Device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element (1), comprising at least one main transmitter (31) for transmitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4) and at least one receiver (2) for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4), wherein the at least one furniture element (1) can be controlled by means of at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal (4), wherein the at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal (4) can be transmitted by the at least one main transmitter (31) to the at least one receiver (2), characterized in that at least one auxiliary transmitter (32) separate from the at least one main transmitter (31) is provided, at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal (4) can be transmitted by the at least one auxiliary transmitter (32) to the at least one receiver (2), and the at least one furniture element (1) can be controlled by means of at least one second signal (4) transmitted by the at least one auxiliary transmitter (32) to the at least one receiver (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element and to a furniture device having such a device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element and to a corresponding computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture elements are used instead of manually opening and closing furniture parts, in particular flaps, doors or drawers. Thereby, a comfortable and labor-saving operation of the furniture parts is achieved.

[0003] According to the prior art, the control of electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture elements is often carried out by means of a wireless connection. Thereby, the costly laying of lines is dispensed with.

[0004] The document AT 11904 U1 discloses a physically manipulable switch which emits a wireless signal via an auxiliary transmission device to a receiving device of a furniture element and which furniture element thereby causes a movement of a furniture part.

[0005] Although the switch can be more simply manipulated and can be positioned in a position which is more easily accessible than the furniture part itself, the operator has to reach the position of the switch in order to move the furniture part.

[0006] Furthermore, the switch has to be directly physically manipulated by the operator himself, either directly by hand or indirectly by pressing onto a furniture part located in front of it. SUMMARY

[0007] It is the task of the invention to avoid these disadvantages. In particular, an improved device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element, an improved furniture device having such a device, an improved method for controlling electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture elements and an improved computer program product for carrying out such a method shall be provided.

[0008] The device according to the invention for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element has

[0009] at least one auxiliary transmission device for transmitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal, and

[0010] at least one receiving device for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal,

[0011] wherein the at least one furniture element is controllable by means of at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal, wherein the at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal is transmittable by the at least one auxiliary transmitting device to the at least one receiving device.

[0012] It is provided that at least one main transmitting device separate from the at least one auxiliary transmitting device is provided, that at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal is transmittable by the at least one main transmitting device to the at least one receiving device and that the at least one furniture element is controllable by means of at least one second signal transmitted by the at least one main transmitting device to the at least one receiving device.

[0013] In particular, two separate, preferably spatially separate, transmitting devices are provided as main transmitting device and auxiliary transmitting device. Since the main transmitting device, in addition to the auxiliary transmitting device, can also actuate the at least one furniture element, the second object, in addition to the switch, can also control the at least one furniture element.

[0014] Thus, the variety of the control possibilities increases, for example, in addition to the auxiliary transmitting device comprising a manual switch, contactless control is possible by means of a voice-controlled main transmitting device.

[0015] However, other configurations of the two transmitting devices (main transmitting device and auxiliary transmitting device) are also possible, for example, an auxiliary transmitting device fixedly connected to the furniture and a main transmitting device configured on a mobile terminal device.

[0016] Furthermore, it is possible that one transmitting device is configured in the furniture element itself, which communicates with another furniture element.

[0017] In order to comply with modern standards, it is provided that the at least one first signal and / or the at least one second signal is a digital signal, which is preferably transmittable by means of at least one digital transmission protocol.

[0018] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the at least one first signal and / or the at least one second signal is a control signal for controlling at least one furniture element. Thus, the furniture can be actuated on the basis of the control signal.

[0019] Furthermore, each furniture element can be equipped with its own receiving device. Thus, the furniture element can receive self-sufficient signals.

[0020] It is also provided that the at least one auxiliary transmitting device is in a wired and / or wireless data connection with the furniture element, wherein at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal can be transmitted to a receiving device of at least one further furniture element and the further furniture element can be controlled by means of the at least one second signal. Thus, information about the movement state of a furniture element can be transmitted to another furniture element.

