AU709272B3

AU709272B3 - Work priority indicator

Info

Publication number: AU709272B3
Application number: AU35824/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Bisset
Original assignee: BISSET AUTOMATION Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BISSET AUTOMATION Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-26
Filing date: 1999-06-22
Publication date: 1999-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2005-06-22

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A PETTY PATENT

ORIGINAL

Applicant: BISSET AUTOMATION PTY LTD, ACN 008 082 317 Actual Inventor: John Bisset Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY

SERVICES

26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: WORK PRIORITY INDICATOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- WORK PRIORITY INDICATOR This invention relates to apparatus for assisting work efticiency or worker time management or for reducing work related stress.

It is common for a worker e.g in an office, to be engaged in work at ditfcrent times having varying degrees of importance or urgency. Interruptions to a worker when engaged in verv iurgent or important tasks can be disruptive and lead to inllfficiencies, frustrations, and stress as well as difficulties in completing the required task.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can enable reduction of interruptions to a worker when engaged in important or urgent tasks.

According to the present invention there is provided a priority work indicator apparatus for indicating to observers the relative priority of work being undertaken by a worker, the work priority indicator apparatus including a visual display indicator and selectively operable switching means, the visual display indicator including: a priority work indicator for visually indicating that priority work is being undertaken: an important work indicator for visually indicating that work having a medium level of importance is being undertaken; and a non-priority work indicator for visually indicating that work of a relatively low level of importance is being undertaken: the switching means being selectively operable by the worker so as to activate one only of the three work indicators so that the worker can operate the switching means to provide at the work station of the worker a visual indication of the status of the work in progress, namely that priority work is being undertaken and interruptions are not permitted indicated by activation of the priority work indicator, or that important work is being undertaken and that interruptions should be miniised indicated by activation of the important work indicator, or that interruptions are permissible at that time indicated by activation of the non-priority \Vwok indicator, the switching means being operable to change the identity of the visually displayed wor<k indicator to another of the work indicators upon operation of the switching means by the worker.

In a preferred embodiment, the priority work indicator comprises a red light source which is illuminated when the priority work indicator is activated, the important work indicator comprises an amber light source which is illuminated when the important work indicator is activated, and the non-priority work indicator comprises a' green light source which is illuminated when the non-priority work indicator is activated.

The switching means may have associated therewith a secondary indicator positioned for viewing by the worker and for indicating which particular work indicator is currently selected and activated, whereby the worker can see which particular work indicator is active at any one time even if the work indicators of the visual display indicator are remote from or face away from the worker.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. H-owever it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. I is a schematic block diagram of a work priority indicator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an schematic electrical diagram according to one possible embodiment, and i 3 is a circuit diagramn for all electronic s\vitchim ne means for a vork priority inldicator The \volrk priority indicator apparatus in each of the drawings Comprises a visual display indicator \v1lich in1cludes: a priority wvork illdicator I Zfor visually indicating priority work is beinig widertaken all importat work idicad tor 1W for visually indicating that wvork havill a InCduill level of i inlpo[rt nce is being ude rtakenl anid a non-priority work Indicator I 6for visually indicating that work of a lowv level of importance is beinfg undertaken. The apparatus also inclCdes sitching meanls 20 selectively operable by a worker so as to activate one only of' the three wvork indicators 12, 14, 16 so that the worker can provide at the wvork station a visual indication of the status of the work in progress. InI paiticular, the worker can indicate by activationi of the priority work inidicator 12 that priority wvork is being Undertaken anl I herefore that interruptions to that worker are not permitted. The work can he considered as pioity work' ifW it requires ulninterrulpte( attention because it is extremely important or if the work is urgent. T'he wvorker can operate the sxitching means 20 so as it activate the IS important work indicator 14 to indicate that important work is being undertaken and that interrluptions should be inilmised. The worker can operate the switching means 20 to activate the non-priority work indicator 16 if inter'uptions are I)ernlissible at that lime.

Operation of the switching means 20 to change from one work indicator to another causes deactivationl of the initially activated work indicator at the same time as activation of time newly selected \vOrk iiidicator.

iThe work indicators 12, 14, 16 in the preferred embodiments comprise illuminated wvork indicators although other visual display arrangements may be used such as LCD or 11) displays. The priority work indicator 12 fhir example may comprise a red light source i3 \vhich is illuinfated when the priority \vork in(icator is activated. The important work indicator 14 may comprise an amber light source 15 and the non-priority work indicaor I 6 may comprise a green light source 17. The red, amber and green light sources I3, 15, 17 may be arranged to resemble a traffic light arrangement for clear indication and aesthetic appeal.

The switching means 20 may comprise a mechanical switching means (Fig. 2) having three switch actuators 21, 22, 23 which are operated by the user. For example the switch actuators 21, 22, 23 may comprise push button switches which are mechanically or electro-mechanically coupled or interlocked so that only one switch can remain closed at one time Instead of interlocked switches, an appropriate arrangement of relays may be used to enable only one switch to activate its associated work indicator light sources 13, 15, 17 at any one time. A further alternative is to provide a switch having three positions corresponding to the selection of the respective three work indicator light sources 13, 15, 7.

