2263 results about "Alarm clock" patented technology

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The devices include audio / visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video / audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The system components include audio / visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The devices include audio / visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video / audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The system components include audio / visual components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The portable controller includes a user and management interface that contains customized control screens for the system components. The control screens are stored in a hierarchical architecture that is searchable by region or component type.

A lighting fixture having a lamp and alarm clock with a wake-up cycle and sleep cycle with gradually increasing and decreasing light and sounds. The lighting fixture includes at least one lamp for emitting light in the wake-up cycle and in the sleep cycle. The lighting fixture also includes at least one speaker for emitting sound in the wake-up cycle and in the sleep cycle. The lighting fixture further includes a dimmer switch for dimming the light and wake-up cycle control buttons for setting and controlling a wake-up cycle having a light control button for setting the time when the wake-up cycle control buttons activates the light mode and gradually increases the lamp brightness emitted from the at least one lamp; and sound control buttons for setting and controlling the time when the wake-up cycle control buttons activates the sound mode and gradually increases the sound intensity emitted from the at least one speaker; and sound selection switches for selecting one of multiple pre-set sounds for the sound mode of the wake-up cycle, or for full time operation as background sound.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of system components (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, portable stereo, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.) connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the system components from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. One or more control macros can be established to control the operations and / or functions of the system components. A control macro includes commands for enabling the control server to control the system components. The control macro can be manually activated by a user, or automatically executed upon the occurrence of a commencement parameter. The control macro can also be automatically particularized for application in a specific context.

A mobile terminal is presented, having capability to determine when a user should be stimulated toward an awake state. The terminal includes a receiver for receiving a sleep descriptor signal indicative of at least one sleep characteristic of the user, and also includes a signal processing module for processing the sleep descriptor signal. The signal processing module is arranged to provide, at least partly in response to the sleep descriptor signal, a stimulation signal indicative that the user should be stimulated. The mobile terminal is also usable for communication by the user in the awake state. This invention further includes a method, system, and monitor to be used with the mobile terminal in order to stimulate the user toward an awake state.

An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe” volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.

A method for operating a sleep phase actigraphy synchronized alarm clock that communicates with a remote sleep database, such as an internet server database, and compares user physiological parameters, sleep settings, and actigraphy data with a large database that may include data collected from a large number of other users with similar physiological parameters, sleep settings, and actigraphy data. The remote server may use “black box” analysis approach by running supervised learning algorithms to analyze the database, producing sleep phase correction data which can be uploaded to the alarm clock, and be used by the alarm clock to further improve its REM sleep phase prediction accuracy.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The devices include audio / visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video / audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

The invention relates to an alarm clock system. The system according to the invention comprises sensor means for measuring ambient parameters. In particular, a user's body parameters are monitored so as to determine in which stage of sleep he is. Properties of the wake-up stimulus, such as sound volume of the stimulus or moment of generation of the stimulus, are adjusted in dependence on the inferred stage of sleep.

A smoke detector system wherein a smoke alarm which is turned “on” by the sensing of smoke is turned “off” for a predetermined period of time using a disable signal transmitted by a remote controller and an indicator light is turned “on” to indicate that the alarm is turned “off”, and wherein after the predetermined period of time, the alarm is returned to a normal state and the indicator light is turned off. Thus, when the smoke detector alarm is turned “on” by an erroneous or non-lethal sensing of smoke, a housekeeper can readily turn “off” the alarm for the predetermined period of time and see by the indicator light that the alarm is off for that period of time. Advantageously, the remote controller comprises a container having a permanent magnet and the remote controller is physically apart from the detector so that the controller can be conveniently stored, for example on a refrigerator door for quick use and storage.

Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and / or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts a notification into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the notification as desired for its particular hardware device before the notification is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output notifications on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

Described is a system and method by which application programs running on a main computer system communicate with an auxiliary display device (such as a cell phone, pocket-sized computer, alarm clock, television, digital picture frame and so forth) to provide viewable information on the device, remote control capabilities, and notifications. Via API calls, programs provide information in the same format regardless of the device capabilities and / or the connection type. An auxiliary display platform converts a notification into a format understood by a device driver, which then filters the notification as desired for its particular hardware device before the notification is communicated. Return communications return data such as status and user interaction with the displayed information. Software vendors may thus write code once to output notifications on auxiliary displays, while hardware manufacturers can have their devices work as auxiliary displays, with little or no modification to existing hardware.

