Method and apparatus for monitoring infant pacifying seat condition

Abstract

There is provided a computer-implemented method of monitoring a condition of an infant pacifying seat, the computer-implemented method comprising receiving, at a processor, an input from an electronic sensor of the pacifying seat, the input indicating a condition of the pacifying seat, receiving, at the processor, one or more predetermined parameters, the one or more predetermined parameters indicate that the condition of the pacifier seat is in an operable state, determining that the condition of the pacifier seat is in the operable state based on the input of the electronic sensor and the one or more predetermined parameters, and controlling an output to implement a remedial action.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a soothing seat, and more particularly, to a baby soothing seat that can be converted into a sleep-safe form and / or can automatically soothe a baby or alert a parent. Summary of the Invention

[0002] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer-implemented method for monitoring the condition of a baby soothing seat, the computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, at a processor, an input from an electronic sensor of the soothing seat, the input indicating the condition of the soothing seat; receiving, at the processor, one or more predetermined parameters, the parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state; determining, based on the input from the electronic sensor and the one or more predetermined parameters, that the condition of the soothing seat is in the operable state; and controlling an output to effect a remedial action. By monitoring the condition of the soothing seat, determining the operable state, and effecting a remedial action, the soothing seat can provide the user with accurate information about the status of the soothing seat and also automatically effect a remedy. For example, where the remedial action is to play a soothing sound or apply a bouncing or soothing action to the soothing seat, the baby in the seat can be automatically soothed to sleep or comforted.

[0003] In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include a microphone, and the input indicating the condition of the soothing seat is an audio signal corresponding to a sound at the soothing seat. By monitoring the sound, the method can provide the benefit of responding to sounds such as noises like fussing or crying, or even external noises such as glass breaking, doorbell, or dog barking, in order to automatically effect a remedial action to soothe the baby.

[0004] In another aspect, the one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a threshold volume corresponding to the frequency of a crying baby.

[0005] In another aspect, the one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a threshold volume at any audible frequency.

[0006] In another aspect, the one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a threshold output obtained by an audio pattern matching algorithm.

[0007] In another aspect, the audio pattern matching algorithm may be configured to provide an output of a degree of match for a repetitive, amplitude-decreasing audio signal.

[0008] In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include a camera. In another aspect, the camera may be positioned to provide a view of the seating surface of the soothing seat.

[0009] In another aspect, the one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a motion threshold level within the field of view of the camera. In another aspect, the one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a threshold output obtained by a motion tracking algorithm. In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include a weight sensor configured to determine a threshold weight applied to the soothing seat.

[0010] In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include an accelerometer configured to measure the degree of movement of the baby in the soothing seat during use.

[0011] In another aspect, determining that the condition of the soothing seat is in the operable state may include determining that the baby is in any one of a sitting position and not moving, sitting position and moving, sitting position and bouncing, lying position and moving, or lying position and stationary.

[0012] In another aspect, controlling the output to implement a remedial action may include controlling a speaker to generate an audio signal. In another aspect, the audio signal may include one or more of white noise, music, pre-recorded sounds. In another aspect, the audio signal may include a user-recorded audio recording. In another aspect, the method may further include displaying a prompt to prompt the user to record the user-recorded audio recording, and recording for the user from the microphone.

[0013] In another aspect, controlling the output to implement a remedial action may include driving an electromechanical driver to apply an oscillatory motion to the soothing seat. In another aspect, the electromechanical driver includes one or more of the following: an electric motor, a drive screw, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator. In another aspect, driving the electromechanical driver to apply an oscillatory motion to the soothing seat may include applying one or more of a bouncing motion, a rocking motion, and a swinging motion.

[0014] In another aspect, the method may further include monitoring the input of the electronic sensor, determining that the condition of the soothing seat is no longer in the operable state based on the input from the electronic sensor and the one or more predetermined parameters, and controlling the output to stop implementing the remedial action. In another aspect, controlling the output to stop implementing the remedial action may include gradually decreasing the volume of the audio signal over a predetermined period of time. In another aspect, controlling the output to stop implementing the remedial action may include gradually decreasing the amplitude of the oscillatory motion applied to the soothing seat.

[0015] In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include a switch and / or a position sensor configured to determine the orientation of the soothing seat. In another aspect, the electronic sensor may include a switch and / or a position sensor configured to determine the position of one or more components of the soothing seat. By determining the position or orientation of the soothing seat, it can be determined that the soothing seat should be reoriented to a sleep-safe configuration. For example, if the baby has fallen asleep but the soothing seat is not in the sleep-safe configuration, the user may be notified to bring the soothing seat to the sleep-safe configuration, or the seat may automatically reorient to the sleep-safe position.

[0016] In another aspect, the one or more components may include a seat belt, where the seat belt is configured to cover a portion of the seat in a covering position and retract to a retracted position in which the retractable seat belt does not cover a portion of the seat.

[0017] In another aspect, the one or more components may include a seat rotatably mounted to a support frame, and wherein the seat is capable of rotating between a first position and a second position.

[0018] In another aspect, controlling the output to implement the remedial action may include causing a notification to be displayed on a user device, where the user device communicates with the processor. In another aspect, the user device may be one or more of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, and a personal computer.

[0019] In another aspect, the user device may communicate wirelessly with the processor via WiFi, cellular data, or Bluetooth.

[0020] In another aspect, controlling the output to implement a remedial action may include preventing a change in position of one or more components of the soothing seat. In another aspect, preventing the change in position may include locking one or more components of the soothing seat in place. By providing such prevention or locking the components of the soothing seat in place, it can assist the user or parent in how to use the soothing seat. For example, when the baby is asleep, the seat can automatically prevent the user from activating the bouncing motion. Alternatively, if the safety belt is not deployed or not fastened, the method can prevent the user or parent from activating the bouncing motion.

[0021] In another aspect, the processor may be a processor of a server or a user device that is physically separated from the soothing seat and communicates with the soothing seat by wire or wirelessly.

[0022] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a soothing seat is provided that includes a seat, a computer-readable medium, one or more processors, and one or more electronic sensors, and wherein the one or more processors may be configured to execute the method of any one of the aspects disclosed herein. Background Art

[0023] Soothing baby seats such as rocking chairs are seats that can be tilted and are adapted to firmly support a baby and provide soothing, rocking, or bouncing motions. Typically, a rocking chair can be started in motion by manually rocking the seat, while the structure of the rocking chair is configured to allow the rocking or bouncing motion to continue for a short period of time without further manual input. Some rocking chairs can be electrically driven by an electric drive mechanism without manual input.

[0024] A bassinet is a bed typically used for babies from 0 to 6 months old (although it can feasibly be used for older babies) and will include a flat surface for the baby to sleep on and should be free of obstacles or loose blankets or pillows that could pose a danger to the baby. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a little-known cause of infant death that typically occurs during sleep. While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, it is strongly recommended that for sleep, the baby should be placed on their back on a level, flat, firm mattress, free of obstacles and loose bedding, and with breathable sidewalls. Where a bassinet or crib meets these and other requirements, the bassinet or crib can be described as sleep-safe. For safety, parents should not leave a baby alone in a non-sleep-safe environment for any extended period of time.

[0025] Parents who attempt to monitor a rocking chair and / or cradle to ensure continuous attention to an infant's well-being or to ensure undisturbed sleep may encounter problems. This can be particularly difficult when parents need to divide their attention among other caregiving responsibilities such as laundry, cleaning, feeding themselves, and other dependents. The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a soothing seat that can allow an infant to sleep safely or comfortably while alleviating the mental burden on the parent caring for the infant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The following specific embodiments are described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 A soothing seat in a bouncing configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which the seat is tilted.

[0028] Figure 2 A soothing seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 1 wherein the soothing seat has been converted to a sleep-safe configuration.

[0029] Figure 3 A soothing seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 1 rotating from a bouncing configuration to a sleep-safe configuration.

[0030] Figure 4 A soothing seat with a seat belt retracted in a sleep-safe configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 1 of the soothing seat.

[0031] Figure 5 A flowchart of a method for monitoring the condition of a soothing seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a soothing seat according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown Figure 1 indicating the layout of the processor and input / output devices.

[0033] Figure 7 A block diagram of an example computer system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Referring Figure 1 , a soothing seat 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The soothing seat 100 includes a seat 102 (or container) and a support frame 106. The seat 102 is pivotally connected to the support frame 106. In Figure 1In the embodiment shown, the seat 102 is pivotally connected to the support frame 106 at the midpoint of the seat 102. However, in alternative embodiments, the seat 102 may be pivotally connected to the support frame 106 at a location other than the midpoint of the seat 102. For example, the seat 102 may be connected to the support frame 106 at or near an end of the seat 102. In yet another alternative embodiment, the seat 102 may be fixedly connected to the support frame 106 such that the seat 102 does not rotate relative to the support frame 106.

[0035] As used herein, the term "seat" encompasses the portion of the convertible infant seat 100 on which an infant will lie or sit. When the infant seat 100 is configured as Figure 1 shown, the seat may resemble a typical chair or seat in that the support for the infant is concave. In this manner, the seat 102 will provide proper support for the infant's spine while allowing the infant to sit upright. The convertible infant seat 100 may be converted to a sleep-safe configuration in which the seat may also be flat (as Figure 2 shown in an exemplary embodiment). In this manner, the seat will resemble a bed or mattress in such a way as to provide a flat, horizontal sleeping surface. The seat may include removable or fixed padding, one or more fabric layers, and one or more support elements (such as a concave or flat support or frame) to provide a contoured configuration and a flat configuration.

[0036] The support frame 106 may include a base portion 104 configured to support the convertible infant seat 100 on a floor, ground, or other flat surface. The support frame 106 may further include one or more arms 105 that connect the seat 102 to the base portion 104. The one or more arms 105 are pivotally or slidably connected to the seat 102 and may be rigidly or movably connected to the base portion 104. In the case where the arm 105 is movably connected to the base portion 104, the base portion 104 may include a hinge 108 or a flexible joint to articulate the seat 102.

[0037] The seat 102 may be configured to cradle or securely hold an infant in use. To cradle the infant, the seat 102 includes a support surface 110 that may be concave relative to the infant in use. The convertible infant seat 100 may further include a retractable safety belt 120. The retractable safety belt 120 includes a knee belt 122 that extends laterally across the seat 102 and, optionally, a crotch belt 124 that extends from the center of the knee belt 122 and is connected to the seat 102 at a connection point 126. Further optionally, the retractable safety belt 120 may include one or two shoulder straps (not shown) configured to extend over the shoulders of the infant in use and secure the infant in the convertible infant seat 100. AsFigure 1 As shown, the retractable safety belt 120 is configured to secure the baby in the seat 102. In this way, the rocking seat 100 can be moved or bounced, or the baby can move or wriggle around, without the risk of the baby popping out of the seat 102.

[0038] Reference Figure 3 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rocking seat 100 can move from the Figure 1 rocking configuration shown in the direction of arrow A to the Figure 2 sleep safety configuration shown in the Figure 2 . Once in the Figure 3 sleep safety configuration, the seat 102 can be actuated from the sleep safety configuration to the rocking configuration in the opposite direction. The seat 102 may include a handle 130 that parents can use to pivot the seat manually between the Figure 4 rocking configuration and the

