Method of configuring a furniture utility distribution system

• US 5,684,469 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Incorporated
• Inventors: Toms, John Schackelford, Branc, Joseph R., Brown, Steven M., Miller, William L., Mikolajczak, Matthew M., Weller, George V., Sweeton, David C., Russell, Scott H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/475,797
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.07, 340/825.52, 340/310.08, 340/310.01, 340/825.53, 340/825.37, 52/239, 52/221, 160/135, 160/357, 312/223.6
• US Class Current: 340/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 83/001 Office desks or work-stations combined with other pieces of furniture, e.g. work space management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0487 with a non-circular cross-section H02G3/0468, H02G3/0475 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/286 in walls
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/288 in modular walls, e.g. wall panels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A utility distribution system is provided for modular furniture of the type comprising individual furniture units which are juxtaposed to form one or more workstations. A signal conductor is positioned in each furniture unit, and extends generally between opposite sides thereof. Quick-disconnect connectors are provided at the opposite ends of each of the signal conductors, and mate with like quick-disconnect connectors in adjacent furniture units to create a communications network through the workstations. Each furniture unit has a signaler physically associated therewith, which is connected with an associated signal conductor at a coupler. A network controller is operably connected to the network to evaluate the network and/or the associated furniture units. The furniture units may be equipped with one or more utility ports, which are connected with the coupler, and service utility appliances, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, switches, power outlets, data receptacles, and the like. The utility appliances preferably have memory capability to internally store operating instructions for the same, which are transmitted to the network controller when the utility appliance is initialized.

Claims

1. A method of self-configuring a utility distribution system in an office environment, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller into a communication network with at least one signal conductor;

configuring said communication modules according to the physical location of each of said furniture units in the office environment; and

automatically evaluating said communications network and said furniture units to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances by transmitting control signals to said communication modules and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units wherein said network controller evaluates said communications network and said furniture units based upon said control signals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said evaluating includes identifying the location of furniture units in the communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said evaluating includes transmitting a periodic message on said signal conductor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said evaluating includes receiving operating instruction and operating parameters from said at least one utility appliance.

5. The method of claim 1 further including initializing said communication network after said interconnecting and reinitializing said communication network upon correction of a fault.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of furniture units are organized into work spaces including a raised floor and wherein said interconnecting includes extending said at least one signal conductor at least partially below said raised floor.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of furniture units are organized into workstations made up at least in part of partition panels and wherein said interconnecting includes extending said at least one signal conductor between opposite lateral edges of said partition panels.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication module is a single physical assembly.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein other ones of said furniture units do not include a said coupler or a said utility appliance.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting includes interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller in a loop.

11. The method of claim 10 including determining if the furniture unit associated with each signaler is positionally the first one of said furniture units in a work space as disposed sequentially about said communication network.

12. The method of claim 10 including checking with each communication module'"'"'s adjacent communication module to determine if said adjacent communication module is operational.

13. The method of claim 10 including transmitting a periodic message with said network controller and passing said periodic message with each signaler in order to determine breaks in said loop.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of furniture units include modular furniture units.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said modular furniture units include portable furniture units.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said portable furniture units include portable partition panels.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of furniture units include portable furniture units.

14. A method of self-configuring a utility distribution system in an office environment, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller into a communication network with at least one signal conductor;

configuring said communication modules according to the physical location of each of said furniture units in the office environment; and

evaluating said communications network and said furniture units to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances by transmitting control signals to said communication modules and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units, wherein said evaluating includes identifying the physical location of said at least one utility appliance with respect to the respective furniture unit.

15. A method of self-configuring a utility distribution system in an office environment, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller into a communication network with at least one signal conductor;

configuring said communication modules according to the physical location of each of said furniture units in the office environment; and

evaluating said communications network and said furniture units to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances by transmitting control signals to said communication modules and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units, wherein particular ones of said signalers include a portion-of-work space identification mechanism to positionally associate a plurality of said furniture units within a given work space.

16. A method of self-configuring a utility distribution system in an office environment, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller into a communication network with at least one signal conductor;

configuring said communication modules according to the physical location of each of said furniture units in the office environment; and

evaluating said communications network and said furniture units to facilitate the distribution of utilities to the utility appliances by transmitting control signals to said communication modules and receiving control signals from at least the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units, further including providing an identification module with each furniture unit to assist in identification of that furniture unit.

17. A method of associating a utility distribution system to a physical space in an office environment, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units organized into work spaces, particular ones of said furniture units including a utility appliance network including a plurality of utility appliances for distributing utilities to one of said work spaces and a utility appliance controller;

providing a network controller adapted to make determinations for controlling said utility appliances;

providing a communication network for communicatively interconnecting said utility appliance networks with said network controller;

determining with the respective said utility appliance controller a physical location of each said utility appliance with respect to the respective furniture unit;

communicating data including said physical location of each utility appliance from each utility appliance controller to said network controller on said communication network; and

providing correspondence in said network controller between a logical address for each said utility appliance and the physical location of that utility appliance using said data communicated from said utility appliance controllers.

