WO2021224540A1

WO2021224540A1 - Method and system for generating an elevator call request

Info

Publication number: WO2021224540A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050306
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mika BELOW; Mikko PIIRONEN
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2020-05-07
Filing date: 2020-05-07
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Also published as: CN115515879A

Abstract

A method and a system (100) for generating an elevator call request (102). The method comprises determining (310) a position of the user device (5), wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface (20), receiving (320), at a data server system (50), a control input (101) provided via a digital user interface element (30) by the user device (5), wherein the digital user interface element (30) is adapted based on the determined position of the user device (5), and generating (330) the elevator call request (102) based on the received control input (101).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AN ELEVATOR CALL REQUEST

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to elevators. In particular, however not exclusively, the present invention concerns generating elevator call requests.

BACKGROUND

In known elevators, making elevator calls is usually done by utilizing buttons in a landing call panel of a landing or in a car operating panel of an elevator car. During an epidemic, these buttons represent high-touch surfaces via which, for example, a virus can spread easily. In order to alleviate the problem, disinfectant bottles can be arranged into the vicinity of the panels and regular cleaning of the buttons may be performed. There is, however, still need to develop solutions for reducing touching of the buttons in the panels.

SUMMARY An objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for generating an elevator call request. Another objective of the present invention is that the method and the system at least reduce the use of elevator landing call buttons or car operating panel buttons.

The objectives of the invention are reached by a method and a system as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, a method for generating an elevator call request is provided. The method comprises: determining a position of the user device, wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface, - receiving, at a data server system, a control input provided via a digital user interface element by the user device, wherein the digital user interface element is adapted based on the determined position of the user device, and generating the elevator call request based on the received control input. Furthermore, the control input may be received via a communication path, wherein the communication path is preferably at least partly wireless so that the control input is transmitted wirelessly from the user device.

In various embodiments, the determining of the position may comprise receiving position-related data from the user device at the data server system, and determining the position by associating the position-related data with the elevator operating interface at the data server system.

In some embodiments, the determining of the position may be performed, for example, at the user device or in an indoor positioning system or at the data server system, prior to or after the providing of the control input.

In some preferable embodiments, the determining of the position may be based on interacting by the user device with an elevator identification item, for example, reading the elevator identification item by the user mobile. Furthermore, the elevator identification item may include information about the position of the item with respect to or in the elevator operating interface. The elevator operating interface may, in preferable embodiments, be a physical interface, such as a landing call panel or a car operating panel.

In various embodiments, the elevator identification item may be a short-range wireless communication tag, such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag or a near-field communication (NFC) tag. Alternatively or in addition, the elevator identification item may be a barcode, such as a matrix barcode, for example, a Quick Response (QR) code.

Furthermore, the elevator identification item may be comprised in or on the elevator operating interface, such as in or on a car operating panel of the elevator car, or in or on a landing call panel of a landing of the elevator system.

In some embodiments, the position may be determined via or based on an indoor positioning system in communication connection with the data server system and the user device.

In various embodiments, the determining of the position may comprise receiving a digital photo or video at the data system server from the user device. Optionally, the method further comprises identifying, by the data server system, the position of the user device based on the digital photo or video. Yet, in addition, the method may comprise identifying a car operating panel of an elevator car or a landing call panel of a landing based on the digital photo or video. Still further, the identification may be based on a computer vision technique, such as an object recognition technique, for example, including identifying a barcode or at least one identifiable marking or a unique feature.

In some embodiments, the at least one digital user interface element corresponds visually to the elevator operating interface of the elevator system. Thus, the looks of the one digital user interface element can be adapted to substantially correspond to the actual elevator operating interface, such as the car operating panel or the landing call panel in question.

Furthermore, in many embodiments, the user device may be configured to execute a dedicated software, or an “app”, via which the control input is provided to the data server system. The dedicated software may be, for example, configured to establish a communication connection with the data server system. Furthermore, the dedicated software may be such that it provides interface for taking the digital photo or video, for instance. Optionally, the dedicated software may utilize stored data on the user device related to elevator systems in general or to particular elevator system defined or utilized earlier by the user device.

Yet further, the method may comprise providing the elevator call request to an elevator control unit for operating an elevator car.

In some embodiments, the elevator control unit may be further configured to operate the elevator operating interface corresponding to the position of the user device. This may mean, for example, that a visual and/or an audible indication is provided via said elevator operating interface to the passengers close to and/or around said interface.

According to a second aspect, a system for generating an elevator call request is provided. The system comprises a data server system in connection with an elevator system and configured for communicating with a user device, wherein the system is configured to determine a position of the user device. The position is associated with an elevator operating interface. The data server system is configured to receive a control input provided via a digital user interface element by the user device, wherein the digital user interface element is adapted based on the determined position of the user device, and generate the elevator call request based on the control input.

The present invention provides a method and a system for generating an elevator call request. The present invention provides advantages over known solutions in that an elevator call can be given without need to use landing call or car operating panel buttons.

Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.

The terms “first”, “second”, etc. are herein used to distinguish one element from other element, and not to specially prioritize or order them, if not otherwise explicitly stated.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

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

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an elevator car utilizable in connection with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1A, the system 100 may comprise a data server system 50 which is preferably in connection with an elevator system 200. The data server system 50 may, optionally, be part of the elevator system 200 or be a separate server system, such as a cloud computing system in which case the server(s) thereof may reside in a different location than the elevator system 200. The data server system 50 may be configured for communicating with a user device 5, such as a smart phone.

The system 100, or optionally the data server system 50 thereof, may be configured to determine a position of the user device 5, wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface 20, such as a car operating panel or a landing call panel. The data server system 50 may be configured to receive a control input 101 provided via a digital user interface element 30 by the user device 5, wherein the digital user interface element 30 may preferably be adapted based on the determined position of the user device 5. The data server system 50 may further be configured to generate an elevator call request 102 based on the control input 101. In various embodiments, the digital user interface element 30, such as being shown on a display screen of the user device 5, includes icons or buttons or other graphical user interface (GUI) elements via which the user may provide the control input 101 .

The digital user interface element 30 may be provided to the user device 5 by a dedicated software in the user device 5 or by downloading the element 30, or instructions for compiling or configuring thereof, from the data server system 50. The data server system 50 may be, for example, connected to by a web browser or the like of the user device 5, thus providing an interface for providing the control input 101 . In various embodiments, the data server system 50 may comprise information about an elevator system configuration of one or several elevator systems 200. The information about the elevator system configuration may include, for example, information about the elevator cars 10 and the landings, such as the numbers thereof. Furthermore, the information about the elevator system configuration may include information about the elevator operating interfaces 20, such as positions thereof. Still further, information about any elevator identification item(s) 25 or marking(s) or unique features thereon or close thereto may be included in the data server system 50. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elevator identification item(s) 25 may be arranged on or in the elevator operating interface 20, or alternatively close to, however, outside the elevator operating interface 20 as long as it is it is identifiable that the item 25 represents the particular elevator operating interface 20 and is physically close thereto, such as in the same space.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the data server system 50 may include information about the details of the digital user interface element 30 corresponding to one or several or each of the elevator operating interfaces 20, such as related to their visual appearance, so as to be able to provide the corresponding digital user interface element to the user device 5.

The elevator identification item 25 may be a short-range wireless communication tag, such as a RFID tag or a NFC tag. Alternatively or in addition, the elevator identification item 25 may be a barcode, such as a matrix barcode, for example, a QR code.

In various embodiments, the elevator identification item 25 may include information about the position of the item with respect to or in the elevator operating interface 20. The information may be associated with information in the data server system 50 such that if the elevator identification item 25 is interacted with a user device 5 and communicated with the data server system 50, the data server system 50 is able to determine the position of the user device 50 and, optionally, to provide the corresponding digital user interface element 30 to the user device 5.

In some embodiments, the digital user interface element 30 may be downloaded from the data server system 50 to the user device 5. The digital user interface element 30 provided by the data server system 50 may be adapted or chosen based on the position of the user device 5. Thus, the digital user interface element 30 may correspond at least visually to the elevator operating interface 20, close or in relation to which the user device 5 is currently been positioned.

In various embodiments, a communication connection may be established between the data server system 50 and the user device 5. The communication connection may be provided via a communication path which is preferably at least partly wireless so that the control input 101 is transmitted wirelessly from the user device 5. This allows user having the user device 5 to make an elevator call generating an elevator call request 102 without need to touch call buttons on, if any, or other control devices of the elevator operating interface 20 requiring making a contact for operating the device.

In various embodiments, a further communication connection may be established between the data server system 50 and the elevator system 200, optionally the elevator control unit 1000 thereof. The further communication connection may be wireless or wired. The data server system 50 may thus generate and, optionally, provide the elevator call request to the elevator system 200, such as to the elevator control 1000 thereof, for processing. The processing may, for example, mean operating an elevator car 10 in accordance with the elevator call request and ultimately in accordance with the control input provided by the user device 5.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an elevator car 10 utilizable in connection with an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator car 10 of Fig. 1 may be as shown in Fig. 2 and described herein. The elevator car 10 preferably comprises an elevator operating interface 20, such as a car operating panel. The car operating panel may comprise a plurality of buttons corresponding to the plurality of landings of the elevator system 200. Furthermore, the elevator car 10 may be moved in an elevator shaft by a hoisting rope or a linear motor.

Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Step 300 refers to a start-up phase. Suitable equipment and components may be obtained and systems assembled and configured for operation.

Step 310 refers to determining a position of the user device 5, wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface 20. Step 320 refers to receiving, at a data server system 50, a control input 101 provided via a digital user interface element 30 by the user device 5, wherein the digital user interface element 30 is adapted based on the determined position of the user device.

Step 330 refers to generating the elevator call request based on the received control input.

The method may be ended at step 399. The method may preferably be performed on demand.

In various embodiments, the control input 101 may be received via a communication path, wherein the communication path is at least partly wireless so that the control input 101 is transmitted wirelessly from the user device 5.

In various embodiments, the determining of the position 310 may comprises receiving position-related data from the user device 5 at the data server system 50, and determining the position by associating the position-related data with the elevator operating interface 20 at the data server system 50.

In some embodiments, the determining of the position 310 may be based on interacting by the user device 5 with an elevator identification item 25. Examples of elevator identification items 25 are illustrated in and described in connection to Figs. 1 and 2. Furthermore, the elevator identification item 25 may include information about the position of the item 25 with respect to or in the elevator operating interface 20. Preferably, the elevator identification item 25 may be comprised in or on the elevator operating interface 20, such as in or on a car operating panel of the elevator car 10 or in a landing call panel of a landing of the elevator system 200.

Alternatively or in addition, the position may determined via or based on an indoor positioning system, such in the building of the elevator system 200 in communication connection with the data server system 50 and the user device 5. The indoor positioning system may be based on short-range wireless communication technology, such as to BlueTooth™ stations or “beacons”, or the local area wireless networking, such as to Wi-Fi™.

In various embodiments, the determining of the position may comprise receiving a digital photo or video at the data system server 50 from the user device 5, and identifying, by the data server system 50, such as based on post-processing of the digital photo or video, the position of the user device 5 based on the digital photo or video. For example, the method further comprise identifying a car operating panel of an elevator car 10 or a landing call panel of a landing based on the digital photo or video.

Furthermore, the identification may be based on a computer vision technique, such as an object recognition technique, for example, including identifying a barcode or at least one identifiable marking or a unique feature, such as preferably related to an elevator identification item 25.

In some embodiments, the user device 5 may be provided with virtual elements, such as based on augmented reality, on the display screen thereof when the user device 5, or specifically an optical sensor or camera thereof, is pointed towards an elevator operating interface 20 and/or an elevator identification item 25. The virtual elements may be configured to represent or even act as the digital user interface element(s) 30 for providing the control input 101. The virtual elements may be pre-stored to the user device 5 or be received from the data server system 50 in response to the user device 5, or specifically the optical sensor or the camera thereof, being pointed towards said elevator operating interface 20 and/or said elevator identification item 25. In some embodiments, the pointing of the user device 5 may constitute an interaction between the user device 5 and an elevator identification item 25. Optionally, the determination of the position of the user device 5 may be performed in response to the pointing of the user device 5 towards the elevator operating interface 20 and/or the elevator identification item 25, and thereby establishing the communication connection to the data server system 50 and providing thereto the control input 101. The determination of the position may be performed prior to or after the provision of the control input 101 .

