Occupancy count systems and methods
Systems and methods for improved occupancy count for a space are provided. The systems and methods utilize one or more boundary sensors and one or more space sensors. The boundary sensors are utilized to determine entry and exit from the space and the space sensors are used to determine if the space is empty. If the space sensors determine that the space is empty and an active occupancy count is greater than zero, then the active occupancy count is reset to zero.
1. A sensor system comprising:
one or more boundary sensors configured to be positioned and calibrated to measure entrance into a space and exit from the space by one or more occupants, the one or more boundary sensors having a known error rate for measuring the entrance into the space and/or the exit from the space;
one or more space sensors configured to be positioned and calibrated to determine absence of occupants within the space, wherein the one or more space sensors are one or more passive motion sensors;
a processor operatively coupled to the one or more boundary sensors and the one or more space sensors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
a) autonomously maintain an active count of occupancy of the space by counting instances of entrance into the space and exit from the space by the one or more occupants;
b) in response to the active count of occupancy of the space being less than zero, adjust the active count to zero;
c) in response to the one or more space sensors providing a determination of zero occupancy of the space when the active count is greater than zero, adjust the active count to zero, wherein the determination of zero occupancy of the space is not based on a predetermined length of time; and
d) provide the active count.
2. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the space is a room or an arbitrarily-defined area or volume.
3. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the space is a conference room, a study room, a meeting room, a convention hall, or a combination thereof.
4. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more boundary sensors include an optical curtain sensor, a magnetic curtain sensor, a break-beam sensor, an infrared curtain sensor, a passive infrared sensor, a video sensor, or a combination thereof.
5. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more boundary sensors are one or more passive infrared sensors.
6. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more space sensors include an infrared sensor, a floor pressure sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor, an acoustic sensor, or a combination thereof.
7. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more space sensors are one or more passive infrared sensors.
8. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the active count in step f) is provided to a computerized scheduling program, an emergency management program, or a combination thereof.
9. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to control one or more affordances based on the active count or the method further comprises controlling one or more affordances based on the active count.
10. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to, in response to an external indicator that the space is unoccupied, adjust the active count to zero.
11. The sensor system of claim 10 , wherein the external indicator is provided by a computerized space scheduling program.
12. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more boundary sensors and the one or more space sensors are positioned and calibrated for use in the space.
13. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more boundary sensors are two or more boundary sensors, each of the two or more boundary sensors is configured to be or is positioned and calibrated within the space to monitor entrance into the space and exit from the space by the one or more occupants via different locations.
14. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein steps a), b), c), and d) are repeated to provide the active count at different times.
15. The sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the active count versus time is stored for making a recommendation for use of the space.
16. A method of maintaining an active count of users in a space, the method comprising:
a) monitoring one or more boundary sensors positioned and calibrated within the space to measure entrance into the space and exit from the space by one or more occupants, the one or more boundary sensors having a known error rate for measuring the entrance into the space and/or the exit from the space;
b) monitoring one or more space sensors positioned and calibrated to determine absence of occupants within the space, wherein the one or more space sensors are one or more passive motion sensors;
c) autonomously maintaining an active count of occupancy of the space by counting instances of entrance into the space and exit from the space by the one or more occupants;
d) in response to the active count of occupancy of the space being less than zero, adjusting the active count to zero;
e) in response to the monitoring of step b) providing a determination of zero occupancy of the space when the active count is greater than zero, adjusting the active count to zero, wherein the determination of zero occupancy of the space is not based on a predetermined length of time; and
f) providing the active count.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
a) monitor one or more boundary sensors positioned and calibrated within the space to measure entrance into the space and exit from the space by one or more occupants, the one or more boundary sensors having a known error rate for measuring the entrance into the space and/or the exit from the space;
b) monitor one or more space sensors positioned and calibrated to determine absence of occupants within the space, wherein the one or more space sensors are one or more passive motion sensors;
c) autonomously maintain an active count of occupancy of the space by counting instances of entrance into the space and exit from the space by the one or more occupants;
d) in response to the active count of occupancy of the space being less than zero, adjust the active count to zero;
e) in response to the monitoring of step b) providing a determination of zero occupancy of the space when the active count is greater than zero, adjust the active count to zero, wherein the determination of zero occupancy of the space is not based on a predetermined length of time; and
f) provide the active count.