METHOD FOR DETECTING A USER IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF A WORKSTATION

Abstract

A method of registering users in the ambient area of a workstation includes establishing a wireless communication link between an electronic workspace module positioned at a workstation and a mobile device and registering the entry of the mobile device into the ambient area of the workspace module by evaluating the signal characteristics of the communication link between the workspace module and the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of registering users in an ambient area of a workstation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a wireless communication link between an electronic workspace module positioned at a workstation and a mobile device; and (b) registering an entry of the mobile device into the ambient area of the electronic workspace module by evaluating signal characteristics of the wireless communication link between the electronic workspace module and the mobile device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed by recording information in regard to the distance between the electronic workspace module and the mobile device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication link between the electronic workspace module and the mobile device is a direction connection.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves a evaluation of a signal quality.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves an evaluation of a signal noise.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves determining a signal-to-noise ratio.

7. The method according to claim 1, subsequent to step (b) at least one of the following steps is initiated: automatic identifying of the mobile deice or the user assigned to the mobile device; automatically retrieving the device-specific or user-specific workstation settings from a central computer unit via the workspace module; automatically initiating the set-up of the device-specific or user-specific workstation settings via the workspace module.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein subsequent to step (b), the step of (c) automatically initiating the set-up of device-specific or user-specific workstation settings via the workspace module is performed; and wherein subsequent to step (c) at least one of the following steps is performed: recording a current desktop height of a desk assigned to the workstation via a sensor component; adjusting the desktop height of the desk assigned to the workstation via one or several of actuators in the desk; adjusting a lighting installation assigned to the workstation; recording a current seat height or a backrest tilt of a seating furniture assigned to the workstation via the sensor components; adjusting the seat height or the backrest tilt of the seating furniture assigned to the workstation via an actuator in the seating furniture.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein subsequent to step (b), the step of (c) automatically initiating the set-up of device-specific or user-specific workstation settings via the workspace module is performed; and wherein subsequent to step (c) at least one of the following steps is performed: setting up a telephone number or telephone extension for a telephone assigned to the workstation setting up a display on a digital frame assigned to the workstation.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein determining device-specific or user-specific workstation settings is performed via the central computer unit on the basis of personal data made available by a user.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication link between the electronic workspace module and the mobile device is a direct wireless connection.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the communication link between the electronic workspace module and the mobile device is a direct connection.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves an evaluation of a signal quality.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves an evaluation of a signal noise.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein evaluating the signal characteristics of the wireless communication link involves determining a signal-to-noise ratio.

16. The method according to claim 2, subsequent to step (b) at least one of the following steps is initiated: automatic identifying of the mobile device or the user assigned to the mobile device; automatically retrieving the device-specific or user-specific workstation settings from a central computer unit via the workspace module; automatically initiating the set-up of the device-specific or user-specific workstation settings via the workspace module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The preferred embodiments of the invention will, with reference to the attached images, be clarified and described below. Demonstrated here is in:

[0040] FIG. 1 a communication system while executing the method for managing workstations in a diagrammatic representation;

[0041] FIG. 2 the provision of management data for a central computer unit being used within the scope of the method for managing workstations;

[0042] FIG. 3 a mobile device while executing the method for managing workstations;

[0043] FIG. 4 a mobile device while executing the method for managing workstations;

[0044] FIG. 5 a mobile device while executing the method for managing workstations;

[0045] FIG. 6 a mobile device while executing the method for managing workstations; and

[0046] FIG. 7 a communication system while executing the method for registering users according to invention in a diagrammatic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] FIG. 1 demonstrates a communication system which can be used for managing workstations within a company. The communication system comprises several electronic workspace modules of which each is assigned to a workstation. Depicted as an example is the workspace module 12, which is assigned to the workstation 10.

[0048] The workspace module 12 is connected via a wireless connection, in this case a Bluetooth connection, to several electronic management modules 16a-16c, whereby each of the management modules 16a-16c is situated on one of the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10.

[0049] The management module 16a is situated on the item of office equipment 14a designed as a desk chair. The desk chair comprises actuators, by means of which the seat height and the backrest tilt are adjustable. The actuators of the item of office equipment 14a can be operated via the management module 16a, so that by means of appropriate commands the seat height and/or the backrest tilt are adjustable. The management module 16a is also applicable for registering the current seat height and the current backrest tilt. This, for example, can be carried out by means of recording and evaluating the adjustment procedures or through sensors suitable for this purpose.

[0050] The management module 16b is situated on the item of office equipment 14b designed as a desk. The desk is designed to be adjustable and features actuators for adjusting the desktop height. The management module 16b is connected to the actuators of the desk and is set up for the purpose of generating commands for the adjustment of the desktop height and making these available to the actuators. Furthermore, the current desktop height can be registered by means of the management module 16b. The registering of the desktop height can for example occur by means of a sensor recording the distance to the floor or by evaluating previous adjustment procedures.

