TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to powered furniture. More particularly, the
present invention relates to furniture and fixture operating mechanisms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5 This section is intended to provide information relating to the field of the
invention and thus, any approach/functionality described below should not be
assumed to be qualified as prior art merely by its inclusion in this section.
Recently, furniture has been included with power operators to move a particular
seating surface in a particular direction or in a particular angle (for example,
10 moving the surface forward for example at a particular angle downwards). Such
an adjustment to one of the surfaces of the furniture can cause the occupant of
the furniture to change positions (for example, move from a seated position to a
standing position) with reduced effort. Such furniture is commonly known as
powered furniture, motorised furniture, adjustable furniture or motion furniture,
15 for example, motorised reclining chairs, motorised or powered beds, and
adjustable beds etc.
Conventionally, such reclining or adjustable articles of furniture require an
upholstered frame supported from a stationary base assembly in a manner
permitting the frame to “rock” or move freely (as designed) with respect to the
20 base assembly. Such powered furniture operates individually or jointly with other
similar furniture, such that an occupant of the respective furniture may reorient
or readjust the orientation or position of the furniture via a local control.
Therefore, all known powered furniture are, at most, controlled via a local
controller.
25 Further, in the known powered furniture, the input mechanism is usually
electro‐mechanical and includes a switch or touch panel which when pressed or
touched by the occupant causes the furniture to change the current orientation
such as extending or retracting or raising the leg rest assembly. Therefore, such
3
furniture assembly provides for a lot more of hardware equipment and lacks any
support for a centralized control system or a personalised control system. Also,
such system cannot be controlled remotely over a network connection.
Another drawback of known systems is that there is no mechanism of calculating
5 or determining the appropriate time for maintenance and servicing which is
highly desirable and recommended for the efficient working of the powered
furniture. The powered furniture may wear out with time and no indication is
provided to the user that the furniture requires maintenance/servicing. Further,
there is no mechanism to obtain the knowledge of the internal working efficiency
10 and the utilization of different units of the furniture or the number of cycles the
furniture has been used. For example, an owner of a powered bed has no
mechanism to knowing the internal working limit of the motors deployed in the
powered bed and hence cannot predict the appropriate time for maintenance
and servicing of the powered bed to ensure efficient use. Hence, there is a need
15 for a system for effective management for maintenance for the powered
furniture.
Moreover, the existing furniture units lack a capability to sense and detect the
condition and parameters of the user of the furniture. The furniture also doesn’t
support any network connectivity and is not capable of adapting itself to the
20 user. Hence, in cases of emergency, the furniture is not enabled to contact any
emergency point of contacts for the user of the furniture, either locally or
remotely.
There exists an imperative need to provide systems for improved operating
mechanisms that enable a user to control an individual unit or a plurality of
25 furniture or fixture, locally and remotely to provide ease of use, control and
flexibility.
4
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This section is intended to introduce certain objects of the disclosed methods
and systems in a simplified form, and is not intended to identify the key
advantages or features of the present disclosure. In view of the challenges of the
5 existing systems there is an imperative need for providing a system for operating
a single unit or a plurality of powered furniture in a home, office, commercial
space or any public place.
It is an object for the present invention to provide for a centralized operating
mechanism for at least one unit of furniture and/or fixture over a network. It is
10 another object of the present invention to provide for an operating mechanism
for a user for at least one unit of furniture and/or fixture using a user device. It is
also an object of the present invention to provide for a diagnostic mechanism for
at least one unit of furniture and/or fixture at a pre‐defined schedule and/or
dynamically on‐demand by the user. It is yet another object of the invention to
15 provide a mechanism for communicating with a network to contact any
approved third party for any service(s). Further, it is yet another object of the
invention to provide a mechanism for establishing communication with
authenticated third parties through a network. Furthermore, it is another object
of the present invention to provide for an operating mechanism for integrating
20 and synchronizing the plurality of furniture and fixture which can communicate
with each other.
The present invention relates to a system for operating at least one unit of
powered furniture and/or fixture in a home, office, commercial space, or any
public place by a user. The at least one powered furniture and/or fixture unit is
25 configured to receive an input power supply through at least one power source.
The system allows users to control at least powered furniture and/or fixture unit
by providing input to a control board. The user can provide input to the control
board by an input unit such as a touch panel, a set of levers, a user device or a
combination thereof. The input received from the input unit is then transmitted
5
to the control board of the powered furniture unit to determine the output. The
determined output is then implemented on the at least one powered furniture
unit. The powered furniture unit is also configured to be connected to a network
to receive inputs from a server. The inputs then received by the server may be
5 stored in a database .
The present invention also relates to an architecture of at least one powered
furniture and/or fixture unit configured to be controlled in a home, office,
commercial space, or any public place by a user. The powered furniture unit
includes an input unit configured to receive at least one input for an operation of
10 the powered furniture unit. The input unit is connected to a control board which
is configured to process the input received from the input unit. The control board
may then determine the operation to be performed for at least one part of the
powered furniture unit. A status of the powered furniture unit may be detected
by a sensor unit. The powered furniture unit also comprises of an
15 implementation unit which is connected to the control board. The
implementation unit is configured to implement the operation determined by
the control board.
