Systems and methods for employing automated data analysis to define zones for device placement in an operating evironment

摘要

A system and method are provided to a placement and optimization process for a plurality of common use devices in an operating environment according to actual users' employment of the common use devices, and actual needs for placement of certain common use devices in the operating environment. The disclosed system and method add a level of automation that may be used to collect use data for the common use devices according to a specified scheme in order to produce a more robust, flexible and updatable scheme for confirming an initial optimal layout for the common use devices and for providing a basis for updating that initial optimal layout over time to account for unforeseen errors in the initial assessment or changes in workflow as mandated by changes in the operating environment and user preferences.

主权项

1. A method for determining placement of devices in an operating environment, comprising:
automatically collecting data on user employment of the devices in the operating environment, the collected data being affinity data that provides an indication of users' employment of one of the devices in relation to the users' employment of others of the devices; mapping, with a processor, the collected data specifying the devices and an indication of relative use of the devices; analyzing the mapping with the processor to determine placement of one or more of the devices in the operating environment; and outputting a result of the analysis to an operator for use in placing the devices, the result of the analysis being displayed in a format in which the devices are represented as individual nodes and the indication of the relative use of the devices is indicated by lines between related devices, at least one of a color and a thickness of the lines representing a level of the relative use.