CA2316192A1 - A system and method for optimizing environments to facilitate agent processes - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method (Fig. 3) for optimizing environments to facilitate agent processes. The environments include components that allow rapid reconfiguration including reconfigurable furniture (110, 120, 130, 170, 190);
adjustable lighting (181, 200); and sound (210). The system includes a plurality of agents each real agent (1-10, 21) having a plurality of characteristics, means for measuring actual performance of agents; means for inputting expected performance of agents; means for modifying agents based on the difference between actual and expected performance of agents. A system and method of optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments that are subject to predetermined architectural rules is also provided. The systems employs an iterative feedback driven method for facilitating interaction among agents promoting feedback, learning and emergent group genius in a radically compressed time period.

Description

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"-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 PCTNS9~l'1bQ83 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.

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)_;

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_ 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.

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

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 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.

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:

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

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?

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 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~

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 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 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 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~

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 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_ 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 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 $laove their own level of recursion.
The system also includes means for allowing agents to replicate other agents to the extent the characteristics of the other agents are revealed. Again, tabs means cart be a 1s computer capable of copying computer code to replicate another agent or biochemical replicatars or hurrtans creating copies of agents. Huu~ans, teams, groups and organizatiAns can create models and other agents through copying what they Observe.
The system als4 includes means far measuring actual perfartnance of agents.
Any lcnowp rsieasuremeat means cart be used. The trieasusemetlt may be objective, e.g., a quantity 2 o or measured value ar the measurement rosy be subjective, e.g., ..good" or "bad."
The system also includes means fear inputting expected perfosntartce of agents. The means for inputting may be a human tn computer tiara interface, caspmunication between software objects, biochemical communicarian, a statement of goals and objectives.
The systeun also includes means fete comparing actual performance of ageslts to z s expected performance of agents The comparison may be objective, e.s., a difference between a desired and actual qsaarttity or measured value or the compasison relay be subjective, e.g., ..goals met" or "objectives achieved."
The system also includes means far modifying agents based an the diffcrencc between actual perforutauce of agents and expected perforrnance of agents. Again, this rueans can be 3 o a caraputer capable of copying computer code to modify another agent or biochemical agents or humans altering of agents. Human's, teattts, groups and organizations cats modify rnadels WO 99J~2077 ~ ~ PCTNS~8IZb4la3 and Qiher a~exl~S tIITOLt'f~1 alterll7~ T11C CWllpa~altioll Of the went COmponentS, e.$., 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 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 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~

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 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 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.

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 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.

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$. In addiiiou, other eletttcttts of the environment may be created. In particular, if the envirartmatt includes persatts, the environment can include particular s o amenities designed tQ foster e#ective operation of the present invention.
For example, the environment may include sectioned areas for collecting groups, wall surface writing and WO 99r3IQ1~
pCTNS9$~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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 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

WO 99l320t 7 ~ PCTIUS9&2t~,3 --Ari~tat~ue, systems layout, etc.

117. SH&LTERING 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

_ 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.

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

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.

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 ~.

Claims (23)

We claim:

1. An environment that is reconfigurable to facilitate the interaction of agents within the environment in accordance with a predetermined medal of the interaction of the agents that prescribes appropriate environment conditions based on the status of agent interaction within the system of the interaction of the agents, the environment comprising:
means for determining the location of physical components within the environment;
means for reconfiguring physical components within the environment;
means for determining the lighting characteristics in a plurality of discrete regions within the environment;
means for adjusting lighting within the environment;
means for monitoring sound within the environment;
means for adjusting sound within the environment;
means for monitoring and determining the status of agent interaction within the environment; and means for reconfiguring physical components and adjusting lighting and sound within the environment in response to the determination of the status of agents interaction within the environment.

2. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for determining the location of physical components within the environment comprises occupancy sensors and a general purpose programmable computer.

3. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring physical components within the environment comprises rolling work walls.

4. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring physical components within the environment comprises workpods an rolling cancers.

5. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring physical components within the environment comprises a rolling kiosk component.

6. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfigured physical components within the environment comprises stackable shelf cubes.

7. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring physical components within the environment comprises a rolling wing work surface component.

8. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for determining the lighting characteristics in a plurality of discrete regions within the environment comprises light sensors connected to a general purpose programmable computer.

9. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting lighting within the environment comprises variable intensity lights connected to a general purpose programmable computer.

10. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring sound within the environment comprises microphones connected to a general purpose programmable computer.

11. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting sound within the environment comprises distributed mode panel speakers.

12. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring and determining the status of agent interaction within the environment comprises a general purpose programmable computer;

13. The environment of claim 1, wherein the means for reconfiguring physical components and adjusting lighting and sound within the environment in response to the determination of the status of agent interaction within the environment comprises a general purpose programmable computer. An iterative, feedback driven system for optimizing interaction among agents acting on multiple levels, the system comprising:

a plurality of real agents each real agent having a plurality of characteristics;
means for allowing at least some of the agents to control the degree to which data corresponding to characteristics is revealed to other agents;
means for allowing agents to control other agents, including themselves;
means for allowing the agents to passes access or use privileges with respect to access or use of other agents;
means for measuring actual performance of agents;
means for inputting expected performance of agents;
means for comparing actual performance of agents to expected performance of agents;
means for modifying agents based on the difference between actual performance of agents and expected performance of agents; and means for allowing communication between agents limited to what the agents reveal about themselves.

14. A method of optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments that are subject to predetermined architectural rules, the method comprising the steps of:
determining an objective to be achieved identifying architectural and pattern language values that achieve the objective;
determining environment parameters modeling the environment identifying objects available for use within the environment creating a model of the environment that identifies objects to be used within the environment and location of the objects within the environment determining whether the location of the objects within the environment satisfies the predetermined architectural rules and repeating the step of locating objects within the environment until the location of the objects within the environment is determined to satisfy the predetermined architectural rule;
assessing the extent to which architectural and pattern language values are achieved;
and repeating the steps of locating objects in the model of the environment, determining whether the location of the objects within the environment satisfies the predetermined architectural rules pattern and assessing the extent to which architectural and pattern language values are achieved until the design is determined to be complete.

15. The method of optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments according to claim 14, wherein the model of the environment is displayed on a computer monitor and the completed design is printed by a printer.

16. A system for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments that are subject to predetermined architectural rules, the system comprising:
means for inputting an objective to be achieved;
means for identifying architectural and pattern language values that achieve the objective;
means for inputting environment parameters;
means for displaying a model of the environment;
means for displaying a representation of a plurality objects available for use within the environment;
means for locating the representation of an object at a location within the displayed model of the environment;
means for determining whether the location of the objects within the environment satisfies the predetermined architectural rules and repeating the step of locating objects within the environment until the location of the objects within the environment is determined to satisfy the predetermined architectural rules;
means for assessing the extent to which architectural and pattern language values are achieved; and means for repeating the steps of locating objects in the model of the environment, determining whether the location of the objects within the environment satisfies the predetermined architectural rules pattern and assessing the extent to which architectural and pattern language values are achieved until the design is determined to be complete.

17. The system for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments according to claim 16, wherein the system includes a general purpose programmable computer as input device and a display monitor;

18 The system for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments according to claim 16, wherein the means for displaying comprises a display monitor connected to the general purpose programmable computer;

19. The system for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises a printer.

20. An iterative, feedback driven system for optimizing interaction among agents acting on multiple levels, the system comprising:
a plurality of real agents each real agent having a plurality of characteristics;
means for allowing at least some of the agents to control the degree to which data corresponding to characteristics is revealed to other agents;
means for allowing agents to control other agents, including themselves;
means for allowing the agents to posses access or use privileges with respect to access or use of other agents;
means for measuring actual performance of agents;
means for inputting expected performance of agents;
means for comparing actual performance of agents to expected performance of agents;
means for modifying agents based on the difference between actual performance of agents and expected performance of agents; and means for allowing communication between agent limited to what the agents reveal about themselves.

21. The system of Claim 20, used for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments the system further comprising;
means for creating virtual agents to represent real agents in the system, each of the agents containing data corresponding to some characteristic of the real agent represented;

means for at least some of the virtual agents having an access/use characteristic that allows access or use only to agents having access privilege corresponding to the agent;
means for allowing agents to control what is revealed by those agents that they control;
means for allowing agents to modify the agents that they control; and means far determining the location of agents within the system.

22. An iterative, feedback driven method for optimizing interaction acting on multiple levels, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of real agents each real agent having a plurality of characteristics;
allowing at least some of the agents to control the degree to which data corresponding to characteristics is revealed to other agents;
allowing agents to control other agents, including themselves;
allowing the agents to posses access or use privileges with respect to access or use of other agents;
measuring actual performance of agents;
inputting expected performance of agents;
comparing actual performance of agents to expected performance of agents;
modifying agents based on the difference between actual performance of agents and expected performance of agents; and allowing communication between agents limited to what the agents reveal about themselves.

23. The method of Claim 32, used for optimizing agent pattern language values in collaborative environments the method further comprising the steps of;
creating virtual agents to represent real agents each of the agents containing data corresponding to some characteristic of the real agent represented;
at least some of the virtual agents having a access/use characteristic that allows access or use only to agents having access privilege, corresponding to the agent;
a114wing agents to control what is revealed by those agents that they control;

allowing agents io modify the agents that they control; and determining the location of agents.