[0051] The management module 16c is connected to the item of office equipment 14c designed as a lighting installation. The management module 16c is set up for the purpose of generating control commands for the adjustment of the brightness and/or the light color of the lighting installation and making these available to the lighting installation.

[0052] The electronic workspace module 12 registers the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 via the wireless connection to the respective management modules 16a-16c of the items of office equipment 14a-14c. Via the wireless connections the electronic workspace module 12 records, on the one hand, the designations of the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 and the status information about these items of office equipment 14a-14c, on the other hand. Moreover, control commands can be transmitted to the electronic management modules 16a-16c by means of the electronic workspace module 12 so that an adjustment of the status of each respective item of office equipment 14a-14c can take place on the basis of the control commands.

[0053] Consequently, the electronic management module 12 receives details 30a-30c relating to the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 assigned to the workspace module 12. The details 30a-30c relating to the items of office equipment 14a-14c include designations of the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 and status information about the items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10.

[0054] Further items of office equipment, such as printers or flip charts, can also be equipped with corresponding management modules so that the workspace module 12 can receive or request the respective details relating to these items of office equipment. In this case the supply and/or status of expendable material could also be registered by the management modules so that this supply and/or status information can be provided to the workspace module. In this way the supply of printer or flip-chart paper, for example, can be registered. Alternatively or additionally the filling level of the toner cartridges can be registered.

[0055] Furthermore, the workspace module 12 is capable of establishing a wireless connection to a mobile device 22 assigned to a specific person situated in the ambient area of the workstation 10. Via the wireless connection a person located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 can then be registered by means of the workspace module 12. In regard to the registering and identification of persons reference is made to FIG. 7.

[0056] The information provided to the electronic workstation 12 by the electronic management modules 16a-16c, as well as the information acquired by the electronic workspace module 12 itself, is provided to a central computer unit 18 in the form of workspace-related information 26. The provision of the workspace-related information 26 hereby occurs wirelessly, at least in part, whereby a wireless local area network and/or the internet can be used for data transmission. The workspace-related information 26 provided to the central computer unit 18 thus includes details 30a-30c relating to items of office equipment 14a-14c located in the ambient area of the workstation 10 and details 28 relating to persons located in the ambient area of the workstation 10.

[0057] The central computer unit 18 makes the received workspace-related information 26 available for retrieval by an application 20. The application 20 can be installed on a mobile device 22, for instance a smartphone or tablet, or on a stationary computer 24. By means of the application 20 users can inform themselves about the status and availability of workstations 10 and reserve or book suitable workstations 10.

[0058] Moreover, the central computer unit 18 evaluates the received workspace-related information 26 in order to derive subsequent measures based on the evaluation of the information. The evaluation of the received workspace-related information 26 takes place in order to register malfunctioning and/or defective office equipment. The details 30a-30c relating to the items of office equipment 14a-14c are hereby compared to stored equipment specifications. Furthermore, the evaluation of the received workspace-related information 26 takes place in order to register necessary repairs, maintenance and/or inspection of the items of office equipment 14a-14c. The central computer unit 18 automatically prepares repair orders or automatically issues internal and/or external repair orders accordingly. The received workspace-related information 26 can for example comprise error codes stored for the respective items of of office equipment 14a-14c, so that spare parts and/or tools can be deployed specifically to the affected workstation 10 on the basis of the received error codes. Furthermore, the service life and/or state of use of the items of office equipment 14a-14c can be monitored and evaluated by means of the central computer unit 18, so that on exceeding a predefined service life maintenance and/or inspection orders can be created and issued automatically by means of the central computer unit 18.

[0059] By evaluating the received workspace-related information 26 by means of the central computer unit 18 the necessity to provide the workstation 10 with new expendable material is also registered. This way, for example, necessary printer paper, flip-chart paper or toner cartridges can be specifically provided to the workstation 10.

[0060] The order of expendable material can however also be issued by means of the application 20 via a mobile device 22 or a stationary computer 24. Furthermore, the expendable material can be reordered directly via a dash button at the workstation 10. Repair, maintenance and/or inspection measures can also be initiated directly by the user via the application 20.

[0061] The evaluation of the received workspace-related information 26 by means of the central computer unit 18 additionally takes place in order to locate persons. This way it can be determined which workstation a person is currently using. This enables the delivery of person-related mail and/or parcels directly to a person's workstation 10. In addition, the telephone configurations can be customized based on this information so that a person-related telephone number or telephone extension is assigned to the telephone of workstation 10.

[0062] Furthermore, it is possible that the workspace-related information 26 includes information on the temperature and/or air quality at the respective workstation 10. The temperature and/or air quality can for example be recorded by the sensors of a workspace module 12. In this case the central computer unit 18 can evaluate the received workspace-related information 26 in order to monitor the temperature and/or air quality of a room, a floor and/or a building.