The present invention relates to a method for operating at least one unit of
powered furniture and/or fixture unit in a home, office, commercial space, or
20 any public place. The method commences by providing an input power supply
through at least one power source to at least one powered furniture and/or
fixture unit. The at least one powered furniture and/or fixture unit is configured
to receive an input by the user. The user can provide input to the control board
by an input unit such as a touch panel, a set of levers , a user device or a
25 combination thereof. The input received from the input unit is then transmitted
to a control board of the powered furniture to determine the output either
directly or at least via a server. The determined output is then implemented on
the at least one powered furniture unit . The powered furniture unit is also
6
configured to be connected to a network to receive inputs from a server. The
inputs then received by the server may be stored in a database.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention may be best understood
5 when read in conjunction with the following drawings:
Figure 1 depicts an illustration of a system in accordance with the present
invention to provide for operating powered furniture(s) in a home, office,
commercial space or any public place, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 depicts an architecture of powered furniture(s) in a home, office,
10 commercial space or any public place, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 depicts a method of operation of powered furniture(s) in a home, office,
commercial space or any public place, in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific
15 details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that the present disclosure can be
practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can
each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other
features. However, any individual feature may not address any of the
20 problems/challenges discussed above or might address only one of the
problems/challenges discussed above.
The present invention includes a system and method for operating at least one
powered furniture unit in a home, office, commercial space, or any public place.
The at least one powered furniture unit is configured to receive an input power
25 supply through at least one power source. The powered furniture unit is also
configured to receive an input from a user via an input unit such as a touch
panel, set of levers, a user device or a combination thereof. The input received
from the input unit is then transmitted to a control board of the powered
7
furniture to determine the output, i.e. the operation to be performed by the
furniture unit. The determined output is then implemented on the at least one
powered furniture unit. The powered furniture unit is also configured to be
connected to a network to receive inputs from a server. The inputs then received
5 by the server may be stored in a database.
Figure 1 depicts a system for operating powered furniture in a home, office,
commercial space or any public place. As depicted in Figure 1, the system [100]
includes a furniture unit [102], a power source [104], a network [106], a user
device [108], a server [110] and a database [112], all interconnected to each
10 other.
As used herein, “connect”, “configure”, “couple” and its cognate terms, such as
“connects”, “connected”, “configured” and “coupled” may include a physical
connection (such as a wired/wireless connection), a logical connection (such as
through logical gates of semiconducting device), other suitable connections, or a
15 combination of such connections, as may be obvious to a skilled person.
As used herein, “send”, “transfer”, “transmit”, and their cognate terms like
“sending”, “sent”, “transferring”, “transmitting”, “transferred”, “transmitted”,
etc. include sending or transporting data or information one unit, component,
electronic device or server to another unit or component, wherein the content
20 may or may not be modified before or after sending, transferring, transmitting.
The furniture unit [102] is configured to be operated by a user and/or the server
[110]. The furniture unit [102] includes any furniture member or fixture member
which needs to be operated by the user. For example, a furniture unit [102] may
include a chair, a bed, a door, recliners, a desk, a table, a curtain, a seat. As an
25 illustration, a chair may be a furniture unit [102] comprising of members such as
the back member and a horizontal seating member; and fixture members such as
levers, etc. Although only one furniture unit [102] is shown in Fig. 1, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of furniture units [102]
8
may be implemented in the present system [100] and the same is encompassed
by this disclosure.
The power unit [104], connected to the furniture unit [102], is configured to
supply power to the at least one furniture unit [102]. The power unit [104] is
5 configured to supply power to different modules of the furniture unit [102]. The
power unit [104] may be an AC power source, a DC power source or a
combination of AC and DC power source. The power unit [104] may be any
device for supplying power such as a battery, or any other device which is
obvious to a person skilled in the art.
10 The network [106] connected to the furniture unit [102], the server [110] and the
user device [108], may be a wireless network, a wired network, or a combination
thereof. The network may be implemented as one of the different types of
networks, such as an intranet, local area network (LAN), wide area network
(WAN), the Internet, Bluetooth, infrared, etc. The network may either be a
15 dedicated network or a shared network. The shared network may represent an
association of the different types of networks that use a variety of protocols
(e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), ZigBee, ZeeWave,
WirelessHART, LoRaWAN etc.) to communicate with one another. Further, the
20 network may include a variety of network devices, including routers, bridges,
computing devices, storage devices, and the like. For example, the network [106]
is configured to provide a connection between the at least one furniture unit
[102], the user device [108] and the server [110].
The user device [108] is configured to receive an input from the user. The user
25 device [108] is also configured to transmit the input received from the user to
the furniture unit [102] and/or the server [110]. The user device [108] may
include but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a
laptop, a smart wearable device, a personal computer or any such device using
any operating system that may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.
9
The server [110] includes one or more processors, wherein the processor refers
to any logic circuitry for processing instructions. A processor may be or may
include a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional
processor, a digital signal processor, a plurality of microprocessors, and one or
5 more microprocessors. The processor may perform signal coding data
processing, input/output processing, and/or any other functionality that enables
the working of the system according to the present disclosure.
The server [110] is configured to receive and transmit an input from the user,
where the input is at least one of an operation, user information, account
10 information and upgrades, for the at least one furniture unit [102]. For example,
the server [110] may be configured to receive and transmit an input from the
user device [108] to get the user information, account information and to receive
upgrades, for the at least one furniture unit [102]. As used herein “upgrades”
may include any new or latest version for the operation of the furniture unit
15 [102] or at least a part of the furniture unit [102]. For example, an upgrade may
be the latest version of operation of the furniture unit [102] as an executable file.
