WO2021240048A1

WO2021240048A1 - An elevator monitoring device, a method, and an elevator system for providing user tracking data of an elevator car

Info

Publication number: WO2021240048A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mari Zakrzewski
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2020-05-29
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Also published as: CN115515880A

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevator monitoring device (106) for providing user tracking data of an elevator car (102). The elevator monitoring device (106) is arranged to the elevator car (102) and is a part of a contact tracking system (200). The elevator monitoring device (106) is configured to: detect one or more user devices (202a-202n) belonging to the contact tracking system (200) inside the elevator car (102), and provide user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user devices (202a-202n) to a storage unit to be stored thereon. The invention relates also to a method for providing user tracking data of an elevator car (102) and to an elevator system.

Description

An elevator monitoring device, a method, and an elevator system for providing user tracking data of an elevator car

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. Especially the invention concerns elevators with a tracking function.

BACKGROUND

Elevator car is a closed, tight space, where passengers typically stand very close to each other. One passenger sneezing, coughing, and/or blowing their nose inside the elevator car will likely expose at least some of the other pas sengers present in the elevator car to any viruses and/or bacteria said pas senger may have. Moreover, the elevator car comprises a plurality of elevator elements being touchable by the passengers, i.e. being in physical contact with the passengers, such as car call devices and other interior parts of the el evator car, e.g. doors, floor, ceiling, walls, mirrors, handrails, etc.. For example, a large number of passengers are using the same car call devices to make el evator car calls via a physical contact, e.g. a touch by a hand, causing that the car call devices and/or elevator buttons of the car call devices may spread the viruses and bacteria. Also, passengers without any symptoms may infect the viruses or bacteria. Typically, viruses and bacteria may live long, even up to days, in the elevator buttons of the car call device made of metal or plastic. Thus, passengers using the same elevator car later on the same day or on the next days may also be exposed.

Moreover, nowadays mobile application -based contact tracking systems for tracking movements and contacts of individuals having a virus infection may be used in the battle against some viruses, e.g. COVID-19. The privacy and big brother aspects of these applications have risen a lot of concern. According to an example, a mobile application installed to a mobile device may be used for tracking nearby Bluetooth devices. The tracking data may be locally saved with encryption. If a person is verified to have the virus infection, local health au thorities may be provided access to the stored tracking data to track other people who have been in close contact with the person having the verified vi rus infection.

SUMMARY The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic under standing of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying em bodiments of the invention.

An objective of the invention is to present an elevator monitoring device, a method, an elevator system, and a computer program for providing user track ing data of an elevator car. Another objective of the invention is that the eleva tor monitoring device, the method, the elevator system, the computer program for providing user tracking data of an elevator car enable providing data for track elevator passengers having a possible virus or bacterium infection.

The objectives of the invention are reached by an elevator monitoring device, a method, an elevator system, and a computer program as defined by the re spective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, an elevator monitoring device for providing user tracking data of an elevator car is provided, wherein the elevator monitoring device is arranged to the elevator car and is a part of a contact tracking sys tem, the elevator monitoring device is configured to: detect one or more user devices belonging to the contact tracking system inside the elevator car, and provide user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user devices to a storage unit to be stored thereon.

The detection may comprise receiving from inside the elevator car radio sig nals transmitted by the one or more user devices belonging to the contact tracking system, wherein each radio signal may comprise an identifier associ ated with the user device transmitting said radio signal, and wherein the pro vided user tracking data may comprise the identifiers of the received radio sig nals transmitted from inside the elevator car.

Furthermore, the elevator monitoring device may further be configured to de termine the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car based on sig nal strength values of the received radio signals. Alternatively or in addition, the detection of the one or more user devices in side the elevator car may be based on using Bluetooth technology.

Alternatively or in addition, the elevator monitoring device may further be con figured to provide its location information to the storage unit.

The storage unit may be a memory unit of the elevator monitoring device and/or the user tracking data may temporarily be stored in the storage unit dur ing a predefined period of time.

The user tracking data may further comprise detection time of the one or more user devices.

Alternatively or in addition, the user tracking data may further comprise floor in formation associated with the detected one or more user devices.

Alternatively or in addition, the elevator monitoring device may further be con figured to receive a notification comprising an indication of a possible contami nation of the elevator car and to forward the notification to an elevator service system.