In various embodiments, the method may further comprise providing the elevator call request to an elevator control unit 1000 for operating an elevator car 10.

In some embodiments, the elevator control unit 1000 may be further configured to operate the elevator operating interface 20 corresponding to the position of the user device 5. This may mean, for example, that a visual, such as by a light device, and/or an audible indication is provided via said elevator operating interface 20 to the passengers close to and/or around said interface 20.

Various embodiments of the present invention may be utilized in connection with different types of elevator systems 200. The elevator system 200 may comprise a single elevator, that is having one elevator car 10 which is movable in an elevator shaft of the elevator and is arranged to serve landings of the elevator. On the other hand, the elevator system 200 may comprise a plurality of elevators, wherein the elevator cars thereof are movable in their designated elevator shafts, that is the elevator system may be an elevator group. Still further, the elevator system may be a multi-car elevator in which the elevator shaft may comprise interconnected vertical, horizontal, and/or inclined shafts in which a plurality of elevator cars 10 are movable. The elevator car 10 or cars 10 may be movable by a hoisting rope in connection with a traction sheave and/or an elevator motor having a rotating rotor, or by a linear motor. Still further the elevator system may comprise one or several guide rails for guiding the movement of the elevator car 10 or cars 10, and, optionally, counterweight(s). Also, the elevator system 200 preferably comprise elevator brakes.

The data server system 50 may comprise one or more processors, one or more memories being volatile or non-volatile for storing portions of computer program code and any data values and possibly one or more user interface units. The mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. The data server system 50 may be a cloud computing system.

The processor of the data server system 50 may at least be configured to implement at least some method steps as described hereinabove. The implementation of the method may be achieved by arranging the processor to execute at least some portion of computer program code stored in the memory causing the processor, and thus the data server system 50, to implement one or more method steps as described. The processor is thus arranged to access the memory and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention. Furthermore, the elevator system 200 may comprise an elevator control unit 1000. External units may be connected to a communication interface of the elevator control unit. External unit may comprise wireless connection or a connection by a wired manner. The communication interface may provide interface for communication with external units such as the elevator car(s) 10, the doors of the landing floors, the car operating panels, the landing call devices, destination operating panels, and/or the electrical converter unit to the elevator control unit 1000. There may also be connecting to the external system, such as the data server system 50, a laptop or a handheld device or remote terminals. There may also be a connection to a database of the elevator system 200 or an external database including information used in controlling the operation of the elevator system 200.

The elevator control unit 1000 may comprise one or more processors, one or more memories being volatile or non-volatile for storing portions of computer program code and any data values and possibly one or more user interface units. The mentioned elements may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. The processor may be arranged to access the memory and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operation of the elevator control unit 1000, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4, a digital photo or video may be taken by the user device 5 of the elevator operating interface 20, in this case a car operating panel. The photo or video may be taken by a dedicated software as described hereinbefore. The photo or video may preferably, however, not necessarily, comprise an elevator identification item 25, such as an NFC tag or QR code or any ID tag. Furthermore, the photo or video may also include some additional information like tenant name(s) and floor(s) related to the environment of the elevator system 200.

In various embodiments, based on the taken photo or video, the elevator system 200 is identified, such as in the user device 5, optionally in the dedicated software thereof, and information about the elevator system 200 may be downloaded from the data server system 50. The communication connection between the system 50 and the user device 5 may be automatically established.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Determining the position at a landing may be based on taking a photo or video of the landing area. The photo or video may include some landing floor specific information or some other identification information which can be used as a part of image or video processing to identify e.g. floor information from the photo or video. A computer vision, or an object recognition, technique may be utilized.

