustable bed. However, external accessories may also be provided for use with an automated furniture item, such as a heating blanket. Unless the heating blanket is integrated into the control system of the automated furniture item, it will likely be controlled separately from the furniture item, requiring an additional device and/or remote. Further, the controller of an automated furniture item is typically equipped with the necessary firmware to operate the standard devices provided with the furniture item (i.e., those devices that the manufacturer intended to be operated by the furniture item controller). 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a communication protocol that enables additional, automated furniture accessories to be operated by an automated furniture controller without the need to update the firmware of the furniture item controller. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a system and method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items. Embodiments of the invention include a communication protocol for using a remote device to control an automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component of an automated furniture item. 
     One illustrative embodiment of the invention, a system for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items includes a control component comprising: (1) a wireless communication device; (2) a CAN bus; and (3) at least one automated furniture accessory coupled to the CAN bus, wherein one or more features of the at least one automated furniture accessory are controlled by a remote device wirelessly coupled to the control component. 
     In another illustrative aspect, a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items comprises: receiving an indication of an automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component; identifying one or more packets of information associated with the automated furniture accessory; and communicating at least one of the one or more packets of information to a remote device, wherein the remote device is adapted to control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory based at least in part on communication between the remote device and the control component. 
     According to a third illustrative aspect, embodiments of a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items comprises receiving one or more items of identifying information associated with at least one automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component and communicating at least one of the one or more items of identifying information to a remote device, wherein the remote device is in wireless, two-way communication with the control component, wherein one or more features of the at least one automated furniture accessory are controlled by the remote device based on communication of the at least one of the one or more items of identifying information. 
     Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a system for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is the system of  FIG. 1  for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items, including a plurality of packets of a communication protocol, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is flow diagram of a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of a system  10  for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items is seen in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the system  10  generally includes a control component  12  having a wireless communication device  14 , a controller area network (CAN) bus  16 , integrated features  18  including a head motor  20  and a foot motor  22 , and an automated furniture accessory  24  coupled to the CAN bus  16  of the control component  12 . Further, the control component  12  is depicted as being in wireless communication with a remote device  26  having a data port  28  and a wireless communication device  58 . 
     In one embodiment, control component  12  controls various features of an automated furniture item that are operated based on commands received by the control component  12 . For example, the control component  12  may control integrated features  18  that are integral to the operation of the automated furniture item, such as a head motor  20  that raises and lowers the head of an adjustable bed. Although exemplary integrated features  18  are shown in  FIG. 1 , such as the head motor  20  and the foot motor  22 , it should be understood that any number or combination of integrated features  18  may be coupled to the control component  12 , such as a massage motor, a programming port, a wired remote device, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the control component  12  includes a processor and a memory capable of receiving and processing commands that are identifiable using the firmware of the control component  12 . For example, the control component  12  may receive a command to operate one or more of the integrated features  18  coupled to the automated furniture item. Accordingly, a remote device  26  may receive an input command from a user, which the remote device  26  transmits, wirelessly, to the wireless communication device  14  of control component  12 , using wireless communication device  58 . The command may relate to one or more of the integrated features  18  coupled to the control component  12 , such as a command to lower both the head and the foot of an automated bed (using head motor  20  and foot motor  22 ). 
     Wireless communication device  14  may be used in the transmission of wireless commands to and from the control component  12 . As such, wireless communication device  14  may be any wireless communication device used to transmit wireless communication to and from one or more remote devices that communicate wirelessly with the control component  12 . For example, the wireless communication device  14  may be a wireless device that executes a two-way communication protocol, such as a MiWi and/or Zigbee protocol. In further embodiments, wireless communication device  14  communicates using 2.4 GHz protocols, including 2.4 GHz side bands or 2.4 GHz stacks. Additionally, in one example, wireless communication device  14  may execute a RF4CE protocol. In some embodiments, wireless communication device  14  is used to communicate wirelessly between the control component  12  and the remote device  26 , which may also be referred to as a remote control. 
