US 8,577,711 B2Granted

Occupancy analysis

AssigneeHerman Miller, Inc.

InventorsSteven A. Korecki, Robert L. Beck, Gary Gifford, Robin M. Ellerthorpe

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Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to transparent and/or non-disruptive systems and methods for monitoring and analyzing actual space utilization, and in particular, analyzing space utilization over time and/or in real time to accurately understand and report the utilization of the space. In particular, the disclosed embodiments analyze data representative of occupancy of the space, the data being autonomously determined based on the likelihood that occupants are present within the space. The data is periodically determined and automatically reported to an automated collection system which collects the data and forwards it to a central repository for analysis. The data is then analyzed to provide meaningful reports regarding occupancy of the space or otherwise contextualize the utilization of the space. Further, the data collected from different spaces may be anonymized, aggregated, or otherwise combined, and analyzed to contextualize a given space's utilization, provide utilization forecasts, etc.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of facilitating management of occupancy of a first physical space, the first physical space comprising a plurality of physical elements, wherein each of the physical elements is attached to one or more sensors, the method comprising:

generating data by monitoring at least one of the plurality of physical elements over a first period of time by at least one of the one or more sensors;
determining, based on the generated data, a portion of probable utilization states by the at least one of the one or more sensors;
transmitting the portion of probable utilization states of the first physical space from the at least one of the one or more sensors to an evaluation processor;
determining, by the evaluation processor, that an additional portion of probable utilization states were not received based on a reporting interval of the at least one of the one or more sensors;
determining, by the evaluation processor, the additional portion of probable utilization states by extrapolation;
determining, by the evaluation processor, a plurality of probable utilization states of the first physical space over the first period of time based on the received portion of probable utilization states and the determined additional portion;
determining, by the evaluation processor, a number of occupants occupying at least a portion of the first physical space by evaluating at least a portion of the determined probable utilization states and determining whether movement of the at least one of the plurality of physical elements was caused by an occupant or was due to some other cause by combining sensor data with additional occupancy data inputs or by comparing a plurality of sequential utilization states of the determined probable utilization states for the at least one of the plurality of physical elements;
contextualizing, by a contextualization processor, the determined number of occupants of the first physical space by correlating the determined number of occupants to at least one of:
an attribute of the first physical space, a temporal event, or a non-temporal event;
and
generating and displaying a report from the contextualized determined number of occupants.

8 more elements

A system for facilitating management of occupancy of a first physical space, the first physical space comprising a plurality of physical elements, the system comprising:

one or more sensors attached to each of the physical elements;
each of the one or more sensors comprising:
a sensor processor;
a sensor memory connected to said sensor processor;
cause the sensor processor to perform the steps of:
generating data by monitoring at least one of the plurality of physical elements over a first period of time;
and
determining, based on the generated data, a portion of probable utilization states;
and a server comprising:
a processor;
a memory connected to said processor;
the memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
receiving the portion of portable utilization states of the first physical space from the at least one of the one or more sensors;
determining that an additional portion of probable utilization states were not received based on a reporting interval of at least one of the one or more sensors;
determining the additional portion of probable utilization states by extrapolation;
determining a plurality of probable utilization states of the first physical space over the first period of time based on the received portion of probable utilization states and the determined additional portion;
determining a number of occupants occupying at least a portion of the first physical space by evaluating at least a portion of the determined probable utilization states and determining whether movement of the at least one of the plurality of physical elements was caused by an occupant or was due to some other cause by combining sensor data with additional occupancy data inputs or by comparing a plurality of sequential utilization states of the determined probable utilization states for the at least one of the plurality of physical elements;
contextualizing the determined number of occupants of the first physical space by correlating the determined number of occupants to at least one of:
an attribute of the first physical space, a temporal event, or a non-temporal event;
and
generating and displaying a report from the contextualized determined number of occupants.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/011,370Filed 25 Jan 2008
Published: US 2009/0193217 A130 Jul 2009
Granted: 5 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G06Q 10/0872
Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders: using inventory planning
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial