EP3512793B1 - Method for monitoring an elevator - Google Patents

Description

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

The US 2016/0130114 A1 describes a method for monitoring an elevator system, in which a passenger can carry out measurements with a mobile terminal, for example a mobile phone or smartphone, in an elevator cabin and transmit them to a central evaluation unit for evaluation. For this purpose, the mobile terminal has a sensor in the form of a microphone, which can detect noises from the elevator system while the elevator car is traveling. For this purpose, the passenger starts a program on the mobile device, via which measurements can be started and transmitted to the evaluation unit. The passenger who carries out the measurements can be, for example, a service technician, a house technician or another user of the elevator system.

The US 2015/0284214 A1 describes a method for monitoring an elevator system, in which it is automatically recognized when an elevator car is shifted in a vertical direction in an elevator shaft. As soon as a mobile device detects a shift of the elevator car upwards or downwards, measurement variables are started by sensors of the mobile device. To activate this method, a user must activate a special mode of the mobile device.

For effective monitoring of elevator systems, it is important that measured values from as many trips as possible are taken from elevator cabins and evaluated by the central evaluation unit. In order to get the willingness to carry out such measurements by as many passengers in elevator systems as possible, the effort for recording and transmission should be as low as possible.

It is in particular the object of the invention to propose a method which enables very simple monitoring of an elevator installation and in particular can be carried out in a very user-friendly manner. According to the invention, this object is achieved with a method having the features of claim 1.

In the method according to the invention for monitoring an elevator system, measured values are recorded in an elevator car by means of a mobile terminal device having at least one sensor. The mobile terminal is carried in particular by a passenger of the elevator system. The measured values are transmitted from the mobile terminal to a central evaluation unit, from which they are evaluated. According to the invention, the mobile terminal activates a measuring mode when it detects that it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system. The measurement mode is therefore automatically activated when the passenger who is carrying the mobile device with him is very likely to be in an elevator car shortly before a journey and the mobile device is thus brought into an elevator car in which it can record measured values. It can thus be achieved that measured values are recorded in an elevator car for each journey carried out by the passenger and then transmitted to the evaluation station. However, if the mobile terminal is not brought into an elevator car after all, the measurement mode can also be deactivated again automatically, for example after a definable waiting time has elapsed.

In this context, “in the area of a shaft door” is to be understood to mean staying in a local area in front of a shaft door. The area is selected in particular so that a person is actually only in the area when he wants to enter an elevator car that can be entered via the shaft door. Limits of the area mentioned can be, for example, a distance of one to three meters around the shaft door.

The mobile terminal device recognizes that it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system before the passenger enters an elevator car through an open shaft door. The measuring mode of the mobile terminal is therefore already activated before the mobile terminal is brought into an elevator car and thus before a journey of the elevator cabin begins, in which the elevator cabin and thus the mobile terminal is accelerated in the vertical direction, i.e. upwards or downwards.

The detection that the mobile terminal is in the area of a shaft door of an elevator system can be carried out in different ways. For this purpose, the mobile terminal can, for example, evaluate measured values of one or more sensors or receive a signal from a position information device.

In this context, activation of a measurement mode should be understood to mean that the terminal device is getting ready for the acquisition of measurement values, for example starting a measurement program, in particular in the form of a so-called app, which brings the already started app into a special measurement mode and / or for the measurement necessary sensors activated. The acquisition of measured values does not have to, but can already be started when the measuring mode is activated. The acquisition of measured values can be started, for example, depending on further conditions.

The mobile terminal can thus be brought into the measuring mode without a manual action, in particular of the passenger, being necessary and thus made ready for the acquisition of measured values of the elevator installation. The process is therefore very easy to carry out and very user-friendly.

In today's world, a large number of people, and therefore also many passengers in an elevator system, carry a mobile device with sensors, for example in the form of a cell phone or smartphone. By using these devices, which are carried with you anyway, no additional hardware is required for the acquisition of the measured values. The monitoring of an elevator installation according to the invention can thus also be carried out inexpensively.

In this context, monitoring of an elevator system is to be understood to mean that the operation of the elevator system is monitored such that, for example, errors are recognized and / or a need for maintenance of the entire elevator system or individual components is identified. A system that performs this type of monitoring is often referred to as a remote maintenance system.

The mobile terminal can be designed, for example, as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a smartwatch, a so-called wearable, for example in the form of an electronic, smart textile, or as another portable terminal. The sensor of the mobile terminal can, for example, be a microphone, an acceleration sensor, a rotation rate sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a camera, a barometer, a brightness sensor, a humidity sensor or a carbon dioxide sensor be executed. The acceleration, rotation rate and magnetic field sensors are in particular designed as so-called three-dimensional or 3D sensors. Such sensors deliver three measured values in the x, y and z directions, the x, y and z directions being arranged perpendicular to one another. The terminal has in particular several and in particular different types of sensors, for example a microphone, a three-dimensional acceleration sensor, a three-dimensional rotation rate sensor and a three-dimensional magnetic field sensor. In the following, acceleration, rotation rate and magnetic field sensors are understood to mean three-dimensional acceleration, rotation rate and magnetic field sensors.

