Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99J33QI7 ~ ~ PCTIUS981160~3
A SYSTEM ANp METHOp FOR C~P'TIMIZING ~NV1RONMENTS
TO FwCI>rTi'~sTE AGENT PRO~ESSFS
BpCI:GR~tJ D. '~F THE INVENT~oN
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a systetu and method for aptitnixing
environments to facilitate agent processes conducted themin. The iiiventian
relates triost
particularly to a collaborative workspaces and collaborative workspaces
developed using the
system. Mare generally, the present invention relates to an iterative,
feedback driven system
for optimixiiig interaction amasig agrnis acting oa multiple levels and use of
the system for
optimizing agent pattern language values iu coAaborative environments.
Tera~inolpgy xad References
Throughout the present application, certain terms of art are tiled. To assist
in
understanding the intended meaning of these terms in Ibis application,
reference should be
made to certain published works as detailed hereinafter:
AGENT and AGENCY in the context of the psesent invention, agency is broadly
defined to
2 o encompass individuals, machines, groups of individuals arul/ar machines,
organizations of
individuals and~or machines, and other things, such as documents, computer
software, and
fumware. In addition, agent as used herein is intended to have its broadest
meaning humans,
machines, groups or organizations. AR systems are cbaracterixed by the
interaction of the
agents within the system. Depending an one's objectives, certain of these
interactions
2 ~ become important to achieving the objective (typically wine interactions
are oat impcanant w
the specific objective).
PAZTE»iN LANGUAG)~: as described by: "A Pat~m Lg~e~aee" Christopher Al
1977 and demonstrated by; " a Wlighl S"p~~~e° Paneta .~ Meaning is
Frnnk I-loyd
3 ci Wright's Houses" Grant Hildebraud 1991. (bath of the above references are
described in
'"Ihe Power of Place - Haw Our Surroundings Shape Our Thoughts, Emotions and
Actions"-
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 9~132~~7 ~ P~IUS9$nbD83
Winfred Gallager, 1994 and in "Prospect Refuge") "Frank Lloyd Weight - A
primer in
Architcctu~tl Principles" Robert McCarter, 1991.
I1FS1GNSHOP~ I~~N'!' All event whose purpose is to release group genius in the
client,
Cpndense the tune in which a team moves from Scan to Act by an order of
magnitude,
completely capture and orgauixe ah of the iaformatian generated, and do all of
this in a
facilitated way by managing not the people involved.
IVLvNwG~M~I~T C~N1'~u'~''a Special environment far iuanagir~ the design and
innovation
~ p pincass in the context of exp~ Social-CCOtlpttiiC cliarib'e, and for
building actiQa pleas to
acconnplish the goals established- I3y careful facilitation of the elements of
environment,
i~'ormatiou, design and group process, Marragettient Centers decrease the
"accident" factor of
discovery and synergistic events. Management Centers are "safe" envuonsnents
in which
designers and decision-makers can risk exploring and creating new tttodcls.
Also called
"l~signCeutess".
R~IwNT ROOM A large space in a Management Ceztter where the participants
gather
together as one body to hear reports or have synthesis discussions of some
sort. The- focus of
the Radiant Room is a long WorkWall called the Radiant Wall chat rnay be
straight, folding
z o or curving depending an the design of the individual center. Same Radiant
Walls stretch to
over 40 feet iu ler~h. The backside of the Radiant WaII is freduetttly covered
with an
adhesive tnateriai made by 3M to which paper can be adhered and reraovcd moray
tithes over.
This is called the Knowledge Wall, although you tray hear it called the Stlcky
Wall by old
~ncss in the network.
WoRtcWw.~.s'i'~ Panels of light colored porcelain steel which accept a
var'seiy of marlang
materials such as chalks, dty erase markers, water colors, India ink, pastels,
and water based
markers. They arc used by participants and KreW as a tool to support
collaboration. A
typical Mapagement Center tray have more than 3,000 square feet of this
surface available.
Large or small groups can illustrate carnpleac issues and detailed plans all
within plate view of
2
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
PCTNS9~l'1bQ83
WO 9913207
the er:tire group, attd all easily editable. The amount of informatiAn that
can be ~nipulated
on these wah systems and the flexibility of erasing or adding tn it, dwarfs
the capabilities of
butcher paper> flip chars, or ptajection systems. The wails ase typically six
or more feet high
and may be any len8~- Rolling walls come in lengths from four to sixteen feet
in length,
s some of which are folding. WorkWalis may also be permanently installed
within the
1=xtvironment. The walls are manufactured by Athestaetun International for MG
Taylor and
distributed by Athenaeum International or tluough MG Taylpr Corporation's
chain of
Knowhere stores_
1 o KHOwI~.t"OC~ WwLL Manat Centers have at least one large wall--soirietimes
up to 50
feet in length, usually the back side of the Radiant Wall that is covcred with
a mildly
adhesive surface manufactured by 3M. This wall serves as an oversized
l;uropean-style
kiosk. All sorts of information may be posted w the wall. Sometimes portions
of the
documentation are placed an it. Photographs, color art work, and diagrau~s are
also posted
l5 here. Articles from magazines or the lnteruet are also displayed far
participants to browse
through. lnforznation is rat displayed haphazardly, sather, a layout is
thoughtfully designed,
making the wall a suuctured information event.
ARMATURIE: as described by: "Blhl~~c~i~g ~ - Architecture as ongoing A.rc"
Herb
2 o Green, 19g 1.
RUi.Es ot; ErIGwG~M~TT A list of boundaries ttm must be set on a I~igaShop,
sessiart,
Management Center cu NavCenter in order to secure success. The requirement of
having no
observers or visitors during a TT~signSbop is an example (everyone either
participates pr they
_ z s are on KseW). another example is the limitation as the conduct of other
business by the
parucipatus during the pesignShop (it destroys breakout team integrity and
compromises the
product to have individuals constaruly conducting other business away from the
team oss the
phone3.
3
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
Wt199/320t7 ~ FCTIUS9~26083
SYNERGY means behavior of integral, aggregate, whole systems uapredicted by
behaviors of
any of their companems or subassemblies of their components taken separately
from ttte
whole. Ia addition, there is a corollary of synergy known as the Principle of
the Whole
System, which states that the known behaviors of the whale plus the known
behaviors of
s same of the parts may snake possible discovery of the presence of other
parts and their
behaviors, kinetics, structures, and relative dicnensiopalities.
Background
The traditional collaborative work space, or office space arrangement used
~. a today is a remnant of the 19th Century. It is widely recognized chat
there are of variety of
deficiencies with traditional collaborative work space systems. In pari, these
psoblcuzs rcsesh
from the variety of needs attdlar objectives that a collabosative work space
must satisfy today.
For example, it is desirable to provide knowledge workers with as match work
space and as
great a variety of work space as possible. On the other hand, there is a
desire, far economic
15 reasons, to maximize density (tbc number of knowledge workers per square
foot of ofFtce
space ). As office space has became mare important the desire for density and
e~rcieney has
becouie paramount. It is also recagnixed that plug and play or tnodular~ty of
office furniture
systems can enhance et~ciency_ Likewise mobility and user mobility are
desirdhle
objectives. These objectives can broadly be termed as addressing htunan
values, that is
2 o values related tA pragmatic and economic concerns. As used herein the
expression "htttnan
values" is intended to encQiupass the range of economic and pragmatic values
that are
affected by work space design.
From the vant~,e point of the User, hmnan values include (but are not
necessarily
lituited ta): ABILITY TC? CGNTR.c3L - light, temp, sound, view, "sense" of
isalatioiz or
2 s involvement; wIfAPTARILITY - minute, hour, day, week month year scales;
CQNFIGURATIl3N; AWL1S'~alL..ITY TO WORK 8t USER ST'YEE; SPACE FOR
MULTIPLI~ TASKS - "op~" @ once different tools; INhIVIpUAL & TEAM WORK;
PROSPECT; REFUGE.
Front a manager's vantage point, human values include (but are oat necessarily
3 0 liraited to):; USE OF SPACE PER TNIaIVII~UAi. often assumed to require a
compromise
between ecnnotnic pressures (less space) and knowledge work reqttiremeuts
amore space)_;
4
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WO 991~~417 ~ ~ PCT/US9anbOg3
WIRE MANAGEMENT - ; MANY WIRES -Chatigia~ all the tune; t~VOIl7 PLACEMENT
OF WIR.1;S IN aUILT WALLS; HUILD INTO WORK WALLS, FURNITURE,
ARM-ATURE 1;L1;MET1TS.; PLUG & PLAY - Code pifferences.
A particularly important coucettt is Ai~JUSTABILITY' which involves a variety
of
s obaectives, including (but rat limited to); M1NIMIZ.ING "PRIEST
HOOD°; ONLY USER
cONFIGURApLE "OFFICE scALE°' FuRNITUR>v sYSTFMS; TRUE ADJUSTABILITY
IS NOT "EVERYONE THi; SAM>r SO ANYONE CAN GO ~.NY~~"; SCALES OF
ApJUSTAI3ILiTY - Time, Physical, colas, texture, movement within personal
space within
team setups Building tp building.
x o Another important concern that is ftecluetrtly not addressed by standard
open space
systems is the desire far PLACE OWIJ!~RSH1P_ To address this concern, one muse
provide
the ability to Cust~amixr Individual Spaces to allow work process access and a
public/private
feel and to Customize Team Spaces. In short, users should be able to "Awa",
custamixe, keep
and evolve their components, including the ability to take components with
them (easily)
15 when they move.
COMPLE3~ITY: Existing Systertts inhereptly lack sufficient cot~plexity is make
arrangements that: Achieve density; Achieve individual user require space land
kinds of
spaces); Allow full use of foot print (tto wasted, single-use spaces); and
address: Pattern
Languages (pemonsu~ated values); Armature (Alexander, Ching, Greens, Flun and
arttnd);
2 A Prospect & Refuge (Gallager, hay); Order & Complexity; and Evalutiott &
Adaptation
DURABILITY- Modern systems best when new, the rnaterials not repairable, the
styles (limited by the system) do not have not intrinsic design - they get
old, dated. The
present invcntiort is intended w mellow (age gracefully), last for yea=s and
be easily Exed 8c
adapted. Far example, a atapdard straight work wall panel can: bang an wall;
fold an track
2 s or wheels; slide or double hang. Similarly, an individual pod can be one-
piece work
station, two, three, etc., to coutplete r4asa (ar "s" curve).
Within this universe of concerns, it is widely believed that there are
inherent
conflicts. Far example, the need for greater density, for more knowledge
worker space and a
greater variety pf knowledge wflrker wo;k space typically believed to directly
caullict with
3 a the need for sreater dassity- Likewise, the need far greater variety of
work space has been
viewed as r.~onflicting with the nerd for greater tuadulatity_
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99f~2Q17 ~ PCT1US9Snbi~3
Recently efforts have been focused on the human values concerns. In
particular, it has been recognized in the prior art (see i.lS Patent No.
5,68h,469 assigned to
Steelcase Imc.) that as modern offices become inemasitt6ly complicated and
sophisticated the
needs of the users for improved utilities support and collaborative work space
are increasirig_
s One important consequence of the advent of sophisticated electronic offices
is the imcseased
need and desirability for distributimg utilities throughout the various
offices im a manner
which can be readily controlled. The eycient rise of building Moor space is
also of goat
concern, particularly as buildins costs comtimuc to escalate. The inherent
nature of ttiodular
furniture systems, which permits them to be readily reconfigured into
different arrangements,
t.o makes it very difficult to achieve adequate utility distribution and
control.
So-called "open mice plans" typically comprise lame, apenn floor spaces in
buildings that are ftunished in a mammrr that is reconfigurable to
accQtnmodate the needs of a
specific user. Many such open plans includes movable partition panels that are
decachably
interconnected to partition off the open spaces into individual workstations
amd~or officrs.
15 Such partition panel$ are co>lf gored to receive hang-on furniture units,
such as wotksurlaces,
overhead cabinets, shelves and the like. A.n alternative arraagememt for
dividing and/pr
partitioning open plans includes modular furniture arransetuettts, in which
differently shaped,
freestanding furniture omits are interconnected in a side-by-side
relationship, with upstanding
privacy screens attached to at Least some of the furniture units to create
individual, distinct
z o workstations attd~or o~ces. As recognized in US Paten Na. s,65I , 219,
these types pf
conventional workstation anramgentents do not optimize human (i.e., economic
and pragmatic
design values. For example, conventi4nal designs of these types are trot
particularly adapted
to support workers engaged in group work, such as self managing rearms, or
others involved
in team problem solving tecbmiques, wherein a relatively large member of
workers front
a5 different disciplines, such as engincerin&, design, manufactu:ing, sales,
marketing,
purchasing, f nonce, etc., meat together as a group to define and review
issues, and set general
policy, and then brral: out into either smaller sub-groups, or iruo individual
assignments or
projects to resolve those specific problems relating w their particular
discipline. Group work
is steadily gaining itmportamce as a way of impravi~ productivity and time-
to~market,
s o thereby emphasizing the treed to support such activities more efficiently
and effectively.
6
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WO 99/32(117 ~ ~ PCTNS98I2bo~.3
In addition, built-in offices and conference rooms are typically expensive to
construct and maintain, arid are not usually considered an e~cierrt use of
space in open plan
environments. Where such conventional rooms are constructed inn rented office
space, they
become pennartent leasehold improvements, which must be depreciated over a
lensthy time
b period, and can net be readily moved upon the expiration of the lease. The
reconftguratian of
such spaces is quite messy, and very disruptive to conducting day-ta-day
business.
Furthermore, with conventional conference t~ootn arrangements, breakout
meetings among the
various sub-groups of workers often prove inconvenient, since the offices of
the participant
workers are seldom located in close proximity to the conference roam_
~a It is recognized that group problem-solving techniques ~cessarily involve
some degree of isiteracticnt between coworkers, thereby creating the steed in
furnishings far
modern office environments to promote the establishment of an optimum balance
between
worker privacy and worker interacuou.
'There have bean various attempts to address these pragmatic and ea4nomic
1.5 human concerns_ For example US Patent No. S,b84,469 assigned to Steelcase
Inc. proposes
a utility disuibuaon system far modular furniture of the type comprising
individual fumittue
units that are juxtaposed to form one or more workstatiosts.
US Patent Np. 5,675,949 assigned to Steelcase Inc. discloses a utility
distribution system is open once plans and Other similar settings, that
includes a
2 o prefabricated floor construction designed to be supported directly on a
building floor.
US Patent No. 5,651? 19 assigned to Steelcase Inc. describes a workspace
module for open plan spaces, and the like, that includes a compact footprint,
comprising a
freestanding framework suppnrtittg a three-sided partition to form an interior
Workspace and a
portal opeming for user ingress and egress.
2 s US Patent No. 5,651,219 seeks to provide a compact arid dynamic workspace
module that is particularly adapted to effectively and efficiently support
knowledge workers
engaged in group work activities in op~u plans, and the like.
US Patent No- 5,511,3x8 assigned w Steelcase Inc. discloses a furaitttre
system particularly adapted to suppon group activities err opera plans_ The
systctu includes a
3 o plurality of coluums supporting an overhead framework an the floor of a
building in a
freestanding fashion at a predetermined elevation, generally above average
user height_ A
7
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99r3Itl~~ ~ PCTNS9~IlbtlB~
plurality of individual panels are provided, wherein each panel is consaucted
to permit easy.
manual, bodily translation of the same by an adult user. ~ hanger arrangement
is associated
with the overhead framework, and cooperates with connectors on the panels to
detachably
suspead the panels at various locations along the overhead framework. The
panels are
s manually recortfigurable between trtany different arrangements tn ef~tci~tlY
and effectively
support different group activities.
While the designs described in these recent patents address some of the human
valua concerns by providing mote efficient systems, they fail to appreciate,
much less
addres$. the need to address architectural pattern language values. Rs a
result, the
~o components described are not sufficient to optimize both human and pattern
language values.
In addition, the emphasis on pragmatic and cxor~onnic Values has led to an
emphasis on
standardized systerus that attempt to achieve maximum ef'hciencY without
cQnsidesation of
other imporzattt values such as, high variety, the use of natural materials to
achieve true
durability, true reconfigurabiliry, architectural armature, prospect and
refuge and perhaps
a_5 most importantly, pattern language values.
Given the emphasis on efficiency and pragmatic arid economic concerts, it is
riot surprising that well known systeacts that address one or mose the
previously mentioned
objectives do so by sacrificing other objectives.
In particular, conventional furniture systettu do not allow optimixatio:i of
2 o human and pattern language values- With regard to Human Values, the
variety of furniture
and work space arrangements and configurations does not utatch the variety
needed to solve
the problems, i.e., to meet and optixaizx and (all the pragmatic, human and
economic) values.
In this way, furniture design limits the range of possible solutions sets and
limits the ability
to create ettvimnmenf~ that facilitate collaborative interaction. Moreover,
while pattern
2 ~ language values are well documented (see Alexander), most cannot be
achieved using
conventional "o~'the shelf' furniture components. Custom design i$ required.
This is very
expensive and non-standard and requires a case by case approach.
in addition, there is a continuia~ need to inceg:ate, psefesably in a s~tless
way, new technologies ipso the collaborative workspace. Before the advent of
the Internet,
distributing information to alt the interested decision maka~s was
prohibitively expensive.
Today, the wosld wide web is an unparalleled distribution channel, where the
cost to Iuovide
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I3~01'7 ~ ~ FCTNS9~Ibtl~3
information to art extra user is essentially xero_ This makes massive
distribution pf corporate
data economically feasible far the fast time in history. fuming every Iritemet
user into a
potential customer for dam.
Thus, them remains a need for a comprebet;sive systetri and ruethad that
provides an optimal solution by addressing each of these of these objectives
without
sacrificing other objectives.
~'1UMMARY OF TR INVENTION
The present invention bmadly relates to a syslemaac approach to the
~ o optimixauon of environments io facilitate the agent interactions occurring
within the
environments. The invention is, for example, useful in optimizing
collaborative
environments, but the invention is trot limited to such environments. The
invention also
provides novel environtnertts, including collaborative eaviroaments, that
result from this
systematic approach. The present iaventian is grounded iti the inventor's
recognition that
collaborative environments are complex systems that both include complex agent
systems
arid operate as agents within even largrr scale complex systems. As explained
below, The
present invention results fmm the synergistic eornbination of recent
technologies, insishu
into agent interaction arid insight itno the relationship between environment,
processes acid
tools.
2 o The system and method of the present invention as it pertains to
collaborative
environments provides a way-of working that unifies the value of AGENTS of all
kinds:
Human, machine, environmental atul a wide array of tools, infrasuucture
elem~ts and
niethads of inf4ranation storage and comstterce.
The scope of this invention rnlates u~ the facilitation and aufimentation of
physical,
a 5 mental and vi:usal Agents on multiple levels of recursion. It is a basis
of this invention that
all things (and "no.._things) can be seen and tseaied in the Language of
Object-Oriented
"code" that establishes a family of relationships and rules that govern the
interactions of the
Agents. Furr~hcr, that complex, emergent "life-like" systems involve the
interaction of
multiple Agents through multiple itesatiaus and on multiple levels of
rectusion; that complex
~ o behavior emerges as the consequence of iteration, recursion, feedback,
critical mass and the
specific .~gcnetic code" (rules, algoritxuns) that govern the interactions.
9
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WO 99/3ZOI7 ~ f~T/US98I2bt183
Complex behavior of complex systems is not predictable nor controllable in the
common sense of these words. This gives rise to many problems in the realm of
Human
actioms in complex creative relationships and economies. Prior to the present
invention there
has been na method arid system for describing, creating and acting upon Agents
in such a
way that desired results can be accomplished iw a reliable matmer witlrout
desuoying the
phenomena of "group getuus" and emergence thus degrading the result to a
simple-solution
that lacks adequate requisite variety with the situation in focus. in other
words, the limits of
the methods available, themselves, set the scope of the "solution-sets"
available that are
increasingly becoming categorically and systematically nonviable.
~.p As Humans struggle with the emerging coulplexiry, time compression. the
glob$1
nature and virtuality of the so called "Knowledge 1~eonnmy," these limits of
applying
essentially linear, sequential, "simple" methods to ever more complex
situations becomes
creates conditions that are increasingly unstable and dangerous.
There are myriad conditiotu that have to be understood, organized and acted
upon to
succeed in the realms covered by this invention; however, prior to this
invention, there exists
no unifying language, system and method of work to do so_ In the reaams of
Human work
processes, environments and tooling which facilitate creativity, as one
example, many
different languages are employed to "describe" phenomena and direct action.
'Ibis "Tower
of aabel" exists among the fields related to these realms - on the level of
recursion related to
2 o humans - arid, almost totally fails tn describe, recognize and provide
necessary structure
"below" (neural nets, computer codes, tool kits) and "above" (envirormnents,
systems,
organizations, networks, ecalogies) thus making unified, systeauic action
impossible. This
web of phenomena is seen atui treated as different, unrelated and often
contradictory (the
perceived conflict between human economies and natural ecology, as example).
This drives
x s immense confusion, poor utilization of resources apd an emergcra behavior
of increasing
instability in complex systems such as human cohaboration, large
organizations, global
networks and economies.
h is a significant insight of the present invention that a system and method
is required
to "see" and neat (act upon) collaborative workplaces within a broad bandwidth
in an unified
3 O way that:
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
w0 9913~I117 ~ ~ FCTIUS98l16083
1 ) Provides a language (pescriptive, Technical, Pattern Language, MAdeling I-
anguage,
Algorithm, Iaeep Language) that describes the necessary phenomena, from the
levels 4f
neural nets to global economies, as essentially similar and reoccurring, rule
based processes
that can be treated in consistent, concurrent engineering terms (in other
words, the similarities
s between the complex phenotnepa can be described)
2) Provides the ability to create envirpntnents (made up of processes,
envis4nsttents and tools
- which can bC also treated as Agents - so that Agents (pn the levels of
recursion from
computer code to networks) can be augmented, facilitated arid "acted upAn" in
such a way as
i o to systematically promote interaction, collaboration, synergy, leading to
desired emergent
laehavior;
3) Provides the processes and rules of interactiran so that the proper
facilitation of irueraction
among Agents (of many ~rireds) is accoutplished; so that collaborative
environments for these
7.5 Agents are created is this cotatext;
4) Provides the net result of Human collaboration and "group genius" (with
orders of
magnitude greater productivity and reduction of time and effort - theref4r
cost) able to reurain
requisite with the camplexiry that humans themselves are creating while being
able to better
integrate human actions with other natural phenomena.
One enabling cornpaneat of t~be present invention is an understanding of agent
(e.g.,
human) processes or interactions that oae wishes to facilitate. The presett~
inventors have, for
exautple, developed and published various detailed models pf the ct~ative
process and
z 5 collaboration that allow the system and method of the present invention to
be used to faster
grpup genius.
In general, the system and process of the present invention address
environment,
process and tools in a way that creates an iuiproved environment for group
interaction. At the
highest level, these areas are each addressed tbr4ugh description, explanation
atui xpocific
3 o physical examples. At a deeper level, the elements are addressed through
high~level manuals
written iu a language that can be unde:$wod by the agents. At a still deeper
level, the
II
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99~3Z01'~ ~ PCTlUS9811b0~3
essential concepts involved can be described in models andlor glyphs. The
glyphs are
original artistic expressions of concepts relating to group dynamics.
Cpllectively, the glyphs,
when used in connection with a grammar system, constitute a separate language
somewhat
analogous to a fourth-generation language. At a still deeper level, the
present invention
makes use of a series of rules ar algorithms that effect an envimnment,
process and tools.
The inventors have developed a modeling language and Sratttmar system to
describe
some of the concepts ttnderiyiag the system and method of the present
invention. This
language and grammar are reflective of elements of tools and other aspects of
the invention
and are thus critical to a full understanding of the medwd and system. Ta this
end, the
i o fAllowing brief definitions are set forth:
Ten Step Knowledge Mapagetaent: The engine for processing information from
events
through a knowledge base, into distribution, into design, and an to subsequent
events.
Scan-Fpaus-Act: A basic representation pf the creative process in three stages
(plus a
~.5 feedback element). Each of these stages are not --step" 1 the linear and
sequential settle,
but are "modes of operation" from which the material in hand is viewed and
acted upon.
ausirtess of l~nterprise: The nezwark-based architecture for linking the
functions of
production, investment, consumption and management in the Knowledge-based
ent~esprise.
a o Stages of as Enterprise: The Lifecycle of the enterprise including special
situatiaus such as
overshoot and collapse, turnarowtd, the entrepreneurial butian-
5 E's of Educstiou: The necessary and sufficient components of a complete
educational
package.
Vantage Paints: Seven shells Qf context from philosophy to task that crust be
in place far
2 s enterprises to maintain homeostasis.
Seven pornait4.s: The sever areas that are managed in every enterprise and
every activity of
the e:atesprise_ ~i~hett managed properly they ensure corporate health and
allow
Knowledge-based osgara;zatior~s to grow and profit.
Seven Stages of the Creative Process: Tlte most complex of the creativity
models
3 a developed by the present inventors, this model explains how problems are
created and
then salved in a process that is recursive, fractal, cyclic and nonlinear in
character.
1?
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I32t11~ ~ ~ PCTNS98lZ6i»3
~Spaze: The ' Spoze model holds the secret far allowing systeuas to evolve in
rapidly
changing environments and Yet maintain their own homeostasis and identity.
Fmerprises
use ' Spoze to innovate without baying to grab on to every new idea that
passes by.
Apprppriate Response: Fvery stage of the Creative Process involves producing a
result.
Superior results can be obtained by ftlteriag ar testing competing designs
through the six
elrments of this model.
Three Cat: We all build tuerttal concepts of how things work by observing
reality. But to
came»t the learning, we must build models that exemplify our concept and test
these
models against what we observe to coufirnt our understanding.
1 A pesign Huild Use: Tlie unfolding of a project or creation over time is an
interactive. iterative
game between the designer, builder sad user. However, when wa malcc the
process linear,
discrete and focused nn being "finished", the autcotne is a tiontiving aae_
Creating the Pr4bleta: 'Ibis model explores the relationship between vision
and condition
that creates the "problem." It continues with a description of the tug and
pull of creative
a.5 tension that brings the vision stud cotulitions together to create a new
condition.
The l.earaiug Potb: Five Points pf Mastery: Ipstead of the three traditional
roles of
education (student, teacher, administrator), we present five: the learner, the
sponsor. the
expert, the facilitator, and the steward. In high performance envisatuttents
each individual
moves from mle to role sometimes in rapid succession and sometimes in cycles
that span
2 Q years.
The Four Sup Iteereative Process: The creative prcxess has many facets arid
can be
understood and practiced from many different vantage points. 'Tire Four Step
model
ernpbasizes the activity of rrcreation betvvecn each stage of the creative
process and shows
this recreation as a wave and a particle phenamepan--linear and ncm-Linear
approaches.
2 s F-ach of these essetuial concepts casr be described in models andlar
glyphs. The
glyphs arc original artistic expressions of concepts relating to group dues.
Collectively.
the glyphs, whey used irr cocuuxtio» with a grammar system, constitute a
separate language
SAr~ICVlihal ati~l~gflus t4 A f4utth-generation language.
To achieve the stated and other objects of the present invention, as embodied
and
o described below, the inveatioa includes a method for fostering creativity
cptnprising the steps of
identifying a number of ageras atxl selecting a subset of these alts based an
certain
13
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 99l32(!I7 ~ P~TIUS9~11b083
determined criteria and other methods. An envimnzztent for creative
interaction is prepared, and
the agents selected are placed within this environment. Work is then
perforated on these agents
in order to develop a result. The result is them evaluated, which prAduces a
first new agent.
'This first new agent produced is then testod.
s Further, the fuss new agent may be added as an agent to the existing
environment,
added as an element of the environment, or added as additional work to be
performed in the
environment by the agents, and the process of the present invention is then
repeated with this
new element to produce a second new agent.
in addition, the first new agent may be added to an external envimntxtent,
wherein the
lA first new agent i$ altered and may return ar produce a third new agent for
return, in which
case, the altered first new agent or the third new agent is added as an agent
to the cxisciag
environment, added as an element of the environment, or added as additional
worf: to be
performed in the environment by the agents, and the process of the present
invent-ion is then
repeated with this new element to produce another new ageat-
25 The method is consistently repeated until a pattern appears. 'This pattern
can be
readily identified and discussed using the specific language developed by the
present
illvenTol'S.
In a broad sense the present invention is the resuh of the synergistic
combination of
emerging technologies, with eme;grog insights as ro human processes and
emerging insights
2 o as io the relationship of between the two, i.r_ how things that are
perceived at different Ievel
of consciousness a~'ect human processes. Thos, technologies that enable rapid
recp~gtua~on of environments are an impor~artt component of the present
invention_ This
applies not only to reconfigtuable fwniture (which the inventors have
developed) but also,
lighting, sound and other sensory experiencxx that we now know affect human
processes. As
2 s the ability to control the sensory inputs to agents within an environment
incmase, the
usefultres$ of the precept invention increases.
The ability to control sensory inputs tn agents operating within an
environment is thus
an important enabling techaalogy for the piesera invention. Thus, far example,
the active
control of lighting within an envuotuneut. which is by itself well known, is
incorporated into
a 0 the systerri of the psesent invention to achieve a synergistic
improveiuent in human pmcesses-
1~
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
w
There has been recent innovations in acoustic technologies that the present
inventors
have found can be used to achieve similar control of sound within an
environment- Iri
particular, much of the past 40-plus years of loudspeaker development has
revolved around
identifying, understanding and then suppressing diaphragm resonance arsd their
resulting
coloration and 'smear'. Now a new drive unit technolopr that, rather than
attempting to
eliminate diaphragm t~esotu~, encourages and exploits it has been introduced.
This new
speaker technology, iptroducxd by New Transducers Ltd_ Of England, is referred
to as
distributed mode speaker technology.
hiscributed mode speaker technology involves treating a diaphragm vibrating
randomly across its surface rather than coherently. Each small area of the
panel vibrates, in
effect, independently of its neighbors, rather than in the fixed, coordinated
fashion pf a
pistonic diaphragm. Such a randomly vibrating diaphragm behaves quite
differently because
power is delivered to the rne~chanical resistance of the panel, which is
constant with
frequency. The radiation resistance is now insignificant because the air close
to the panel
also mpves in a random fashion, reducing the effective air load. This means
that diaphragm
dimensions no longer control directivity: ypu can make the radiating area as
large as you
want without high fretluency output becoming confined to a ttatrow solid angle
about the
forward axis. Such diaphragm behavior clearly opens up the possibility of a
full-range driver
freed fro~u the fanuliar restraints and couzpromises. The distributed mode
speaker does not
2 o actually make the diaphragm vibrate randomly, but instead simulates this
by using
distributed-mode operation. Z~dally this involves encouraging the diaphragm to
produce
the maximum number of bending resonanccs, evenly distxibuted in freguency. The
resulting
vibration is so complex that it approximates random motion.
There are also numerous spin-of~'bencfits. As well as being ittsensitivc to
diaphragm
2 '; size, the acoustic behavipr (other than sensiti~iry) is unaffected by
diaphragm mass. The
techaolosy is truly scaleable: you can make the panel large without
dit~ectiviry or treble
response suffering. In fact it actually improves in performance as it is
increased in size
because the frcqueucy of tyre fundamental be~ndiug resonance is lowered, which
not only
extends the bass response, but also increases modal density in the nod and
high frequencies.
3o The diaphragm of a distributed-tuode loudspeaker vibrates in a complex
pattern over
its entire surface. Glose to the diaphragm the sound field created by this
coiuplex pattern of
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 99/32Q1~ ~ PCTIUS98r11~i
vibration is complex also, but a short distance away it takes on the far-field
characteristics of
the distributed-triode loudspeaker tadiation_ This is close to the directivity
of a true point
source - i.e. approaching ottuiidirectionality - even when the diaphragm is
guiet large relative
to the radiated wavelength.
Distributed mode is a highly determiaisuc tectutology: the acoustic
pesfartnatzce of an
distributed mode pastel can be very accurately predicted once a few key
parameters are
specified relating to the size and shape of the panel, the positiotsing and
electromechanical
properties of the exciter(s), sad the material properties of the panel
tttaserial itself.
Ts~ aid the designs process, a commercially available software suite is
available that
offers three layers of sophistication according to user requirements. At the
sixuplest level you
can unput target specif cartons and the software wil! design, a solution for
you. Or you can
delve deeper into the design process by specifying different panel material
properties and
_ perfotinixig sophisticated 'what if analyses m which different aspects of
the design are shared
and the autcotnes assessed.
Currently knows uses of distributed mode speakers include ceiling tile
loudspeakers,
baruter loud speakers and slide out ultra thin lap top computer speakers. It
is clear, however,
that the significance of distributed mode speaker technology to the design of
eravisotunents is
not fully understood or appreciated. Indcxd, as explained below, the present
invention
prcavides are significant new uses of distributed mode speakers that have not
previously been
z o coate~plated.
One embodiment of distributed triode speaker systettt looks like lime buttons,
a
plurality of which are located on a plane, for example, a panel such as a thin
foarti core board.
In operation, the entire plane vibrates and creates an incredible acoustic
effect. The acoustic
e#ect is particularly interesting because it tends u~ be u»idisectiopal, in
outer wards, it tends
2 5 TO cOtne from that surface forward so that you hear it but it doesn't fill
up the space. 'thus,
the sound coutittg from the speaker is heard if arse is in front of the pie of
the speaker you
hear it, but not heard very well if one is adjacent as amuad from the plane of
the speaker.
.AUoiher feature of disuibuted utode speakers is that the elecuonics by which
this is done is
such that the feedback that one normally get when t~cosding arid playing back
in the same
3 o roam is elitszittated
16
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WO 9913ZQ17 ~ ~ PCT/US981~b1183
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, distributed made
speakers
can be thoroughly integrated into a coltabotaTive euvirottment. For example,
the distributed
made speakers can be built irno the furtcicuse, knowledge objects, signs,
walls and ceiling tiles
or even into the floor (recognizing, of cpurse, that different materials have
more of an
acoustic range).
In addition, from the vantage point of the design of envirwlmeats, there is
another
significant featuse of the distributed mode speaker design: they are
inexpensive and thus can
be ubictuitous within the envisprunent. Ii follows that the distributed mode
technology can be
combined with other acoustic technologies that are known to affect
envirotunepcs including
1 o sound, music; white noise; sound cancellation. The emergence of
techtwlogies, such as the
distributed mode speaker, that make it possible w conuol these acoustic
effects make is
possible, within the context of the present invention, to systetnaticaliy
corurol sound within
an environment to, for exarriple to facilitate a:s objective such as
facilitating collaboration.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to create an '-
acoustic
l~ space" within any environment by, for example, building an array of
spr.atcers throughout the
environment and conuolling the speakers (through a mixer or the like? w
broadcast music,
white noise ar cancellation in various cosnbinaaans to create an acoustic
space. This makes it
possible to coturol the sound within the acoustic space in a systematic way to
achieve a
desired objective_ For example it is possible to defuse and cosstrol the sound
within several
2 0 acoustic spaces defined within a collaborative environment so as to
facilitate the activity
occurring within each space. It is possible, for example to amplify someone's
voice and play
it back So Softly Shat in effect you really wouldn't know that you have
amplified that voice, it
is possible to control the amount of reverberation that the room bas, it is
possible to take
space that doesn't have any of those characteristics and you create that
rtwerb, it is possible to
2 5 select certain fiecluencies that you want to cattccl out while yQU are
doing this at the same
time. It is possible to cFeate dead acoustic spaces. Mote importantly, it is
possible to create
live acoustics that have certain characteristics and if people are in a live
acoustic space,
they'll stop shouting over things. l3ecaust occupants will adjust how they are
talking io the
acoustics of their place. In short, it is possible to a~ively controlled
acoustic spaces
~ o within the environment -- the number of discrete spaces and the precision
by which they are
controlled is principally dependent upon the sire of the envimntnent and the
investment iu
17
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 9~113=tll7
PCT~lJS9~bp~3
hardware components_ One can create a different kind of acoustic space, not
only as a fixed
space but variable. A computer and other equipment can be used to izzomit4r
the acoustic
space and show active control by a computer pragraramed to establish different
kinds of
spaces and do space characteristics and shape the acoustic space as you want.
Precise control of soupd is useful in the design of other environments es well-
Far
example, in the transportacioa envirorument, sound can be controlled to
achieve an objective
such as passenger comfort in accordance with the presen~ invenzi4n.
Of course, there are exiszimg technologies fos actively controlling lighting
and
emerging technologies for control of smell and taste. All of these
technologies are preferably
employed to the extent practical.
In this way the epvimnment is controlled in relationship;o stn: crcat;v~
pro~eas. 'Ih;s
1S passlble to the eXtent that those things That stimulate the senses (arid
zhtis affect Lhe
environment) such as sound, light, smell can be actively controlled in
relationship to the
process.
Thus, the present invention provides an environment in which the co~guratiou
of
furniture, iightimg, and sound cats all be actively conuolled in relationship
to ~e proce$s
being conducted within zbe enviroutnent_ To use this envirournenc to
facilitate cc~uabosazion
4f agents within art environment, for example, sae must have a model of the
process being
conducted within the environment. In the case of problem solving, far example,
the present
2 o inventors have, as noted above, developed models of the creative process
and collabc~rapan
that allows one to undtrszand bow an envuonmenc should be controlled at
various stages of
agent lnTeraCZtOn.
The environrneut can be tailored to a process occurring wi'n the envirantztent
provided the process is mapped. The present inventor have, as discussed above,
developed a
map of the creative process referred to as a "solution box"_ The solution box
is a ~x7x7 three
diznensianal grid tnappimg I>esigm against Formation against Vantage Point
that define whez~
a group is within the creative process. Based an one's location within the
solution box a
~-pecifac kind rtf environment zhaT will facilizaie the process is defined.
The system of the
present invemtion makes it possible, therefore, to facilitate a process in
real tizue by modeuzag
3 o the process as a mulzi-step process, defining envimntnental
characteristics that facilitate
various steps in the process determining is real time where one ar mare agents
are within the
l~
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
wo 9913~pW ~ ~ PCTNS9a/'lfip83
process, and controlling the configuration, lighting, sound or other sensory
aspects of the
environment based on the agents location within the process.
The present invention thus prAVides an environment that is reconfigurable ~
facilitate the interaction of agents (humans, machines, groups, organizations
and
combinations thereof), within the environment in accordance with a
predetermined model of
the iraeraction of the agents that prescribes appropriate environment
conditions based an the
status of agent interaction within the system of the interaction of the
agents. The environment
includes means (such as sensors or human observers) far determining the
location of physical
compone»ts within the envimtuneat, means (such as humans or machines moving
1o recorifigurable componetus) for reconfiguring physical components within
the environment,
meat3s (such as sensors or human observers) for determining the lighting
characierisiics in a
plurality of discrete regions within the environment, means (such as hw~s
and~or
computers moving recanfigurabie components or pperatiag adjustable components)
far
adjusting lighting within the environment, means (such as sensors or human
observers) far
15 monitoring sound within the environment, tans (such as humans attdlor
computers moving
reconfigurable coruponents Ar operating adjustable components such as
distributed mode
panel speakers) for adjusting sound within the environrtient, ~»e~s (such as
sensors ar hutssan
observers) far monitoring and determining the status of agent interaction
within the
environment; and means (burnans or computers controlling components) f4r
reconfiguring
2 o physical components and ac~justipg lighting and sound within the
eavirontnertt in response to
the determination of the status of agent interaction within the environment.
The environment can include a variety of reconftgurable components iticludiug,
without limitation, calling waric walls, workpods an rolling casters, rollir~
kiosk components,
stackable shelf cubes, rolling wing work surface components.
2 5 The insight of the present inventi4n is that "su~ucture wins" and that the
factors
liraiting the present economy are intrinsic, su ucttual and technical. It is
not simply a mauer of
Human imagination, level of effort ar goad will. To appropriately effect a
complex system
one must act upon the system as a system. To do this-t~he Law of Requisite
Variety (Ashy,
Beer) must be met. >;xisting processes, u~ols and envirotuuerus do not allpw
thin-
s o Many aspects of the present system-in-place are contrary to the precepts
and necessary
cond'stions for the emergence of a true Knowledge Frconomy. 'This is a
"technical" pmblem
19
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WA 9/32017 ~ PcT/US98l1b0>i3
and the languages, methods and tools of the present econoruy, as expressed in
business,
economics, politics and social theory cannot address the necessary levels of
"action" that am
required. The technical system of communication, banking and legal structums
further
impede growth and traltsitian. The Industrial Econatny cannot evolve into a
Knowledge
Fcanamy - there are too many systems-in-.place that cannot be t~emoved without
causing
premature failure on the existing order. This would have disastmus results.
However, the
emerging eleuienrs of the new ecanotny are driving unprecedented grpwth and
eoraplexity
that can "blow up " the present systera's ability to respond. Many "solutions"
actually
increase catnplexity further thu$ increasing the rate of decline of the system
that was "fixed."
This is the result of too rt~any, misplaced positive feedback loops built into
many key
elements of the system_
A new system has to be put in place that can exist in parallel with the old
while
augsnenting the Industrial 1~conamy and replacing it over time. This process
has to allow
"Graceful Failure". The present invention, therefore, composes a whale system
that can
emerge, incrementally, augment the existing order but, ultimately, create a
system with orders
of magnitude more flexibility and capability of processing camplexiTy.
In a broad sense, the interaction and integration of coruponents and other
"agents"
within the collaborative envirorusrent and the recursive and iterative aspects
of the system of
the present invention relate to the issue of intelligent enviranruems. An
example of this is
z o that an Agent on the level of an JAVA Appiet is seen to be no different
rhea a human Agent
iu a DesignShop or a Kn~where Store (as arr) Agera in a Network. All of these
agents $ct by
rules and can lae facilitated. The present inventors have found that it is the
similarities among
these agents that are critically important. All these exhibit many of the same
behaviors and a
tnind~brain neural Agent as described by Miusky. In contrast, differences are
species specific
2 s and thus less relevant to the overall system and process of the present
invention.
'ft>~e vantage point of similarities among vastly "different" agents then
offal a new
perspective for designing collaborative envimnrnents. This insight, in
addition to iteratiazi
and recursion critical mass and cuwaiiunetst, are the foundations here for
truly intdligeni
systetns_
2Q
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I32Q1 ~ ~ ~ PCTNS98/2bA&;
In particular, the system of the present invention includes a plurality of
real agents
cacti real agent having a plurality of characteristics. Agents are used in the
sense previously
defined.
The system fiuther includes means for creating vinuai agents to rept~esent
real agents
in the $ysteiu, tech of the agents containing data corresponding to same
characteristic of the
real agent represented. 'f his means c$n be a computer capable of copying
computer code to
replicate another agent or biochemical replicatars or humans creating copses
of agetus.
Humans, teams, groups and organizations eau create models.
