Patent Publication Number: US-2016231731-A1

Title: System, method and apparatus for user interaction with a workstation

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/114,568 entitled “SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USER INTERACTION WITH A WORKSTATION” filed on Feb. 10, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains in general to a system, method and apparatus to track a user&#39;s interaction with a workstation surrounding the user&#39;s presence and orientation at the workstation and interaction, and the system interacting with that user to provide feedback surrounding the amount of time sitting and/or standing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Positive physiological health is generally accepted as associated with moderate to high-intensity physical activity. Those with higher activity habits or more active lifestyles are statistically in better healthier and have a lower incidence of health problems. There are also fewer complications associated with sedentary or non-active lifestyles, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, amongst other physical afflictions. 
     More recent studies identify sedentary habits and behavior such as prolonged sitting to have negative effects and potentially reversing the benefits gained through positive physical activities. This causes great concern to many given the large percentage of people who spend a majority if not the entirety of their day sitting, often working at a computer. 
     Some existing solutions to address the negative effects of sitting for long periods of time surround the use of standing workstations of many forms. Some standing workstations are fixed-height workstations, with a set height suited for the particular user&#39;s use when standing. Other standing workstations are dynamic workstations, which allow to the user to raise and lower a workstation to various sitting and standing heights accommodating any user along with their preference to stand or sit throughout a period of work. This dynamic movement can be accomplished with manual mechanism or powered mechanical means. Dynamic workstations are substantially higher in cost than a fixed height solution. Other standing workstation solutions provide a dynamic platform affixed to an existing fixed-height sitting workstation at a lower cost to allow the use of the workstation in a standing or sitting configuration without replacing a full workstation. Further still, some forms of standing workstations incorporate treadmills or other dynamic physiological activity based exercise in coordination with use of the workstation. 
     Some of the benefits associated with the use of standing workstations of any form have been proven to include a higher heart-rate, indicating increased activity level, an increased rate of calorie consumption and a healthier blood-glucose range. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The tracking of a user&#39;s interaction with a standing workstation surrounds the monitoring, recording and analysis of variables surrounding the user. Such variables include sensing the presence of a user, determining the identity of the user and determining if the user is standing or sitting. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention seek to identify a user through wireless detection while mitigating the possibility of false positive situations. False positive situations are most probable with closely situated workstations or individuals. One example of a potential false positive situation may involve a workstation A, sensing the presence of user B who is actively using workstation B, rather than user A who is actively using workstation A. The invention disclosed herein uses a system to provide positive recognition of a user&#39;s identified presence at a workstation with through the use of sensor systems such as infrared, ultrasonic or radar technologies. The system identity of the user present at a workstation may be indicated by detection of a personal identification token. Each personal identification token is unique to a user. A personal identification token may have pre-stored information about a user, or may provide a unique user identifier, which the system uses to access pre-stored information about a user. Certain embodiments of a personal identification token may comprise a module, which must be physically inserted or docked into a system receptacle such as a USB dongle. Alternative embodiments of a wireless based personal identification token may be in the form of a smartphone, RFID, or other wireless enabled device. A personal identification token may store information that is transferred to the system via wireless protocol such as RFID, Bluetooth®, Zigbee® or other wireless technologies. The system may use a hierarchical protocol associated with personal identification tokens to mitigate false positives. To further mitigate problems involving closely situated workstations, certain embodiments of a system as used in coordination with a workstation, wherein the workstation is typically used only by a particular individual, the system may be preprogrammed to identify any present user as that particular individual. 
     The invention disclosed herein provides a system and method to sense user presence, user orientation and workstation configuration devices and provide notification to the user surrounding such information as activity levels, time standing, and cues to stand or sit. Furthermore, this information may be also provided to third parties including management and/or insurance companies implementing programs to encourage healthy workplace habits. 
     Due to the proven widely accepted benefits of decreased sedentary habits such as sitting for extended periods of time, standing workstations have garnered interest by health insurance providers due to lower costs associated with health care and health insurance. Health insurance companies already provide discounted coverage to the insured in return for partaking programs involving vigorous or moderate activities with quantifiable tracking. These can take the form of pedometers, fitness trackers, wearable smart technology such as a Fitbit® or the like, tracking gym visits and other quantifiable means. 
     Because of a correlated benefit surrounding the use of standing workstations and a decreased cost of insuring an individual or group that use standing workstations, health insurance companies have incentive to pass cost savings to individuals or groups that use standing workstations. This correlated benefit presents a problem surrounding the need to provide the insurance company a verifiable quantification method to determine the level of participation, or duration of standing time of an individual. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention uses a plurality of sensors in the form of a thermal presence sensor to identify the presence of a user and an IR sensor that rely on IR light radiation to detect the orientation of a user. In such embodiments the presence sensors are mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface proximate to the leading longitudinal plane of the workstation and oriented such that the field of detection is substantially toward the medial plan. The orientation sensors are mounted on alternate sides, equidistantly from the medial plane and equidistantly from the leading longitudinal plane. The thermal presence sensor is mounted proximate to the leading longitudinal plane with the field of sensing of the thermal sensor directed medially. 
     In certain embodiments, an orientation sensor is mounted to the underside of a workstation work-surface, offset from the medial line and typically in the front half of the workstation. The sensing direction of the orientation sensor is parallel to the leading longitudinal plane or angled toward the angled toward the leading longitudinal plane by up to 10-degrees. The orientation sensor is directed 25-35 degrees downward away from the workstation work-surface. The orientation sensor on either sides of the medial plane, typically equidistant from the medial plane and a distal end. A thermal presence sensor is mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface offset from the medial plane, typically on the back half of the workstation offset from the medial plane and typically equidistant from the medial plane and a distal end. It may be preferred to mount the thermal presence sensor on the opposite side of the medial plane from the orientation sensor. The thermal presence sensor is angled toward the intersection of the leading longitudinal plane and the medial plane and directed 25-45 degrees downward from the workstation work-surface. 
     Other embodiments of the invention use a system utilizing radar technology and wireless communication protocols to detect the presence of a user as well as the orientation of the user at the workstation. A radar transceiver that is mounted under the workstation work-surface provides physical detection of user presence and may provide further detection of such factors as work-surface height from the floor on which the workstation rests and user proximity. The radar transceiver also provides the distance of a user&#39;s legs from the radar transceiver, relative to a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can include he leading longitudinal edge of the workstation. The distance of a user&#39;s legs from the radar transceiver relative to the leading longitudinal edge of the workstation may provide indication of if a user is seated or standing. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein provide the creation and aggregation of data surrounding general work habits having correlation with beneficial health outcomes and lower health related costs. The increase of such habits allows for a healthier individual, healthier workforce and lower cost of insurance. Benefits of a healthier individual include increased profitability for the health insurance providers, lower overhead for companies that subsidize or pay for employee health insurance and lower cost of insurance for an employee. It will be appreciated that the acquisition of data may be used to establish the baseline physical activity levels of a workforce and improvements in physical and mental health. The collection and aggregation of this data allows further statistical correlation between the activity of an individual and the health benefits. As a stronger correlation is made, smaller sample sizes can be used while maintaining a similar or higher level of confidence. As such, an insurance company can operate with the basis of a more accurate costing of health insurance with limited data sets for a group of individuals or an individual&#39;s activities over a shorter period of time. Furthermore, the aggregation of such data provides interested parties with insight into mitigating risk with health and wellbeing assessment based on increased and sustained physical activity. This assessment of risk mitigation based on aggregated data can allow prediction of individual or workforce health based on a based on a more discrete and smaller sample size of data. This will provide interested parties such as a health insurance provider to more accurately predict the cost of insurance for a workforce, comprising one or more people, to drive cost savings for both health insurance providers and their policyholders. 
     In use, a system for detecting the interactions of a user with a workstation comprising the functionality to determine the presence, identity and orientation of a user surrounding the use of the workstation. The system uses a presence sensor to determine the physical presence of a user and uses a user orientation sensor to determine if the user is in a standing or sitting configuration. A personal identification token sensor unit detects a personal identification token associated with the user. Once the system has determined information surrounding the presence, orientation and identity of the user, the system merges the information and communicates data to a cloud based or web-portal based aggregation site through the use of wired or wireless communication protocols. The aggregation site, upon receipt of this data, communicates with the system to confirm the receipt of the data. The data may be made available to the user as well as third parties such as an employer, employer department such as human resources or a third-party such as a health insurance provider. The data may be analyzed through predetermined analysis in aggregation site or by others including the user or a third-party. A third-party may analyze the merged information per user&#39;s record individually or as a group as may pertain to a workforce or focus group. The analysis of a group, such as a workforce, allows the third-party to assess the overall workforce health and provide a quantifiable health-rating index. A health-rating index may be used by a third-party to determine a insurance rates or health benefit incentives to provide to an employer for a work-force or directly to a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A . Side perspective side view of a workstation with an embodiment of a system comprising a first sensor suite affixed to a workstation. 
         FIG. 1B . Front perspective view of a workstation with an embodiment of a system comprising a first sensor suite and a second sensor suite. 
         FIG. 2A . A bottom view of a workstation work-surface with an embodiment of a system comprising a first sensor suite with a presence sensor. 
         FIG. 2B . A bottom view of a workstation work-surface with an embodiment of a system comprising a first sensor suite and a thermal presence sensor. 
         FIG. 2C . A bottom view of a workstation work-surface with an embodiment of a system comprising a first sensor suite, thermal presence sensor, a first user orientation sensor and optional second user orientation sensor. 
         FIG. 2D . A front view of a workstation with an embodiment of a system comprising a first desk height sensor and optional second desk height sensor. 
         FIG. 2E . A perspective view of a workstation with an embodiment of a system comprising a first desk height sensor and optional second desk height sensor. 
         FIG. 3A . A bottom view of a workstation worksurface comprising an embodiment of a system comprising a radar transceiver. 
         FIG. 3B . A side perspective view of a workstation comprising an embodiment of a system comprising a radar transceiver. 
         FIG. 4 . A front view of a workstation with an embodiment of a system comprising a personal identification token and a personal identification token sensor. 
         FIG. 5A . A side perspective view of a workstation comprising an embodiment of a system comprising virtual boundaries. 
         FIG. 5B . A side perspective view of a workstation comprising an embodiment of a system comprising virtual boundaries. 
         FIG. 6 . An embodiment of a personal identification token sensing device. 
         FIG. 7 . A certain embodiment of a system. 
         FIG. 8 . A certain embodiment of the process flow of a certain embodiment. 
         FIG. 9 . A certain embodiment a plurality of systems communicating through a central hub. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     The method and system described herein pose novel and effective solutions to problems associated with the tracking of users engaging in healthier workplace habits. The healthier workplace habits focus on the use of but are not limited to the use of standing workstations. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a plurality of sensors, and at least one computing device affixed to an adjustable height workstation  1000 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the working height of an adjustable height workstation  1000  can be adjusted by changing the workstation work-surface  1010  height, by adjustment of a keyboard  1015  tray enabling standing use of a fixed-height sitting workstation or other means known to those skilled in the art. As shown in a front-view in  FIG. 1A , such embodiments further comprise a first sensor-suite  1020  and optionally a second sensor-suite  1030  as related to a system mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010 . A first sensor-suite includes certain functionalities, such as user presence sensing, height sensing, user orientation sensing in relation to user/workstation through the use of at least one sensor. The system further comprises a computing device  1035  and other components related to a computing device  1035 , which may be integrated into the first sensor-suite  1020 . Such components may include a USB receptacle  1040  and/or wireless communication capability for the positive identification of a user. The use of a second sensor-suite  1030  may be used to provide sensing capabilities redundant to the first sensor-suite  1020  or adding sensing capability to the system. It will be appreciated that a sensor-suite may comprise a singular sensor device serving a singular sensing function, a singular sensor device serving a plurality of sensing functions or a plurality of sensor devices serving a plurality of sensing functions. 
     Certain embodiments of the system comprise a presence-sensor to detect the physical presence of a user. A presence sensor used for user detection may comprise one or more sensors for object detection. Such sensors include, but are not limited to, infrared sensors, thermographic sensors, and radar based sensors. 
     Certain embodiments of a first sensor-suite  1020 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , comprise a presence sensor  2010  wherein the sensor-suite is affixed to a workstation, typically to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010 . A presence sensor  2010  may detect the approach, presence and/or departure of a user from a workstation. The use of a presence sensor  2010  typically involves a field of detection  2020  extending beyond the leading longitudinal plane  2030  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a leading longitudinal plane  2030  is defined by a leading edge of a workstation  1000  where a user stands or sits proximal to when using the workstation. The leading edge of a workstation  1000  may be defined by the leading edge of a workstation work-surface  2040 , a leading edge  2050  of a keyboard tray  1015  that extends toward a user beyond the leading edge  2040  of a workstation work-surface  1010 , or other objects that modify the user to workstation  1000  interface distance. 
     Certain embodiments of a system as shown in  FIG. 2B  further comprises a thermal sensor  2060  that detects changes in the ambient temperature near the workstation in the direction of a possible to indicate the presence of a user. A thermal sensor  2060  as used in such embodiments is offset to the left or right of the medial plane  2080  and placed between a longitudinal midline  2130  and a trailing longitudinal edge  3020 , mounted to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010 . The field of detection  2070  of the thermal sensor  2060  is directed outward toward the location of a potential user, typically at the intersection of the medial plane  2080  and the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . It will be appreciated that a thermal sensor  2060  may comprise, but is not limited to, infrared (IR) thermometers or thermographic sensors. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2C  comprises an infrared orientation sensor  2090  that relies on infrared light radiation and a thermal presence sensor  2060  to identify presence and orientation of a user. A first orientation sensor  2090  is mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010  proximate to the leading longitudinal plane  2030  of the workstation  1000  and oriented such that the field of detection  2100  is substantially toward the medial plane  2080 . The first orientation sensor  2090  is mounted offset from the medial plane  2080  and offset from the leading longitudinal plane  2030  of the workstation  1000 . A second orientation sensor  2095  may be used and is typically mounted on the alternate side of the medial plane  2080  from the first orientation sensor  2090 . The mounting offsets of the second orientation sensor  2095  from the medial plane  2080  and leading longitudinal plane  2030  are equal to the respective offsets of the first orientation sensor  2090 . The thermal presence sensor  2060  is mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface and configured to sense thermal changes proximate to the leading longitudinal plane  2030  of the workstation. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 3A  comprise a radar transceiver  3000  that is mounted to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010  and configured to transmit radio signals toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030  of the workstation  1000  or other identified region of user interaction with the workstation  1000 . The field of detection  3010  of the radio signals transmitted toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030  of the workstation  1000  that are reflected back toward the radar transceiver  3000  provide data indicating if a user is present at the workstation and user proximity to the workstation  1000 . A radar transceiver  3000  as used in such embodiments is typically mounted medial, coincident with the medial plane  2080  half the distance between the longitudinal midline  3010  and the trailing longitudinal edge  3020  of the workstation work-surface  1010 . 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a workstation height sensor  2110  mounted to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010  with a field of sensing  2120  directed downward toward the surface on which the workstation  1000  rests to determine the height of the workstation work-surface  1010 . A workstation height sensor  2110  is typically mounted near the longitudinal midline  2130  of the workstation and proximate to a left distal edge  2140  or right distal edge  2150  of the workstation work-surface  1010 . If desired, a redundant workstation height sensor  2160  may be used. A redundant workstation height sensor  2160  is typically located proximate to the opposite distal edge from the workstation height sensor  2110 . 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 3B  comprise a radar transceiver  3000  to identify the presence of a user  3030  and the proximity of a user  3030  from a workstation  1000 . In certain embodiments the radar transceiver unit is located centrally, proximate to the medial plane  2080  and mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010 . The main lobe  3040  of the radar transceiver transmission is aimed toward an area where a user interacts with a virtual boundary. It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a main lobe  3040 , as referenced with radar technology, surrounds the area of radar coverage with maximum power and field strength. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a system having at least two sensors where a first sensor  4000  provides the ability for presence sensing, user orientation sensing, user proximity and workstation height sensing and a second sensor  4010  detects the presence of an electronic device  4020 . 