     In addition to communicating via wireless communication device  14 , the control component  12  may also interact with external devices that are coupled to the control component  12 , such as the automated furniture accessory  24  coupled to the CAN bus  16  of the control component  12 . In embodiments, CAN bus  16  may directly or indirectly couple one or more automated furniture accessories  24  to control component  12 . In one example, integrated features  18  may be directly coupled to the control component  12  (e.g., distributed with the control component  12  upon manufacture of the automated furniture device), while automated furniture accessories  24  may be coupled to the control component  12  at any time (e.g., after purchase of the automated furniture item having the control component  12 ). In other words, in some embodiments, automated furniture accessories  24  may be coupled to the control component  12  of an automated furniture item that was not sold with such accessories. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, remote device  26  may be used to control one or more automated furniture accessories  24  coupled to a control component  12  of an automated furniture item. For example, an automated furniture accessory  24 , such as an electric heating blanket, may be plugged in to the CAN bus  16  of the control component  12 . Upon connection with the CAN bus  16 , items of information regarding the particular automated furniture accessory  24  plugged into the CAN bus  16  may be transmitted to the control component  12 . Such items of information may include the identity of the automated furniture accessory  24 , its manufacturer, a particular type of device (such as a type of heating blanket), general identifying information, placeholders, and other types of information that are identifiable by the control component  12 . In some embodiments, items of identifying information may be retrieved from the automated furniture accessory  24  by the control component  12 , by virtue of the connection via CAN bus  16 . 
     Having received identifying information regarding the particular automated furniture accessory  24  plugged in to the CAN bus  16 , control component  12  may then transmit one or more packets of information to the remote device  26 , such as a remote control, according to a communication protocol. The remote device  26  receives the items of information over a wireless connection between the control component  12  and the remote device  26 , utilizing the wireless communication device  14 . In embodiments, the packets of information communicated between control component  12  and remote device  26  identify the particular automated furniture accessory  24  according to a protocol for communication between the control component  12  and the remote device  26 . In further embodiments, control component  12  acts as a 2-way wireless/CAN bridge such that an automated furniture accessory  24  (e.g., an inexpensive CAN accessory) can receive direct commands from the remote device  26 . 
     In another example, a communication protocol may specify particular packets of information that are required to be received by the remote device  26  before the remote device  26  can remotely direct the operation of the automated furniture accessory  24 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , packets of information  30  may be transmitted between control component  12  and remote device  26  using wireless communication device  14 . Such exemplary packets may include a header packet  32 , a message ID packet  34 , message content packet  36 , and a device ID packet  38 . As will be understood, the type and number of packets transmitted as part of the communication protocol may vary, and any number of packets may be communicated between the control component  12  and the automated furniture accessory  24 . 
     In one embodiment, header packet  32  provides information that identifies items such as a type of sender of a packet, a type of intended receiver of the packet, a message type, and the like. For example, header packet  32  may identify a control component  12  as the sender of a packet of data according to a communication protocol. In another embodiment, message ID packet  34  provides information regarding a CAN bus and/or MiWi wireless communication device  14  involved in a transmission according to a communication protocol. For example, a message ID packet  34  may identify CAN bus  16  as being involved with the transmission according to a communication protocol. As such, the header packet  32  and/or the message ID packet  34  provide identifying information regarding the sender and receiver of a message, and the type of message that will be transmitted using one or more devices. 
     In further embodiments, a message content packet  36  provides the content of a message transmitted according to a communication protocol. For example, a message content packet  36  may include instructions to manipulate one or more automated furniture accessories  24  coupled to the CAN bus  16  of a control component  12 . As such, in some embodiments, message content packet  36  may include status data  40  and/or command data  42 . In embodiments, status data  40  provides a status of one or more devices coupled to the control component  12 . For example, status data  40  may indicate, as part of a message content packet  36 , whether an automated furniture accessory  24  (such as a heating blanket) is turned to a highest power. Similarly, command data  42  may indicate, as part of a message content packet  36 , a particular command directed at one or more devices coupled to the control component  12 . For example, command data  42  may indicate, as part of a message content packet  36 , a direction to manipulate one or more features of an automated furniture accessory  24  coupled to the control component  12 , such as directing the lowering of temperature on a heating blanket. 