The system ftucher includes means far allowing at least same of the agents to
control
~.o the degree tp which data corresponding to characteristics is revealed to
other agents. Humans
and agents at higher levels of recursion (teams, groups organizations etc.)
plainly tsave this
capability and computers can be prograttuned to create software agents (e.g.,
objects ar
applets) that reveal mort or less data to other agents. This feature can also
be achieve
through known biochemical techniques_
t. ~ The system fiuther includes means for allowing agents w control Acher
agents,
including themselves. Humans and other agetus operating at higher levels of
recursion
typically can coptrol themselves and agents at lower levels of recursion,
including tools.
Human agents and agents operating at higher levels of recursion can, but da
not necessarily
have control, over agetus at their own level of recursion. Computers can be
used to create
2 a software agents (e.g., objects or applets) that control other software
objects.
The system fitrtlter includes means for at least some of the virtual agents
having an
accessluse characteristic that allows access or use only to agents having
access privilege
corresponding to the agent. Cpmputers can be used to create software agents
(e.g., objects or
applets) that have an accessW se characte;istia_ '1"here are also knawu
biochemical techniques
25 for controlling access. At the huuian level and higher levels of
rectu~siou, there are numerous
was of cantmlling access, including, without limitation, password protection,
locks and
biometrics tools.
The system further includes means for allowing the agents to posses access or
use
privileges with respect to access or use of other agents. Computers can assign
or grant
s o privileges to software agents (e.g., objects or applets). There am also
known biochemical
techniques for graruing access to certain agents, but not others. At the human
level and
21
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99/32017 ~ PCT/US98J1bp83
higher levels of recursion, there are ntunemus ways of gaining access,
including, without
limitation, key passwords, locks and biometrics characteristics.
The system also includes means for allowing agents to control what is rcwealed
by
Those agents that they c,~ntral. Computers can limit the degree to which
software agents (e.g.,
objects ar applets) comuiunicate whiz one another. There are also kttawn
biochemical
techniques for determining certain charactesistics of other agents, but rwt
others. At the
human level and higher levels of recursion, there are nutnenous Ways of
limiting disclosure_
The system also incltules means for allowing agents to modify the agents that
they
control. This means can be a computer capable of altering computer code to
modify another
i o agent or biochemical replicatoss or humans creating copies of agents.
Humans, teams, groups
and organizations can modify models and lower level agents and sosue ag~tss at
or $laove
their own level of recursion.
The system also includes means for allowing agents to replicate other agents
to the
extent the characteristics of the other agents are revealed. Again, tabs means
cart be a
1s computer capable of copying computer code to replicate another agent or
biochemical
replicatars or hurrtans creating copies of agents. Huu~ans, teams, groups and
organizatiAns
can create models and other agents through copying what they Observe.
The system als4 includes means far measuring actual perfartnance of agents.
Any
lcnowp rsieasuremeat means cart be used. The trieasusemetlt may be objective,
e.g., a quantity
2 o or measured value ar the measurement rosy be subjective, e.g., ..good" or
"bad."
The system also includes means fear inputting expected perfosntartce of
agents. The
means for inputting may be a human tn computer tiara interface, caspmunication
between
software objects, biochemical communicarian, a statement of goals and
objectives.
The systeun also includes means fete comparing actual performance of ageslts
to
z s expected performance of agents The comparison may be objective, e.s., a
difference between
a desired and actual qsaarttity or measured value or the compasison relay be
subjective, e.g.,
..goals met" or "objectives achieved."
The system also includes means far modifying agents based an the diffcrencc
between
actual perforutauce of agents and expected perforrnance of agents. Again, this
rueans can be
3 o a caraputer capable of copying computer code to modify another agent or
biochemical agents
or humans altering of agents. Human's, teattts, groups and organizations cats
modify rnadels
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99J~2077 ~ ~ PCTNS~8IZb4la3
and Qiher a~exl~S tIITOLt'f~1 alterll7~ T11C CWllpa~altioll Of the went
COmponentS, e.$., the mCnlbeIS
of a steam ar the objects used in an "electmnic" environment.
The system also includes means for allowing communication between agents
limited
to what the agents reveal about titernselves. Tbene are myriad forms of agent
communisation
from direct human to human communication to biochemical seactian to elecuanic
communication to communication through tterworked computers. Any known means
of
COmmuriiCatiOn Inlay be uSCd.
The system also includes means far determining the location of agents within
the
system. Again, any known means may be used- Computers can track and keep
records of the
location of objects in the system or software objects can be prograzzuned to
repor~ their own
location. With human dents and tools, GPS is an effective way of
ccmununicating an agents
location to an elecuanic agent. Any of the senses smell, sound, visual touch
can be used to
determine location, hawever-
The system also includes means for determining the health, status or condition
of
1 s agents within the system. Any known means tray be used for this purpose.
At lows' levels
of recursion direct measurement is possible with tools or systems. At higher
levels of
recursion health, status or condition can be sensed ar monitored
electronically or dctcrlained
through inspection by other agents.
The system also includes means for determining the value that other agents
places an
2 o access, control, use or communication of another agent and report. 'f lre
means employed can
be any form of market (live or virtual), an auction, an electronic or textual
reference table,
e.g., ~'the Blue Hook" ar a table of Pattern Language values, a physical
characteristic, e_g.,
.'attraction" or actuarial tables and statis~sical analyses.
The present invention also contemplates a variety of methods for optimizing
interaction among agents that include various combinations of the foilawing
steps: creating
virtual agents to represent real agents in the system, each of the agents
aonca~uing data
corresponding to same physical characteristic of the real agent represented;
at least some of
the agents can cantsnl the degree to which data corresponding w physical
characteristics is
reveled to other agents ; allowing agents to control other agents, including
themselves; at
3 0 least same of the virtual agents baying an accessluse characteristic that
allows access or use
only to agents having access privilege c~spoading to the agent, allowing the
agaus to
23
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I~~017 ~ 9CT~US98/2b003
p~Srfs aCCe55 ar uSC privileges with reSpeCt to aCCeSS pr uSe Of aThGr a$GnIS;
allovVin$ a$entS
to canuol what is revealed by those agents that they control: allowing agents
to modify the
agents that they control; allowing agents to replicate other agents to the
extent the
characteristics of the other agents are revealed; measuring actual performance
of agents;
s inputting expected perfatmance of agents; coraparing actual performance of
agents to
expected performance of agents; modifying agents based on the difference
between actual
pesformattce of agents and expected performance of agents; allowing
cpmRtunication between
agents limited to what the agents reveal about themselves; determining the
location of agents
within the system; determining the health, status or condition of ageucs
within the system;
~a determining the value that other agents places on access, control, use ar
communication of
another agent and report.
Ir< a more specific sense, the present invention provides a systeut and
components for the system to make it possible to optimize the design of a
collaborative worl
space both in tetras of human, pragmatic and economic values as well as panern
language
1s values. In part, the present invention results from the present investors'
recognition that
systems constructed using linear arrangements of rectangulariy-based
components are a
source of the problem. The variety of pbjeceives that one wotstd ideally like
to achieve in a
collaborative work spacx capnot be achieved through the flee of lGfloWn
campotients. pre
array of new components is regtiired. Thus, the pre~t invention provides a
series of
2 o components and a system far using these components in combination to
achieve results that
have oat heretofore been obtainable.
In contrast to conventional collaborative enviroruRents that do not address
the
entire range of basic human reqttiremeRts (they require compromise aad
tradaoff~, there is no
need to compratnise with the system of the present invention. The pscsent
invention provides
2 5 collaborative work spaces, high density, g~r~eatGr individual control,
larger work spaces,
adjustabiliry and recottfigtuability, addresses pattern language values attd
provides campttter--
augmented design and facility tuattagement.
The present invention also provides a system for fatxlitating design attd
management of collaborative work spaces. The system is based as the
recognition that a
3 o collaborative work cnvimnmettt is a collection of objects and that the
system hay tubs. Thus,
the system of the present invention kn4ws the cost of certain objects, knows
the architectural
~a
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 9913~Q17 ~ ~ PCT/US98ls6p83
rules, knows the architectural values and knows the rules of pattern language.
This is
achieved thx4u~h the use of values stored in tnernary tables or the like.
Moreover, the system
can adjust the relative values of things such as architectural values based an
a customer's or
client's objectives. The system includes means, preferably elecunnic display
monitors, for
s displaying environmental layout and means, such as icaas, for graphically
represetttiug
objects within the environment. The user can "pick up" and place the objects
in desit~ed
lacatians within the environment. The system knows the cost of the objects
selected, the
architacturai rules concerning its placement, the architectural values
associated with particular
objects in the rules of pattern language. In addition, the system can provide
the iota! cost as
well as architectural values score ar in the pattern language score, on a real
time basis.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the system of the
present invention can be usrd to manage the environment. In particular, the
system can be
designed so that the individual system knows what objecu are in the
environment and where
those objects are (how the environment is configured). This can be achieved in
a variety of
15 ways such as by placing chips in each of the objects or placing sensors
within the
environment. In this way, the system can monitor an environment once in place
and std a
warning, if, for example, an object is tnaved into a place that is
architecturapy unacceptable
(e.g_, asr abject is irroved to place where it blocks the door). Thus, in
suwrnary, the system
facilitates bath design and placement of ftuniture in office, home and other
envimnmeszts and
2o also monitors the environment once in place. This is done through a
systeru, which can be a
central computer andlor plurality of individual objects rietwarked, so long as
the system
knows what the objects are and what they can do, the rules applicable to the
envirpntneut and
the objects and where the object$ arse and how they are configured. Thus, tIu'
systcut knows
its environment, knows what objects are in its envirantnerit and what the
rules applicable to
z 5 that envirottntent ate.
The present invention also relates to various furniture companetus that make
it
possible to aptivnize human and arctiitcctural pattern language values in a
collaborative work
environment. In general, a cailahosative work eavirortment may be thought of
as including
various levels of components. In coaneetion with the component descrsbed in
this
s o application, the componeats tray be grouped in the f411owing levels (from
lowest to highest):
2~
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I32QI ~ ~ PGT/1JS98lt60$3
1. Sila-COMPONENTS: including, for example, secretaries, #'~le cabinets,
pigeon
holes and shelves
Ii. PIECES: including, for example, dogs (work units), wings, tables,
~o~ -
III_ SYSTEMS including, for example, CubeofliceTM , WorkPodr"'',
OctopusTN (inside air moving units ~
lighting)
rv. woRK wALL.s~ including, far example, fixed walls, toning wails,
sliding wails, folding walls, and dbl. hung walls.
'~R~ including, far example, beams, trellises, chases, path
1' edges ark bases.
At the hi~est levels (aside from cities and regions theuzselves), the
tnvironnterst also
includes buildings and the rooms within the buildings. The present invention,
however,
relates priruarily to components below these as listed above. These
coruponents are described
2 o in the figures.
Onr of the principal advantages of the system of the present irtvenpan is that
the coiuponents are provided (as shown in the drawings) that allow optimi~auan
of Pattern
Language values. arlthough certain pattern language values have been used
extensively in
custom designs by architects such as Wright, there has to date been na way to
address mast of
the pattern language values catalogued by Alexander in practical way with
conventional off
the shelf furniture, much less futnitttse that also addresses human values
such as economic
efficiency, mobility adjustability and the like. Thus, a remarkable aspect of
the system of the
present inventipn is that comppncnts allow pne to addrrss at least 100 of the
X53 pan~n
language values catalogued by t~lexander. Fuxther info:ruation concerning
these pattern
3 O language values u~ay be gle~ued fmm "_A Pauern Lane ~~ Christopher
Alexander 1977. .
~b
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 99I32t13~ ~ ~ PCTNS9aI2bQ83
Another impartaxtt aspect of a collaborative environtrtent is access to
information- A.t
otte level this need can be addressed by providing various printed materials
throughout the
work space. The ft>rniture camponettts of the present invention are well-
suited for this
purpose in that they include a variety of shelf space, work surfaces and
display sm'faces. The
work space should, however, also include access to elecuohic databases
including the Internet
and data warehouses. To facilitate such access, the ehvirotunehts of the
present inveutiott
preferably include display monitors throughout the space and fitrniture
components are
designed to movably support such monitors. In addition, the fianiture
components attd
armature elements are designed to conceal or guide cables and wires connected
to elecuohic
~o cotupanents. This colleatiott of compottettts and their arrangement within
the environments
(as shown in the drawings) are able to provide total seamless media ihtegrauah
within tire
environment. In addition, the system is highly scaieabie and adaptable to new
technologies
that are haw widely available or likely to become widely available ih the next
few years,
iucludihs large scale electronic work walls, electronic assistants, electronic
displays, teal time
video conferencipg, iritclligeht agents and data warehouses. Collectively,
these corhpottents
provide ari ehvjsoruheht in which information can be made available as needed,
i.e., "just in
time trifonmattoa," and remote collaborattou 15 searttlass.
Thus, the System and method of the present ihvehtiosi pmvide an ideal
environrheut for the integration of data mining t~alogy in which ihfotthatioh
flows freely
2 o as heeded ih a frictionless market so that decision makers can obtain all
the infarntaaorf they
nred when needed from data warehouses. Specifically, the envimnmestt inctud~s
a complete
range of fully integrated media soutues and displays so that, far example, a
fcnowledge
worker can turn on a computer tworkstatiott, network computer, lap top, PDA ar
ititelligeut
assistatu), and ask any question from any database anywhere, in the lathe way
that a
2 a knowledge worker today can pick up a telephone, and talk to anybody
anywhere-. The
present invention provides the overate process and environmem to take full
advantage of
' just ih time itifmmatiou" and integrate this ihfotulatiott into the
collaborative work space.
Thus, the present invezuion provides several functional advantages aver known
systems. To begirt with, the present iavehtioh makes it possibly to deaigtt
practical laYo~ of
3 A cotriponezits that ca~ot be provided using a known systems based op
rectangular
componetus. The system of the present inver<uott is useful is facilitating the
iutesactior
27
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99!32019
PC'1'I1.1S98IZb083
among agents, i.e., creating an environment for facilitating the interaction
among agents
including humans and machines. Moreover, the present inve»tion makes it
possible, for the
f rst lime to address pattern language values using standard coruponeuts. In
the past, known
standardixxd systems have not been particularly useful in addressing pattern
langc~age values.
$RL>E,F )dESCRI,PTION OF THE nQ~~«~~
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
attached drawings
in which:
Fi&ure 1 is a block diagram of a single iteration of art embodiment of the
present
~a invention.
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the process of a decision point element
contained
in the block diagram of a single iteration of an etubodimeztt of the present
inventiprt.
Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the plurality of agents ~d their
fusZCtions_
Figure 4 is a block diagratu showing elrmetus of the envimnment.