According to a second aspect, a method for providing user tracking data of an elevator car is provided, wherein the method comprises: detecting, by an ele vator monitoring device arranged to the elevator car and being a part of a con tact tracking system, one or more user devices belonging to the contact track ing system inside the elevator car; and providing, by the elevator monitoring unit, user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user de vices to a storage unit to be stored thereon.

Furthermore, the method may further comprise determining the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car based on signal strength values of the received radio signals. Alternatively or in addition, the detection of the one or more user devices in side the elevator car may be based on using Bluetooth technology.

Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise providing, by the elevator monitoring unit, its location information to the storage unit.

Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise receiving a notifi cation comprising an indication of a possible contamination of the elevator car and forwarding the notification to an elevator service system.

According to a third aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the eleva tor system comprises: at least one elevator car configured to travel along a re spective elevator shaft between a plurality of floors, and at least one elevator monitoring device as described above.

According to a fourth aspect, a computer program is provided, where the com puter program comprises instructions, which when the computer program is executed by a computer, e.g. the monitoring device as described above, cause the computer to carry out the method as described above.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable un less otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

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.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a simple example of an elevator system ac cording to the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a simple example of a contact tracking sys tem.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of components of an elevator monitoring device according to the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically an example of a method according to the in vention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a simple example of an elevator system 100 according to the invention. The elevator system 100 comprises at least one el evator car 102 configured to travel along a respective elevator shaft 104 be tween a plurality of floors, i.e. landings, and at least one elevator monitoring device 106. In the example of Figure 1 the elevator system comprises one ele vator car 102, but the elevator system may comprise also more than one ele vator car 102. Each of at least one elevator monitoring device 106 is arranged to an elevator car 102, e.g. attached or mounted to the elevator car 102. Ac cording to an example, the elevator monitoring device 106 may be arranged to a rooftop of the elevator car 102 as illustrated in the example of Figure 1. However, the elevator monitoring device 106 may be arranged to any other part of the elevator car 102. The elevator system 100 may further comprise a hoisting system configured to drive the at least one elevator car 102 along the respective elevator shaft 104 between the floors, an elevator control unit for controlling at least the operations of the elevator system 100, and one or more other elevator related entities. For sake of clarity the hoisting system and the elevator control unit are not shown in Figure 1. The elevator monitoring device 106 is a part of a contact tracking system 200, i.e. contact tracing system. A simple non-limiting example of the contact track ing system 200 is illustrated in Figure 2. The contact tracking system 200 may comprise a plurality node devices 106, 202a-202n. The node devices 106, 202a-202n of the contact tracking system 200 may comprise at least one ele vator monitoring device 106 according to the invention and one or more user devices 202a-202n, i.e. mobile devices, e.g. mobile phones, smartphones, tab let computers, and/or wearable mobile devices, such as smartwatches. Each user device 202a-202n may be carried by a user. The contact tracking system 200 may further comprise one or more memory units 204, e.g. databases, and/or servers, for storing any data. The contact tracking system 200 may be used for tracking movements of the node devices 106, 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 and/or contacts between the node devices 106, 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200. The contact tracking system 200 may preferably be used to track the other node devices 106, 202a-202n, i.e. contacts, that may have been in contact with a node de vice 106, 202a-202n which user has a virus or bacterium infection, e.g. during an epidemic or pandemic. The tracking enables notifying or alarming the other node devices 106, 202a-202n that have been in contact with the node device 106, 202a-202n of the infected user. The notifying or alarming may comprise e.g. quarantine instructions for the users of the other node devices 106, 202a- 202n. Some non-limiting examples of the contact tracking system 200 may comprise, but are not limited to, Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT), Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (DP- PPT/DP-3T), etc.. The contact tracking system 200 may be based on tracking geographical locations of the node devices 106, 202a-202n, e.g. by using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and/or QR code technology. Al ternatively or in addition, the contact tracking system 200 may be based on tracking proximity to other node devices 106, 202a-202n, i.e. contacts between the node devices 106, 202a-202n, e.g. by using Bluetooth technology, Zigbee technology, Adaptive Network Topology (ANT) technology, Z-wave technology, or Wireless local area network, e.g. Wi-Fi, technology, etc. The node devices 106, 202a-202n may comprise a mobile application, i.e. a tracking mobile ap plication, for providing tracking data and to be able to belong to, i.e. be a part of, the contact tracking system 200. Alternatively or in addition, the node de vices 106, 202a-202n may be configured to register, i.e. join, as part of the contact tracking system 200. The registering may comprise, but is not limited to, start using the mobile application. The mobile application is a computer program designed to run on mobile devices, e.g. the one or more user devices 202a-202n and the elevator monitoring device 106.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates an example of components of the elevator monitoring device 106 according to the invention. The elevator monitoring de vice 106 may comprise a processing unit 310 comprising at least one proces sor, a memory unit 320 comprising at least one memory, a communication unit 330 comprising, and possibly a user interface (Ul) unit 340. The memory unit 420 may store portions of computer program (code) 325 and any other data, and the processing unit 310 may cause the elevator monitoring unit 106 to im plement, i.e. perform, at least the operation of the elevator monitoring device 106, i.e. method steps, as will be described, by executing at least some por tions of the computer program 325 stored in the memory unit 320. The portions of the computer program 325 may comprise the mobile application. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing infor mation and control the operation of the elevator monitoring device 106, among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory is not limited to a cer tain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the de scribed pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present in vention. The communication unit 330 may be based on one or more known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of information as will be described. The communication unit 330 pro vides an interface for communication with any external unit, such as the one or more user devices 202a-202n, a storage unit, e.g. the one or more memory units of the contact tracking system 200, and/or any other external entities. The communication unit 330 may comprise one or more communication devic es, e.g. a radio transceiver, antenna, etc.. The user interface 340 may com prise I/O devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loud speaker, display, screen and so on, for receiving user input and outputting in formation.

The elevator monitoring device 106 may be a conventional mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone; a smartphone; or a tablet computer, or a dedicated device for an elevator environment, which is capable to provide tracking data in accord ance with requirements of the contact tracking system 200 and to join and be part of the contact tracking system 200, e.g. a device to which the mobile ap- plication may be installed. For example, the elevator monitoring device 106 be ing dedicated for the elevator environment may further comprise one or more sensor devices 350 for providing elevator related information, e.g. location of the elevator car 102 inside the elevator shaft 104, speed of the elevator car 102, vibration of the elevator car 102 or an elevator door, condition infor mation, etc..

The elevator monitoring device 106 is configured to detect one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 inside the el evator car 102. The elevator monitoring device 106 is further configured to provide user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user devices 202a-202n to a storage unit to be stored thereon. Depending on the contact tracking system 200 the storage unit may comprise the memory unit 320 of the elevator monitoring device 106 and/or the one or more memory units 204 of the contact tracking system 200. The elevator monitoring device 106 may be communicatively coupled to the storage unit. Preferably, the ac cess to the storage unit may be limited to a specific user group, e.g. health au thority, to improve preserving the privacy of the users. Alternatively or in addi tion, the user tracking data may preferably be stored temporarily in the storage unit during a predefined period of time. For example, the predefined period of time may be defined based e.g. on the period of time during which a virus or a bacterium is considered, i.e. estimated, to be infectious. This enables that the stored user tracking data being unnecessary, i.e. irrelevant, from perspective of the infection of the virus or the bacterium, may be deleted from the storage unit, which in turn improves preserving the privacy of the users. Alternatively or in addition, the user tracking data may preferably be stored into the memory unit 320 of the elevator monitoring device 106. This may improve preserving the privacy of the users, because the user tracking data is locally stored. Alter natively or in addition, the stored user tracking data may be encrypted in order to improve preserving the privacy of the users.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n may comprise that the elevator monitor ing device 106 is configured to receive from inside the elevator car 102 radio signals, i.e. messages or packets, transmitted by the one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200. Each transmitted ra dio signal comprises an identifier associated with the user device 202a-202n transmitting said radio signal. Preferably the identifier may be anonymous identifier that cannot be connected to the user of the user device 202a-202n, which enables that location information, personal information, or any other in formation that allows identification of the user of the user device 202a-202n is not stored. This improves preserving the privacy of the users. The provided and stored user tracking data may comprise the identifiers of the received ra dio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102.

The user tracking data may further comprise time stamps, i.e. detection times, of the one or more user devices 202a-202n. This enables defining a specific time instant and/or a period of time, when the detected one or more user de vices 202a-202n have been inside the elevator car 102. If the detection is based on receiving the radio signals transmitted by the one or more user de vices 202a-202n, the time stamp may represent receiving times of the received radio signals.