[0039] sleep safety configuration. The seat may further include a button 132 that is configured to lock and unlock the seat in one or both of the rocking configuration and the sleep safety configuration. For example, when the seat is in one of the rocking configuration and the sleep safety configuration, a position lock (not shown) can hold the seat in that configuration. Activation of the button 132 can unlock the position lock and allow parents to manually actuate the seat 102 from one configuration to the other between the rocking configuration and the sleep safety configuration. Alternatively, the button 132 may include an electrical switch that is connected to a power source, a controller, and a motor and is arranged to automatically actuate the seat 102 between the rocking configuration and the sleep safety configuration. Further alternatively, the automatic actuation of the seat 102 between the rocking configuration and the sleep safety configuration can be initiated from the user's interaction with a connected device such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, or a personal computer, or can be automatically started based on the input of one or more sensors. Figure 4 , according to an embodiment of the present invention, the retractable safety belt 120 can be configured to be in a covering position (such as Figure 1 shown) and a retracted position (such as Figure 4actuates between the positions shown. In the covering position, the retractable safety belt 120 covers a portion of the seat 102. The knee belt 122 can extend laterally across the seat 102 from one side edge 140 to the opposite side edge 142. The knee belt 122 can be formed of one piece, or it can be formed of two or more pieces that are joined together to form the knee belt 122, such as including a left knee belt portion and a right knee belt portion. The knee belt 122 can be adjustable to accommodate an infant within a certain size range. The knee belt 122 can cover a portion of the seat 102 and provide space between the knee belt 122 and the seat 102 for the infant to occupy. The knee belt 122 can be connected to the side edge 140 by a first connecting element 144. The knee belt 122 can also be connected to the opposite side edge 142 by a second connecting element 146. The first connecting element 144 and the second connecting element 146 can be movably connected to the side edge 140 and the opposite side edge 142 respectively. For example, the first connecting element 144 and the second connecting element 146 can be slidably disposed within corresponding slots or tracks provided in the side edge 140 and the opposite side edge 142 respectively. In this way, the knee belt 122 and / or the safety belt 120 can slide from the covering position to the retracted position.

[0040] The retractable safety belt 120 can further include a crotch belt 124 that extends from the midpoint of the knee belt 122. When the retractable safety belt 120 is in the covering position, the crotch belt 124 can be connected to a connection point 126 on the seat 102. The crotch belt 124 can be configured to retract when the retractable safety belt 120 moves from the covering position to the retracted position. For example, the crotch belt 124 can be selectively connected to the connection point 126 by a releasable connector (a seat belt type connector or a plastic clip connector). Further, the crotch belt 124 can be configured to be stowed or retracted. For example, the crotch belt can be housed in a retractable reel, or the crotch belt can be held in a strap or pouch on the knee belt 122. Thus, when the retractable safety belt 120 moves from the covering position to the retracted position, the crotch belt 124 can be removed from the sleep-safe area of the seat 102 that obstructs the seat 102 when the seat 102 is in a flat configuration. The seat 102 of the convertible infant seat 100 can further include side walls 150. The side walls 150 extend around the perimeter of the seat 102, although the side walls 150 can extend only around a portion of the perimeter of the seat 102. For example, the side walls 150 can extend around the entire perimeter of the seat 102, or it can include only the side edge 140 and the opposite side edge 142. As Figure 1As shown, when the seat 102 is in the bouncing configuration, the sidewall 150 at least partially surrounds the seat 102. The sidewall 150 extends around the perimeter of the seat 102 and extends above or away from the seat 102 such that the sidewall 150 provides a barrier for the seat 102. Alternatively, the sidewall 150 may extend around the perimeter of the seat 102 but not away from the seat 102 such that the sidewall does not provide a barrier for the seat 102 in the bouncing configuration.

[0041] Referring Figure 3 and Figure 4 , when the seat 102 is actuated from the bouncing configuration to the sleep-safe configuration, the sidewall 150 is configured to move from a lowered position (as shown in the bouncing configuration of Figure 3 ) to a raised position (as shown in the sleep-safe configuration of Figure 4 ), in which lowered position the sidewall is either not higher than the seat or only a short distance higher than the seat, and in which raised position the sidewall 150 extends a greater distance above the seat 102 than in the lowered position. In this way, the sidewall 150 can extend to provide a suitable barrier in the sleep-safe configuration and can retract or lower to provide an entry in the bouncing configuration.

[0042] Now referring Figure 1 , the soothing seat 100 may further include a microphone 202. The microphone 202 may be fixed to the sidewall 150 or any other part of the soothing seat 100. As an alternative to mounting the microphone 202 to the soothing seat 100, the microphone 202 may be external to the soothing seat 100 and located within audible proximity of the soothing seat 100. The external microphone may include a microphone of a connected device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, or personal computer. The soothing seat 100 may further include a camera 204. The camera 204 is positioned to provide a field of view that covers the seat 102 of the soothing seat 100. In this way, the camera 204 can provide an image of the baby in the soothing seat 100 in use. The camera 204 may send an image of the baby in the soothing seat to a user device, such as the parent's phone. The camera 204 may send an image of the baby in the soothing seat for processing according to the methods described herein.

[0043] Referring Figure 5, in a first step 501 of a computer-implemented method 500 for monitoring the condition of a soothing seat 100, an input is received at a processor from an electronic sensor of the soothing seat 100. The input indicates the condition of the soothing seat 100. For example, the electronic sensor may include a microphone 202 mounted to the soothing seat 100, or a microphone located in the audible vicinity of the soothing seat. In the case where the electronic sensor includes the microphone 100, the input indicating the condition of the soothing seat is an audio signal corresponding to the audible sound at the soothing seat. The microphone 202 may pick up the sound from the baby in the soothing seat 100, and / or the microphone may pick up the sound from the environment. The sound from the environment may include noise from traffic, noise from other children or adults near the soothing seat 100, television noise, animal noise such as barking dogs, or any of a number of environmental sounds. In the case where the microphone 202 picks up the sound emitted from the baby, the sound may provide an indication of the baby's state. For example, the microphone 202 may pick up the sound of the baby giggling, crying, screaming, or being fussy. Each of these different sounds may be used as an indication of the condition of the soothing seat. For example, the sound of a fussy baby may provide an indication that the baby is restless and may need comfort or may be about to wake up. The sound of a baby giggling may provide an indication that the baby is enjoying the current movement of the soothing seat 100. Alternatively, the absence of sound emitted from the baby may provide an indication that the baby is sleeping or not in the soothing seat 100.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic sensor may include a camera 204. The camera 204 may be mounted in a sidewall 150 of the soothing seat 100, or mounted on any other structure of the soothing seat 100 that provides the camera 204 with a field of view covering at least a portion of the soothing seat where the baby is located during use. Alternatively, the camera 204 may be external to the soothing seat 100. For example, the camera 204 may be a separate unit (not shown) that may be mounted or positioned so as to have a field of view covering the soothing seat 100. Since the field of view of the camera 204 covers the soothing seat 100 or at least covers a portion of the soothing seat 100 where the baby will be placed, the movement of the baby may be picked up by the camera 204. For example, the camera may detect the baby's movements, such as arm waving, wriggling, or other fussy movements. Alternatively, the absence of movement may indicate that the baby is resting quietly or asleep. The camera is also capable of detecting facial features and / or expressions indicating the baby's state, such as closed or open eyes, or eyes indicating distress. Alternatively or additionally, the camera 204 may provide an indication of the environmental condition. For example, the camera 204 may provide an indication of whether the soothing seat 100 is in a bright or dark environment, whether the lights are on, or whether there is a lot of movement in the background.

