EP4278152A1

EP4278152A1 - Navigation assistance

Info

Publication number: EP4278152A1
Application number: EP21700920.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Janne ÖFVERSTEN; Jussi-Pekka Partanen
Original assignee: Kone Corp
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2021-01-18
Filing date: 2021-01-18
Publication date: 2023-11-22
Also published as: WO2022152399A1

Abstract

According to an example embodiment, an apparatus arranged for navigation assistance via application of a route indication system (110) comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area is provided, wherein the apparatus (140) comprises: a route determination portion (141) arranged to determine a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in said predefined area via respective one or more locations of said predefined area; and a navigation control portion (142) arranged to apply the route indication system (110) to indicate the respective route for the one or more users, the navigation control portion (142) arranged to: receive, for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area as a function of time, and control, for the one or more users, one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user.

Description

NAVIGATION ASSISTANCE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The example and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention relate to provision of navigation guidance to a user.

BACKGROUND

Outdoor positioning systems that are based on transmission of radiofrequency signals between a mobile user device and navigation infrastructure have been available for a few decades already and provide a framework for a wide range of navigation solutions. Especially satellite-based positioning systems such as GPS and Glonass provide a basis for well-established basis for widely applied outdoor navigation solutions such as in-car navigation and pedestrian navigation. More recent development of indoor positioning techniques extend the applicability of navigation solutions to indoor locations as well.

Like outdoor positioning systems, also indoor positioning systems typically rely on radio-frequency signals transmitted between a user device and the navigation infrastructure. In an example, the indoor positioning may rely on a mobile user device listening to respective location indication messages originating from a plurality of positioning beacons arranged in a building and deriving the current location of the mobile user device (and hence the assumed location of its user) within the building based on signal strength of and location information carried in respective location indication messages received at the mobile use device. In another example, the indoor positioning may rely on the mobile user device serving as a positioning beacon that periodically broadcasts a location indication message, while a plurality of positioning nodes is arranged in the building: the current location of the mobile device may be derived based on respective signal strengths of the location indication message upon reception at those positioning nodes that are able to receive it. Although described herein with references to indoor positioning, similar techniques are applicable also for outdoor use within a designated area.

Typically, indoor and outdoor navigation solutions for pedestrian use are based on an application running in a mobile device carried by a user, e.g. a personal mobile user device of the user. The application makes use of a positioning infrastructure available in the current environment of the mobile device to derive the current location of the mobile device (and hence the location of the user) and makes use of a user interface (Ul) of the mobile device to provide visual and/or audible navigation information such as an indication of the current location of the user and/or navigation instructions or guidance towards a desired destination. Provision of visual navigation information via the Ul of the mobile device inherently limits useability of such solutions to mobile devices having a display of sufficient size while it also requires circumstances that allow for the user to divide her/his attention between the display of the mobile device and her/his environment, whereas provision of audible navigation information via the Ul of the mobile device requires circumstances that enable the user to hear the navigation related information. While provision of visual and/or audible navigation information via the Ul of the mobile device constitutes a proven concept for conveying navigation information to the user in an accurate and user-friendly manner, in some scenarios it may be sufficient or even beneficial to convey at least some aspects of navigation information using means other than the Ul of the mobile device.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique that enables providing navigation instructions or guidance to a user using means other than the Ul of a mobile device carried by the user.

According to an example embodiment, an apparatus arranged for navigation assistance via application of a route indication system comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area is provided, the apparatus comprising: a route determination portion arranged to determine a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in said predefined area via respective one or more locations of said predefined area; and a navigation control portion arranged to apply the route indication system to indicate the respective route for the one or more users, the navigation control portion arranged to: receive, for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area as a function of time, and control, for the one or more users, one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user.

According to another example embodiment, a system for navigation assistance is provided, the system comprising: a route indication system comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area; and a navigation assistance apparatus according to the example embodiment described in the foregoing.

According to another example embodiment, a method for navigation assistance via application of a route indication system comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area is provided, the method comprising: determining a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in said predefined area via respective one or more locations of said predefined area; receiving, for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area as a function of time; and controlling, for the one or more users, one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user. According to another example embodiment, a computer program for providing navigation assistance via application of a route indication system comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area is provided, the computer program comprising computer readable program code configured to cause performing at least the method according to the example embodiment described in the foregoing when said program code is executed on one or more computing apparatuses.

The computer program according to the above-described example embodiment may be embodied on a volatile or a non-volatile computer- readable record medium, for example as a computer program product comprising at least one computer readable non-transitory medium having the program code stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more computing apparatuses, causes the computing apparatuses at least to perform the method according to the example embodiment described in the foregoing.

The exemplifying embodiments of the invention presented in this patent application are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" and its derivatives are used in this patent application as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features described hereinafter are mutually freely combinable unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Some features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Aspects of the invention, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of some example embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where

Figure 1 A illustrates a block diagram of a system according to an example; Figure 1 B illustrates a block diagram of a system according to an example;

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of some logical elements of a route indication system according to an example;

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of some logical elements of a navigation controller according to an example;

Figure 4 illustrates a method according to an example, and

Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of some components of an apparatus according to an example.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1A illustrates a block diagram of some logical elements of an exemplifying system 100 that enables providing navigation assistance to one or more users within a predefined area. The system 100 comprises a navigation assistance system 101 that includes a route indication system 110 and a navigation controller 140. The navigation assistance system 101 is communicatively coupled to a positioning system 102 that includes positioning infrastructure 130 and a user identification apparatus 150. The system 100 may optionally comprise a passenger conveyor system 120, where the navigation controller 140 may be communicatively coupled to a control entity within the passenger conveyor system 120.

In the framework of the system 100, the navigation controller 140 may determine a respective route within the predefined area for one or more users and receive, via operation of the navigation system 102, respective locations of the one or more users within the predefined area. Using this information the navigation controller 140 may control the route indication system 110 to operate a plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses arranged in a plurality of locations in the predefined area to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user, navigation cues assigned to the respective user, thereby providing the respective user with navigation guidance pertaining to the route determined for her/him. This aspect of operation of the navigation assistance system 101 may be referred to as a navigation assistance function or as a navigation assistance service.

In the example of Figure 1A, the user identification apparatus 150 may determine its location within the area of interest based on positioning signals received from the positioning infrastructure 130 and transmit a respective indication of its current location to the navigation controller 140. The user identification apparatus 150 may determine its location and transmit the determined location to the navigation controller 140 according to predefined schedule, e.g. at predefined time intervals, the location indications received at the navigation controller 140 thereby constituting a time series of location indications that indicate the location of the user identification apparatus 150 (and hence the location of the user associated therewith) as a function of time. As examples in this regard, the positioning signals originating from the positioning infrastructure 130 may comprise signals originating from satellites of a satellite-based navigation system such as the GPS and/or location indication messages originating from a plurality of positioning beacons of an indoor positioning system arranged in the predefined area. In other words, the positioning via operation of the positioning system 102 according to the example of Figure 1 A may rely on outdoor positioning, on indoor positioning or on a combination of the two.

Figure 1 B illustrates a variation of the system 100 shown in the example of Figure 1A. Therein, a difference to the example of Figure 1 A concerns operation of the positioning system 102: in the example of Figure 1 B a tracking entity in the positioning infrastructure 130 may determine the location of the user identification apparatus 150 within the area of interest and transmit a respective indication of its current location to the navigation controller 140. In this regard, the tracking entity may determine the location of the user identification apparatus 150 and transmit the determined location to the navigation controller 140 according to predefined schedule, e.g. at predefined time intervals, thereby obtaining the time series of location indications of the type described in the foregoing with references to the example of Figure 1A. As an example in this regard, the user identification apparatus 150 may operate as a positioning beacon that periodically broadcasts a location indication message, whereas the positioning infrastructure 130 may comprise a plurality of positioning nodes arranged in the predefined area for reception of the location indication message originating from the user identification apparatus 150. Those ones of the plurality of positioning nodes that are able to receive the location indication message may report the respective signal strengths at which the location indication message is received thereat to the tracking entity, which may determine the current location of the user identification apparatus 150 on basis of locations of the respective positioning nodes and their respective signal strengths. While the operation of the positioning system 102 according to the example of Figure 1 B is typically suitable for indoor positioning, it is likewise applicable for outdoor positioning in a limited area (such as the predefined area considered in the framework of the system 100).

Hence, depending on the approach applied for deriving the location of the user identification apparatus 150 and hence the location of a user associated therewith via operation of the positioning system 102, the navigation controller 140 may obtain the location indications pertaining to the user identification apparatus 150 from an entity (e.g. the tracking entity) of the positioning infrastructure 130 or via the user identification apparatus 150.

Regardless of the approach applied for deriving the location of the user identification apparatus 150, the following description simply refers to the navigation controller 140 receiving or obtaining the location indications pertaining to the user identification apparatus 150 from the positioning system 102. Moreover, in the interest of graphical clarity of illustration, the respective illustrations of Figures 1 A and 1 B show only a single identification apparatus 150, whereas the positioning system 102 is able to determine and/or track respective locations of one or more user identification apparatuses 150 (and hence the respective locations of the one or more users associated therewith). Along similar lines, for clarity and brevity of the description, the examples provided in the foregoing and in the following predominantly refer to the user identification apparatus 150 and its location within the area of interest in singular, whereas the description readily generalizes into determining respective locations of one or more user identification apparatus 150 and hence respective positions of their users.

The user identification apparatus 150 may comprise any apparatus or device that is arranged for location determination in co-operation with the positioning infrastructure 130 (along the lines described above) and that moves along with the user within the area of interest. As non-limiting examples, the user identification apparatus may comprise an apparatus or device carried by the user, an apparatus or device worn by the user, or an apparatus or device arranged in a vehicle of the user. In this regard, the user identification apparatus 150 may comprise, for example, a general-purpose mobile user device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a smartwatch arranged to run one or more applications that cause the mobile user device to carry out the location determination with the positioning infrastructure 130. In another example, the user identification apparatus 150 may comprise a specialpurpose device carried by a user, such as a ‘positioning tag’ that may be integrated e.g. to an access badge or identity badge carried or worn by the user when moving about the predefined area.

Along the lines described above, the system 100 may enable providing navigation assistance to the one or more users within the predefined area. In this regard, the predefined area may comprise a predefined outdoor area, one or more buildings, or a predefined outdoor area together with one or more buildings residing within the predefined outdoor area. In this regard, the predefined outdoor area (if applicable) may comprise an outdoor area of any type, e.g. a campus area, a parking area, a sports venue, a park, a theme park, etc. or any combination thereof. The predefined outdoor area may include a plurality of designated sub-areas or locations that have a respective area identifier (e.g. a number and/or a name) assigned thereto to enable conveniently referring to the respective sub-area within the predefined outdoor area. Typically, but not necessarily, the designate sub-areas cover the predefined outdoor area in its entirety. In an example, the sub-areas may be defined by a rectangular grid that divides the predefined outdoor area into a plurality of sub-areas of substantially equal shape and size, whereas in another example the predefined outdoor area may comprise a plurality sub-areas that may vary from each other in shape and/or size. While the navigation assistance service provided via operation of the navigation assistance system 101 may be applicable regardless of the size of the predefined outdoor area buildings under consideration (as applicable), advantages of the navigation assistance service according to the present disclosure may become more apparent with increasing size of the outdoor area under consideration and/or with increasing number of designated sub-areas within the outdoor area under consideration.

Along similar lines, the one or more buildings (if applicable) may comprise buildings of any type, e.g. one or more of the following: a residential building, an office building, a commercial building (such as a shopping mall, a department store, a hotel, a sports hall, ...), a public building (such as a library, a hospital, a school, an airport, ...), a parking garage, a warehouse, a factory, etc. or any combination thereof, where the building may be a single-storied one or it may have two or more floors. The one or more buildings may comprise a plurality of designated indoor spaces , e.g. rooms, corridors, staircases or designated sub-spaces of other type, having a respective space identifier (e.g. a number and/or a name) assigned thereto to enable conveniently referring to the respective space of the one or more buildings. While the navigation assistance service provided via operation of the navigation assistance system 101 may be applicable regardless of the respective sizes of the one or more buildings under consideration (as applicable), advantages of the navigation assistance service according to the present disclosure may become more apparent with increasing size of the respective (floor) areas of the one or more buildings and/or with increasing number of floors in the one or more buildings. Hence, in a general case, the predefined area may comprise indoor spaces located within one or more buildings within the predefined area and/or outdoor sub-areas located within the predefined area. In this regard, in terms of the designated indoor spaces and/or designated outdoor sub-areas, the term location identifier may be applied to refer to a respective space identifier assigned to a designated indoor space or to a respective designated outdoor sub-area (whichever applies).

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of some logical elements of the route indication system 110 according to an example. The route indication system 110 may comprise a prompt controller 1 11 and controllable navigation prompt apparatuses 112-1 , 1 12-2, ..., 112-K arranged in a plurality of locations of the predefined area, e.g. in a first plurality of indoor spaces within one or more buildings located in the predefined area and/or in a second plurality of outdoor sub-areas located within the predefined area. In the following, any individual navigation prompt apparatus may be referred to via a reference numeral 112- k, whereas the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses may be jointly referred to via a reference numeral 112.

The navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k are arranged across locations within the predefined area such that they may be applied as controllable route signs or as a signaling system that prompts a user to move along the route determined for her/him towards the destination in the predefined area by following a sequence of navigation cues displayed via the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k. In other words, the sequence of navigation cues provided via the navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12-k serve as navigation guidance for the respective user in accordance with the route determined for the respective user. The navigation assistance system 101 does not assume or require any specific constellation for positioning the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k across locations of the predefined area, whereas for practical purposes the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k are preferably arranged within the predefined area using locations and spacing that, in view of characteristics of the respective portion of the predefined area, enables displaying a sequence of navigation cues which the user may follow without an undue burden.

Each of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k may be controllable to display respective navigation cues assigned to one or more users residing in the predefined area. According to an example, as illustrated in the examples of Figure 2, the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k may be operated under control of the prompt controller 111 , which in turn operates in accordance with the control messages (designated as “Cue CTRL” in the illustration of Figure 2) received from another entity, e.g. from the navigation controller 140. Each control message may identify the navigation cue to be displayed and one or more of the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 to be applied for displaying the navigation cue identified in the control message. In another example, the dedicated prompt controller 111 may be omitted and control messages originating from the other entity may directly addressed to the respective navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k.

Along the lines described in the foregoing, one or more of the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 may be applied to display the respective navigation cue assigned to a certain user to indicate at least part of the route determined for the certain user. In this regard, a navigation cue assigned to the certain user is preferably different from respective navigation cues assigned to other users currently residing in a building in order to ensure the certain user readily recognizing the navigation cues addressed for her/him. Selection of the navigation cue for the certain user as well as determination of the route for the certain user may be carried out by the navigation controller 140 (as described in the following). However, since the type of equipment applied to embody the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k may have an effect on the available types of navigation cues, examples of various type of navigation cues are described in context of the route indication system 110 as well.

As an example, the route indication system 110 may comprise a lighting system, in other words the prompt controller 1 11 may comprise a lighting controller and the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 may comprise a respective plurality of light fixtures arranged in the plurality of locations of the predefined area. In an example making use of the light fixtures to display the navigation prompt apparatuses, the navigation cue assigned to a certain user may comprise a light color assigned to the certain user, which is different from respective light colors assigned to other users currently within the predefined area. Consequently, the light fixtures may display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user by setting their light output to apply the light color assigned to the certain user. In this example, the light fixtures may comprise any light fixtures that are able to adjust their light output to apply one of a plurality of different light colors. As a non-limiting example, each of the light fixtures may comprise respective one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide the light output therefrom.

In another example relying on light fixtures, each of the light fixtures may be able to provide light output that forms a pattern that has a specific shape. As an example in this regard, each of the light fixtures may comprise respective one or more light sources, e.g. LEDs, arranged in a predefined constellation, such as a M x N matrix of light sources. Such arrangement of light sources may enables using the respective light fixture to provide light output that represents a desired shape, where the versatility of the light fixture with respect to providing different shapes that are readily distinguishable from each other depends on the number of applied light sources and the size of the matrix. In such an example, the navigation cue assigned to a certain user may comprise a symbol assigned to the certain user, which is different from respective symbols assigned to other users currently within the predefined area. In various examples in this regard, the respective symbols assigned to the one or more users may vary from each other in color of light applied to display the respective symbol and/or the shape of the light output applied to represent the respective symbol. Hence, the respective symbol assigned to the certain user may have a color that is different from colors applied for respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users within the predefined area and/or it may have a shape that is different from respective shapes applied for respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users within the predefined area.

In another example, the route indication system 110 may comprise a display system, in other words the prompt controller 11 1 may comprise a display controller and the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 may comprise a respective plurality of display devices arranged in the plurality of locations of the predefined area. In an example making use of the display devices to display the navigation prompt apparatuses, the navigation cue assigned to a certain user may comprise a symbol assigned to the certain user, which is different from respective symbols assigned to other users currently within the predefined area. In various examples in this regard, the respective symbols assigned to the one or more users may vary from each other in their color and/or their shape. Hence, the respective symbol assigned to the certain user may have a color that is different from colors applied for respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users within the predefined area and/or it may have a shape that is different from respective shapes applied for respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users within the predefined area. In a further example relying in the display devices as the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k, the navigation cue assigned to a certain user may comprise a piece of text assigned to the certain user, which is different from respective pieces of text assigned to other users currently within the predefined area, where the differences may concern e.g. information content of the text or appearance (e.g. font size, font type, font color, etc.) of the text on the display.

Still referring to usage of the display devices as the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k, according to an example, each of the display devices may comprise a respective electronic display arranged in the respective location of the predefined area (e.g. mounted or built in a wall of an indoor space at the respective location or otherwise installed in the respective location), whereas in another example each of the display devices may comprise a respective projection device arranged to project images on a surface at the respective location of the predefined area (e.g. on a dedicated projection surface arranged at the respective location, on a wall, a floor or a ceiling of an indoor space or on ground at a sub-area of an outdoor space). In a further example, first one or more of the display devices may comprise respective electronic displays and second one or more of the display devices may comprise respective projection devices.

Still referring to exemplifying implementations of the route indication system, the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12 may comprise a mixture of light fixtures and display devices, e.g. such that the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 comprises a first plurality of light fixtures arranged in the respective first plurality of locations of the predefined area and a second plurality of display devices arranged in the respective second plurality of locations in the predefined area.

It is worth noting that the arrangements that involve light fixtures and/or display devices described in the foregoing serve as non-limiting examples in this regard and apparatuses or devices of different type that are capable of displaying the navigation cues may be applied to serve as the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k instead of or in addition to light fixtures and display devices.

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of some logical elements of the navigation controller 140 according to an example. The navigation controller 140 comprises a route determination portion 141 arranged to determine a respective route to one or more users within the predefined area and a navigation control portion 142 arranged to apply the route indication system 110 to indicate the respective route for the one or more users within the predefined area. The route determination portion 141 may receive respective indications of respective destinations of the one or more users, whereas both the route determination portion 141 and the navigation control portion 142 may receive, from the positioning system 102, respective locations indications for the one or more users. Along the lines described in the foregoing in context of the positioning system 102, at each of the route determination portion 141 and the navigation control portion 142 the location indications received thereat constitute the respective time series of location indications pertaining to the respective user that represents the location of the respective user (within the predefined area) as a function of time.

The route determined for a certain user via operation of the route determination portion 141 leads from a respective starting position to a respective destination via respective one or more designated locations of the predefined area. In this regard, the route determination portion has the knowledge of respective characteristics of the designated locations (e.g. the indoor spaces and/or the outdoor sub-areas) of the predefined area and their relationship with the adjacent designated locations, whereas the route determination portion 141 may apply route determination techniques known in the art to make use of this information in derivation of the route for the certain user. Since the designated locations of the predefined area have the respective location identifiers (e.g. a space identifier or a sub-area identifier) assigned thereto and, the route determined for the certain user may be at least partially defined by a sequence of location identifiers assigned to the spaces via which the respective route proceeds from the starting position to the destination.

The route determination portion 141 may be arranged to derive the route for the certain user in response to receiving the indication of the destination of the certain user and apply the most recently received location indication for the certain user to denote the starting position of the route. As an example concerning the route determination portion 141 obtaining knowledge of the destination of the certain user, the route determination portion 141 may receive the indication of a certain user’s destination within the predefined area from another device that is communicatively coupled to the navigation controller 140 via wired or wireless communication network or communication link. In this regard, the other device may receive the indication of the destination via its user interface (Ul), and the other device may provide the indication of the destination to the navigation controller 140. As an example, the indication of the certain user’s destination entered via the Ul of the other device may comprise the respective location identifier (e.g. a space identifier or a sub-area identifier) assigned to her/his destination. The other device applied to obtain the indication of the certain user’s destination may comprise any computer device, for example a general purpose mobile device of the user, which may also serve as the user identification device 150.

Once determined, the route determination portion 141 may provide the route to the navigation control portion 142, while the route determination portion 141 may store the route determined for the certain user for subsequent use therein. An example of such subsequent use, the route determination portion 141 may revise or redefine the route for the certain user in response to location indications received for the certain user having deviated from the route determined for her/him. The revised or redefined route may keep the originally- indicated destination for the certain user, whereas the route determination portion 141 may apply the most recently received location indication for the certain user to denote the starting position of the revised or redefined route.

Upon reception of the route for the certain user from the route determination portion 141 , the navigation control portion 142 may assign the navigation cue to the certain user. The assignment may comprise selecting one of a plurality of available navigation cues for the certain user. In this regard, the navigation control portion has the knowledge of capabilities of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k of the route indication system 1 10 in terms of types of navigation cues they are able to display, whereas examples of navigation cues that may displayed via exemplifying types of navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k are described in the foregoing. Once selected, the navigation controller 140 (e.g. the route determination portion 141 ) may provide information that characterizes the type of the navigation cue assigned to the certain user to the other device that served as the source of the indication of the certain user’s destination within the predefined area, whereas the other device may display this navigation-cue-characterizing information to the certain user via the Ul of the other device. After having received the route for the certain user from the route determination portion 141 , the navigation control portion 142 may control operation of the route indication system 110 accordingly. In this regard, the navigation control portion 142 may be arranged to control one or more of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the route determined for the certain user to display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user. In this regard, the navigation cues assigned to the certain user may be displayed via the one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k along the route determined for the certain user in dependence of the current location indicated for the certain user. Herein, the current location may comprise the location indicated by the most recently received location indication for the certain user.

In this regard, such user-location-dependent displaying of the navigation cue assigned to the certain user may involve the navigation control portion 142 one of initiating displaying of the respective navigation cue via first one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the respective route and/or terminating displaying of the respective navigation cue via second one or more navigation prompt apparatuses that are along the respective route in dependence of the position of the certain passenger with respect to the route determined for her/him. In other words, at any given time, only some of those navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the route determined for the certain passenger may be simultaneously applied to display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user, while other ones of those navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the respective route are not applied to display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user (but may be applied to display navigation cue(s) assigned to one or more other uses that are currently within the predefined area).

As an example of such user-location-dependent selection of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k to be applied for displaying the navigation cue assigned to the certain user may comprise selecting one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the respective route between the current location of the certain user and the destination of the certain user and displaying the navigation cue assigned to the certain user using only the selected one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12-k. Non-limiting examples of such a selection include the following:

- selecting those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are located within a first predefined distance along the respective route from the current location of the certain user towards the destination of the certain user,

- selecting all navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12-k that are located along the respective route between the current location of the certain user and the destination of the certain user.

As another example of such user-location-dependent selection of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k to be applied for displaying the navigation cue assigned to the certain user may comprise selecting one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the respective route between the starting position of the of the certain user and the current location of the certain user and displaying the navigation cue assigned to the certain user using only the selected one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k. Non-limiting examples of such a selection include the following:

- selecting those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are located along the respective route within a second predefined distance from the current location of the certain user towards the starting position of the certain user,

- selecting all navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12-k that are located along the respective route between the starting position of the certain user and the current location of the certain user.

Such selection of a limited subset of those navigation prompt apparatuses 112- k that are along the route determined for the certain passengers enables improved useability of the navigation assistance service especially in scenarios where the navigation guidance is provided simultaneously for a plurality of users: e.g. usage of only those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are relatively close to the current location of the certain user and/or that serve to indicate the remaining part of the route determined for the certain user for her/his navigation guidance (instead of displaying the respective navigation cue throughout the route determined for her/him) facilitates avoiding confusion between respective navigation cues pertaining to multiple routes displayed simultaneously via the route indication system 110.

The navigation control portion 142 may have knowledge of the respective locations of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k within the predefined area to enable identification of those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the route determined for the certain passenger. In this regard, the respective location of the navigation prompt apparatus 112-k may be defined via respective location identifier (e.g. a space identifier or a sub-area identifier) assigned to the indoor space or outdoor subarea within which the respective navigation prompt apparatus is located, possibly complemented with information that defines the position of the respective navigation prompt apparatus 1 12 within the respective space or sub-area. Consequently, the navigation control portion 142 may apply this information to identify those navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k that are along the route determined for the certain passenger and that are hence applicable for providing the navigation guidance for the certain user.

As described in the foregoing, the system 100 may optionally include the passenger conveyor system 120 that is arranged for passenger transport within the predefined area. In this regard, in a scenario where the route determined for the certain passenger comprises a transfer using the passenger conveyor system 120, the navigation control portion 142 may control at least one aspect of operation the passenger conveyor system 120 in dependence of the current location of the certain user with respect to the passenger conveyor system 120. In this regard, the navigation control portion 142 controlling an aspect of operation of the passenger conveyor system 120 may comprise the navigation control portion 142 activating or otherwise affecting operational state of the passenger conveyor system 120, which may be accomplished by the navigation control portion 142 issuing a control message (designated as “Conv. CTRL” in the illustration of Figure 4) in this regard.

As an example, the conveyor system 120 may comprise an escalator or a moving walkway, and in case the route determined for the certain passenger comprises a transfer using the escalator or the moving walkway, the navigation control portion 142 may activate the escalator or the moving walkway in response to the certain user arriving within a predefined distance from the escalator or the moving walkway. In this regard, the distance between the location of the certain user and the escalator or the moving walkway may be considered as the distance between the two along the route determined for the certain passenger. Herein, activation of the escalator or the moving walkway may comprise a transition from an energy-saving state to an active state, which may comprise increasing the movement speed of the escalator or the moving walkway. Examples in this regard, include starting movement of an escalator or moving walkway that is currently in a non-moving state and speeding up the movement speed of the escalator or the moving walkway from a stand-by speed (e.g. a slow speed applied in an energy-saving state) to a normal speed (e.g. a higher speed applied for transporting passengers).

In another example, the conveyor system 120 may comprise an elevator of an elevator system, and in case the route determined for the certain passenger comprises a transfer using the respective elevator of the elevator system, the navigation control portion 142 may automatically place a transport call for the respective elevator in response to the certain user arriving within a predefined distance from the respective elevator. Herein, the transport call may specify the origin floor for the requested elevator transport and it may further specify the destination floor for the requested elevator transport. In this regard, the distance between the location of the certain user and the respective elevator may be considered as the distance between the two along the route determined for the certain passenger. The automatically placed transport call contributes towards avoiding delays due to the certain passenger waiting for the elevator included in her/her route via placing the transport call before the certain passenger arrives at the elevator landing in the origin floor, especially in scenarios where the elevator is currently in another floor and/or in a standby state (for energy saving purposes). Moreover, automatically placed transport call further facilitates the certain passenger using an elevator that enables transfer between the origin floor and the destination floor while it may further ensure the certain passenger finding her/his way to the destination floor (e.g. via the automatically placed transport call specifying the destination floor).

Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses 112 may be associated with the passenger conveyor system 120 and, in a scenario where the route determined for the certain passenger comprises a transfer using the passenger conveyor system 120, the navigation control portion 142 may use these one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k to display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user in dependence of the current location of the certain user with respect to the passenger conveyor system 120. As an example in this regard, displaying the navigation cue assigned to the certain users using these one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12-k may be triggered by the certain user arriving within a predefined distance from the passenger conveyor system 120, wherein the distance between the location of the certain user and the passenger conveyor system 120 may be considered as the distance between the two along the route determined for the certain passenger.

In case the passenger conveyor system 120 comprises an escalator or a moving walkway, the one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k associated therewith may be arranged in a structure of the escalator or the moving walkway, such as in the handrail. In case the passenger conveyor system 120 comprises an elevator of the elevator system, the one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k associated therewith may be arranged inside an elevator car of the respective elevator and/or in landings that enable access to the respective elevator such they serve to identify the respective elevator among several elevators that may be accessible via these landings.

The above-described aspects of the navigation control portion 142 adjusting an aspect of operation of the passenger conveyor system 120 and/or controlling the one or more navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k associated therewith to display the navigation cue assigned to the certain user may both facilitate the certain user swiftly finding her/his way to the passenger conveyor system 120 that is along her/his route.

In the foregoing, the aspects of the route determination portion 141 determining the route from the starting position to the destination and the navigation control portion 142 applying the determined route to control the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k to display navigation cues that serve as navigation guidance are predominantly described with a reference to a certain user. However, this is a choice made in favor of brevity and clarity of description, while these aspects readily generalize into the route determination portion 141 determining the respective routes for a plurality of users that reside within the predefined area and the navigation control portion 142 applying the respective determined routes to control the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k to display navigation cues that serve as respective navigation guidance to the plurality of users.

Hence, the navigation assistance service provided via the above-described operation of the navigation assistance system 101 enables providing respective navigation guidance within the predefined area for one or more persons residing therein in a manner that does not require the user(s) using carrying or using personal navigation devices fulfilling certain requirements with respect to their Ills but while at the same time it conveys the navigation guidance in a manner that enables the user(s) to more readily pay attention to her/his environment (instead of concentration on her/his personal navigation device) while moving about the predefined area. The operation described in the foregoing with references to characteristics of the navigation assistance system 101 may be, alternatively, described as steps of a method. As an example in this regard, Figure 4 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method 200, which may be considered as a method for navigation assistance via application of the route indication system 110 that comprises the plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses 112 that are arranged in the plurality of locations of the predefined area. The method 200 comprises determining a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in the predefined area via respective one or more locations of the predefined area, as indicated in block 202, and receiving, for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to the predefined area as a function of time, as indicated in block 204 The method 200 further comprises controlling, for the one or more users, one or more of the plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses 1 12 that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to the predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user, as indicated in block 206. Respective operations described with references to blocks 202 and 206 pertaining to the method 200 may be implemented, varied and/or complemented in a number of ways, for example as described with references to the navigation assistance system 101 in the foregoing and/or in the following.

Along the lines described in the foregoing, the navigation assistance system 101 disclosed herein is applicable to provide navigation guidance for one or more users in outdoor areas and/or indoor spaces of various kinds. Without imposing any limitation to its applicability, the disclosed the navigation assistance system 101 may be applicable, in the following illustrative use cases.

- A user arrives at a campus area with an intent to visit a certain location in a building located in the campus area. Upon arrival at the campus area, the user may use her/his mobile phone to enter an identification (e.g. a name) of the certain location to the navigation assistance system 101 , which derives the route for the user from her/his current position to the certain location and provides the user with an indication of the navigation cue assigned to her/him. Consequently, the navigation assistance system 101 controls the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k arranged in the campus area (outdoors and indoors) to display the navigation cue assigned to the user while she/he proceeds along the route derived for her/him to the certain location.

- A user arrives at a reception in a building with an intent to visit a certain location in a building located in the campus area. Upon the user’s arrival at the reception a receptionist applies a computer at the reception to enter an identification (e.g. a name) of the certain location to the navigation assistance system 101 , which derives the route for the user from her/his current position to the certain location and provides the user with an indication of the navigation cue assigned to her/him. Consequently, the navigation assistance system 101 controls the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k arranged in the building to display the navigation cue assigned to the user while she/he proceeds along the route derived for her/him to the certain location.

- A user arrives by car at a parking area or a parking garage in which she/he has a pre-reserved parking place. Upon approaching the parking area/garage the user may use the infotainment system of her/his car to enter an identification (e.g. a number) of the pre-reserved parking place to the navigation assistance system 101 , which derives the route for the user from her/his current position to the pre-reserved parking place and provides the user with an indication of the navigation cue assigned to her/him. Consequently, the navigation assistance system 101 controls the navigation prompt apparatuses 112-k arranged in the parking area/garage (outdoors and/or indoors) to display the navigation cue assigned to the user while she/he proceeds along the route derived for her/him to the pre-reserved parking place. Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of some components of an apparatus 300 that may be employed to implement operations described in the foregoing with references to the navigation controller 140. The apparatus 300 comprises a processor 310 and a memory 320. The memory 320 may store data and computer program code 325. The apparatus 300 may further comprise communication means 330 for wired or wireless communication with other apparatuses and/or user I/O (input/output) components 340 that may be arranged, together with the processor 310 and a portion of the computer program code 325, to provide the user interface for receiving input from a user and/or providing output to the user. In particular, the user I/O components may include user input means, such as one or more keys or buttons, a keyboard, a touchscreen or a touchpad, etc. The user I/O components may include output means, such as a display or a touchscreen. The components of the apparatus 300 are communicatively coupled to each other via a bus 350 that enables transfer of data and control information between the components.

The memory 320 and a portion of the computer program code 325 stored therein may be further arranged, with the processor 310, to cause the apparatus 300 to perform at least some aspects of operation of the navigation controller 140 described in the foregoing. The processor 310 is configured to read from and write to the memory 320. Although the processor 310 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate processing components. Similarly, although the memory 320 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate components, some or all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide permanent / semi-permanent/ dynamic/cached storage.

The computer program code 325 may comprise computer-executable instructions that implement at least some aspects of operation of the navigation controller 140 described in the foregoing when loaded into the processor 310. As an example, the computer program code 325 may include a computer program consisting of one or more sequences of one or more instructions. The processor 310 is able to load and execute the computer program by reading the one or more sequences of one or more instructions included therein from the memory 320. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions may be configured to, when executed by the processor 310, cause the apparatus 300 to perform at least some aspects of operation of the navigation controller 140 described in the foregoing. Hence, the apparatus 300 may comprise at least one processor 310 and at least one memory 320 including the computer program code 325 for one or more programs, the at least one memory 320 and the computer program code 325 configured to, with the at least one processor 310, cause the apparatus 300 to perform at least some aspects of operation of the navigation controller 140 described in the foregoing.

The computer program code 325 may be provided e.g. a computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable non-transitory medium having the computer program code 325 stored thereon, which computer program code 325, when executed by the processor 310 causes the apparatus 300 to perform at least some aspects of operation of the navigation controller 140 described in the foregoing. The computer-readable non-transitory medium may comprise a memory device or a record medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc or another article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program. As another example, the computer program may be provided as a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program.

Reference(s) to a processor herein should not be understood to encompass only programmable processors, but also dedicated circuits such as field- programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processors, etc. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Claims

27

Claims

1 . An apparatus (140) arranged for navigation assistance via application of a route indication system (110) comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area, the apparatus (140) comprising: a route determination portion (141 ) arranged to determine a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in said predefined area via respective one or more locations of said predefined area; and a navigation control portion (142) arranged to apply the route indication system (1 10) to indicate the respective route for the one or more users, the navigation control portion (142) arranged to: receive, for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area as a function of time, and control, for the one or more users, one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user.

2. An apparatus (140) according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12) comprises a plurality of light fixtures arranged in the plurality of locations of said predefined area and wherein the navigation cue assigned to the respective user comprises light characteristics assigned to the respective user that are different from respective light characteristics assigned to other ones of the one or more users. An apparatus (140) according to claim 2, wherein said light characteristics assigned to the respective user comprises one or more of the following characteristics: a light color that is different from respective light colors assigned to other ones of the one or more users; a shape of light output that is different from respective shapes of light output assigned to other ones of the one or more users, An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses (112) comprises a plurality of display devices arranged in the plurality of locations of said predefined area and wherein the navigation cue assigned to the respective user comprises a symbol assigned to the respective user that is different from respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users. An apparatus (140) according to claim 4, wherein said symbol assigned to the respective user comprises one or more of the following characteristics: a color that is different from respective colors of respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users; a shape that is different from respective shapes of respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to control one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user. An apparatus (140) according to claim 6, wherein said one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user comprise one of the following: those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located within a first predefined distance along the respective route from the current location of the respective user towards the destination of the respective user, all navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to control one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user. An apparatus (140) according to claim 8, wherein said one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user: those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route within a second predefined distance from the current location of the respective user towards the starting position of the respective user, all navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user.

10. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to receive said location indications from a respective user identification apparatus (150) carried by the respective user.

11. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to receive said location indications from an entity of a positioning system (102) that is arranged to track location of a respective user identification apparatus (150) carried by the respective user .

12. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein said plurality of locations comprise one or both of the following: a first plurality of indoor spaces within one or more buildings located in said predefined area, a second plurality of outdoor sub-areas located in said predefined area.

13. An apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the respective route comprises a transfer using a passenger conveyor system (120) within said predefined area and wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to control at least one aspect of operation of the passenger conveyor system (120) in dependence of the current location of the respective user with respect to the passenger conveyor system (120). 31

14. An apparatus (140) according to claim 13, wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to control a navigation prompt apparatus (112- k) associated with the passenger conveyor system (120) to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user in response to the respective user arriving within a third predefined distance along the respective route from the passenger conveyor system (120).

15. An apparatus (140) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the conveyor system (120) comprises an escalator or a moving walkway and wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to activate said escalator or said moving walkway in response to the respective user arriving within the third predefined distance along the respective route from said escalator or said moving walkway.

16. An apparatus (140) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the conveyor system (120) comprises an elevator of an elevator system and wherein the navigation control portion (142) is arranged to automatically place a transport call for said elevator in response to the respective user arriving within the third predefined distance along the respective route from said elevator.

17. A navigation assistance system (101 ) comprising: a route indication system (110) comprising a plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area; and a navigation assistance apparatus (140) according to any of claims 1 to 16.

18. A method (200) for navigation assistance via application of a route indication system (110) comprising a plurality of controllable navigation 32 prompt apparatuses (112) arranged in a plurality of locations of a predefined area, the method (200) comprising: determining (202) a respective route for one or more users from a respective starting position to a respective destination in said predefined area via respective one or more locations of said predefined area; receiving (204), for the one or more users, a respective time series of location indications that indicates the location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area as a function of time; and controlling (206), for the one or more users, one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) that are along the respective route to display, in dependence of current location of the respective user with respect to said predefined area, a navigation cue assigned to the respective user.

19. A method (200) according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses (112) comprises a plurality of light fixtures arranged in the plurality of locations of said predefined area and wherein the navigation cue assigned to the respective user comprises light characteristics assigned to the respective user that are different from respective light characteristics assigned to other ones of the one or more users.

20. A method (200) according to claim 19, wherein said light characteristics assigned to the respective user comprises one or more of the following characteristics: a light color that is different from respective light colors assigned to other ones of the one or more users; a shape of light output that is different from respective shapes of light output assigned to other ones of the one or more users, 33 A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the plurality of navigation prompt apparatuses (112) comprises a plurality of display devices arranged in the plurality of locations of said predefined area and wherein the navigation cue assigned to the respective user comprises a symbol assigned to the respective user that is different from respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users. A method (200) according to claim 21 , wherein said symbol assigned to the respective user comprises one or more of the following characteristics: a color that is different from respective colors of respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users; a shape that is different from respective shapes of respective symbols assigned to other ones of the one or more users. A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein controlling (206) one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) comprises controlling one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user. A method (200) according to claim 23, wherein said one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user comprise one of the following: those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located within a first predefined distance along the respective route from the 34 current location of the respective user towards the destination of the respective user, all navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route between the current location of the respective user and the destination of the respective user.

25. A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 24, wherein controlling (206) one or more of said plurality of controllable navigation prompt apparatuses (112) comprises controlling one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user.

26. A method (200) according to claim 25, wherein said one or more of those navigation prompt apparatuses (112-k) that are along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user: those ones of the navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route within a second predefined distance from the current location of the respective user towards the starting position of the respective user, all navigation prompt apparatuses (1 12-k) that are located along the respective route between the starting position of the respective user and the current location of the respective user.

27. A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 26, comprising receiving said location indications from a respective user identification apparatus (150) carried by the respective user. 35 A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 27, comprising receiving said location indications from an entity of a positioning system (102) that is arranged to track location of a respective user identification apparatus (150) carried by the respective user . A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 28, wherein said plurality of locations comprise one or both of the following: a first plurality of indoor spaces within one or more buildings located in said predefined area, a second plurality of outdoor sub-areas located in said predefined area. A method (200) according to any of claims 18 to 29, wherein the respective route comprises a transfer using a passenger conveyor system (120) within said predefined area and wherein method (200) comprises controlling at least one aspect of operation of the passenger conveyor system (120) in dependence of the current location of the respective user with respect to the passenger conveyor system (120). A method (200) according to claim 30, comprising controlling a navigation prompt apparatus (112-k) associated with the passenger conveyor system (120) to display the navigation cue assigned to the respective user in response to the respective user arriving within a third predefined distance along the respective route from the passenger conveyor system (120). A method (200) according to claim 30 or 31 , wherein the conveyor system (120) comprises an escalator or a moving walkway and wherein the method (200) comprises activating said escalator or said moving walkway in response to the respective user arriving within the third 36 predefined distance along the respective route from said escalator or said moving walkway. A method (200) according to claim 30 or 31 , wherein the conveyor system (120) comprises an elevator of an elevator system and wherein the method (200) comprises automatically placing a transport call for said elevator in response to the respective user arriving within the third predefined distance along the respective route from said elevator. A computer program comprising computer readable program code configured to cause performing of the method according to any of claims 18 to 33 when said program code is run on one or more computing apparatuses.