Alternatively the switching means 20 as shown in Fig. 3 may comprise electronic switching means 21, 22, 23 with three switches (such as push button switches) which are coupled such that only one switch output corresponding to the desired work indicator 12, 14, 16 can be operative or in an "on" state at any time. For example each electronic switch may include a reset means 25, 26, 27 which is operated when either one of the two other switches is operated by the user, the reset means causing that respective switch to adopt an "off" state.

The output of each switch 21, 22. 23 is coupled to the respective work indicator t2. 14, 16.

In the embodiment of Figs. I and 2, associated with each of the three switches 21, 22, 23 there is provided a secondary indicator 3 1, 32, 33 such as an indicator lamp or LED located adjacent to the respective switch and for indicating which particular work indicator 12. 14, 16 is currently active. This will enable the user to see which work indicator is active at any one time even if the work indicator is remote from the user or is not easily visible fiom tile user's work station. fThlie switcling means 20 may include a switch Ihousin 24 for both the switches 21, 22, 23 anid the secondary indicators 31, 32, and arrancd to be located at the user's work station and connectd by a suitable cable or the like to an indicator unit IOLISirig I I fr the visual display indicaors 12, 14. 1 6 .A power supply 35 which may be generally conventional Iiay be included irn the work indicator, or thile work indicator may utilise an external power source such as mains splly.

In either case a low voltage DC supply may be generated to power the apparatus. A master control switch 36 (Fig. 2) may be also provided, e.g. associated with the housing 24 for the switching means for thle work indicators.

In use tile display indicator I I can be located, savy, at the worker's desk and facing. so that tile work indicators 12, 14, 16 are visible to co-workers or can be located in a position outside the worker's office and visible to approaching observers. The worker can operate the master colntrol switch 36 to supply power to the work indicator, after which the appropriate switching means 21, 22, 23 rmay be operated to illuminate the dlesired work indicator 12, 1 4, 16. This apparatIus will therefore alert co-workers or observers as to the status of' Work beilg ulndertaken and particularly to indicate by red light sourmce 13 that priority work is being done during wlich interruptions are not tolerable, or to indicate by amrber light source that important work is being done when sufficiently important interruptions are pernlitted, or to indicate by green light source 17 that non-priority work is being undertaken when disturbances are permissible. The indication of work status, if respected by co-workers can enable increases in productivity or ellicielicy, (redurction of stress, and can enable improved worker time management particularly in office work erivironmenrts.

The indicator can be a relatively low cost item, can operate with low encrgy consumption, can operate at low, safe voltage levels and can be simply and readily installed and used.

Variations of the preferred embodiments described and illustrated herein can be devised and fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the description of what each work indicator signifies can be readily changed. Also, more work indicators can be used if more levels of priority are to be indicated. Actual messages may be incorporated in the visual displays, e.g. by LEDs or LCDs or by printing overlying the light sources.

Other possible variations include provision of a remote control means enabling the switching means 20 to be located remote from the visual display indicator 10 without connecting wiring running between the two components. The remote control means may include a signalling apparatus and the display indicator may include a receiver to receive, decode and respond as desired to the signals from the remote control means Instead of a number of switches 21, 22, 23 2 equal to the number of work indicators 12, 14, 16, there may be a single switch which is operable upon repeated activation thereof to cause stepping through the selected work indicators in a cyclical sequence, e.g. priority work indicator important work indicator non-priority work indicator priority work indicator, etc.

In a further possible variation or embodiment, the visual display indicators 12, 14, 16 comprise non-electrical display means For example, the work indicators may comprise movable display means, only one of which is exposed to view at a time. Coloured display markers such as coloured discs or flags, or movable screens or shutters which cover and selectively reveal only one marker at a time, may be provided as the display indicators. In t his cinbod i lerinthIle switchng mens mayii be a miechaical ani-ilangein hing concin t o (i e wvork indicat ors so t hat oneC only at a time is exposetd, lvated or otherwise displayed.

It is to be undersood that VariOLi alteratons, modifications and/or additions may be made to the Ratmirs of the possible and preferred embodhient of' the invent ion as descibiled Whout (lepariain11rm the scope of the invention as (lehnd in Mei cAiins

Claims

2. A wVork prioiitv indicator fapaar~ as claimed(, inl claim I\'erihe 1vi why o idicator comipri ses a red light sour-ce which is I IniKnat ed when t he pnovity XVOrk indicator is activ'ated, the important work indicator ckmnflj.rses an amber IQm~~isurce which is illnijnaled wTenl the important work indicator is activated, and the non-priority work indicator comiqurises a green liotu ice which is ilbiiniioalcd when the non-priority work imdicatoi is act iva ed. 3 A \vork idicator aparatus as claied in claim I or 2 x;herin tihe sWit hing means has associated therewithI a secondary indicator positioned Imr 1),:vni Lv e worker and 66; indicating which particular work inmd icatorw is ci irrent ly seeced aid act ivated, wherby W e wvorker can see which particular work indicator is active at any one time even if' thme work indicators or the vinsual display indicator are remote romn or face away opm M e worker-. Dated this 8th day of Ante 1999 PATE.NT ATTORNEY SERVICE S 1 5 Attorneys t For BISSET AU.TONMATION PTY LTF)