Figure S is a block diagram illustrating important components of the
performing work
element of an ernbodiznextt of the present inveruion_
Figure 6 presents examples or elements of the altered or output agent produced
by
iterations of an embodimcttt of the precept invention.
Figure 7 contains exasrtples or elements of the output agent and new
environn>ent
2 0 interaction.
Figures x and xA show a high Ievel sys~n >Zow dial of the sysism of the
present
invetitiQtl.
Figtu~e h8 shows a sketch of a collaborative work erivirouanent a~4t~iing to
the
present invention. The environment includes tools according to the present
invention as well.
Figure 9 shows a high level view of a system configuration according to the
present
inventi4n.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of nit adjustable height rolling kiosk
cotapouent
sh4wn at a reduced height and docked with an adjustable height mhing wing work
surface
~=np4nent.
28
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 9913~Q1 ~ ~ ~ PCTNS~bII~
Figures I 1 and 1 I t~ are perspective vi~wv of portions of an envirotunent
according to
the present invention showing rolling curved WorkWahs seating sl>rfaces and
multimedia
corripopeuts.
Figure 12 is another perspective view of potuons of an euvirontment according
to the
present invention showing reGOnfigurable work areas defined, part, by rolling
hinged
WorkWalls.
Fisures 13 is perspective views of Work Pod components according to the
present
invention showing various possible configu:atioas.
Figure 14 is a schematic view of a polycentric work area layout.
1 o Figure 15 is a perspective vices of cube office components ir<cludiag
shelf cubes and
base units.
Figure 16 is a top perspective view of one form of cube once systcm.
D~rwyD DESC~trrt~H
In a broad sense the present invention is the result of the synergistic
combination of
emergistg technologies, with emerging insights as w husnarr processes and
etacrgittg insights
as to the relationship of between the two, i.e. how things that are perceived
at different level
of consciousness affect human pmcesses. Thus, technologies that cttable rapid
reconfiguration of environments are an important component of the present
invention. This
2 a applies not only to recoafigurable fiunituse (which the inventors have
developed) but also,
lighting sound and other sensory expcrienrxs that we noes kt,ow affect hucnau
processes. As
the ability to control the sensory inputs to agents within an envimnment
increase, the
usefulness of the present inveruioa iucreascs.
Another prerequisite of the present invention is an understanding of agent
(c.g.,
human) processes that ono wishes to facilitate. The present inventors have, as
previously
noted, developed and publishcd various detailed models of the creative pmcess
that allows
the system and method of the presestt invention to be used to foster group
genius
In geurral, the system and pso~ss of the present invention address
envisantttertt,
process and tools in a way that creates a:i impmved environment for group
interaction. At the
3 o highest level, these areas are each addressed through description,
explat>ation and specific
physical examples. At a deeper level, the elements are addressed through high-
level manuals
29
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
W~19913Z01 ~
PCTNS9~/2bIt93
written in a lar~uage that can he understood by the agents. At a still deeper
level, the
essential concepts involved can be described in models andlar glyphs. The
glyphs are
original artistic expressions of concepts relating to group dynamics.
Collectively, the glyphs,
when used in c4nnection with a gratnrnar system, constitute a separate
language somewhat
analogous to a fourth-generation language. At a still deeper level, the
present invention
makes use of a series of rules or algorithms that effect an envirotttnent,
process and tools.
As detailed above, the inventors have developed a mc~delisig language and
gratnriiar
system to describe some of the concepts underlying the system artd method of
the ptrsent
invention. An embodiment of a systGrrr for facilitating callaboratiort atnottg
agents accordit~;
to to the present invention is described in figures 1-7. Figure 1 provides a
block diagram
overviewirtg a single iteration of the method of this portion of the present
invention. 'tee
steps of the present invention are not intended to occur in a particular
order; they may occur
simultaneously or in an ordesly fashiop, but not necessarily in the order
illustrated in Figure
I _ Moreover, the specific steps shown are illustrative, not exhaustive. The
process atul
15 system can include other steps.
'The method shown in Figure 1 illustrates only a single iteration of an
embodiment of
this aspect of the present invention. An important aspoct of the present
invention is that the
process occws on multiple levels of incursion. Thus, it is contemplated that
other iterations
cart, and preferably do, occcu consecutively or in a chain-like tuattner, such
as feeding the
resultant agent or product of an iteration into a subseguent iteration; its
addition, simultaneous
multiple iterations can occur at different levels of interaction. Far example,
same agents
within a particular iteration, such as a facilitator, tnay also conduct
additional itc-rations
relating to any particular step in the process or mirroring part os all of the
iteration.
The system and process of the present invention are most productive when there
are
2 ~ utuitiple levels of recursion and feedback occurring siinultanec~usly_ The
use of an interactive
process that includes multiple levels of recursion, feedback and self-
adjttsurient yields a
system and process that can be used to facilitate the interaction among agents
such that
synergistic results occur. In solving cotnplcx problems, far example, the
system ~ p~s$
need pot address the entire problem at once, but instead evolves t4ward a
solution. In short,
problems are dissolved, not solved.
3A
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99I32t11~ ~ ~ P~fNS9~b083
In the single iteraciom shown is Figure 1, in step S I , a group or pool of
agents far
potential use with the system are ident'ifted. 'Tlti$ identification step can
be performed by a
user of the systertz or by persons 4r systems outside the system of the
present invention.
These agents can include, far example, intelligent agents, persorss,
documents. computer
s software, firmware, living t~tings, computers, and other objects- Collection
by a system or
person outside the system of the present invetuion could include, for example,
a company
selecting particular intelligent agents, documents, progtattts, and people as
potential agents to
be included for a particular iteration.
In step S2, an operation is corsducted upon these agents. In an embodiment of
the
i o present invention, this operation includes selecdxtg particular agents
fitting a predetenniaed
crass-section of skills or Qther creativity elet;teats designed to foster
operati4n of the present
invention- The pscdetesmined cross-section is dependent on the scope of the
iteration; far
example, if a particulas problem is attempting to be solved far a particular
group of agents,
the mature of the problem and grpup suggests an appropriate cross-section. In
addition, an
15 embodiment of the present invention contains factors that support develop
of a gcr<eric cross-
section, which is alterable using iterattan-specific tnforutatiaa.
The selection process of step S2 can include, for example, qtteryiag the pcxal
of agents
for responses used in determirtiag their amenability for the particular
iteration. The guerying
can be intaraded io illicit characteristics aisaut the agent that correspond
or mesh with those
2 o characteristics identified far the predetermined cross-section. In
addition, the substance of
the responses themselves ace useful in developing the cross-section.
In step S3, the agents selecud as a resuh of the pmcesa of step S2 arc added
to an
environrrtettt that has been created is step S4. Adding the nasals can include
connecting
computers or agents via a network pr other electronic or other coupling. It
eau also include
2 5 collecting persons or groups of pezsoas in a particular place.
Creating the environment of step S4 also includes such things as creating a
particular
network, designing a particular workspace, prograutming a computer, or other
snett:ods of
collecting agetn$. In addiiiou, other eletttcttts of the environment may be
created. In
particular, if the envirartmatt includes persatts, the environment can include
particular
s o amenities designed tQ foster e#ective operation of the present invention.
For example, the
environment may include sectioned areas for collecting groups, wall surface
writing and
31
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99r3IQ1~
pCTNS9$~b0$3
drawing capabilities to allow the agents to continuously maintain information
in an easily
viewable area, computers far use of agents, television or other video
capabilities, and toys,
games, books, and other tools designed to assist agents in communicating ideas
and
performing other fimcuons that comprise the function of the present invention.
iri step SS, the user or agents within the systerrt perform work. The type of
wori:
performed by the agcnts can include a variety of tasks ar exercises designed
to encourage
identification and detailed definition of problems or issues specific to the
iteration using
methods of approaching the problems or issues that are outside the agents'
usual scope of
prablern s4lving patterns. 'The exercises and tasks can include collecting
inforruatiotl, role
~o graying, game playing, research, analysis, and reporting, model building,
illustration of issues
using three dimensional objects and foals, and other problem-solving
activities_
The results of the processes of sups S3, S4, and S5 are production of new
agents,
such as documents, computer programs, suggested problem approaches analogous
to issues at
hand, and proposed solutions_ In step Sb, a sophistecared decision process
occurs, w>uch is
15 further detailed in Figure 2, described beiow_ 'The outcome of the decision
process produces
one of two outputs to other steps. In the first output branch. the resultant
new agent is fed
back to the current iteration. The first step of the feedback process is to
test the new agent in
step S7. In step S8, a decision is made as to whether t4 input the rscw agent
as a perform
work function far step S5. Alternatively, the system psaceeds to step S9, in
which a decision
2 o is made whether to input the new agent to the environment, step S~,
thereby effectively
creating a new environment, or to input the new agent as another agent irt the
system, step S3.
In the second autp~tt branch, the output of step Sb serves as input, step S
10, to a new
environtnept. In step S 1 i , the agent is then altered as a result of its
irtcarporatiou into the new
euvir4nruent. In step S 12, the altered agent is evaluated in a sophisticated
decision process
2 5 similar to step Sb, as described irr more detail in relation to Figure 2
below. The results of
this decision process ase either to feed the resultant newly altered agent
back to the current
iteration, via step S7, or to exit the agent from the iterati~.
The exit of the agent &am the current iteration can serve a variety of
fua~tiorss. For
example, the exiting agent cart provide input to another iterative process
using the present
s o inventiozi. The exiting agent can also simply exit the process.
32
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 99/3Z017 ~ ~ PC'TI~JS9~6Qa3
Two examples of the operation of an iteration of the presrnt invention as
described in
Figure 1 follow. These examples are intended to be illttsuative only. The
examples are not
W tended to lirrtit the application of the system to a patucular set of
agents, a paniaular
iteration, or a particular envimtunent_ The examples ate also twt intended to
irttply that a
s single iteraaori or a particular order of steps are taecessary.
The first example illustrates a facilitated creativity workshop process. In a
workshop
using the prEsent invention, some number of steps of the workshop are
auuatnated, such as
computerized, using the method and system of the present invention. In this
example,
refetriug to Figure 1, in step S 1 a group of persons are identified as a pool
of potential agents
~~a to assist in solving a particular problem; in this example, both the pool
of people and the
particular problem are ident':rtsed by a company.
In step S2, persons in the pool are provided with information and queried by a
user,
such as a facilitator, who also serves as an agent, in a targeted manner
designed to illicit
information about their potential atnettability to the probleut identified and
the set of skills
15 selected by the user. A computerized matrix of skill needs matched to the
problem at band is
used to select from the pool; the matrix is partially fulfilled using a
selection ptx~cess. In this
example, this pr4cess of matching skill molts, problem-specific issues, and a
matrix are
automated. in addition. other agents are identif ed, such as intelligent
a~geuts desip~ed to
obtain particular iuforrnation frwm the luternet. These intehigent agents can
be either
z o cotumercially available or specifically clesi6ued and tailored to the
particular problem at hand.
Also as a part of step S2, either separately or as an element of the pool
selectman press. a
set of documents and other informational itettas are provided to the aSents.
in step S3, the persotss and intelligent agents selected are collected itt a
comtrtott
envirotunent, which is created in step S4. The environtnept can include
furniture conducive
25 w creativity, moveable walls that participants can write ou, toys, games,
video displays,
corziputers, and other tools far creatively producing exarxtples and
illustratins poipts.
Coptemporaneously with steps S3 and S4, exercises pr other tasks are selected
for
performance by the a~~ts as step SS. These exercises can include collecting
infortnatiots.
such as automatically searching the Intetttet, role playing, game playing,
analysis. reportins,
su or other pmbleea~soiving activities. These exercises are designed w
encourage the agents to
fitacttpn or think about prabletns in a way that facilitates tdemtficatton
alai detailed defutition
33
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 99132Q17 ~ PCTItlS9~1611a3
of the problem at hand using methods outside the scope of the usual problem
solving of the
agents. For example, a subgroup agents may be assigned to study and system in
nature that
may be suggestive of the problem at land. The subgroup then provides their
analysis and
results to the selected group as a whole, wl~cli is then used for additional
analysis and
problem clarification. ~n intelligent agent may be assigned to Obtain
information about
elements of nature when the problem is focused an a business issue.
lu step S5, a decision is made as to whether the results are fed bael:, step
S7, to the
current iteration, as additional work performance, step Sg, or into the
environment or as
additional agents, step S9. Alternatively, the results txtay be passed to an
outside
14 environment, step S I A. ~n thts example, the decision process is
facilitated via input and
evaluation using a computer prog:aun.
following step S 10, the agent is alttred by the outside environment in step S
11. The
altered agent is then tested in step S1?, in a manner similar to that of step
S6, and a decision
is made as to whether to exit the agent from this iteration, or to serum the
agent or additional
information obtained as part of the altered output agent process to the
current iteration
through step S7.
As an example feed to an outside envimnmcm in steps S1Q and SI 1, an initial
proposal regarding the problem at hand could be sent via an agent to the
managen~t of the
company. The ruaaagement of the company could then provide feedback to the
agent, who
2 o then returns to the environment of the current iteration to continue the
iterative process.
In the second example, ranch more of the process is automated, atich as by
computer
program and computerized intelligent agents. In this example, in step S1, a
group of
iaullipent agents, each having specific functions and missions, ate developed,
step S2, by a
user at a terminal to solve a particular probleas. The fiuietions and missions
of these
2 s intelligent agents are identified or developed based on crass-indexing of
preselected creativity
traits and the scope of the problem at hand. In this example, an automated
process assists the
user with developing this cross-index.
The agents are then connected arid casnmunicate with the user via computer
cotmection, which serves as the ,enviroumeat, step S4. As the user performs
work, step S5,
s o the agents provide a variety of inputs based on their assigned functiops.
For example, an
agent could be assigned to search the Internet fex associative ideas based on
use of particular
34
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99i32i11~ ~ ~ PCTNs98nb0~3
keywords by the user. Thus, as the user word processes and creates keywords
same agents
would continuously search and display insults associated with keywords or
combinations of
keywords.
