Abstract:
A method of managing a plurality of operable wall panels in a room equipped with an overhead track system from which the panels suspend and in which the panels are movable to selectively partition the room, the track system including a reading portion. The method comprising providing an identification tag on each of the plurality of panels, each identification tag having panel information, and wirelessly communicating between the identification tag of each of the plurality of panels and a controller, wherein the controller being operable to receive and transmit panel control data comprising the panel information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention generally relates to space management. In particular, the invention relates to a control system for space management.  
         [0002]     Flexible space management using partitions comprising a plurality of operable wall panels has in the past been performed manually. For example, layouts and configurations of a space using partitions are typically done using computer generated prints, numbers, manual calculations, and color-coding methods. After the layouts or the configurations of partitions are obtained on prints, the space is generally partitioned manually. In other words, the wall panels are manually moved and installed at locations according to the layouts. The manual installation is often time consuming and confusing for the operator.  
         [0003]     Additionally, various factors such as complexity of the layouts, the number of panels, and the size of the space will reduce the likelihood that the installed partitions match the layouts. To re-install, to change, or to expand the partitions in the event of user error may add considerable amount of installation time and labor costs to a project. Depending on the layouts configured for the space, some panels will require periodic maintenance after installation because they are used more frequently than other panels. However, it is often the case that all panels are examined and maintained on a single rigid inspection schedule, even though more frequently used panels may require more frequent maintenance than panels that are less frequently used. Thus, maintaining the panels can become inefficient and costly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, the invention provides a system and method for managing a plurality of operable wall panels in a room equipped with an overhead track system from which the panels suspend and in which the panels are movable to selectively partition the room. The system includes an identification tag on each of the wall panels, and a communication module that communicates with the identification tags to identify and track each panel. The method includes wirelessly reading the identification tags and transmitting the data to a controller which uses the data for various functions.  
         [0005]     The invention may also include an apparatus and method for managing other aspects (for example, lighting, heating, cooling, audio, and video systems) for the space to be partitioned so that the partitioned spaces are isolated from each other and function independently from one another.  
         [0006]     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     In the drawings:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a panel system according to the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an initial screen according to the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a choice screen according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a room status screen according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a security screen according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a remote operation screen according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a remote output screen according to the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  shows a lighting screen according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  shows an audio/video screen according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  shows an e-mail screen according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  shows a motor current screen according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  shows a panel identification screen according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  shows an identification process used to identify panel information according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  shows a room setup screen according to the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  shows a first layout screen according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 16  shows a second layout screen according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 17  shows a pop-up window in the first layout screen according to the present invention; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 18  shows a layout process according to the present invention. 
     
    
       [0026]     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a panel system  100  according to the present invention. The system  100  includes an operable wall panel  104  in a room  108  equipped with an overhead track system  112 . The panel  104  is suspended from carriers in the track system  112 , and the carriers have rollers or other means for permitting the carrier and attached panel to be movable in the track system  112  to selectively partition the room  108 . A plurality of additional panels are stacked in a storage room or a stack area  113  adjacent the room  108 . An operator may move the stack of panels on either side of an exit track  115  that is part of the track system  112 , and that extends out of the storage room  113  and into the room  108 . Once the operator has aligned a selected panel with the exit track  115 , the operator may push or pull the selected panel into the room  108 . The track system  112  includes a reading portion  114  into which the panel  104  is moved when first entering the room  108 . The panel  104  is read and identified in the reading portion  114 . The process of reading and identifying a panel is detailed hereinafter.  
         [0028]     The system  100  identifies a panel by an identification tag  116  attached to or embedded in the panel  104 . The identification tag  116  includes a radio-frequency identification tag or a transponder  120  to respond to any inquiry of the panel  104 . The transponder  116  shown in the embodiment is a passive transponder. However, it will be appreciated that other transponder types such as active or battery-powered transponders can also be used. The identification tag  116  may be located in any one of a variety of positions on the panels, such as a lead vertical rail  124  of the panel  104 , a top horizontal rail  128 , and on the outside of the panel  104  adjacent to the top horizontal rail  128 . The transponder  120  is equipped with both read and write capabilities, and also includes information identifying the panel  104 , an antenna to receive and transmit data, some memory and circuitry to process information. It would be appreciated that the identification tag  116  can include other identifiers such as a bar code identifier  130 . The identification tag  116  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes both the transponder  120 , and the bar code identifier  130 , but it will be appreciated that the identification tag  116  may alternatively include one or the other. An exemplary transponder is RI-TRP-W9VS from Texas Instruments.  
         [0029]     The system  100  also includes a control module or a controller  132 . The controller  132  includes a micro-controller  136 , such as CTC 5100 series controller or CTC 2700 series controller, a radio-frequency identification controller or a transceiver  140  such as Series 2000 Reader system from Texas Instruments, relays, power supply, analog input and output cards, industrial enclosure, and other small components. The transceiver  140  transmits and receives information to and from the identification tag  116 . The transceiver  140  then relays the received information to the micro-controller  136 . Details of the communication are described hereinafter. The system  100  also includes a user interface  144  that is coupled to the controller  132  with appropriate wiring. The controller  132  is illustrated as being in a room adjacent to the room  108 , but it can alternatively be near to or adjacent the user interface  144  or in a remote locations. The user interface  144  can be coupled to the controller  132  with a network, such as Intranet and Internet. In other embodiments, the user interface  144  is hardwired to the controller  132 . The user interface  144  can come in different sizes dependent on needs. The user interface  144  typically includes a touch screen  148 , while a keypad and a display combination or a voice activated interactive system can also be used. In the case of a remote user interface, the remote use interface can be a computer browser, for example.  
         [0030]     The system  100  also includes a communication module  152  that may further include an antenna  156 . The communication module  152  is positioned and oriented to wirelessly communicate with the identification tag  116 . Specifically, the communication module  152  receives information from the controller  132 , and scans for the information on the panels in the room  108 , or transmits to an optional second user interface. The second user interface can be a panel interface  160 , or an overhead interface  161 . The panel interface  160  is located on the panel  104 , while the overhead interface  161  is located near the communication module  152 . The second user interface may include audio and visual aides such as speakers and displays.  
         [0031]     When the identification tag  116  includes the bar code identifier  130 , the communication module  152  will include a scanner such as CLV 430/431/432 scanners from SICK. The scanner of the communication module  152  will thus scan for the bar code  130  of the identification tag  116  to identify the panel  104 . In such case, the identification tag  116  is passive, and the controller  142  will react to the read or scanned bar codes accordingly and similarly to the identification tag  116  that has the transponder  120 . In the embodiment shown, the communication module  152  is positioned in the ceiling of the room  108 . However, it will be appreciated that the communication module  152  can be positioned in other locations within the reading portion  114 . Furthermore, when the bar code identifier  130  is used, the scanner of the communication module  152  can be wireless and portable such that a user can take the scanner and scan for information on the bar code  130 . The scanned bar code information is then wirelessly transmitted to the communication module  152 , and subsequently to the controller  132 . The scanner transmits and receives data in the sense of transmitting a laser beam to the bar code identifier  130 , and reading or receiving the bar code information from the bar code identifier  130 .  
         [0032]     The second user interface can be configured to relay information received from the controller  132 . For example, a user can select a floor plan for the room  108  at the interface  144 , or at the touch screen  148 . In response to the user&#39;s selection, the controller  132  will establish an arrangement of selected panels consistent with the selected floor plan and provide audio and/or visual information helpful in properly positioning the panels in accordance with the floor plan. While radio frequency is used in the transmission and reception of information between the communication module  152  and the panel  104 , other types of scanning of the identification tags  116  can also be used. Bar code scanning such as discussed above, proximity sensing using sensors such as Series PD sensors from Automation Direct, photoelectric sensing, capacitance sensing, laser sensing, vision sensing using system such as Series 600 SmartReader from DVT, and the like are other exemplary scanning techniques that can also be used.  
         [0033]     As each panel is moved into the reading portion  114  of the track system  112 , and the panel information is fed to the controller  132 , the controller  132  will determine if the panel  104  is to be used in establishing the floor plan. The controller  132  will also determined where the panel  104  is to be positioned in the track system  112 . In some embodiments, the communication module  152  may also include a second transceiver to read and write information. The controller  132  then wirelessly communicates via the communication module  152  instructional information to the second user interface. The second user interface will then provide instructions to a user to guide a proper panel into proper position in the track system  112  in accordance with the selected floor plan. Furthermore, the system  100  also includes a web cam or a video camera  164  that is coupled to the controller  132 . The video camera  164  allows users to monitor carriers, the track system  112 , seals of the panels, sweeps of the panels, and the like remotely, or off-site.  