18. The method of claim 17 further including joining each said utility appliance network to said communication network with a communication bridge.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said determining the physical location of each utility appliance includes providing a port for each utility appliance and providing each said port with an address associated with a physical location on the respective furniture unit.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said providing each said port with an address includes providing a cable having multiple conductors and interconnecting each said port with a different combination of said conductors.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein each said utility appliance includes a storage element storing control routines which are transmitted to said network controller.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein each said utility appliance includes a storage element storing control routines which are transmitted to said network controller.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said correspondence includes a hierarchical organization of said utility appliances.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said hierarchical organization includes grouping utility appliances according to respective furniture units.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said hierarchical organization further includes grouping furniture units into respective work spaces.

26. The method of claim 17 further including associating particular ones of said utility appliances together for mutual operation thereof.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said associating includes providing multiple position selector switches with each of said utility appliances, wherein utility appliances having selector switches set to the same position are associated.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said work space is a workstation and said furniture units are partition panels defining said workstations.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein said communication module is a single physical assembly.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein other ones of said furniture units do not include a said utility appliance network.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein particular ones of said signalers include a portion-of-work space identification mechanism to positionally associate a plurality of said furniture units within a given work space.

53. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of furniture units include modular furniture units.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said modular furniture units include portable furniture units.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said portable furniture units include portable partition panels.

56. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of furniture units include portable furniture units.

32. A method of installing a utility distribution system in an office space, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

physically arranging said furniture units in the office space in a pattern that defines a plurality of work spaces;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting said communication modules with each other and with said network controller in a communication network with at least one signal conductor; and

identifying a physical relationship between signalers in said communication network and said pattern of furniture units in order to establish correspondence between said communication network and furniture units, wherein said identifying includes identifying the physical location of said at least one utility appliance with respect to the respective furniture unit.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said determining the physical location of each utility appliance includes providing a port for each utility appliance and providing each said port with an address associated with a physical location on the respective furniture unit.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said providing each said port with an address includes providing a cable having multiple conductors and interconnecting each said port with a different combination of conductors.

35. A method of installing a utility distribution system in an office space, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

physically arranging said furniture units in the office space in a pattern that defines a plurality of work spaces;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting said communication modules with each other and with said network controller in a communication network with at least one signal conductor; and

automatically identifying a physical relationship between signalers in said communication network and said pattern of furniture units in order to establish correspondence between said communication network and furniture units based upon information the network controller receives from said signalers.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said identifying includes transmitting a periodic message on said signal conductor.

37. The method of claim 35 further including receiving operating instruction and operating parameters from utility appliances in the communications network.

38. The method of claim 35 further including initializing said communication network after said interconnecting and reinitializing said communication network upon correction of a fault.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said plurality of furniture units are organized into work spaces including a raised floor and wherein said interconnecting includes extending said at least one signal conductor at least partially below said raised floor.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein said plurality of furniture units are organized into workstations made up at least in part of partition panels and wherein said interconnecting includes extending said at least one signal conductor between opposite lateral edges of said partition panels.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein said communication module is a single physical assembly.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein other ones of said furniture units do not include a said coupler or a said utility appliance.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein said interconnecting includes interconnecting each said communication module and said network controller in a loop.

44. The method of claim 43 including determining if the furniture unit associated with each signaler is positionally the first one of said furniture units in a work space as disposed sequentially about said communication network.

45. The method of claim 43 including checking with each communication module'"'"'s adjacent communication module to determine if said adjacent communication module is operational.

46. The method of claim 43 including transmitting a periodic message with said network controller and passing said periodic message with each signaler in order to determine breaks in said loop.

57. The method of claim 35, wherein said plurality of furniture units include modular furniture units.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said modular furniture units include portable furniture units.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said portable furniture units include portable partition panels.

60. The method of claim 35, wherein said plurality of furniture units include portable furniture units.

47. A method of installing a utility distribution system in an office space, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

physically arranging said furniture units in the office space in a pattern that defines a plurality of work spaces;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting said communication modules with each other and with said network controller in a communication network with at least one signal conductor; and

identifying a physical relationship between signalers in said communication network and said pattern of furniture units in order to establish correspondence between said communication network and furniture units, wherein particular ones of said signalers include a portion-of-work space identification mechanism to positionally associate a plurality of said furniture units within a given work space.

48. A method of installing a utility distribution system in an office space, including:

providing a plurality of furniture units, each furniture unit having a communication module including a signaler physically associated with that furniture unit, particular ones of said furniture units further including a coupler in the associated communication module connected with said signaler and at least one utility appliance connected with said coupler for distributing utilities;

physically arranging said furniture units in the office space in a pattern that defines a plurality of work spaces;

providing a network controller adapted to transmitting control signals to each said communication module and receiving control signals from the communication modules associated with said particular ones of said furniture units;

interconnecting said communication modules with each other and with said network controller in a communication network with at least one signal conductor; and

identifying a physical relationship between signalers in said communication network and said pattern of furniture units in order to establish correspondence between said communication network and furniture units, further including providing an identification module with each furniture unit to assist in identification of that furniture unit.