Facilities Management System
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a data-processing system, a first in-use signal from a first telecommunications endpoint that is part of a plurality of endpoints that are situated within a first geographic area and that are served by the data-processing system, the first in-use signal indicating that a user is using the first telecommunications endpoint, the data-processing system being capable of setting up a telephone call between the first telecommunications endpoint and a second telecommunications endpoint; and
generating a first control signal for changing a first environmental condition, the first control signal being based on the receiving of the first in-use signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique is disclosed that enables the managing of environmental conditions within an enterprise workplace and, in doing so, provides an improvement in facilities cost management over some techniques in the prior art. A data-processing system such as a private-branch exchange monitors the workplace by using one or more telephones, or other “telecommunications endpoints” to which the exchange is connected, in the workplace area. The exchange determines whether people are present in the workplace area by monitoring which endpoints are in use. Additionally, the exchange monitors the sounds that are received by the microphones of the endpoints. Based on knowing which endpoints are in use, the exchange generates control signals for the purpose of controlling one or more environmental conditions such as temperature, lighting, and so forth. In some embodiments of the present invention, the exchange examines the audio content of the received signals and bases the control signals on the audio content analyzed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a data-processing system, a first in-use signal from a first telecommunications endpoint that is part of a plurality of endpoints that are situated within a first geographic area and that are served by the data-processing system, the first in-use signal indicating that a user is using the first telecommunications endpoint, the data-processing system being capable of setting up a telephone call between the first telecommunications endpoint and a second telecommunications endpoint; and generating a first control signal for changing a first environmental condition, the first control signal being based on the receiving of the first in-use signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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setting up, via a data-processing system, a telephone call between a first telecommunications endpoint and a second telecommunications endpoint, the first telecommunications endpoint being part of a plurality of endpoints that are situated within a first geographic area and that are served by the data-processing system; receiving, at the data-processing system, a first in-use signal from the first telecommunications endpoint during the telephone call, the first in-use signal indicating that a user is using the first telecommunications endpoint; and generating a first control signal for changing a first environmental condition, the first control signal being based on the receiving of the first in-use signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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setting up, via a data-processing system, a telephone call between a first telecommunications endpoint and a second telecommunications endpoint, the first and second telecommunications endpoints being part of a plurality of endpoints that are situated within a first geographic area and that are served by the data-processing system; receiving, at the data-processing system, (i) a first in-use signal from the first telecommunications endpoint during the telephone call, the first in-use signal indicating that a first user is using the first telecommunications endpoint, and (ii) a second in-use signal from the second telecommunications endpoint during the telephone call, the second in-use signal indicating that a second user is using the second telecommunications endpoint; and generating a first control signal for changing a first environmental condition, the first control signal being based on the receiving of the first and second in-use signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification