![]() Sometimes when somebody leaves the restroom, they may leave the light on and shut the door! This makes it difficult to non-invasively determine if the restroom is in use. However, there is a potential issue with this model. If the vent fan and light are on the same switch, leaving the fan running requires leaving the light on. This is normally how the restroom should be when not in use. This is normally how the restroom is used. Some people like to close the door when they are done. ![]() By DeMorgan’s theorem, another way to state this is that restroom is considered not occupied if door is open or light is off. We start with the simplistic model that restroom is considered occupied if door is shut and light is on. Not to worry! You can adapt the solution to any resource in your office which has contention and could benefit from a notification and reservation system! For multi-user restrooms the solution presented herein would not work, and would be less likely to be needed in the first place. Of note, the restrooms in this model are of the single-user locking variety. A photoresistor is used to detect whether or not the light is on. A magnetic sensor is attached to the door of the restroom and detects whether the door is open or shut. Maintaining the restroom states is done via two simple, inexpensive sensors. ![]() The server has four main tasks it must perform: maintain and log the restroom states, respond to commands, maintain the queue, and send notifications. Each restroom has a TS-7680 connected to the LAN via WiFi which the server polls to determine its state. The server will send replies back in the same medium as the request came in, notifying the user of the current state and when their reservation is ready. Users can send e-mails or SMS messages to the server to check the restroom state, request a reservation to use the facilities, or cancel a reservation. The solution was created using node.js for fast development time. This paper documents a high-tech solution to the problem with the use of a Technologic Systems’ TS-7680 and node.js. In either case, one’s time would be unproductively wasted walking across the building just to discover they had to wait. Camping outside a restroom waiting for it to become available makes sure you get to use it as soon as it is available, but what if you pick the restroom which is going to be in use for the next half an hour while the other restroom was free right after you left? Walking back and forth in a polling fashion eliminates this problem, but may be less comfortable, and now you risk somebody else enter the restroom if it becomes free shortly after you are on your way to the next. ![]() None of the existing options seemed befitting to a high tech company. With two restrooms for people numbering in the double digits, it was becoming increasingly common to find both facilities occupied. As our company has grown, one resource that has increasingly become congested is the restrooms. HomeĬontention can arise in any setting involving multiple people sharing a limited resource. The code, schematics, and documentation in this practical (and entertaining) example will allow for better time management of resources in a variety of serious applications (human resources, assembly lines, industry, etc.). Employees can subscribe to the bathroom status using SMS text messaging and become alerted when it’s available and their next in the queue. This specific example is monitoring and managing a queue for use of company bathrooms and notifying employees when they become available. The solution involves use of a single board computer to monitor remote sensor nodes, manage a queue for any assets waiting to use the resource, and notifying the assets. The basis of this project is to provide a solution to any resource monitoring applications that involve sharing a limited resource for increased productivity or throughput optimizing.
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