[0045] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic sensor may include a weight sensor. The weight sensor may include a pressure pad or load detection device embedded in the seat or cushion of the soothing seat such that an electrical signal indicating the presence of the baby's weight in the soothing seat 100 can be detected by the processor. Alternatively, a load sensor or load cell may be installed at another location in the soothing seat 100, such as on the base or on the support legs or frame of the soothing seat, to detect the weight of the baby in the soothing chair as a load in the base, support legs or frame. In the case where the electronic sensor includes a weight sensor, the method may include determining the presence of the baby in the soothing seat 100 by detecting the presence of a threshold weight applied to the weight sensor. The method may further include determining that the weight applied to the weight sensor exceeds an upper threshold. The upper threshold may be set to a weight that is unlikely to indicate the presence of a baby in the soothing seat but may cause the soothing seat 100 to be overloaded. This may enable the method to determine whether too much weight has been applied to the soothing seat 100, which may be dangerous or may indicate abuse of the soothing seat 100. In response to detecting the presence of the baby in the soothing seat 100, the method may include allowing other functions of the soothing seat 100 to operate. For example, in response to determining the presence of the baby, remedial actions assuming the baby is present in the soothing seat 100 may be taken, such as soothing operations, sending an alert to the parents, or further monitoring and determining the status of the soothing seat 100. If it is determined that the baby is not present in the soothing seat 100 (e.g., because the threshold weight has not been exceeded or the upper threshold weight has been exceeded), the method may include stopping or pausing the monitoring of the condition of the soothing seat 100 until the weight of the baby is detected. In this way, a computationally intensive monitoring process or the use of bandwidth and data services to monitor the condition of the soothing seat 100 can be stopped to conserve power or reduce bandwidth usage. After a threshold time period during which the threshold weight has not been reached, the method may include entering a power-saving mode from which the user must turn on the soothing seat 100 to continue using it. The method may further include tracking the weight of the baby measured by the weight sensor in the soothing seat 100. Tracking the weight of the baby measured by the weight sensor may include recording the weight applied to the weight sensor when the baby first occupies the soothing seat 100 and recording the weight applied to the weight sensor when the baby second occupies the soothing seat 100, where the first time and the second time are different times. There may be a time period between the first time and the second time during which the soothing seat 100 is not occupied by the baby. Tracking the weight of the baby may further include determining the difference between the weight measured at the first time and the weight measured at the second time. The method may further include: in response to determining the difference between the weight measured at the first time and the weight measured at the second time, updating the threshold weight for detecting the baby.

[0046] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic sensor may include an accelerometer configured to measure the degree of movement of the baby in the soothing seat during use. Such an accelerometer may be directly mounted to the seat or the seat cushion of the soothing seat 100 such that movement of the baby in the soothing seat 100 will cause a corresponding signal to be received from the accelerometer. Optionally, based on the signal from the accelerometer, it may be determined whether the baby is moving or not. In combination with the known orientation of the soothing seat 100 (e.g., from a switch or position sensor configured to determine the orientation of the soothing seat 100), it may be determined that the baby is sitting and not moving (or stationary), sitting and moving, sitting and bouncing, lying and moving, or lying and not moving (or stationary). By monitoring the condition of the soothing seat 100 in this way, it can be determined whether the condition requires action. For example, if the baby is sitting and stationary, it may be necessary to notify the parents that the soothing seat 100 is not in a sleep-safe orientation. Alternatively, if it is determined that the baby is lying and moving, it may be necessary to notify the parents that the baby is awake or that the baby may need to be soothed. Other remedial actions may be taken, such as rocking, bouncing, or swaying the soothing seat 100, playing audio to soothe the baby, or notifying the parents. Alternatively or additionally, the method may include determining the occupancy of the soothing seat in response to a signal received from the accelerometer or gyroscope. The signal received from the accelerometer or gyroscope may be a signal indicating that the soothing seat is flexed into a position, attitude, or angle that is different from the stationary position, attitude, or angle of the soothing seat when it is not occupied by a baby. The soothing seat may be configured to flex or bend in response to the weight of the baby occupying the soothing seat. In this way, when a baby occupies the soothing seat, the soothing seat may flex from a first attitude or angle to a second attitude or angle. The first attitude or angle may indicate that the soothing seat is unoccupied, and the second attitude or angle may indicate that the soothing seat 100 is occupied. Given the preset stiffness of a given soothing seat, the difference between the first attitude or angle and the second attitude or angle may be proportional to the weight of the baby. As an alternative or supplement to the accelerometer, the degree of movement of the baby in the soothing seat during use may be sensed by using one or more of a gyroscope, a linear or rotary encoder, or other position-sensing transducers (e.g., inductive or magnetic sensors) configured to sense the movement of the seat of the soothing seat 100 relative to the base of the soothing seat 100 or the ground.

[0047] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic sensor may include a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be a contact sensor located within the soothing seat 100 (e.g., within the seat or seat cushion of the soothing seat 100). Alternatively, the temperature sensor may be a non-contact or infrared temperature sensor that is within the field of view of the infant during use. Signals from the temperature sensor may provide an indication of the temperature of one or both of the infant and the soothing seat 100 during use. Monitoring the condition of the soothing seat 100 may include determining that the temperature of the infant or the soothing seat 100 is too low or too high. When it is determined that the temperature is outside a preset range, the remedial action taken may include notifying the parents or issuing an alert to the user.

[0048] Additionally or alternatively, the electronic sensor may include an electrocardiogram sensor (ECG) configured to determine the blood flow state of the infant during use. The output of the ECG may be used to determine the state of the infant. For example, the ECG may determine that the heart rate of the infant during use has increased. When the previous state of the infant was lying still or sleeping, an increased heart rate may indicate that the infant is waking up or is awake. When the previous state of the infant was sitting and bouncing, an increased heart rate may indicate that the infant is excited. Alternatively, the ECG may determine that the heart rate of the infant during use has decreased. When the previous state of the infant was lying still or sleeping, a decreased heart rate may indicate that the infant is in a deep sleep or has entered a deep sleep. When the previous state of the infant was sitting and moving or bouncing, a decreased heart rate may indicate that the infant has been successfully soothed.

[0049] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a soothing infant seat 100 is shown, which includes one or more processors 610, an output device 616, and one or more electronic sensors 614. The one or more electronic sensors 614 may include any one of the switches, position sensors, microphones, cameras, light sensors, weight sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, linear or rotary encoders, inductive sensors, magnetic sensors, temperature sensors, or ECG sensors described herein. The one or more electronic sensors 614 communicate with the one or more processors 610. The one or more processors 610 may perform one or more steps of the methods described herein. Alternatively, the one or more processors 610 may communicate with one or more external processors 612 via a wired or wireless connection. In such cases, one or more steps of the methods described herein may be performed entirely or partially on the one or more processors 610 or the one or more external processors 612. The soothing infant seat may include one or more output devices 616, such as but not limited to lights, LEDs, speakers, buzzers, or a wired or wireless connection to one or more user devices.

[0050] In the second step 502 of method 500, one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state are received at the processor. If the one or more predetermined parameters indicate that the soothing seat is not in an operable state, no action is required. For example, if the sensor includes a camera and there is no change in the light condition, the condition of the soothing seat may be in an inoperable state, where no further action is taken. The second step may be performed before the first step, simultaneously with the first step, or after the first step. For example, the method may be implemented by a user defining the predetermined parameters before using the soothing seat. The predetermined parameters may include, for example, a threshold level of ambient noise or a threshold level of audible noise. This may be determined by the parents based on their judgment of the crying sound or ambient noise when the baby may wake up. Alternatively, the predetermined parameters may be determined instantaneously, simultaneously with the first step, or after the first step occurs. For example, the predetermined parameters may be obtained from another source, such as downloaded from a server device via a network connection, or obtained from a user community of example parameters. The operable state may include any state that would benefit from a remedial action. For example, one operable state is that the baby in the soothing seat 100 has started audible crying or wailing. Another operable state is that the baby has started visible movement in the soothing seat 100. Another operable state is that the brightness of the environment in which the soothing seat is located has increased, indicating that the baby in the soothing seat 100 has suddenly been illuminated by strong light.

[0051] In the third step 503 of method 500, based on the input from the electronic sensor and one or more predefined parameters, the processor determines that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state. Determining that the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state may include the processor comparing the current input from the electronic sensor with a previous input from the device or an input database from other devices. For example, in the case where the input is from the camera 204, the processor may compare the average level of light received by the camera at a certain point in time with the average level of light received by the camera before that point in time. In this way, the processor can determine that the light level has changed.

[0052] Previous inputs from the soothing seat can include historical data of the device, including the condition of the soothing seat, raw data from one or more electronic sensors, encoded data from one or more electronic sensors, timestamps associated with the data, and / or other relevant inputs, such as parameters input by the user. The condition of the soothing seat can be recorded over time, and the historical condition of the soothing seat and the times when the condition may change can be provided. The historical condition of the soothing seat can provide a reference indicating during which usage periods the state of the seat is more likely to change. For example, without further intervention, a baby typically sitting in this device is unlikely to sleep for more than 20 minutes. The raw data from one or more electronic sensors can provide further understanding of the changing condition of the soothing seat. For example, in the case where the electronic sensor includes a camera, the raw data can reveal that when the detected light level suddenly increases, such as when the light is turned on, a baby typically sitting in this device may change its condition. In the case where the electronic sensor includes a microphone, the raw data can reveal that a large noise or the absence of background noise may increase the chance of a change in the condition of the soothing seat because the baby may wake up. In the case where the electronic sensor includes a temperature sensor, the raw data can reveal that the changing condition of the soothing seat corresponds to a high or low temperature. The raw data can be encoded so that events can be captured. For example, the raw data can be encoded into one or more events, such as temperature or light changes, movement changes, or large noise events. The encoded events can include time and duration, and / or event type information that may be related to the condition of the soothing seat. Alternatively or additionally, the user can input new parameters, which can be used to associate with the condition of the soothing seat. For example, the user can input the feeding time of the baby or when the baby is moved to a different location. These parameters input by the user can be used to record the historical state of the soothing seat and be associated with the recorded input data.

[0053] Given a new set of inputs from the electronic sensors, the historical condition of the soothing seat can be used to predict the condition of the soothing seat. For example, in the case where it has been shown from the historical condition of the soothing seat that a temperature change causes a change in the condition of the soothing seat, it can be determined without further intervention that the baby may wake up. Then preventive remedial actions can be taken. In this way, the soothing seat 100 can anticipate and prevent unnecessary changes in state in advance.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the method may benefit from a larger historical database of device data of other users of similar devices. Since the soothing seat is used over a limited time span of an infant's growth, the data history from which inferences can be drawn is limited. For example, after 6 - 12 months of the parents purchasing or using the soothing seat, the infant may grow up and no longer need the soothing seat. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to benefit from data collected from other users. In such cases, the data may be anonymized such that no personal details can be inferred or implied from the data collected. By leveraging historical data from multiple other users in the database, better predictions can be made as to when a remedial action should be taken and / or when the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state.

[0055] Alternatively or additionally, determining that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operable state may include a more complex assessment of the condition of the soothing seat. For example, in the case where the electronic sensor is a microphone 202, determining that the condition of the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state may include determining whether the sound volume at a defined frequency is greater than a threshold level. The defined frequency may be selected as the frequency at which an infant typically cries (e.g., approximately 400 - 500 Hz). Alternatively or additionally, determining that the condition of the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state may include using an audio pattern matching algorithm to detect a specific audio pattern. For example, the algorithm may provide an output of the degree of match with a specific audio pattern. Determining that the condition of the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state may include determining that the degree of match with a specific audio pattern exceeds a threshold degree of match. For example, the audio matching algorithm may provide the degree of match with a typical infant cry or noisy sound. In the case where the match degree is greater than 50%, it may be determined that the infant may be crying or making noise, and a remedial action should be taken. A typical infant cry sound may include a specific sound pattern, such as a repetitive, amplitude - decreasing audio signal. The processor may determine that a repetitive, amplitude - decreasing audio signal has been received from the microphone, and thus the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, determining that the condition of the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state can include comparing a level of motion within the field of view of the camera 204 to a threshold level of motion. In the case where the level of motion within the field of view of the camera 204 is greater than the threshold level of motion, the processor determines that the condition of the soothing seat 100 is in an operable state. The level of motion can correspond to physical activity within the soothing seat 100. For example, an infant moving can indicate that the infant is restless or not sleeping. The level of motion can be determined by one or more vision algorithms, such as using an edge detection algorithm to determine edges within the field of view and comparing the degree of change of these edges over a period of time. Pixel matching techniques can be used to determine the level of motion within the field of view of the camera 204. Alternatively or additionally, a motion tracking algorithm can be used to determine the motion of the infant within the field of view of the camera 204. For example, the motion tracking algorithm can determine the position of the infant's head, body, limbs, and / or joints in each image from the camera 204. The level of motion of the infant can be determined based on the relative motion of the infant's head, body, limbs, and / or joints within the field of view.

[0057] In a fourth step 504 of the method 500, the processor controls the output to implement a remedial action. The remedial action can be to generate an audio signal output from the speaker 206. The speaker 206 can be fixed to the soothing seat 100 (as Figure 1 shown), or the speaker 206 can be external to the soothing seat 100 (not shown in the figure). The audio signal output at the speaker 206 can include white noise, which can provide a non - intrusive background that can help mask other more intrusive noises from the environment. The audio signal output can include music or other pre - recorded sounds. Such music or pre - recorded sounds can include soothing music or sounds from nature (such as rain, ocean waves, or bird calls).

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, the audio signal can include a user - recorded audio recording. In use, parents can pre - record their own voices to play to the infant when a remedial action is required. For example, parents can pre - record cooing sounds or other soothing sounds with their own voices to provide comfort to a restless or noisy infant. Alternatively, the user - recorded audio recording can be live - recorded or substantially live - recorded. In such cases, the method can include displaying a prompt to the parents to record a user - recorded audio recording to be played back to the infant. This can take the form of notifying the parents on a user device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, or personal computer, and prompting the user to record the user - recorded audio recording into the microphone of the user device. The user - recorded audio recording can then be transmitted to the processor of the soothing seat for playback through the speaker 206.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, the remedial action may include driving an electromechanical drive to apply an oscillatory motion to the soothing seat 100. The soothing seat 100 may include a motor or other electromechanical drive in the base 170. The base 170 connects the base 110 of the support frame to the seat 102 via the arm 105. The base 170 is rotatable relative to the base 110 about a vertical axis V. The arm may further rotate about a horizontal axis H within the base 170. The electromechanical drive may be configured to apply one or both oscillatory motions to the soothing seat 100 about the vertical axis V such that the seat 102 will swing back and forth about the horizontal axis H such that the seat 102 will bounce vertically or up and down. The seat 102 may be configured to swing about a second horizontal axis R at the point where the seat 102 is supported by the arm 105. The motor or other electromechanical drive may be configured to generate an oscillatory motion about the second horizontal axis R such that the seat swings about the axis R. A processor in combination with one or more electromechanical drives may apply a combination of bouncing motion (about axis H), rocking motion (about axis R), and swinging motion (about axis V) to provide a combined oscillatory motion that mimics the way the soothing seat 100 is manually bounced, rocked, and / or swung.

[0060] In another step of the computer-implemented method, the input of an electronic sensor may be continuously monitored to determine when the condition of the soothing seat is no longer in an operable state. For example, where the sensor is the microphone 202 and the baby has been crying or making noise and the remedial action such as playing white noise or other sounds has successfully soothed the baby to stop crying or making noise, the method may further include controlling the output to stop implementing the remedial action. Where the remedial action is outputting sound from the speaker 206, the method may include stopping the playback of sound from the speaker 206. Stopping the remedial action may include gradually stopping the remedial action, such as gradually reducing the volume of the audio signal over a predetermined period of time such that a sudden change in volume does not startle the baby. Where the remedial action is applying an oscillatory motion to the seat 102, the amplitude of the oscillatory motion may be gradually decreased over a predetermined period of time until the soothing seat 100 no longer oscillates.

[0061] In some embodiments, the electronic sensor includes a switch and / or a position sensor, and the switch and / or the position sensor are configured to determine the orientation of the soothing seat. In the case of the switch, the switch may be a contact switch located on the underside of the base 104 to determine whether the soothing seat is in contact with the ground or other flat surface. In the case of the position sensor, the position sensor may be an accelerometer fixed to the soothing seat 100 and configured to determine whether the soothing seat 100 is positioned horizontally on a surface or whether the soothing seat 100 is positioned at an angle. Operating some or all of the electromechanical actuators automatically may be dangerous at a certain angle. For example, if the soothing seat 100 is placed on a ramp or angled surface, it may not be suitable to apply an oscillating motion to the seat 102. In such cases, the processor may prevent the oscillating motion from being applied to one or more of the electromechanical actuators, stop the oscillating motion from being applied to one or more of the electromechanical actuators if the oscillating motion has already been applied, and / or cause a visual or audible warning to be displayed or emitted from one or more of the speaker 206 or a user device such as a connected smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, or personal computer.

[0062] In some embodiments, the electronic sensor includes a switch and / or a position sensor, and the switch and / or the position sensor are used to determine the position of one or more components of the soothing seat. For example, a switch or position sensor may be included in the base configured to determine the orientation of the seat about the vertical axis V or the horizontal axis H. A switch or position sensor 111 may be included in the arm 105 to detect the position of the seat 102 rotating about the arm 105. In this way, the processor can determine whether the seat 102 is in a bouncing configuration (as Figure 1 shown) or a sleep-safe configuration (as Figure 2 shown).

[0063] In some embodiments, the electronic sensor includes a switch and / or a position sensor to determine the position of the safety belt. The switch or position sensor 208 may be included in the sliding mechanism of the safety belt such that the input to the processor provides an indication of whether the safety belt is in the covering position or the retracted position. If the soothing seat 100 is in the bouncing configuration but the safety belt is in the retracted position, the processor may prevent one or more electromechanical actuators from applying an oscillating motion to the seat 102. This can prevent the oscillating motion from ejecting the baby from the seat 102 because the safety belt 120 is not in the correct covering position. In another example, when the seat 102 has been rotated to the horizontal sleep safety configuration, the processor may cause a warning to be displayed (e.g., on a connected user device) or otherwise notified (e.g., audibly via the speaker 206) to alert the parent that the safety belt 120 is in the covering position. In such cases, the safety belt 120 may pose a danger to the sleeping baby by obstructing the sleep safety area.

[0064] In some embodiments, controlling the output to implement a remedial action may include preventing a change in the position of one or more components of the soothing seat. For example, the processor may cause a lock to engage in the arm 105 of the soothing seat 100 to prevent the seat 102 from rotating from the sleep safety configuration to the bouncing configuration until it is detected that the safety belt 120 has moved to the covering position. In this way, the method can prevent the soothing seat 100 from being configured to a bouncing or swinging state without the safety belt 120 restraining the baby.

[0065] The soothing seat 100 includes one or more processors and means for connecting to a network of other computing devices. The network of other computing devices can be a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), or a personal area network (PAN). In the case of a WAN, the connection can be achieved via a proxy device (e.g., via a network device, router, or bridge device) through a LAN or PAN, or through a home assistant device. For example, the soothing seat 100 can include WiFi, cellular data, Zigbee, or Bluetooth connectivity. Such wireless connectivity allows the processor of the soothing seat 100 to communicate with another user device. The user device can be any personal computing device, but may be a smartphone, tablet computer, home assistant device, smart home hub, or smartwatch. The user device can include one or more applications configured to provide a graphical user interface such that parents can configure and interact with the soothing seat via a connection to the network. The network can be a direct peer-to-peer connection (such as in Bluetooth or other PANs), through a local area network or LAN (such as a direct connection over WiFi), or through a wide area network or WAN (connected to the Internet via WiFi or cellular data). Where the connection is through a WAN, the soothing seat 100 can be configured to connect to one or more servers that can provide configuration data or control signals. For example, a group of users can determine that certain predefined settings related to the oscillating motion or detection of noise / crying work well for them. Such community-defined configuration data can be downloaded to the soothing seat 100 and optionally via the user device to provide community-defined best solutions.

[0066] The method can be implemented using the processor of the soothing seat 100. Alternatively, the method can be implemented by communicating with an external processor (e.g., the processor of the user device or the processor of the server), and the processor of the soothing seat 100 is configured to send and receive data with the external processor. Those skilled in the art will understand that one or more steps of the method can be offloaded from the processor of the soothing seat 100 to one or more other processors. By offloading processing steps to a server or user device, it will be understood that updates to the software or method can be implemented without reprogramming the soothing seat 100, and more powerful processing or artificial intelligence algorithms can be used, where it is not suitable to integrate such processors into the soothing seat 100, e.g., when power consumption or cost is too high.

[0067] The control of the position, bouncing, swinging or rocking of the convertible soothing seat described herein can be implemented by a computer program. The computer program may include computer-executable code or instructions that are arranged to instruct a computer to control the convertible soothing seat described above. The computer program and / or code or instructions for performing such methods may be provided to a device, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet computer, on a computer-readable medium or computer program product. The computer-readable medium may be, for example, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, or a propagation medium for data transmission, such as for downloading code over the Internet. Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may take the form of a non-transitory physical computer-readable medium, such as semiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, removable computer disk, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), rigid disk, and optical disk, such as CD-ROM, CD-R / W, or DVD. The computer program may be controlled by one or more user inputs, including but not limited to a keyboard, electromechanical switch, mouse, trackball, touch screen, gesture control, or voice commands via a microphone.

[0068] In some embodiments, a tangible non-transitory device or article of manufacture that includes a tangible non-transitory computer-usable or readable medium having control logic (software) stored thereon may also be referred to herein as a computer program product or program storage device. This includes, but is not limited to, computer systems, main memories, auxiliary memories, and removable storage units, as well as tangible articles embodying any combination of the foregoing. When executed by one or more data processing devices, such as a computer system or processor, such control logic may cause such data processing devices to operate as described herein.

[0069] Figure 7A block diagram of an example computer system 700 that can be used to perform the methods and operations described herein is shown. System 700 includes a processor 710, a memory 720, a storage device 730, and an input / output device 740. Each of the components 710, 720, 730, and 740 can be interconnected, for example, using a system bus 750. The processor 710 is capable of processing instructions for execution within the system 700. The processor 710 is capable of processing instructions stored in the memory 720 or on the storage device 730. The memory 720 stores information within the system 700. In one embodiment, the memory 720 is a computer-readable medium. In one embodiment, the memory 720 is a volatile memory unit. In another embodiment, the memory 720 is a non-volatile memory unit. The storage device 730 is capable of providing mass storage for the system 700. In one embodiment, the storage device 730 is a computer-readable medium. In various different embodiments, the storage device 730 can include, for example, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a storage device shared by multiple computing devices via a network (e.g., a cloud storage device), or some other mass storage device. The input / output device 740 provides input / output operations for the system 700. In one embodiment, the input / output device 740 can include one or more of the following: a network interface device (e.g., an Ethernet card), a serial communication device (e.g., an RS-232 port), and / or a wireless interface device (e.g., an 802.11 card). In another embodiment, the input / output device can include a drive device configured to receive input data and send output data to other input / output devices, such as a keyboard, a printer, and a display device 760. However, other embodiments can also be used, such as mobile computing devices, mobile communication devices, set-top box TV client devices, etc. Although in Figure 7 an example processing system has been described, embodiments of the subject matter and operations described in this application can be implemented in other types of digital electronic circuitry or in computer software, firmware, or hardware (including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents) or in a combination of one or more of them.

[0070] In this application, the terms "infant" and "baby" may be used interchangeably where appropriate. Those skilled in the art will understand that both the terms "infant" and "baby" refer to young human children and may be used interchangeably without causing confusion. In this document, when the term "concave" is used, those skilled in the art will understand that concave means the opposite of convex. The term "concave" is intended to refer to any surface that curves or angles inward such that the interior of the surface includes a recessed geometric shape. This may include curves and / or reflective angles. The term "condition" is intended to refer to the state of the seat, which may include the presence or absence of stimulation or sensed parameters, such as the presence or absence of sound or other detectable stimuli.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring the condition of an infant comfort seat, It is characterized in that The computer-implemented method comprises: receiving, at a processor, an input from an electronic sensor of the comfort seat, the input indicating a condition of the comfort seat, receiving, at the processor, one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the comfort seat is in an operational state, determining that the condition of the comfort seat is in the operable state based on the input from the electronic sensor and the one or more predetermined parameters, and Control outputs to implement remedial actions.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The electronic sensor includes a microphone, and the input indicative of the condition of the comfort seat is an audio signal corresponding to a sound at the comfort seat.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2, It is characterized in that The one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the soothing seat is in an operational state include a threshold volume corresponding to a frequency of a crying infant sound.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 2 or claim 3, It is characterized in that The one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the comfort seat is in an operational state include a threshold volume at any audible frequency.

5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 2 or claim 3, It is characterized in that The one or more predetermined parameters indicating that the condition of the comfort seat is in an operational state include a threshold output derived from an audio pattern matching algorithm.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, It is characterized in that The audio pattern matching algorithm is configured to provide a matching degree output of a repetitive, decreasing amplitude audio signal.

7. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that Controlling the output to implement the remedial action includes driving an electromechanical actuator to impart an oscillatory motion to the soothing seat.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, It is characterized in that The electromechanical drive includes one or more of: an electric motor, a drive screw, a pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7 or claim 8, It is characterized in that Driving the electromechanical drive to impart an oscillatory motion to the soothing seat includes imparting one or more of a bouncing motion, a rocking motion, and a swinging motion.

10. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The computer-implemented method further includes monitoring the input of the electronic sensor, determining that the condition of the soothing seat is no longer in the operable state based on the input from the electronic sensor and the one or more predetermined parameters, and controlling the output to cease implementing the remedial action.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 when dependent on any one of claims 7 to 9, It is characterized in that Controlling the output to cease implementing the remedial action includes gradually reducing an amplitude of the oscillatory motion applied to the soothing seat.

12. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The electronic sensor includes a switch and / or a position sensor configured to determine the orientation of the soothing seat.

13. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The electronic sensors include switches and / or position sensors configured to determine a position of one or more components of the soothing seat.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, It is characterized in that The one or more components include a seat belt, wherein the seat belt is configured to cover a portion of the seat in a covering position and to retract to a retracted position in which the retractable seat belt does not cover a portion of the seat.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 13 or claim 14, It is characterized in that The one or more components include a seat rotatably mounted to a support frame, and wherein the seat is rotatable between a first position and a second position.

16. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The electronic sensor includes a camera.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, It is characterized in that The camera is positioned to provide a view of a seating surface of the comfort seat.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 16 or claim 17, It is characterized in that The one or more predetermined parameters indicative of the condition of the comfort seat being in an operational state include a threshold level of motion within a field of view of the camera.

19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 16 or claim 17, It is characterized in that The one or more predetermined parameters indicative of the condition of the comfort seat being in an operational state may include a threshold output derived from a motion tracking algorithm.

20. The computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The electronic sensor includes a weight sensor configured to determine a threshold weight applied to the soothing seat.

21. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The electronic sensor includes an accelerometer configured to measure the extent of movement of an infant in the soothing seat during use.

22. A computer-implemented method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, It is characterized in that Determining that the condition of the soothing seat is in the operable state includes determining that the infant is in any of a sitting position and not moving, a sitting position and moving, a sitting position and bouncing, a lying position and moving, or a lying position and still.

23. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that Controlling the output to implement the remedial action includes controlling a speaker to produce an audio signal.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, It is characterized in that The audio signal includes one or more of white noise, music, and pre-recorded sound.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, It is characterized in that The audio signal includes an audio recording recorded by a user.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, It is characterized in that The computer-implemented method further includes displaying a prompt on a user device prompting a user to record an audio recording recorded by the user, and recording for the user via the microphone.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 26, It is characterized in that The user device is one or more of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a smart watch, and a personal computer.

28. A computer-implemented method according to claim 26 or claim 27, It is characterized in that The user device communicates wirelessly with the processor via WiFi, cellular data, or Bluetooth.

29. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that Controlling the output to implement remedial action includes preventing a position change of the one or more components of the comfort seat.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, It is characterized in that Preventing the position change includes locking the one or more components of the comfort seat in place.

31. A computer-implemented method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The processor is a processor of a server or a user device, which is physically separated from the comfort seat and performs wired or wireless communication with the comfort seat.

32. A comfort seat, It is characterized in that The comfort seat includes Seats, computer readable medium, one or more processors, One or more electronic sensors, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 32.

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