Automated Office Device Provisioning via Mobile Context

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing office environments face challenges in efficiently managing unassigned seating and device provisioning for mobile workers using hoteling and hot desking techniques, as workers often need to configure devices upon arrival and there is a lack of convenient methods for affiliation and disaffiliation of devices.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for convenient affiliation and disaffiliation of office communication devices using a mobile device, which detects nearby eligible devices, performs authentication and authorization, and provisions them automatically, allowing users to easily check in and out of workspaces by selecting a 'disaffiliate' option or through location-based monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If workers manually configure devices upon arrival at workspace, then device personalization and secure access are achieved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure accessVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-provisioning devices with worker profiles and credentials before the worker arrives at the workspace. When a worker checks in, the device is already configured and ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for manual configuration upon arrival.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automated device provisioning and configuration. Workers can check in and out of workspaces independently, and the system automatically handles device affiliation, credential distribution, and de-provisioning without requiring manual intervention from IT staff or the workers themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If workers manually configure devices upon arrival at workspace, then device personalization is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice personalizationVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If automated device provisioning is implemented, then time consumption and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and security management increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary component that manages the complexity of automated provisioning and security. This intermediary layer handles device discovery, authentication, credential distribution, and de-provisioning, shielding workers from the underlying complexity while maintaining security controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If workers use unassigned seating with manual device configuration, then workspace flexibility is achieved, but productivity decreases due to configuration time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkspace flexibilityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10477396B2Affiliation and disaffiliation of computing devices

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

Techniques described herein may provide for affiliation and disaffiliation of devices, such as office communication devices, associated with a user. The affiliation/disaffiliation may be performed using a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone). In one implementation, a method may include receiving a request to affiliate a user with one or more office devices; and receiving context data, from a mobile device, relating to a current context of the mobile device. The method may further include determining, based on the context data, to authorize the affiliation of the user with the one or more office devices; and provisioning, based on the determination to authorize the affiliation, the one or more office devices to customize the one or more office devices for the user.