         [0034]     The system  100  will also include a number of electric diverters  166  in the track system  112  and communicating with the controller  132 . The controller  132  automatically actuates the electric diverters  166  to guide each panel into a proper location in the track system  112  in accordance to the selected floor plan. When the second user interface is also used, the controller  132  will also send instructions to the second user interface to assist the user to put the panel into correct positions. Specifically, when the panel  104  is moved near a junction, the controller  132  will send out instructions via the communication module  152  such as audio signal or video signal to indicate the direction in which the panel  104  should be moved, visually or audibly. For example, the panel interface  160  will visually indicate a left turn ahead with a flashing left turn arrow, or the overhead interface  161  will visually indicate a left turn ahead with a flashing left turn arrow.  
         [0035]     The system  100  also includes a database  168  that is accessible by the controller  132 . The database  168  can be located in the controller  132 , or also remotely in a networked drive (not shown). The database  168  typically includes background data on each of the panels in the system  100 . The background data or panel information can include a variety of entries, such as project name, project number, series, face materials, panel number, panel size, date installed, date of last service, description of last service, name of service agency, local distributor contact information, warranty status, and amperage data. The user interface  144  communicates with the controller  132  to display the panel background information when selected. For example, the controller  132  uses the read identification tag information to retrieve background data from the database  168 , and displays the selected background data on the touch screen  148 .  
         [0036]     To help facilitate space management, the present invention is also operable to perform a variety of functions using the interface  144 .  FIGS. 2-12 ,  14 , and  15  illustrate some of the functions provided by the system  100 .  FIG. 2  shows an initial access screen  200 . The initial access screen  200  identifies and authenticates a user of the system  100  (of  FIG. 1 ). For example, a user has to activate a password activation keypad  204 . Once activated, the user is prompted to enter a password in a password entry area  208 . After the password has been entered, the system  100  will identify and authenticate the user. Once the user has been authenticated, the system  100  classifies the user such that the user will only be able to access certain system functions. In other embodiments, once the user has been authenticated, the system  100  allows the user to access all system functions. It will be appreciated that even though the password activation keypad  204  and the password entry area  208  are shown to be on the touch screen  148 , other interactive or interface can also be used.  
         [0037]     When a menu screen area  212  is selected, a number of system functions will be available to the user.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary choice screen  216 . The choice screen  216  allows the user to operate and control the system  100  in a variety of different ways. For example, when a room status area  220  has been selected, a room status screen  222  is displayed (see  FIG. 4 ) for all rooms managed by the system  100  (for example, conference rooms  2 ,  3  and  4  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 ). The room status screen  222  includes an indicator  223  of whether there are stacked partitions in the conference room. The room status screen  222  also indicates (as at  224 ) whether the speakers located in these conference rooms have been activated. In particular,  FIG. 4  also shows that the partitions in conference room  4  have been unlocked (shown in area  225 ). When a partition is unlocked, the user can control (for example, extend or stack) the partitions either from the interface  144 , or at the partitions.  
         [0038]     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , when a security area  228  has been selected, a security screen  232  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 5 . The security screen  232  allows a user to lockout a partition by selecting a lock area  236 , to monitor and control access to a partition, and to unlock and release access of the partition by selecting an unlock area  240 . The locked or unlocked status of the partition is displayed in area  244 . To lock or unlock a partition, the user will also have to provide a variety of passwords in areas such  248 . The system  100  also allows the user to remotely control operations of the system  100  by selecting a remote operation area  252  (of  FIG. 3 ). Once the remote operation area  252  has been selected, the interface  144  displays a remote operation screen  256  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The remote operation screen  256  allows the user to enter in a password, and to operate the partition remotely. For example, when a stack dial  260  has been selected, the partitions will be stacked in a stack area of the room  108 , and a stack light or indicator  264  will also be activated. When an extend dial  268  has been selected, the partitions will be extended in the room  108 , and an extend light  272  is activated. The user can also unlock a locked partition by selecting an unlock area  276 , and entering a password in area  277 .  
