User signaling through a personal care device

Abstract

A personal care device that is capable of two-way communication is provided. In some embodiments, the personal care device operates in a first mode and a second mode depending on whether a signal has been received from a networked computing device, thus allowing a single human-machine interface (HMI) device to both control the personal care device and to cause signals to be sent to the networked computing device. In some embodiments, the personal care device is configured to present media streamed from the networked computing device, and/or to stream audio detected by the personal care device to the networked computing device.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling operation of a treatment application device of a personal care device, the method comprising:
 starting the treatment application device in response to detecting a first actuation of an HMI device of the personal care device; and   while the treatment application device is running:
 detecting a second actuation of the HMI device; 
 determining whether the personal care device is operating in a first mode or a second mode; 
 stopping the treatment application device in response to determining that the personal care device is operating in the first mode; and 
 transmitting, via a network interface of the personal care device, a signal to a networked computing device in response to determining that the personal care device is operating in the second mode. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating in the first mode in response to the first actuation of the HMI device;   receiving, via the network interface of the personal care device, a signal from the networked computing device; and   changing from operating in the first mode to operating in the second mode in response to receiving the signal from the networked computing device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the signal indicates an event detected by the networked computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising presenting a notification in response to receiving the signal from the networked computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein presenting the notification includes at last one of:
 altering a vibration pattern of the treatment application device;   altering a flashing pattern of a light emitting component of the treatment application device; and   emitting a tone from a loudspeaker of the treatment application device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitted signal causes the networked computing device to cancel an alarm generated by the networked computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the HMI device includes a push button switch. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a personal care device, including:
 a treatment application device; and 
 a network interface; and 
   a networked computing device, including:
 a network interface; 
   wherein the personal care device and the networked computing device are configured to communicate bidirectionally via the network interface of the personal care device and the network interface of the networked computing device.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the personal care device further includes a loudspeaker, and wherein communicating bidirectionally via the network interface of the personal care device and the network interface of the networked computing device comprises:
 transmitting, by the networked computing device to the personal care device, an audio stream; and   presenting, by the personal care device via the loudspeaker, the audio stream.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the personal care device further includes a microphone, and wherein communicating bidirectionally via the network interface of the personal care device and the network interface of the networked computing device comprises transmitting, by the personal care device to the networked computing device, an audio stream captured from the microphone. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the audio stream captured from the microphone is part of a mobile telephony call or a voice messaging application conversation. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the audio stream captured from the microphone is provided by the networked computing device to a voice-activated device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein communicating bidirectionally via the network interface of the personal care device and the network interface of the networked computing device includes:
 transmitting, by the networked computing device to the personal care device, a notification of an alarm generated by the networked computing device; and   transmitting, by the personal care device to the networked computing device, a command to deactivate the alarm.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the alarm is associated with a timer set on the networked computing device. 
     
     
         15 . A personal care device, comprising:
 a treatment application device;   a human-machine interface (HMI) device;   a network interface;   circuitry for receiving signals from a networked computing device via the network interface; and   circuitry for transmitting signals to the networked computing device via the network interface.   
     
     
         16 . The personal care device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a loudspeaker; and   circuitry for presenting audio information received in the signals from the networked computing device via the loudspeaker.   
     
     
         17 . The personal care device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a microphone; and   circuitry for transmitting audio information captured from the microphone in the signals transmitted to the networked computing device.   
     
     
         18 . The personal care device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a microphone;   circuitry for using the microphone to detect a sound of running water; and   circuitry for transmitting information in the signals transmitted to the networked computing device regarding water use based on the detected sound of running water.   
     
     
         19 . The personal care device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer;   circuitry for detecting a fall based on data generated by the accelerometer; and   circuitry for transmitting information in the signals transmitted to the networked computing device regarding the detected fall.   
     
     
         20 . The personal care device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer; and   circuitry for controlling the treatment application device based on gestures detected by the accelerometer.