The server [110] is also configured to monitor and control the at least one
furniture unit [102] connected to the server [110] and generate a report of the
status received from the furniture unit [102]. The server [110] may be located
20 either in the same location as the furniture unit [102] or remotely or a
combination of both. The server [110] is further configured to monitor the status
of the at least one furniture unit [102] which are connected the server [110] via
the network [106], concurrently and separately. The server [110] is also
configured to receive a status of a service call initiated from any of the single or
25 plurality of at least one of the furniture unit [102] and the user device [108]
which are connected to the server [110] via the network [106].
The invention encompasses that the system [100] may include one or more
servers [110]. In an embodiment, the system [100] may include a server [110]
which may be implemented as a master server and may have another server
10
[110] which may be implemented as a slave server. The slave server [110] may
be configured to control at least one furniture unit [102]. The master server
[110] may then control the overall functioning of the system [100] and monitor
and control at least one of the furniture unit [102] connected to any of the at
5 least one slave servers [110]. The master server [110] may connect to the
furniture unit [102], user device [108] and the database [112] via any of the one
or more slave servers [110]. Also, the slave server [110] may be used to connect
the at least one furniture units [102] to the network [106] when the master
server [110] is not available.
10 In another embodiment, the system [100] may include a server [110] which may
be implemented as a cloud server and may have another server [110] which may
be implemented as a gateway server. The cloud server [110] may be located
remotely and the at least one of the gateway servers [110] may be located near,
or in close vicinity of the at least one of the furniture units [102]. The gateway
15 server [110] may be configured to control the at least one of the furniture units
[102] located near, or in the close vicinity of the said gateway server [110]. The
cloud server [110] may then control the overall functioning of the system [100]
and monitor and control at least one of the furniture units [102] connected to
any of the one or more gateway servers [110]. The cloud server [110] may
20 connect to the furniture unit [102], user device [108] and the database [112] via
the said gateway server [110]. For example, the cloud server [110] may send a
signal to use the last used operation on a furniture unit [102] connected to and
located near, or in the vicinity of the gateway server [110]. The said gateway
server [110] may then transmit the signal received to the appropriate furniture
25 unit [102] located in the vicinity. Additionally, the gateway server [110] may be
used to connect the at least one of the furniture units [102] located near, or in
the close vicinity of the said gateway server [110] to the network [106] when the
cloud server [110] is not available.
11
The database [112], connected to the server [110], is any memory or repository
which is configured to store the user information. The database [112] is
connected to the server via the network [106] and is configured to receive the
mode of operation of the furniture unit [102] and the operation input by the user
5 on the furniture unit [102]. The database [112] is also configured to store at least
one of a last used operation and a most frequently used operation for one or
more users. The database [112] may be segregated into one or more parts for
the plurality of furniture units [102] respectively. In an embodiment, the
database [112] may also be configured to determine the last used operation, the
10 most frequently used operation for a user and the like and generate a report of
the status of a furniture unit [102]. In another embodiment, the database [112] is
also configured to store the user information related to a user account on the
user device [108].
Figure 2 depicts architecture of at least one furniture unit [102] in a home, office,
15 commercial space or any public place. As depicted in Figure 2, a furniture unit
[102] includes an input unit [102a], a control board [102b], a sensor unit [102c],
an implementation unit [102d] and network interface [102e], all connected to
each other.
The input unit [102a], connected to the control board [102b], is mounted on the
20 furniture unit [102] and is configured to receive input for the operation of the
furniture unit [102]. The input unit [102a] is also configured to transmit the input
received to the control board [102b] for processing and determining the
operation to be performed on the furniture unit [102]. In an embodiment, the
input unit [102a] may be a touch panel mounted on the furniture unit [102]. In
25 another embodiment, the input unit [102a] is a set of electro‐mechanical
switches or levers mounted on the furniture unit [102]. In yet another
embodiment, the input unit [102a] is a touch panel and a set of
electro‐mechanical switches or levers mounted on the furniture unit [102]. For
example, the touch panel may be a display interface configured to receive
12
capacitive touch from a user when the user presses different points on the touch
panel. The touch panel may be an assembly with a glass screen, with an
electronic PCB with embedded code which may be sealed using a plastic frame.
The touch panel may comprise of LED indications to provide visual indications to
5 the user. The touch panel could be screwed to the furniture unit [102] or
mounted at a suitable place on the furniture unit [102]. In another example, the
mechanical levers may be physical switches which are mounted on the furniture
unit [102] which may be configured to provide input.
The input unit [102a] may also comprise of a transmitter which is configured to
10 receive inputs via a connection from a remote control, where the remote control
may be physically separate from the furniture unit [102]. The connection may be
wired, Bluetooth, infrared, radio frequency, wireless or any other type of
connection that is obvious to a person skilled in the art. The input unit [102a]
may also comprise of a transmitter connected to the network interface [102e]
15 which is configured to receive input from a user device [108] connected to the
network [112]. The input unit [102a] is also configured to receive input from a
server [110] in the network [112]. For example, the input unit [102a] may receive
the most frequently used operation on the furniture unit [102] as input from a
server [110] in the network [112].
20 The present disclosure encompasses that the input unit [102a] is also configured
to receive input from a user device [108] connected to the furniture unit [102]
via the network [106]. The user device may comprise of a user account in
relation to at least one of furniture units [102]. The user may be asked to input
the user information in respect of the user account. In an embodiment, the user
25 device [108] may be connected to the server [110] via the network [106]. The
user information may then be transmitted to a server [110] for processing and
creating an account for the user. The user information may also be transmitted
via the network [106] and stored in the database [112]. The server [110] may
then verify the user information entered by the user. The user may then provide
13
input for at least one of the furniture units [102] using the user account on the
user device [108]. For example, the user may request to incline the furniture unit
[102] at an angle of 120 degrees. The user may also input a request to perform
an operation from the user information stored in the database [112]. For
5 example, the user may request for input as the last used operation or the most
frequently used operation for the furniture unit [102]. The server [110] may then
retrieve the last used operation or the most frequently used operation for the
furniture unit [102] from the database [112] in respect of the user and transmit
the input to at least one of the input unit [102a] and the control board [102b] via
10 the network interface [102e] of the furniture unit [102].
The present invention encompasses that the input unit [102a] is also configured
to receive an input from the user to order or pay for services offered by third
party servers. As used herein, the “services” may include, but not be limited to,
services for food & beverage, repair, emergency, utility services. For example,
15 the user may input a request to pay for a coffee to a third party.
The control board [102b], connected to the input unit [102a], sensor unit [102c],
implementation unit [102d] and network interface [102e], is configured to
process the input received from the input unit [102a] and determine the
operation to be performed for at least one part of the furniture unit [102]. The
20 control board [102b] is also configured to transmit a signal to the
implementation unit [102d] based on the processed input. The operation of the
implementation unit [102d] is controlled by the control board [102b] based on
the transmitted signal. The control board [102b] is further configured to connect
to the network [106] via the network interface [102e]. In an embodiment, the
25 control board [102b] is connected to a network via an encrypted protocol. The
control board [102b] is further configured to transmit an input received from the
input unit [102a] to a third party server via the network [106].
The control board [102b] further comprises of a safety protection unit [102b’]. As
used herein, the “safety protection unit [102b’]” may include any software,
14
hardware or any combination of hardware and software system which is
configured to prevent or control and manage any errors, damage, short circuiting
or any kind of disruption of efficient working of the system [100]. For example,
the safety protection unit [102b’] may be configured as a “fuse box” or any other
5 mechanism which is configured to disconnect/earth the connecting circuit when
the power received from the power source [104] is above the threshold of the
power which may be supplied to the furniture unit [102].
The present disclosure encompasses that the control board [102b] comprises of
a feedback unit [102b’’] to monitor and control the status of the at least one of
10 the furniture units [102]. As used herein, “status” may include the indication of
the working efficiency of at least a portion of the furniture unit [102], the
working indication of at least a portion of the furniture unit [102], the mode of
operation of at least a portion of the furniture unit [102]. For example, the status
may denote the working efficiency of each furniture unit [102] as a 1 denoting
15 working efficiently and 0 denoting a fault or error in the working of at least a
portion of the furniture unit [102]. In an embodiment, the feedback unit [102b’’]
in the control board [102b] may monitor and control the status of at least one of
the input unit [102a], the sensor unit [102c], the implementation unit [102d] and
the network interface [102e]. In another embodiment, the feedback unit [102b’’]
20 in the control board [102b] monitors the status of at least one of furniture units
[102] at regular periodic intervals or when manually selected by the user. For
example, the feedback unit [102b’’] in the control board [102b] monitors the
status of at least one of furniture units [102] every six months. The control unit
[102b] may also be configured to generate a report of the status received from
25 the at least one of the furniture units [102]. The report may then be sent to the
server [110] for storing the report in the database [112] or alerting a user. The
report may include the indication number of the furniture unit [102], the time of
taking the status of the furniture unit [102], the condition of working of the
furniture unit [102], any “critical” parameters that have been detected in the
15
furniture unit [102], the part which is detected to be critical in the furniture unit
[102], etc.
The feedback unit [102b’’] in the control board [102b] may further be configured
to alert the user by providing an indication to the user when the status of any of
5 the at least one of the furniture units [102] is critical or outside a predefined
range. For example, the user may be indicated for maintenance/servicing of the
motor in the furniture unit [102] when the cycles of the motor have crossed a
threshold value of, let’s say, 10,000 cycles. The alert may be indicated to the user
by displaying a signal/message on the input unit [102a]. Alternatively, the alert
10 may be indicated to the user by outputting a sound via the implementation unit
[102d]. For example, the user may be indicated for maintenance/servicing on the
display screen of the user device [108] when the degree spindle in the furniture
unit [102] doesn’t incline the furniture unit [102] to an angle greater than 120
degrees.
15 In an embodiment, the invention also encompasses that the safety protection
unit [102b’] and/or the feedback unit [102b’’] may be independent/ separate
units and may be located outside the control board [102b].
The sensor unit [102c], connected to the control board [102b], is configured to
determine/detect the status of the furniture unit [102]. The sensor unit [102c]
20 may comprise of sensors to detect the occupancy of the furniture unit [102], the
temperature of the surrounding, the humidity level in the environment, the
noise level of the surroundings, movement of the furniture unit [102] and the
like. For example, the sensor unit [102c] may be used to detect if a user is sitting
on the furniture unit [102] using a load factor. In another example, the sensor
25 unit [102c] may be a temperature sensor used to detect the temperature from
the surroundings to adjust the temperature of the furniture unit [102]. In
another example, the sensor unit [102c] may be a humidity sensor used to detect
the humidity from the surroundings to make appropriate adjustments to the
furniture unit [102]. In another example, the sensor unit [102c] may be a sound
16
sensor used to detect the sound and/or noise levels and frequency from the
surroundings to adjust the furniture unit [102]. As used herein, the sensor unit
[102c] may be a seat-occupancy sensor, snoring sensor (piezoelectric sensor,
microphone or a combination of both), sound sensor, temperature sensor, pulse
5 sensor (Infrared pulse sensor or other such type of sensors available), pressure
sensor. The sensor unit [102c] may also be configured to detect human body
parameters such as pulse of the user, the body temperature of the user, weight
of the user and the likes. For example, the sensor unit [102c] may be a weight
sensor to detect the weight of the user. The sensor unit [102c] may be also
10 configured to detect physical parameters like air quality, pollution level of air,
hazardous environments, natural calamities such as earthquakes, and the like.
In an embodiment, sensor unit [102c] is configured to detect the working
parameters of at least one of furniture units [102]. The sensor unit [102c] is
further configured to send the detected parameters to the control board [102b].
15 For example, the sensor unit [102c] may detect the amount of movement of the
motor spindle and consequently the degree of angle of orientation of the
furniture unit [102]. The sensor unit [102c] may then send the detected data to
the control board [102b] for transmitting it to the server [110] via the network
[106]. The server [110] may then save the received data in the database [112] in
20 respect of the user.
The implementation unit [102d], connected to the control board [102b], is
configured to receive a signal from the control board [102b]. The
implementation unit [102d] is further configured to execute the operation or
output determined by the control board [102b] to be performed for at least one
25 portion of the furniture unit [102]. The implementation unit [102d] is configured
to at least change the orientation of at least a portion of the furniture unit [102]
and/or turn on the LED lights mounted on the furniture unit [102]. For example,
the implementation unit [102d] is configured to recline the furniture unit [102] at
17
an angle or position input by the user, such as 120 degrees and/or turn on the
LED lights or lamp on the furniture unit [102].
The present invention encompasses that the furniture unit [102] may comprise
of one or more implementation unit [102d]. For example, a furniture unit [102]
5 may have a separate implementation unit [102d] in the each of the arm rest,
back, foot rest of the furniture unit [102] respectively. Each implementation unit
[102d] may be configured to execute the operation determined to be performed
by the control board [102b] in adaption with the portion of the furniture unit
[102]. For example, the implementation unit [102d] in the foot rest is adapted to
10 incline the foot rest at particular angles and the implementation unit [102d] in
each of the arm rests is adapted to switch on at least one of the lights on the
furniture unit [102].
In a preferred embodiment, the implementation unit [102d] comprises of a
actuator unit [102d’] and an output unit [102d’’]. The implementation unit
15 [102d] is configured to transmit and the process the input received from the
control board [102b] by at least one of the actuator unit [102d’] and an output
unit [102d’’]. The implementation unit [102d] interprets the input received from
the control board [102b] and transmits the input to at least one of the actuator
unit [102d’] and an output unit [102d’’].
20 The actuator unit [102d’] is configured to change the orientation of at least a
portion of the furniture unit [102]. The actuator unit [102d’] may be any device
which is configured to control and change the movement or adjustment or
orientation of the furniture unit [102]. For example, the actuator unit [102d’]
may be one or more motors, one or more actuators, a motor controller
25 connected to one or more motors, one or more connections to the control board
[102b] with one or more motors/actuators. In an embodiment, the orientation
may be changed at least between an upright orientation and a reclined
orientation, or a flat position to an upright position in response to a signal
received from the control board [102b]. For example, the actuator unit [102d’]
18
may be used to recline the furniture unit [102] at an angle or position
predetermined by the user such as 120 degrees.
The output unit [102d’’], connected to the control board [102b], is configured to
output at least a portion of the signal received from the control board [102b].
5 The output unit [102d’’] is configured to provide output on the furniture unit
[102] based on the input received by at least switching on the LED lights, a lamp,
a voice output unit, sound console and the like. For example, the output unit
[102d’’] may process the signal received from the control board [102b] and
switch on the LED lights mounted on the furniture unit [102]. In another
10 example, the output unit [102d’’] may process the signal received from the
control board [102b] and start playing a song on the music console on the
furniture unit [102].
The network interface [102e], connected to the control board [102b], is
configured to provide connectivity to the network [106] as a gateway interface.
15 The network interface [102e] may be a port, a router, a switch, a transmitter, a
receiver, or any combination of hardware and software to connect to the
network [106] or any combination which is obvious to a person skilled in the art.
The network interface [102e] may be configured to connect at least one of the
furniture units [102] to the network [106] simultaneously.
20 Figure 3 depicts a method for operating powered furniture in a home, office,
commercial space or any public place. The method begins at step 300. At step
302, at least one input is received from the user for operating at least one of the
furniture unit [102] in a home, office, commercial space or any public place. As
used herein, the input may include at least one of the mode of operation of the
25 furniture unit [102], the operation to be performed on the furniture unit [102],
the user information. For example, the input from the user may indicate the
mode of operation of the furniture unit [102] and the operation to be performed
to the furniture unit [102]. The present invention encompasses that the furniture
unit [102] may be operated in a client/user mode or an administration mode. For
19
example, the input may indicate the furniture unit [102] to be operated in the
client/user mode and may then indicate that the furniture unit [102] may be
reclined at a certain angle (apparently say of 45 degrees) and the leg rest to be
extended or raised. The input is then transmitted to the control board [102b] for
5 processing and determining the operation to be performed on the furniture unit
[102].
