Architectural dynamic control: intelligent environmental control and feedback system for architectural settings including offices

Claim 1

A method for measuring and stimulating feelings or desired behavior within an architectural setting, the method comprising: sensing behavior of one or more beings within the architectural setting to produce sensed behavior data; sensing physical conditions of the architectural setting to produce sensed environmental data; comparing the sensed behavior data to stored desired behavior data, wherein the desired behavior data is associated in a database with environmental control data presumed to influence the desired behavior; physically implementing the environmental control data through an environmental control system; and automatically altering the environmental control data when the sensed environmental data equals the environmental control data, and a difference between sensed behavior data and desired behavior data exists.

Claim 2

A method for measuring and stimulating feelings or desired behavior within an architectural setting, the method comprising: sensing behavior of one or more beings within the architectural setting to produce sensed behavior data; sensing physical conditions of the architectural setting to produce sensed environmental data; comparing the sensed behavior data to stored desired behavior data, wherein the desired behavior data is associated in a database with environmental control data presumed to influence the desired behavior; physically implementing the environmental control data through an environmental control system; and automatically altering the environmental control data when the sensed environmental data equals the environmental control data, and a difference between sensed behavior data and desired behavior data exists.

Claim 9

A method for encouraging desired behavior within an architectural setting, the method comprising: controlling environmental variables within the architectural setting to change throughout a period of time in accordance with a selected theme, wherein the selected theme comprises one of: (a) mimicking the daily patterns of daylight, wherein light sources in the architectural setting are brighter on an east side of the architectural setting at a beginning of a day and progressively become brighter on a west side of the architectural setting as the day wears on; (b) mimicking the daily patterns of temperature, wherein the architectural setting is provided to be cool in the morning, warmer in the afternoon, and cool again towards evening; (c) controlling thermal values of the architectural setting to oscillate around a nominally comfortable value; or (d) mimicking a pattern of current outdoor conditions; and altering one of the environmental variables to deviate from the selected theme to provide a stimulus to increase productivity.

Claim 10

A method for encouraging desired behavior within an architectural setting, the method comprising: controlling environmental variables within the architectural setting to change throughout a period of time in accordance with a selected theme, wherein the selected theme comprises one of: (a) mimicking the daily patterns of daylight, wherein light sources in the architectural setting are brighter on an east side of the architectural setting at a beginning of a day and progressively become brighter on a west side of the architectural setting as the day wears on; (b) mimicking the daily patterns of temperature, wherein the architectural setting is provided to be cool in the morning, warmer in the afternoon, and cool again towards evening; (c) controlling thermal values of the architectural setting to oscillate around a nominally comfortable value; or (d) mimicking a pattern of current outdoor conditions; and altering one of the environmental variables to deviate from the selected theme to provide a stimulus to increase productivity.

Claim 13

A system for encouraging desired behavior within an office setting having a plurality of private spaces and at least one community space, the system comprising: at least one environmental control device in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the environmental control device affecting at least one physical condition of the space in which it resides; at least one environmental sensor in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the environmental sensor measuring at least one physical condition of the space in which it resides; at least one occupant sensor in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the sensor measuring either a physiological parameter or behavior parameter of an occupant in the space in which the behavior sensor resides; wherein, the environmental control devices, environmental sensors, and occupant sensors are in communication with a computer; and wherein the computer is programmed to carry out the following steps receive data from the occupant sensors; receive data from the environmental sensors; compare the data from the occupant sensors to desired values stored in a database; if the data from the occupant sensors differs from the desired value from the database, command the environmental control devices in either the private spaces or community space to change a physical condition so as to bring the physiological or behavioral parameter toward the desired value.

Claim 14

A system for encouraging desired behavior within an office setting having a plurality of private spaces and at least one community space, the system comprising: at least one environmental control device in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the environmental control device affecting at least one physical condition of the space in which it resides; at least one environmental sensor in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the environmental sensor measuring at least one physical condition of the space in which it resides; at least one occupant sensor in each of the private spaces and in the community space, the sensor measuring either a physiological parameter or behavior parameter of an occupant in the space in which the behavior sensor resides; wherein, the environmental control devices, environmental sensors, and occupant sensors are in communication with a computer; and wherein the computer is programmed to carry out the following steps receive data from the occupant sensors; receive data from the environmental sensors; compare the data from the occupant sensors to desired values stored in a database; if the data from the occupant sensors differs from the desired value from the database, command the environmental control devices in either the private spaces or community space to change a physical condition so as to bring the physiological or behavioral parameter toward the desired value.