As the user works on the problem. the results of the keyword combinations are
fed
s back in steps S7, Sg, and S9, as additional work and to other intelligent
agents performing
other functions; the results of these functions are also continuously provided
Ta the user as
part of the ewironment. I» this way, a continuous feedback loop of
iufattnation from tha
various agents, including the user, would serve as a growing set of
infortaation that is
simultaneously displayed in the user's environment. At some point the user
outputs the
~a results, step 518, alters the results outside the ptncass, step S11, arid
then makes a decision,
step S 12, as to whether the outputted result is su~cient to solve the problem
for the user's
needs or wbether the result should return w the process, step S7, far further
iteration-
The decision step S6 is a complex process that nnay in itself incorporate an
entire
iteration of the process shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, this process
includes the
15 following steps. Iti step S28, the original state model applicable is iha
iteration at hand is
inputted, and in step S21 a current state model is inputted. la step S2?,
these two models are
cornparGd to develop a differential or delta between them. In step 523, a
sstatrix and set of
rules applicable to the issue of the iteration arc developed. In step S24, the
matrix and sec of
rules are inputted with the delta. In step 525, a first combination of the
matrix and rules are
a o applied to the delta. la step S2b, subsequent cotnbiaatians of the tuatrix
and rules are
iteratively applied to the delta until a provisional dissolve of the delta is
reached. This
process can include agents, an envimnment, and performance of work, as
described in
relation to Figure 1, la step 527, the agent produced by the combination of
mauix and pules
is applied to the delta to produce a provisional dissolve. In step 527, this
agent is shipped
z s either back into the current iteration, or out w a new environment, or
both_ A similar proce$s
occurs with regard to step Sl2 of Figure T, and can occur with regard to steps
S8 and S9.
Figures 3 through 7 comprise block diagrams illustratissg elements supporting
the
various steps shown is Figure 1. In Figure 3, the plurality of agents and
their functions I
include people 2, machines 3, computers 4, software 5, futaware b, living
things '1, objects 8,
3 p input and output lxtth among agents and extarnal to agents 9, and an
operating system 1Q.
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WQ 9~1320t? ~ PCTNS982b(!&3
In Figure 4, elements of the environment 20 include one or more agents 21,
architectural components 22, objects 23, variable boundaries 24, infortnacion
?S, location
(micro and macro) z6, tools 27, energy 2x, ipput and output ?9 both among
elements of the
environment 30 and to external elements from the environment 3I, and an
operating system
s 32. V ariable boundaries can include, far exaruple, the porosity of the
environment. This
variable is matched to the environment based an the agents, the scope and
nature of the work,
and the influence of other envisonmental fac~ars. Important influences QA the
agent or agents
in relation to the environment include energy 33, the physical rsature of the
agents 3a, the
knowledge and inteiiectual properties of the individual agetus 35, the agents'
psychological
makeup 3b, and the knowledge base of agent characteristics 37, both far the
agents as
individuals 38 and as a group 39.
Figure 5 illustrates impaisant components of the performing work element 45 of
the
present invention. These components inclt~cte idexttifying or developins a
goal model 4b,
such as an end state model that enables the problem to be created and
dissolved, acquiring
15 experience 47, refratniug 48, recognizing patterns 49, building models 50,
simulating Sl,
selecting 52, testing 53, deciding 54, and iterating ~5. In addition, input
and output Sb among
the components and from the corrtpouents to external components and an
operating system S7
make up aspects of the perform work element 45 of the present invention.
Figure 6 presents examples or elements of the altered or output agent 60
produced by
x o iterations of the present invention. The output agent 6Q consists of one
or more of an altered
input agent 61, altered epvitnuucteut elements 62, new agents 63, such as work
products or nou-
autonomous agerns, and agent mission maps ba. In addition, input and output b5
among the
components and from the components to external components and an operating
system 66 make
up aspects of the output agent element 60 of tire present invention_
Figure 7 presents examples or elecnenu of the output agent and new environment
interaction 7i~. '~ese elernettts include the output agent medium 71, such as
a documrnt or a
prograta, mission 72, output agent feedback and communication 73, and new
environment
feedback and communication 74. Ia addition, input and output 75 among the
components
and from the components to external components and an operating system ?6 make
up
3 Q aspects of the output agent and new envimpenent interaction element 70 of
the present
invention.
3b
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
W4 ~9I32Q1? ~ ~ PCTJUS~8~Z6t1a3
As mentioned above, the ability to coturol sensory inputs to agents operaur~
witls~rl
an environment is an important euablirig technology far the present invention.
Tins, for
example, the active control of lighting within an environment, which is by
itself well known,
is incorporated into the system of the present invention to achieve a
synergistic impsovement
in human processes.
There has been recent iruwvatiosrs in acoustic technologies that the present
inventors have found can be used to achieve similar control of sound within an
environment.
In particular, the present invention also cottteutplates extensive use of
acoustic technplogy
such as that introduced by New Transducers Ltd. Of 1~agland and described
above.
a In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, distributed mode
speakers
can be thoroughly integrated into a collaborative environment. Far rxample,
the disu-'sbuted
mode speakers can be built into the furniture, knowledge objects, signs, walis
and ceiling tiles
or event into the floor (recogzii2.iag, of course, that dif~ererit materials
have mere of an
acoustic range.
5 Thus, frotxl the vantage goittt of the design of environments present
inventors have
found that there are several significant features of the distributed mode
speaker design: they
are inexpensive and thus can be ubiduitous within the envirotunent: the
distributed mode
technology can be combined with other acoustic technologies that are known to
affect
environments including sound, music: white noise; sound cancellation. The
emergence of
2 4 technalo~ics, such as the distributed mode speaker, that make it possible
to control these
acoustic effects make it possible, within the context of the present
invetrtioa, to systematically
control sound within an environment to, for example to facilitate an objective
such as
facilitating collabosation.
Thus, is accordance with the precept invention, it is possible to create an
"acoustic
2 ~ space" within any envirotunent by, fos example, building an array of
speakers throughout the
enviroutnr~t and controlling the speakers (through a mixer or the like) to
broadcast music,
white noise or carteellaticm in various combiuatious to create an acoustic
space. This snakes it
possible w control the sound within the acoustic space in a systematic way to
achieve a
desired pbjective. Far example it is possible to define and control the sound
within several
3 0 acoustic spaces defined within a collaborative eaviroruticnt so as to
facilitate the activity
occurring within each space. It is possible, for example to amplify someone's
voice and play
37
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
W4 99I3~Q1 ~ ~ PCTNS98/~fitl83
it back so softly that is effect you really wouldn't know that you have
amplified that voice, it
is possible to contml the atnouat of reverberation that the room has, it is
possible to take
space that doesn't have any of these characteristics and you create that
revert, it is possible tA
select certain frequencies that you want to cancel out while you are doing
this at the same
tit»e. It is possible to create dead acoustic spaces. More impor'tatitly, it
is p4ssible t4 create
live acoustics That have certain characteristics and if people are in a live
acoustic space,
they'll stop shouting over this. Because occupants will adjust how they are
talking TA the
acoustics of their piece. in short, it is possible to create actively
controlled acoustic spaces
within the environment -- tlne nurtiber of discrete spaces and the precision
by which they are
conuolled is principally d~ndent upon the size of the enveronment and the
ir<vestsnent in
hardware corrtpo~uts- One can create a different kind of acoustic space, ,not
only as a faced
space but variable. A computer and other equipment can be used to monitor the
acoustic
space and allow active control by a computer programmed to establish different
kinds of
spaces and do space chasactetistics and shape the acoustic space, as you
warts.
Qf course, there are existing technologies for actively controlling ligbtittg
and
emerging technologies far coatrnl pf smell and taste. All of these
technologies are preferably
employed to the extent practical.
In this way the environment is controlled is relationship to the creative
process. Then
es possible uo the extent that those things that stimulate the senses (and
thus affect the
2 A enviroruneut) such as sound, light, smell can be actively controlled in
relateanship to the
process.
Thus, the present invention provides an envirotunent in which the
configuration of
furniture, lighting, and sound can all be actively coptmlled in relationshep
to the process
being conducted within the rnviroument. To use this environment to facilitate
collaboration
of agerns within an environment one must have a model of the process being
conducted
witbixi the environment- In the case of pmblera solving, far exataple, the
presrnt enveratars
have developed a model of the creative process that allows ope understand how
art
envisonmesit Should be controlled at various stager of the creative process.
The environment can be tailored to a process occurring within the envzron~nt
3 o provided the process is mapped. The p:eseat inventors have, as discussed
above, developed a
map of the creative process referred to as the solution bctx. The solution box
is a 7x7x7 three
38
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO9913Zt11~ ~ ~ PCT/i.lS9$/2bA$.i
dimensional grid mapping Design against Formation against Vantage P4int that
def:ne where
a group is within the creative process. eased on one's location within the
sc~lutian box a
specific kind of envirotuttent that will facilitate the process is defined.
The system of the
present invention makes ii possible, therefore, to facilitate a process in
real time by modeling
s the process as a multi-step process, defutiag epvironmental characteristics
that facilitate
various steps in the process determining is real time where one or mare agents
are within the
process, and controlling the configuration, lighting, sound or other sensory
aspects of the
environment based on the agetus location within the process.
At its highest level, the currently preferred embodiment of the system for
optiruixiag human and architectural panern language values of the present
invention is based
an the recognition that a collaborative work envirotuucnt is a collection of
objects sad that
the system has rules. Thus, the system comprises a computer system tba; lass
means for
staring information concerning: what objects can be used within an
environtttent, the cost of
each of the subjects, the architectural soles governing the objects and the
environment, the
architectural values associated with the objects and the atvironrnettt stud
knows the rulGS of
pattern language. This data can be stored itt tztemary tables or any other
suitable means.
Since sonic of the values, such as architectural values, vary according to a
customer's taste or preferences, the system preferably includes meows far
ac~yusting ~
relative values of thingx such as architectural values based on a custottter's
or client's
2 0 objectives.
The systertt also iaclttdes means, preferably electronic display monitors, far
displaying a represetuaticra of the envimttmental layout and means, such as
leans, far
graphically representing objects within the ertviraameat. In the preferred
embodiment, the
user can use a pointing tool, such as a taattse, to "pick up" and place the
objects in desired
2 5 locations within the enviroruaet~t_ Since the system knows the cast of the
objects selected,
the architectural rules concerai»g its placement, the architectural values
associated with
particular objects is the nsles of pauern taaguage, the system can provide the
fatal cost as
well as architectural values score or in the pattern language score, on a real
tittle basis.
Iu accordance with a fiu~ther embodiutent of the invention, the system pf the
present
3 0 inveatioa can 6e used u~ rnattage the environtneat- In particular, the
system cwt be designed
so that the individual system knows what objects arc in the environrrteac s=td
where those
39
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
wo 9~zax~
t'C'TNS9&1bp83
objects are (how the envimuraerlt is configured). 'This can be achieved in a
variety of ways
such as by placing chips in each of the objects or placing sensors within the
environment. In
this way, the system can rtianitor an environment once in place and send a
warning, if, for
example, an object is moved into a place chat is arcbitectura~lly unacceptable
(e.g., an object is
rnavsd w place where it blocks the door)- Thus, in sum:;iary, the system
facilitates both
design and placement of furniture in office, home and other environrnersts and
also monitors
the environment once in place.
While there are various ways of operatipg and configuring the system of the
present
invention, Figures 8 and 8A show a high level system flaw diagram and Figure 9
shows a
l.o high level view of one possible system configuration according to the
present invention.
As shown in Figure 9, the sy~-tcm is adapted fps use by a L3ser 1 working ai a
personal
coruputer or work station 22 that includes a display monitor, which serves as
the display
means. Personal computer 22 may also include a CPI J for perfarnzing all
system functions
or, as shown, the computer may bo 3iuked, as indicated at ?4 and 2b, to a
network 5 that
includes a rpair>frarne or server computer 27_ Although a specific hardware
confcguration is
shown, the hardware co~guration is not critical to the system of The
inventiop. Specifically,
as noted before, all the system functions cc»dd be performed on a stand-alone
computer. Ttte
system stares (preferable in R.AM) data concerning various objects (indicated
as objects 1, 2 .
. . n) that are available far use within the environment. For each abject, the
syste:r~ should
2 o store at least data concerning the object's size, shape ar;d location
withict the environment.
The system also stares in raemory data relating to the parameters of the
envisonment and
lpplicable architectural rules_ Again, the lotion of tbis rnexnory wjlhin the
system and
enviranmeru is not critical. For example, touch of the infarmazian coricaning
the attributes
of the objects could be within or an the objects tbec~elves if each object
includes a
microchip or even a CPU. There are, of cQUrse, various ways of idetuifying the
location of an
object within the system, including, without lirnitatiors, sensors, radio
signals hardwiring arid
infrared signals and the Iike. ~e objects should preferably be "networked" in
a broad sense so
that they cart corncuunicate with or be sensed by other parts of the system.
Moreover, if ibe
object is capable of reconfiguration, the system preferably includes some
means (either
3 a internal or exter:sal to the object itself) for recognizing the current
canbgmarion of each
object.
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WA 99l~ZOl'1 ~ ~ PCT/US9BI2bOS3
The system also includes Various tables containing information concerning the
objects Selected. Specifically, ~ sY~m Pmf~bly includes at least three tables:
a table
eoziceming the cost of each available object; a table concerning the
architectural value
associated with each available object; and a table concerning the pattern
language value
s associated with each available object.
The systetti shown in Figure 9 operates as shown in Figures 8 atul gA.
Specifically, the system initially prompts, preferably through the display
monitor, the
customer to input his or her name at Seep MSl . At Step MS2, the customer is
asked to select
an object'sve_ This objective rnay be selected from a menu that includes
choices such as
"MAXIMUM 1;CQNOMIC EFFICLENcY" or "MAXIMUM PATTERN LANGUAGE
VALUE" or more detailed choices such as "MAXIMIZE NA'flJRAI.. irl~HT" or
"MAXIMIZE pI;NSITY." Alternatively, this list could include, as a subroutine,
a customer
questionaaim &c~m which data could be obtained concetnins customer
preferences.
Regardless 4f how the customer preferences are ascenairted, the system
preferably includes a means such as one of the computers 2, 7 far adjusting
architecntral and
pattern language values stored in the tables as shown at Step MS3. More
specifically, the
V~ueS cClntalrled iu Tables 2 atad 3 which identify an architectural value and
a pauesii
language value associated with each object are updated to reflect the
customer's preference.
Thus, far example, if a customer has indicated that there is a pmmium for
economic
2 o e~ciency, then those architectural values that provide, for example,
greater density are givatl
a higher value. Alternatively, if the custAUier has indicated a preference for
maximum natural
ligbi, those objects that enhance natural light will receive greater value.
At Step MS4, the customer is asked to select or input environment paramecars.
This could be dope is several different ways. The custouur could be presented
with several
2 ~ standard environmeptal configurations ("boxcs'~ and asked tn select arno~
these if the
design is being done far a building with the standard box-type layout- More
likely, however,
the custor~aer is asked to provide an outline of the envirotuuent parameters
of the environment
for which the design is izitended. This would include an outline of the
exterior walls,
including au indication of doors, windows and utilities.
o Bawd oz; the input at Step MS~1, the systeru, at Step MSS, displays fife
enviroruxumt as specified by the custanaer. In addition, at Step MSfi, the
system displays
41
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WA 99132p17 ~ PC'1'NS9~61153
representations, preferably icons, of available objecu far location within the
eizvimttmerlt.
Preferably, the available objects are displayed in pmpartiAn to their size or,
if this is not
practical, are displayed to scale ozice selected.
'The system also, at Step MS7, displays the cost, architectural values and
pattern language values of the system as designed thus far. At this initial
step, these values
will, of course, naturally, be 0.
Each titue an abject is placed within the environment, a determination is
made,
at Step MS9, whether the location selected within the environment satisfies
the set of
architecttual rules (stored within the system) that are specified for the
particular jurisdiction.
~o If not, the system outputs an error message (at Step MS10) explaining the
problem and
prompting the user w select another option. If, an the other hatui, the
location satisfies all
applicable arch'stectural reties, rhea the cost, architeand pattern language
score is
updated at Sup MSl l, the display of the enviranmetit is updaud at Step MS12
and the
display of available objects is updated at Step MS13.
~.5 The usss is then prompted, at Step MS 14 to conf'um the selection. If the
user
chooses not to currfum the selection, then the Abject is deleted from the
display of the
envirotunertt at Step MS 1 S and the tables and display are updated (reset) at
Step MS 1 G.
If, at Step MS14, the user cc~nftr~aas the selection and piacxment of the
abjtct,
then an induiry is made, at Stcp MS 17, as to whether the design is
corr~plete. If not, the user
2 a is rettu~d to Step MS8 and the process is repeated until the design is
complete. Once the
design is cou~plete, the user is given an oppomxnity, at Step MS 18, to print
out or to
otherwise record the hna! design in the system, and the process is complete.
As mentioned previously, the present invention also relates to various
fiuttiture compot<ents that make it possible to opiimi~e human and
arcizitecturat pattern
2 ~ language values is a caliabarative work envirot. In gerterah a
collaborative work
environrnerit tray be thought of as including various levels of compotwrtts.
At the highest
levels (aside from cities arid regions themselves), the ~nvirorunent includes
buildings and the
rooms within the buildings. Tlte prrsent invention, relates primarily to
carriponents below
these levels which tray be characterized as follows: armature level
components; divider
30 (Worl:Walfi'~ level components; work station system level components; sub-
coruponents;
and, at the lowest level, pieces_ 'fhe present invention ~vides cornp4nents
speci$cally
42
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99/3ZQI'7 ~ ~ PCTNS9~bQ~3
assigned to optimize human and architectural pattern language value at each of
these levels.
These compotlents are described it! the figures attached hereto and itl the
appendices hereto.
Figure 813 shows a sketch pf a collaborative work environment accosdirlg to
the present invention. The critical aspe<.'t of this collaborapve
esavuotlmetlt is the overate
s ir<tegration of media into the work e!=v'uoumeut- 'Ihus,'~he erivisoof the
present
invention can include a sanse of mufti-media devices, including whiteboards
that are marked
using markers, pixelated writing boards for eilhanced 3D-type graphics,
electrotuc
whiteboards that allow electronic input and output, whiteboards that include
full color
scanning and copyitlg capabilities and interactive whitcb4ards- As used
herein, the term
"whiteboards" is intended to encompass tlur full ratlge of work walls or
writitlg walls, arid is
not intended to be lit:lited to such walls that are the color white. Indcrd,
chc stsrvdard writitlg
walls of the present inventiot! am preferably gray in colCir.
With specific reference to Figure 813, the envirotunent shown is
reconftgurable w facilitate the interaction of agents (huu~ans Z, nlachinrs 3,
4, groups 5,
organizations and combiuatioxls therrofj, withit! the environment in
accordance with a
predetrrmi!!ed model of the interaction of the agents (in this case a model of
the creative
process and group interaction as described above) that prescribes appropriatr
enviranmertt
CandlttOlls based on tile status of agent interaction within the system! of
the interaction of the
agctus. The etwiro:uz>eslt Shown a large-scale whitewall or WorkWall 13 that
could be either
2 a a marker-type whitewall, or an eleetrohic whitewall. The etlviroument also
includes a large-
scale video serest! 20 ut allow remote collaboration. Additionally, knowledge
workers 2, 5
ass shown warki~ with a variety of coulpatle:sts including laptop computers
3U, persotlat
digital assistants 4o and a collabArativc raulti-screen work station SQ that
earl serve as one
means for conuolliug various physical attributes of the eilvitulttrutlt. This
sketch shows a the
x s total iutegratiarl of media itlto the erlvimruilesu and the use of the
fiunlturc systems 4f the
present invention within the erlvirorltuetlt- The workwall 1 h includes a
series c!f HypescilesT'''
and discloses the possibility of an intelligent assistant. The environment
filrther iltcludes
tueat>ws, such as setls4rs 7 or htuna>z observers 2, for dctrrmitung the
location! of physical
coutpotzents within the envitunraent- The ezivironment also includes means,
such as hltmaus
3 a Ar ttlachines moving reconflgurable compouetus, for reconflguritlg
physicai compozlerlts
within the envirotltrieat -- the WprkWalls atld other compot~rlts cart be
suppostod oa casters.
43
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
wo ~rs2am ~ ~ pcrntsa~z6oa3
'The environment also includes means, such as sensors ? or human observers 2,
for
determining the lighting characteri$tics in a plurality of discrete regions
wiilrin the
environment. The environment also Includes means, such as humans andlor
computers
moving reconfigurable components or operating adjtu-table components, far
adjusting
s lighting 18 within the environment. The environment also includes means,
such as sensors 7 -
or human observers 2, for monitoring sound within the environment. The
environment also
includes means, such as humans and/or computers moving reconfigurable
components or
operating adjustable components such as distributed mode panel speakers R) far
adjusting
sound within the etiviroiunent. 'The enviranrnent also includes means (such as
sensors 7 or
1o human observers 2) far monitoring and determining the status of a&ent
interaction 5 within
the environraent; and means (humans or computers contro~lins components) far
rccar,figur~g
physical components sad adjusting lighting and sound within the envisotuncnt
in response to
the determination of the status of agent interaction within fife environm~t.
As detailed below, the environment can include a variety of tecon~gurable
~5 components including, without limitation, rolling work walls, workpods on
rolling casters,
rolling kiosk components, stackable shelf cubes, rolling wing work surface
coraponerus.
The fully integrated epvironntent of the present invention, an example of
which is shown in Figure 81_i, allows rapid reconfigurntiou and prototyping in
a cahabosative
way_ The environment also allows for the facilitation of iateractian arnong
intelligent agents
z o to achieve rapid design and rapid prototyping. Preferably, the environment
can include
multiple generations of development in a single space.
The use of media, which is most completely illusuated in Figure 8Ii, is an
important aspect of the present invention. In this regard, it should be
understood that the
envirorusieitts of the present invention are icaleable and adaptable to new
generations of
z s rnrdia. The rnvimntnents allow full integration of a variety pf media and
are responsive w
the needs of all of the series.
To provide fiu~rher understanding of how these components make it possible to
optimize both hutttan and architectural pattern language values various
components, sub-
cnmpoisents and pieces will now be illustrated and described with reference to
Figures 10-1B.
44
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WA 99I3~QI' ~ ~ PCTJUS9~16o83
Figure 14 shows a kiosk component and a wing component docked together.
The ability of component to dock with one another is an important aspect of
the present
invention in ~t it provides cf~cicut utilization and easy user
configurability.
The kiosk component 110 includes multiple work surfaces 112 including a
s work surface an which a keyboard may be. 'f 31e work sutFace can be =noved
tarp out of three
different slats to allow work surface height adjustments. Moreover, the slots
can receive
work services with a difFerept conftguration_ The top of the base supports a
computer
monitor 114. The entire structure suppArced on rolling casters (wheels) 116 so
that the user
without technical assistance can easily move the kiosk. Cotuputer cables are
managed
~o through a built-in cord channel. The lower cabinet space is designed to
accommodate
computer central processing units or supplies and is accessible in the front.
The entire anti
can be easily uver~l and relocated on its smooth-rolling casters.
In This view, the kiosk is combined with a M~I)IUM WING't'~" coraponeni 12~
to build a cohesive, portable workstation. The wing component 120 is a
flexible work surface
15 desisned to adapt to a ~aricty of needs. The wing component is extremely
portable Rnd can
be easily maneuvered on its smooth-rolling casters 126 to f t in alruost any
work area. The
height of the work surface 122 is ac~justabic to accommodate a user that is
either sitting or
standing. The curved work surface design sturounds the user with aft efftcieat
work surface
and the bath-in tilted footress makes the wing as comfortable as it is
versadie_
2 o Figures I 1, 11 A and 12 show a portion of an envirotunent that includes
work
walls 130, 131 an enclosed space, worktable, and chairs. Among other things,
this portion of
the environment includes WORK. WALLS' supported on wheels 13b to provide
mobility,
flexibility and e~cient storage. WORK WALI-'r"r, arc an entire work space art
wheels and
include an o~ white writing surface made of porcelain steel that provides
opposttmity for
x s drawing directly ou the surface apd also allpws easy attachment ruagnetic
display tiles 134 to
the surface. According w another aspect of the present inveatiott, either the
surface itself or
the tiles attached thereto can be provides with a Sticky surface such as a
POST-1T (~ 3M
Corp.) surface. In accordance with ore aspect of the present invention, the
display panel
surfaces are provided with a mttghetsed texture to allow users to write an the
wall with a
3o variety of graphical tools (canverttional "white boards" can only be
written an with markers;.
Alternatively, a pot~iol< of the petrel surface may be pixelated (roughened)
to provide a
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99/3~Q1 ~ ~ PCT/US9S!l6Ii83
region that can be written an with other graphical tools (chalk, crayons,
pencils etc.). The
inventors have found that this allows much greater graphical expression.
Finally, at least
some of the WORK WALI_.ST~ or other display panels Should be tall (more than
six feet
high) so that they can be used as room dividers to partition an environment in
different
rooms.
Figures I 1-l 1 A show portions of an enviranmezzt according to the present
invention including large scale rolling work wa11sI30, radiant room attd
armature components
138. The artnatiue cornponcnts 138 , which appear as beams aloes the ceiling
of the
environment, provide a reuse of place and also function t4 conceal cables and
other utility
~o connections. 1'he portion of the environments shown in these figures
demonstrate the ability
to achieve architectural scale and pattern language values using the
components within thr
environment, the possibility of providing of multimedia integration, and
particularly in Figure
1 lA, the use of architecttu~al armature including a hallow beam that serves
both a functiopal
pu~ase (covering cables) and a pattern language purpose in addition to
providing a sense of
l5 place (architectural armature).
Figures 1 l and 1 lA also show a plurality of bookshelves I39 grouped together
with WORK WAL.LT"s display panels 13U sating as a room divider. Display
monitors are
included as a part of the euvirontuent in accordance with the present
invention.
Figure I2 is a perspective view of a Rapid Deployment System (RpS) version
2 0 of the system of the present invention in use. The campaueuts used in the
Rapid peploym~t
System are essentially the same as those used and described elsewhere, but
these catnpanems
can be moved into a generic envirotuneut such as a hotel cartfereace facility
and set up
quickly to establish a suitable, although not necessarily ideal, environment
for facilitating
group collaboration. The this environment includes bath WC?1tK WALL'~'~
display panels
2 5 13I that arc flat and hinged and curved WQR1C WALi.'n» display panels 130.
An imparta;:~.
feature of the components used in the RDS is the extreme mobility and
ruggedness of three
compdneuts.
Figures 13-13F show a Wor>GPod'1'~ work wait component 17Q of the pseta'ttt
invention. As down in these views, the WORK POD includes a plurality of
modular section
3 a units 1 ?2. Each unit is suspended from its own external coast or support
174. The mast or
supports are supported on smooth rolling casters 176 and designed to allow a
variety of
jib
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
Wo ~,~=p~~ ~ i
components to be snapped on, such as overhead storage and shelf units 173,
workstatiotzs
175, u~l caddies and cables that rotate out into the center of the pod far use
by small teat>ss_
A unigue articulating translucent vane 179 attaches w the top of the mast- The
verse incorporates the pods Lighting System I 81 and also allows the pads
residents to make
adjustmetus to direct Light and also adjust ventilation.
Each section of the pod may be deployed independently ar in cambinanon
with one or more other sections to form a variety of configurations as
illustrated in Figures
13-13F.. A commAn set-up is the circular one shown in Figure 13F, but other
set-ups are
possible arid may be employed by several pod residents to help the facilitate
their current
a. o work process. Thus, the pod may be moved and recopf figured by the
resident witbom any
technical assistance.
Figures 13p-F show aiternativc pod constructions and configurations
according to the present invention. As shown in Figures 13p and 13E in
particular, the pod
units can be hinged to roll iu to different configuration ether than the
circular configusatifln
1s previously described. Figure I3E shows an arrangemcpt irt which the pod
sections are
arranged in au 5-crave. Figures 13-13F a~sa show atiter aspects of the pod
design including
the use of subcamponents such as secretaries, file cabinets, pigeon hales acrd
shelves_ Exalt of
these subcoraponents can be supported (directly pr indirectly) on the mast and
is supported au
rolling casters. The adjustability of the translucent vane is also evident in
these drawings.
z o Preferably, the light source is directed toward these vanes so that it is
reflected down by the
vane onto the user to allow variable lightir~. The light source itself may be
used as a handle
for adjusting the location of the translucem vane as shown, far exaiuple, is
Figures 13A and
13F.
From all these drawings, it is readily apparent that the pod design offers a
z 5 zrernertdaus level of adjustability arid possible configurations.
Figtn~es 13A, 1313 and 13C Shaw $ sit~le unit or section from which the work
pad can be cousa~ucted. A.s shown therein. the entire system is bung from a
mast 179 that is
supp4rting rallit>g casters 176. The system shown includes an adjustable work
surface 17I
that may be pulled out front a rolling computer xupport, work surfaces at a
variety of heights,
3 p and shelves as well as adjustable lighting_ Figure 13C shows a perspective
view of a vNnslc
section in which one of work surface system pulled out and used as a small
conference table.
47
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99/~~1719 ~ PCTJU~9~b0~3
The WorkPad returns to active dory an old architectural Pattern Language
value of A-Room-Within-A-Roam. This panern larssuage value was used
extensively in
custom designs by Wri~ht and is recognised by Aiexander_ To date, hpwever,
there has been
rro practical way to do it with furniture. Lei alone, furniture that moves.
