Optical Workplace Status Display System

Abstract

A multifunctional, highly visible and perceptible optical workplace status display system. In particular, the optical workstation status display system should make the occupancy or availability of the office workstation, the usage status of office communication devices and/or the status of the employee optically visible. The workstation status display system should be adaptable to different office workstations and individual requirements.

Claims

1. Workstation status display system, characterized in that at least one illuminated display (1) and/or at least one screen (9) is arranged or integrated on or in an office furniture (6), whereby on the illuminated display(l) and/or on the screen, at least one interface (2) is available to at least one office communication device (3), a room equipment (3), an application and/or at least one manually or sensor-controlled switching unit (4, 5) or to at least one sensor, whereby the at least one illuminated display (1) and/or the at least one screen (9) is at least being designed to indicate the status with respect to an office workstation and/or office communication devices, applications, ambient conditions and/or employees.

2. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the illuminated display (1) is arranged or integrated in or on at least one outer edge of a table top (6), in or on the surface of a table top (6), in vertically aligned sections of a table structure and/or in an office furniture wall.

3. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one screen is arranged or integrated on at least one outer edge of a table top (6), in or on the surface of a table top (6), in vertically aligned sections of a table structure and/or in an office furniture wall, or that the screen is the screen on a workstation computer.

4. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen is touch-sensitive and/or can be controlled or operated by gestures and/or comprises an input unit for adjusting the status with respect to the office workstation and/or to the office communication devices, applications, ambient conditions and/or to the employee.

5. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the illuminated display (1) is circular, band-shaped, segmented and/or designed to be individually controllable as a chaser light.

6. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the illuminated display (1) comprises at least one multicolor LED.

7. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the office communication device (3), for example, is a telephone, a computer, a printer, a scanner, a copier, a fax machine, a network device or a mobile terminal device.

8. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor-controlled switching unit (5) is connected to an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a motion detector, a noise sensor, an energy consumption sensor, a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, a vital sensor, a gyro sensor and/or a closing contact.

9. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one interface (2) is designed as a preferably programmable control unit (2) or in that the illuminated display (1), the screen (9) and/or the interface (2) interact with the control unit (2).

10. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that an acoustic output unit and/or a vibration unit is connected to the workstation status display system.

11. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that a user management application, an electronic reservation system and/or a recognition unit is connected to the workstation status display system.

12. Workstation status display system according to claim 1, characterized in that notes or information on the office communication devices and/or room equipment and/or on ambient conditions and/or on vital parameters can be displayed on the screen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Advantageous design examples of the invention are explained in detail based on drawings.

[0051] The following is shown:

[0052] FIG. 1 A view of a table top of a working table or a desk from below with integrated illuminated display of a workstation status display system,

[0053] FIG. 2 A view of a table top of a working table or a desk from below with integrated illuminated display and integrated screen of a workstation status display system,

[0054] FIG. 3 A side view of a table top of a working table or a desk with integrated illuminated displays of a workstation status display system,

[0055] FIG. 4 A schematic representation of a workstation status display system with illuminated displays and interface to a telephone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a view of a section of a desk top 6 of a working table or a desk 6 from below with integrated illuminated display 1. The workstation status display system according to the invention comprises at least one LED illuminated display 1. Two illuminated displays 1 are shown here, which are recessed at one corner in the adjacent vertical surfaces of the outer edges, i.e. a vertical section of the desktop 6.

[0057] In a specific, not illustrated design example, the illuminated display 1 has an interface 2 to an office communication device 3, to an application and to a sensor-controlled switching unit 4, 5, whereby the at least one illuminated display 1 is designed via multicolor LEDs to indicate the status with regard to an office workstation and/or to office communication devices, applications, ambient conditions and to employees.

[0058] In this design example, the office communication device 3 is a workstation computer with screen 9 and a network connection. In addition, a chat application, such as a service hotline on the workstation computer, is available as an application to which the user logs on and off. The chat application communicates via the network connection with a server that is also an office communication device 3. As office communication device 3, a telephone is also connected to a telephone system with a network connection or designed as an IP-phone or similar. This means that the telephone has at least a logical and functional connection to the other office communication devices 3. The telephone can also be a softphone application of the workstation computer or an application of a smartphone with a network connection to at least one of the other office communication devices 3. This means that the telephoning status of the employee or of the workstation is also recorded, since an employee can also make absent calls from the workstation via suitable mobile terminal devices such as smartphones, cordless telephones or headsets. The workstation is therefore empty but not free.

[0059] This means that essential workstation functions are initially provided.

[0060] In addition to the office communication devices and the chat application, there is also a sensor-controlled switching unit 4, 5, which, in this concrete design example, is connected to the workstation computer via a USB interface. Alternatively, the sensor-controlled switching unit 4, 5 can also be connected to the network. This switching unit 4, 5 is equipped with a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, a noise sensor and a vital sensor. The temperature sensor and the gas sensor monitor the temperature and the room air quality in the event of unfavorable deviations or ambient conditions, either to bring about a change immediately or to give indications for a change. The noise sensor detects ambient noise to alert the concentrated worker that the background noise level is unfavorable and will or can cause distractions.