     Certain embodiments utilize a thermal presence sensor  2060  affixed to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010 . The thermal presence  2060  sensor field of sensing  2070  is directed 25-45 degrees downward from the workstation work-surface  1010  and directed toward the intersection of the medial plane  2080  and the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . The thermal presence sensor is typically mounted the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010  halfway between the medial plane  2080  and the distal left edge  2140  or the distal right edge  2150 . Furthermore, the thermal sensor is typically mounted halfway between the longitudinal midline  2130  and the trailing longitudinal edge  3020  of the workstation work-surface  1010 . 
     Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a computing device  1035 , at least one sensor to provide feedback to the computing device  1035  surrounding user presence, user proximity, user orientation and workstation  1000  height. Such sensors may utilize technologies surrounding, but are not limited to the use of, one or more of the following: optical sensors, laser based optical sensors, infrared based optical sensors, acoustic sensors of the active and/or passive type, or radio based sensors including radar transceivers. Certain embodiments of the invention employ a plurality of sensors to provide feedback pertaining to user presence, orientation and workstation height to the computing device, while other embodiments utilize a singular sensor to provide feedback surrounding user presence, user orientation and workstation  1000  height to the computing device  1035 . 
     Certain embodiments of a system as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  utilize at least one sensor to establish a virtual boundary. A virtual boundary may comprise the leading longitudinal plane  2030 , a first offset plane  5000  or a second offset plane  5010  or three-dimensional boundaries established surrounding the relation of a user  3030  when using a workstation  1000 . A virtual boundary in relation to physical detection systems defines a distance-based criteria for determining user  3030  presence at a workstation  1000 . Furthermore, a first offset plane  5000  may further be used for determining user orientation to indicate a seated orientation  5020  or a second offset plane  5010  standing orientation  5030  of the user  3030  based on the distance of a user&#39;s legs  5040  in relation to a virtual boundary as shown by elements  5000  and  5010 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a virtual boundary as used herein, surrounds the use of sensors to create an area, boundary or volume of sensor monitoring predetermined to be valuable in identifying and/or measuring changes in environment within the intended area of orientation sensor purview. A virtual boundary may be established by a sensor configuration to provide singular or multiple rays of sensing, a planar area under or around said workstation or a volume within working area of the workstation. Volumetric sensing strategies include but are not limited to the use of infrared illuminating lights with infrared optical sensing or radar technologies to provide a three-dimensional profile on, around or beneath a workstation. It will be appreciated that multiple virtual boundaries may be established within a system for a particular application. Virtual boundaries may be established for criteria surrounding user  3030  detection and user orientation including, but not limited to, maximum user distance from a workstation, minimum standing distance from a workstation, sensor location and seated leg extension. 
     In certain embodiments a radar transceiver  3000  is used as a user orientation sensor wherein the radar transceiver  3000  may detect the presence and proximity of a user  3030  in relation to the radar transceiver  3000 . Given a predetermined distance of the radar transceiver  3000  to the leading longitudinal plane  2030  or virtual boundary, the system may determine if the legs of a user are closer to the sensor than the leading longitudinal plane, or closer than an established virtual boundary, inferring that a user may be in a seated orientation  5020 . Conversely, if the radar transceiver  3000  detects a user&#39;s legs  5040  at a distance roughly equal to or greater than the distance of a leading longitudinal plane  2030 , or established minimum standing distance virtual boundary, this implies the user may be in a standing configuration  5030 . 
     In certain embodiments, a first sensor-suite  1020  is placed on the left or right side of the medial plane  2080  of the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010 . The first sensor-suite  1020  further comprises a workstation height sensor  2160 , user orientation sensor  2090 , thermal presence sensor  2060 , and a USB receptacle  1040 . A first sensor-suite  1020  further comprises a computing device  1035 , and data or information is transferred between a separate embodiment of a first sensor-suite  1020  installed on a different workstation  1000  within a network through wireless means, such as for example Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, NFC, or wired communication protocols. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 6 , use identity detection through the proximity of a personal identification token  6000 . As shown an wireless personal identification token  6000  can be carried or worn by the user, placed on the workstation work-surface  1010  for wireless detection, or plugged into a USB receptacle  1040  in the case of a USB type personal identification token  6000 . A personal identification token  6000  may comprise, but is not limited to an RFID identifying device, an NFC identifying device, USB based device or a wireless transmitting device enabled with a wireless communicating protocol such as, but not limited to Wi-Fi, Zigbee®, Bluetooth®, low energy Bluetooth® (Bluetooth® LE) and/or Bluetooth® 4.0. A personal identification token  6000  may comprise an object with preprogrammed identifying information in electronic or digital form, such as the user&#39;s name, height, age, sex and workstation use activity data. While a personal identification token remains engaged wirelessly or inserted in a receptacle, the system is provided with identification regarding a user detected as present at a workstation. Alternative embodiments of a personal identification token  6000  may comprise, but are not limited to, a Bluetooth® enabled phone, smart watches, wearable fitness bands, USB tokens or other computing device  14 . 
     It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that identifying information may comprise user identifying information such as said user&#39;s name or other personal information or a unique number, character string or a combination thereof, assigned to a user and cross-referenced with a separate database to increase user anonymity and/or user privacy and security. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention as shown in  FIG. 6 , a system employs the use of a plurality of personal identification token  6000  sensing for positive user identification. A personal identification token sensing element  6010  comprises a USB receptacle  1040  and Bluetooth® LE communication module  6020 . Positive user identification occurs when a USB type personal identification token  6000  is inserted in the intended USB receptacle  1040  or a Bluetooth® type personal identification token  6000  is wirelessly recognized. The personal identification token sensor element  6010  is typically mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010  provides positive recognition of a personal identification token  6000  which is then communicated with the computing device  1035 . 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, one personal identification token  6000  may be paired with the system at a time. In the event of multiple personal identification tokens of similar type, such as multiple detectable wireless personal identification tokens  6000  or multiple detectable USB dongle based personal identification tokens  6000 , the initially paired personal identification token  6000  will remain paired with the system and a subsequently detectable personal identification token  6000  is ignored. 
     In the event of multiple personal identification tokens  6000  of differing types, a hierarchy of types of personal identification tokens  6000  may be preprogrammed. In certain embodiments, a personal identification token  6000  in the form of a USB type personal identification token  6000  may supersede a wireless based personal identification token  6000  such as those utilizing Bluetooth®, RFID or near-field communication technology. For example, if a wireless based personal identification token  6000  is paired with the system and a user  3030  inserts a USB type personal identification token  6000  into a USB receptacle  1040 , the USB based personal identification token  6000  supersedes the wireless based personal identification token  6000 . It will be appreciated that the hierarchy of personal identification token  6000  types may be modified by a user  3030  or administrator of the system to any desired order. 
     In certain embodiments, for the detection of a Bluetooth® LE, the personal identification token  6000  initiates a pairing sequence within the system wherein the Bluetooth® LE personal identification token  6000  must be detectable within the range of the system for a predetermined period of time prior to pairing. Furthermore, when a Bluetooth® LE personal identification token  6000  is paired with the system, a second Bluetooth® LE personal identification token  6000  may not pair with the system. 
     In certain embodiments, when a user  3030  is the sole user of a given workstation, the user  3030  may be set as a default user. In such embodiments, the sensed physical presence of a user  3030  is registered with the identity of the default user without he requirement of a personal identification token  6000 . 
     In certain embodiments, a system comprises a personal identification token  6000 , the detection of a personal identification token  6000  provides the system with personal information, preferential standing orientation or sitting orientation use and preferred workstation heights for standing and sitting use of a dynamic standing workstation. The personal information includes user height, gender, age, name and any other predetermined personal information as identified by a user, employer or third-party. In such embodiments, the system may adjust the height of the dynamic standing workstation according to the recorded preferred workstation heights. The system may adjust workstation height according to a user&#39;s recorded preference upon command from the user  3030 , in compliance with predetermined time periods of allowable seated or required standing use dictated by the user&#39;s employer or other interested party such as a insurance provider. 
     It will be appreciated that a computing device  1035 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , comprises a power supply  7000 , central processing unit  7010 , memory  7020 , data transfer modules  7030  and a USB receptacle  1040 . It will be further appreciated said computing device  1035  receives sensor data  7040  through a microcontroller and the sensor data  7040  is input, analyzed based on preprogrammed analysis processes, stored and transmitted to associated systems and software such as a cloud platform or web based aggregation site  7050 . 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, the computing device is connected to the user&#39;s computer  7070  with software surrounding the tracking of use of the workstation. In such embodiments, the computing device  1035  connects to associated sensors through the use of standard communication protocols of the wired or wireless type known to those skilled in the art. 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, at least one sensor is mounted on the bottom surface of the workstation work-surface  1010 . The sensor may work in a capacity as a workstation height sensor  2110 , user orientation sensor  2090 , a presence sensor  2010  or a combination thereof. A workstation height sensor  2110  provides sensing generally toward the supporting surface on which the workstation rests, such as a floor  19 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3B  to provide the system the distance from the workstation height sensor  2110  to the surface on which the workstation  1000  rests. Given a workstation work-surface  1010  thickness indicating offset distance between workstation work-surface  1010  and workstation height sensor  2110  mounting surface, this information provides the system with information regarding the distance of the workstation work-surface  1010  from the surface on which the workstation  1000  rests. Furthermore, a user orientation sensor  2090  typically provides sensing downward and inward toward the medial plane  2080  of the workstation. 
     In certain embodiments of a system attached to a workstation  1000 , an orientation sensor  2090  intended to detect user  3030  presence, specifically their legs  5040 , beneath a workstation  1000  is mounted offset from the medial plane  2080  to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010 . The orientation sensor  2090  is directed downward and either parallel to or directed toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . The angle of orientation is between 25 and 45 degrees downward, and more preferably 25-35 degrees downward from the workstation work-surface  1010  and up to 10-degrees toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . In certain embodiments the detection of an object by an orientation sensor  2090  within a predetermined threshold distance is recognized as a user  3030  in a seated configuration  5020 . 
     In certain embodiments, an orientation sensor  2090  is mounted to the underside of a workstation work-surface  1010 , offset from the medial plane  2080  and typically in the front half of the workstation  1000 . The sensing direction of the orientation sensor  2090  is parallel to the leading longitudinal plane  2030  or angled toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030  by up to 10-degrees. The orientation sensor  209  is directed 25-35 degrees downward away from the workstation work-surface  1010 . The orientation sensor  2090  on either sides of the medial plane  2080 , typically equidistant from the medial plane  2080  and the left distal edge  2140  or the right distal edge  2150 . A thermal presence sensor  2060  is mounted to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010  offset from the medial plane  2080 , typically on the back half of the workstation work-surface  1010  offset from the medial plane  2080  and typically equidistant from the medial plane  2080  and the left distal end  2140  or the right distal edge  2150 . It may be preferred to mount the thermal presence sensor  2060  on the opposite side of the medial plane  2080  from the orientation sensor  2090 . The thermal presence sensor  2060  is angled toward the intersection of the leading longitudinal plane  2030  and the medial plane  2080  and directed 25-45 degrees downward from the workstation work-surface  1010 . 
     In certain embodiments, after detecting the presence of a user  3030  the system detects the orientation of the user  3030  indicating a seated position  5020 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , or a standing position  5030 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . The system then may provide this information to the computing device  1035  for communication with a cloud based or web based aggregation site  7050 . 
     In certain embodiments, a system comprising a first sensor-suite  1020  is affixed to a workstation  1000 . In such embodiments, a presence sensor  2010  checks for the presence of a user  3030 , a user orientation sensor  2090  determines user orientation and a workstation height sensor  2110  determines the height of the workstation  1000  on pre-programmed intervals. If the system detects a personal identification token  6000 , the system associates the information collected from the presence sensor  2010 , the user orientation sensor  2090 , and the workstation height sensor  2110  with the identity of the user  3030 . If the system detects the presence of the user  3030 , detects the orientation of the system to be consistent with a sitting orientation  5020  and identifies the user  3030 , the system merges the information and communicates it with the aggregation site  7050  recording a seated orientation  5020 . If the system detects the presence of the user  3030 , detects the orientation of the system to be consistent with a standing orientation  5030  and identifies the user  3030 , the system merges the information and communicates it with the aggregation site  7050  recording a seated orientation  5030 . 
     In certain embodiments, a radar transceiver  3000  provides the functionality of a user presence sensor  2010 , a user orientation sensor  2090  and a workstation height sensor  2110 . In such embodiments, a radar transceiver  3000  is typically mounted medially to the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010  with the main lobe  3040  of the radar transmission of the radar transceiver  3000  oriented to provide detection of a user  3030  presence, user  3030  orientation and workstation  1000  height. It will be appreciated that a plurality of radar transceivers  3000  may be used if desired. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, a system provides notification to a user with suggestions to change orientation based on a predetermined amounts of time associated with a seated orientation  5020  or a standing orientation  5030 . Such notifications may be provided through auditory, haptic or visual notifications. Such notifications may be provided through, but are not limited to, audible sounds, vibration, alerts through wirelessly connected devices such as smartphones, wearable technology, computers and other devices appreciated by one skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the initiation of a notification may be indicated by a web based or cloud based application, predetermined intervals or by an interested third-party. 
     In certain embodiments, the user is provided with notifications suggesting a seated orientation  5020  or a standing orientation  5030 , for healthy workstation use. Healthy workstation is determined by the user, an employer or health insurance provider or other interested party and can be programmed into the system. Notifications are provided to the users through haptic notifications through the use of vibration motor  7060  as shown in  FIG. 7  and through communication modules  7030  such as Bluetooth® LE connection to a user&#39;s smartphone or other wirelessly connected device. 
     In certain embodiments, a sensor-suite comprising three sensors, including a workstation height sensor  2110  and a user orientation sensor  2090  and a user presence sensor  2010 . The first sensor-suite  1020  is typically mounted to the front right or front left quadrant of the underside of the workstation work-surface  1010 . The workstation height sensor  2110  is directed vertically downward, the presence sensor  2010  toward the intersection of the medial plane  2080  and the leading longitudinal plane  2030  and 25-45 degrees downward, and the user orientation sensor  2090  is directed downward at an angle of 25-35 degrees and between 0 and 10-degrees toward the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . Alternate embodiments comprise a second sensor-suite  1030  mounted in the opposite front-quadrant of the first sensor-suite  1020 , mirroring the first sensor-suite  1020 . A plurality of user orientation sensors  2090  may be used to provide redundancy in detection of workstation  1000  height but more specifically redundancy in detection of a user&#39;s legs  5040  beneath the workstation  1000  thereby indicating seated orientation  5020  in use of the workstation. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a workstation height sensor  2110  to determine the height of the workstation  1000 . Alternative embodiments comprise a plurality of workstation height sensors  2110  to provide feedback redundancy to differentiate between workstation height variation and objects placed under a workstation such as a trashcan or boxes. 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, a threshold distance can be set characterizing a maximum seated height. When a workstation height sensor  2110  indicates the workstation work-surface  1010  is equal to or less than the maximum seated height, it is assumed that in the presence of a user  3030 , that user  3030  is using the workstation  1000  in a seated orientation  5020 . In certain embodiments of the invention, the maximum seated height is 93.98 cm (37 inches). Thus, when the workstation  1000  is measured at a work-surface  1010  height of 93.98 cm (37 inches) or lower, it is inferred that a present user  3030  of that workstation  1000  is in a seated orientation  5020 . 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, a system enables the sensing and recognition of dynamic vertical distance from the floor  1050 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , associated with worksurface  1010  motion associated with the change in workstation work-surface  1010  height and the active placement of foreign objects such as trashcans and boxes beneath the workstation. This is accomplished with the use of continuous or semi-continuous height monitoring to detect continuous and consistent vertical motion. A workstation height sensor  2110  provides input to the system to differentiate between dynamic motion associated with vertical height change of the workstation  1000  and placement of foreign objects beneath the workstation  1000 . It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that height change, or the distance between the workstation work-surface  1010  and the floor  1050  is typically characterized as a gradual and/or consistent rate of change not exceeding a certain identified rate of change. It will be further appreciated that a workstation height sensor  2110  may not be able to differentiate between an object placed beneath a workstation  1000  and the floor  1050 , however it will be appreciated that the system, may identify the placement of an object beneath a workstation through sensing a sudden and near instantaneous height change. Further, the system may identify the placement of an object beneath a workstation  1000  through inconsistencies of measurement by a workstation height sensor  2110  in different areas below a workstation  1000  or by additional workstation height sensors  2110  when a plurality of workstation height sensors  2110  are employed. Such differentiation can be identified using preset or user programmed profiles and/or profiles associated with general workstation  1000  actuation characteristics as well as specific workstation types such as manual, electrically driven and pneumatic or specific to a particular workstation. 