In an embodiment, the input is received by the input unit [102a] mounted on the
furniture unit [102]. For instance, the input may be a received from the user who
may enter an input on a touch panel on the furniture unit [102]. In another
10 embodiment, the input is received from the user using a set of mechanical levers
on the furniture unit [102]. In yet another embodiment, the input [102a] is
received via a connection to a remote control, where the remote control may be
physically separate from the furniture unit [102]. Further, in yet another
embodiment, the input is received via the network [112] from at least a user
15 device [108], a server [110] or the other furniture units [102] connected to the
network [106]. For example, the input of the mode of operation may be received
from a user device [108] connected to the furniture unit [102] via the network
[106] where the user device [108] may comprise of a user account in relation to
at least one of furniture units [102]. The input from the user device [108] may
20 also be the user information in respect of the user account.
In another example, the input may be received from a user device [108] which is
connected to the server [110] via the network [106]. The input including at least
the operation to be performed and the user account information is then
transmitted to a server [110] from the user device [108] via the network [106] for
25 processing and creating an account for the user. The input including at least the
operation to be performed and the user account information may also be
transmitted to a database [112] via the network [106]. The input received by the
server [110] from the user device [108] may then be used to verify the user
information entered by the user. The input of the operation to be performed
20
received from the user may indicate the operation for at least one of the
furniture units [102] using the user account on the user device [108]. For
example, the user may request to incline the furniture unit [102] at an angle of
120 degrees. The user may also input a request to perform an operation from
5 the user information stored in the database [112]. For example, the user may
request for input as the last used operation or the most frequently used
operation for the furniture unit [102]. The server [110] may then retrieve the last
used operation or the most frequently used operation for the furniture unit [102]
from the database [112] in respect of the user and transmit the input to the
10 input unit [102a] of the furniture unit [102].
The present disclosure encompasses that the mode of operation of the furniture
unit [102] may be received from the user. The mode of operation for the
furniture unit [102] may be a client/user mode or an administration mode. The
administration mode enables only restricted access to the furniture unit [102] for
15 some users and provides for secure and privileged control to only the restricted
users provided to have access in the administration mode. As used herein, the
restricted users may be known as the “authorised users”. In an embodiment, the
administration mode is configured to allow access to the authorised users only to
log into the network using identification information such as username,
20 password and a one‐time password (OTP). The administration mode enables the
provisioning of restricted/privileged access/permissions to the authorised users.
The administration mode enables an authorised user to get a report on the
status of at least one of the control board [102b], actuation unit [102d’], sensor
unit [102c] and the network interface [102e]. The disclosure encompasses that
25 the control board [102b] is configured to receive input from the authorised user
and generate a report of the status and acknowledgment messages and store the
report in the database [112]. The administrator mode is also configured to set or
reset all the settings for all the units of the furniture unit [102] such as selecting
the default settings for all the units of the furniture unit [102].
21
In an embodiment, the administration mode is configured to enable the control
board [102b] parameters to calibrate for the effective functioning of the control
board [102b].The administrative mode also enables the user for
marking/indicating of the furniture units [102] in a particular layout. For
5 example, the administration mode can enable a user to mark/indicate the
furniture unit [102] in a space, such as an auditorium. The administrator mode
can also enable configuration of control board [102b] for mapping of
marking/indicating numbers. In another embodiment, the administration mode
can enable logical grouping of furniture unit [102] for performing certain
10 operations. For example, the administration mode can enable a user to
open/close all furniture units [102]. In another example, the administration
mode can enable a user to open/close an actuator unit [102d’] of one or more of
the furniture units [102]. Further, the client/user mode enables any user to
provide input to the furniture unit [102]. In an embodiment, the client/user
15 mode is configured to allow any user to input a change of position/orientation,
or change any status, of the output unit [102e].
The present invention also encompasses that the input received from the input
unit [102a] from the user may be to order or pay for services offered by third
parties. As used herein, the “services” may include, but not be limited to,
20 services for food & beverage, repair, emergency, utility services.
At step 304, the input received from the user by the input unit [102a] is
transmitted to the control board [102b]. The control board [102b] processes the
received input and determines the output. The control board [102b] is
configured to determine the output based on the received input. The
25 determined output is then sent to at least one of the implementation unit [102d]
and the server [110]. For example, the control board [102b] may process the
input to recline the furniture unit [102] at a certain angle, such as an angle of 45
degrees, and the leg rest to be extended or raised. The control board [102b] then
sends this input to at least one of the implementation unit [102d] and the server
22
[110]. In an embodiment, the control board [102b] receives input from the input
unit [102a] in the form of signals or commands, wherein the control board
[102b] processes these signals or commands to interpret the input and
determine the desired mode of operation, and/or the operation to be
5 performed.
The invention also encompasses that the input received from the input unit
[102a] is received by the control board [102b] for determining the appropriate
third party server. As used herein, a “third party server” is a server [110] which is
not a part of the network. The control board [102b] may then transmit the input
10 to the third party server for processing.
In an embodiment, the control board [102b] may process the input and send the
input to the server [110] via the network interface [102e] for determination of
output. The server [110] may then receive the input and then determine the
output based on at least the user data stored in the database [112] and on a set
15 of pre‐defined rules. The server may receive user information stored in the
database [112] such as the last used operation, the most frequently used
operation to determine the output. The server [110] may then send the
determined output to the control board [102b] via the network [106]. The
control board [102b] may further be configured to define a rule by the user
20 which must be executed on a pre‐defined time. For example, a rule may be
defined to open/close a specific implementation unit [102d] for all furniture units
[102] every day at a pre‐defined set of time automatically. In another
embodiment, the control board [102b] is configured to process and determine
the output for at least one of the furniture units [102] connected to the network
25 [106] simultaneously. For example, a control board [102b] may determine to
recline two or more furniture units [102] at an angle of 45 degrees.