The monitoring device 106 is capable to receive radio signals transmitted with in an operational range, i.e. a radio range, of the transceiver of the monitoring device 106. The operational range may depend e.g. on the used communica tion technology. Moreover, the radio signals may travel through walls, floors, and ceilings. In other words, the monitoring device 106 may also receive radio signals transmitted by one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 residing outside the elevator car 102, e.g. passing by the elevator car 102 or residing in areas close to the elevator shaft 104, e.g. elevator lobby area, landing area, apartments, and/or office rooms, etc.. Ac cording to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the elevator monitor ing device 106 may be configured to determine the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 based on signal strength values of the re ceived radio signals, e.g. received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. In other words, the elevator monitoring device 106 may be configured to detect, i.e. recognize, the radio signals received from one or more user devices 202a- 202n residing inside the elevator car 102 from among all radio signals received within the operational range of the transceiver of the monitoring device 106 based on the signal strength values of the received radio signals. The signal strength value of the received radio signal decreases as a function of the dis tance between the transmitting device and the receiving device. The radio sig nals transmitted outside the elevator car 102 may be omitted from the user tracking data. In other words, only the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 may be included in the user tracking data. According to an exemplifying embodiment, the elevator monitoring device 106 being dedicated for the elevator environment may further be configured to de fine floor information associated with the detected one or more user devices 202a-202n. The elevator monitoring device 106 may comprise one or more sensor devices configured to provide location data of the elevator car 102 in side the elevator shaft 104 in order to define the floor information. The provid ed user tracking data may further comprise the floor information associated with the detected one or more user devices 202a-202n. Alternatively or in addi tion, the determination of the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 may comprise using the floor information to determine that the elevator monitoring device 106 receives radio signals from the same user device 202a- 202n on the departure floor and on the destination floor, i.e. in the beginning of an elevator ride and in the end of the elevator ride. Inclusion of the floor infor mation in the user tracking data provided and stored to the storage unit pro vides further information for the contact tracking system 200 for tracking the contacts between the node devices 106, 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200. Alternatively or in addition, the floor information may im prove the accuracy of detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n actually residing inside the elevator car 102, which in turn may reduce false contact detections of the contact tracking system 200, e.g. false quarantine in structions.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n inside the elevator car 102 may be based on using Bluetooth technology. In other words, the radio signals transmitted by the one or more user devices 202a-202n may e.g. be Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertisement signals and the transceiver of the elevator monitoring de vice 106 may be a Bluetooth transceiver. This means that the communication between the elevator monitoring device 106 and the one or more user devices 202a-202n may be based on the Bluetooth technology. The use of the Blue tooth technology enables for example substantially accurate and simple detec tion of the one or more user devices 202a-202n, and substantially low power consumption of the elevator monitoring device 106. Alternatively, the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n inside the elevator car 102 may be based on using e.g. Zigbee technology, Adaptive Network Topology (ANT) technology, Z-wave technology, or wireless local area network, e.g. Wi-Fi, technology. According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the elevator moni toring device 106 may further be configured to provide its location information to the storage unit, e.g. the one or more memory units 204 of the contact track ing system 200. The location information may be a geographical location of the elevator monitoring device 106. The location information may be based on us ing e.g. GPS technology.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the elevator moni toring device 106 may further be configured to receive a notification comprising an indication of a possible contamination of the elevator car 102, i.e. a possible exposure to a virus or bacterium. The contact tracking system 200 may receive infection information from one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200, whose user has a verified virus infection or bacterium infection. In response to receiving the infection information the con tact tracking system 200 may generate the notifications to all the other node devices 106, 202a-202n which the infected user device, i.e. the user device of the infected user, has contacted. In other words, if a user having a verified vi rus infection or bacterium infection and carrying a user device 202a-202n be longing to the contact tracking system 200 has been inside the elevator car 102, i.e. the user device 202a-202n is among the one or more user devices 202a-202n detected by the elevator monitoring device 102, the elevator moni toring device 106 may receive the notification from or via the contact tracking system 200. Alternatively or in addition, the elevator monitoring device 106 may receive the notification directly from the one or more user devices 202a- 202n, whose user has the verified virus infection or bacterium infection. The stored user tracking data and/or the location information of the elevator moni toring device 106 may be used to define that the elevator monitoring device 106 has contacted the infected user device 202a-202n. Alternatively or in addi tion, the stored user tracking data and/or the location information of the eleva tor monitoring device 106 may be used for determining and/or alarming possi bly exposed other user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 and being detected inside the elevator car.

The elevator monitoring device 106 may further be configured to forward the notification to an elevator service system. The elevator service system may be for example, but is not limited to, building management system, an elevator service center, or an elevator remote monitoring center. In response to receiv ing the notification, the elevator service system may generate at least one of: a cleaning request of the elevator car 102, a disabling request of the elevator car 102, an alert information, and/or delayed maintenance request of the elevator car 102. The cleaning request may be generated to a cleaning service provider to clean and/or disinfect the elevator car 102. The disabling request of the ele vator car 102 may be generated to the elevator control unit of the elevator sys tem 100 to disable the use of the elevator car 102 until the elevator car has been cleaned and/or disinfected. The alert information may be generated e.g. to maintenance personnel heading to the elevator car 102 to use protective clothing etc. Alternatively, in the case of non-critical maintenance, the alert in formation or the delayed maintenance request of the elevator car 102 may be generated e.g. to maintenance personnel in order to delay the maintenance until the elevator car 102 has been cleaned and/or disinfected.

Next an example of the method according to the invention is described by re ferring to Figure 4. Figure 4 schematically illustrates the invention as a flow chart.

At a step 402, the elevator monitoring device 106 detects one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 inside the el evator car 102.

At a step 404, the elevator monitoring device 106 provides user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user devices 202a-202n to a storage unit to be stored thereon. Depending on the contact tracking system 200 the storage unit may comprise the memory unit 320 of the elevator moni toring device 106, and/or the one or more memory units 204 of the contact tracking system 200, as described above. Preferably, the user tracking data may be stored temporarily in the storage unit during a predefined period of time as described above. Alternatively or in addition, the user tracking data may preferably be stored into the memory unit 320 of the elevator monitoring device 106. This may improve preserving the privacy of the users, because the user tracking data is locally stored. Alternatively or in addition, the stored user tracking data may be encrypted in order to improve preserving the privacy of the users.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at the step 402 the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n may comprise that the elevator monitoring device 106 receives from inside the elevator car 102 radio signals, i.e. messages or packets, transmitted by the one or more user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200. Each transmitted ra dio signal comprises an identifier associated with the user device 202a-202n transmitting said radio signal as described above. The provided and stored us er tracking data may comprise the identifiers of the received radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102.

The user tracking data may further comprise time stamps, i.e. detection time, of the one or more user devices 202a-202n. This enables defining a specific time instant and/or a period of time, when the detected one or more user de vices 202a-202n have been inside the elevator car 102. If the detection is based on receiving the radio signals transmitted by the one or more user de vices 202a-202n, the time stamp may represent receiving time of the received radio signals.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at the step 402 the elevator monitoring device 106 may determine the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 based on signal strength values of the re ceived radio signals, e.g. received signal strength indicator (RSSI) values. In other words, the elevator monitoring device 106 may detect, i.e. recognize, the radio signals received from one or more user devices 202a-202n residing in side the elevator car 102 from among all radio signals received within the op erational range of the transceiver of the monitoring device 106 based on the signal strength values of the received radio signals. The radio signals transmit ted outside the elevator car 102 may be omitted from the user tracking data. In other words, only the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 may be included in the user tracking data.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the elevator moni toring device 106 being dedicated for the elevator environment may further de fine floor information associated with the detected one or more user devices 202a-202n. The elevator monitoring device 106 may comprise one or more sensor devices configured to provide location data of the elevator car 102 in side the elevator shaft 104 in order to define the floor information. The provid ed user tracking data may further comprise the floor information associated with the detected one or more user devices 202a-202n. Alternatively or in addi tion, the determination of the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car 102 may comprise using the floor information to determine that the elevator monitoring device 106 receives radio signals from the same user device 202a- 202n on the departure floor and on the destination floor, i.e. in the beginning of an elevator ride and in the end of the elevator ride.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at the step 402 the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n inside the elevator car 102 may be based on using Bluetooth technology, e.g. BLE, as described above. Alternatively, the detection of the one or more user devices 202a-202n inside the elevator car 102 may be based on using e.g. Zigbee technology, Adaptive Network Topology (ANT) technology, Z-wave technology, or wireless local area network, e.g. Wi-Fi, technology.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at an optional step 406 the elevator monitoring device 106 may further provide its location infor mation to the storage unit, e.g. to the one or more memory units 204 of the contact tracking system 200. The location information may be a geographical location of the elevator monitoring device 106. The location information may be based on using e.g. GPS technology.

