System and method for supporting a worker in a distributed work environment

• US 6,359,711 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datalogic Corporation, Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schanhals, Jeffrey Alan, Cole, Stephen Michael, Vallillee, George William IV
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/082,022
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 359/118, 359/142, 359/144, 359/152, 359/159, 379/93.03, 707/1, 707/9, 707/10, 709/217, 709/219, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.8, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 398/58
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A distributed work environment is presented in which a plurality of mobile workers using portable computing devices can gain access to a network via network access stations installed within the work environment. Each network access station is associated with a physical location within the work environment and includes a unique station identifier that may be associated with the physical location. Upon connection to the network, the unique station identifier is provided to a location/association system on the network. Based on the unique station identifier, the location/association system may provide the worker associated with the computing device access to privileges and services associated with the physical location. The computing device may also provide to the location/association system a unique device identifier associated with the computing device and/or the worker'"'"'s identity. Based on the unique device identifier, the location/association system may provide additional privileges and services in accordance with the worker'"'"'s specified preferences.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a worker using a computing device in a distributed work environment, the distributed work environment including a plurality of physical locations and a plurality of network access stations associated with the plurality of physical locations, the network access stations being in communication with a network such that the computing device is connectable to the network via one of the network access stations, the method comprising:

establishing a network connection between the computing device and the network via one of the plurality of network access stations;

communicating to the network a unique station identifier associated with the network access station;

determining the physical location of the worker associated with the computing device based on the unique station identifier; and

providing the worker associated with the computing device with privileges associated with the physical location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising communicating to the network a unique device identifier associated with the computing device, wherein the provided privileges are further based on the unique device identifier.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the unique device identifier includes data representative of an identity of the worker associated with the computing device, and the provided privileges are further based on the identity.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining an identity of the worker associated with the computing device; and

providing the worker with privileges associated with the identity.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the worker with privileges associated with the physical location includes providing the worker with telephony services at the physical location.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein providing the worker with privileges associated with the identity of the worker includes providing the worker with privileges according to preferences indicated by the worker.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein providing the worker with privileges associated with the identity of the worker includes associating the worker with telephony services according to preferences indicated by the worker.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein providing the worker with privileges associated with the physical location includes associating the worker with telephony services at the physical location.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein providing the worker with privileges associated with the physical location includes enabling network services including access to network devices within the distributed work environment.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying privileges and/or preferences associated with the identity of the worker.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing the network connection includes establishing an infrared data link between the computing device and the network access station.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one connection between the computing device and the network is a wireless connection.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the wireless connection is an infrared connection.

14. A method of providing a worker using a computing device with privileges and services associated with a physical location in a distributed work environment, the physical location having a network access station associated therewith to provide a network connection between the computing device and a network, the method comprising:

establishing a network connection between the computing device and the network;

providing to the network a unique device identifier associated with the computing device and a unique station identifier associated with the network access station;

searching a database to determine whether the unique device identifier is registered in the database;

if the unique device identifier is registered, associating the computing device with the unique station identifier;

if the unique device identifier is not registered, registering the unique device identifier and associating the computing device with the unique station identifier; and

providing the worker with privileges and services available over the network and/or other systems based on the association between the unique device identifier and the unique station identifier.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the unique device identifier includes data representative of an identity of the worker associated with the computing device and the provided privileges and services are further based on the identity.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the provided privileges and services are provided in accordance with preferences associated with the identity of the worker.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the preferences include environmental system settings.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein providing the worker with privileges and services includes routing telephone calls intended for the worker to a selected telephone set and/or directly to the computing device.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein providing the worker with privileges and services includes enabling the worker to control environmental systems including lighting, HVAC and appliance settings associated with the physical location.

20. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the network connection is a wireless connection.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 wherein the wireless connection is an infrared connection.