[0021] In one embodiment it is provided that the at least one auxiliary transmitting device is arranged on a household appliance, preferably a vacuum cleaner robot or a microwave oven. The household appliance can communicate with the at least one furniture element via the auxiliary transmitting device and open a flap, for example, autonomously.

[0022] Furthermore, each furniture element can be equipped with its own auxiliary transmitting device. For example, each furniture element can be controlled by means of its own switch with an auxiliary transmitting device.

[0023] In order to also enable a centralized control, one common main transmitting device is provided for at least two furniture elements, preferably for all furniture elements.

[0024] It can furthermore be provided that the auxiliary transmitting device is closer to the furniture element than the main transmitting device for at least one furniture element, preferably for all furniture elements. This is the case, for example, if the at least one auxiliary transmitting device is respectively equipped with a switch and the main transmitting device is shaped as a centralized transmitting device.

[0025] In one embodiment of the device it is provided that the at least one furniture element has an electric drive for moving a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, a door or a flap. Thus, the furniture element is shaped as a furniture drive and can open and close a furniture part.

[0026] It can furthermore be provided that the at least one furniture element has at least one electric closing device for closing a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, a door or a flap. Thus, the furniture element is shaped as a furniture lock and can close a furniture part. Thereby, unauthorized personnel can be prevented from accessing certain compartments.

[0027] In one embodiment of the device it is provided that the at least one furniture element and the equipped receiving device are combined to a structural unit, which is preferably accommodated in a common housing. The combination to a structural element, for example, reduces the effort when being mounted on a furniture. Furthermore, the accommodation in a housing enables an unobtrusive and / or esthetical appearance of the structural unit.

[0028] In one embodiment it is provided that the at least one furniture element in radio connection with the particular auxiliary transmitting device and the particular auxiliary transmitting device are mounted or built into the same piece of furniture. This is the case, for example, if the auxiliary transmitting device is structurally coordinated with a switch which is arranged on the piece of furniture. In particular, the switch can be directly or indirectly operated by means of a furniture part.

[0029] In one embodiment it is provided that the at least one main transmitting device accesses a preferably wireless network, in particular a WLAN network.

[0030] The main transmitting device can thus act as an interface ("network bridge") between the wireless network and the furniture drive. The wireless network can also be in data connection with the Internet via a router.

[0031] In order to provide an additional non-contact control possibility in addition to or instead of the control possibility by physical intervention of the operator, for example by means of a pushbutton switch, it is advantageously provided that a device for voice control is provided, which operates at least one furniture element by means of the at least one main transmitting device.

[0032] In such an embodiment with voice control it can in particular be provided that the device for voice control comprises a terminal device with a microphone which is connected to the Internet, wherein

[0033] the voice recording operated by the terminal device can be transmitted to an external computer network, in particular via the Internet,

[0034] electronic messages caused by the voice recording and / or operating commands caused by the voice recording can be transmitted from the external computer network to the at least one main transmitting device, in particular via a wireless network, and

[0035] at least one signal caused by the operating commands can be transmitted to at least one furniture element.

[0036] Here, the external computer network is generally referred to as cloud. It is provided that an existing cloud service, such as Google or Amazon, is used.

[0037] In a further embodiment of the device according to the application it is provided that the at least one main transmitting device can be operated by a mobile terminal device, preferably via a Bluetooth connection, wherein in normal operation at least one furniture element can be operated by the at least one main transmitting device itself. This enables the furniture element to communicate from the mobile terminal device to the furniture element via the main transmitting device as central interface ("network bridge").

[0038] In one embodiment of the device according to the application it is provided that for the at least one main transmitting device a switch is provided which can be operated physically, in particular manually, by means of which the at least one auxiliary transmitting device can be caused to transmit at least one second signal to the at least one receiving device. The operator can thus control the furniture element by manually operating the switch.

[0039] In one embodiment of the device according to the application it is provided that the at least one auxiliary transmitting device and the switch are combined in a common housing as a structural unit. The combination into a structural unit, for example, reduces the outlay when fitting on furniture. Furthermore, the installation in a housing enables an unobtrusive and / or aesthetic appearance of the structural unit.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the device the transmission takes place in a first transmission protocol of the at least one signal

[0041] - unidirectionally between the at least one main transmitting device and the at least one receiving device, and / or

[0042] - directly addressed to the at least one receiving device, and / or

[0043] - without receiving an acknowledgement by the at least one receiving device, and / or

[0044] - without checking the receiving readiness of the at least one receiving device, and / or

[0045] - with a fixedly predefined or predefinable routing of the at least one signal

[0046] is carried out,

[0047] wherein preferably ESB (Enhanced Shoch Burst) is used as transmission protocol. By means of the above-mentioned properties ESB enables the transmission of data with low latency. The low latency is decisive for the liquid operability by the operator.

[0048] Furthermore it is provided that the second transmission protocol is Bluetooth. The advantage of Bluetooth is that typical devices are supported in a standard-compliant manner. Thus, a plurality of devices can be used for controlling the at least one furniture element, for example.

[0049] The combined use of the two transmission protocols (ESB and Bluetooth) enables the advantage of low latency by using ESB for the transmitting devices set up at the factory and at the same time enables great flexibility by using Bluetooth for additional devices of any product, such as domestic appliances or mobile terminal devices.

[0050] The furniture device according to the application comprises at least one furniture and at least one device according to the application for controlling electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture elements.

[0051] In one embodiment of the furniture device according to the application it is provided that the furniture device comprises at least two furniture.

[0052] Furthermore it is provided that the furniture device comprises at least one flap and / or at least one door and / or at least one drawer as driven furniture component, wherein said furniture component can be arbitrarily assigned to said plurality of furniture in the case of the furniture device comprising a plurality of furniture.

[0053] In such a furniture device a kitchen is preferably conceivable. The device for receiving signals can thus communicate with the kitchen in a variety of ways. For example, the kitchen can be controlled by voice control, switches and mobile end devices and communicate with the domestic appliance.

[0054] In the method according to the application for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element, in particular with the aid of a device according to the above-mentioned application according to the application, use is made of

[0055] at least one auxiliary transmitting device for transmitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal, and

[0056] at least one receiving device for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal.

[0057] The method comprises the following method steps:

[0058] transmitting at least one first signal and at least one second signal to said at least one receiving device,

[0059] controlling said at least one furniture element on the basis of said at least one first signal and said at least one second signal.

[0060] It is provided that said at least one first signal comes from said at least one auxiliary transmitting device and said at least one second signal comes from at least one main transmitting device different from said at least one auxiliary transmitting device.

[0061] In one embodiment of the method according to the application it is provided that in said transmitting method step said transmitting

[0062] unidirectionally between said main transmitting device and / or auxiliary transmitting device and said receiving device, and / or

[0063] directly addressed to said receiving device, and / or

[0064] without receiving an acknowledgement by said receiving device, and / or

[0065] - without checking the reception readiness of the receiving device, and / or

[0066] - with a fixed pre-defined or pre-definable routing of the at least one signal

[0067] is carried out, wherein preferably an ESB (Enhanced Shock Burst) is used as transmission protocol. The transmission protocol has the advantage of a low latency of the data transmission, among others.

[0068] The computer program product according to the application comprises instructions which, when executed by at least one computing unit, cause the computing unit to carry out the method according to the application from at least one storage unit in data connection with or introducible into data connection with the at least one computing unit.

