Monitoring occupancy of a desktop with a desktop apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178737-B2
Application number	US-201815899487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 2, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An apparatuses, methods and systems for a desktop occupancy sensing device are disclosed. One desktop apparatus includes an occupancy sensor, a mobile device charging interface, a controller, and a structure. The occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus. The controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network. The occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit, and the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A desktop apparatus, comprising:
an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus;
a mobile device charging interface;
a controller, wherein the controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and wherein the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network;
a structure, wherein the occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and
wherein the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop;
wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network;
wherein the upstream network operates to identify users that occupy one or more desktops associated with at least one of the desktop apparatus or the other desktop apparatuses;
wherein the upstream network operates to communicate with at least one of the identified users through a mobile device of the at least one identified user; and
wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occupancy sensor comprises a PIR (passive infrared sensor).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an ambient light sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the occupancy sensor comprises an RF (radio frequency) receiver, and occupancy is determined by successful communication between the RF receiver and a mobile device of an occupant.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wired or wireless network interface for interfacing the apparatus to the upstream network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device charging interface comprises a cradle adapted to receive and electrically charge a mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein controller operates to communicate with the upstream network through a building fixture, another desktop apparatus, or a wireless access point.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operative to communicate with a building fixture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the building fixture comprises a plurality of sensors, and the building fixture is further operative to sense motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the building fixture is further operative to provide environmental control based on sensed occupancy of the apparatus or the sensed motion of the building fixture.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops based on an identified group that the at least one identified user is determined to be associated with.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops based on past tracked behavior of the at least one identified user.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upstream network operates to control power associated with one or more specific desktops, or lighting associated with one or more specific desktops based on how the upstream network determined how to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.

15. A desktop apparatus, comprising:
an occupancy sensor, wherein the occupancy sensor operates to sense occupancy proximate to the desktop apparatus;
a mobile device charging interface;
a controller, wherein the controller operates to determine occupancy of a desktop based on the sensed occupation, and wherein the controller operates to communicate the determined occupancy to an upstream network;
a structure, wherein the occupancy sensor, the mobile device charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and
wherein the structure is adapted to be placed on or affixed to the desktop;
wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network; and
wherein the upstream network operates to confirm occupancy sensed by the desktop apparatus based on sensed motion of one or more of the plurality of building fixtures.

16. A method, comprising:
sensing, by an occupancy sensor of a desktop apparatus, occupancy of a desk top associated with the desktop apparatus;
receiving, by the desktop apparatus, a mobile device at a charging interface of the desktop apparatus;
communicating, by a controller of the desktop apparatus, the determined occupancy to an upstream network; wherein
the occupancy sensor, the charging interface, and an interface to the upstream network are disposed within the structure as a single unit; and
wherein the structure is adapted to be affixed to the desktop;
wherein the desktop apparatus, a plurality of building fixtures, and a plurality of other desktop apparatuses form a wireless network, and wherein the plurality of building fixtures communicate sensed information and the plurality of other desktop apparatuses also communicate a sensed occupancy to the upstream network;
wherein the upstream network operates to identify users that occupy one or more desktops associated with at least one of the desktop apparatus or the other desktop apparatuses;
wherein the upstream network operates to communicate with at least one of the identified users through a mobile device of the at least one identified user; and
wherein the upstream network operates to direct the at least one identified user to one or more specific desktops.

Assignees

• Enlighted Inc

Inventors

• Mohan Tanuj
• Duggal Satprit

Classifications

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• G01S5/16 Primary

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• G01S5/0027

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title

• H05B37/0245

  Electricity · mapped topic