     Certain embodiments of the system identify continuous and consistent rates of motion with the raising and lowering of a workstation  1000  height through the use of workstation height sensors  2110 . Such movement associated with the height adjustment of a dynamic height workstation  1000  is typically identified with an initial and terminal ramp-up or ramp-down rate periods with an intermediate rate. Furthermore, such motion is substantially gradual versus the placement of an object beneath the workstation that occurs within a brief period of time, typically in less than 0.5 seconds. 
     In certain embodiments, the system may recognize height adjustment rate ranges associated with different style dynamic height workstations  1000 . In such embodiments, the system recognizes linear motion through the continuous monitoring of workstation  1000  height with a workstation height sensor  2110 . Typically, a rate of motion of 2.79-4.32 cm (1.1-1.7 in) per second is associated with motion indicative of height adjustment of an electrically driven dynamic height workstation  1000 , while a rate of motion of 1.27-1.91 cm (0.5 in-0.75 in) per second is associated with motion indicative of height adjustment of a manually driven dynamic height workstation  1000 . 
     In certain embodiments, a system is attached to an adjustable height workstation  1000 , with electronic controls. The electronic controller of the workstation  1000  may provide direct feedback to the system surrounding the height set point of the workstation. 
     In certain embodiments of the present invention, an orientation sensor  2090  detects user  3030  presence by sensing the presence of a user&#39;s legs  5040  and how far they extend beneath a workstation  1000 , or beyond an established virtual boundary, and measuring the distance between identified objects and an orientation sensor  2090 . The distance of a user&#39;s legs are identified as objects ranging from 0-76.2 cm (0-30 in) from an orientation sensor  2090 . This solves the problem of false-positive detection in which a system believes a user  3030  to be in a standing  5030  orientation when they in fact are in an elevated seated orientation  5020  in use of a standing height workstation  1000 . In certain embodiments, the system comprises a computing device  1035 , a thermal presence sensor  2060 , a user orientation sensor  2090  a workstation height sensor  2110  and a personal identification token  3000 . Such embodiments of this system may be mounted to any workstation  1000  and is not platform specific. That is, the invention can be used with any workstation  1000 , particularly those allowing a standing orientation  5030  use. Associated hardware in the form of the computing device  1035  and sensors  2060 ,  2090 ,  2110  are affixed to the workstation  1000  with common methods appreciated by one skilled in the art such as, but not limited to, adhesive, hook-and-loop, mechanical hardware and/or magnets. In such embodiments the computing device  1035  provides identification recognition and communicates information to associated systems, which interface directly or indirectly with healthcare and/or health insurance providers. 
     In certain embodiments, as seen in  FIG. 7 , the present invention comprises a computing device  1035 , a personal identification token sensor unit  6010 , a thermal presence sensor  2060 , a workstation height sensor  2110  and a user orientation sensor  2090  allowing the use with any fixed-height or adjustable-height workstation  1000 , but is intended for use with those that allow standing orientation  5030  use. In such embodiments, the ability to function with any fixed height or adjustable workstation  1000  solves the problem surrounding cost commonly associated with purchase of new infrastructure to enable active tracking and processing of user data in reference with the use of a workstation  1000  in a standing configuration  5030 . 
     In certain embodiments, the system comprises a first sensor-suite  1020  offset from the medial plane  2080  and offset from the leading longitudinal plane  2030 . The first sensor-suite  1020  further comprises a computing device  1035 , more specifically a Linux Wireless SoC with USB receptacle  1040 , Bluetooth® LE module  6020 , microcontroller  7045 , thermal presence sensor  2060 , presence sensor  2010 , workstation height sensor  2110 , user orientation sensor  2090  and vibration motor  7060 . If so desired, a second sensor-suite  1030  may be used. In such cases the second sensor-suite  1030  is mounted offset the medial plane  2080  on the opposite side from the first sensor-suite  1020  and offset from the leading longitudinal plane. Such a second sensor-suite  1030 , comprises a user orientation sensor  2090 , a workstation height sensor  2110  and a user presence sensor  2010 . The second sensor-suite  1030  communicates with the first sensor-suite  1020 , more specifically the microcontroller  7045 , through the use of multi-conductor wired communication protocols. The multi-conductor wires used in such communication also provide power to the user orientation sensor  2090 , workstation height sensor  2110  and presence sensor  2010  of the second sensor-suite  1030 . In alternate embodiments, the second sensor-suite  1030  communicates with the first sensor-suite  1020  through wireless communication protocols. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a computing device  1035 , a personal identification token sensor unit  6010 , and a radar transceiver  3000 . In such embodiments the radar transceiver  3000  provides sensing functionality as a presence sensor  2010 , workstation height sensor  2110 , and user orientation sensor  2090 . Such embodiments may be used with a fixed-height or adjustable-height workstation  1000 , but is intended for use with a workstation  1000  allowing standing user orientation  5030 . This allows the use of the system with any fixed height or adjustable workstation  1000  to actively track and process user data in reference to the workstation. In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a first sensor-suite  1020  comprising a Linux Wireless system on chip with USB receptacle  1040 , Bluetooth® LE module  6020 , microcontroller  7045 , radar transceiver  3000  comprising the sensor  7040  and vibration motor  7060  wherein the vibration motor  7060  is capable of providing haptic notifications or feedback surrounding user  3030  use habits with the workstation  1000 . 
