Computer integrated personal environment system
First Claim
1. A personal work area control system for controlling a local environment at a work space in a building, the system comprising:
- a variable flow control device which responds to a control signal by regulating air flowing through outlets at the work space;
a controller at the work space and connected to a standard computer communication network to receive data packets including operational commands for the variable flow control device, the controller being assigned a unique device address on the communication network; and
a personal computer at the work space and connected to the standard computer communication network, the personal computer being programmed to execute a user interface program that enables a worker to set a desired value for an environmental parameter setting, the user interface program configured to embed the desired value of the environmental parameter setting in a data packet along with the unique device address of the controller;
wherein the controller responds to the data packet containing the unique device address by producing the control signal which alters the flow control device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The environment of a work space is regulated by a controller connected to a computer network. A personal computer within the work space also is connected to the computer network and displays a control panel with symbols that a worker is able to alter to change environmental parameters operated by the controller. Such environmental parameters may include air flow, temperature and lighting intensity. The settings of the environmental parameters on the computer display are sent to the controller via the computer network. Air diffusers are attached to the computer display device and supplied with air regulated by the controller.
173 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A personal work area control system for controlling a local environment at a work space in a building, the system comprising:
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a variable flow control device which responds to a control signal by regulating air flowing through outlets at the work space;
a controller at the work space and connected to a standard computer communication network to receive data packets including operational commands for the variable flow control device, the controller being assigned a unique device address on the communication network; and
a personal computer at the work space and connected to the standard computer communication network, the personal computer being programmed to execute a user interface program that enables a worker to set a desired value for an environmental parameter setting, the user interface program configured to embed the desired value of the environmental parameter setting in a data packet along with the unique device address of the controller;
wherein the controller responds to the data packet containing the unique device address by producing the control signal which alters the flow control device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a local environment at a work space in a building, the method comprising:
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positioning a variable flow control device at the work space, the variable flow control device being configured to respond to a control signal by regulating air flowing through outlets at the work space;
positioning a controller at the work space, connecting the controller to a standard computer communication network to receive data packets including operational commands for the variable flow control device, and assigning a unique network device address to the controller;
positioning a personal computer at the work space and connecting the personal computer to the standard computer communication network;
executing a user interface program on the personal computer to enable a worker to set a desired value for an environmental parameter setting, the user interface program embedding the desired value of the environmental parameter setting in a data packet along with the unique device address of the controller;
transmitting the data packet onto the standard computer communication network; and
the controller responding to receipt of the data from the personal computer by producing the control signal which alters the flow control device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
connecting a building HVAC controller to the computer network; and
transmitting control data from the building HVAC controller to the controller;
wherein the controller responds to the control data by altering at least one characteristic of the work space selected from the group consisting of flow of air, lighting, temperature, and background sound level.
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19. The method of claim 12, wherein executing the user interface program includes generating a virtual control panel on a screen of the personal computer.
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20. A personal work area control system for controlling a local environment at a work space in a building, the system comprising:
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a variable flow control device which responds to a control signal by regulating air flowing through outlets at the work space;
a controller at the work space and connected to a standard computer communication network to receive data packets including operational commands for the variable flow control device; and
a personal computer at the work space and connected to the standard computer communication network, the personal computer being programmed to execute a user interface program that enables a worker to set a desired value for an environmental parameter setting, the user interface program configured to embed the desired value of the environmental parameter setting in a data packet;
wherein the controller responds to the data packet by producing the control signal which alters the flow control device.
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Specification