DE102022125633A1 - Network system for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile network system (13) for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft (11), comprising at least one antenna device (14) and at least one interface device (15), wherein the network system (13) is designed to receive signals from and send signals to a mobile radio network (17) and to receive and send such signals in the elevator shaft (11).

Description

The invention relates to a mobile network system for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft, comprising at least one antenna device and at least one interface device, wherein the network system is designed to receive signals from and send them to an external mobile radio network and to receive and send such signals in the elevator shaft. The invention also relates to a control device and an elevator system.

On larger construction sites and especially in high-rise buildings, a connection to a mobile network and thus communication via mobile phone is often only possible to a limited extent, as construction sites and buildings are not yet developed. Elevator shafts are typically located in a central area of a building, the so-called building core, which is usually solid, which means that radio waves cannot be transmitted well and can therefore negatively affect the strength of the radio network. In addition, machine rooms for elevator systems are typically located high up in a building, so that radio cells of a mobile network cannot reach these machine rooms or can only reach them to a limited extent.

When assembling, installing and/or commissioning elevator systems, particularly in a shaft, side shaft or machine room, telecommunications for technicians or assembly personnel is therefore difficult or they must go to an area of the construction site or building where there is sufficient network quality to be able to establish a communication connection. Since areas with better or sufficient mobile phone quality are typically located in the area of an external facade of the building and/or on lower building levels, longer waiting times for the installation and/or commissioning of the elevator system can arise.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to propose a system for establishing a functional mobile radio connection in order to enable telecommunications, in particular computer-aided or computer-mediated communication. In addition, a method for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft is to be proposed.

To solve this problem, a mobile network system for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft, an elevator shaft having such a mobile network system and a method for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft according to the independent claims are proposed. Further embodiments and additional features emerge from the subclaims and from the following description.

According to a first aspect, a mobile network system for establishing a mobile radio connection and/or a communication network in an elevator shaft is proposed, comprising at least one antenna device and at least one interface device, wherein the network system is designed to receive signals from and send signals to a mobile radio network and to receive and send such signals in the elevator shaft. The at least one antenna device or the at least one interface device has a power supply and the at least one antenna device and the at least one interface device are connected via a Power-over-Ethernet connection.

The mobile network system is in particular a combination of various technical, primarily independent electronic components or network devices that is not tied to a fixed location and which enables communication or the transmission of signals between the individual components. Such components can be, for example, actuators, agents and/or computers. For the physical and logical implementation of the network, the mobile network system can generally also have active components in addition to passive components such as antennas, cables, plug connections and junction boxes in order to ensure the functionality of the network system. Such active components can be formed, for example, by a gateway, a router, a switch, an access point and/or a repeater. In some cases, such network components can also be implemented as virtual or software-based systems.

An antenna device is in particular an electronic device that can establish a communication connection to a fixed transmission device for radio signals from mobile networks and use it to transmit signals. Such a fixed transmission device can be, for example, a land radio station for radio applications such as UMTS, LTE or 5G standards. An antenna device is designed as a technical arrangement for emitting and receiving electromagnetic waves, in particular for wireless communication, and is set up to enable access to a local mobile network. The antenna device is set up in particular to ensure a reception and transmission quality in the To provide a connection to a mobile network of sufficient quality to enable a stable communication connection.

An interface device is in particular an interface between physical parts or components of the network system. Such a network interface can enable a network component or a terminal device to access a network and can also be referred to as a network connection. An interface device can be designed, for example, as a network connection in the form of a socket, to which in particular a twisted pair cable can be connected, or as a connection for an optical fiber. A wireless network interface or radio interface enables terminal devices to connect to a WLAN or a mobile network. For the purposes of the present invention, an interface device can also be designed as an active component, such as a gateway, a router, a switch, an access point and/or a repeater.

A power supply is in particular an autonomous voltage source or a power supply unit that converts voltage from a power grid for a consumer. In particular, it provides the electrical energy required by the network component or components to operate.

A Power-over-Ethernet connection (PoE connection) is a technology for wired local networks or network systems that enables the electrical current or electrical energy required to operate the individual devices or network components to be transmitted and made available via a data line of the network cable and therefore not via separate power cables. The power is supplied via a twisted pair cable and RJ45 connector, which can be provided on a respective Ethernet interface on the power network side. In other words, data and power for energy supply are transmitted or sent together via a cable to a terminal device or network component. Typical Power-over-Ethernet-capable terminal devices or consumers are wireless access points or mobile phones. The Power-over-Ethernet connection can provide an electrical supply without the need for a separate power supply, for example via a socket and/or a supply network. This enables the mobile network to be installed independently of the infrastructure.

