Method For Designing A Customized Work Area

• US 20070276635A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Krueger International Incorporated
• Inventors: Bohlman, Jeffrey G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2012 Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A system for designing a work area enables a user to initially specify a particular item to be designed into the work area from a number of different items contained in the system. The system utilizes stored information concerning the item to graphically display the selected item to the individual. Once the item has been selected, the system enables the individual to incorporate the item into the work area, along with other items. The system indicates the item on a display using a “ghost image”. The dimensions of the item can be varied from preselected dimensions and other components can be interconnected or positioned in the work area. The system can provide feedback to the user regarding what components can be added at any particular location. The system determines the proper style, width, height, options, position, and rotation for the item and any interconnected components to create a valid design.

Claims

1. A method of designing a workspace on a computer screen, comprising the steps of:

depicting a predetermined area on the computer screen representative of the workspace;

selecting one of a plurality of objects for positioning in the predetermined area and providing the same as a selected object;

generating a ghost image of the selected object on the computer screen;

positioning the ghost image at a user desired location in the predetermined area; and

placing the selected object in the predetermined area on the computer screen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of objects are various types of office furniture components.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of objects is selected from the group including tackboards, markerboards, load bars, tool rails, pedestals, task lights, worksurfaces, countertops, support panels, support brackets, worksurface accessories, center drawers, keyboards, electrical components, outlets, jumpers, connectors, and feeds.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of validating that the selected object may be positioned in the predetermined area with an existing object positioned in the predetermined area.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the selected object includes a plurality of adjustable parameters and wherein the method further comprises the step of adjusting the parameters of the selected object in response to the existing object.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining a color graphic associated with the selected object and displaying the ghost image with the color graphic.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying design options for the selected object with the ghost image.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of validating the user desired location as acceptable for the selected object before placing the selected object in the predetermined area on the computer screen.

9. A workspace design module operative with a computer aided design program, the design module having a stored program representative of instructions to be executed by a computer that causes the computer to:

graphically depict a workspace on a computer screen;

display a list of workspace furniture components available for the workspace;

generate a ghost image for a selected workspace furniture component;

display the ghost image on the computer screen; and

place the selected workspace furniture component at a user defined location in the workspace based on a position of the ghost image on the computer screen.

10. The module of claim 9 wherein the furniture components include tackboards, markerboards, load bars, tool rails, pedestals, task lights, worksurfaces, countertops, support panels, support brackets, worksurface accessories, center drawers, keyboards, electrical components, outlets, jumpers, connectors, and feeds.

11. The module of claim 9 wherein the computer is further caused to validate that the selected workspace furniture component may be positioned in the workspace with an existing workspace furniture component positioned in the workspace.

13. The module of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to determine a color graphic associated with the selected workspace furniture component and display the ghost image with the color graphic.

14. The module of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to display design options for the selected workspace furniture component with the ghost image.

15. The module of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to validate the user desired location as acceptable for the selected workspace furniture component before placing the selected workspace furniture component in the workspace on the computer screen.

12. The module of claim 12 wherein the selected workspace furniture component includes a plurality of adjustable parameters and wherein the computer is further caused to adjust the parameters of the selected workspace furniture component in response to the existing workspace furniture component.