U.S. patent application number 16/452299 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-31 for user signaling through a personal care device.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'Oreal. The applicant listed for this patent is L'Oreal. Invention is credited to Geoffrey F. Deane, Jeffrey Kissinger, Zane Bowman Allen Miller.
Application Number | 20200411161 16/452299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004181643 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200411161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Zane Bowman Allen ;
et al. |
December 31, 2020 |
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.
Inventors: |
Miller; Zane Bowman Allen;
(Seattle, WA) ; Kissinger; Jeffrey; (Kirkland,
WA) ; Deane; Geoffrey F.; (Bellevue, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
L'Oreal |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
L'Oreal
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
1000004181643 |
Appl. No.: |
16/452299 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G16H 20/40 20180101;
G08B 21/18 20130101; G08B 25/001 20130101; G16H 40/63 20180101;
G08B 7/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G16H 20/40 20060101
G16H020/40; G16H 40/63 20060101 G16H040/63; G08B 21/18 20060101
G08B021/18; G08B 7/06 20060101 G08B007/06; G08B 25/00 20060101
G08B025/00 |
Claims
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.
Description
SUMMARY
[0001] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to
be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
[0002] In some embodiments, a method of controlling operation of a
treatment application device of a personal care device is provided.
The treatment application device is started in response to
detecting a first actuation of an HMI device of the personal care
device. While the treatment application device is running, a second
actuation of the HMI device is detected. A determination is made
regarding whether the personal care device is operating in a first
mode or a second mode. In response to determining that the personal
care device is operating in the first mode, the treatment
application device is stopped. In response to determining that the
personal care device is operating in the second mode, a signal is
transmitted via a network interface of the personal care device to
a networked computing device.
[0003] In some embodiments, a system is provided. The system
comprises a personal care device and a networked computing device.
The personal care device includes a treatment application device
and a network interface. The networked computing device includes a
network interface. 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.
[0004] In some embodiments, a personal care device is provided. The
personal care device comprises 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
become better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that illustrates an example
embodiment of a system that provides two-way communication with a
personal care device according to various aspects of the present
disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates components
included in an example embodiment of a personal care device
according to various aspects of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates components
included in an example embodiment of a networked computing device
according to various aspects of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIGS. 4A-4B are a flowchart that illustrates an example
embodiment of a method of controlling operation of a treatment
application device of a personal care device according to various
aspects of the present disclosure; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates aspects of an
exemplary computing device appropriate for use with embodiments of
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Personal care devices are increasingly helping people
improve their daily routines, whether it is for skincare, dental
care, or other personal care tasks. However, the recommended
treatment cycles for personal care devices can sometimes take a
longer amount of time than may be easy to fit within a normal
morning or evening routine. While using the personal care device to
apply a treatment, the user may have to interrupt the treatment
cycle in order to, for example, stop an alarm or other alert being
presented by their smartphone or other networked computing device,
or to answer a call received by their smartphone. What is desired
are personal care devices with additional functionality to allow
remote operation of networked computing devices via the personal
care device, in order to provide greater compliance with
recommended treatment cycles, and to otherwise increase the
functionality of the personal care devices in order to make the
devices more likely to be used.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing that illustrates an example
embodiment of a system that provides two-way communication with a
personal care device according to various aspects of the present
disclosure. The personal care device 102 may be coupled with a
variety of attachments, including but not limited to the
illustrated daily use cleaning brush head 105, an eye massaging
head 107, a foundation makeup brush head 109, an exfoliating head
111, and a sensitive skin brush head 113. The personal care device
102 may be able to detect a type of attachment that is connected to
it.
[0013] As shown, the personal care device 102 communicates with a
networked computing device 104 (such as a smartphone) via a network
90. The network 90 may be any suitable type of network, including
but not limited to a wireless network such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2G,
3G, 4G, LTE, or NFC; and a wired network such as Ethernet, USB,
FireWire, or the Internet.
[0014] In some embodiments, bi-directional communication may be
established between the networked computing device 104 and the
personal care device 102. This allows for a variety of new
functionalities to be provided. For example, in some embodiments, a
human-machine interface (HMI) device of the personal care device
102 can be used to send inputs to the networked computing device
104. This can allow a user to cancel an alarm or other alert being
presented by the networked computing device 104 without stopping
the treatment cycle. In some embodiments, a single HMI device may
be used to both control operation of the personal care device 102
and also to send signals to the networked computing device 104
depending on an operating mode of the personal care device 102,
thus allowing the interface of the personal care device 102 to be
simplified.
[0015] In some embodiments, the personal care device 102 may
include a loudspeaker. In such embodiments, the personal care
device 102 may receive information from the networked computing
device 104 such as streaming media, and the personal care device
102 may present the streaming media via the loudspeaker 208 (or
modulate the operation of a treatment application device 202 in
coordination with the streaming media) in order to enhance the use
experience. In some embodiments, the personal care device 102 may
include both a loudspeaker and a microphone. In such embodiments,
the personal care device 102 may be usable as a Bluetooth headset
for responding to calls received by the networked computing device
104, for responding to voice calls in a messaging app received by
the networked computing device 104, or for dictating responses to
text-based messages received by the networked computing device 104.
In some embodiments, the microphone of the personal care device 102
may also be used to monitor the environment around the personal
care device 102, and the personal care device 102 may transmit
monitored information to the networked computing device 104 for
further processing. For example, the microphone may be used to
monitor water use, and information about water use may be
transmitted to the networked computing device 104. As another
example, audio data captured by the microphone may be transmitted
by the personal care device 102 for use as input by a smart speaker
or other voice assistant, which may then take further action based
on the audio data.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates components
included in an example embodiment of a personal care device
according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the personal care device 102 is any type of powered
device that can be used as part of a daily personal care routine.
One non-limiting example of a personal care device 102 is a powered
brush with an interchangeable head that oscillates, rotates, or
otherwise moves in order to perform a scrubbing action. Another
non-limiting example of a personal care device 102 is a handheld
light-emitting device that may be used to expose skin to light to
achieve therapeutic benefits.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the personal care device 102
includes a treatment application device 202, a power storage source
204, a human-machine interface device 206, a loudspeaker 208, a
microphone 213, a processor 210, a network interface 212, and a
computer-readable medium 214.
[0018] In some embodiments, the treatment application device 202
includes one or more devices that collectively apply a treatment to
a user. For example, if the personal care device 102 is a powered
brush, the treatment application device 202 may include a drive
motor, an armature coupled to the drive motor that accepts a
detachable brush head, and the brush head itself. As another
example, if the personal care device 102 is a handheld
light-emitting device, the treatment application device 202 may
include one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, or other
light-emitting devices.
[0019] In some embodiments, the power storage source 204 is a
device, such as a rechargeable battery, that provides power to the
treatment application device 202 for operation. In some
embodiments, the power storage source 204 may also provide power
for operation to the other components of the personal care device
102. In some embodiments, instead of a power storage source 204,
the personal care device 102 may be coupled to an external power
source, such as a wall power outlet.
[0020] In some embodiments, the human-machine interface (HMI)
device 206 is any type of device capable of being actuated by a
user to generate a signal. Some non-limiting examples of HMI
devices 206 include a push-button switch, a toggle switch, a
capacitive switch, a rotary switch, a slide switch, and a rocker
switch. In some embodiments, the loudspeaker 208 may be configured
to present audio content, alerts, and other sounds. In some
embodiments, the microphone 213 may be configured to receive audio
input from the environment surrounding the personal care device
102. In some embodiments, further sensor components, such as one or
more accelerometers, may be included in the personal care device
102. These senor components may be used to detect gestures, to
detect drops and/or falls, or to detect other motions of the
personal care device 102 that can then be used to control the
treatment application device 202 or to transmit signals to the
networked computing device 104 based on the detected gestures,
falls, or other motions.
[0021] In some embodiments, the processor 210 is configured to
execute computer-executable instructions stored on the
computer-readable medium 214. The processor 210 may also be
configured to receive and transmit signals to and/or from the other
components of the personal care device 102 via a communication bus
or other circuitry. In some embodiments, the network interface 212
is configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the
networked computing device 104 on behalf of the processor 210. The
network interface 212 may implement any suitable networking
technology, including but not limited to short-range wireless
technologies such as Bluetooth, infrared, near-field communication,
and Wi-Fi; long-range wireless technologies such as WiMAX, 2G, 3G,
4G, and LTE; and wired technologies such as USB, FireWire, and
Ethernet. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium 214 is
any type of computer-readable medium on which computer-executable
instructions may be stored, including but not limited to a flash
memory, a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, and an FPGA. In some
embodiments, the computer-readable medium 214 and the processor 210
may be combined into a single device, such as an ASIC, or the
computer-readable medium 214 may include a cache memory, a
register, or another component of the processor 210.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the computer-readable medium
214 has computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in
response to execution by the processor 210, cause the personal care
device 102 to provide an alert handling engine 216 and a treatment
control engine 218. In general, the word "engine," as used herein,
refers to logic embodied in hardware or software instructions,
which can be written in a programming language, such as C, C++,
COBOL, JAVA.TM., PHP, Perl, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, ASPX,
Microsoft .NET.TM., and/or the like. An engine may be compiled into
executable programs or written in interpreted programming
languages. Software engines may be callable from other engines or
from themselves. Generally, the engines described herein refer to
logical modules that can be merged with other engines, or can be
divided into sub engines. The engines can be stored in any type of
computer readable medium or computer storage device and be stored
on and executed by one or more general purpose computers, thus
creating a special purpose computer configured to provide the
engine or the functionality thereof.
[0023] In some embodiments, the treatment control engine 218
detects actuation of the HMI device 206, and activates the
treatment application device 202 in response. In some embodiments,
the treatment control engine 218 may allow the treatment
application device 202 to operate for a predetermined amount of
time before automatically deactivating the treatment application
device 202. In some embodiments, the treatment control engine 218
may also detect actuations of the HMI device 206 while the
treatment application device 202 is already activated, and may take
action in response based on a mode in which the personal care
device 102 is operating. In some embodiments, the alert handling
engine 216 switches the mode in which the personal care device 102
is operating based on signals received by the network interface
212.
[0024] Further details of the functionality of the components of
the personal care device 102 are provided below.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates components
included in an example embodiment of a networked computing device
according to various aspects of the present disclosure. The
networked computing device 104 may be a computing device of any
form factor that is capable of communicating with the personal care
device 102, and of performing the other actions described herein as
being performed by the networked computing device 104. In some
embodiments, the networked computing device 104 may be a mobile
computing device such as a smartphone or a tablet computing device.
In some embodiments, the networked computing device 104 may be a
desktop computing device or a laptop computing device.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the networked computing
device 104 includes a short-range network interface 302, a
long-range network interface 304, a processor 306, a display device
308, and a computer-readable medium 310.
[0027] In some embodiments, the short-range network interface 302
is configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the
personal care device 102 on behalf of the processor 306. The
short-range network interface 302 may implement any suitable
networking technology, and implements a complementary technology to
that implemented by the network interface 212 of the personal care
device 102. In some embodiments, the long-range network interface
304 is configured to transmit and receive signals to and from one
or more remote systems, including but not limited to e-mail
systems, mobile telephony systems, social networking systems, and
short messaging service (SMS) systems. The long-range network
interface 304 may implement any suitable networking technology
capable of communicatively coupling the networked computing device
104 to the remote systems, including but not limited to wired
technologies such as Ethernet, USB, and FireWire; and wireless
technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE, Bluetooth,
infrared, and NFC. The short-range network interface 302 and the
long-range network interface 304 are described as "short range" and
"long range" for convenience only, and these descriptors should not
be seen as limiting with respect to the relative distances between
the personal care device 102, the networked computing device 104,
and any remote systems.
[0028] In some embodiments, the display device 308 is configured to
present one or more graphical user interfaces, including but not
limited to a graphical user interface generated by the application
312. In some embodiments, the display device 308 may also be
configured to receive inputs from a user, such as a touchscreen
device.
[0029] In some embodiments, the processor 306 is configured to
execute computer-executable instructions stored on the
computer-readable medium 310. The processor 306 may also be
configured to receive and transmit signals to and/or from the other
components of the networked computing device 104 via a
communication bus or other circuitry.
[0030] In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium 310 has
computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response
to execution by the processor 306, cause the networked computing
device 104 to provide an application 312. The computer-readable
medium 310 may be any suitable type of computer-readable medium
310, including but not limited to flash memory, a hard disk drive,
or any other type of non-transitory computer-readable medium.
[0031] In some embodiments, the application 312 may be installed on
the networked computing device 104 after being downloaded from an
app store or other distribution point. In some embodiments, the
application 312 may be a web-based application, and components may
be downloaded and executed within a web browser or other thin
interface installed on the networked computing device 104.
[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the application 312 includes
an alert generation engine 314 and an interface engine 316. In some
embodiments, the alert generation engine 314 determines when alerts
should be generated (for example, in response to an incoming
message received via the long-range network interface 304 such as
an email, a text message, or a push notification; in response to
time-based alarms generated by the networked computing device 104,
or in response to any other appropriate condition), and transmits
the alerts to the personal care device 102 for processing. In some
embodiments, the interface engine 316 generates a graphical user
interface to be presented via the display device 308. The graphical
user interface may be used to configure alerts to be transmitted to
the personal care device 102, to provide commands to the personal
care device 102 regarding how to handle various alerts, or to
provide other functionality related to the system.
[0033] Further details of the functionality of the components of
the networked computing device 104 are provided below.
[0034] FIGS. 4A-4B are a flowchart that illustrates an example
embodiment of a method of controlling operation of a treatment
application device of a personal care device according to various
aspects of the present disclosure. By using an embodiment of the
method 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, a single HMI device 206 of
the personal care device 102 can be used to both control
starting/stopping of the treatment application device 202, as well
as for sending a signal to the networked computing device 104 in
order to cancel or otherwise address an alert or alarm generated by
the networked computing device 104 while the treatment application
device 202 is operating.
[0035] From a start block, the method 400 proceeds to block 402,
where a processor 210 of the personal care device 102 detects a
first actuation of a human-machine interaction (HMI) device 206 of
the personal care device 102. For example, if the HMI device 206 is
a push-button switch, the processor 210 may receive a signal that
indicates that the push-button switch was pressed.
[0036] At block 404, in response to detecting the first actuation,
the processor 210 configures the personal care device 102 to
operate in a first mode. In some embodiments, the first mode may
include allowing the treatment application device 202 to operate
until either a predetermined amount of time elapses or a subsequent
actuation of the HMI device 206 is detected. In some embodiments,
configuring the personal care device 102 to operate in the first
mode may include setting a flag or other value in a
computer-readable medium that is accessible by the processor 210
and/or the treatment control engine 218. In some embodiments, the
flag may be consulted by the treatment control engine 218 and/or by
other instructions executed by the processor 210 in response to a
subsequent detection of an actuation of the HMI device 206, as
discussed below.
[0037] At block 406, in response to detecting the first actuation,
the processor 210 starts operation of a treatment application
device 202 of the personal care device 102. In some embodiments,
starting operation of the treatment application device 202 may
include providing power from the power storage source 204 to cause
the treatment application device 202 to operate. For example, if
the treatment application device 202 includes a drive motor,
starting operation of the treatment application device 202 may
include causing the drive motor to run. As another example, if the
treatment application device 202 includes a light-emitting
component, starting operation of the treatment application device
202 may include causing the light-emitting component to begin
emitting light.
[0038] The method 400 then proceeds to a continuation terminal
("terminal A"), and from terminal A to a decision block 408, where
a determination is made regarding whether a timer for the operation
of the treatment application device 202 has expired. In some
embodiments, the timer is an elapsed time measured by the processor
210, and measures an amount of time since the start of operation of
the treatment application device 202. For example, the timer may be
used to measure 60 seconds from the start of the operation of the
treatment application device 202, such that the treatment is
applied for 60 seconds. If the timer has expired, then the result
of decision block 408 is YES, and the method 400 proceeds to
another continuation terminal ("terminal C") to continue with a
process of stopping operation of the treatment device (due to the
expiration of the timer).
[0039] Otherwise, if the timer has not expired, then the result of
decision block 408 is NO, and the method 400 proceeds to another
decision block 410, where a determination is made regarding whether
a signal has been received from a networked computing device 104
while the treatment application device 202 continues to operate.
The signal may be received by the processor 210 via the network
interface 212 from the networked computing device 104. The signal
indicates an alert that was generated by the alert generation
engine 314 of the networked computing device 104 in response to
receiving a network message, generation of an alarm, or any other
event at the networked computing device 104 that would cause the
networked computing device 104 to generate an alert.
[0040] If a signal has not been received, then the result of
decision block 410 is NO, and the method 400 proceeds to another
continuation terminal ("terminal B"). Otherwise, if a signal has
been received, then the result of decision block 410 is YES, and
the method 400 proceeds to block 412.
[0041] At block 412, in response to detecting a signal from a
networked computing device 104 via a network interface 212 of the
personal care device 102, the processor 210 configures the personal
care device 102 to operate in a second mode. In some embodiments,
the second mode changes what happens in response to detecting an
actuation of the HMI device 206, though a timer may still control
the treatment application device 202 in the absence of detecting an
actuation of the HMI device 206. In some embodiments, configuring
the personal care device 102 to operate in the second mode includes
changing a value of the flag or other value set at block 404. The
method 400 then proceeds to terminal B. In some embodiments, the
personal care device 102 may also use the loudspeaker 208 or a
change in the operation of the treatment application device 202
(such as a pause, or a change in a vibration pattern) to notify a
user that the signal has been received.