According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, at an optional step 408 the elevator monitoring device 106 may further receive a notification com prising an indication of a possible contamination of the elevator car 102, i.e. a possible exposure to a virus or a bacterium, as described above. The stored user tracking data and/or the location information of the elevator monitoring device 106 may be used to define that the elevator monitoring device 106 has contacted the infected user device 202a-202n. Alternatively or in addition, the stored user tracking data and/or the location information of the elevator moni toring device 106 may be used for determining and/or alarming possibly ex posed other user devices 202a-202n belonging to the contact tracking system 200 and being detected inside the elevator car. The elevator monitoring device 106 may further forward the notification to an elevator service system. The ele vator service system may be for example, but is not limited to, building man agement system, an elevator service center, or an elevator remote monitoring center. In response to receiving the notification, the elevator service system may generate at least one of: a cleaning request of the elevator car 102, a dis abling request of the elevator car 102, an alert information, and/or delayed maintenance request of the elevator car 102, as described above. The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

1. An elevator monitoring device (106) for providing user tracking data of an elevator car (102), wherein the elevator monitoring device (106) is arranged to the elevator car (102) and is a part of a contact tracking system (200), the ele- vator monitoring device (106) is configured to: detect one or more user devices (202a-202n) belonging to the contact tracking system (200) inside the elevator car (102), and provide user tracking data representing the detection of the one or mode user devices (202a-202n) to a storage unit to be stored thereon.

2. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to claim 1, wherein the detection comprises receiving from inside the elevator car (102) radio signals transmitted by the one or more user devices (202a-202n) belonging to the con tact tracking system (200), wherein each radio signal comprises an identifier associated with the user device (202a-202n) transmitting said radio signal, and wherein the provided user tracking data comprises the identifiers of the re ceived radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car (102).

3. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to claim 2, further config ured to determine the radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car (102) based on signal strength values of the received radio signals.

4. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detection of the one or more user devices (202a-202n) in side the elevator car (102) is based on using Bluetooth technology.

5. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, further configured to provide its location information to the storage unit.

6. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage unit is a memory unit (320) of the elevator monitor ing device (106) and/or the user tracking data is temporarily stored in the stor age unit during a predefined period of time.

7. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the user tracking data further comprises detection time of the one or more user devices (202a-202n).

8. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the user tracking data further comprises floor information as sociated with the detected one or more user devices (202a-202n).

9. The elevator monitoring device (106) according to any of the preceding claims, further configured to receive a notification comprising an indication of a possible contamination of the elevator car (102) and to forward the notification to an elevator service system.

10. A method for providing user tracking data of an elevator car (102), the method comprising: detecting (402), by an elevator monitoring device (106) arranged to the eleva tor car (102) and being a part of a contact tracking system (200), one or more user devices (202a-202n) belonging to the contact tracking system (200) in side the elevator car (102), and providing (404), by the elevator monitoring unit (106), user tracking data repre senting the detection of the one or mode user devices (202a-202n) to a stor age unit to be stored thereon.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the detection comprises re ceiving from inside the elevator car (102) radio signals transmitted by the one or more user devices (202a-202n) belonging to the contact tracking system (200), wherein each radio signal comprises an identifier associated with the user device (202a-202n) transmitting said radio signal, and wherein the pro vided user tracking data comprises the identifiers of the received radio signals transmitted from inside the elevator car (102).

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising determining the radio sig nals transmitted from inside the elevator car (102) based on signal strength values of the received radio signals.

13. The method according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the detection of the one or more user devices inside the elevator car (102) is based on using Bluetooth technology.

14. The method according to any of claims 10 to 13, further comprising providing (408), by the elevator monitoring unit (106), its location information to the storage unit.

15. The method according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the storage unit is a memory unit (320) of the elevator monitoring device (106) and/or the user tracking data is temporarily stored in the storage unit during a predefined peri od of time.

16. The method according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the user track ing data further comprises detection time of the one or more user devices (202a-202n).

17. The method according to any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the user track ing data further comprises floor information associated with the detected one or more user devices (202a-202n).

18. The method according to any of claims 10 to 17, further comprising re ceiving (408) a notification comprising an indication of a possible contamina tion of the elevator car (102) and forwarding the notification to an elevator ser vice system.

19. An elevator system (100) comprising at least one elevator car (102) configured to travel along a respective elevator shaft (104) between a plurality of floors, and at least one elevator monitoring device (106) according to claims 1 to 9.

20. A computer program (325) comprising instructions, which when the com- puter program (325) is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to any of claims 10 to 18.