[0069] With respect to the present application, the expression "signal" is used to denote a physical signal. For example, in this sense, two signals which are transmitted in succession with the same transmission protocol, but with the same semantic content, are different from each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0070] Embodiments of the application are discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0071] Figure 1 a , 1b a piece of furniture with a furniture drive for moving a flap is shown,

[0072] Figure 2 a piece of furniture with a furniture drive for pushing out a drawer is shown,

[0073] Figure 3 a piece of furniture with a furniture drive for pushing out a door is shown,

[0074] Fig. 4a, 4b shows a piece of furniture with a furniture drive for moving a flap and a physically manipulable switch,

[0075] Figure 5 an overview of a plurality of furniture elements controlled by radio signals is shown, and

[0076] Figures 6a to 6e an embodiment of a device for controlling at least one furniture element according to the application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] Figure 1 a , 1bFigures 2, 3, 4a and 4b show different embodiments of furniture 9 with furniture drive 11 which are already state of the art as such. Of course, the present application can also be applied in other furniture drives 11 which are new.

[0078] In Figure 1 a and 1b a furniture 9 is shown which has a furniture element 1 shaped as furniture drive 11. Furthermore, in Figure 1 a an upwardly openable flap 92 is shown which is not shown in Figure 1 b for reasons of clarity. The flap 92 is connected with the furniture body 91 by means of a furniture element 1 shaped as furniture drive 11. The furniture element 1 comprises an adjusting arm 111, two levers 112a, 112b and a drive lever 113. The adjusting arm 111 is fixed on the flap 92 and rotatably connected with the levers 112a, 112b. The drive lever 113, which is rotatably connected with the levers 112a, 112b, can be moved electrically by the furniture drive 11. Said embodiment of the furniture drive 11 is also disclosed in document WO 2017 / 177247 A1.

[0079] Figure 2 A furniture 9 is shown which has three drawers 94 in a furniture body 91. At least one drawer 94 can be electrically pushed out by a furniture drive 11. For this purpose, the furniture drive 11 has a push-out lever 114. Said embodiment is also disclosed in document AT 513 756 A4.

[0080] Figure 3 A furniture 9 in the form of a cabinet is shown. A door 93 arranged on a furniture body 91 can be pushed out electrically by a furniture drive 11 as in Figure 2 Said embodiment is also disclosed in document AT 514 945 A4.

[0081] The electrical furniture drive 11 shown in Figures 1 a to 3 can also be operated by means of a wireless radio connection.

[0082] Figures 4a and 4b disclose one embodiment of a physically operable switch 5 which transmits a signal 4 to the furniture drive 11 by means of a wireless radio connection. The signal 4 can cause the furniture drive 11 to open or close a flap 92. Figure 4b shows here a detailed view of the area D in figure 4a. Said embodiment is also disclosed in document AT 119 04 U1.

[0083] In one embodiment of the present application it is provided that a plurality of furniture 9 forms a furniture installation.

[0084] The furniture device can comprise, for example, a kitchen appliance having a plurality of kitchen furniture. By means of the communication with the plurality of furniture elements 1, in particular the furniture drive 11 and the furniture lock 12, or the communication between the plurality of furniture elements, in particular the furniture drive and the furniture lock, the kitchen can be made easier to operate. In particular, the flap 92, the door 93 and the drawer 94 can be controlled selectively by means of the radio button 5, the voice control device, the mobile terminal device 34, etc.

[0085] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the communication with the plurality of furniture elements 1 by means of a wireless communication network or the communication between the plurality of furniture elements is shown. The dashed lines show the radio connection between the individual elements. Part of the wireless communication network is

[0086] - four furniture drives 11 of different types, in particular of the types in Fig. 1, Figure 2 , Figure 3

[0087] - a physically manipulable switch 5,

[0088] - a furniture lock 12,

[0089] - a domestic appliance 35 in the form of a microwave oven, a coffee machine and a robot vacuum cleaner,

[0090] - a master transmitting device 31 integrated into the wireless network 6,

[0091] - a router 61 also integrated into the wireless network 6 and which can establish a connection to the Internet,

[0092] - a mobile terminal device 34, and

[0093] - a device 7 for voice control.

[0094] By means of the Internet, the communication network is in data connection with at least one external computer network 8 ("cloud") in which, for example, an analysis of voice messages can be carried out. The at least one external computer network 8 can be accessed by means of a computer having a network interface 81.