In an another embodiment, the control board [102b] processes an input received
from one or more other control boards [102b] of one or more other furniture
23
units [102]. The control board [102b] may determine the output based on at
least the data of the one or more other control boards [102b].
In yet another embodiment, the control board [102b] receives an input from
one or more other control boards [102b] of one or more other furniture units
5 [102] and send the input to the server [110] via the network interface [102e] for
determination of output. The server [110] then receives the input from the
control boards [102b] and then determine the output based on at least the user
data stored in the database [112], the data of the one or more other control
boards [102b] and on a set of pre‐defined rules. The server may also retrieve
10 user information stored in the database [112] such as the last used operation,
the most frequently used operation in respect of the one or more other control
boards [102b] to determine the output. The server [110] may then send the
determined output to the control board [102b] via the network [106].
At step 306, the input is received from the sensor unit [102c]. The input received
15 from the sensor unit [102c] is then sent to the control board [102b] for
determining/ processing the output. The input from the sensor unit [102c] may
include detection of the occupancy of the furniture unit [102], the temperature
of the surrounding, movement of the furniture unit [102], and is sent to the
control board [102b]. For example, the input from the sensor unit [102c]
20 indicating if a user is sitting on the furniture unit [102] is sent to the control
board [102b]. In another example, the input from the sensor unit [102c]
detecting the temperature from the surroundings is sent to the control board
[102b]. In an embodiment, the control unit [102b] may only determine the
output, at the above step 304, when the sensor unit [102c] detects the furniture
25 unit [102] to be occupied.
The present invention also encompasses receiving human vitals parameters by
the sensor unit [102c]. As used herein, “human vitals parameters” include value
of the heart rate, breathing rate, snoring and body temperature, sleep
parameters including but not limited to total sleep time, number and duration of
24
breaks during a complete sleep cycle and provisions to record sleep stages, such
as rapid-eye motion stage (REM), non-rapid eye motion stage (NREM) and
macro-sleep stages (MSS). The present invention aims to analyse the recorded
data and provide preventive, corrective and/or adaptive management against
5 common sleep disorders including but not limited to insomnia, snoring,
obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Thereafter, at step 308, the output determined by the control board [102b]
based on the input received from the input unit [102a] and/or the sensor unit
[102c] is sent to at least one of the implementation unit [102d] and the server
10 [110]. The output received by the implementation unit [102d] is then executed
on the furniture unit [102]. In an embodiment, the output received by the server
[110] is transmitted to at least one of the database [112] and the control boards
[102b] of the one or more other furniture units [102]. For example, the control
board [102b] may determine the output to be that the furniture unit [102]
15 should be reclined at a certain angle (apparently say of 45 degrees) and the leg
rest to be extended or raised. After, the control board [102b] receives the
indication that the furniture unit [102] is occupied by the sensor unit [102c], it
sends this determined output to the implementation unit [102d] and the server
[110]. The actuator unit [102d’] of the implementation unit [102d] then reclines
20 the furniture unit [102] to the input angle, such as an angle of 45 degrees, and
extends or raises the leg rest using the motors. The determined output is also
sent to the server [110] via the network [106] for storing in the database [112].
Although the above method is described with reference to one furniture unit
[102], it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention
25 encompasses monitoring and control of multiple furniture units separately/ or in
group and simultaneously / concurrently.
The present invention also encompasses that the input received from the sensor
unit [102c] is sent to the control board [102b] for generating an automated
report. The generated automated report may be transmitted by the control
25
board [102b] to any registered medical and healthcare services in cases of
emergency and/or sending automated sleep-analysis, periodically.
The present disclosure further encompasses that a service call can be initiated
from the input unit [102a] of the furniture unit [102]. The input unit [102a]
5 includes an indicator which allows the user to send a service call alert to a
customer care representative or a concierge. The invention encompasses that a
service call may be initiated automatically when the sensor unit [102c] detects
data of the user to be critical or within a predefined range. For example, if the
sensor unit [102c] detects that the user’s heartrate is below 35 beats per minute,
10 a service call is initiated automatically. In another embodiment, a service call
may be initiated manually by the user by inputting an input in the input unit
[102a]. The control board [102b] verifies if the furniture unit [102] is occupied by
input received from the sensor unit [102c]. If the furniture unit [102] is occupied,
a signal is sent from control board [102b] to the server [110]. The server [110]
15 then processes the input received and determine a customer care representative
or a concierge to whom the service call is directed and then contact the
determined customer care representative or concierge.
In an exemplary embodiment, a service call alert may be sent to an organization
or an emergency cell/unit or a person enlisted as the point of emergency contact
20 of the user of the furniture unit [102]. As used herein, an “organization” and
“emergency cell/unit” may include a hospital, a police department, a fire
department and the like. For example, a service call may be initiated when an
input is received from the sensor unit [102c] when the heart rate of the user of
the furniture unit [102] is detected to be within a predefined “critical” range. The
25 indicator once initiated starts to blink and sends a signal to the control board
[102b]. The signal has the information of the furniture unit [102] such as the
number, time stamp of the service call initiation. The signal is then transmitted
and displayed to the concierge via the server [110]. The present disclosure
includes that the system [100] starts a countdown after receiving a service call
26
response from the server [110]. The countdown is to measure the response time
alert. The countdown can be stopped by at least one of the service call indication
on the input unit [102a] or the service call icon on a user device [108]. In an
embodiment, the furniture unit [102] is also configured to not allow a service call
5 if the sensor unit [102c] detects that the furniture unit [102] is unoccupied. The
input unit [102a] is also configured to indicate the service call. The kind of
indication that may be provided to indicate the service call may be determined in
the administrator mode. For example, the indication may be by blinking LED with
a predefined timer.
10 In an illustration, an input is received from the user for operating at least one of
the furniture units [102] in a home, office, commercial space or any public place
wherein the input includes the user/client mode of operation of the furniture
unit [102] and the operation of reclining the furniture unit [102] at an angle of
120 degrees and the leg rest to be extended or raised. The input is received by
15 the user using a user device [108] which has an user account associated with the
furniture unit [102]. The user may be allowed to provide the input only after
entering the user information in the user device [108] such as user id and
password. The input received from the user device [108] is then transmitted to
the control board [102b] for processing and determining the operation to be
20 performed on the furniture unit [102]. The control board [102b] determines the
output to be that the furniture unit [102] should be reclined at an angle of 120
degrees and the leg rest to be extended or raised. Thereafter, the control board
[102b] receives the indication that the furniture unit [102] is occupied by the
sensor unit [102c]. If the furniture unit [102] is occupied by the user, the output
25 determined by the control board [102b] is sent to at least one of the
implementation unit [102d] and the server [110]. The output received by the
implementation unit [102d] is then executed on the furniture unit [102]. The
actuator unit [102d’] of the implementation unit [102d] then reclines the
furniture unit [102] to the angle of 120 degrees and extends or raises the leg rest
27
using the motors. The determined output is also sent to the server [110] via the
network [106] for storing in the database [112].
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a system for operating a single or a
plurality of powered furniture in a home, office, commercial space or any public
5 place. In addition, the present disclosure also provides the system configured to
provide for a centralized operating mechanism for a single or a plurality of
furniture and fixture over a network. The present disclosure also provides for
operating a single or a plurality of furniture and fixture using a user device.
Further, the present disclosure is configured to provide for an operating
10 mechanism for integrating and synchronizing the plurality of furniture and fixture
which can communicate with each other.
Although, the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain
preferred embodiments and examples thereof, other embodiments and
equivalents are possible. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
15 various modifications are possible of the presently disclosed system and process
without deviating from the intended scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, such modifications of the presently disclosed
system for operating a single or a plurality of powered furniture in a home,
office, commercial space or any public place are included in the scope of the
20 present disclosure.

We Claim:
1. A system [100] for operating at least one furniture unit [102], the system
[100] comprising:
- the at least one furniture unit [102] configured to be operated by a
5 user, said at least one furniture unit [102] comprising at least one of a
furniture member and a fixture member;
- a power source [104], connected to the at least one furniture unit
[102], said power source [104] configured to supply power to the at
least one furniture unit [102];
10 - a user device [108], connected to the at least one furniture unit [102],
configured to receive at least one input to operate the at least one
furniture unit [102]; and
- a server [110], connected to the at least one furniture unit [102] and
the user device [108], said server [110] configured to monitor and
15 control the at least one furniture unit [102] based on said at least one
input received at the user device [108].
2. The system [100] of claim 1 wherein the server [110] is at least one of a
cloud server, a gateway server and a combination thereof.
3. The system [100] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a database
20 [112] configured to store at least one of a last used operation and a most
frequently used operation for the user.
4. A furniture unit [102] comprising;
- an input unit [102a], configured to receive at least one input for an
operation of the furniture unit [102];
25 - a control board [102b], connected to the input unit [102a], configured
to process the input received from the input unit [102a] and
29
determine the operation to be performed for at least one part of the
furniture unit [102];
- a sensor unit [102c], connected to the control board [102b],
configured to detect a status of the furniture unit [102], comprising at
5 least one of a detection of an occupancy of the furniture unit [102], a
temperature of a surrounding and a movement of the furniture unit
[102]; and
- an implementation unit [102d] connected to the control board
[102b], configured to implement the operation determined by the
10 control board [102b].
5. A furniture unit [102] as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control board
[102b] further comprises of a safety protection unit [102b] configured to
manage at least one of an error and damage in the working of the system
[100].
15 6. A furniture unit [102] as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the
control unit [102b], the server [110] and database [112] is further
configured to generate a report of the status received from the at least
one furniture unit [102].
7. A furniture unit [102] as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit
20 [102b] further comprises a feedback unit [102b’] configured to monitor
and control a status of at least one furniture unit [102].
8. A method [300] for operating at least one furniture unit [102], the
method comprising:
- receiving, by an input unit [102a], at least one input from a user for
25 operating the at least one furniture unit [102], said input comprising
at least a mode of operation of the at least one furniture unit [102];
- receiving, by a sensor unit [102c], at least one input for operating the
at least one furniture unit [102], said input including at least one of a
30
detection of an occupancy of the furniture unit [102], a temperature
of surrounding and a movement of the furniture unit [102];
‐ transmitting, by the input unit [102a] and the sensor unit [102c], the
input received by the input unit [102a] and the sensor unit [102c] to a
5 control board [102b];
‐ determining, by the control board [102b], an output for operating the
at least one furniture unit [102], based on the input received from at
least one of the input unit [102a] and the sensor unit [102c];
‐ transmitting, by the control board [102b], the output determined to
10 at least one of the actuator unit [102d], output unit [102e] and the
server [110].
9. The method [300] as claimed in claim 6, the method [300] further
comprising initiating a service call from the input unit [102a] of the
furniture unit [102]..