Patent Application
20240057761
The disclosure below relates to technically inventive, non-routine solutions that are necessarily rooted in computer technology and that produce concrete technical improvements. In particular, the disclosure below relates to techniques for alternation of an electronic desk's height based on user context and other triggers.
As recognized herein, most desks of adjustable height take far too long to adjust their height, frustrating the user who is present. This also leads to delays and disruptions in being able to use the desk. There are currently no adequate solutions to the foregoing technological problem.
Accordingly, in one aspect a device includes at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to identify a context associated with a user and to alter a height of an electronic desk based on the context.
In one example implementation, the context may be identified based on input from a camera. So, for example, the instructions may be executable to determine that the user is not proximate to the electronic desk based on the input from the camera and to alter the height of the electronic desk based on the determination.
Also in an example implementation, the context may be identified based on input from at least one motion sensor such as an accelerometer and/or gyroscope. The context may also be identified based on input from a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver, based on data in an electronic calendar associated with the user, based on a current time of day, and/or based on the absence of the user within a proximity to the desk.
As still another example, the device may be a first device, and the context may be identified based on communication a second device different from the first device. The second device may be a network-enabled chair and/or an electronic home appliance. Additionally or alternatively, the second device may be located in a first location different from a second location at which the electronic desk is located, and the context may be identified based on user interaction with the second device.
Still further, in certain example embodiments the context may be related to the user engaging or not engaging in physical exercise. Here the instructions may be executable to lower the height of the electronic desk based on the user engaging in physical exercise, and to raise the height of the electronic desk based on the user not engaging in physical exercise.
Also in some examples, the device may include the electronic desk itself.
In another aspect, a method includes identifying a context associated with a user and altering a height of an electronic desk based on the context.
In one example implementation, the method may include altering the height of the electronic desk a threshold time before the context is identified to occur.
Also in an example implementation, the context may be identified using human presence detection and input from a time-of-flight sensor.
In still another aspect, at least one computer readable storage medium (CRSM) that is not a transitory signal includes instructions executable by at least one processor to identify a trigger for autonomously altering a height of an electronic desk and to alter the height of the electronic desk based on the trigger.
In certain example embodiments, the trigger may include a user switching chairs used to sit at the electronic desk, and/or the user changing a height of a chair used to sit at the electronic desk.
The details of present principles, both as to their structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Among other things, the detailed description below discusses an IoT smart desk that can raise and lower itself at times when the user will not have to wait for the height change to be performed. In various examples, a laptop computer, desktop computer, smartphone, stationary camera, or other device may communicate with the desk to provide information as to when the user steps away from the desk. This may allow the desk to move at a time least disruptive to the user. Sensors that may be used to accomplish this may include camera to detect when the user steps away, a wearable device that knows the user is walking, GPS transceivers for location tracking, accelerometers and gyroscopes, etc. Additionally, other IoT devices may also be leveraged to know when the user is interacting with them (e.g., a smart coffee maker, a digital assistant in another room, etc.).
What's more, desk up and down time may be analyzed for standing or sitting too long, respectively. Too long may be a default value set by the end-user, a system admin, the desk's manufacturer, a healthcare professional, etc. The desk may therefore toggle heights at the next opportunity (e.g., when the user steps away). The user may also configure specific contexts and/or desired time ranges for the desk to change height based on their daily habits and activities of going to and from the desk.
For example, the desk may be raised or lower in various contexts/scenarios including but not limited to the user stepping away for a restroom break or to get the mail, the user leaving for a lunchtime meal, snack, or coffee, or even based on a chair-height correlation. E.g., if the user sets a chair up or down, the desk height may be adjusted accordingly to maintain the same user head height/position, chair seat back height, or seat bottom height relative to the top of the desk itself. As another example, if the user switches chairs, the desk height may be adjusted accordingly to maintain the same relative height (e.g., the chair may be a smart chair that can communicate its current height setting, or camera input may be used to determine the current chair height). Thus, multiple desk heights may be configured for variable-height chairs or even multiple chairs.
As other examples, the user may configure the desk to change heights between meetings (e.g., as indicated in an electronic calendar), responsive to the user ending a telephone call or video conference at another device, or responsive to conclusion of another event, whether the user is currently proximate to the desk or not. The user may also configure the desk to change heights during a meeting such as a video conference when the user is muted for at least a threshold amount of time (from streaming audible input to others), and/or when the user is not participating (and not muted), or even when another person walks up to talk to the user in person proximate to the desk. Still other activities may be specified by the user for triggering desk height alteration. For instance, another example context that may be selected is the device identifying that the user is about to leave the desk's proximity or begin a meeting, as may be identified from audible input from a microphone and execution of natural language understanding to identify the context of the user leaving or beginning a meeting from the user's speech.
Accordingly, present principles may be applied to desk-up and desk-down movement and need not be limited to two alternate desk heights (e.g., the desk may change between three or more discrete desk heights). Furthermore, in some examples, prior to desk movement, a notification for the user to cancel an upcoming desk height change may be displayed.
Other smart or IoT devices may be configured in sync with the desk (e.g., to sync with the current desk height). For example, if the user changes their audio setup between stand-alone speakers and headphones, which of those two devices presents audio could be changed when the desk position changes.
Accordingly, the device may determine when a desk height change is most opportune and then modify the desk's height at the opportune time based on user context/activity/presence.
What's more, in some examples the device that changes desk height may also configure still other IoT devices to whatever desk height to which the desk is being switched.
Prior to delving further into the details of the instant techniques, note with respect to any computer systems discussed herein that a system may include server and client components, connected over a network such that data may be exchanged between the client and server components. The client components may include one or more computing devices including televisions (e.g., smart TVs, Internet-enabled TVs), computers such as desktops, laptops and tablet computers, so-called convertible devices (e.g., having a tablet configuration and laptop configuration), and other mobile devices including smart phones. These client devices may employ, as non-limiting examples, operating systems from Apple Inc. of Cupertino CA, Google Inc. of Mountain View, CA, or Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, WA. A Unix® or similar such as Linux® operating system may be used. These operating systems can execute one or more browsers such as a browser made by Microsoft or Google or Mozilla or another browser program that can access web pages and applications hosted by Internet servers over a network such as the Internet, a local intranet, or a virtual private network.
As used herein, instructions refer to computer-implemented steps for processing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware, or combinations thereof and include any type of programmed step undertaken by components of the system; hence, illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are sometimes set forth in terms of their functionality.
A processor may be any single- or multi-chip processor that can execute logic by means of various lines such as address lines, data lines, and control lines and registers and shift registers. Moreover, any logical blocks, modules, and circuits described herein can be implemented or performed with a system processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can also be implemented by a controller or state machine or a combination of computing devices. Thus, the methods herein may be implemented as software instructions executed by a processor, suitably configured application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA) modules, or any other convenient manner as would be appreciated by those skilled in those art. Where employed, the software instructions may also be embodied in a non-transitory device that is being vended and/or provided that is not a transitory, propagating signal and/or a signal per se (such as a hard disk drive, solid state drive, CD ROM or Flash drive). The software code instructions may also be downloaded over the Internet. Accordingly, it is to be understood that although a software application for undertaking present principles may be vended with a device such as the system 100 described below, such an application may also be downloaded from a server to a device over a network such as the Internet.
Software modules and/or applications described by way of flow charts and/or user interfaces herein can include various sub-routines, procedures, etc. Without limiting the disclosure, logic stated to be executed by a particular module can be redistributed to other software modules and/or combined together in a single module and/or made available in a shareable library. Also, the user interfaces (UI)/graphical Uls described herein may be consolidated and/or expanded, and UI elements may be mixed and matched between Uls.
Logic when implemented in software, can be written in an appropriate language such as but not limited to hypertext markup language (HTML)-5, Java®/JavaScript, C# or C++, and can be stored on or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive or solid state drive, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage such as digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices including removable thumb drives, etc.
