Automated Work Station Availability Detection via Network Port Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hot desking and hoteling arrangements in enterprises are manually intensive, requiring users to check in and check out from work stations, leading to confusion and inaccurate availability information.
Innovation Solution
An information processing system that automatically determines the availability status of work stations by monitoring network ports and other IT resources, providing timely and accurate availability indicators to users without the need for manual check-in or check-out processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual check-in and check-out processes are implemented for work station reservations, then work station availability can be tracked, but user involvement increases and confusion arises regarding availability accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors work station availability through sensors and computing devices without requiring user action. The work stations self-report their status to the server, which updates availability information in real-time, eliminating the need for manual check-in/check-out while maintaining accurate availability tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of users physically checking in and checking out at work stations is replaced with an automated electronic monitoring system. Sensors detect the presence or absence of computing devices at work stations, and this data is automatically transmitted to update availability status, substituting human action with automated detection and communication systems.
2Loss of information
If users are required to manually check in and check out at reserved work stations, then reservation tracking is possible, but system complexity and manual intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor work station status and communicate this information to the server. The server processes this feedback and updates availability information in real-time, creating a self-regulating system that tracks usage without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated server acts as an intermediary between work stations and users. The server receives status information from sensors at work stations, processes this data, and provides updated availability information to users through the user interface, eliminating the need for direct user interaction with the check-in/check-out process.
3Loss of time
If conventional manual hot desking arrangements are used, then work station reservations can be made, but timely and accurate availability indicators cannot be provided to users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and pre-updating work station availability status before users need this information. Sensors detect changes in work station status and the server proactively updates availability information, so when users query the system, current accurate information is immediately available without requiring manual updates or searches.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device of an information processing system is configured to automatically determine availability status for multiple work stations of an enterprise by monitoring information technology resources associated with respective ones of the work stations. The processing device is further configured to generate availability indicators for the respective work stations based on the determined availability status, and to provide the availability indicators for presentation to one or more users. For example, the processing device may be configured to automatically determine availability status of the work stations by monitoring network ports associated with respective ones of the work stations, with a given one of the work stations being considered unavailable if the corresponding network port is in use and otherwise being considered available. The processing device may deliver the availability indicators to a client application running on a user device in order to facilitate user selection of an available work station.