Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B1/00—Control systems of elevators in general
  • B66B1/02—Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action
  • B66B1/06—Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric
  • B66B1/14—Control systems without regulation, i.e. without retroactive action electric with devices, e.g. push-buttons, for indirect control of movements

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to a destination floor registration system.
• a conventional destination floor registration device is installed at an elevator hall and accepts destination floor registration by elevator users through facial recognition.
• the user's face is captured before the user boards the elevator, and the image data of the captured image is compared (face authentication) to determine whether it matches a certain level of facial data stored in a user database (DB) used for facial recognition of the user. If facial recognition is successful, the destination floor registration system registers the destination floor linked to the facial data.
• DB user database
• This disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a destination floor registration system that can reduce the burden on administrators who register user facial data and destination floors linked to that facial data in a user database.
• the destination floor registration system disclosed herein is installed at an elevator hall and includes a biometric authentication information acquisition unit that acquires the user's biometric authentication information; a registration device that allows the user to register destination floor information; a matching unit that compares the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit with the biometric authentication data used for the user's biometric authentication; and a user registration unit that, if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit does not match the biometric authentication data used for the user's biometric authentication, associates and registers the user's biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit with the destination floor information registered in the registration device.
• This disclosure reduces the burden on administrators who register user facial data and destination floors linked to that facial data in the user database.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an elevator hall according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the control panel according to the first embodiment.
• 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a destination floor registration system according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a user DB according to the first embodiment; 10 shows an example of display content on a display unit according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control panel according to the first embodiment.
• 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination floor registration system according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of an elevator hall according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a front view of a control panel according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of a destination floor registration system according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the elevator hall 1a according to embodiment 1.
• the elevator hall 1a is composed of six elevators 2, A to F, and an operation panel 4a equipped with a destination floor registration system 3a that allows each user to register a destination floor before boarding the elevator 2.
• Elevators 2 are operated through cooperation between a destination floor registration system 3a and an elevator control unit (not shown) provided for each elevator 2. Specifically, when a user registers a destination floor using the control panel 4a before boarding an elevator, the destination floor registration system 3a assigns a car call corresponding to the registered destination floor to any elevator 2. The destination floor registration system 3a also displays information indicating which elevator 2 is assigned, and prompts the user to board the assigned elevator 2. The elevator control unit moves the assigned elevator 2 to the elevator hall 1a for the floor corresponding to the car call.
• the control panel 4a is provided at the elevator hall 1a on each floor.
• Figure 2 is a front view of the control panel 4a according to the first embodiment
• Figure 3 is a functional configuration diagram of the destination floor registration system 3a according to the first embodiment.
• the destination floor registration system 3a comprises a camera serving as the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 provided on the front of the control panel 4a, a registration device 6 provided on the front of the control panel 4a, a memory unit 9a, a matching unit 10a, a processing unit 11a, a display unit 7 provided on the front of the control panel 4a, and a user registration unit 12a.
• the functions of the memory unit 9a, matching unit 10a, processing unit 11a, and user registration unit 12a are realized by a control panel 8a provided inside the control panel 4a.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 is a device that acquires biometric authentication information and outputs the acquired biometric authentication information to the matching unit 10a.
• Biometric authentication information is information that can distinguish physical elements of a user, such as face, fingerprint, palm print, and hand veins.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 may be, for example, a camera for face authentication, a sensor for fingerprint or palm print authentication, or an infrared sensor for vein authentication.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 is a camera for facial authentication
• the camera captures an image of a predetermined field of view in front of it at a predetermined resolution.
• the predetermined field of view is set to a field of view that can capture an image of the user's face when the user attempting to register a destination floor is in front of the operation panel 4a.
• the camera can capture an image of the user's face in the predetermined field of view.
• the predetermined resolution is set to a resolution that can detect a face for facial authentication from image data. For example, it can be set to a resolution such as HD, FHD, or 4K.
• the camera captures an image of the user's face, it generates image data and outputs the generated image data to the matching unit 10a.
• the registration device 6 registers destination floors when the user inputs them.
• the registration device 6 is, for example, a push button on which the floor number of each floor is written, as shown in Figure 2.
• the memory unit 9a stores a user DB.
• Figure 4 shows the configuration of the user DB in embodiment 1.
• the user DB stores destination floor information linked to the user's biometric authentication data.
• the memory unit 9a outputs this information to the matching unit 10a.
• biometric authentication data refers to data used for biometric authentication of a user.
• Biometric authentication data may be any data that can distinguish physical elements of a user.