[0063] The evaluation of the received workspace-related information 26 by means of the central computer unit 18 can also occur in order to determine the number or the identities of persons situated in a room, on a floor and/or in a building in the case of an evacuation for instance. In this way the data evaluation by means of the central computer unit 18 enables executing the effective and reliable supervision of an evacuation. Consequently, the complete evacuation of a common area can be verified in that case. Furthermore, the workspace-related information 26 can be evaluated by means of the central computer unit 18 in order to locate a missing person enabling the emergency personnel in the case of evacuation to conduct a targeted search for this person.

[0064] The demonstrated communication system can also be used as a booking system for workstations 10. Via the application 20 users can search for appropriate workstations and book them for a limited time. In the context of a booking, booking information 36 is generated and provided to the central computer unit 18 by means of the application 20. In the central computer unit 18 person-related workstation settings are stored which are provided to the workspace module 12 of the booked workstation in the form of reservation information 38 by the central computer unit 18. As soon as the workspace module 12 registers the mobile device 22 of the person within the booking time in its own ambient area and authentication information 40 has been exchanged, the set-up of the personal workstation settings is initiated by the workspace module 12 of the booked workstation 10. As an example, the desk is automatically adjusted to an adequate desktop height. Furthermore, the seat height and/or backrest tilt of the desk chair can automatically be adjusted accordingly. Moreover, light settings preferred by the person can automatically be applied to the workstation 10.

[0065] For respective personal workstation settings to be provided to the workspace modules 12 by the central computer unit 18 it is necessary to provide the central computer unit 18 with setting information 42 in advance. The FIG. 2 demonstrates the provision of corresponding setting information for the central computer unit 18.

[0066] The setting information 42 can be provided to the central computer unit 18 by an existing booking system 32 previously used in a company. If the company has no available booking system 32, the provision of data 34 can occur manually. The setting information 42 required by the central computer unit 18 includes workstation details 44 and personal data 46.

[0067] The workstation details 44 comprise information on all of the workstations that shall be managed by the system. The workstation details 44 include, for example, the position of a workstation 10 and the intended equipment of a workstation 10. Furthermore, the workstation details 44 can include information on the setting and adjustment options of the office equipment. The personal data 46 relates to the employees of a company. The personal data can comprise the age, height and gender of individual persons. Furthermore, the personal data 46 can include the stored setting preferences of the respective persons, for instance a preferred lighting brightness at the workstation 10.

[0068] The FIG. 3 demonstrates a mobile device 22 during the booking of a workstation. The building structure as well as the layout of the different workstations is displayed to the user via an application. The application provides the user with supplementary information in regard to a selected workstation whereby the supplementary information includes position information. The position information comprises a building designation, a floor designation as well as a room designation. Furthermore, the user is provided with information on the office equipment. Based on this information the user is able to decide whether the selected workstation is suitable for the planned activity. Should this be the case the booking can be carried out accordingly by means of the application.

[0069] The FIG. 4 demonstrates a mobile device 22 by means of which the desktop height can be adjusted. Should a user wish to alter the desktop height of a workstation he can do so by means of the application on the mobile device 22. The application on the mobile device 22 notifies the central computer unit 18 in this case of the adjustment request, whereat the central computer unit 18 transmits respective setting information to the electronic workspace module 12 of the booked workstation 10. The electronic workspace module 12 of the workstation 10 transmits a command for height adjustment to the electronic management module linked to the desk. The electronic management module generates a control command and provides it to the height adjustment actuators of the desk whereupon a height adjustment is executed.

[0070] The FIG. 5 demonstrates a mobile device 22 providing the user with information on the current settings of the light installation at the booked workstation 10. Adequate light settings can be calculated on the basis of the provided personal data by means of a calculation formula. Additionally, a user can store preferred light settings and modify the light settings manually via the application on the mobile device 22. Furthermore, the lighting at the workstation 10 can automatically adjust itself in the course of the day and/or take the environmental conditions into account.

[0071] In FIG. 6 a mobile device 22 is depicted providing the user with information on stored goals. In the example given, the user is supposed to work standing 50% of the time and spend 50% of the working time seated whereby an adjustment of the desktop height can be executed by means of suitable actuators in the desk. The adjustment of the desktop height can be initiated automatically or activated manually by the user.

[0072] The FIG. 7 demonstrates a communication system during the registration of a user in the ambient area of a workstation 10. The user is registered via a mobile device 22 assigned to the user. The user and his mobile device 22 are located within a communication range 48, within which the mobile device 22 can establish a wireless communication link to an electronic workspace module 12 situated at the workstation 10. The electronic workspace module 12 is connected to a central computer unit 18 via a wireless connection, whereby workspace modules of other workstations not featured here are also connected via a wireless connection to the central computer unit 18. Reservation information 38 has already been made available to the workspace module 12 of the workstation 10, whereby the workspace module 12 was provided with details regarding the occupancy of the workstation 10 through the reservation information. Thus in the illustrated situation the workspace module 12 is in an acquisition mode which allows the registration of the user, expected in accordance to the reservation information 38, in the ambient area of the workstation 10.

