Dynamic Workspace Planning Using Facial Recognition and Hardware Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dynamic seating systems lack real-time, automated features for managing workspaces, leading to inefficiencies in seating reservation and management, particularly in scenarios where employees need to find available spaces across multiple facilities.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses facial recognition and data from hardware interactions to track employee identities and workspace locations, generating real-time seating charts and reservation advice based on user preferences, arrival times, and facility capacity, allowing for smart seating decisions and reservations through mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If dynamic seating programs are implemented to reduce facility costs, then cost reduction is achieved, but employees face difficulty in finding available workspaces when facilities fill up
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors facility occupancy through multiple data sources (camera feeds, access control logs, hardware device interactions) and provides real-time feedback to employees via mobile devices about workspace availability, enabling informed decisions about whether to travel to the facility or seek alternative arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
Employees use their personal mobile devices to access real-time facility status information and make self-service decisions about workspace availability, eliminating the need for manual checking or administrative intervention in the decision-making process
2Extent of automation
If existing kiosks and on-site space management tools are used, then some workspace management capability is provided, but the system lacks real-time automated features and cannot provide targeted seating advice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (physical kiosk interactions, manual seat maps) with automated electronic systems that use camera feeds, access control data, mobile device communications, and processing algorithms to automatically track and report workspace availability in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates continuously to monitor facility occupancy and update workspace availability information without interruption, ensuring employees always have access to current status data rather than relying on static or periodically updated information
3Loss of time
If employees travel to work facilities without knowing workspace availability in advance, then employees arrive at the facility, but they waste time and expense traveling to find available workspaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides employees with real-time information about workspace availability before they arrive at the facility, enabling them to make preliminary decisions about whether to travel to the facility or seek alternative arrangements, thereby avoiding unnecessary travel
Solution Approach 2:
Mobile devices serve as intermediaries between employees and the facility management system, delivering real-time workspace availability information and enabling reservation requests without requiring employees to physically visit the facility or interact with on-site kiosks
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables employees to make informed decisions about workspace availability and reservations, reducing time and expense by providing up-to-date information and ensuring reserved spaces align with individual preferences, thereby optimizing workspace utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The server computing device extracts digitized facial features of the people appearing in the images and comparing the facial features to a database of facial images to identify the people appearing in the images
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are described for dynamic seating and workspace planning. A server computing device determines an identity and a workspace location of people within a facility by analyzing digital images from cameras at the facility and data elements of interactions with hardware devices at the facility. The server computing device determines the workspace location for each person within the facility using (i) a physical location associated with a digital image in which the person appears and (ii) a physical location associated with at least one of the hardware devices being used by the person. The server computing device generates a workspace reservation chart indicating a portion of workspace locations currently being used and a portion of workspace locations reserved for future use. The server computing device provides advice to remove computing devices regarding available workspace locations at the facility.