Granted Patent B1

US 12,213,191 · App. 18/594,692 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Inventors: Darrin Sculley (Byron Center, MI); Bo Anderson (Byron Center, MI); Rachel Anne Neiman (Grand Rapids, MI); Brandon Buckingham (Middleville, MI)

Assignee: Steelcase Inc.

H04W76/11A47B83/001A47C7/00A47C7/72A47C7/723A47C7/727A47C31/12G06F3/0484G06F16/2457H04L9/3231H04L67/12H04W4/021H04W4/30H04B1/3827

Abstract

Claims (47)

1. A method for commissioning a user support system for use within a workspace wherein at least a first sensor is located within the workspace for sensing a value of at least a first parameter associated with the user while located within the workspace, the method comprising the steps of:

during a commissioning procedure:

(i) instructing the user to assume a series of positions within the workspace;

(ii) for each position assumed by the user:

(a) sensing the value of the at least a first parameter;

(b) correlating the at least a first parameter value with the user's position and storing the correlated value and position within a memory device;

during normal operation subsequent to the commissioning procedure:

(i) sensing the value of the at least a first parameter;

(ii) using the sensed value of the at least a first parameter to determine a current position of the user; and

(iii) performing at least one process based at least in part on the current position of the user at the workspace.

2. The method of claim 1 for use with a plurality of sensors located within the workspace, each sensor for sensing a value of an associated parameter of the user while located within the workspace, the step of, during commissioning procedure, sensing the value of the at least a first parameter, including sensing the values of each of the parameters associated with the plurality of sensors, the steps of correlating and storing including correlating all of the parameter values with the user's position and storing the parameter vales and position in the memory device, the step of, during normal operation, sensing the value of the at least a first parameter, including sensing the values of each of the parameters associated with the plurality of sensors, and the step of using the sensed value of the at least a first parameter including using the values of all the sensed parameters to determine a current position of the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a chair is located within the workspace and wherein at least a subset of the plurality of sensors is integrated into the chair.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least a subset of the sensors integrated into the chair include pressure sensors.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of instructing the user to assume a plurality of positions within the workspace includes instructing the user to assume at least a first good posture position.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of instructing the user to assume a plurality of positions within the workspace includes instructing the user to assume at least a second perched posture position wherein the user's weight is applied on a front edge of a seat of the chair.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein at least some pressure sensors are located within a chair seat and others are located within a front surface of a chair backrest.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of, during normal operation, receiving an indication from the user that the user has experienced a flow state while within the workspace and, in response to the indication, assessing at least one sensed parameter value prior to receiving the indication and storing the sensed parameter value prior to receiving the indication in the memory device as a characteristic of the user's flow state.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of assessing at least one sensed parameter value prior includes assessing the parameter value over a period of time prior to receiving the indication.

10. The method of claim 1 for use with an interface device, the method further including receiving a request from the user to initiate the commissioning procedure, the interface device including an output device, the step of instructing including instructing the user to assume good posture via the output device and then to assume other postures in a sequence of different postures.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory device is integrated into an affordance located within the workspace.

12. The method of claim 1 also for use with a portable computing device used by the user, the portable computing device including the memory device.

13. The method of claim 12 for use with a plurality of different workspaces, each workspace including an instance of the at least a first sensor, the method further including, subsequent to the commissioning procedure, detecting presence of the portable computing device within one of the workspaces and performing the normal operation with configured values for the parameters within the one of the workspaces.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the portable computing device includes an interface, the step of instructing the user including presenting instructions to the user via the interface.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step performing at least one process based at least in part on the current position of the user at the workspace includes encouraging the user to assume a different posture within the workspace.

16. The method of claim 1 for use with at least one affordance at the workstation wherein the affordance has at least one controllable characteristic, the step of performing at least one process based at least in part on the current position of the user at the workspace includes automatically controlling the at least one controllable characteristic.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the affordance includes a task chair that includes the at least a first sensor and at least a first actuator, the step of automatically controlling the at least one controllable characteristic including controlling the at least a first actuator to change a position of a task chair component.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of changing a position of a task chair component includes changing the position of a backrest component or a seat component.

19. A method for commissioning a task chair for use within a workspace wherein the task chair includes a plurality of sensors integrated into other task chair components, each sensor sensing applied pressure at an associated location of the task chair, the method comprising the steps of:

during a commissioning procedure:

(i) instructing the user to assume a series of postures while supported by the task chair;

(ii) for each posture assumed by the user:

(a) receiving the sensed pressure values generated by at least a subset of the pressure sensors;

(b) correlating the sensed pressure values with the user's posture and storing the correlated value and posture within a memory device;

during normal operation subsequent to the commissioning procedure:

(i) receiving the sensed pressure values generated by at least a subset of the pressure sensors;

(ii) using the sensed pressure values to determine a current posture of the user; and

(iii) performing at least one process based at least in part on the current posture of the user.

20. A method for commissioning a task chair for use within a workspace wherein the task chair includes a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators integrated into other task chair components, each sensor sensing applied pressure at an associated location of the task chair, each actuator controllable to change the relative position of at least one associated chair component with respect to another chair component, the method comprising the steps of:

during a commissioning procedure:

(i) instructing the user to assume a series of postures while supported by the task chair;

(ii) for each posture assumed by the user:

(a) receiving the sensed pressure values generated by at least a subset of the pressure sensors;

(b) correlating the sensed pressure values with the user's posture and storing the correlated value and posture within a memory device;

during normal operation subsequent to the commissioning procedure:

(i) receiving the sensed pressure values generated by at least a subset of the pressure sensors;

(ii) using the sensed pressure values to determine a current posture of the user; and

(iii) controlling a subset of the actuators to change positions of chair components based at least in part on the current and recent postures of the user.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (400)

Cited By (2)

US 1,143,744 US 12,345,577