EP3172159B1 - Method for controlling a lift installation - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator installation according to the preamble of claim 1.

Numerous methods and procedures are known for increasing the conveying capacity of elevator systems which have a number of cars or cars which serve several floors.

Here, for example, empirically determined traffic loads, for example dependent on the time of day or the day of the week, can be taken into account when allocating cars of an elevator system.

To increase the conveying capacity, destination dialing or destination call controls are known, for example. With these, a user on an entrance floor enters a call into the elevator control to which destination floor he would like to be transported (so-called destination call). Such a destination call system is much more efficient than conventional car call systems, in which a destination floor is entered by a user in a car.

A disadvantage here is that such a control only includes information relating to the volume of traffic that is empirically derived from the past. document US2012 / 090922A1 discloses an article according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is based on the object of further increasing the conveying capacity of elevator systems.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1 and a corresponding system with the features of claim 11.

Due to the inventive consideration of personal information from people who have not yet issued a call but are in a predetermined environment of the elevator system or a section of the elevator system, a significantly improved prediction or prognosis of an (especially short-term) expected traffic volume compared to conventional solutions can be achieved the elevator system can be generated.

Personal information is to be understood as meaning, in particular, pure presence information of people (that is, without individualized identification of certain people). Even taking into account such presence information, it is possible according to the invention to create reliable forecasts of a future traffic situation in an elevator system. However, the term personal information should, alternatively or additionally, also include individualized personal information in which an identity or property of a recorded person can also be determined and thus taken into account in the prognosis carried out according to the invention. Taking into account such personal information, which includes data of individual persons, even more precise and reliable forecasts for future traffic situations of the elevator system can be made. For example, in the event that a certain person is recognized, a potential or probable target of this person can also be taken into account in the context of the prognosis. For example, it is also possible that such individual personal information is also assigned a plurality of typical goals of this person, which are taken into account in a prognosis can be. In this case, the elevator system is able to predict possible sequences of journeys and to plan cabs accordingly.

Personal information is particularly information that is received from external systems (with regard to the actual elevator installation) and can be transmitted to the elevator control. The transmission can take place here, in the usual way, in a wired or wireless manner. Such external systems expediently comprise devices which are provided in the same building as the elevator installation. However, it is also possible, for example, to detect people or motor vehicles that are approaching the building. For example, it is conceivable to monitor approaches by potential users of the elevator system within a radius of a few 100 meters or even a few kilometers, and to make corresponding information available to the elevator control. It is also conceivable, for example, to use data obtained from a navigation system of a vehicle in this way.

The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in connection with destination call control. With such an improved prediction, destination calls can be processed more efficiently.

The method according to the invention can be used in a particularly advantageous manner in connection with elevator systems which use a zoning of the floors of a building in connection with a transfer floor control function. If, in such a system, a cross-zone destination call is made from a first to a second zone, the user / passenger has to change at a transfer floor. As a result, two destination calls have to be generated, namely a first call from the user's entrance floor to the transfer floor, and then a second destination call from the transfer floor to the user's destination floor. The second destination call can be made automatically, for example shortly before reaching the transfer floor, or after reaching it of the transfer floor can be generated by the controller. It is also possible for the user to be prompted again to enter his destination floor after reaching the transfer floor. Such target calls can also be viewed as personal information about people in the context of the invention. For example, a first destination call derived from a cross-zone destination call (from the entrance floor to the transfer floor) can be interpreted and processed as personal information for the second zone.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, personal information is obtained by means of at least one isolation system which is located in the vicinity of the elevator device. In particular, a building or high-rise in which the elevator system is installed can be viewed as the surroundings of the elevator device. Such a building can include an underground car park, for example. In particular, security gates, in particular turnstiles, may be mentioned as isolation systems. In connection with an underground car park, for example, a barrier system for vehicles can also be viewed as a separation system.

As an alternative or in addition, personal information can expediently be obtained by means of at least one person recognition device. As person recognition devices, for example, simple infrared barriers, or scanning devices such. B. with face recognition, or gesture recognition, or called card readers. In this context it is also conceivable to use, for example, the unlocking or locking of an office or another room by actuating a lock device as personal information within the meaning of the present invention.

Advantageously, the personal information received is taken into account, weighted according to empirically determined or predetermined probabilities, in the context of the forecast of a future traffic volume.

Appropriately, the personal information is taken into account after its acquisition over predetermined periods of time, with z. B. such a period of time can be correlated with a time-dependent probability.

