Herman Miller orporated HMIRADIO Users Manual

HERMAN MILLER INC

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Echo 2G System User Manual Copyright, 2010, Herman Miller Inc.

Revision: 1.1

Echo 2G System User Manual

HMS Space Utilization Service

HERMAN MILLER INC

page 2 of 9

Echo 2G System User Manual Copyright, 2010, Herman Miller Inc.

Revision: 1.1

1. System Overview

Echo 2G is a redeployable and scalable multi-tier sensing system that is installed at a customer facility for a period
of 3 to 5 weeks to capture space utilization rates. The system employs three technology tiers to capture, aggregate,
and transmit workplace utilization data for analysis and trend reporting. Figure 1 Echo 2G System Diagram
illustrates the relationship between those tiers.

Figure 1 Echo 2G System Diagram

Furniture Tier

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Echo 2G System User Manual Copyright, 2010, Herman Miller Inc.

Revision: 1.1

This tier determines occupancy by sensing movement of a chair in the customer facility. Motion data is
transmitted wirelessly to receivers.

Room Tier

This tier aggregates motion data from the furniture tier. The data is periodically transmitted to Herman Miller over
the Internet via either: 1) the customer LAN or 2) a wireless network comprising a 900 MHz wireless backhaul
network, a wireless gateway and a cellular router.

Analysis Tier

This tier stores all customer data on a secure server at Herman Miller for value-added analysis and reporting.

2. System Deployment and Operation Overview

The Echo 2G system is designed to be easily deployed and operated at customer facilities. Receivers are first
deployed across the customer study site, and then motes are deployed to predefined spaces in the customer
study area. Motes communicate occupancy data to receivers, receivers communicate occupancy data to the
Herman Miller DCS over the Internet, and the DCS stores occcupancy data in a database, where it is later used
to generate customer reports.

The communication protocols between components are illustrated in Figure 2 Data flow diagram with protocols.

Figure 2 Data flow diagram with protocols

Two types of messages are transmitted from receivers to the DCS (data collection server). First, raw occupancy
data is encapsulated in an HTTP or HTTPS POST request, which contains binary data from linked motes.
Second, a short heartbeat packet containing operational metrics is transmitted every 10 minutes; this heartbeat
packet is used to monitor system status and connectivity. The DCS acknowledges all messages. These
acknowledgements may include receiver commands.