The passenger can carry the end device with him in completely different orientations, so that in the first approach it is not clear how the acceleration, rotation rate or magnetic field sensors are aligned in space. However, since the acceleration due to gravity is always measured, at least if the passenger is not moving, the vertical direction, that is to say the absolute z-direction, can be clearly determined from this. With knowledge of the absolute z direction, the measured values of the acceleration and rotation rate and magnetic field sensors can be converted into values that are aligned along the absolute z direction and absolute x and y directions. The absolute x, y and z directions are each arranged perpendicular to one another. All of the following statements regarding accelerations, rotation rates or magnetic field strengths refer to measured values converted in this way and statements about x, y and z directions to absolute x, y and z directions. Instead of determining the values in absolute x, y and z directions, the three measured values can be considered as vectors and a resulting vector can be formed from the individual vectors. Instead of using the three individual measured values, the resulting vector can also be used.

The central evaluation unit is, in particular, a server that receives and evaluates measured values from a large number of mobile end devices and elevator systems. In particular, it is arranged at a distance from the elevator installation, from which the measurement data are acquired. The central evaluation unit can be operated, for example, by a company that is responsible for the maintenance of elevator systems, in particular by a manufacturer of elevator systems. The central evaluation unit can identify a problem or an error, for example a stiff cabin or shaft door, and one from the measured values of an elevator system Generate the corresponding message, which then triggers a check of the elevator system by a service technician.

The mobile terminal device transmits the measured values, in particular wirelessly, to the central evaluation unit. The transmission takes place in particular via the Internet, the measured values being able to be transmitted directly from the mobile terminal to the central evaluation unit or indirectly, that is to say with the interposition of one or more switching stations. In addition to wireless transmission, wired transmission is also conceivable. The transmission takes place in particular after the end of a journey in the elevator car. The measurement data are thus stored, in particular, by the mobile terminal device and transmitted to the central evaluation unit after completion of the acquisition. The transfer can take place, for example, directly after the acquisition has been completed. Since problems with the Internet connection can arise inside buildings, the transmission can also take place with a time delay, i.e. only after the passenger has left the building with the elevator system. Measured data from more than one journey in an elevator car can also be transmitted to the central evaluation unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal activates the measurement mode when it detects that it is located in an elevator car. The measurement mode is therefore activated when the passenger enters an elevator car with the mobile terminal. This effectively prevents the mobile device from being brought into measurement mode unnecessarily, i.e. if it is brought into an area around a shaft door, but ultimately not into an elevator car. In principle, the detection of whether the mobile terminal is in an elevator car can be carried out in the same way as the detection of whether it is located in the area of a shaft door. In the following, the term "in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system" is also to be understood as "in the elevator car".

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal receives a signal from a position information device to determine its position and evaluates it. The mobile terminal can conclude its location from the reception of the above-mentioned signal and thus determine whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of an elevator system. This enables a very reliable detection of whether this is mobile terminal is located in the area of a shaft door. Entering and leaving an elevator car can also be recognized in an analogous manner.

Said signal can be designed such that it can only be received by the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is in the area of a shaft door. In this case, the evaluation is limited to checking whether the signal can be received or not. It is also possible that two different signals can be received and it can be concluded from the simultaneous reception of both signals that the mobile terminal is in the area of a shaft door. It is also possible that the signal must be received with at least a fixed signal strength in order to determine that the mobile terminal is located in the area of a shaft door. In this case, the signal strength is compared with a threshold value during the evaluation.

The position information device can be designed, for example, as a so-called beacon, that is to say as a transmitter that emits radio signals. The beacon can, for example, emit a signal which characterizes the area of a shaft door or an elevator car. As soon as the mobile terminal receives this specific signal with sufficient signal strength, it knows that it is in the area of a shaft door or in an elevator car. It is also possible that the beacon sends out a signal that indicates its position within the building. From this position, the mobile device can determine whether it is in the area of a shaft door. The position information device can also be designed in a different way, for example as a WLAN transmitter, Bluetooth transmitter or another transmitter, which emits signals that can be evaluated by the mobile terminal. It is also possible for components of the elevator installation, for example an elevator control or door control, to send corresponding signals. The signal can, for example, be implemented as a tone in a frequency range that is not perceptible to humans.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal determines its position within a building having the elevator system and derives from it whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system. In the same way, it can also be recognized whether the terminal is inside an elevator car. The mobile device thus has a so-called indoor navigation system that functions as a Program or an app is active on the mobile device. Indoor navigation systems of this type evaluate signals from WLAN transmitters or beacons within the building, for example, and can thus determine the position of the terminal within the building. A comparison with a plan of the building can be used to determine whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door or in an elevator car. If this is the case, the terminal activates the measurement mode. Since indoor navigation devices enable a very precise determination of the position within a building, it can be determined with a very high probability of hits whether the terminal device is in the area of a shaft door. The detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door is therefore very reliable. An exit from an elevator car can also be recognized in an analogous manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal receives information about its position within a building having the elevator system from a position determination system and uses this to determine whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system. In the same way, it can also be recognized whether the terminal is inside an elevator car. In this case, the building in which the elevator system is installed is equipped with a positioning system that can determine the location of the mobile device. This position determination system sends information about the position of the terminal to the terminal. This information can relate to the position within the building and the terminal can compare the position with a plan of the building and derive from it whether it is located in the area of a shaft door. It is also possible for the position determination system to send corresponding information directly to the terminal when it is in the area of a shaft door. The detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door is therefore very reliable. An exit from an elevator car can also be recognized in an analogous manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal uses at least one sensor to record measured values which characterize the movements of the mobile terminal and, based on these measured values, recognizes whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator installation. In the same way, it can also be recognized whether the terminal is inside an elevator car. In particular, measured values of the sensors of a terminal device described above can be evaluated. For detection, No additional hardware is required to determine whether the end device is in the area of a shaft door. The method according to the invention can thus be carried out inexpensively. An exit from an elevator car can also be recognized in an analogous manner. Leaving is basically the reverse of entering an elevator car.

The evaluation of the recorded data and thus the detection of entering the elevator car is carried out in particular by the mobile terminal. However, it is also possible for the recorded data to be continuously transmitted to the central evaluation device and for the detection device to determine whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door. It is also possible for at least part of the evaluation of the acquired data to be carried out both by the mobile terminal and by the evaluation device. Mutual control and / or supplementation is thus possible, which enables a very high probability of hits for recognizing whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door.

In an embodiment of the invention, a movement pattern of the mobile terminal is derived from the measured values and compared with at least one stored signal pattern. The detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door is based on the comparison mentioned. This makes it particularly reliable to recognize whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door.

In this case, the stored signal patterns mentioned are movement patterns. In this context, a movement pattern is to be understood to mean, for example, a chronological sequence, in particular of accelerations or rotation rates. A movement pattern can also be described with a so-called feature or in particular several features. Such features can be, for example, statistical parameters such as mean values, standard deviations, minimum / maximum values or results of a Fast Fourier analysis of the accelerations or rotation rates mentioned. In this case, a movement pattern can also be referred to as a so-called feature vector. The features mentioned can in particular be determined for individual time segments, in particular being formed on the basis of values or courses of individual measured values. For example, a time segment of this type can thereby be marked so that the passenger does not move, for example, he waits in front of the landing door. In particular, not only a single acceleration or rotation rate is considered, but the combination of several accelerations and / or rotation rates, in particular three accelerations and rotation rates in each case.

A stored signal pattern can be, for example, characteristic curves of accelerations, rotation rates and / or magnetic fields or features when a person walks to a landing door, waits in front of the landing door until the elevator car is available and access is possible, entering the elevator car and turning towards the cabin door contain. The signal patterns can be created by specialists on the basis of their experience or determined in particular by one or more tests. In particular, methods of so-called machine learning are used to identify or classify movement patterns. For example, a so-called support vector machine, a random forest algorithm or a deep learning algorithm can be used. These classification procedures must first be trained. For this purpose, typical movement patterns, in particular based on the features mentioned, are generated in tests for approaching a shaft door and / or entering an elevator car and made available to the algorithms mentioned for training. After the algorithms have been trained with a sufficient number of training patterns, they can decide whether or not an unknown movement pattern indicates approaching a landing door or entering an elevator car. In this case, the signal pattern is stored in the parameters of the algorithm.

The generation of the typical movement patterns for the training can be carried out by a passenger who uses the mobile terminal device in daily use. All he has to do is mark the start and end of approaching a landing door or entering an elevator car. It is also possible that after completion of the actual training, the passenger gives a feedback as to whether approaching a landing door or entering an elevator car was not recognized or incorrectly recognizing approaching a landing door or entering an elevator cabin. This feedback can be used to further train the algorithm.

Since not all people move in the same way, for example, they turn around at different speeds, and waiting times are different lengths, for example, the measured movement pattern is compared not only with a signal pattern, but with a whole series of slightly different signal patterns.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal uses at least one sensor to record measured values that identify an activity of the elevator system. Based on these measured values, the end device recognizes whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator system. Activities of the elevator system are to be understood here to mean, for example, movements of individual components of the elevator system, such as, for example, movements of the elevator car, a shaft door, a car door or a control of a door drive. The terminal particularly detects noises and / or magnetic fields, with three magnetic fields in particular being measured in the x, y and z directions. The changes in the measured magnetic fields can be caused, for example, by the activity of the door drive having an electric motor and / or by the cabin and / or shaft door having ferromagnetic material. It can be concluded, for example, from the measured values mentioned that the car door of an elevator car has opened in front of a passenger and closed behind him.

In an embodiment of the invention, an activity pattern is derived from the measured values and compared with at least one stored signal pattern. The detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door is based on the comparison mentioned. This makes it particularly reliable to recognize whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door.

In this case, the stored signal patterns mentioned are activity patterns. In this context, an activity pattern should be understood to mean, for example, a chronological sequence, in particular of measured noises and / or magnetic fields. An activity pattern can also be described with a characteristic described in connection with movement patterns or in particular with several characteristics. In particular, not just one Measurement of a magnetic field viewed in one direction, but the combination of several measurements of magnetic fields in several, in particular three directions.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe a noise of a car door when it is opened or a noise when the elevator car moves into a floor or features derived therefrom. The signal patterns can be created by specialists on the basis of their experience or determined in particular by one or more tests. To determine the signal pattern, analogous to the description above in connection with movement patterns, in particular methods of so-called machine learning can be used. The signal patterns can also be divided into time sections and features can be determined individually for each section.

Since similar activities of elevators, such as opening the car door, can vary, for example, they can take different lengths of time, the measured activity pattern is compared not only with a signal pattern, but with a whole series of slightly different signal patterns.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal uses the sensor to record measured values characterizing properties of the environment of the mobile terminal and, based on these measured values, recognizes whether it is located in the area of a shaft door of the elevator installation or within an elevator car. For example, magnetic fields, air pressure, brightness, air humidity or a carbon dioxide content in the air can be measured.

In an embodiment of the invention, a property pattern is derived from the measured values and compared with at least one stored signal pattern. The detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door or within an elevator car is based on the comparison mentioned.

In this case, the stored signal patterns mentioned are property patterns. In this context, a property pattern should be understood to mean, for example, a chronological sequence of measured values that describe the surroundings of the terminal device, that is to say properties of the elevator installation in this case. A property pattern can also be related to one Movement patterns described feature or in particular several features are described. In particular, not only the course of a single measurement of one of the properties mentioned is considered, but the combination of several measurements.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in the magnetic field from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. Changes in the magnetic field can be caused, for example, by different use of ferromagnetic materials or different electrical components, such as coils outside and inside the elevator car. The ferromagnetic materials can themselves generate a magnetic field and / or influence the earth's magnetic field.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in the CO2 content of the air from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. The CO2 content of the air rises due to the air exhaled by the passengers in the locked elevator car. This means that the CO2 content of the air in the cabin is generally higher than outside. In addition, the CO2 content rises slowly during the journey, so that a journey in an elevator car can be recognized. Although this increase is a rather slow process, it can be recognized on longer journeys.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in air humidity from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. This increases slowly analogously to the CO2 content inside the cabin due to the exhaled air, so that the evaluation can proceed analogously to the CO2 content.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in temperature from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. Due to the heat emitted by the passengers, the temperature rises slowly, so that the evaluation can proceed analogously to the CO2 content.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in brightness from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. It is usually less bright inside an elevator car than outside.

A signal pattern can, for example, describe the change in acoustics from outside to inside the elevator car or features derived therefrom. Since an elevator car is a comparatively narrow, enclosed space, the echo or sound attenuation changes, for example. Special test signals can be used to determine this change.

The signal patterns can be created by specialists on the basis of their experience or determined in particular by one or more tests. To determine the signal pattern, analogous to the above description in connection with movement patterns, in particular methods of so-called machine learning can be used. The signal patterns can also be divided into time gaps and features can be determined individually for each section.

Since not all elevator systems have identical property patterns, but can vary them, the measured property pattern is compared not only with a signal pattern, but with a whole series of slightly different signal patterns.

For the detection of whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door or within an elevator car, measured values characterizing movements of the passenger, activity values of the elevator system or properties of the elevator system identifying measured values are not only recorded and evaluated, but rather a combination of these different ones Types of metrics. In this way, it can be recognized particularly reliably whether the terminal is in the area of a shaft door or inside an elevator car.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal also starts the measurement of measurement values when the measurement mode is activated. In this context, a measurement is to be understood to mean that the mobile terminal device saves the recorded measurement values in order to transmit them to the evaluation device. The measurement can in addition, for example, after a fixed period of time. This makes the process particularly easy to implement. The central evaluation unit can disregard uninteresting measurement data that were recorded before the elevator car was traveling. For this purpose, the evaluation unit can, for example, recognize a journey of the elevator car on the basis of the recorded measurement data. This can be determined, for example, on the basis of measured accelerations and / or air pressures.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal starts and / or ends the measurement of measured values on the basis of an external signal. This external signal can be sent, for example, by an elevator control unit to the mobile terminal at the beginning and at the end of a journey in the elevator car. This makes it possible to only record, save and transfer measured values relevant to the evaluation to the central evaluation unit. This means that less data has to be saved, transmitted and evaluated. The mobile terminal is in particular designed such that it only reacts to the external signal mentioned when it is in the measurement mode.

The external signal can, for example, also be sent at the start of a trip and contain information about the expected duration of the upcoming trip. It is also possible that the external signal is sent before the start of the journey and contains the information on how long it takes until the start of the journey. In addition, the expected duration of the trip can also be transmitted here.

In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal monitors measured values, which characterize movements of the mobile terminal, already in the measurement mode by means of at least one sensor. It starts the measurement of measured values when a start condition dependent on at least one measured value is fulfilled and / or ends the acquisition of measured values when an end condition dependent on at least one measured value is fulfilled. This makes it possible to only record, save and transfer measured values relevant to the evaluation to the central evaluation unit. This means that less data has to be saved, transmitted and evaluated.

A ride in an elevator car leads to characteristic courses of one or more measured values. For example, there is a characteristic course of the Acceleration in the vertical direction. The elevator car is first accelerated up or down, then usually runs for a while at a virtually constant speed and is then braked to a standstill. A starting condition can thus be, for example, that the amount of acceleration in the vertical direction or the amount of the resulting acceleration vector described above exceeds a first threshold value. An end condition could then be, for example, that the amount of an oppositely oriented acceleration exceeds a second threshold value.