An entertainment system comprising a base unit with a transceiver for interacting, at times, with a control unit via a communications link, and a control unit for controlling the base unit, the control unit being dockable with the base unit to establish direct electrical connection between them, and including a transceiver for interacting with the control unit via said link when undocked. The control unit is a separate aspect of the invention or system. The base unit may contain a tuner, preferably with bandless tuning capability, and may be designed to receive into a universal docking arrangement a digitally controllable auxiliary audio source such as a portable MP3 player or other device. The base unit may further provide alarm clock functionality with numerous features including a “fail-safe” volume control system and fail-safe alarm time setting capability.

A mobile terminal is presented, having capability to determine when a user should be stimulated toward an awake state. The terminal includes a receiver for receiving a sleep descriptor signal indicative of at least one sleep characteristic of the user, and also includes a signal processing module for processing the sleep descriptor signal. The signal processing module is arranged to provide, at least partly in response to the sleep descriptor signal, a stimulation signal indicative that the user should be stimulated. The mobile terminal is also usable for communication by the user in the awake state. This invention further includes a method, system, and monitor to be used with the mobile terminal in order to stimulate the user toward an awake state.

The present invention relates to an improved countermeasure for circadian and sleep disruption as caused by a traditional alarm clock. It incorporates a lighting system at the alarm clock that, prior to the preset waking time, will emit a light that gradually increases in intensity as it changes the ultraviolet spectrum of light it emits, so as to simulate the rising sun. This will ease the waking process for many people, especially those prone to simple disruptions of their circadian regulation. It may also be set to operate in a reverse mode so as to simulate the setting sun thus helping stimulate melatonin production and easing one into sleep.

Disclosed is a large capacity piece of luggage that complies with the maximum size requirements of the airlines with a plurality of special features. These include an infinitely variable position handle used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb climbing wheels. The handle can rotate in a horizontal plane from one of its supporting vertical members to provide a temporary closet rod for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also includes hooks to hang clothes from. Also included is a telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels. Other features include fixed, but removable identification plaques that are externally visible, an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed within the cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer. The invention further includes a chest of drawers feature which allows interior bags to be used either as drawers or to be removable from the parent bag and used as separate luggage to double the capacity of the original piece of luggage. Finally, on the back of the luggage is a pouch type of an enclosure similar to that which are on the backs of front car seats which may be accessed from the upper side to store a newspaper, magazines and the like.

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and / or wireless communications network. The devices include audio / visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video / audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and / or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

The disclosure describes an alarm clock and a system for presenting pre-selected information from a website via the internet. The alarm clock includes a snooze button, a visual display, a speaker, a port for connecting to the internet, and a timer device for activating downloading of pre-selected information from a website through the port, and for activating the presentation of the pre-selected information on the visual display and the speaker.

The invention discloses a control method, device and system for alarm clock rings, and belongs to the technical application field of wireless communication. The method comprises the steps that the remaining time of remotely-set ringing time is detected; when the remaining time is the set time, obtaining information is sent to an intelligent hand ring, wherein the obtaining information is used for obtaining sleep state information of a user; the sleep state information sent by the intelligent hand ring is received, and the sleep state of the user is determined according to the sleep state information; according to the sleep state, vibration prompt information is sent to the intelligent hand ring, wherein the vibration prompt information is used for indicating the intelligent hand ring to vibrate. According to the control method, device and system for the alarm clock rings, the user is awakened through vibration of the intelligent hand ring; due to the fact that the intelligent hand ring is worn on the wrist of the user, the user can be awakened without too large vibration intensity or too loud ringing sound; the intelligent hand ring will not influence the rest of the other people due to the fact that the intelligent hand ring is worn on the wrist of the specific user; in addition, due to the fact that vibrations with different intensities are adopted according to the sleep state of the user, user experience is better.

Devices and methods for waking a person from sleep are provided. Embodiments of the subject devices are alarm clocks that have an extensive sound library stored in memory thereof. The sounds of the sound library differ in the nature of their intensity to offer a user variety in experience in order to maintain the effectiveness of the alarm such that its use is not easily tuned-out.

A universal remote control system and method for employing a centralized database for programming the universal remote control (URC) to control the operation of appliance(s). The appliance(s) may or may not be made by different manufactures. The centralized database is accessible via the Internet and includes many different appliances made by many different manufacturers. The user may access a web site of the centralized database and manually enter electronic appliances identifying data that the URC is desired to operate, then the centralized database sends the appropriate command code data to the URC either directly or temporarily downloads them into a computer to be later loaded into the URC. The centralized database includes command codes for appliances such as TV sets, DVDs, CD systems, alarm clocks, and VCRs, music synthesizers, toys, stereo systems, ovens, washing machines, timers, power strips, and the like.

A programmable alarm clock system, method of operation and program product therefor with sleep analysis to identify and wake a person during non-REM sleep patterns, resulting in less subsequent drowsiness and better day-to-day functioning. The programmable alarm clock system includes at least one brain activity sensor attachable to a head of a sleeper. Brain activity signals from the sensor(s) are sent to a receiver at a local computer. The user, before retiring inputs a wake up time and attaches the sensor(s). The local computer sends brain activity signals to a remotely connected sleep analyzing server which analyzes the brain activity and identifies REM sleep periods and non-REM sleep periods. The labeled brain activity periods are returned to the local computer which waits for the wake up time. Then, the local computer sets an alarm time by adjusting the wake up time to coincide with a non-REM sleep period, if necessary and if possible. At the alarm time, the local computer sends a trigger to a remotely triggered local alarm device such as a clock, which sounds an alarm to wake the user / sleeper.

A portable battery~powered sonic relay amplifies periodic beeping sounds from an alarm clock, smoke alarm, electronic watch or the like and analyzes the sound pulses in a logic circuit. If the sounds are periodically repeated high frequency sounds, a sound producer emits loud, low frequency sounds from a buzzer or the like, which may be heard more easily by a person with high frequency impaired hearing.

The embodiment of the invention provides a method for turning off an alarm. The method comprises the following steps of: when the alarm arrives at a first preset time before alarming time, starting a terminal sensor to collect data; judging whether the collected data meets a preset condition for turning off a reminding function of the alarm or not; and if yes, turning off the reminding function of the alarm. The embodiment of the invention also discloses the terminal. Due to the adoption of the method and the terminal, when a user gets up before the reminding of the alarm or has done something which needs to be reminded by the alarm, the alarm can be automatically turned off by a mobile phone, the remind function is stopped, and the user experience is promoted.

A nightlight provides therapeutic effects on the human body and mind including promoting relaxation, sleep and wakefulness. The nightlight includes a housing, a light source, a central processor, one or more controls, and a power supply. The light source produces at least three illumination modes having various light properties. The light modes include a sleep readiness mode, a sleep help mode and a wake-up mode. The sleep readiness mode produces light at about 40 lumens and preferably includes only light from the blue and yellow portions of the visible light spectrum. The sleep help mode produces substantially monochromatic light in the blue or green spectrum. Preferably, the light undulates at a frequency of one cycle per second to one cycle per minute at a luminosity of between 5 lumens and 25 lumens, which can be selected to automatically decrease by the user. Meanwhile, the wake-up mode produces substantially full spectrum light at approximately 1,600 lumens. The controls allow a person to control the various light modes. Moreover, the nightlight may include biological sensors for measuring physiological activity of the body. The nightlight may be incorporated into a bedside alarm clock which includes numerous features found in a traditional alarm clock such as a display for displaying the time or alarm time. The alarm function may be provided by illumination of one of the three nightlight's illumination modes, which is preferably the wake up mode which may illuminate slowly or substantially immediately to full brightness.