[0061] In this concrete design example, the illuminated display 1 is connected to the workstation computer as office communication device 3 via a USB interface. A corresponding suitable application program on the workstation computer represents via this computer the interface 2 to the other office communication devices 3 and records the respective user status of the application. In addition, the sensor data of the sensory switching unit 4, 5 are recorded and prepared accordingly and made available to the application program as an interface for the light display 1. Depending on the status of the employee's office communication devices 3 and the sensor readings, for example, light display 1 shows a green light for free, a red light for busy, a yellow light for free but absent or a blue light for sensitization to unfavorable environmental conditions. For example, if different statuses occur at the same time, they can also be displayed next to one another in parallel or one after the other.

[0062] To support the employee, the respective statuses can also be displayed on screen 9 of the workstation computer. In addition to the display, certain statuses can also be changed, such as logging on to and off applications or on the telephone, switching lights or operating office communication devices 3.

[0063] In addition to the ambient conditions, the vital parameters can also be recorded, particularly with regard to a one-sided posture or too prolonged immobility. This can be done via vital sensors which, like the other sensors, are also connected to the switching unit 4, 5 or which are directly connected to the office communication device 3. The vital sensors, for example worn on the body, can also be coupled with a mobile terminal device, for example via Bluetooth, which then transmits corresponding vital parameters to the office communication devices 3 via the network connection, so that these vital parameters can also be displayed on the respective screen 9.

[0064] In addition, the office chair is equipped with one or two gyro sensors and a closing contact, which detect the movement of the respective office chair via a radio interface and detect an employee getting up. Based on this and the subsequent movement sequence of the chair, conclusions can be drawn that the employee has left the workplace. If the employee has failed to log off from the applications, the employee's status is adjusted in relation to the applications via the switching unit 4, 5 and the office communication devices 3 and via the interface on the light display.

[0065] For example, the illuminated displays 1 are connected wirelessly or via lines and an interface, the hardware and/or software interface is not illustrated connected to various office communication devices and/or sensors in order not to show the status of the office communication devices belonging to the workstation or to show the use of these devices with the light displays 1 as shown.

[0066] The openings and cable guides required for the entry of the illuminated displays 1 into the desk panel 6 are realized, for example, by corresponding routings in the downward facing surface 10 or in channels in or on the downward facing surface 10 desk panel 6.

[0067] In addition to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2, a screen with gesture control is embedded in the upward pointing surface 10 of the desk top. Corresponding connecting cables are laid in or under the desk top 6 via milled cable ducts. In a simpler version, the screen 6 is touch-sensitive.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows the side view of a desk top 6 known from FIG. 1 with integrated illuminated displays 1 of the workstation status display system.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a further design example of a system for workstation status display with two LED displays 1 consisting of several segments on a desktop 6, an interface 2 to a telephone 3 as well as a manual switching unit 4 and a sensory switching unit 5. The phone 3 is shown here as an example for an office communication device 3. The interface 2 is connected via connection lines 7 to the illuminated displays 1 and a power supply unit 8, for example a power adapter 8.

[0070] The interface 2 to telephone 3 is also the interface 2 for signals of the manual switching unit 4 and the sensory switching unit 5 and connected to them via connection lines 7. The connecting cables 7 are preferably connected by standardized plug contacts to the interface 2, the office communication devices 3 and the switching units 4, 5. Alternatively, a wireless data transmission can also be implemented.

[0071] Interface 2 is designed here as control unit 2 for controlling the illuminated display 1. The control unit 2 is able to process the individual incoming signals of the individual office communication devices 3 and/or sensory switching units 4, 5 and to control the illuminated display 1 sensibly.

[0072] The control unit 2 is connected directly to the workstation computer as office communication device 3.

[0073] Alternatively, the control unit 2 can be connected to the network. On the one hand, all the necessary information and statuses can be collected on the workstation computer using suitable software and transmitted to the control unit 2 or the control unit 2 interrogates the other office communication devices 3 with or without applications and the switching unit 4, 5 via the network. The control unit 2 then controls the illuminated display 1 accordingly.

[0074] The control includes the control of individual segments of the illuminated display 1. For example, various status signals, including complex ones, relating to the workstation, can be indicated by the illuminated display 1 via multicolor LEDs or flashing and/or running lights. It is advisable to implement the control unit 2 in such a way that it cannot be programmed via a computer according to the specific user requirements or that it generates, monitors and transfers the status displays to the control unit 2 via network devices such as switches, routers and servers and thus controls the illuminated display 1 accordingly.

[0075] In addition, a screen 9 is provided, for example that of the workstation computer, which displays the status displays and can also display further information.

[0076] In another special one, an acoustic output unit is provided, which subtly generates a perceptible noise and thus draws attention to a certain unfavorable condition. Instead of a noise, it is also possible to simply provide a vibration unit which, using suitable vibration patterns, points to conditions and generates attention.

[0077] By using a recognition unit which is connected to the respective workstation computer as office communication device 3, it is possible to log on and off to the respective applications or to the telephone system, for example via mobile terminals, for example via NFC or via transponders.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0078] 1Illuminated display [0079] 2Interface, control unit [0080] 3Office communication device, telephone [0081] 4manual switching unit [0082] 5sensory switching unit [0083] 6Table top, desk top, office furniture, working table, desk [0084] 7Connecting lines [0085] 8Power supply unit, power adapter [0086] 9Screen [0087] 10Surface