• biometric authentication data face data
• biometric authentication data may be image data of the entire face. It may also be data on facial feature points that indicate characteristics such as the position and shape of the eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, etc., or facial contours, or data that indicates iris features.
• Biometric authentication data that can distinguish a user's hand may also be fingerprint or palm print data, or data that indicates the pattern of vein shape, for example.
• destination floor information is information that indicates the default destination floor used by a user identified by biometric authentication data.
• the default destination floor is set to, for example, the floor where the user is located.
• Figure 4 shows an example in which facial data, which is biometric authentication data, and destination floor information linked to the facial data are registered. Specifically, “3" is registered as destination floor information linked to facial data “Face Data 1.” Furthermore, “5" is registered as destination floor information linked to facial data “Face Data 2.” Similarly, destination floor information is registered linked to the facial data for the remaining facial data.
• the matching unit 10a uses the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 and each piece of biometric authentication data registered in the user DB stored in the memory unit 9a to check whether the user associated with the information (the user whose biometric authentication information was detected) is registered in the user DB.
• the matching result (biometric authentication result) by the matching unit 10a is output to the processing unit 11a.
• the matching unit 10a uses the image data output from the camera and each piece of facial data registered in the user DB stored in the memory unit 9a to match whether the user associated with the image data (the user whose face is detected) is registered in the user DB.
• a matching method for example, a method of calculating the match rate between image data and facial data may be used. With this method, if facial data registered in the user DB has a match rate equal to or greater than a predetermined match rate, it may be determined that matching has been successful, i.e., facial authentication has been successful. Furthermore, if all facial data in the user DB does not have a match rate equal to or greater than the predetermined match rate, it may be determined that matching has not been successful, i.e., facial authentication has failed.
• the processing unit 11a sets the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information linked to the biometric authentication data in the user DB and assigns an elevator 2. It also outputs information indicating that the biometric authentication was successful, information about the destination floor, and information about the assigned elevator 2 to the display unit 7.
• the processing unit 11a outputs to the display unit 7 information indicating that the biometric authentication has failed and information prompting the user to register a destination floor. Furthermore, when the user inputs a destination floor using the registration device 6, the destination floor registered by the registration device 6 is set and an elevator 2 is assigned. The processing unit 11a then outputs information about the destination floor and information about the assigned elevator 2 to the display unit 7. Note that if the biometric authentication fails, only information prompting the user to register a destination floor may be output to the display unit 7.
• the display unit 7 displays information based on the signal output from the processing unit 11a. More specifically, it displays the biometric authentication results and the assigned elevator 2 to the user.
• Figure 5 shows examples of the display content of the display unit 7 in embodiment 1.
• Figure 5(a) is an example of what the display unit 7 displays when facial authentication fails, displaying a message that facial authentication has failed and urging the user to register a destination floor using the registration device 6.
• Figure 5(b) is an example of what the display unit 7 displays when facial authentication is successful, displaying a message that facial authentication has been successful, the destination floor, and the number of the assigned elevator 2.
• Figure 5(c) is an example of what the display unit 7 displays when a destination floor has been registered by the registration device 6, displaying the destination floor and the number of the assigned elevator 2.
• the display unit 7 is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel.
• the user registration unit 12a registers information related to the unregistered person in the user DB.
• the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit is used as biometric authentication data
• the registered destination floor is used as destination floor information, and these are linked and registered in the user DB.
• the building manager can register information related to unregistered people. It is also possible for the building manager to be someone who strictly manages the building, and to be someone who is entrusted by the person who strictly manages the building to register information related to unregistered people.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control panel 8a in embodiment 1.
• the control panel 8a is realized by a computer such as a personal computer or a microcontroller.
• the control panel 8a includes a processor 1001, memory 1002, interface 1003, and secondary storage device 1004, all connected to one another via a bus 1000.
• the processor 1001 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
• the processor 1001 loads operating programs stored in the secondary storage device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes them, thereby realizing the various functions of the control panel 8a.
• CPU Central Processing Unit
• Memory 1002 is a main storage unit configured, for example, by RAM (Random Access Memory). Memory 1002 stores programs that processor 1001 reads from secondary storage device 1004. Memory 1002 also functions as a work memory when processor 1001 executes programs.
• RAM Random Access Memory
• the interface 1003 is an I/O (Input/Output) interface such as a serial port, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, or a network interface.
• the interface 1003 receives input from the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 and the registration device 6, and outputs to the display unit 7.
• the secondary storage device 1004 is, for example, a flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or SSD (Solid State Drive).
• the secondary storage device 1004 stores various information necessary for the operation of the access control system and programs executed by the processor 1001.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the destination floor registration system 3a in embodiment 1.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 is a camera
• the user DB stores destination floor information linked to facial data as the user's biometric authentication data.
• the camera captures an image of the user's face, generates image data, and outputs the generated image data to the matching unit 10a (S1).
• the matching unit 10a matches the camera image data with each face data registered in the user DB stored in the memory unit 9a (S2), and determines whether face authentication of the user associated with the image data (the user whose face was photographed) was successful (S3).
• the processing unit 11a If it is determined that facial authentication has failed (NO in S3), the processing unit 11a outputs information indicating that facial authentication has failed and information prompting the user to register a destination floor to the display unit 7.
• the display unit 7 displays information indicating that facial authentication has failed and prompting the user to register a destination floor using the registration device 6, as shown in FIG. 5(a) (S4).
• the processing unit 11a waits until the unregistered person, whose face authentication has been determined to have failed, registers a destination floor using the registration device 6 (S5).
• the processing unit 11a then outputs information about the destination floor and the assigned elevator 2 to the display unit 7.
• the display unit 7 displays the destination floor and the number of the assigned elevator 2, as shown in Figure 5(c) (S7).
• the user registration unit 12a registers information related to the unregistered person in the user DB. Specifically, the image data output from the camera is used as face data, and the registered destination floor is used as destination floor information, and these are linked and registered (S8).
• the processing unit 11a continues to wait.
• the processing unit 11a sets the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information linked to the facial data and assigns an elevator 2 (S9).
• the processing unit 11a also outputs information indicating that facial authentication was successful, information about the destination floor, and information about the assigned elevator 2 to the display unit 7.
• the display unit 7 displays the fact that facial authentication was successful, the destination floor, and the number of the assigned elevator 2, as shown in FIG. 5(b) (S10).
• the destination floor registration system 3a is installed at the elevator hall 1a and includes a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 that acquires the user's biometric authentication information; a registration device 6 that allows the user to register destination floor information; a matching unit 10a that compares the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 with the biometric authentication data used for the user's biometric authentication; and a user registration unit 12a that, if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 does not match the biometric authentication data used for the user's biometric authentication, associates and registers the user's biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 with the destination floor information registered in the registration device 6.
• unregistered users will be able to smoothly register their destination floors from next time onwards using biometric authentication, meaning that repeat users will no longer have to perform tasks in front of the control panel 4a, helping to alleviate congestion at the elevator hall 1a.
• the destination floor registration system 3a includes a processing unit 11a that, if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 matches the biometric authentication data, sets the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information linked to the biometric authentication data and assigns an elevator 2; and, if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 does not match the biometric authentication data, sets the destination floor information to be registered in the registration device 6 and assigns an elevator 2, thereby enabling the elevator 2 to be quickly assigned to a user registered in the user DB.
• the destination floor registration system 3a includes a display unit 7 that displays information prompting the user to register a destination floor if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 does not match the biometric authentication data, allowing unregistered users to quickly register their destination floor.
• control panel 4a The location where the control panel 4a is installed is not limited. Furthermore, multiple control panels 4a may be installed in the elevator hall 1a. Installing multiple control panels 4a will disperse the flow of people, thereby alleviating congestion in the elevator hall 1a.
• biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, registration device 6, and display unit 7 it is not necessary to provide all of the elements of the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, registration device 6, and display unit 7 on a single operation panel 4a.
• an operation panel equipped with the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, display unit 7, and control panel 8a, and an operation panel equipped with the registration device 6 may be installed separately. By separating the operation panels in this way, the flow of people at the elevator hall 1a can be dispersed, making it possible to alleviate congestion at the elevator hall 1a.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, registration device 6, and display unit 7 may be installed in any location so long as they are able to perform their respective functions, and their installation location is not limited to the control panel 4a.
• the camera that is the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 may be installed on the upper frame of the three-sided jamb of the elevator 2, and the registration device 6 and display unit 7 may be installed on the wall on which the three-sided jamb of the elevator 2 is installed.
• biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 registration device 6, and display unit 7.
• an operation panel for unregistered users having a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, a registration device 6, and a display unit 7, and an operation panel for users registered in the user database having a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 and a display unit 7 may be provided at elevator hall 1a.
• registration devices 6 may be installed at multiple locations in elevator hall 1a, with the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 and display unit 7 provided on the side of elevator hall 1a farthest from the elevator along the path the user takes to board elevator 2, and multiple registration devices 6 provided on the side of the path closer to elevator 2; if the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 does not match the biometric authentication data, the display unit 7 may display information encouraging the user to register a destination floor using one of the multiple registration devices 6 that has fewer users operating the registration device 6 per given time. In this case, the flow of unregistered people using registration devices 6, which would otherwise cause people to stagnate, is dispersed, thereby alleviating congestion at elevator hall 1a.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, registration device 6, and display unit 7 are configured as a camera, push button, LCD display panel, and organic EL display panel, respectively, but are not limited to these.
• the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 may be configured as a microphone for voice authentication.
• the registration device 6 may be configured as a touch panel display, with the destination floor displayed on the display.
• the display unit 7 may be configured as a speaker. Furthermore, if the display unit 7 is a speaker, the content shown in Figure 5 may be notified as voice.
• the display unit 7 may also display the biometric authentication data acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 and the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information linked to the biometric authentication data. In this case, the user can confirm that the biometric authentication was performed correctly and then know which elevator 2 has been assigned to them, allowing them to board their assigned elevator 2 with peace of mind.
• the display unit 7 may also display that the biometric authentication data acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 is associated with the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information linked to the biometric authentication data.
• the user can see that they have been registered in the user database, and can know that the convenience of registering a destination floor from the next time onwards has been improved. This eliminates the psychological barrier that the user may have to repeatedly use the registration device 6 when using the elevator 2 from the next time onwards.
• control panel 8a is installed inside the operation panel 4a, it may also be installed externally.
• the matching method used by the matching unit 10a is not limited.
• the information that the processing unit 11a outputs to the display unit 7 must at least include information about the assigned elevator 2 when the destination floor is set and the elevator 2 is assigned. Therefore, the display unit 7 must at least be able to display the assigned elevator 2 to the user.
• Embodiment 2 The configuration of an elevator hall 1b according to embodiment 2 will be described.
• Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the elevator hall 1b according to embodiment 2.
• Fig. 9 is a front view of an operation panel 4b according to embodiment 2, and
• Fig. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of a destination floor registration system 3b according to embodiment 2.
• the destination floor registration system 3b according to embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in that an authentication unit 20 is provided. Note that a description of the same configuration as embodiment 1 will be omitted.
• the destination floor registration system 3b includes a biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5, a registration device 6, a memory unit 9b, a matching unit 10b, a processing unit 11b, a display unit 7, and a user registration unit 12b.
• the functions of the memory unit 9b, matching unit 10b, processing unit 11b, and user registration unit 12b are realized by a control panel 8b provided inside the operation panel 4b.
• the authentication unit 20 authenticates the user's identification information.
• the user's identification information is, for example, an employee number or an individual ID.
• the authentication unit 20 authenticates the user's identification information by holding up an IC card such as an employee ID card. This user's identification information is output to the matching unit 10b.
• the memory unit 9b stores user identification information in addition to the information stored in the memory unit 9a in embodiment 1.
• the user identification information includes destination floor information, which is information about the user's default destination floor.
• matching unit 10b checks whether the user whose biometric authentication information has been detected is registered in the user DB. Matching unit 10b also matches the user's identification information using the user's identification information input from authentication unit 20 and the user's identification information stored in memory unit 9b. The matching result performed by matching unit 10b is output to processing unit 11b.
• Processing unit 11b operates in the same manner as processing unit 11a in embodiment 1. Furthermore, when the user's identification information is verified (authenticated) by verification unit 10b, processing unit 11b sets the destination floor corresponding to the destination floor information included in the identification information and assigns an elevator 2. Processing unit 11b then outputs the destination floor information and the information of the assigned elevator 2 to display unit 7.
• the user registration unit 12b registers information related to the unregistered person in the user DB, similar to the user registration unit 12a in embodiment 1. Furthermore, if biometric authentication fails and a destination floor is registered and the user's identification information is authenticated by the authentication unit 20, the user registration unit 12b links the user's biometric authentication information with the destination floor associated with the identification information registered in the authentication unit 20 and registers them.
• the destination floor registration system 3b is installed in the elevator hall 1b and includes an authentication unit 20 that authenticates the user's identification information. If the biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 does not match the biometric authentication data, the user registration unit 12b links the user's biometric authentication information acquired by the biometric authentication information acquisition unit 5 with the destination floor associated with the identification information registered in the authentication unit 20 and registers them, thereby reducing the burden on the administrator of registering users in the user database.
• information may be registered in the user database so that biometric authentication information, destination floor, and user identification information can be linked. This enables multi-factor and multi-step authentication.

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Citations (4)

• 2024
  • 2024-04-26 JP JP2026516845A patent/JPWO2025224971A1/ja active Pending
  • 2024-04-26 WO PCT/JP2024/016428 patent/WO2025224971A1/ja active Pending

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