WO2022043600A1 - An elevator system and a method for an elevator system - Google Patents
An elevator system and a method for an elevator system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2022043600A1 WO2022043600A1 PCT/FI2020/050558 FI2020050558W WO2022043600A1 WO 2022043600 A1 WO2022043600 A1 WO 2022043600A1 FI 2020050558 W FI2020050558 W FI 2020050558W WO 2022043600 A1 WO2022043600 A1 WO 2022043600A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- node device
- elevator
- mesh network
- elevator system
- node
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B1/00—Control systems of elevators in general
- B66B1/34—Details, e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
- B66B1/3415—Control system configuration and the data transmission or communication within the control system
- B66B1/3446—Data transmission or communication within the control system
- B66B1/3461—Data transmission or communication within the control system between the elevator control system and remote or mobile stations
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
- Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
- Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks
Definitions
- the invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. Especially the invention concerns elevators with wireless mesh networks.
- elevator related data may be obtained for example for remote maintenance and/or elevator usage monitoring purposes from internal elevator buses and/or control units.
- a monitoring unit comprising one or more internal or external sensor devices may be arranged e.g. to an elevator car to obtain the elevator related data.
- it may not be possible to cover all failure cases with said monitoring unit.
- the monitoring unit is traveling on the elevator car adding one or more further sensors residing for example inside the elevator shaft and/or machine room by simply wiring the sensors into the monitoring unit would be very expensive and sometimes even not possible.
- Wireless mesh networks have been used to transfer data in some applications in other technical fields than elevators, for example in factories.
- mesh networks are based on a principle that all nodes are always on. This allows a transmitting node to send its data to a receiver node immediately after data has been obtained. This type of mesh network is very reliable. However, the issue is that such a mesh network will consume considerable power. Typically, one node while it is listening may reach 5 to 10 mW power consumption. However, in yearly basis this counts to very high-power requirements and expensive batteries if the sensor would be fully battery operated.
- an elevator system comprising: an elevator shaft, an elevator car configured to travel along at least part of the elevator shaft, and a synchronous wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of node devices and a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is arranged to the elevator car, the wireless mesh network is configured to deliver data from at least one node device to the gateway device or from the gateway device to at least one node device, wherein each node device is configured to: transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, and be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
- At least one node device may comprise at least one sensor device configured to obtain data to be delivered to the gateway device via the wireless mesh network before entering the sleep mode.
- At least one node device may be configured to be communicatively coupled to the elevator system to obtain elevator system related data from the elevator system.
- the gateway device may be configured to dynamically adjust an access cycle of at least one node device of the wireless mesh network.
- the access cycle of the at least one node device may be dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car and/or the data to be delivered.
- the wireless mesh network may further comprise at least one node device arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft and configured to operate in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device may configured to be constantly on.
- the at least one node device configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may comprise a directional antenna.
- a method for an elevator system comprising an elevator shaft, an elevator car travelling along at least part of the elevator shaft, and a synchronous wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of node devices and a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is arranged to the elevator car, the wireless mesh network delivers data from at least one node device to the gateway device or from the gateway device to at least one node device, wherein the method comprises: transmitting and/or receiving, by each node device, data during predefined timeslots, and being, by each node device, in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
- the method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one sensor device of at least one node device, data to be delivered to the gateway device via the wireless mesh network before entering the sleep mode.
- the method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one node device communicatively coupled to the elevator system, elevator system related data from the elevator system.
- the method may further comprise dynamically adjusting, by the gateway device, an access cycle of at least one node device of the wireless mesh network.
- the access cycle of the at least one node device may be dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car and/or the data to be delivered.
- the method may further comprise operating at least one node device of the wireless mesh network arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device may be constantly on.
- the at least one node device operating in the asynchronous mode may comprise a directional antenna.
- FIG. 1A-1C illustrate schematically examples of an elevator system according to the invention.
- Figure 2 illustrates an example of a topology of a synchronous wireless mesh network according to the invention.
- FIG. 3 illustrates schematically another example of an elevator system according to the invention.
- Figure 4 schematically illustrates an example of components of a node device according to the invention.
- Figure 5 schematically illustrates an example of components of a gateway device according to the invention.
- Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of a method according to the invention.
- FIG 1A illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system 100 according to the invention.
- the elevator system 100 comprises an elevator shaft 102a, 102b, an elevator car 104, and a synchronous wireless mesh network 200 comprising a plurality of node devices 106, 106a and a gateway device 108.
- the elevator shaft 102a, 102b may comprise one or more parts.
- the elevator shaft 102a, 102b comprises a vertical part 102a along which the elevator car 104 is configured to travel between a plurality of landings and a horizontal part 102b.
- the elevator system 100 may further comprise one or more elevator entities, e.g. a control unit 105, an elevator hoisting machine, etc..
- the control unit 105 is configured to control at least the operation of the elevator system 100, e.g. control the elevator hoisting machine to drive the elevator car 104 along at least part of the elevator shaft 102a between landings.
- the elevator hoisting machine the one or other elevator entities are not shown in Figure 1A.
- the elevator control unit 105 may e.g. be arranged to a machine room 110 of the elevator system 100.
- example locations of the machine room 110 and the elevator control unit 105 are illustrated.
- the machine room 110 locates above the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a, i.e. top of a building.
- Figure 1 B illustrates an alternative location of the machine room 110 and the elevator control unit 105.
- the machine room 110 locates next to the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a, i.e. inside the elevator shaft wall.
- the elevator system 100 may be machine room-less elevator system as illustrates in an example of Figure 1C, wherein the elevator control unit 105 may be arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b.
- the elevator systems 100 of the examples of Figures 1 B and 1C are otherwise similar to the elevator system 100 of the example of Figure 1 A.
- the synchronous wireless mesh network 200 comprises the plurality of node devices 106, 106a and the gateway device 108.
- the gateway device 108 is arranged to the elevator car 104. At least some of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102n. Alternatively or in addition, one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged to the elevator car 104 travelling along at least part of the elevator shaft 102a. Alternatively or in addition, one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged inside the machine room 110.
- Figure 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a topology of the synchronous wireless mesh network 200.
- the wireless mesh network 200 is configured to deliver data from at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway 108 device or from the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106, 106a.
- the gateway device 108 operates as a gateway between the wireless network 200 and an external entity, e.g. a cloud server, the control unit 105 of the elevator system 100, and/or a group control unit of the elevator system 100.
- the data delivered by the wireless mesh network 200 may preferably be elevator system related data.
- the synchronous wireless mesh network 200 the plurality of node devices 106, 106a are periodically active.
- the synchronous wireless mesh network 200 may use any known synchronous mesh network protocol.
- Each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 is configured to transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, i.e. time frames, and to be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots, i.e. enter the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
- Each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 having data to be transmitted may have a dedicated timeslot, i.e. a node specific timeslot, and each node device 106, 106a may transmit data only during their own dedicated timeslot.
- the dedicated timeslot of a node device 106, 106a is a timeslot reserved for said node device 106, 106a to transmit data.
- each node device 106, 106a is configured to be on during the dedicated timeslots of the one or more other node devices to receive the data transmitted by the one or more other node devices 106, 106a. The rest of the time the node devices are in the sleep mode.
- each node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 may be configured to be on during the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a (including the dedicated timeslot of said node device itself) and to be in the sleep mode the rest of the time, i.e. between the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devic- es 106, 106a.
- all node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 are configured to be on at the same time with each other and to be in the sleep mode at the same time with each other.
- the predefined timeslots comprise the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200.
- each node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 may be configured to be on during their own dedicated timeslot and during the dedicated timeslots of one or more transmitting neighboring node devices and to be in the sleep mode the rest of the time, i.e. between the dedicated timeslots of the one or more transmitting neighboring node devices.
- each node device 106, 106a is aware of the dedicated timeslots of the one or more neighboring node devices.
- the predefined timeslots comprise the dedicated timeslot of said node device and the dedicated timeslots of the one or more transmitting neighboring node devices.
- neighborhboring node devices herein is meant one or more other node devices within a radio range of a node device whose radio transmissions said node device may receive.
- one or more entities of the node device 106, 106a may be switched off. Being in the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots reduces the power consumption of the node device 106, 106a.
- a timer may be set to wake up the one or more entities of the node device 106, 106a, before next available predefined timeslot.
- At least one node device 106a of the plurality of node devices 106 may be configured to obtain elevator system related data from the elevator system 100 by communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a via at least one communication interface to the elevator system 100, e.g. the elevator control unit 105 and/or at least one control bus of the elevator system 100.
- the communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a to the elevator control unit 105 may be based on a wired communication technology.
- the communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a to the at least one control bus of the elevator system 100 may be based on a non-invasive data obtaining with e.g. a control bus reading device.
- the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 enables deliver of data obtained from the elevator system 100 via the wireless mesh network 200 to the gateway device 108.
- data may be delivered via the wireless mesh network 200 from the gateway device 108 to the elevator system 100, e.g. to the elevator control unit 105.
- the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may comprise an interface for initiating a remote elevator call.
- the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may be arranged inside the machine room 110, if the elevator control unit 105 locates inside the machine room 100 as the elevator control unit 105 in the examples of Figures 1A and 1 B.
- the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may be arranged to the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, if the elevator control unit 105 locates inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b as the elevator control unit 105 in the example of Figure 1C. This is especially advantageous in the third partly elevator systems, e.g. for remote maintenance and/or elevator usage monitoring purposes.
- At least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least one sensor device configured to obtain data to be delivered to the gateway device 108 via the wireless mesh network 200 during the predefined timeslot before entering the sleep mode.
- the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least one wireless call button comprising a sensor device configured to obtain data representing generation of an elevator call.
- the wireless mesh network 200 may be used to deliver the data representing generation of the elevator call from the wireless call button via the gateway device 108 to the elevator control unit 105, the cloud server or the elevator group control unit.
- the plurality of node devices 106 may comprise alternatively or in addition at least one node device comprising an oil level sensor device configured to obtain data representing oil level in a hydraulic oil elevator system.
- the oil tank may typically be far away from the elevator car 104 and thus also from the gateway device 108 arranged to the elevator car 104.
- the mesh network 200 may be used to deliver the data representing oil level from the oil level sensor to the gateway device 108.
- the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may alternatively or in addition comprise at least one node device comprising a movement sensor device arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b configured to data representing detection of someone entering the elevator shaft 102a, 102b.
- the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may alternatively or in addition comprise at least one node device comprising a water sensor device configured to obtain data representing detection of water in the bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, i.e. a pit of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b.
- the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise, one or more displays to which data to be displayed may be delivered via the wireless mesh network 200, one or more switches or any other wireless devices.
- the duration, i.e. length, of the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200 may be equally long.
- the duration of the dedicated timeslots may depend on the transmitting node device 106, 106a.
- the duration of the dedicated timeslots of the wireless call buttons may be shorter than the duration of the dedicated timeslots of the displays.
- the gateway device 108 may be configured to dynamically adjust the duration of the dedicated timeslots of at least one node device 106, 106a.
- the gateway device 108 may be configured to dynamically adjust an access cycle, i.e. a timeslot interval, of at least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200.
- the access cycle of a node device determines a duration between consecutive dedicated timeslots of said node device. In other words, the access cycle of a node device determines the repetition interval of the dedicated timeslots of said node device.
- the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car 104 and/or the data to be delivered.
- the gateway device 108 is arranged to the elevator car 104, which causes that the topology of the wireless mesh network 200, i.e. routes for data delivery between the node devices 106, 106a, changes while the elevator car 104 moves.
- one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged to the elevator car 104 causing that topology of the wireless mesh network 200 changes while the elevator car 104 moves.
- one or more routes between the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may need to be re-defined to deliver the data from the at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway device 108 or from the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106, 106a.
- the wireless mesh network 200 may need to self-heal to be able to deliver the data from the at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway device 108 or from the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106. Therefore, faster, i.e. shorter, access cycle enables for the wireless mesh network 200 higher capability to stay stable.
- the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be 2 seconds, when the elevator car 104 is stationary, and the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be 8 seconds, when the elevator car 104 is moving.
- the gateway device 108 may comprise at least one sensor device 540, e.g. an accelerometer, configured to obtain data representing the movement of the elevator car 104.
- data rate may be dynamically changed so that e.g.
- the gateway device 108 may be configured to set the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a to maximum and during pre-specified events, e.g. delivery of data requiring higher data rate, the gateway device 108 sets the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a to minimum. This allows faster response times and higher data throughput.
- the wireless mesh network 200 may further comprise at least one node device 306 configured to operate in an asynchronous mode.
- the node device 306 In the asynchronous mode the node device 306 is configured to be constantly on, i.e. the node device 306 does not enter to the sleep mode.
- the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may be arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, e.g. top of the elevator shaft 102a and/or bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, so that the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode is stationary.
- Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of the elevator system 100 according to the invention comprising at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode.
- the at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode is arranged to the top of the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a.
- the example elevator system 100 of Figure 3 is otherwise similar to the example elevator system 100 of Figure 1A.
- the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode enables that the wireless mesh network 200 always has a route via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode to and from the gateway device 108.
- the data may be delivered to and from the gateway device 108 via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asyn- chronous mode although the elevator car 104 is moving.
- the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode create a wireless highway to deliver data via the wireless mesh network 200. This enables that fast and reliable delivery of data via the wireless mesh network 200 may be ensured while the elevator car 104 is moving. Moreover, this enables avoidance of continuous self-healing of the wireless mesh network 200. Alternatively or in addition, this enables that data with high priority, e.g. data representing generation of the elevator call obtained by the wireless buttons, may be quickly delivered without a delay caused by the access cycle.
- the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may further comprise a directional antenna.
- the directional antenna is capable to amplify signals from a desired direction, e.g. from the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 arranged to the elevator car 104, and to prevent interference from other directions.
- the wireless mesh network 200 may be configured to form a primary route for the data delivery from the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 or to the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in an asynchronous mode and comprising the directional antenna.
- Non-limiting example radio protocols for the communication between the at least one node device 306a operating in the asynchronous mode and the gateway device 108 and/or the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be any known asynchronous protocol, e.g. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) or Thread.
- BLE Bluetooth low energy
- FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example of components of the node device 106, 106a, 306 according to the invention.
- the node device 106, 106a, 306 may comprise a processing unit 410 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 420 comprising one or more memories, and a communication unit 430 comprising one or more communication devices.
- the mentioned elements of may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus.
- the one or more processors of the processing unit 410 may be any suitable processor for processing information and control the operation of the node device 106, 106a, 306, among other tasks.
- the memory unit 420 may store portions of computer program code 425, and any other data, and the processing unit 410 may cause the node device 106, 106a, 306 to operate as described by executing at least some portions of the computer program code 425 stored in the memory unit 420.
- the one or more memories of the memory unit 420 may be volatile or non-volatile.
- the one or more memories are 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 invention.
- the operations of the node device 106, 106a, 306 may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software.
- the communication unit 430 may be based on at least one known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of data as described earlier.
- the communication unit 430 provides an interface for communication with any external unit, such as one or more other node devices 106, 106a, 306 of the wireless mesh network 200, the gateway device 108, the elevator system 100 if the node device 106a is communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100, any databases and/or any external systems.
- the communication unit 430 may comprise one or more communication devices, e.g. radio transceiver, antenna, etc.
- at least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least sensor devices 440 for obtaining the elevator system related data.
- the node device 106, 106a, 306 may be battery operated, i.e. the node device 106, 106a, 306 may further comprise one or more components for powering the node device 106, e.g. a battery.