         [0039]     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , when a remote output area  280  has been selected, a remote output screen  284  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 7 . The remote output screen  284  allows the user to operate the system  100  or any particular panel of the system  100  from a remote location. The remote output screen  284  also has a switch area  288  that lets the user toggle between allowing and prohibiting remote operations. When a lighting area  292  has been selected from the choice screen  216 , the user will be prompted to select a list of rooms in which lighting is to be controlled. For example, the user can select to display lighting control of an entire conference center, a partitioned room of the conference center, or a few partitioned rooms of the conference center. Thereafter, a screen allowing the user to adjust the lighting control is displayed. The screen can be configured to display the lighting control of one room at a time or multiple rooms at the same time, depending on factors such as complexity of the lighting control and the rooms selected.  
         [0040]     An exemplary lighting screen  296  is shown in  FIG. 8 . In the embodiment shown, the lighting screen  296  is configured to display the lighting control of one selected room. In such case, the user will have to select a second room subsequently to display the lighting control of the second room when necessary. The lighting screen  296  generally provides a number of lighting control buttons, such as a single fluorescent button  300 , a dimmer button  304 , a room fluorescent button  308 , and an auto light off button  312 . The number of lighting control buttons can be different when the selected room is configured differently, or when a different room is selected. These buttons ( 300 ,  304 ,  308 ,  312 ) thus allow the user to control the lighting of the selected room using the interface  144  or the touch screen  148 . The lighting screen  296  also allows the user to control the lighting of a room manually and automatically by using the auto light off button  312 .  
         [0041]     Similarly, when an audio/video area  316  is selected from the choice screen  216 , the user will be prompted to select a list of rooms in which an audio/video system is to be controlled. For example, the user can select to display an audio/video control system in an entire conference center, a partitioned room of the conference center, or a few partitioned rooms of the conference center. Thereafter, a screen allowing the user to control the audio/video system is displayed. The screen can be configured to display the audio/video system control of one room at a time, or multiple rooms at the same time, depending on factors such as complexity of the audio/video control and the rooms selected. An exemplary audio/video screen  320  is shown in  FIG. 8 . In the embodiment shown, the audio/video screen  320  provides a few audio/video control buttons that allow a user to control the audio and video of a room manually and automatically. It will be appreciated that the number of audio/video control buttons can be different when the selected room is configured differently, or when a different room is selected. The audio/video screen  320  provides a left audio on/off button  324  and a right audio on/off button  328  that control the audio of conference room  3 . Audio on/off buttons  332 ,  336  are also provided to control the audio sets  1  and  2  of conference room  4 , respectively. An auto sound control on/off button  340  is also provided for the user to control the sound of a room manually and automatically.  
         [0042]     Referring again back to  FIG. 3 , when an e-mail area  344  has been selected, an e-mail screen  348  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 10 . The exemplary e-mail screen  348  allows the user to send and receive messages both locally and in a networked environment with e-mail. Particularly, the exemplary e-mail screen  348  provides three selections, although any number of selections can also be provided in other embodiments. The user is allowed to send e-mail messages to user-defined recipients by selecting an e-mail area  352 . Alternatively, the user is allowed to send messages to the interface  144 , or the touch screen  148  by selecting a message-to-screen area  356 . The user can also reset the messages being sent out or received at the touch screen  148  by selecting a message-reset area  360 . For example, a user can arrange to automatically send a maintenance message or a warranty message to a distributor when a particular panel has been used for a number of times. With the messages sent, the user can also keep track of the warranty time remaining on a particular panel in the system  100 .  
         [0043]     When the user selects a motor current area  364  (of  FIG. 3 ), a motor current screen  368  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 11 . With the motor current screen  368 , the user can monitor current commanded by motor operating in the system  100  in a motor current monitor area  372 . The user is also allowed to set an upper maximum current level in a current limit setting area  376  before a panel or a partition halt an extending operation. The motor current screen  368  also provides a graphical display  378  of the current commanded by a motor operating in the system  100 . To set or to activate the maximum current level, the user has to select a current limit activation limit area  380 , and enters a desired current limit level. Similarly, the user can reset the current limit commanded by the motor by selecting a reset motor area  384 . Once the reset motor area  384  has been selected, either a default current limit or no current limit will be set.  