The Work Pad also
provides knowledge workers siguificandy larger work areas and several of
theta. The Pod can
function as a cpnfercnca room far four (swing out desks configure to a table),
a work are for a
Team of three and a borne for a single individual. A landscape of WprkPods,
distributed in an
appropriate panerp and augruented with the components of the present invention
cart
accomplish the same density of typical solutions while providing greater
individual spaces
and a larger number of functional-type areas - Radiant Roorrts as example. The
system of the
present is;vetitiosi uses available space and makes circulation paths serve
many purposes.
'These layouts cannot be achieved with convenucu~al furniture apprs~aches.
Even the better
known mobile pieces have failed to grasp the importance of the larger armature-
level pieces
and thus can not replicate the effect of the present invention.
Fig. 14 shows one version of a polycenuic work area layout that is possible in
accordance with the presept itwenuon. in this instance, the work atua layout
follows a city
metaphor with the principal flow of people through the layout indicated as
"Main Street." As
shown, this layout features maximum natural light to all work areas, omni-
directiatsat access
to work areas; protttOteS lilteractlon at the tsa:u, unit and company levels
and allows
2 o individual and team cosnml of access ash privacy. The layout also utilixcs
circulation areas
for storage, group tools, display and visual variety, reinforces individual
team and unit
identity. In addition, the layout reinforces certain building features,
including an atrium, the
outer wall articulation, colutrui spacitss, all which can be accomplishad with
one semi-
custom, locally built system.
x s The principal features of this ennvitntamsnt are nnaxisztum natural light
to all wsrrk
areas, oJU~l1'dlreCTlOnal aces to work areas to promote interaction.
Circulatiors area are used
for storage, group toal$, display and visual variety. The envimnment includes
clusters of
WorkPods 17U of the type described above.
This layout also allows ma~cimtun future flexibility far new layouts. It is
importasit to
ate, however, that Fig. 14 is just one example of a layout that can be
accomplished using a
a8
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WA 99132Qt~ ~ ~ PCTNS98lZb083
flexible system of campottertts of the ry, pe described herein. An imporrant
aspect of the
present invention is, ituleed, the flexibility that is available.
Figure 1 S shows shelf cubes 190 that may be used to provide cube office
earnponertts. The shelf cube 390 psovides adjustabiliry without technical
assistance and can
s be used to divide an office space. F~ach cube is a modular, versatile and
efficient approach to
shelving needs. The cubes preferably include dimple-like indentations ou the
top arid
rounded nubs on the bottom of each unit so that the shelf cubes are stackable
and extremely
stable. Each unit can stand alone or cats or be combined with others stacking
up to four cubes
tall in four directions. The system also can include a plurality of base units
194 as shown to
1 o provide stability of the cube of&ce system 190. The system of the present
invention
preferably includes units of different width such as, for example, six inch,
twelve-inch and
eighteen inch wide units. '1"ItG user can assemble cube system with minimal
number of tools.
Figure 1 b shows a prr~pectivc view of a cube pace system 190 according to
the present invention. The partial top view slmws two-layers of cubes 192
arranged with a
15 space 191 in between. The space between the cubes, typically about 3
inches, can be used for
acoustics (by providing reflective or absorbing surfaces), far utilities (by
allowing a post and
beam wise guide arrangement) sad to allow for ac~justablc dividers, such as
shoji screens, sQ
be concealed. let this way, the cube once systeru can be used w ptnvide great
tlexibiliry in
dividing an ettvisontne»t to work spaces and to give users adjustability
(through the use of
x o shoji screens) as to degrees of privacy and the like. Thus, the preferred
faun of cube once
system 190 includes cubes 192 stacked back-to-bark with a gap in between to
allow a shoji
screen and utility beam to be located between the stacked tuber.
In addition to the c4mpottextts illustrated, other cotzspor~nts contribute to
recottfigurabliry of an environtnetu. R.ecanfigurabiliry is, of course,
important to address
z 5 human values such as economic eflaciency oral flexibility. Far example,
rolling bookcases of
various heights provide mobility and variation itt scale of fumituse that
makes partitiAttiszg of
space possible. Different ranges of patutioning of any w4rk space can be
achieved through
the use of components of various heights. Mavittg storage capabilities eau be
providexi.
A work utut that contains two comparanents far letter-hanging files and eight
drawers far storage as well as double-sided write-on, write-off WOR.iC WALI_.~
may also be
provided. Again, the surface of the WORK WAI~L'~ is preferably magaeGjc to
hold
49
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99r3x01~ ~ ~ P~TIUS98~z6t183
magnetic tiles or other pieces. The work unit includes smr~oth-riding casters
to allow rnobiliry
without technical assistance. Thus, this single unit provides a file for
storing infotination,
drawers, work walls, and the ability to provide a work space as desired all in
a component
that is mobile.
As noted above, one of the principal advantages of the system of the present
izivention
is ;hat the components provided allow opximizatian of Pattern L-anguage
values. Althausts
certain pattern language values have been used extensively in custom dssi~s by
architects
such as Wtight~ there has to date been np way to address most of the pattern
language values
catalogued by Alexander in practical way with conventional off the shelf
furniture, much less
Zo fiuniture that also addresses human values such as economic efficiency,
mobility adjustability
and the Like. Thus, a reatarkable aspect of the system of the present
inveation is chat
components allow one to address at least 10(1 of the 253 psttcrn language
values catalogued
by Alexander. Further information concerning these pattern language values
rnaY be gleaned
&am "A Pattern ~~:.an~uaae'_' Christopher Alexander 1977. Specifically, and
without
ilrriltatlOA. the following values, listed with the numbs assigned by
Alexander, may be
addressed using the system of the present invention:
1. INhl;PIrNDENT REGIONS
2. DISTRIBUTION of TowNS
2 a 5. LACY OF CoUN3T~Y STiH=ETS
8. MOSAIC OF SUB CULTURES
9_ SCATT'ERI;D WORK
14. ID1'TIFIAI~i~ NEIGHEORHOUIa
15. NEIGH$ORHOOp LiOTJI~ARY
2 5 19. WEH OF SHOPPING
24. SACRFT~ SITES
26. LIF1= CYCLE
28. ECCT~1TRIC NUCLEUS
29. DENSITY RINGS
~ a 30. ACTIVITY NODES
31. PRoMENApE
s
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
W!? 99/32p19 ~ ~ PCTNS9~bIf~.3
pEGR.EES OF PUBLICNFSS
37. HOUSE CLUSTER
~ 1. WORK COMMI TNITY
as. NECKLACE of coMMUNiTY PROaECTs
57_ CHILpRI;N IN THE CITY (Furniture scaled for children & tools, i.e.,
WorkWalls,
etc.
59. QUI>;T aACKS (through layouu using city metaphor trade possible by:
~ Armature Eiernents
~ Systems Pieces: WorkWalls, Pods, Cube O~ce making a landscape
i o (foreground, middle, background)
~ variety Af shapes, textusrs, colors and dcgrees of view ~ solid,
translucent,
wausparent, open
b0_ ACCESSIBLE GREEN
67. COMMON LANp
1.5 68. CONNl;CTI~p PLAY
__~~ ~ gyscems Composts - Landscape
6~. PUBLIC OUTp4OR RUOM
79. y(aUR OWN HOME - Work pods, cube offices, work furniiuse clisstcrs, work
walls
80. SELF-GOVERN1NC WORK SHOPs & OFFICES
a a 8z. oFFicE coNNF~oNS
83. MASTER ANp APPR~NTiCES
88. STR~t' CAFI~
93. FOOp STpNpg
94. SLEEPING TN PU»LIC
2 5 1 A2. FAMILY QF ENTRANCES
IQ7. WmIGS OF LIGHT
110. MAIN 1rN'TRAhICE
111. HALF HIDpEN GARDEN
112. ENTRANCE 'fRANSITTON
3 Q 114. HIERwRCHY OF C1PEN SPACE
I 15. C4URTYARhS THAT LIVE
SI
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99l320t 7 ~ PCTIUS9&2t~,3
--Ari~tat~ue, systems layout, etc.
117. SH<ERING ROOF - Trellises
119. ARCAL11;S - a~,s~uature
120. PATHS & GOALS - Wire Chase System, I~letnetits In ~ackgraund
121. PATH SHAPE, - Wire Chase System Ou Floor
124_ ACTIVITY POCKETS - Layout Cfusters, workWalls, Radiant Roams
127. INTIMACY GRAL)II~NT - Cube Of~tees, Pods - Variety
12,8.INLaoOR SUNLIGHT - Atticttlatum to outside Windows in Skylights
- advantage
building assets
1?9. COMMON AREA AT THi; HEART
134. ENTRANCE ROOM
I THE FLOW THROUGH ROOMS
31
_
13z. sHORT PASSAG~s
133. STAIRCASE AS A STAG
134. ZEN VIEW
135_ TAPESTRY OF LIGHT & PARK
146. ELF-XIBLlw OFFICE SPACE
--Flexibility of Layout
147. COMMUNAL. EATING
2 148. SMALL- WORK GROUPS - Flexibility - Reconfiguration (teases come
0 & gA)
l49_ RECEPTION WELCOMES YOU
15a_ A PLACE T4 WAIT
151. sMAL.L ME1;TING ROOMS
1 I~iAi.F-PRIVATE OFFICE - Cube O~ce octopus pcxis aan da this
SZ.
-Armataire with fiuuicuse, flexibility
1 ROOMS TO RENT - Office Hoteliag - a~,justabifity allows it
S3.
156. Sl;WORK.
157. HOME WORKSHQP - Take It I~pme scalelstyle allows it
159_ LIGHT fJN TWO SIIa>;S OF EVERY ROOM - Flexibility of layout translucent
3 effect of Cube O~ce & pods (zoom within a roam)
o
1 SUNNY PLACE - Take advantage of it
b
1.
S2
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WA 99132Q1'~ ~ ~ PCT~1JS9~/2b083
1 sT wrNnows - Take aa~an~se ~f it
~.
165. OPENING TO TIC STg.EET _ Take advantage of it
176. GARpEN SEAT
179. ALCOVES - Arnzaturre, pads, Cube Uffice, Work Walls
180. vViNpOW PLACE
185. STTTING CIRCLE
190. CEILING HI=IGHT VA,R~'fY _ ~~, Tr~eilisa,1'od Peddles
191. TH.1; SHAPE of INDOOR PLACE
39?. WTNpOWS OVERLOO~G _ "Windows" in Cube O~ce Pods
1a 193. HALF OPEN WALL - Cube Office Work Pods
194. TNTERIOR WINpOWS - "WiudAws" in Cube O~cr Pods
196. CORNER D40RS
197. THICK WALLS
198. CLOSETS 8~ ROOMS
~5 200. OPF_N SHELVES
201. WAIST HIGH SII&LF PLUS POp
-Cube Office System
202. HUILT IN SEATS - A~~ sy~p~~~)
204. SECRET PLACE - Flexible layout allows this
20 205. STRUCTURE FOLLOWS SOCIAL SPACES on our scale: the work
dictates the
~ ~ sy~m
225. FRAMES AS T~IICjC~V~p EpGFS - WarkWalt cairn & other elemestts
235. SOFT INSIp& WALLS - Fabric on pods, screens, etc.
235. WINpOWS WHICH OPEN W~~
25 237. SOLIp pOORS WITH GLASS - Cube OfTtce
239. SMALL PAN>~S - Cube Office
241. SEAT SPOTS
243. SITTING WALL
24~. CAI~JVAS ROOFS - Cube O~ce Trellises
~ 0 249. ORT1AMENT - with subcamponetus - wiih systeizt complexity
- Araamerttal effect
250. WARM COLORS
53
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
wo 9~~zoW ~ ~ pc~riusssnbu~
X52. POQT.S OF LIGHT
253. THINGS FROM YUT.3R L.IF~ - the system provide$ space to do this.
Another ttnportant feature of the collaborative ertvirontrients of the present
s invention are their ability to provide access to information through a
totally integrated
multimedia approach ranging from providing various printed materials and
graphics
throughout the work space to the use of "just in time" information systeQls.
The fiuttittue
components of the present invention are well suited for ibis purpose is that
they include a
variety of shelf Space, work surfaces and display surfaces. The workspace alsp
preferably
io includes access to electsaniG databases incl»ding the Internet and data
warehneases. To
facilitate such access, the environments of the present invention include
display motuu~rs
throughout the space and furntcure cpmponertts are designed to movably support
such
monitors. In. addition, the furniture components and armattue elerrserus are
designed to
conceal or guide cables and wires connected to electronic component-s. This
collection of
15 components and their arrangement within the environments as shown in the
drawings are able
to provide total seamless media integration within the environment. in
addition, the system is
highly scaleabie and adaptable to new teehnoiogies that are now widely
available or 3ik~ly to
become widely available in the next few years, including large scale
electronic work walls,
electronic assistants, electronic displays, real time video conferencing,
intelligent agents snd
2 4 data warehouses. Colleetiveiy, these components provide an environment in
which
information can be made available, as needed, i.e., "just in time
information," and remote
collaboration is seamless.
Moreover, the systera and method of the present invemion provide an
environment
that is uniquely complementary to systems, such as "query tone" technology,
far providing
25 "just in time information." Specifically, as illustrated in Figure SH and
elsewhere, the
environment includes a complete range of fully integrated media sources and
displays so that,
far example, a knowledge worker can ttun on a computer (workstation, network
computer,
lap top, PDA or intelligent assistant), and ask any question from arry
database anywhere, in
the same way that a krtawlcdge worker today can pick tip a telephone, and talk
to anybody
3 o anywhere.
54
CA 02316192 2000-06-22
WO 99l~ZOl~ ~ ~ PCT~tJS98IZb11~.3
As noted previously, the present invention particularly relates to a system
aad
method for optirRizing a collaborarive work space that is used in connection
with the
inventor's system and method for facilitating cammuuication and other
interaction among
agents (humans, machines, groups. argartizatians and combinations thereof) so
as to provide
feedback, leattzing and self adjustment among the individual agents thereby
creating an
envirotunent far interaction (consisting of environmcttt, tools and processes)
that facilitates
emergent group genius in a radically compressed time peric~d-
F.~nbadiuients of the present invention have now been described in fulfillment
of the objectives of the present inventions. h will be appreciated that these
examples are
Z a merely ih~.vs~ve of the inventiosa. Many variations and modifications will
be apparent to
those skilled in the ~.