[0073] The electronic workspace module 12 is furthermore connected via a wireless connection to an electronic management module 16 which in turn is linked to sensors and actuators of the height-adjustable desk 14. By means of the management module 16 an adjustment of the desktop height of the desk 14 can be initiated.

[0074] Because the electronic workspace module 12 is in acquisition mode, a wireless connection between the electronic workspace module 12 and the mobile device 22 was automatically established upon the entry of the mobile device 22 into the communication range 48. On the terminal side establishing the auto-connect was initiated by means of an application installed on the mobile device 22.

[0075] As soon as the user along with the mobile device 22 moves into the ambient area 50 of the workspace module 12, the workspace module 12 registers this. For this purpose the signal characteristics of the communication link between the workspace module 12 and the mobile device 22 are evaluated. The evaluation of the signal characteristics is in this case carried out by means of the electronic workspace module 12. In alternative embodiments the evaluation of the signal characteristics can similarly be carried out by means of the mobile device 22 and/or the central computer unit 18.

[0076] In the scope of the evaluation of the signal characteristics distance information is also determined in regard to the distance between the workspace module 12 and the mobile device 22. The communication link between the workspace module 12 and the mobile device 22 is a direct wireless connection that uses the Bluetooth standard. In the scope of the signal evaluation the technical signal quality of the communication signal between the workspace module 12 and the mobile device 22 is assessed by means of evaluating the signal noise. In this context the signal-to-noise-ratio of the communication link is determined and on the basis of the determined signal-to-noise-ratio it is established whether the mobile device 22 is already situated in the ambient area 50 of the workspace module 12.

[0077] Should the evaluation of the signal characteristics of the communication link have revealed that the mobile device 22 has already been moved into the ambient area 50, the mobile device 22 or a user assigned to the mobile device 22 is automatically identified. The user identification thereby initially occurs anonymously. Based on the identification of the user user-specific workstation settings can then be retrieved from the central computer unit 18 by means of the workspace module 12. The retrieved workstation settings thereby relate, for example, to an appropriate desktop height for the user of the mobile device 22. Provided that the workstation 10 has further items of office equipment at its disposal, the user-specific workstation settings can also comprise suitable settings for the other items of office equipment. Further items of office equipment are for instance an adjustable desk chair or an adjustable light installation. On the basis of the retrieved workstation settings the workspace module 12 initiates the set-up of the user-specific workstation settings for the respective items of office equipment 14.

[0078] In order to set an adequate desktop height for the user assigned to the mobile device 22, the current desktop height of the desk 14 assigned to the workstation 10 is determined by the means of sensors first. The sensor unit used for this purpose can for example be a component of the management module 16. Based on the current desktop height of the desk 14 the adjustment path for the desktop can be determined so that an adjustment of the desktop height of the desk 14 can take place by means of the actuators of the desk 14. The actuators of the desk 14 are preferably connected in a signal-conducting manner to the electronic management module 16.

[0079] Additionally, the lighting installations assigned to the workstation 10 and/or the desk chair assigned to the workstation 10 can be adjusted automatically on the basis of the retrieved user-specific workstation settings.

[0080] Furthermore, the set-up of the user-specific workstation settings can involve setting up a telephone number or telephone extension for a telephone assigned to the workstation 10. Moreover, the set-up of the user-specific workstation settings can involve setting up a display on a digital frame assigned to the workstation 10.

[0081] The user-specific workstation settings can be entered manually by the user in advance. Alternatively or additionally the central computer unit 18 can calculate user-specific workstation settings based on personal data provided in advance by the user. To this end, scientific evidence in terms of workspace illumination or the favorable duration of sitting and standing at an adjustable desk can hereby be incorporated. Personal data, on the basis of which the user-specific workstation settings are calculated by means of the central computer unit 18, can relate for instance to the height, the age or the gender of the respective user.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0082] 10 workstation [0083] 12 workspace module [0084] 14, 14a-14c items of office equipment [0085] 16, 16a-16c management modules [0086] 18 central computer unit [0087] 20 application [0088] 22 mobile device [0089] 24 stationary computer [0090] 26 workspace-related information [0091] 28 person-related details [0092] 30a-30c details relating to items of office equipment [0093] 32 existing booking system [0094] 34 manual provision of data [0095] 36 booking information [0096] 38 reservation information [0097] 40 authentication information [0098] 42 setting information [0099] 44 workstation details [0100] 46 personal data [0101] 48 communication range [0102] 50 ambient area