As an alternative or in addition, the air pressure measured by a barometer can also be evaluated in order to detect a journey in an elevator car. The travel in the vertical direction results in a change in the air pressure, the gradient of the change being significantly greater in magnitude than when climbing stairs or in the event of weather-related changes in the air pressure. A starting condition can therefore be, for example, that the magnitude of the gradient of the air pressure exceeds a first threshold value. An end condition could then be, for example, that the magnitude of the gradient of the air pressure falls below a second threshold value.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which the same or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals.

Fig. 1

eine sehr schematische Darstellung einer Aufzuganlage mit einem Passagier,

Fig. 2a, b, c

zeitliche Verläufe von Drehraten beim Einsteigen eines Passagiers in eine Aufzugkabine,

Fig. 3a, b, c

zeitliche Verläufe von magnetischen Feldstärken beim Einsteigen eines Passagiers in eine Aufzugkabine, und

Fig. 4

einen zeitlichen Verlauf einer Beschleunigung in vertikaler Richtung bei einer Fahrt einer Aufzugkabine.

Show:

Fig. 1

1 shows a very schematic illustration of an elevator installation with a passenger,

2a, b, c

temporal courses of rotation rates when a passenger gets into an elevator car,

3a, b, c

temporal courses of magnetic field strengths when a passenger enters an elevator car, and

Fig. 4

a time course of an acceleration in the vertical direction when driving an elevator car.

According to Fig. 1 an elevator installation 10 has an elevator car 11 which can be moved up and down in a vertical direction 13 in an elevator shaft 12. The elevator installation 10 is arranged in a building 9, which is shown only symbolically as a rectangle. For this purpose, the elevator car 11 is connected to a counterweight 16 via a flexible suspension element 14 and a drive roller 15 of a drive (not shown further). The drive can move the elevator car 11 and the counterweight 16 in opposite directions up and down via the drive roller 15 and the suspension means 14. The elevator shaft 12 has three shaft openings 17a, 17b, 17c and thus three floors, which are closed with shaft doors 18a, 18b, 18c. In the Fig. 1 the elevator car 11 is located at the shaft opening 17a, that is to say on the bottom floor. If the elevator car 11 is located on one floor, that is to say at one of the shaft openings 17a, 17b, 17c, the corresponding shaft door 18a, 18b, 18c can be opened together with a car door 19 and thus the elevator car 11 can be entered. To open the car door 19 and the corresponding shaft door 18a, 18b, 18c, door segments (not shown in any more detail) are pushed on laterally, so that the door segments are moved to the side. The cabin door 19 and the corresponding shaft door 18a, 18b, 18c are operated by a door drive 20 which is controlled by a door control unit 21. The door control unit 21 is in signal connection with an elevator control unit 22, which controls the entire elevator system 10. The elevator control unit 22 controls the drive, for example, and can thus move the elevator car 11 to a desired floor. It can also, for example, send the door control unit 21 a request to open the car door 19 and the corresponding shaft door 18a, 18b, 18c, which the door control unit 21 then executes by means of a corresponding actuation of the door drive 20.

On the bottom floor, that is, in front of the landing door 18a, there is a passenger 23 who carries a mobile terminal device in the form of a mobile telephone 24 with him. The mobile telephone 24 has several sensors, of which only one microphone 25 is shown. The mobile telephone 24 also has three-dimensional acceleration, rotation rate and magnetic field sensors, which can record measured values in the x, y and z directions. As stated above, the measured values detected by the acceleration, rotation rate and magnetic field sensors can be converted in a simple manner into values with respect to absolute x, y and z directions. All of the following statements regarding accelerations, rotation rates or magnetic field strengths thus refer to in this Measured values and statements about x, y and z directions converted to absolute x, y and z directions.

On the basis of the measured values detected by the sensors of the mobile telephone 24, it is to be recognized when the passenger 23 enters an area 31 in front of the landing door 18a and the mobile phone 24 is thus in the area 31 of the landing door 18a. The area 31 extends, for example, up to a distance of 1.5 m from the shaft door 18a. In addition, it should be recognized when the passenger 23 enters the elevator car 11 and the mobile telephone 24 is thus in the elevator car 11. For this purpose, the mobile telephone 24 continuously records measured values and evaluates them. The mobile telephone 24 records, for example, the rotation rates around the x, y and z axes. These measured rotation rates not only characterize movements of the mobile telephone 24, but also movements of the passenger 23. Measured values are continuously recorded and a continuous movement pattern of the passenger 23 is generated by combining the individual measurement values of the various acceleration sensors. The measured values are filtered in particular by means of a low-pass filter. In this case, the movement pattern mentioned thus contains the courses of the rotation rates about the x, y and z axes. The mobile telephone 24 compares the continuous movement pattern thus generated with stored signal patterns which are typical of a movement pattern when approaching a shaft door of an elevator installation and when entering an elevator car 11. In order to be able to carry out the comparison, features are determined, for example, in the form of mean values, standard deviations and minimum / maximum values of the individual rotation rates or time segments of the rotation rates and compared with stored values. If the differences between the characteristics of the measured curves and the stored characteristics are smaller than definable threshold values, a sufficient correspondence between a movement pattern and a stored signal pattern is recognized. From this, the mobile telephone 24 concludes that the passenger 23 has entered the area 31 of the car door 18a and the elevator car 11.

As soon as the mobile phone 24 detects that it is in the area of the shaft door 18a, or at the latest when it detects that it is in the elevator car 11, it activates a measurement mode in which it is used for measurements during the upcoming journey in the elevator car 11 is ready to monitor the elevator system 10. For this purpose, the mobile phone 24 starts a special app and brings it into a measurement mode, see above that only a start signal is required to acquire measurement data. In addition, the sensors necessary for the detection can also be activated and subjected to a functional test. The definition of which sensors should record which measured values at which sampling rate is stored in the app.

The measurement of the measured values can be started simultaneously with the activation of the measurement mode of the mobile telephone 24 and can be continued for a period of time, for example 60 - 240 s, stored in the app. After the measurement values have been measured, the mobile telephone 24 transmits the measured values to a central evaluation unit 32. The transmission takes place in particular via the Internet, which is why transmission takes place from the elevator car 11 or also from the building 9 in which the elevator installation 10 is located can be problematic. The mobile telephone 24 therefore stores the acquired measurement data until transmission to the evaluation unit 32 is possible. The evaluation unit 32 uses the acquired measurement data to check whether there are errors in the elevator system 10 or whether maintenance of the elevator system 10 is to be carried out.

The comparison between a measured movement pattern and a stored signal pattern and thus the detection or classification of movement patterns can also be carried out using so-called machine learning methods. For example, a so-called support vector machine, a random forest algorithm or a deep learning algorithm can be used.

In addition, the transverse accelerations in the x, y and z directions can also be taken into account, so that the movement pattern additionally contains the courses of the accelerations in the x, y and z directions.

It is also possible that the mobile telephone 24 does not carry out the detection of entering an elevator car 11 entirely on its own, but rather transmits the acquired data to the evaluation device 32 before the measurement data are measured. For this purpose, intermediate stations (not shown) can be present in the area of the elevator installation 10 in the building 9, which reliably enable the measurement data to be transmitted to the evaluation unit 32. The detection of entering the elevator car 11 is then carried out by the evaluation device 32. As soon as entering the Area 31 of the shaft door 18a or when someone enters the elevator car 11, the evaluation device 32 sends a corresponding signal to the mobile phone 24.

In the 2a, 2b and 2c shows a measured movement pattern and a stored signal pattern over time, wherein in Fig. 2a the rotation rates α about the x-axis, in Fig. 2b around the y axis and in Fig. 2c around the z axis. The measured rotation rate is shown with a solid line and the stored rotation rate of the signal pattern is shown with a dashed line. The solid lines 26a, 26b, 26c thus represent the measured yaw rates and the dashed lines 27a, 27b, 27c the stored yaw rates about the x, y and z axes. The measured values are shown smoothed.

The stored signal pattern (dashed lines 27a, 27b, 27c) contains typical courses of rotation rates, such as occur when approaching a shaft door and when entering an elevator car. From time t0 to time t1, the passenger runs towards the landing door in order to stop at time t1 and to wait until time t2 for the landing and cabin door to open. There are practically no rotation rates. From time t2, the passenger enters the elevator car and then turns towards the car door. This reversal primarily leads to a significant deflection of the rotation rates around the z-axis (line 27c), with a brief undershoot in the opposite direction occurring at the beginning and at the end of the deflection. As in the 2a, 2b and 2c As can be seen, the measured movement pattern (solid lines 26a, 26b, 26c) follows the stored signal pattern very precisely. The comparison of the movement patterns with stored signal patterns proceeds as described above. On the basis of this correspondence, the mobile telephone 24 closes that the passenger 23 is in the area 31 of the shaft door 18a or that he has entered the elevator car 11.

Since not all people move in the same way, for example, they turn around at different speeds, and waiting times are different lengths, for example, the measured movement pattern is compared not only with a signal pattern, but with a whole series of slightly different signal patterns.

In addition to the rotation rates, the accelerations in the x, y and z directions can also be taken into account in a comparable manner. This makes it easier to identify walking in the direction of the shaft door and into the elevator car, as well as waiting in front of and in the elevator car.

In order to make the detection of entering a region of a shaft door or an elevator car more reliable, in particular further measured values detected by sensors of the mobile telephone are evaluated. The mobile phone 24 detects the magnetic field strength in the x, y and z directions in particular with the three-dimensional magnetic field sensor. The measured values thus characterize a property of the elevator system. It is very difficult to conclude from measured values at a single point in time that the mobile phone and thus the passenger are in the area of a landing door or in an elevator car. For this reason, a property pattern is created from the temporal courses of the three field strengths, the measured values being filtered in particular by means of a low-pass filter. The mobile telephone 24 compares the continuous property pattern thus generated with stored signal patterns which are typical of a property pattern when approaching a landing door and when entering an elevator car 11. If a sufficient correspondence of a movement pattern with a stored signal pattern is recognized, the mobile telephone 24 concludes that the passenger 23 is in the area 31 of the shaft door 18a or that he has entered the elevator car 11. The comparison of the movement patterns with stored signal patterns proceeds as described above.

In the 3a, 3b and 3c shows a measured property pattern and a stored signal pattern over time, with in Fig. 3a the magnetic field strength H in the x direction, in Fig. 3b in the y direction and in Fig. 3c are shown in the z direction. The measured field strengths are each shown with a solid line and the stored field strengths of the signal pattern are each shown with a dashed line. The solid lines 28a, 28b, 28c thus represent the measured field strengths and the dashed lines 29a, 29b, 29c the stored field strengths in the x, y and z directions. The measured values are shown smoothed.

The stored signal pattern (dashed lines 29a, 29b, 29c) contains typical courses of field strengths, such as occur when approaching a landing door and entering an elevator car. Shortly before to shortly after time t2 at which the passenger enters the elevator car, a significant increase can be seen in the field strengths in the y and z directions, whereas the field strength in the x direction remains virtually unchanged for the entire time. The change in field strengths is due in particular to the use of ferromagnetic materials in the elevator car. As in the 3a, 3b and 3c As can be seen, the measured property pattern (solid lines 28a, 28b, 28c) follows the stored signal pattern very precisely. This correspondence is a further indication for the mobile phone that the passenger has entered the elevator car. The comparison of the property pattern with stored signal patterns proceeds analogously to the comparison of the movement patterns with stored signal patterns described above.

Since not all elevator systems have identical property patterns, but can vary them, the measured property pattern is compared not only with a signal pattern, but with a whole series of slightly different signal patterns.

In addition, additional further measured values, such as, for example, the air pressure, the brightness, the air humidity or a carbon dioxide content in the air, can be taken into account.

A further increase in the reliability of the detection of entering a region of a shaft door or an elevator car can be achieved by additionally taking into account measured values which identify an activity of the elevator system. For example, an activity pattern can be derived from the magnetic field strengths described above, which is compared with a signal pattern that is typical for the opening of the cabin and shaft doors. Another possibility is to derive an activity pattern from noise measured with the microphone and to compare this with a signal pattern that is typical for opening the cabin and shaft doors. As with the movement and property patterns, it can make sense to compare the activity patterns with several, slightly different signal patterns. Adequate correspondence between the measured activity patterns and a stored signal pattern can are again to be regarded as an indication that the passenger is in the area of a landing door or has entered an elevator car.

The mobile telephone can be designed in such a way that it already recognizes entering a region of a landing door or an elevator car if there is a single sufficient match of a movement pattern, a property pattern or an activity pattern with a stored signal pattern. However, it is also possible that entry is only recognized when there are at least two, three or more matches.

In order to make the detection of entering an area of a shaft door or an elevator car more reliable, the stored signal patterns can be adapted. With an adaptation, the method can be adapted in particular to the behavior of the owner of the mobile phone. For this purpose, the mobile phone recognizes in particular a trip in an elevator car. This can be recognized very reliably by monitoring the acceleration in the z direction and thus in the vertical direction 13. In Fig. 4 line 30 shows an example of a course of the acceleration a in the z direction upwards, the gravitational acceleration being disregarded. The elevator car 11 and thus also the passenger 23 with his mobile telephone 24 are accelerated with an almost constant acceleration from time t4. Shortly before the desired speed of the elevator car 11 is reached, the acceleration drops in order to reach the zero line at time t5. The elevator car 11 then travels at a constant speed until the time t6, in order then to be braked with a quasi-constant negative acceleration until the time t7. This typical course with acceleration in the vertical direction, constant travel and braking to a standstill can be seen very well in the measured values.

As soon as a journey in an elevator car has been detected, movement, activity and / or property patterns recorded before the journey are compared with stored signal patterns and, based on the comparison, the stored signal patterns are adapted using methods of machine learning. The stored signal patterns are changed in the direction of the movement, activity and / or property patterns recorded before the journey.

Instead of evaluating measured values of the sensors of the mobile telephone 24 as described in order to recognize that the mobile telephone 24 is located in the region 31 of the shaft door 18a or inside the elevator car, the mobile telephone 24 can also arrange a signal from a position information device in the form of one in the elevator car 11 Beacons 33 received. The beacon 33 emits in particular a signal that only beacons in an elevator car emit. As soon as the mobile phone 24 receives this signal, it knows that it is in the area of an elevator car 11. As soon as the signal strength of the received signal exceeds a first threshold value, the mobile telephone 24 recognizes that it is located in the area 31 of the shaft door 18a. As soon as the signal strength exceeds a second threshold value, the mobile telephone 24 recognizes that it is located in the elevator car 11. Beacon 33 can also send out a signal on the basis of which it can be identified. If the mobile telephone 24 knows from which beacon it is receiving a signal, it can use stored information to check whether this beacon is in an elevator car. It is also possible that it can request information about the location of the beacon from an information module that is not shown.

Instead of the beacon 33, the door control unit 21, that is to say a component of the elevator installation 10, can also send out a corresponding signal, which is received by the mobile telephone 24 and evaluated as described.

The mobile telephone 24 can also determine its position within the building 9 in which the elevator installation is arranged. The mobile telephone 24 thus has a so-called indoor navigation system. For this purpose, the indoor navigation system evaluates signals from a large number of beacons (not shown) within the building 9 and determines the position of the mobile telephone 24 within the building 9. A comparison with a plan of the building 9 can be used to determine whether the terminal is in the Area of the shaft door 18a or in an elevator car 11.

The mobile telephone 24 can also receive information about its position within the building 9 having the elevator installation 10 from a position determination system 34. In this case, the building 9, in which the elevator installation 10 is installed, has the position determination system 34, which can determine the location of the mobile telephone 24. This positioning system 34 sends information about the Position of the cell phone 24 on the cell phone 24. This information can relate to the position within the building 9 and the cell phone 24 can compare the position with a plan of the building 9 and derive from it whether it is located in the area of the shaft door 18a. It is also possible for the position determination system 34 to send corresponding information directly to the mobile telephone 24 when it is in the area of the shaft door 18a or in the elevator car 11.

Instead of activating the measurement data measurement simultaneously with the activation of the measurement mode of the mobile telephone 24, as described above, the mobile telephone 24 can start and / or stop the measurement values on the basis of an external signal. This external signal is sent, for example, by the elevator control unit 22 to the mobile telephone 24 at the beginning and at the end of a journey in the elevator car 11.

The external signal can, for example, only be sent at the start of a journey and contain the information about the expected duration of the upcoming journey. It is also possible that the external signal is sent before the start of the journey and contains the information on how long it takes until the start of the journey. In addition, the expected duration of the trip can also be transmitted here.

It is also possible for the mobile phone 24 to monitor measured values in the measurement mode by means of at least one sensor, which identify movements of the mobile phone 24. It starts the acquisition of measured values when a start condition dependent on at least one measured value is fulfilled and ends the acquisition of measured values when an end condition dependent on at least one measured value is fulfilled.

As already described above in Fig. 4 a typical course of the acceleration in the z direction when driving an elevator car 11 upwards. The measurement of the measured values is started when the acceleration exceeds a first acceleration threshold value 35 and thus fulfills a start condition. The measurement of the measured values is ended when the acceleration has fallen below a second acceleration threshold value 36 and then exceeds a third acceleration threshold value 37 and thus fulfills an end condition.

As an alternative or in addition, the air pressure measured by a barometer for detecting a journey in an elevator car can also be evaluated and the fulfillment of start and end conditions can be checked. A starting condition can thus be, for example, that the magnitude of the gradient of the air pressure exceeds a first gradient threshold. An end condition could then be, for example, that the magnitude of the gradient of the air pressure falls below a second gradient threshold. In conclusion, it should be pointed out that terms such as "having", "comprehensive", etc. do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a large number. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. The scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims. Reference signs in the claims are not to be viewed as a restriction.

Claims (14)

1. A method for monitoring an elevator car in which

   - by means of a mobile terminal device (24) having a sensor (25), measurement values in an elevator car (11) are collected,

   - the collected measurement values are transmitted by a mobile terminal device (24) to a central evaluation unit (32), and

   - the transmitted measurement values are evaluated by the evaluation unit (32),

   characterized in that

   - the mobile terminal device (24) activates a measurement mode, thus preparing itself for collection of measurement values, when it detects that it is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
2. The method according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the mobile terminal device (24) activates the measurement mode when it detects that it is located inside an elevator car (11).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the mobile terminal device (24) receives and evaluates a signal from a positional information device (33) for determining its position.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 3,
   characterized in that the mobile terminal device (24) determines its position inside a building (9) having the elevator system (10) and from this deduces whether it is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
5. The method according to any one of the claims 1, 2, or 3,
   characterized in that
   the mobile terminal device (24) receives information on its position inside the building (9) having the elevator system (10) from a positional information device (34) and from this deduces whether it is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that
   the mobile terminal device (24), by means of at least one sensor (25), collects measurement values which mark movements of the mobile terminal device (24) and proceeding from these measurement values, detects whether it is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
7. The method according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   a motion pattern (26a, 26b, 26c) is deduced from the measurement values of the mobile terminal device (24) and compared with at least one stored signal pattern (27a, 27b, 27c), and detection of whether the terminal device (24) is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) proceeds on the basis of said comparison.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that
   the mobile terminal device (24), by means of at least one sensor (25), collects measurement values which mark an activity of the elevator system (10) and proceeding from these measurement values detects which mark an activity of the elevator system (10) and proceeding from these measurement values detects whether it is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
9. The method according to claim 8,
   characterized in that
   an activity pattern is deduced from the measurement values and compared with at least one stored signal pattern, and the detection of whether the terminal device (24) is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) proceeds on the basis of said comparisons. I
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the mobile terminal device (24) with the sensor (25) collects measurement values marking properties of the environment of the mobile terminal device (24) and proceeding from these measurement values detects whether it is located in the region of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) of the elevator system (10).
11. The method according to claim 10,
    characterized in that
    from the measurement values a property pattern (28a, 28b, 28c) is deduced and compared with at least one stored signal pattern (29a, 29b, 29c), and detection of whether the terminal device (24) is located in the region (31) of a shaft door (18a, 18b, 18c) proceeds on the basis of said comparison.
12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the mobile terminal device (24) upon activation of the measurement mode also starts a measurement of measurement values.
13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the mobile terminal device (24) starts and ends the measurement of measurement values on the basis of an external signal.
14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the mobile terminal device (24) by means of at least one sensor (25) monitors measurement values which mark movements of the mobile terminal device (24) and starts and/or ends the measurement of measurement values when a start condition dependent on at least one measurement value is fulfilled and/or
    ends the measurement of measurement values when an end condition dependent on at least one measurement value is fulfilled.

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