Monitoring System

Abstract

A monitoring system has sensors for monitoring a comfort of a user. For example, a sensor may detect movements as the user lies or plays in the monitoring system. The sensor may be sensitive to detect expansion and contraction of a chest cavity, thus monitoring the user's breathing status. Other sensors may detect other environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, and even the user's voice. Collectively, the sensors may be used to infer the user's status/comfort. The monitoring system may collect the data and then infer the user's comfort. The monitoring system may also send the data to another device for analysis, such as a computer, smartphone, or even a server providing a cloud-based service.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a hardware processor; and   a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:   receiving an output signal generated by a sensor, the sensor generating the output signal in response to a user lying on a pad;   comparing the output signal to a threshold value; and   activating a mechanism in response to the output signal satisfying the threshold value, the mechanism, upon activation, configured to alter the output signal generated by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises at least one peg. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism slides the at least one peg into contact with the pad to impart the force. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise identifying a motor command in response to the output signal, the motor command commanding a motor to cause the at least one peg to slide into contact with the pad. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism slides the at least one peg to impart the force to propagate through the pad. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a motor command that commands a motor to cause the at least one peg to impart the force to propagate through the pad. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise querying an electronic database for a value associated with the output signal generated by the sensor, the electronic database electronically associating motor commands to values including the value associated with the output signal generated by the sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise identifying a motor command of the motor commands in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the value associated with the output signal generated by the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the motor command to a motor to cause the force imparted to the cushioned pad. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise inferring a comfort associated with the user lying on the pad, the comfort based on the output signal generated by the sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise inferring the user rests on the pad based on the output signal generated by the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining an apneatic condition based on the output signal generated by the sensor, the apneatic condition indicating the user lying on the pad has suspended breathing, and wherein the mechanism is configured to promote a resumption of the breathing of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a humidity based on the output signal generated by a humidity sensor, the humidity sensor generating the output signal in response to the user lying on the pad. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a humidity based on the output signal generated by a humidity sensor, the humidity sensor comprising at least one conductive strand incorporated into a textile covering the pad, the humidity sensor generating the output signal in response to the user lying on the pad above the at least one conductive strand. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary unit configured for communicating with either or both of the hardware processor and memory device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the auxiliary unit is configured to interface with one or more sensors. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the auxiliary unit comprises one or more sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the auxiliary unit comprises one or more of a microphone, a speaker, and network interface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the auxiliary unit is configured for wired or wireless communication. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the auxiliary unit is configured for communicating with a remote device via the network interface.