In an example, a processor can access information over its input lines from data storage, such as the computer readable storage medium, and/or the processor can access information wirelessly from an Internet server by activating a wireless transceiver to send and receive data. Data typically is converted from analog signals to digital by circuitry between the antenna and the registers of the processor when being received and from digital to analog when being transmitted. The processor then processes the data through its shift registers to output calculated data on output lines, for presentation of the calculated data on the device.
Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.
“A system having at least one of A, B, and C” (likewise “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” and “a system having at least one of A, B, C”) includes systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.
The term “circuit” or “circuitry” may be used in the summary, description, and/or claims. As is well known in the art, the term “circuitry” includes all levels of available integration, e.g., from discrete logic circuits to the highest level of circuit integration such as VLSI, and includes programmable logic components programmed to perform the functions of an embodiment as well as general-purpose or special-purpose processors programmed with instructions to perform those functions.
Now specifically in reference to
As shown in
In the example of
The core and memory control group 120 include one or more processors 122 (e.g., single core or multi-core, etc.) and a memory controller hub 126 that exchange information via a front side bus (FSB) 124. As described herein, various components of the core and memory control group 120 may be integrated onto a single processor die, for example, to make a chip that supplants the “northbridge” style architecture.
The memory controller hub 126 interfaces with memory 140. For example, the memory controller hub 126 may provide support for DDR SDRAM memory (e.g., DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.). In general, the memory 140 is a type of random-access memory (RAM). It is often referred to as “system memory.”
The memory controller hub 126 can further include a low-voltage differential signaling interface (LVDS) 132. The LVDS 132 may be a so-called LVDS Display Interface (LDI) for support of a display device 192 (e.g., a CRT, a flat panel, a projector, a touch-enabled light emitting diode (LED) display or other video display, etc.). A block 138 includes some examples of technologies that may be supported via the LVDS interface 132 (e.g., serial digital video, HDMI/DVI, display port). The memory controller hub 126 also includes one or more PCI-express interfaces (PCI-E) 134, for example, for support of discrete graphics 136. Discrete graphics using a PCI-E interface has become an alternative approach to an accelerated graphics port (AGP). For example, the memory controller hub 126 may include a 16-lane (x16) PCI-E port for an external PCI-E-based graphics card (including, e.g., one of more GPUs). An example system may include AGP or PCI-E for support of graphics.
In examples in which it is used, the I/O hub controller 150 can include a variety of interfaces. The example of
The interfaces of the I/O hub controller 150 may provide for communication with various devices, networks, etc. For example, where used, the SATA interface 151 provides for reading, writing or reading and writing information on one or more drives 180 such as HDDs, SDDs or a combination thereof, but in any case the drives 180 are understood to be, e.g., tangible computer readable storage mediums that are not transitory, propagating signals. The I/O hub controller 150 may also include an advanced host controller interface (AHCI) to support one or more drives 180. The PCI-E interface 152 allows for wireless connections 182 to devices, networks, etc. The USB interface 153 provides for input devices 184 such as keyboards (KB), mice and various other devices (e.g., cameras, phones, storage, media players, etc.).
In the example of
The system 100, upon power on, may be configured to execute boot code 190 for the BIOS 168, as stored within the SPI Flash 166, and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more operating systems and application software (e.g., stored in system memory 140). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions of the BIOS 168.
As also shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the sensors 191 may include an audio receiver/microphone that provides input from the microphone to the processor 122 based on audio that is detected, such as via a user providing audible input to the microphone. The sensors 191 may also include a camera that gathers one or more images and provides the images and related input to the processor 122. The camera may be a thermal imaging camera, an infrared (IR) camera, a digital camera such as a webcam, a three-dimensional (3D) camera, and/or a camera otherwise integrated into the system 100 and controllable by the processor 122 to gather still images and/or video.
Still further, the sensors 191 may include a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver that is configured to communicate with satellites to receive/identify geographic position information and provide the geographic position information to the processor 122. However, it is to be understood that another suitable position receiver other than a GPS receiver may be used in accordance with present principles to determine the location of the system 100.
Other types of sensors consistent with present principles may also be included as one of the sensors 191.
It is to be understood that an example client device or other machine/computer may include fewer or more features than shown on the system 100 of
Turning now to
Now in reference to
As also shown, the user might be wearing a wearable, network-enabled smart device such as a smart watch 348 that, among other things, may have its own camera, GPS transceiver, and motion sensors that may be used consistent with present principles. For example, those sensors may be used to respectively determine presence of the user 340 when proximate to the device 348, determine the location of the device 348 from which the location of the user 340 may be inferred, and determine movements of the user from which to infer physical exercise or even the lack thereof).
Accordingly, consistent with present principles, the devices 344, 346, and 348 may communicate with the computer 304 (or other device controlling the desk 300, such as the laptop 310) responsive to receipt of commands at those devices from the user 340 and/or responsive to other local interaction with the devices 344, 346, and 348. This in turn may be used by the computer controlling the desk 300 as a trigger to change the height of the desk 300 itself since the user not being present at the location 302 is an opportune time to do so.
Continuing the detailed description in reference to
Beginning at block 400, the device may monitor various inputs and/or data, such as camera input, motion sensor input, input from a GPS transceiver or other position receiver, calendar data related to events in an electronic calendar to which the device has access, and other inputs and data that may be used for triggering a height change of an electronic desk consistent with present principles. From block 400 the logic may then proceed to decision diamond 402.
At diamond 402 the device may determine, based on the inputs and data received/monitored at block 400, whether a context or other trigger has been identified for which to alter the height of the electronic desk. For example, at diamond 402 the device may determine whether a context associated with a particular user has been identified. A negative determination may cause the logic to proceed back to block 400, while an affirmative determination may cause the logic to proceed to block 404 where the device may autonomously control the electronic desk to alter its height (e.g., alternate between a lower height and a higher height at regular time intervals).
For example, the device may receive input from a camera such as one of the cameras described above in reference to
Also note that a rangefinder like the rangefinder 316 may also be used to determine that the user is not proximate to the electronic desk (e.g., within the predefined 3D area) using a time-of-flight algorithm or other human presence detection to in turn alter the height of the electronic desk. Additionally or alternatively, input from a GPS transceiver on a wearable device or smartphone associated with a user may be received so the device of
As another example, the context may be identified based on input from at least one motion sensor, such as an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope on smartphone on the user's person or a wearable device being worn by the user (e.g., the device 348), with the input being transmitted to the device executing the logic of
Additionally or alternatively, an activity detection algorithm and/or pattern recognition algorithm may be executed using the motion sensor input to determine whether the user is engaging in physical exercise such as jogging at more than a threshold speed or swinging a tennis racket in a predefined motion. In this specific example, if the user is determined to be engaging in physical exercise, then at block 404 the device may lower the height of the electronic desk so the user may sit at the desk, thus providing the user with some physical relief upon returning to the desk from physical exercise to minimizing any potential future leg or foot pain. Or if the user is determined to not be engaging in physical exercise, then at block 404 the device may raise the height of the electronic desk to provide the user an alternate physical disposition (standing) to minimize the effects of sitting too long, facilitate increased user productivity, allow the user to burn more calories than when sitting, and have relatively less back pain from sitting too long. Also note here that in some particular cases, the device may alter the height of the desk if the physical exercise (or lack thereof) is determined to occur within a threshold amount of time of a current time of day, and then alter the height of the desk if so (and decline to alter the height of the desk if outside the threshold amount of time).
