Automatically changing ergonomic conditions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10838374-B2
Application number	US-201514722294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

For automatic operation of an ergonomic equipment according to dynamic workplace conditions, an activity being performed in a workplace by a person at a first time is determined based on an input from a data processing system. A group is selected corresponding to the activity. An ergonomic policy is modified to form a modified ergonomic policy. The ergonomic policy applies to the activity, and the modification is based on a condition existing in the workplace at the first time of the person performing the activity. Independent of a participation of the person, and when the person is not in compliance with the modified ergonomic policy, an ergonomic control is activated. The ergonomic control causes a change in an ergonomic feature of the ergonomic equipment, the change causing the person to become compliant with the modified ergonomic policy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automatic operation of an ergonomic equipment according to dynamic workplace conditions, the method comprising:
determining, using a processor and a memory, based on an input from a data processing system, an activity being performed in a workplace by a person at a first time;
selecting a group corresponding to the activity, the group defining a role of the person in the workplace, wherein selecting the group is based upon a length of time the person has performed the activity and historical data of the group associated with the activity;
modifying an ergonomic policy to form a modified ergonomic policy, wherein the ergonomic policy applies to the activity, and wherein the modifying is based on a condition existing in the workplace at the first time of the person performing the activity and the selected group; and
activating, independent of a participation of the person, an ergonomic control, and responsive to the person not being in compliance with the modified ergonomic policy, wherein the ergonomic control causes a change in an ergonomic feature of the ergonomic equipment, the change causing the person to become compliant with the modified ergonomic policy.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from a sensor, a sensor input;
determining, using the sensor input, a physical state of the person at the first time of performing the activity;
modifying, to form a second modified ergonomic policy, the ergonomic policy according to the physical state of the person at the first time; and

determining that the person is not in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy at the first time;
notifying the person that the person is not in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy at the first time; and
activating, independent of the participation of the person, a second ergonomic control, wherein the second ergonomic control causes a second change in an ergonomic feature of a second ergonomic equipment, the second change causing the person to become compliant with the second modified ergonomic policy at the first time.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, from a sensor, a sensor input;
determining, using the sensor input, an emotional state of the person at the first time of performing the activity;
modifying, to form a second modified ergonomic policy, the ergonomic policy according to the emotional state of the person at the first time; and determining that the person is not in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy at the first time; and
notifying the person that the person is not in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy at the first time.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the activity is being performed in the workplace by the person at a second time;
changing a second ergonomic policy to form a second modified ergonomic policy, wherein the changing is based on a second condition existing in the workplace at the second time;
activating, independent of a participation of the person, a second ergonomic control, and responsive to the person not being in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy, wherein the second ergonomic control causes a second change in an ergonomic feature of a second ergonomic equipment, the second change causing the person to become compliant with the second modified ergonomic policy.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the person is performing a second activity in the workplace at a second time;
changing a second ergonomic policy to form a second modified ergonomic policy, wherein the changing is based on a second condition existing in the workplace at the second time;
activating, independent of a participation of the person, a second ergonomic control, and responsive to the person not being in compliance with the second modified ergonomic policy, wherein the second ergonomic policy applies to the second activity, wherein the second ergonomic control causes a second change in an ergonomic feature of a second ergonomic equipment, the second change causing the person to become compliant with the second modified ergonomic policy.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the person is in compliance with the modified ergonomic policy at the first time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the group is distinct from a second group to which the person is assigned in the workplace.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the input from the data processing system, and wherein the input comprises information of a process executing in the data processing system; and

determining that the person is interacting with the process in the data processing system to perform the activity at the first time.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Arrowood Kristin M
• Foster Clyde T
• Kozhaya Joseph N
• Williams Douglas A

Classifications

• G06Q10/063114 Primary

  Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group · CPC title

• G06Q10/06398

  Performance of employee with respect to a job function · CPC title

• G05B13/024 Primary

  in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance · CPC title

• G06Q10/06312

  Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling · CPC title