[0042] From terminal B (FIG. 4B), the method 400 proceeds to block
414, where the processor 210 detects a subsequent actuation of the
HMI device 206. The method 400 then proceeds to a decision block
416, where a determination is made regarding whether the personal
care device 102 is operating in the first mode (having not received
a signal from the networked computing device 104) or the second
mode (having received a signal from the networked computing device
104). In some embodiments, the determination may be based on
whether the flag or other value discussed above has been set to
indicate operation in the second mode. If the personal care device
102 is operating in the second mode, then the result of decision
block 416 is YES, and the method 400 proceeds to block 418, where,
in response to detecting the subsequent actuation, the processor
210 transmits a signal via the network interface 212 to the
networked computing device 104. In some embodiments, the signal may
be used by the networked computing device 104 to cancel an alarm
being presented by the networked computing device 104, send an
automatic response to a message received by the networked computing
device 104, or perform any other suitable action in response to the
alert. At block 419, in response to detecting the subsequent
actuation and transmitting the signal, the processor 210 configures
the personal care device 102 to operate in the first mode. In some
embodiments, the processor 210 may configure the personal care
device 102 to operate in the first mode by resetting the flag or
other value discussed above. The method 400 then returns to
terminal A in order to continue operating the treatment application
device 202 until the timer elapses, another actuation of the HMI
device 206 is detected, or another alert is received.
[0043] Returning to decision block 416, if the personal care device
102 is not operating in the second mode 416, then the result of
decision block 416 is NO, and the method 400 proceeds to terminal
C. The method 400 arrives at terminal C either in response to the
timer elapsing or in response to detecting an actuation of the HMI
device 206 while operating in the first mode. From terminal C, the
method 400 proceeds to block 420, where the processor 210 stops
operation of the treatment application device 202. The method 400
then proceeds to an end block and terminates.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates aspects of an
exemplary computing device appropriate for use with embodiments of
the present disclosure. While FIG. 5 is described with reference to
a computing device that is implemented as a device on a network,
the description below is applicable to servers, personal computers,
mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, embedded computing
devices, and other devices that may be used to implement portions
of embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, those of
ordinary skill in the art and others will recognize that the
computing device 500 may be any one of any number of currently
available or yet to be developed devices.
[0045] In its most basic configuration, the computing device 500
includes at least one processor 502 and a system memory 504
connected by a communication bus 506. Depending on the exact
configuration and type of device, the system memory 504 may be
volatile or nonvolatile memory, such as read only memory ("ROM"),
random access memory ("RAM"), EEPROM, flash memory, or similar
memory technology. Those of ordinary skill in the art and others
will recognize that system memory 504 typically stores data and/or
program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or currently
being operated on by the processor 502. In this regard, the
processor 502 may serve as a computational center of the computing
device 500 by supporting the execution of instructions.
[0046] As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the computing device 500
may include a network interface 510 comprising one or more
components for communicating with other devices over a network.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may access basic services
that utilize the network interface 510 to perform communications
using common network protocols. The network interface 510 may also
include a wireless network interface configured to communicate via
one or more wireless communication protocols, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G,
4G, LTE, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and/or the like.
[0047] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the
computing device 500 also includes a storage medium 508. However,
services may be accessed using a computing device that does not
include means for persisting data to a local storage medium.
Therefore, the storage medium 508 depicted in FIG. 5 is represented
with a dashed line to indicate that the storage medium 508 is
optional. In any event, the storage medium 508 may be volatile or
nonvolatile, removable or nonremovable, implemented using any
technology capable of storing information such as, but not limited
to, a hard drive, solid state drive, CD-ROM, DVD, or other disk
storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage,
and/or the like.
[0048] As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" includes
volatile and nonvolatile and removable and non-removable media
implemented in any method or technology capable of storing
information, such as computer-readable instructions, data
structures, program modules, or other data. In this regard, the
system memory 504 and storage medium 508 depicted in FIG. 5 are
merely examples of computer-readable media.
[0049] Suitable implementations of computing devices that include a
processor 502, system memory 504, communication bus 506, storage
medium 508, and network interface 510 are known and commercially
available. For ease of illustration and because it is not important
for an understanding of the claimed subject matter, FIG. 5 does not
show some of the typical components of many computing devices. In
this regard, the computing device 500 may include input devices,
such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, microphone, touch input device,
touch screen, tablet, and/or the like. Such input devices may be
coupled to the computing device 500 by wired or wireless
connections including RF, infrared, serial, parallel, Bluetooth,
USB, or other suitable connections protocols using wireless or
physical connections. Similarly, the computing device 500 may also
include output devices such as a display, speakers, printer, etc.
Since these devices are well known in the art, they are not
illustrated or described further herein. Unless specifically
defined herein, all terms used herein have the same meaning as they
would to one skilled in the art of the present disclosure.
[0050] While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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