# US 12,725,096 B2 · Systems and methods for balancing space utilization in a building

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- Number: US 12,725,096 B2
- Document ID: US12725096B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/539,757
- Filed: 2021-12-01
- Published: 2023-06-01
- Granted: 2026-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-01
- Assignees: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
- Applicants: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
- Inventors: Young M. Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12725096B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/02: Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
- G06F 16/906: Clustering; Classification
- G06F 30/13: Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
- G06F 30/20: Design optimisation, verification or simulation (optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30)
- G06Q 10/0287: {for portions of office space}
- H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
- G05B 2219/2614: HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
- G05D 23/19: characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A method for balancing space utilization in a building. The method includes identifying a first space and a second space of a building; determining, for a plurality of individuals assigned to the first space, (i) first differences between first preferences of the plurality of individuals for a first characteristic of the second space and a first value of the first characteristic, and (ii) second differences between second preferences of the plurality of individuals for a second characteristic of the second space and a second value of the second characteristic; determining a subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space based on a combination of the first differences and the second differences; and implementing a reassignment of the subset of individuals to the second space or generating, by the one or more processors, a recommendation to reassign the subset of individuals to the second space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for balancing space utilization between a first space that is overutilized and a second space that is underutilized in a building, comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, the first space and the second space of the building, the first space having a first utilization rate that exceeds a second utilization rate of the second space;
determining, by the one or more processors for a plurality of individuals assigned to the first space, (i) first differences between first preferences of the plurality of individuals for a first characteristic of the second space and a first value of the first characteristic, and (ii) second differences between second preferences of the plurality of individuals for a second characteristic of the second space and a second value of the second characteristic, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are space environment characteristics and different from occupancy and utilization, and wherein the first characteristic is a different type of space environment characteristic than a type of space environment characteristic of the second characteristic;
obtaining, by the one or more processors, first weights for the plurality of individuals corresponding to the first characteristic and second weights for the plurality of individuals corresponding to the second characteristic;
determining, by the one or more processors, a subset of individuals of the plurality of individuals to move from the first space to the second space based on individual-space prediction scores, which are calculated based on the first weights, the first differences, the second weights, and the second differences for the plurality of individuals;
implementing, by the one or more processors, a reassignment of the subset of individuals to the second space or generating, by the one or more processors, a recommendation to reassign the subset of individuals to the second space responsive to determining the subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space; and
performing, by the one or more processors, an automated action comprising adjusting operation of building equipment in at least one of the first space or the second space after the reassignment or after generating the recommendation, the automated action causing improved energy efficiency of the building equipment in at least one of the first space or the second space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
adjusting, by the one or more processors, configurations of building equipment that operate to affect one or more points of the first space or the second space based on the determined subset of individuals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein implementing the reassignment of the subset of individuals to the second space comprises updating, by the one or more processors, a data structure stored in memory to indicate the subset of individuals are assigned to the second space.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space comprises determining, by the one or more processors, the subset of individuals using an objective function.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein determining the subset of individuals comprises:
determining, by the one or more processors, the individual-space prediction scores for the plurality of individuals assigned to the first space according to preferences of the plurality of individuals; and
identifying, by the one or more processors, the subset of individuals of the plurality of individuals responsive to the subset of individuals having lower individual-space prediction scores than other individuals of the first space.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more processors, a plurality of space ratings for the second space from the plurality of individuals; and
determining, by the one or more processors, third differences between the plurality of space ratings and a space rating value;
wherein determining the subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space further comprises aggregating, by the one or more processors, the third differences with the first differences and the second differences.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first space and the second space of the building comprises:
generating, by the one or more processors, (i) a first list of spaces with first space utilization rates above first thresholds that correspond to the respective spaces of the first list, and (ii) a second list of spaces with second space utilization rates below second thresholds that correspond to the respective spaces of the second list; and
identifying, by the one or more processors, (i) the first space from the first list based on a first difference between the first space utilization rate of the first space and a first threshold of the first space, and (ii) the second space from the second list based on a second difference between the second utilization rate of the second space and a second threshold of the second space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the second space from the second list comprises:
comparing, by the one or more processors, the second difference with the first difference; and
identifying, by the one or more processors, the second space responsive to the second difference exceeding the first difference.