The proposed network system can therefore be put into operation independently of permanently installed, wired devices for mobile phone reception. This means that the network system can be designed to be portable and, if required, installed and used in an elevator shaft to establish a mobile phone connection.

In a further aspect, a method for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft is proposed. The method comprises steps of providing at least one antenna device in an area with a mobile radio network strength sufficient for operation and establishing a connection to the mobile radio network in order to receive and send signals to it; providing at least one interface device in an elevator shaft; providing a communication connection for transmitting signals between the antenna device and the at least one interface device; and transmitting such signals to and from the interface devices in the elevator shaft.

Using the proposed method, a mobile radio connection can be set up in an elevator shaft and/or in a central part of a building, in particular without building-related signal attenuation having a limiting effect on data transmission or mobile radio communication or on establishing a connection to a mobile radio network of sufficient quality. In the context of the present disclosure, sufficient mobile radio network strength or signal strength means that data is transmitted to such an extent that at least essentially interference-free communication or data transmission can take place.

In the context of the present disclosure, a mobile radio connection refers to a signal transmission between a terminal or at least one network component and a mobile radio transmission system or a sufficient signal or mobile radio network strength of a corresponding radio connection to a mobile radio network so that information transmission is possible. A signal is in particular a radio signal or a character or character sequence emitted by radio waves and/or electromagnetic waves for the wireless transmission of messages, information or data.

A mobile network is in particular a technical infrastructure by means of which a transmission of signals for mobile communications can take place. The mobile network includes in particular a mobile switching network in which a transmission and switching of signals between fixed facilities and platforms of the mobile network take place, as well as an access network in which a transmission of signals can take place between a mobile network antenna or a mobile radio transmitter and/or a user-related terminal, such as an access point or a mobile phone. This access network is also referred to as an air interface or radio interface and includes the transmission of data or signals using electromagnetic waves.

The antenna device can be positioned inside a building, primarily at a window, or outside a building, since a building attenuation effect is not effective there or only effective to a limited extent. This can increase signal quality, since, for example, a direct line of sight to the mobile radio station or the mobile radio mast can be provided. The antenna device can be designed as a broadband antenna, in particular in the form of an omnidirectional antenna, which is designed for mobile use. Broadband antennas can receive and transmit several operating or frequency bands. The antenna device or a component connected to it is designed in particular to accommodate a locally valid SIM card in order to be able to establish an independent mobile radio or Internet connection with the mobile radio network. In this case, it is particularly provided that the antenna device is designed to be LTE and/or 5G-capable.

The proposed network system or method for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft thus offers a solution that can be used worldwide, is largely autonomous and easy to put into operation.

According to a further aspect, an elevator shaft is proposed, with a mobile network system, in particular designed in the manner described herein, with at least one antenna device and at least one interface device, wherein the at least one antenna device is arranged in an area with sufficient mobile network strength for operation and the at least one interface device is arranged in the elevator shaft.

An elevator shaft is part of an elevator system and is typically designed as a travel tube within a building in which elevator cabins of the elevator system can be moved up and down to transport people or goods. Such an elevator shaft can be made of reinforced concrete, for example, and is usually closed off and only accessible through the elevator system's shaft doors. Such elevator shafts typically form a static core of a building and can accommodate elevator system-relevant components such as at least one elevator car, guide rails for the elevator car, counterweights and drive components. To operate the elevator system, a machine room is provided in particular for the arrangement of a drive, which is usually located above the elevator shaft or on the lowest floor of the building, for example in the basement.

In one embodiment, the at least one interface device can be arranged in an elevator shaft, in a machine room, in a secondary shaft and/or in a construction management office.

The antenna device provides a connection to the mobile network, with the interface device being connected to the antenna device for data transmission via the Power-over-Ethernet connection. The interface device can thus be positioned independently of the data reception quality at a particular interface location. In particular, several interface devices, particularly in the form of access points and/or repeaters, can be arranged distributed over the height of an elevator shaft in order to enable data transmission in the area of the elevator shaft to be as continuous as possible. By arranging interface devices in the building, sufficient quality for data transmission can be provided even in shielded areas of a building.