With these measures it can be ensured, for example, that personal information which is obtained in the immediate vicinity of an elevator system, in particular in the immediate vicinity of a shaft door, is taken into account with greater weighting for the prognosis, since there is a high probability that presence information recorded in this way is actually within a relatively short period of time will lead to the entry of a destination call. If, on the other hand, the entry of a vehicle (by means of a barrier system) into an underground car park of a building is detected, for example, a correspondingly lower probability can be assumed that a destination call will be made here. On the other hand, in this case a correspondingly lower probability can be taken into account over a longer period of time, since it typically takes a few minutes for a vehicle occupant to park their vehicle in the underground car park, to lock the vehicle and to get to an elevator, where they can then make a destination call .

Such periods of time can also be correlated with time-dependent probability curves, for example bell curves. If you go z. B. on the assumption that after entering an underground car park a vehicle occupant has made a destination call within 10 minutes at the latest (after this period it can be assumed that he or she will remain in the underground car park or leave it again), a maximum probability can be around 5 minutes Entrance to the underground car park.

The examples shown for probabilities and their correlation with time periods are for illustrative purposes only.

The prognosis is advantageously created taking personal information that is obtained using personal identification means into account. RFID tags or face recognition devices, for example, can be used as personal identification means.

The elevator control is expediently designed to drive at least one car to a predetermined floor and / or to park it on a predetermined floor on the basis of a prognosis that has been prepared. Advantageous applications of this stipulation are, for example, that if a specific person is recognized, for example a doctor on emergency duty, a cabin can be moved to a suitable floor early on and / or parked there. With this measure, empty trips can also be minimized.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In this shows

Figure 1 a schematic diagram of an elevator system installed in a building to explain a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention.

An elevator system 100 is installed in a building 10.

The elevator system 100 has a total of five elevator shafts 102 to 110, in each of which an elevator car 112 to 120 can be moved. The drives of the individual cars 112 to 120 (for example traction sheave drives) are not shown in detail.

It should be noted that in the elevator shafts 102 to 110 a plurality of elevator cars that can be moved independently of one another can also be provided.

The building 10 has a number n of floors. Six floors are shown for simplicity. In practice, the number of floors is much higher. The floors are divided into two zones 111 and 113 which overlap in floor 133. It should be noted that this overlap area can also comprise several floors. The cars 112, 114, 116 can be moved within the first zone 111, and the cars 118, 120 in the second zone 113.

The elevator system 100 has an elevator control 200 which is designed to carry out a zone-based destination call control. The elevator control 200 is connected to input and display devices, for example touchscreens 202, which are provided on each floor. A user or passenger is able to input a destination call on the floors via the input and display devices 202. In response to such a destination call, the user is given the information which of the cars 112 to 120 he should use. If the user makes a cross-zone call, for example from floor 131 to floor 135, the device 202 shows him which car 112 to 116 he should use up to the transfer floor 133. At the same time (or also afterwards in the car) he is informed that he will be informed shortly before reaching the transfer floor or after reaching the transfer floor 133 which car 118 to 120 he should use from the transfer floor 130 to his destination floor 135.

As an example, it is assumed that the floor 130 is an underground parking floor. Floor 131 is an entrance or lobby floor, and floor 135 is a canteen floor. The remaining floors 132 to 134 are purely office floors.

A barrier 140 is provided at the entrance to the underground car park on floor 130. At the entrance to the entrance floor 131 there is a separating device Turnstile 142 is provided. Another turnstile 144 is provided on the floor 135 between a canteen area and the elevator system 100.

At a specific point in time to, the cars 112 to 120 are in the positions shown as examples in or between floors. It is assumed that destination calls have already been entered into the respective devices 202 on some floors and that the elevator control 200 has made corresponding assignments of cars.

If a vehicle now arrives in the underground car park and passes (with appropriate authorization or confirmation) the barrier 140, this information is made available to a person in the elevator control 200 as (personal information). If, for example, the specific number of vehicle occupants in the vehicle is not determined, the elevator control can assume an average vehicle occupancy of 1.4 occupants, for example. With an empirically known probability (e.g. 0.8), this event leads to the entry of a destination call in the floor 130 . B. pass a maximum of 10 minutes, with the greatest probability in a period of about 3-5 minutes after actuation of the barrier. On the basis of this personal information by actuating the barrier 140 and the probabilities or probability distributions associated therewith, the elevator control 200 is able to calculate a modified prognosis for an elevator load to be expected in the short term.

If, as a further example, a person steps through the turnstile 142 on floor 131, this can also be viewed according to the invention as personal information (and thus a potential use of the elevator system). Here, for example, it is assumed, also on an empirical basis, that after activating the turnstile 142 a certain probability (e.g. 0.7) there is that a person wants to use the elevator system and will make a destination call. Here, too, an empirically determined time period with a corresponding probability distribution can be set, this time period generally being shorter than the time period set for the underground car park, for example a maximum of one to two minutes. On the basis of this personal information, too, the elevator control 200 is able to create or modify a prognosis for a future elevator load.

The use of person recognition devices is also possible. In floor 131 z. B. alternatively or in addition to the turnstile 142 as a person recognition device 152 a face recognition device can be provided.

Corresponding information can also be derived when the turnstile 144 on floor 135 is actuated.

The transfer floor control function explained above, which uses two partial destination calls, can also be used in the sense of personal information for the further modification of such a prognosis. For example, in the case of an overarching destination call, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability (e.g. 0.9) that the (second) partial destination call will be made by the user on the transfer floor 133 within a short period of time, for example the next 30 seconds.

The personal information obtained in this way or the modified forecasts derived therefrom are expediently linked with empirical usage data of the elevator system, for example corresponding to the day of the week or the time of day.

A transfer floor transfer function can also be designed in such a way that a user is informed from the outset that he can only get to the transfer floor 133 with a first destination call and another there Destination call must be made. These partial destination calls can also be used as personal information in the context of the invention.

On the basis of forecasts modified by means of such personal information, a future load or traffic situation of the elevator installation can be predicted with greater accuracy. Overall, this can increase the delivery rate of the system, since, for example, individual cars can be moved, parked and made available in a more targeted manner. Unnecessary empty trips can be prevented, which also reduces the energy requirement of the elevator system.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, personal identification means can also be used to provide individualized personal information. If, for example, it is detected at the barrier 140 or one of the turnstiles 142, 144 which person is passing, improved personal information can be generated, which takes into account which specific floor an expected destination call will apply with what probability (person x has his office on the floor 134, and it is very likely that it will send a corresponding destination call). Such person identifications can be implemented, for example, by means of RFID tags or face recognition. With such information, a further refined prognosis of future loads on the elevator system is possible.

As explained, it is assumed that floors 132 to 134 are office floors. Here it is possible, for example, to send corresponding information as personal information to the elevator control 200 when an office door is locked by a person. This also makes it possible to refine a prognosis for future loads on the elevator system.

Overall, systems can be used to identify potential passengers in the elevator system that touch certain devices or equipment, but also contactless systems. Furthermore, systems are conceivable which identify potential passengers via artificial intelligence and provide the necessary information. Information included in the forecast is in particular an entrance or arrival floor, a destination floor, a timed arrival at the elevators and possibly special needs of a passenger (for example for optimal use of a handicapped-accessible cabin). Detailed information from groups of passengers can also be recorded and transmitted to the elevator control 200. In addition, there is the possibility that a destination call, when the passenger has arrived at the cars or the devices 202, can be made automatically with the aid of suitable personal identification means. The allocation can then be communicated to the passenger via the devices 202 provided or personalized display devices (such as, for example, an accompanying smartphone).

Claims (11)

1. Method for controlling an elevator installation (100) comprising a plurality of cabins (112-120) which can each stop at a number of floors (130-135), calls placed outside the cabins being assigned to one of the cabins by means of an elevator controller (200) on the basis of at least one assignment criterion, the current traffic situation of the elevator installation (100) being taken into account during the assignment, characterized in that a forecast of a future traffic situation of the elevator installation (100) is created and is taken into account during the assignment, the forecast being created taking into account personal information relating to persons who are in a predetermined environment of the elevator installation or a section of the elevator installation (100) or enter a predetermined environment of the elevator installation or move away from a predetermined environment of the elevator installation, the personal information being obtained by means of at least one separation device (140, 142, 144) in the environment of the elevator installation, and at least one personnel lock (142, 144) and/or at least one barrier installation being provided as the separation apparatus.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the personal information is presence information.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elevator controller (200) carries out a destination call control.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of floors are subdivided into partially overlapping zones (111, 113), and the elevator controller (200) is set up to carry out a transfer floor control function, cross-zone destination calls being processed as at least two partial destination calls, the personal information being obtained on the basis of at least one partial destination call.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the personal information is also obtained by means of at least one person recognition device.
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that at least one infrared barrier, a facial or gesture recognition device, a lock device or a machine to be operated is provided as the person recognition device.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the personal information is taken into account in a form weighted according to predetermined or predefined probabilities.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, after being acquired, the personal information is taken into account over predeterminable periods.
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forecast is created taking into account personal identification data obtained using personal information.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator controller (200) moves at least one cabin (112-120) to a predetermined floor and/or parks it on a predetermined floor on the basis of a created forecast.
11. System for carrying out a method as claimed in one of the preceding claims.

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