Smart Bed Snore Control Using Partner Restless Sleep Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bed technologies do not effectively address the issue of restless sleep caused by snoring in shared sleeping environments, as they lack the capability to autonomously detect and mitigate snoring through adjustments to the sleeping environment.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a controller with a processor and memory, configured to receive data from sensors monitoring the sleeping environment, determine if one user is experiencing restless sleep and another is snoring, and issue commands to adjust the environment to reduce snoring, such as altering air pressure in an airbed system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bed system autonomously adjusts the sleeping environment to reduce snoring, then sleep quality for the non-snoring user is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesleep qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bed controller is designed to perform multiple functions: monitoring sleep parameters, detecting snoring events, determining restless sleep, and executing environmental adjustments. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate systems into a single integrated device, improving reliability while managing complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system autonomously monitors and adjusts the sleeping environment without requiring manual intervention. The controller automatically detects snoring and restless sleep conditions, then self-corrects by adjusting environmental parameters such as air pressure or mattress firmness, enabling the system to serve itself in maintaining optimal sleep conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the system continuously monitors sensor data to detect snoring and restless sleep, then detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic sampling of sensor data rather than continuous monitoring. The controller checks for snoring and restless sleep conditions at regular intervals throughout the sleep period, maintaining adequate detection accuracy while significantly reducing the energy burden compared to uninterrupted continuous analysis of all sensor streams

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to identify potential snoring or restless sleep conditions before triggering full detection protocols or environmental adjustments. This staged approach allows the system to maintain high detection accuracy for actual events while consuming less energy during normal sleep periods when no issues are present

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the controller adjusts the sleeping environment to reduce snoring, then the snoring user's sleep continuity is improved, but the adjustment may disrupt the non-snoring user, worsening their sleep quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesleep continuityVSAvoidsleep quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies adjustments locally to the snoring user's side of the bed rather than uniformly across the entire sleeping surface. By targeting specific zones for environmental modifications such as air pressure adjustments or mattress firmness changes, the system improves the snoring user's sleep continuity while minimizing disturbance to the non-snoring user who experiences different local conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The controller dynamically adjusts environmental parameters in real-time based on ongoing monitoring of both users' sleep states. If an adjustment begins to adversely affect the non-snoring user, the system can modify or reverse the adjustment dynamically, balancing the need for sleep continuity for the snorer with the need to maintain sleep quality for both occupants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3731702B1Bed having snore control based on partner response
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 SLEEP NUMBER CORP
  • EP3731702B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731702B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3731702B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A controller is configured to receive one or more streams of data, each stream of data representing a sensed phenomenon in the environment of a bed on which a first user is sleeping and a second user is sleeping. The controller is further configured to determine that the first user is experiencing restless sleep. The controller is further configured to determine that the second user is snoring. The controller is further configured to issue a snore-control command to a controllable home automation device such that the controllable home automation device alters a feature of the second user's sleeping environment in a way that is likely to reduce the second user's snoring. The controller is further configured to determine again that that the second user is still snoring and issue a second snore-control command.