In one embodiment, at least two interface devices can be connected and/or connectable by means of an optical fiber. Data can be transmitted over long distances, in particular up to over 100 meters, by means of the optical fiber. In this case, the optical fiber can in particular connect several interface devices to one another and can be arranged, for example, on a hanging cable of the elevator shaft or an elevator car in order to use an existing infrastructure in the elevator shaft or the elevator system, whereby further cable routing devices can be omitted.

In one embodiment, the mobile network can have at least one component that is set up to establish a virtual private communication network. Such a VPN or "Virtual Private Network" can provide a protected network connection using public networks. This network component can be a router, for example, or each device or network component of the network system can have a separate VPN. In this way, a compromise of the network system can be avoided if unsafe components or devices can log into it. A communication network protected in this way can, for example, enable additional participants to be connected or diagnostic devices to be connected in order to enable commissioning and/or remote maintenance of the elevator shaft or elevator system in real time.

In one embodiment, the mobile network system or its components can be arranged in a transport container, in particular a case, and thus transportable. This allows the mobile network system to be conveniently brought to its place of use and put into operation there. In particular, the mobile network system can be designed in a modular manner, for example as a simple "basic version" or as an "extension version" comprising, for example, a VPN router, additional interface devices and/or diagnostic devices. This enables the mobile network system to be adapted as required.

In general, features of the various exemplary aspects and/or embodiments described herein may be combined with one another unless clearly excluded in the context of the disclosure.

In the following part of the description, reference is made to the figures which are shown to illustrate specific aspects and embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that other aspects may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of the figures is therefore not to be understood in a limiting sense.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage aufweisend ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines ersten erfindungsgemäßen mobilen Netzwerksystems zur Errichtung einer Mobilfunkverbindung in einem Aufzugschacht;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage aufweisend ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen mobilen Netzwerksystems zur Errichtung einer Mobilfunkverbindung in einem Aufzugschacht;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage aufweisend ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines dritten erfindungsgemäßen mobilen Netzwerksystems zur Errichtung einer Mobilfunkverbindung in einem Aufzugschacht; und
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ablaufdiagramms eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Errichten einer Mobilfunkverbindung in einem Aufzugschacht.

They show:

• 1 a schematic representation of an elevator installation comprising an embodiment of a first mobile network system according to the invention for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft;
• 2 a schematic representation of an elevator installation comprising an embodiment of a second mobile network system according to the invention for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft;
• 3 a schematic representation of an elevator system comprising an embodiment of a third mobile network system according to the invention for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft; and
• 4 a schematic representation of a flow chart of a method according to the invention for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft.

In the following, identical reference symbols refer to identical or at least similar features.

1 shows a schematic representation of an elevator system 10 having an embodiment of a mobile network system 13 described herein for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft 11. In the embodiment shown, the elevator system 10 has seven elevator shafts 11 and is set up to transport people and/or goods between different floors 12.

A first embodiment of a mobile network system 13 is arranged in a machine room 20 of the elevator system 10, which is shown here in a "basic version". The network system 13 is set up to be transported to the elevator system in a transport container 21 and has an antenna device 14 and two interface devices 15a, 15b. To or when setting up the mobile radio connection in the elevator shaft 11, the antenna device 14 and the two interface devices 15a, 15b are connected via a Power-over-Ethernet connection 16. The antenna device 14 is arranged in an area with sufficient mobile radio network strength for operation of the network system or data communication, in this case outside the elevator system 10.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first interface device 15a designed as a router has a power supply 23 in the form of a battery or accumulator, with the second interface device 15b and the antenna device 14 being supplied with power via the Power-over-Ethernet connection 16. The second interface device 15b is designed as an access point in order to establish or provide a mobile radio connection in the elevator shafts 11. Overall, the mobile network system 13 is designed to receive signals from and send them to a mobile radio network 17 and to receive and send such signals in the elevator shaft 11 in order to enable telecommunications between people and devices.

2 shows a schematic representation of an elevator system 10 comprising an embodiment of an elevator shaft 11a described herein. In the embodiment shown game, the elevator system 10 is designed in accordance with 1 described elevator system 10.

The elevator shaft 11a has a second embodiment of a mobile network system 13 for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft 11. This is shown here in a first "extension version" and has a plurality of additional interface devices 15c. In principle, the second embodiment of the mobile network system 13 corresponds to that in 1 system shown, which is why only the differences are explained below.

In this exemplary embodiment, the antenna device 14 has a power supply 23 in connection with a power pack, wherein the interface devices 15a, 15b are supplied with power via the Power-over-Ethernet connection 16. The three additional interface devices 15c designed as access points are each connected to the first interface device 15a or the router via a Power-over-Ethernet connection 16 and are arranged in the elevator shaft 11a in order to be able to provide sufficient network quality for data transmission in the elevator shaft 11a.

3 shows a schematic representation of an elevator system 10, which has an embodiment of an elevator shaft 11a described herein. In the embodiment shown, the elevator system 10 is designed in accordance with the 2 The elevator shaft 11a has a third embodiment of a mobile network system 13 for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft 11, which is shown here in a second "extension version" with an additional Power-over-Ethernet switch 19 and a further plurality of additional interface devices 15d. In principle, the third embodiment of the mobile network system 13 corresponds to that in 2 system shown, which is why only the differences are explained below.

A Power-over-Ethernet switch 19 is in particular a network interface that uses Power over Ethernet technology and can be used to establish a network connection and supply power to other network components 15. The Power-over-Ethernet switch 19 is connected to the first interface device 15a or the router via an optical fiber 18. In addition, the other additional interface devices 15d designed as access points are each connected to the Power-over-Ethernet switch 19 via an optical fiber 18 in order to establish a mobile radio connection in the elevator shaft 11a and to be able to provide sufficient network quality for data transmission in the elevator shaft 11a. The optical fiber 18 can be used to enable data transmission over long distances.

4 shows a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method 100 according to the invention for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft 11.

In a first step a, at least one antenna device 14 is provided in an area with a mobile radio network strength sufficient for operation, in particular outside an elevator shaft 11, and a connection to the mobile radio network 17 is established by means of this in order to receive signals from and send signals to the mobile radio network.

In a second step b, at least one interface device 15 is provided in an elevator shaft 11 and in a further step c, a communication connection is provided for transmitting signals between the antenna device 14 and the at least one interface device 15. This can be made possible, for example, by means of a Power-over-Ethernet connection 16. In a further step d, such signals are transmitted to and from the interface devices 15 in the elevator shaft 11 in order to enable communication between terminal devices and thus also people.

List of reference symbols

10

Elevator system

11

Elevator shaft

12

floor

13

mobile network system

14

Antenna setup

15

Interface setup

16

Power-over-Ethernet connection

17

Mobile network

18

optical fiber

19

Power over Ethernet switch

20

Engine room

23

Power supply

100

Proceedings

a - d

steps

Claims (8)

Mobile network system (13) for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft (11), comprising at least one antenna device (14) and at least one interface device (15), wherein the network system (13) is configured to receive signals from and send signals to a mobile radio network (17) and to receive and send such signals in the elevator shaft (11), characterized in that the at least one antenna device (14) or the at least one interface device (15) has a power supply (23) and the at least one antenna device (14) and the at least one interface device (15) are connected via a Power-over-Ethernet connection (16). Mobile Network System (13) to Claim 1 , wherein the at least one interface device (15) is arranged in an elevator shaft (11). Mobile network system (13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two interface devices (15) are connected and/or connectable by means of an optical fiber (19). Mobile network system (13) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one subscriber who is configured to establish a virtual private communications network. Mobile network system (13) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile network system (13) can be arranged in a transport container (22). Elevator shaft (11a) having a mobile network system (13), in particular designed according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one antenna device (14) and at least one interface device (15), wherein the at least one antenna device (14) is arranged in an area with sufficient mobile network strength for operation and the at least one interface device (15c, 15d) is arranged in the elevator shaft (11a). Lift shaft (11a) to Claim 6 , wherein an optical waveguide (18), which in particular connects several interface devices (15d) to one another, is arranged on a hanging cable of the elevator shaft (11a). Method (100) for establishing a mobile radio connection in an elevator shaft (11), comprising the following steps: a) providing at least one antenna device (14) in an area with a mobile radio network strength sufficient for operation and establishing a connection to the mobile radio network (17) in order to receive and send signals to it; b) providing at least one interface device (15) in an elevator shaft (11); c) providing a communication connection for transmitting signals between the antenna device (14) and the at least one interface device (15); d) transmitting such signals to and from the interface devices (15) in the elevator shaft (11).

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