22. A data communications system for supporting a worker using a computing device in a distributed work environment with a plurality of physical locations having a plurality of network access stations connected to a network so that the computing device is connectable to the network at a network access station associated with a physical location within the work environment which comprises:

means for providing to the network a network physical address associated with the network access station;

means for determining an identity of the worker associated with the computing device;

means for determining the physical location of the worker associated with the computing device;

means for providing the worker associated with the computing device with privileges and services associated with the physical location; and

means for providing the worker associated with the computing device with privileges and services associated with the identity of the worker.

23. The data communications system as recited in claim 22, further comprising means for modifying the privileges and services associated with the physical location of the network physical address.

24. The data communications system as recited in claim 22, further comprising means for modifying the privileges and services associated with the identity of the worker.

25. The data communications system as recited in claim 22, further comprising a re-configurable database for maintaining the privileges and services associated with the physical location and the privileges and services associated with the identity of the worker.

26. The data communications system as recited in claim 22 wherein the computing device is connectable to the network by wireless data communications.

27. The data communications system as recited in claim 26 wherein the wireless data communications include infrared data communications.

28. In a data communications system for supporting a worker using a computing device in a distributed work environment having a plurality of physical locations having a plurality of network access stations connected to a network so that the computing device is connectable to the network at a network access station associated with a physical location within the work environment, an improvement comprising each network access station having a unique network physical address associated with a physical location within the work environment so that, when the computing device is connected to the network, the network physical address is provided to a network database and the worker is provided access to privileges and services associated with the physical location.

29. In the data communications system of claim 28, the improvement further comprising an article of furniture, wherein at least a portion of the network access station is attached to the article of furniture.

30. In the data communications system of claim 28, the improvement further comprising the computing device having a port and the network access station having a transceiver so that a data link that is established between the port of the computing device and the transceiver of the network access station.

31. In the data communications system of claim 28, the improvement further comprising the network database including a registry of services available at the physical location associated with the network access station and of preferences associated with the worker.

32. The data communications system as recited in claim 28 wherein the computing device is connectable to the network by a wireless connection.

33. The data communications system as recited in claim 32 wherein the wireless network connection includes an infrared connection.

34. An infrared communications system for supporting a worker having an identity at a computing device in a distributed work environment with a plurality of physical locations having a plurality of network access stations connected over an infrared data link to a network so that the computing device is connectable to the network at a network access station associated with a physical location within the work environment, which comprises:

a location/association system coupled to the network and configured to initiate an association process when the computing device is connected to the network at a network access station and to establish privileges and services for the worker upon completion of the association process;

a physical location database managed by the location/association system and provided with available services associated with the physical location of each network access station according to a unique network physical address associated with the network access station;

a worker preference database managed by the location/association system and provided with privileges and preferences associated with the identity of worker;

so that when the computing device of the worker is connected to the network at the network access station at the physical location the worker is provided with privileges and services according to the physical location and/or the identity of the worker and with preferences according to the identity of the worker.

35. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 34, Wherein at least one of the plurality of network access stations is associated with an article of furniture.

36. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 35, wherein the article of furniture provides a worksurface and the computing device is a portable computer placed on the worksurface.

37. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 34, wherein the available privileges and services at the physical location include telephony services and access to network devices.

38. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 34, wherein the available privileges and services at the physical location include environmental control including lighting, HVAC and appliance settings.

39. The infrared data communication system as recited in claim 34, wherein the privileges and services of the worker include telephony and network computing privileges and services.

40. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 39, wherein the telephony privileges and services include the routing of telephone calls to the nearest telephone set and/or directly to the computing device.

41. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 39, wherein the network computing privileges and services include electronic mail, peripheral connections, application programs and database access through the computing device.

42. The infrared data communications system as recited in claim 34, wherein each of the plurality of network access stations is configured to be installed within an article of furniture.

43. The infrared data communications systems as recited in claim 34, further comprising a reconfigurable database for maintaining the privileges and services associated with the physical location and the privileges and services associated with the identity of the worker.