- the node device 106, 106a, 306 may possibly further comprise a user interface comprising I/O devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, for receiving input and outputting information.
- FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of components of the gateway device 108 according to the invention.
- the gateway device 108 may comprise a processing unit 510 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 520 comprising one or more memories, and a communication unit 530 comprising one or more communication devices.
- the mentioned elements of may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus.
- the one or more processors of the processing unit 510 may be any suitable processor for processing information and control the operation of the gateway device 108, among other tasks.
- the memory unit 520 may store portions of computer program code 525, and any other data, and the processing unit 510 may cause the gateway device 108 to operate as described by executing at least some portions of the computer program code 525 stored in the memory unit 520.
- the one or more memories of the memory unit 520 may be volatile or non-volatile. Moreover, the one or more memories are not limited to a certain 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 invention.
- the operations of the gateway device 108 may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software.
- the communication unit 530 may be based on at least one known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of information as described earlier.
- the communication unit 530 provides an interface for communication with any external unit, such as the plurality of node devices 106, 106a, 306 of the wireless mesh network 200, the external network, any databases and/or any external systems.
- the communication unit 530 may comprise one or more communication devices, e.g. radio transceiver, antenna, etc.
- the gateway device 108 may further comprise at least one sensor device 540.
- the power for the gateway device 108 may be provided from the mains via a plug or similar.
- the gateway device 108 may be battery operated, i.e. the gateway device 108 may further comprise one or more components for powering the node device 106, e.g. a battery.
- the gateway device 108 may possibly further comprise a user interface comprising I/O devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, for receiving input and outputting information.
- each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 transmits and/or receives data during the predefined timeslots as discussed above.
- each node device 106,106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 are in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots as discussed above. In other words, each node device 106,106a enters the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
- the method may further comprise obtaining, by the at least one sensor device 440 of the at least one node device 106, 106a, data to be delivered to the gateway device 108 via the wireless mesh network 200 before entering the sleep mode as discussed above.
- the method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100, elevator system related data from the elevator system 100 as discussed above.
- the method may further comprise dynamically adjusting, by the gateway device 108, an access cycle of at least one node device 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200. The access cycle of the at least one node device 106 may be adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car 104 and/or the data to be delivered as discussed above.
- the method may further comprise operating at least one node device 306 of the wireless mesh network 200 in an asynchronous mode as discussed above.
- the node device 306 In the asynchronous mode the node device 306 is constantly on, i.e. the node device 306 does not enter to the sleep mode.
- the at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode may be arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, e.g. top of the elevator shaft 102a and/or bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, so that the at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode is stationary.
- the at least one node device operating in the asynchronous mode may comprise a di- rectional antenna as discussed above.
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Abstract
The invention relates to an elevator system (100) comprising: an elevator shaft (102a, 102b), an elevator car (104) configured to travel along at least part of the elevator shaft (102a), and a synchronous wireless mesh network (200) comprising a plurality of node devices (106, 106a) and a gateway device (108) arranged to the elevator car (104). The wireless mesh network (200) is configured to deliver data from at least one node device (106, 106a) to the gateway device (108) or from the gateway device (108) to at least one node device (106, 106a). Each node device (106, 106a) is configured to: transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, and be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots. The invention relates also to a method for the elevator system (100).
Description
An elevator system and a method for an elevator system
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevators. Especially the invention concerns elevators with wireless mesh networks.
BACKGROUND
Typically, elevator related data may be obtained for example for remote maintenance and/or elevator usage monitoring purposes from internal elevator buses and/or control units. However, in case of third-party elevators, there may not be access to the internal elevator buses and/or elevator control units for obtaining the data. A monitoring unit comprising one or more internal or external sensor devices may be arranged e.g. to an elevator car to obtain the elevator related data. However, it may not be possible to cover all failure cases with said monitoring unit. Moreover, because the monitoring unit is traveling on the elevator car adding one or more further sensors residing for example inside the elevator shaft and/or machine room by simply wiring the sensors into the monitoring unit would be very expensive and sometimes even not possible.
Wireless mesh networks have been used to transfer data in some applications in other technical fields than elevators, for example in factories. Typically, mesh networks are based on a principle that all nodes are always on. This allows a transmitting node to send its data to a receiver node immediately after data has been obtained. This type of mesh network is very reliable. However, the issue is that such a mesh network will consume considerable power. Typically, one node while it is listening may reach 5 to 10 mW power consumption. However, in yearly basis this counts to very high-power requirements and expensive batteries if the sensor would be fully battery operated.
SUMMARY
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding 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 embodiments of the invention.
An objective of the invention is to present an elevator system comprising a synchronous wireless mesh network and a method for an elevator system comprising a synchronous wireless mesh network. Another objective of the invention is that the elevator system comprising a synchronous wireless mesh network and the method for an elevator system comprising a synchronous wireless mesh network enables substantially low power solution for obtaining elevator system related data e.g. for remote maintenance and/or elevator usage monitoring purposes.
The objectives of the invention are reached by an elevator system and a method as defined by the respective independent claims.
According to a first aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises: an elevator shaft, an elevator car configured to travel along at least part of the elevator shaft, and a synchronous wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of node devices and a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is arranged to the elevator car, the wireless mesh network is configured to deliver data from at least one node device to the gateway device or from the gateway device to at least one node device, wherein each node device is configured to: transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, and be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
At least one node device may comprise at least one sensor device configured to obtain data to be delivered to the gateway device via the wireless mesh network before entering the sleep mode.
Alternatively or in addition, at least one node device may be configured to be communicatively coupled to the elevator system to obtain elevator system related data from the elevator system.
Alternatively or in addition, the gateway device may be configured to dynamically adjust an access cycle of at least one node device of the wireless mesh network.
The access cycle of the at least one node device may be dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car and/or the data to be delivered.
Alternatively or in addition, the wireless mesh network may further comprise at least one node device arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft and configured to operate in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device may configured to be constantly on.
The at least one node device configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may comprise a directional antenna.
According to a second aspect, a method for an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises an elevator shaft, an elevator car travelling along at least part of the elevator shaft, and a synchronous wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of node devices and a gateway device, wherein the gateway device is arranged to the elevator car, the wireless mesh network delivers data from at least one node device to the gateway device or from the gateway device to at least one node device, wherein the method comprises: transmitting and/or receiving, by each node device, data during predefined timeslots, and being, by each node device, in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
The method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one sensor device of at least one node device, data to be delivered to the gateway device via the wireless mesh network before entering the sleep mode.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one node device communicatively coupled to the elevator system, elevator system related data from the elevator system.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise dynamically adjusting, by the gateway device, an access cycle of at least one node device of the wireless mesh network.
The access cycle of the at least one node device may be dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car and/or the data to be delivered.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise operating at least one node device of the wireless mesh network arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device may be constantly on.
The at least one node device operating in the asynchronous mode may comprise a directional antenna.
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 unless 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 1A-1C illustrate schematically examples of an elevator system according to the invention.
Figure 2 illustrates an example of a topology of a synchronous wireless mesh network according to the invention.
Figure 3 illustrates schematically another example of an elevator system according to the invention.
Figure 4 schematically illustrates an example of components of a node device according to the invention.
Figure 5 schematically illustrates an example of components of a gateway device according to the invention.
Figure 6 illustrates schematically an example of a method according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1A illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system 100 according to the invention. The elevator system 100 comprises an elevator shaft 102a, 102b, an elevator car 104, and a synchronous wireless mesh network 200 comprising a plurality of node devices 106, 106a and a gateway device 108. The elevator shaft 102a, 102b may comprise one or more parts. In the example of Figure 1A the elevator shaft 102a, 102b comprises a vertical part 102a along which the elevator car 104 is configured to travel between a plurality of landings and a horizontal part 102b.
The elevator system 100 may further comprise one or more elevator entities, e.g. a control unit 105, an elevator hoisting machine, etc.. The control unit 105 is configured to control at least the operation of the elevator system 100, e.g. control the elevator hoisting machine to drive the elevator car 104 along at least part of the elevator shaft 102a between landings. For sake of clarity the elevator hoisting machine the one or other elevator entities are not shown in Figure 1A.
The elevator control unit 105 may e.g. be arranged to a machine room 110 of the elevator system 100. In the example of Figure 1A example locations of the machine room 110 and the elevator control unit 105 are illustrated. In the example of Figure 1A the machine room 110 locates above the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a, i.e. top of a building. Figure 1 B illustrates an alternative location of the machine room 110 and the elevator control unit 105. In the example of Figure 1 B, the machine room 110 locates next to the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a, i.e. inside the elevator shaft wall. Alternatively, the elevator system 100 may be machine room-less elevator system as illustrates in an example of Figure 1C, wherein the elevator control unit 105 may be arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b. The elevator systems 100 of the examples of Figures 1 B and 1C are otherwise similar to the elevator system 100 of the example of Figure 1 A.
The synchronous wireless mesh network 200 comprises the plurality of node devices 106, 106a and the gateway device 108. The gateway device 108 is arranged to the elevator car 104. At least some of the plurality of node devices
106, 106a may be arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102n. Alternatively or in addition, one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged to the elevator car 104 travelling along at least part of the elevator shaft 102a. Alternatively or in addition, one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged inside the machine room 110. Figure 2 illustrates a non-limiting example of a topology of the synchronous wireless mesh network 200. The wireless mesh network 200 is configured to deliver data from at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway 108 device or from the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106, 106a. The gateway device 108 operates as a gateway between the wireless network 200 and an external entity, e.g. a cloud server, the control unit 105 of the elevator system 100, and/or a group control unit of the elevator system 100. The data delivered by the wireless mesh network 200 may preferably be elevator system related data.
In the synchronous wireless mesh network 200 the plurality of node devices 106, 106a are periodically active. The synchronous wireless mesh network 200 may use any known synchronous mesh network protocol. Each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 is configured to transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, i.e. time frames, and to be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots, i.e. enter the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots. Each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 having data to be transmitted may have a dedicated timeslot, i.e. a node specific timeslot, and each node device 106, 106a may transmit data only during their own dedicated timeslot. The dedicated timeslot of a node device 106, 106a is a timeslot reserved for said node device 106, 106a to transmit data. In order to receive data transmitted by one or more other node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200, each node device 106, 106a is configured to be on during the dedicated timeslots of the one or more other node devices to receive the data transmitted by the one or more other node devices 106, 106a. The rest of the time the node devices are in the sleep mode.
According to an example of the invention, each node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 may be configured to be on during the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a (including the dedicated timeslot of said node device itself) and to be in the sleep mode the rest of the time, i.e. between the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devic-
es 106, 106a. In other words, all node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 are configured to be on at the same time with each other and to be in the sleep mode at the same time with each other. In this example, the predefined timeslots comprise the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200.
Alternatively, according to another example of the invention, each node devices 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 may be configured to be on during their own dedicated timeslot and during the dedicated timeslots of one or more transmitting neighboring node devices and to be in the sleep mode the rest of the time, i.e. between the dedicated timeslots of the one or more transmitting neighboring node devices. To enable this each node device 106, 106a is aware of the dedicated timeslots of the one or more neighboring node devices. In this example, the predefined timeslots comprise the dedicated timeslot of said node device and the dedicated timeslots of the one or more transmitting neighboring node devices. With the term “neighboring node devices” herein is meant one or more other node devices within a radio range of a node device whose radio transmissions said node device may receive.
In the sleep mode one or more entities of the node device 106, 106a, e.g. processing unit 410 and/or at least one sensor device 440, may be switched off. Being in the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots reduces the power consumption of the node device 106, 106a. A timer may be set to wake up the one or more entities of the node device 106, 106a, before next available predefined timeslot.
At least one node device 106a of the plurality of node devices 106 may be configured to obtain elevator system related data from the elevator system 100 by communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a via at least one communication interface to the elevator system 100, e.g. the elevator control unit 105 and/or at least one control bus of the elevator system 100. The communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a to the elevator control unit 105 may be based on a wired communication technology. The communicatively coupling the at least one node device 106a to the at least one control bus of the elevator system 100 may be based on a non-invasive data obtaining with e.g. a control bus reading device. The at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 enables deliver of data obtained from the elevator system 100 via the wireless mesh network 200
to the gateway device 108. Alternatively or in addition, data may be delivered via the wireless mesh network 200 from the gateway device 108 to the elevator system 100, e.g. to the elevator control unit 105. For example, the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may comprise an interface for initiating a remote elevator call. The at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may be arranged inside the machine room 110, if the elevator control unit 105 locates inside the machine room 100 as the elevator control unit 105 in the examples of Figures 1A and 1 B. Alternatively, the at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100 may be arranged to the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, if the elevator control unit 105 locates inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b as the elevator control unit 105 in the example of Figure 1C. This is especially advantageous in the third partly elevator systems, e.g. for remote maintenance and/or elevator usage monitoring purposes.
Alternatively or in addition, at least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least one sensor device configured to obtain data to be delivered to the gateway device 108 via the wireless mesh network 200 during the predefined timeslot before entering the sleep mode. According to a non-limiting example, the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least one wireless call button comprising a sensor device configured to obtain data representing generation of an elevator call. The wireless mesh network 200 may be used to deliver the data representing generation of the elevator call from the wireless call button via the gateway device 108 to the elevator control unit 105, the cloud server or the elevator group control unit. According to another non-limiting example, the plurality of node devices 106 may comprise alternatively or in addition at least one node device comprising an oil level sensor device configured to obtain data representing oil level in a hydraulic oil elevator system. In the hydraulic oil elevator systems, the oil tank may typically be far away from the elevator car 104 and thus also from the gateway device 108 arranged to the elevator car 104. The mesh network 200 may be used to deliver the data representing oil level from the oil level sensor to the gateway device 108. According to another non-limiting example the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may alternatively or in addition comprise at least one node device comprising a movement sensor device arranged inside the elevator shaft 102a, 102b configured to data representing detection of someone entering the elevator shaft 102a, 102b. According to yet another non-limiting ex-
ample the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may alternatively or in addition comprise at least one node device comprising a water sensor device configured to obtain data representing detection of water in the bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, i.e. a pit of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b. Alternatively or in addition, the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise, one or more displays to which data to be displayed may be delivered via the wireless mesh network 200, one or more switches or any other wireless devices.
The duration, i.e. length, of the dedicated timeslots of all transmitting node devices 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200 may be equally long. Alternatively, the duration of the dedicated timeslots may depend on the transmitting node device 106, 106a. For example, the duration of the dedicated timeslots of the wireless call buttons may be shorter than the duration of the dedicated timeslots of the displays. Alternatively or in addition, the gateway device 108 may be configured to dynamically adjust the duration of the dedicated timeslots of at least one node device 106, 106a.
Alternatively or in addition, the gateway device 108 may be configured to dynamically adjust an access cycle, i.e. a timeslot interval, of at least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200. The access cycle of a node device determines a duration between consecutive dedicated timeslots of said node device. In other words, the access cycle of a node device determines the repetition interval of the dedicated timeslots of said node device. The access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car 104 and/or the data to be delivered. As discussed above the gateway device 108 is arranged to the elevator car 104, which causes that the topology of the wireless mesh network 200, i.e. routes for data delivery between the node devices 106, 106a, changes while the elevator car 104 moves. In addition, one or more node devices of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be arranged to the elevator car 104 causing that topology of the wireless mesh network 200 changes while the elevator car 104 moves. When the topology of the wireless mesh network 200 changes, one or more routes between the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may need to be re-defined to deliver the data from the at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway device 108 or from the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106, 106a. In other words, the wireless mesh network 200 may need to self-heal to be able to deliver the data from the at least one node device 106, 106a to the gateway device 108 or from
the gateway device 108 to at least one node device 106. Therefore, faster, i.e. shorter, access cycle enables for the wireless mesh network 200 higher capability to stay stable. According to a non-limiting example, the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be 2 seconds, when the elevator car 104 is stationary, and the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a may be 8 seconds, when the elevator car 104 is moving. The gateway device 108 may comprise at least one sensor device 540, e.g. an accelerometer, configured to obtain data representing the movement of the elevator car 104. Alternatively, depending on the data to be delivered, e.g. obtained by the at least one sensor device 440 of the at least one node device 106, 106a, data rate may be dynamically changed so that e.g. during idle times, the gateway device 108 may be configured to set the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a to maximum and during pre-specified events, e.g. delivery of data requiring higher data rate, the gateway device 108 sets the access cycle of the at least one node device 106, 106a to minimum. This allows faster response times and higher data throughput.
According to an exemplifying embodiment of the invention, the wireless mesh network 200 may further comprise at least one node device 306 configured to operate in an asynchronous mode. In the asynchronous mode the node device 306 is configured to be constantly on, i.e. the node device 306 does not enter to the sleep mode. The at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may be arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, e.g. top of the elevator shaft 102a and/or bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, so that the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode is stationary. Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of the elevator system 100 according to the invention comprising at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode. In the example of Figure 3 the at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode is arranged to the top of the vertical part of the elevator shaft 102a. The example elevator system 100 of Figure 3 is otherwise similar to the example elevator system 100 of Figure 1A. The at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode enables that the wireless mesh network 200 always has a route via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode to and from the gateway device 108. In other words, the data may be delivered to and from the gateway device 108 via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asyn-
chronous mode although the elevator car 104 is moving. The at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode create a wireless highway to deliver data via the wireless mesh network 200. This enables that fast and reliable delivery of data via the wireless mesh network 200 may be ensured while the elevator car 104 is moving. Moreover, this enables avoidance of continuous self-healing of the wireless mesh network 200. Alternatively or in addition, this enables that data with high priority, e.g. data representing generation of the elevator call obtained by the wireless buttons, may be quickly delivered without a delay caused by the access cycle. The at least one node device 306 configured to operate in the asynchronous mode may further comprise a directional antenna. The directional antenna is capable to amplify signals from a desired direction, e.g. from the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 arranged to the elevator car 104, and to prevent interference from other directions. The wireless mesh network 200 may be configured to form a primary route for the data delivery from the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 or to the gateway device 108 and/or at least one node device 106 via the at least one node device 306 configured to operate in an asynchronous mode and comprising the directional antenna. Non-limiting example radio protocols for the communication between the at least one node device 306a operating in the asynchronous mode and the gateway device 108 and/or the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may be any known asynchronous protocol, e.g. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) or Thread.
Figure 4 schematically illustrates an example of components of the node device 106, 106a, 306 according to the invention. The node device 106, 106a, 306 may comprise a processing unit 410 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 420 comprising one or more memories, and a communication unit 430 comprising one or more communication devices. The mentioned elements of may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. The one or more processors of the processing unit 410 may be any suitable processor for processing information and control the operation of the node device 106, 106a, 306, among other tasks. The memory unit 420 may store portions of computer program code 425, and any other data, and the processing unit 410 may cause the node device 106, 106a, 306 to operate as described by executing at least some portions of the computer program code 425 stored in the memory unit 420. Furthermore, the one or more memories of the memory unit 420 may be volatile or non-volatile. Moreover, the one or more
memories are 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 invention. The operations of the node device 106, 106a, 306 may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. The communication unit 430 may be based on at least one known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of data as described earlier. The communication unit 430 provides an interface for communication with any external unit, such as one or more other node devices 106, 106a, 306 of the wireless mesh network 200, the gateway device 108, the elevator system 100 if the node device 106a is communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100, any databases and/or any external systems. The communication unit 430 may comprise one or more communication devices, e.g. radio transceiver, antenna, etc. As discussed above at least one node device of the plurality of node devices 106, 106a may comprise at least sensor devices 440 for obtaining the elevator system related data. The node device 106, 106a, 306 may be battery operated, i.e. the node device 106, 106a, 306 may further comprise one or more components for powering the node device 106, e.g. a battery. The node device 106, 106a, 306 may possibly further comprise a user interface comprising I/O devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, for receiving input and outputting information.
Figure 5 schematically illustrates an example of components of the gateway device 108 according to the invention. The gateway device 108 may comprise a processing unit 510 comprising one or more processors, a memory unit 520 comprising one or more memories, and a communication unit 530 comprising one or more communication devices. The mentioned elements of may be communicatively coupled to each other with e.g. an internal bus. The one or more processors of the processing unit 510 may be any suitable processor for processing information and control the operation of the gateway device 108, among other tasks. The memory unit 520 may store portions of computer program code 525, and any other data, and the processing unit 510 may cause the gateway device 108 to operate as described by executing at least some portions of the computer program code 525 stored in the memory unit 520. Furthermore, the one or more memories of the memory unit 520 may be volatile or non-volatile. Moreover, the one or more memories are not limited to a certain 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 invention. The operations of the gateway device 108 may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. The communication unit 530 may be based on at least one known communication technologies, either wired or wireless, in order to exchange pieces of information as described earlier. The communication unit 530 provides an interface for communication with any external unit, such as the plurality of node devices 106, 106a, 306 of the wireless mesh network 200, the external network, any databases and/or any external systems. The communication unit 530 may comprise one or more communication devices, e.g. radio transceiver, antenna, etc. The gateway device 108 may further comprise at least one sensor device 540. The power for the gateway device 108 may be provided from the mains via a plug or similar. Alternatively or in addition, the gateway device 108 may be battery operated, i.e. the gateway device 108 may further comprise one or more components for powering the node device 106, e.g. a battery. The gateway device 108 may possibly further comprise a user interface comprising I/O devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, for receiving input and outputting information.
