Monitoring occupancy of a desktop with a desktop apparatus

• US 10,178,737 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2018
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Duggal, Satprit
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US15/899,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20180177024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An apparatuses, methods and systems for a desktop occupancy sensing device are disclosed. One desktop apparatus includes an occupancy sensor, a mobile device charging interface, a controller, and a structure. The occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus. The controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network. The occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit, and the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop.

Claims

1. A desktop apparatus, comprising:

an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus;

a mobile device charging interface;

a controller, wherein the controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and wherein the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network;

a structure, wherein the occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and

wherein the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop;

wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network;

wherein the upstream network operates to identify users that occupy one or more desktops associated with at least one of the desktop apparatus or the other desktop apparatuses;

wherein the upstream network operates to communicate with at least one of the identified users through a mobile device of the at least one identified user; and

wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor comprises a PIR (passive infrared sensor).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an RF (radio frequency) receiver, and occupancy is determined by successful communication between the RF receiver and a mobile device of an occupant.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wired or wireless network interface for interfacing the apparatus to the upstream network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile device charging interface comprises a cradle adapted to receive and electrically charge a mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein controller operates to communicate with the upstream network through a building fixture, another desktop apparatus, or a wireless access point.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operative to communicate with a building fixture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the building fixture comprises a plurality of sensors, and the building fixture is further operative to sense motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the building fixture is further operative to provide environmental control based on sensed occupancy of the apparatus or the sensed motion of the building fixture.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops based on an identified group that the at least one identified user is determined to be associated with.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops based on past tracked behavior of the at least one identified user.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upstream network operates to control power associated with one or more specific desktops, or lighting associated with one or more specific desktops based on how the upstream network determined how to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.

15. A desktop apparatus, comprising:

an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus;

a mobile device charging interface;

a controller, wherein the controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and wherein the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network;

a structure, wherein the occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and

wherein the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop;

wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network; and

wherein the upstream network operates to confirm occupancy sensed by the desktop apparatus based on sensed motion of one or more of the plurality of building fixtures.

16. A method, comprising:

sensing, by an occupancy sensor of a desktop apparatus, occupancy of a desk top associated with the desktop apparatus;

receiving, by the desktop apparatus, a mobile device at a charging interface of the desktop apparatus;

communicating, by a controller of the desktop apparatus, the determined occupancy to an upstream network;

wherein

the occupancy sensor, the charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and

wherein the structure is adapted to be affixed to the desktop;

wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network;

wherein the upstream network operates to identify users that occupy one or more desktops associated with at least one of the desktop apparatus or the other desktop apparatuses;

wherein the upstream network operates to communicate with at least one of the identified users through a mobile device of the at least one identified user; and

wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.