In case of using the dedicated software, the software may ask the current floor during the first time during the photo or video shooting process. The software may also identify some unique features, for example, default floor markings from the photo or video. Optionally, the software may also provide instructions to guide the user to take a photo or video of showing the elevator landing doors or some similar area that can be easily identified.

Regarding embodiments in accordance to either Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, or both, the dedicated software may be arranged to process the photo or video, or to deliver the photo or the video to the data server system 50 for post-processing. The post-processing may include object recognition to identify, for example, car operating panel button locations from the photo or video, and, optionally, grant some functions for identified objects such as for making an elevator call as described hereinbefore. Tenant name and floor or any similar identification information included with respect to the car operating panel can also made visible in the photo or video. Finally, the digital user interface element 30 displayed on the user device can be made to look the same the elevator real car operating panel.

In various embodiments, a digital photo or video may be taken from the main entrance tenant and floor list and integrate this information to the digital user interface element 30 being displayed on the user device 5. In a case it is not allowed to include any tenants names (like in some residential segment building) the data server system 50 may be configured to prevent this operation based on the building profile/type/location. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the dedicated software at the user device 4 is configured to identify the user position, such as based on reading an elevator identification item 25 or by some other means described hereinbefore, and the digital user interface element 30 corresponding to the car operating panel is automatically activated. The user may select some destination floor. The landing call and the car call are thus created automatically between the user device 5 and the data server system 50, and, optionally, the elevator system 200.

Claims

1. A method for generating an elevator call request (102), the method comprising: determining (310) a position of the user device (5), wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface (20); receiving (320), at a data server system (50), a control input (101 ) provided via a digital user interface element (30) by the user device (5), wherein the digital user interface element (30) is adapted based on the determined position of the user device (5); and - generating (330) the elevator call request (102) based on the received control input (101 ).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control input (101) is received via a communication path, wherein the communication path is at least partly wireless so that the control input (101 ) is transmitted wirelessly from the user device (5).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the determining of the position comprises receiving position-related data from the user device (5) at the data server system (50), and determining the position by associating the position- related data with the elevator operating interface (20) at the data server system (50).

4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the determining of the position is based on interacting by the user device (5) with an elevator identification item (25).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the elevator identification item (25) includes information about the position of the item (25) with respect to or in the elevator operating interface (20).

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the elevator identification item (25) is a short-range wireless communication tag, such as a radio-frequency identification tag or a near-field communication tag.

7. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein the elevator identification item (25) is a barcode, such as a matrix barcode.

8. The method of any one of claims 4-7, wherein the elevator identification item (25) is comprised in or on the elevator operating interface (20), such as in or on a car operating panel of the elevator car (10) or in a landing call panel of a landing of the elevator system (200).

9. The method of any one of claims 1 -8, wherein the position is determined via or based on an indoor positioning system in communication connection with the data server system (50) and the user device (5).

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the determining of the position comprises receiving a digital photo or video at the data system server (50) from the user device (5), and identifying, by the data server system (50), the position of the user device (5) based on the digital photo or video.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying a car operating panel of an elevator car (10) or a landing call panel of a landing based on the digital photo or video.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11 , wherein the identification is based on a computer vision technique, such as an object recognition technique, for example, including identifying a barcode or at least one identifiable marking or a unique feature.

13. The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the at least one digital user interface element (30) corresponds visually to the elevator operating interface (20) of the elevator system (200).

14. The method of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the user device (5) is configured to execute a dedicated software via which the control input (101) is provided to the data server system (50).

15. The method of any one of claims 1 -14, comprising providing the elevator call request (102) to an elevator control unit (1000) for operating an elevator car (10).

16. A system (100) for generating an elevator call request (102), the system (100) comprising a data server system (50) in connection with an elevator system (200) and configured for communicating with a user device (5), wherein the system (100) is configured to determine a position of the user device (5), wherein the position is associated with an elevator operating interface (20), and wherein the data server system (50) is configured to: receive (320) a control input (101 ) provided via a digital user interface element (30) by the user device (5), wherein the digital user interface element (30) is adapted based on the determined position of the user device (5); and generate (330) the elevator call request (102) based on the control input (101).