     In yet another embodiment, exemplary packets of information  30  may include a device ID packet  38  that specifically identifies one or more items of hardware coupled to the control component  12 . For example, device ID packet  38  may indicate a particular type of automated furniture accessory  24  for control by the remote device  26 . Accordingly, any number of device ID packets  38  may be transmitted between control component  12  and remote device  26 . 
     In some embodiments, a communication protocol for controlling one or more automated furniture accessories  24  coupled to the control component  12  may include the transmission of one or more packets of information  30  between the control component  12  and the remote device  26 . As such, in some embodiments, a control component  12  may determine one or more packets of information  30  to transmit to remote device  26 . The determined one or more packets of information  30  may then enable the remote device  26  to control one or more automated furniture accessories  24  coupled to the control component  12 , by virtue of the wireless connection between the remote device  26  and the control component  12 . 
     In some embodiments, an automated furniture accessory  24  may be associated with one or more items of updateable information that may be changed after a user has initially coupled the particular automated furniture accessory  24  to the control component  12 . In other words, after a remote device  26  has been configured to control a particular automated furniture accessory  24 , one or more updates may become available for the automated furniture accessory  24 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, the firmware of remote device  26  may be updated using data port  28 . Data port  28  may be any feature associated with the remote device  26  that is capable of receiving data, such as a USB port. In one example, an updated feature of the automated furniture accessory  24  may be communicated to the control component  12  based on inputting the new and/or updated information into data port  28 , such as plugging in a USB device containing such updated information. 
     In a further embodiment, a new and/or updated automated furniture accessory  24  may be coupled to the control component  12 . In one embodiment, the control component  12  may be unable to recognize the newly-added automated furniture accessory  24 . For example, the control component  12  may have been manufactured without the ability to recognize and/or process particular commands associated with the new and/or updated automated furniture accessory  24 . In another example, the control component  12  may be unable to determine one or more items of information to communicate according to the communication protocol, in order to delegate control of the automated furniture accessory  24  to the remote device  26 . As such, one or more updates may be provided to the remote device  26  via data port  28 , and communicated from the remote device  26  to the control component  12  using wireless communication device  14 . Accordingly, the remote device  26  may receive updates via data port  28 , communicate such updates to the control component  12 , and enable the control component  12  to exchange communication with the remote device  26  regarding the control of the automated furniture accessory  24 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary flow diagram  44  of a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items is provided. At block  46 , an indication of an automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component is received. For example, such an indication may be received based on plugging an automated furniture accessory  24  into a CAN bus  16 . At block  48 , one or more packets of information associated with the automated furniture accessory are identified. As discussed above, in some embodiments, a control component  12  may identify one or more items and/or packets of information  30  according to a communication protocol for control of the automated furniture accessory  24  by a remote device  26 . As such, at block  50 , at least one of the one or more packets of information is communicated to a remote device that is then adapted to control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory based on the communication between the remote device and the control component. For example, having received one or more packets of information  30  from the control component  12 , the remote device  26  may control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory  24 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a flow diagram  52  of a method for integrating automated furniture accessories with automated furniture items is provided. At block  54 , one or more items of identifying information associated with at least one automated furniture accessory coupled to a control component are received. For example, a control component  12  may receive items of identifying information (e.g., a device type or a manufacturer) associated with a particular automated furniture accessory  24 . At block  56 , at least one of the one or more items of identifying information is communicated to a remote device, with the remote device being in wireless, two-way communication with the control component, and one or more features of the at least one automated furniture accessory being controlled by the remote device based on communication of the at least one of the one or more items of identifying information. Accordingly, in one embodiment, features of an automated furniture accessory  24  may be controlled by the remote device  26  based on communication between the remote device  26  and the control component  12 . In other words, by virtue of the direct connection of the automated furniture accessory  24  to the CAN bus  16  of the control component  12 , as well as the wireless connection between the remote device  26  and the wireless communication device  14  of control component  12 , the remote device  26  may control one or more features of the automated furniture accessory  24 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages, which are obvious and inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.