Above the invention is defined referring to the elevator system 100. Next the invention is defined referring to Figure 6 schematically illustrating an example of a method according to the invention. Figure 6 schematically illustrates the invention as a flow chart. At a step 610, each node device 106, 106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 transmits and/or receives data during the predefined timeslots as discussed above. At a step 620, each node device 106,106a of the synchronous mesh network 200 are in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots as discussed above. In other words, each node device 106,106a enters the sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
At a step 630, the method may further comprise obtaining, by the at least one sensor device 440 of the at least one node device 106, 106a, data to be delivered to the gateway device 108 via the wireless mesh network 200 before entering the sleep mode as discussed above.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise obtaining, by at least one node device 106a communicatively coupled to the elevator system 100, elevator system related data from the elevator system 100 as discussed above.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise dynamically adjusting, by the gateway device 108, an access cycle of at least one node device 106, 106a of the wireless mesh network 200. The access cycle of the at least one node device 106 may be adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car 104 and/or the data to be delivered as discussed above.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise operating at least one node device 306 of the wireless mesh network 200 in an asynchronous mode as discussed above. In the asynchronous mode the node device 306 is constantly on, i.e. the node device 306 does not enter to the sleep mode. The at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode may be arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft 102a, 102b, e.g. top of the elevator shaft 102a and/or bottom of the elevator shaft 102a, so that the at least one node device 306 operating in the asynchronous mode is stationary. The at least one node device operating in the asynchronous mode may comprise a di- rectional antenna as discussed 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 system (100) comprising: an elevator shaft (102a, 102b), an elevator car (104) configured to travel along at least part of the elevator shaft (102a), and a synchronous wireless mesh network (200) comprising a plurality of node devices (106, 106a) and a gateway device (108), wherein the gateway device (108) is arranged to the elevator car (104), the wireless mesh network (200) is configured to deliver data from at least one node device (106, 106a) to the gateway device (108) or from the gateway device (108) to at least one node device (106, 106a), wherein each node device (106, 106a) is configured to: transmit and/or receive data during predefined timeslots, and be in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
2. The elevator system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one node device (106, 106a) comprises at least one sensor device (440) configured to obtain data to be delivered to the gateway device (108) via the wireless mesh network (200) before entering the sleep mode.
3. The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one node device (106a) is configured to be communicatively coupled to the elevator system (100) to obtain elevator system related data from the elevator system (100).
4. The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gateway device (108) is configured to dynamically adjust an access cycle of at least one node device (106, 106a) of the wireless mesh network (200).
5. The elevator system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the access cycle of the at least one node device (106, 106a) is dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car (104) and/or the data to be delivered.
6. The elevator system (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless mesh network (200) further comprises at least one node
device (306) arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft (102a) and configured to operate in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device (306) is configured to be constantly on.
7. The elevator system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one node device (306) configured to operate in the asynchronous mode comprises a directional antenna.
8. A method for an elevator system (100), wherein the elevator system (100) comprises an elevator shaft (102a, 102b), an elevator car (104) travelling along at least part of the elevator shaft (102a), and a synchronous wireless mesh network (200) comprising a plurality of node devices (106, 106a) and a gateway device (108), wherein the gateway device (108) is arranged to the elevator car (104), the wireless mesh network (200) delivers data from at least one node device (106, 106a) to the gateway device (108) or from the gateway device (108) to at least one node device (106, 106a), wherein the method comprises: transmitting and/or receiving (610), by each node device (106, 106a), data during predefined timeslots, and being (620), by each node device, in a sleep mode between the predefined timeslots.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising obtaining (630), by at least one sensor device (440) of at least one node device (106, 106a), data to be delivered to the gateway device (108) via the wireless mesh network (200) before entering the sleep mode.
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising obtaining, by at least one node device (106a) communicatively coupled to the elevator system (100), elevator system related data from the elevator system (100).
11. The method according to any of claims 8 to 10, further comprising dynamically adjusting, by the gateway device (108), an access cycle of at least one node device (106, 106a) of the wireless mesh network (200).
12. The method according to any of claims 8 to 11 , wherein the access cycle of the at least one node device (106, 106a) is dynamically adjusted based on a movement status of the elevator car (104) and/or the data to be delivered.
17
13. The method according to any of claims 8 to 12, further comprising operating at least one node device (306) of the wireless mesh network (200) arranged to at least one end of the elevator shaft (102a) in an asynchronous mode, in which said node device (306) is constantly on. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one node device
(306) operating in the asynchronous mode comprises a directional antenna.
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