### Claim 9

A system for balancing space utilization between a first space that is overutilized and a second space that is underutilized in a building, the system comprising one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
identify the first space and the second space of the building, the first space having a first utilization rate that exceeds a second utilization rate of the second space;
determine, for a plurality of individuals assigned to the first space, (i) first differences between first preferences of the plurality of individuals for a first characteristic of the second space and a first value of the first characteristic, and (ii) second differences between second preferences of the plurality of individuals for a second characteristic of the second space and a second value of the second characteristic, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are space environment characteristics and different from occupancy and utilization, and wherein the first characteristic is a different type of space environment characteristic than a type of space environment characteristic of the second characteristic;
obtain first weights for the plurality of individuals corresponding to the first characteristic and second weights for the plurality of individuals corresponding to the second characteristic;
determine a subset of individuals of the plurality of individuals to move from the first space to the second space based on individual-space prediction scores, which are calculated based on the first weights, the first differences, the second weights, and the second differences for the plurality of individuals;
implement a reassignment of the subset of individuals to the second space or generate a recommendation to reassign the subset of individuals to the second space responsive to determining the subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space; and
perform an automated action comprising adjusting operation of building equipment in at least one of the first space or the second space after the reassignment or after generating the recommendation, the automated action causing improved energy efficiency of the building equipment in at least one of the first space or the second space.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to:
adjust configurations of building equipment that operate to affect one or more points of the first space or the second space based on the determined subset of individuals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to implement the reassignment of the subset of individuals to the second space by updating a data structure stored in memory to indicate the subset of individuals are assigned to the second space.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to determine the subset of individuals to move from the first space to the second space by determining the subset of individuals using an objective function.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to determine the subset of individuals by:
iteratively determining the individual-space prediction scores for the plurality of individuals assigned to the first space according to preferences of the plurality of individuals; and
identifying the subset of individuals of the plurality of individuals responsive to the subset of individuals having lower individual-space prediction scores than others of the first space.

### Claim 14

A method of addressing underutilization of spaces in a building, comprising:
identifying, by one or more processors, a first space of the building and a second space of the building;
determining, by the one or more processors for a first plurality of individuals assigned to the first space and for a second plurality of individuals assigned to the second space of the building, (i) first differences between first preferences of the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals for a first characteristic of the second space and a first value of the first characteristic, and (ii) second differences between second preferences of the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals for a second characteristic of the second space and a second value of the second characteristic, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are space environment characteristics and different from occupancy and utilization, and wherein the first characteristic is a different type of space environment characteristic than a type of space environment characteristic of the second characteristic;
obtaining, by the one or more processors first weights for the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals corresponding to the first characteristic and second weights for the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals corresponding to the second characteristic;
determining, by the one or more processors, (i) for the first plurality of individuals assigned to the first space, a first rating of the first plurality of individuals for the second space of the building, and (ii) for the second plurality of individuals assigned to the second space, a second rating of the second plurality of individuals for the first space of the building based on individual-space prediction scores, which are calculated based on the first weights, the first differences, the second weights, and the second differences for the first plurality of individuals and the second plurality of individuals;
responsive to determining the first rating exceeds the second rating, implementing, by the one or more processors, a reassignment of the first plurality of individuals to the second space or generating, by the one or more processors, a recommendation to reassign the first plurality of individuals to the second space; and
performing, by the one or more processors, an automated action responsive to the first space being unoccupied after the first plurality of individuals are moved to the second space, the automated action comprising adjusting operation of building equipment in the first space.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein performing the automated action comprises modifying, by the one or more processors, parameters of the building equipment to reduce energy usage in the unoccupied first space.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein modifying parameters of the building equipment comprises adjusting, by the one or more processors, configurations of heating, ventilation, or air conditioning equipment or light equipment to an unoccupied mode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein implementing the reassignment of the first plurality of individuals to the second space comprises updating, by the one or more processors, a data structure stored in memory to indicate the first plurality of individuals are assigned to the second space.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
determining, by the one or more processors, an availability of the second space by comparing a utilization of the second space with a capacity of the second space,
wherein implementing the reassignment of the first plurality of individuals or generating the recommendation to reassign the first plurality of individuals is performed further responsive to determining, by the one or more processors, the first plurality of individuals does not exceed the availability of the second space.