Providing yet another example, the context may be identified based on data in an electronic calendar associated with the user. For example, the data may be a calendar event, and natural language understanding may be executed using text included in the calendar event to determine whether the calendar event indicates the user being at a location different from the location of the desk at a current time of day that is included in the time frame encompassed by the calendar entry. If the user is determined based on the calendar data to be at a different location, the device may then alter the height of the desk. Or as another example using multiple contexts, the calendar event may be parsed to determine that the user is both at a different location and engaging in physical exercise to then determine based on these two things that the desk height should be lowered for when the user comes back to the desk.
Providing still other examples, again note that the device of
Still in reference to
A certain configuration of a single device may even be changed at block 406 so that, for example, after learning that the user likes their smart window blinds open while the desk is at the higher of two heights and likes the blinds closed while the desk it at the lower of the two heights, the device may configure the blinds accordingly in the future to match the user's learned preferences for whatever height the desk has been placed in. As another example, after learning that the user likes a first brightness output level of five for the display of their laptop while the desk is at the higher height and likes a brightness output level of two while the desk it at the lower of the two heights, the device may configure the brightness output level accordingly in the future to match the user's learned preferences for whatever height the desk has been placed in. As yet another example, the device may control an electronic chair to electronically raise or lower the height of the chair itself so that the same relative height may be maintained between the chair and desk top before and after the desk height alteration.
Now in reference to
As shown in
The GUI 500 may also include a setting 504 at which a threshold amount of time before or after a trigger is identified as occurring may be set. The user may set the threshold amount of time by providing numerical input to input box 506 to establish the threshold as a certain number of minutes or other time increment. Thus, the device may move forward or delay an alteration of desk height by no more than the threshold amount of time from when the corresponding trigger is identified/begins. Providing an example, if the desk is configured to alternate between two or three different heights in sequence at a regular time interval, but the user is determined to still be proximate to the desk at the end of a given time interval, the device may wait up until the threshold amount of time to perform the height alteration when the user is next determined to not be proximate to the desk. Or if desk height is to change both before an upcoming phone call indicated on the user's electronic calendar and while the user is not proximate to the desk, but the user is currently proximate to the desk, the device may wait up until the threshold amount of time to perform the height alteration when the user is next determined to not be proximate to the desk (to thus still make the height alteration before the call but while the user is not present).
Still in reference to
Still further, the GUI 500 may include a setting 512 that may be selectable to command the device to present another GUI at which one or more specific times or time ranges may be set for alternating desk height between various heights (e.g., at regular or specified intervals during weekday business hours but not weekend hours and weekday hours after 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). A selector 514 may also be presented as part of the GUI 500 and may be selectable to present another GUI at which identifying information may be provided by the user to link the user's electronic calendar to the device for access to the calendar as described above. Still further, the GUI 500 may include a selector 516 that may be selectable to present another GUI at which another device may be identified or paired with the device that changes desk height for communication between those two devices as described above.
Still further, if desired the GUI 500 may include various options 518 that may be respectively selectable to select different respective contexts or other triggers that may be used for changing desk height as described herein. Though any of the contexts/triggers described herein may be listed, for simplicity and as an example three options are shown in
Now in reference to
As shown, the GUI 600 may be presented as an overlay over other content 602 already being presented on the display, such as a word processing document or Internet video. As also shown, the GUI 600 may include a caution icon 604 and text 606 indicating that the height of the desk is changing or is scheduled to change at a specific time in the future. The GUI 600 may also include a selector 608 that is selectable to command the device to change the desk height at the current time (e.g., when it is otherwise scheduled to change in the future), and a selector 610 that is selectable to command the desk to not change the current desk height at any time responsive to whatever context triggered the GUI 600 to be presented.
It may now be appreciated that present principles provide for an improved computer-based user interface that increases the functionality and ease of use of the devices disclosed herein. The disclosed concepts are rooted in computer technology for computers to carry out their functions.
It is to be understood that whilst present principals have been described with reference to some example embodiments, these are not intended to be limiting, and that various alternative arrangements may be used to implement the subject matter claimed herein. Components included in one embodiment can be used in other embodiments in any appropriate combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments.