[0095] Figures 6a to 6e Different embodiments of a device for controlling a furniture element 1 according to the application are shown, wherein at least one signal 4 is transmitted wirelessly from at least one master transmitting device 31 and at least one auxiliary transmitting device 32 to at least one receiving device 2. Here, the signal 4 is transmitted to at least one furniture element 1 and serves for controlling the at least one furniture element 1.

[0096] Here, Figure 6a ​An embodiment is shown with two main transmitters 31 which transmit signals 4 wirelessly to four receivers 2. The receivers 2 are partially assigned to a specific furniture element 1. But the auxiliary transmitters 32 can also be assigned to the respective furniture element 1 not fixedly, but also for example to transmit signals 4 received by two furniture elements 1. Furthermore, three auxiliary transmitters 32 likewise transmit signals 4 to receivers 2.

[0097] Figure 6b A typical embodiment is shown with only one main transmitter 31. The one main transmitter 31 transmits signals 4 wirelessly to each receiver 2. Each receiver 2 is assigned to one furniture element 1, wherein the received signals 4 can be used to control the respective furniture element 1. Furthermore, each receiver 2 can receive signals 4 of auxiliary transmitters 32, wherein each receiver 2 is here assigned an auxiliary transmitter 32.

[0098] Figure 6c Another embodiment is shown, wherein a first furniture element 1 is controlled by signals 4 of a main transmitter 31 and signals 4 of an auxiliary transmitter 32, wherein the auxiliary transmitter 32 is arranged in a second furniture element 1.

[0099] This configuration can be used for example to avoid a collision of two furniture parts 90, for example flaps 92, doors 93 or drawers 94, driven by the two furniture elements 1. For example, if the main transmitter 31 emits an instruction to move a furniture part 90 to a first furniture element 1 by means of a receiver 2, this instruction can be negated by means of a signal 4 emitted by an auxiliary transmitter 32 depending on the position of the second furniture element 1 with the driven second furniture part 90.

[0100] This configuration can also be used when the second furniture element 1 is a furniture lock 12 and the first furniture element 1 is a furniture drive 11 of the same furniture part 90. In this case, in the case of a locked furniture lock 12, the auxiliary transmitter 32 on the furniture lock 12 can counteract the opening of the furniture part 90 commanded by the main transmitter 31 in order to avoid for example damage to the furniture 9.

[0101] Figure 6d The control of a furniture element 1 is shown by means of a voice input by means of a device 7 for voice control and by means of a switch 5 which can be physically, in particular manually, manipulated.

[0102] For voice control, the voice recording 44 is recorded by a microphone of the device 7 for voice control and is continued via the Internet to at least one external computer network 8. There, the voice recording 44 is analyzed and an electronic message 46 and / or an operating command 45 are generated. Here, too, the electronic message 46 can be generated in the external computer network 8 and the operating command 45 from the electronic message 46 in another external computer network 8.

[0103] The electronic message 46 and / or the operating command 45 are then emitted back to the operator. The main emission means 31 receive the operating command 45 and / or the electronic message 46 via the wireless network 6 of the operator and control the furniture element 1 by means of the signal 4 with the receiving means 2. The voice recording can here, for example, contain "open", wherein the main emission means 31 are then caused to open the furniture part 90 driven by the furniture element 1.

[0104] In parallel thereto, the auxiliary emission means 32 are caused to emit the signal 4 to the receiving means 2 by manual manipulation of the switch 5. The auxiliary emission means 32 can be structurally coordinated with the switch 5. Thus, the furniture part 90 can be opened and closed by means of voice control and manual control.

[0105] Figure 6e The control of the furniture element 1 by the switch 5 via the auxiliary emission means 32 and by the mobile terminal device 34 via the main emission means 31 is shown. Here, the mobile terminal device 34 emits the operating command 45 to the main emission means 31. For this purpose, a program ("App") for operating the furniture element 1 can be installed on the mobile terminal device 34.

[0106] Furthermore, a program ("App") for configuring the furniture element 1 can exist, by means of which both the main emission means 31 and the auxiliary emission means 32 can be configured together with the furniture element 1 belonging thereto. Here, not only the movement of the individual furniture element 1 but also the joint, synchronized movement of two or more furniture elements 1 can be preconfigured. Furthermore, the movement of a furniture element 1 can be inhibited as a result of the position and / or movement of another furniture element 1 in order to avoid collisions of the furniture parts 90 driven by the furniture elements 1.

[0107] List of reference signs

[0108] 1 furniture element

[0109] 11 furniture drive

[0110] 111 adjustment arm

[0111] 112a lever

[0112] 112b lever

[0113] 113 lever

[0114] 114 push lever

[0115] 12 furniture lock

[0116] 2 receiving device

[0117] 21 first receiving unit

[0118] 22 second receiving unit

[0119] 3 transmitting device

[0120] 31 main transmitting device

[0121] 32 auxiliary transmitting device

[0122] 33 transmitting device of a furniture element

[0123] 34 mobile terminal device

[0124] 35 domestic appliance

[0125] 4 signal

[0126] 401 signal in a first transmission protocol

[0127] 402 signal in a second transmission protocol

[0128] 41 control signal

[0129] 42 signal with configuration data

[0130] 43 signal with status data

[0131] 44 voice recording

[0132] 45 operating command

[0133] 46 electronic message

[0134] 5 switch

[0135] 6 wireless network

[0136] 61 router

[0137] 7 device for voice control

[0138] 8 external computer network

[0139] 81 computer with web interface

[0140] 9 furniture

[0141] 90 furniture component

[0142] 91 furniture body

[0143] 92 flip cover

[0144] 93 door

[0145] 94 drawer

Claims

1. Device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element (1), comprising: - at least one primary transmitting device (31) for transmitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4), and - at least one receiving device (2) for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4), the at least one furniture element (1) being controllable by means of at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal, which can be transmitted by the at least one primary transmitting device (31) to the at least one receiving device (2), characterized in that at least one secondary transmitting device (32) separate from the at least one primary transmitting device (31) is provided, at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal can be transmitted by the at least one secondary transmitting device (32) to the at least one receiving device (2), and the at least one furniture element (1) is controllable by means of at least one second signal transmitted by the at least one secondary transmitting device (32) to the at least one receiving device (2), wherein each furniture element (1) is provided with its own secondary transmitting device (32). The at least one first signal and / or the at least one second signal is a digital signal. The digital signal can be transmitted by means of at least one digital transmission protocol. wherein The at least one first signal and / or the at least one second signal is a control signal for controlling at least one furniture element (1).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, Each furniture element (1) is provided with its own receiving device (2).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, The at least one secondary transmitting device (32) is in a wired and / or wireless data connection with a furniture element (1), wherein at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal can be transmitted to the receiving device (2) of at least one further furniture element (1), and the further furniture element (1) is controllable by means of the at least one second signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, At least one secondary transmitting device (32) is arranged on a household appliance (35).

5. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The household appliance (35) is a robotic vacuum cleaner or a microwave oven.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, One common primary transmitting device (31) is provided for at least two furniture elements (1).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, One common primary transmitting device (31) is provided for all furniture elements (1).

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, For at least one furniture element (1), the secondary transmitting device (32) is closer to the furniture element (1) than the primary transmitting device (31).

9. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, For all furniture elements (1), the secondary transmitting device (32) is closer to the furniture element (1) than the primary transmitting device (31).

10. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one furniture element (1) has an electric drive for moving a movable furniture part (90).

11. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The movable furniture part (90) is a drawer (94), a door (93) or a flap (92).

12. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one furniture element (1) has at least one electric closing device for closing a movable furniture part (90).

13. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one furniture element (1) and the provided receiving device (2) form a structural unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, The structural unit is accommodated in a common housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, ​ 16. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, ​ 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, ​ 18. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one furniture element (1) in radio connection with a specific auxiliary transmitting device (32) and the specific auxiliary transmitting device (32) are mounted or built into the same piece of furniture (9).

19. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one main transmitting device (31) is connected to a network (6).

20. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one main transmitting device (31) is connected to a wireless network (6).

21. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one main transmitting device (31) is connected to a WLAN network.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, A device (7) for voice control is provided, with which at least one furniture element (1) can be operated by means of the at least one main transmitting device (31).

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein, The device (7) for voice control comprises a terminal device with a microphone, which is connected to the Internet, wherein - a voice recording (44) operated by the terminal device can be transmitted to an external computer network (8), - an electronic message (46) caused by the voice recording (44) and / or an operating command caused by the voice recording (44) can be transmitted from the external computer network (8) to the at least one main transmitting device (31), and - at least one signal (4) caused by the operating command (45) can be transmitted to at least one furniture element (1).

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, A voice recording (44) operated by the terminal device can be transmitted to an external computer network (8) via the Internet.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, An operating command caused by the voice recording (44) can be transmitted from the external computer network (8) to the at least one main transmitting device (31) via a wireless network (6).

26. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one main transmitting device (31) can be operated by a mobile terminal device (34), wherein, in normal operation, at least one furniture element (1) can be operated by the at least one main transmitting device (31) itself.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein, The at least one main transmitting device (31) can be operated by a mobile terminal device (34) via a Bluetooth connection.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, For the at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32), a physically operable switch (5) is provided, by means of which the at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32) can be activated for transmitting at least one second signal to at least one receiving device (2).

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein, The switch (5) is a manually operable switch (5).

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein, The at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32) and the switch (5) are combined into a structural unit.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein, The at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32) and the switch (5) are combined into a structural unit in a common housing.

32. Furniture arrangement comprising at least one piece of furniture (9) and at least one device for controlling electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture elements (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

33. The furniture apparatus of claim 32, wherein, The furniture arrangement comprises at least two pieces of furniture (9).

34. The furniture device of Claim 33, wherein, The furniture arrangement comprises at least one flap (92) and / or at least one door (93) and / or at least one drawer (94) as driven furniture component (90), wherein, in the case of the furniture arrangement comprising a plurality of pieces of furniture (9), the furniture components (90) can be arbitrarily assigned to the plurality of pieces of furniture (9).

35. Method for controlling at least one electrically drivable or electrically adjustable furniture element (1) using a device according to one of claims 1 to 31, which device has: - at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32) for transmitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4), and - at least one receiving device (2) for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (4), the method comprising the following method steps: - transmitting at least one first signal and at least one second signal to the at least one receiving device (2), - controlling the at least one furniture element (1) on the basis of the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal, the at least one first signal coming from the at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32) and the at least one second signal coming from at least one main transmitting device (31) which is different from the at least one auxiliary transmitting device (32). The transmission of the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal - takes place unidirectionally between the main transmitting device (31) and / or auxiliary transmitting device (32) and the receiving device (2), and / or - is directly addressed to the receiving device (2), and / or - takes place without an acknowledgement of receipt by the receiving device (2), and / or - takes place without checking the receiving readiness of the receiving device (2), and / or - takes place using a fixedly predefined or predefinable routing of the at least one signal (4). The use of an ESB as transmission protocol.

36. Method according to claim 35, wherein the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal are transmitted using a different transmission protocol.

37. Method according to claim 35, wherein the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal are transmitted using a different transmission frequency.

38. Computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one computing unit, cause the computing unit to perform the method according to one of claims 35 to 37 from at least one storage unit which is in a data connection with the at least one computing unit or can be introduced into the data connection. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ characterized in that ​ 36. The method of claim 35, wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 37. The method of claim 36, wherein, ​ ​

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