     In use, as demonstrated in  FIG. 7 , certain embodiments of the invention are affixed to a given workstation  1000  and provided a power source  7000 , typically 5 Volt DC power. A workstation  1000  with an embodiment of the system, the system performs a series of three decision processes in coordination with the sensor-suites  1  to determine the workstation height, user presence, user identity, and user orientation to merge this data into a message and communicate with cloud-based platform and/or web application. From the cloud-based platform and web application, this information can be further provided to users through the user of a web-based dashboard, smartphone application or the like. Furthermore, the cloud-based platform or web based application can provide feedback through the embedded computer to provide notification to the user via vibration motor or Bluetooth® LE to modify their orientation in use of the workstation. 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention comprises a method for determining the use of the workstation  1000  by a user  3030 . If the presence of a user  3030  is detected by a presence sensor  2090  and a workstation height sensor  2110  indicates that the workstation  1000  height is consistent with a seated configuration  5020 , or if the user orientation sensor  2090  detects the presence of the user&#39;s legs  5040  as crossing a predefined virtual boundary such as a first offset plane  5000  characterizing seated use; the system registers the user orientation as a seated orientation  5020 . If the presence of a user  3030  is detected by a presence sensor  2010  and a workstation height sensor  2110  indicates the workstation is at a height predefined as a potential standing use configuration  5030  and a user orientation sensor  2090  detects the presence of the user&#39;s legs  5040  as not crossing a predetermined virtual boundary such as a second offset plane  5010 , the system registers the user orientation as standing a standing orientation  5030 . 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 8 , comprise a system integrated with a workstation  1000 , further comprising a computing device  1035 , a personal identification token sensor unit  6010 , a thermal presence sensor  2060 , a workstation height sensor  2110  and a user orientation sensor  2090 . When personal identification token detection occurs  8000  by the personal identification token sensor unit  6010  communicates the information from the personal identification token  6000  to the computing device  1035 . The assessments of user presence  8010 , the assessment of user orientation  8020  and the assessment of workstation height  8030  are performed on predetermined intervals. The assessment of user presence  8010  can return a result indicating “present” or “not present.” The assessment of user position  8020  can return a result indicating a seated orientation  5020  or a standing orientation  5030 . The assessment of workstation position can return a “low” result indicating seated orientation  5020  or a “high” potential standing orientation  5030 . If the result of the assessment of user presence  8010  is “not present”, an event message of “not present” is communicated  8020  with the computing device  1035 . If the assessment of user presence  8010  returns a result of “present” and the assessment of user position returns an indication of seated orientation  5020  or the assessment of workstation position returns a result of “low workstation,” the results are combined as shown in elements  8040  and  8050  to send event message “user is sitting”  8060 . If the assessment of user presence  8010  returns a result of “present” and the assessment of user position returns an indication of standing orientation  5030  or the assessment of workstation position returns a result of “high workstation,” the results are combined as shown in elements  8070  and  8080  to send event message “user is sitting”  8060 . When an event message is sent as in elements  8060  or  8080 , it is sent to the computing device  1035  and the personal identification token detection  8000  and the event message  8060  or  8080  are merged  8090 . The merged message is sent  8100  by the computing device  1035  via wired or wireless communication protocol to an aggregation site  7050  in the form of a cloud platform or web application  8110 . The messages received by the aggregation site can then be accessed through mobile applications, computer based dashboards, web-based interfaces, personal activity dashboards as shown in elements  8120  and  8130 . The aggregated messages can also be accessed by approved third parties  8140  such as employers or insurance providers. The aggregation site can send messages  8150  to the computing device  1035  based on predetermined analysis processes, predetermined intervals or third party initiated alerts to provide notification to the user to transition to a sitting or standing orientation  8160 . These alerts can be delivered to the user through haptic feedback such as through a vibration motor  7060 , through a smartphone connected wirelessly to the system or other methods as appreciated to those skilled in the art. 
     In certain embodiments, a system further comprises a software-based application installed on a computer or laptop, which is in communication with the computing device  1035 . Such an application can relay messages to the user through the use of on-screen notifications such as notifications indicating that the user should change their orientation in use of the workstation. It may be desired for such an application to deliver alerts only when there is a lack detected user activity with the computer or computer input devices so as to prevent interrupting user workflow and productivity. 
     Certain embodiments of a system as disclosed herein further at least one, and more typically a plurality of systems, each integrated with a workstation  1000  for the tracking of user  3030  interaction with each workstation  1000  and communication of resultant collected data to an aggregation site  7050 . Referring to  FIG. 9 , a system in such an embodiment may comprise wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth® or radio frequency communication to deliver system messages to a intermediate hub  9000  or gateway which then relays such messages to the aggregation site through wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet communication. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that communication protocols such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet are communication protocols supported by the IEEE 802 family of standards. For example, Wi-Fi is supported by the IEEE 802.11 standard, Ethernet is supported by the IEEE 802.3 standard and Bluetooth® is supported by the IEEE 802.15.1 standard. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. The terms “first,” “second,” “proximal,” “distal,” etc., as used herein, are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims.