Bias Setting in a Scent Delivery System

Abstract

A scent delivery system includes scent delivery units that are configured to deliver scent at a variable scent level by being turned on and off successively according to a variable duty cycle. The scent delivery system also includes a central controller configured to control the scent delivery units by generating command data based on a scenting schedule that indicates a desired activation time for more than one scent delivery unit. The scenting schedule is configured to further indicate a scent level bias to be applied to base scent settings that are associated with different scent delivery units. The central controller is configured to generate the command data, based upon a variation in the scent level bias, that takes into account a corresponding variation to duty cycles associated with different scent delivery units and to communicate the command data to the different scent delivery units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scent delivery system comprising:
 a plurality of scent delivery units connected via a communication network, wherein each scent delivery unit is configured to deliver scent at a variable scent level by being turned on and off successively according to a variable duty cycle, wherein the variable duty cycle includes an “on” time duration and an “off” time duration, wherein each of the plurality of scent delivery units is associated with a corresponding base scent setting; and   a central controller configured to control the plurality of scent delivery units, wherein controlling the plurality of scent delivery units includes:
 defining a base scent setting of each of the plurality of scent delivery units; 
 receiving an input corresponding to a scent level bias to be applied to the base scent setting of each scent delivery unit in the plurality of scent delivery units; and 
 outputting command data for the each scent delivery unit, wherein the command data is generated based upon the scent level bias, wherein when the command data is received at the each scent delivery unit, a corresponding scent level of the each scent delivery unit is varied based on one or more of a fan speed, a nozzle pressure, and a compressor power of the each scent delivery unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The scent delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the central controller is further configured to automatically add rest periods that allow scent particles to dissipate between scenting events, during which the scent is delivered. 
     
     
         3 . The scent delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on one or more of a scent type, dissipative properties of the scent particles, a length of an activation period, and a type of room being scented. 
     
     
         4 . The scent delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         5 . The scent delivery system of  claim 3 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods are determined also based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         6 . The scent delivery system of  claim 4 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods for a subsequent scenting event are longer when the preceding scenting event has a positive scent level bias than when the preceding scenting event has a negative scent level bias. 
     
     
         7 . The scent delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods for a subsequent scenting event are longer when the preceding scenting event has a positive scent level bias than when the preceding scenting event has a negative scent level bias. 
     
     
         8 . A method for delivering scent comprising:
 providing a plurality of scent delivery units connected via a communication network, wherein each scent delivery unit is configured to deliver scent at a variable scent level by turning scent delivery units on and off successively according to a variable duty cycle, wherein the variable duty cycle includes an “on” time duration and an “off” time duration, wherein each of the plurality of scent delivery units is associated with a corresponding base scent setting; and   controlling the plurality of scent delivery units to deliver the scent, including:
 defining a base scent setting of each of the plurality of scent delivery units; 
 receiving an input corresponding to a scent level bias to be applied to the base scent setting of each scent delivery unit in the plurality of scent delivery units; and 
 outputting command data for the each scent delivery unit, wherein the command data is generated based upon the scent level bias, wherein when the command data is received at the each scent delivery unit, a corresponding scent level of the each scent delivery unit is varied based on one or more of a fan speed, a nozzle pressure, and a compressor power of the each scent delivery unit. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controlling further includes automatically adding rest periods that allow scent particles to dissipate between scenting events, during which the scent is delivered. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on one or more of a scent type, dissipative properties of the scent particles, a length of an activation period, and a type of room being scented. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods are determined also based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods for a subsequent scenting event are longer when the preceding scenting event has a positive scent level bias than when the preceding scenting event has a negative scent level bias. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods for a subsequent scenting event are longer when the preceding scenting event has a positive scent level bias than when the preceding scenting event has a negative scent level bias. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers, which, upon such execution, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:
 providing a plurality of scent delivery units connected via a communication network, wherein each scent delivery unit is configured to deliver scent at a variable scent level by turning scent delivery units on and off successively according to a variable duty cycle, wherein the variable duty cycle includes an “on” time duration and an “off” time duration, wherein each of the plurality of scent delivery units is associated with a corresponding base scent setting; and   controlling the plurality of scent delivery units to deliver the scent, including:
 defining a base scent setting of each of the plurality of scent delivery units; 
 receiving an input corresponding to a scent level bias to be applied to the base scent setting of each scent delivery unit in the plurality of scent delivery units; and 
 outputting command data for the each scent delivery unit, wherein the command data is generated based upon the scent level bias, wherein when the command data is received at the each scent delivery unit, a corresponding scent level of the each scent delivery unit is varied based on one or more of a fan speed, a nozzle pressure, and a compressor power of the each scent delivery unit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling further includes automatically adding rest periods that allow scent particles to dissipate between scenting events, during which the scent is delivered. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on one or more of a scent type, dissipative properties of the scent particles, a length of an activation period, and a type of room being scented. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein lengths of the rest periods are determined based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods are determined also based on the scent level bias of a preceding scenting event. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the lengths of the rest periods for a subsequent scenting event are longer when the preceding scenting event has a positive scent level bias than when the preceding scenting event has a negative scent level bias.