         [0044]     The user interface  144  also allows the user to access information regarding the panels used in the system  100 . For example, the user can select a panel identification area  388  to display information regarding a panel used in the system  100 . An exemplary panel identification screen  392  is shown in  FIG. 12 . The panel identification screen  392  provides a panel identification display switch  396  that activates or deactivates the display of panel information. When the panel identification display switch  396  has been activated, different panel information can be programmed to be displayed on the interface  144 , or the touch screen  148 . For example, the user can configure the system  100  to display information such as build date, series, wall covering, and warranty status of a particular panel on the interface  144 . Other panel information that can be displayed includes project name, project number, partition number, panel series, panel materials, panel number, panel size, installation date, date of last service, types of services performed on the panel, panel owner information, local distributor information, electrical specification such as amperage data, and the like. Furthermore, as each panel is moved, the controller  132  also updates the number of times the particular panel is used in the database  168 .  
         [0045]     The system  100  accesses the panel information with an identification process  500  such as shown in  FIG. 13 . Once the panel identification area  388  (of  FIG. 3 ) has been selected at block  504 , the interface  144  (of  FIG. 1 ) displays the panel identification screen  392  (of  FIG. 12 ) at block  508 . When the user has selected to activate the panel identification display switch  396  at block  512 , the identification tag  116  is read from the panel  144  at block  516 . The controller  132  (of  FIG. 1 ) will then scan for and retrieve panel information from the database  168  at block  520 . The retrieved panel information is thereafter displayed at the interface  144  or the touch screen  148  at block  524 . When the panel identification display switch  396  has been deactivated at block  528 , the data flow procedure  500  will return to the panel identification screen  392  at block  532 .  
         [0046]     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , when the user selects a room setup area  398 , a room setup screen  400  is displayed as shown in  FIG. 14 . The room setup screen  400  allows the user to select from a plurality of floor plans or room layouts  404 ,  408  for the room  108 . Although the room setup screen  400  shows two different layout selections, the room setup screen  400  can be configured to provide more selections, and as many as desired by the user. In such case, the selections can be configured to occupy less screen areas. Referring back to  FIG. 14 , when the first layout  404  has been selected, a layout screen  412  as shown in  FIG. 15  is displayed. Upon pushing a start button  410  on the layout screen  412 , the layout screen  412  will assist the user in setting up the room  108  according to the floor plan or the room layout selected.  
         [0047]     Specifically, the layout screen  412  provides a number of lights  416  and a same number of panel icons  420 . Each panel icon  420  has a corresponding light  416 , and each panel icon  420  also represents an actual physical panel to be used in the floor plan. When a panel is moved from a stack area past the reading portion  114 , the identification tag  116  will be read and identified by the controller  132  wirelessly via the communication module  152 . When the panel is a correct panel according to the floor plan, a corresponding light  416  will be lit with a first color, for example, green. When an incorrect panel is chosen, the corresponding light  416  will be lit with a second color, for example, red. The layout screen  412  also assists the controller  132  in controlling the electric diverters  166  in the track system  112 . Similarly, the second layout screen  424  (of  FIG. 16 ) provides a number of panel icons  420  in a second floor plan. Each panel icon  428  represents an actual physical panel to be used in the floor plan. When a panel is moved from a stack area past the reading portion  114 , the identification tag  116  will be read and identified by the controller  132  wirelessly via the communication module  152 . When the panel icons  420  are selected, basic panel information such as the panel size will be displayed in a pop-up window  432  as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0048]     More specifically, a layout process  600  is shown in  FIG. 18  to illustrate how the layout screens  412  and  424  work. When the room setup area  398  (of  FIG. 3 ) has been selected from the choice screen  216  at block  604 , the room setup screen  400  ( FIG. 14 ) is displayed at block  608 . Once a specific layout has been selected at block  612 , a layout assistance program is activated at block  616 . The controller  132  thereafter reads the identification tag  116  of the panels in the room  108  at block  620 , and determines where the panels are located using the responses from the transponder  120 . The database  168  is then searched for the information corresponding to the read identification tags  116  at block  624 . The searched information is then compared to the panel information of the selected floor plan at block  628 . If there is a match, the user interface  144  will indicate or display the light  416  with the first color at block  632 . The process is then repeated for the remaining panels. However, the user interface  144  will display the light  416  with the second color at block  636  when the searched information and the desired information do not match.  
         [0049]     Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.