Systems and methods for managing ambient conditions

Abstract

A system for generating ambient conditions to improve sleep comprises an ambient condition controller. The ambient condition controller may control a light, a speaker, and multiple diffusers. The system may include a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement a sleep program. The sleep program may cause the ambient condition controller to be configured in a variety of states over a period of time.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for generating ambient conditions to improve sleep, comprising:
 a processor;   an ambient condition controller comprising at least two diffusers capable of dispersing at least two different scents in communication with the processor; and   a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a sleep program comprising:
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a first state to disperse a first scent, the first state corresponding to a user falling to sleep, 
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a second state to disperse a second scent, the second state corresponding to the user being asleep, and 
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a third state to disperse a third scent, the third state corresponding to the user waking up within a target time period. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver in communication with the processor, the receiver to receive sleep monitoring data from a sleep monitoring device, wherein the processor uses the sleep monitoring data to determine the sleep state of the user when configuring the ambient condition controller. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the sleep monitoring data is used to determine a length of time for the ambient condition controller to remain in the first, second, and third states. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second state increases the second scent in response to determining the user is walking up prior to the target time period. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ambient condition controller further comprises a speaker and an illumination device, and wherein the first, second and third states adjust hues of the illumination device, lumens produced by the illumination device, and sounds emitted by the speaker to produce three unique ambient conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface configured to receive a first user input indicating that the user desires to reduce a length of time spent in the first state while the ambient condition controller is in the first state. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a clock, wherein the first, second, and third states are configured to automatically begin and end based on the clock. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third states are user configurable. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first state disperses a quantity of the first scent when the ambient condition controller is initially configured to enter the first state, and wherein the quantity of the scent is decreased while the ambient condition controller remains in the first state. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third state disperses a quantity of the third scent when the ambient condition controller is initially configured to enter the third state, and wherein the quantity of the scent is increased while the ambient condition controller remains in the third state. 
     
     
         11 . A system for generating ambient conditions to improve sleep, comprising:
 a processor;   an ambient condition controller in communication with the processor;   a receiver in communication with the processor, the receiver to receive sleep monitoring data from a sleep monitoring device; and   a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a sleep program comprising:
 determining a sleep state of a user based on the received sleep monitoring data, 
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a first state in response to determining the user is awake and attempting to fall to sleep, 
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a second state in response to determining the user is awakening prior to a target time period, 
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a third state in response to determining the user is awakening within a target time period, 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sleep program further comprises configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a fourth state in response to determining the user is asleep. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ambient condition controller comprises at least two diffusers capable of dispersing at least two different scents. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the ambient condition controller disperses a first scent when in the first state, a second scent when in the second state, and a third scent when in the third state. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second scents are different quantities of the same scent. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ambient condition controller comprises a speaker and an illumination device, and wherein the first, second and third states adjust hues of the illumination device, lumens produced by the illumination device, and sounds emitted by the speaker to produce three unique ambient conditions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a length of time that the ambient condition controller spends in the third state is proportional to a length of time remaining in the target time period when it is determined the user is awakening. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the ambient condition controller remains in the first state until the sleep monitoring data indicates that the user is asleep. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a transmitter to transmit a signal to a personal electronic device, and wherein the transmitter sends a signal requesting that the personal electronic device change settings when the ambient condition controller enters the first and third states. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sleep program further comprises:
 configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a fourth state in response to determining the user is in a rapid eye movement stage of sleep; and   configuring the ambient condition controller to enter a fifth state in response to determining the user is in a non-rapid eye movement stage of sleep.