Elevator trip planning based on destinations and activity parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012303-B2
Application number	US-201716079582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2017
Priority date	Feb 24, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

An elevator trip based on destinations and activity parameters of a user is planned by a system having an elevator controller of an elevator installation, a storage device storing building plan data and a route planning computer. The user's trip inquiry, including a desired destination and a desired activity parameter, is received by the planning computer. Building plan data is read from the storage device by the planning computer. The current location of the user is determined by the planning computer, which calculates at least one route proposal based on the user's location, the destination and the activity parameter. The route proposal is communicated to the user. Upon receipt of a confirmation that the user selected the route proposal, a control signal identifying a boarding floor and a destination floor is transmitted by the planning computer to the elevator controller. The elevator installation is controlled according to the control signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a system having an elevator controller of an elevator installation in a building, a storage device storing building plan data of the building, and a route planning computer, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving by the route planning computer a trip inquiry from a user at a current location within the building, the trip inquiry including a desired destination and a desired activity parameter, wherein the desired activity parameter is a health/fitness goal expressed as a number by the user when setting up the trip inquiry the trip inquiry further including a request for route options with a particular identification of a desired number of steps for each route option;
reading by the route planning computer building plan data from the storage device, the building plan data including building access doors, hallways, stairs, designated areas, and elevator landings;
determining by the route planning computer the current location of the user within the building;
calculating by the route planning computer at least two route options based on the current location of the user, the building plan data, the desired destination and the desired activity parameter;
communicating by the route planning computer the at least two route options to the user, wherein for each route option an estimated number of steps is communicated;
upon receipt of a confirmation indicative of the user selecting one of the route options, transmitting by the route planning computer a control signal identifying a boarding floor and a destination floor to the elevator controller as determined from the selected route option; and
controlling by the elevator controller the elevator installation according to the control signal.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the activity parameter includes a desired number of steps to be taken by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1 including conveying the at least two route options to the user using a user interface of a user input device.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein conveying the at least two route options to the user includes activating the user interface to display the at least two route options as text and/or at least one symbol, or to announce the at least two route options as an audio message.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining the current location of the user includes using an indoor positioning system, or identifying a location of a floor terminal involved in communicating the trip inquiry to the route planning computer, wherein the location of the floor terminal is documented in the building plan data.

6. The method according to claim 1 including disabling the route planning computer during times of high traffic in the elevator installation.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein calculating the at least two route options is further based on a traffic situation of the elevator installation, wherein individual scheduling of elevator trips is restricted during times of high traffic in the elevator installation.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the controlling the elevator installation includes providing immediate elevator service to a boarding floor, or scheduling elevator service to the boarding floor for a later time taking into account a walking time of the user to the boarding floor.

9. A system comprising:
an elevator controller for controlling an elevator car to transport a user from one floor to another floor in a building, wherein the user carries a mobile electronic device for setting up a user-specific trip inquiry including a desired destination within the building and a desired user activity parameter, wherein the desired user activity parameter is a health/fitness goal expressed as a number by the user when setting up the user-specific trip inquiry the trip inquiry further including a request for route options with a particular identification of a desired number of steps for each route option;
a storage device storing building plan data of the building, the building plan data including locations of building access doors, hallways, stairs, designated areas, and elevator landings; and
a route planning computer coupled to the elevator controller and to the storage device, the route planning computer, upon receipt of the user-specific trip inquiry, determining at least two route options based on the building plan data, the desired user activity parameter, and the desired destination, and the route planning computer communicating the at least two route options to the user for the user to confirm selection of one of the route options, wherein for each route option an estimated number of steps is communicated, wherein upon receipt of a confirmation indicative of the user selecting one of the route options, the route planning computer transmits a control signal identifying a boarding floor and a destination floor to the elevator controller as determined from the selected route option, and wherein the elevator controller controls the elevator car according to the control signal.

10. The system according to claim 9 including a floor terminal on each floor of the building at a predetermined location, the predetermined locations being documented in the building plan data, wherein each of the floor terminals is coupled via a network to the elevator controller.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein each of the floor terminals includes a user interface allowing the user to submit the user-specific trip inquiry, to receive the at least two route options, and to confirm the at least two route options.

12. The system according to claim 9 including indicators distributed throughout the building to provide guidance to the user, wherein each of the indicators is adapted to be activated to emit light or sound.

13. The system according to claim 9 including an indoor positioning system based on Bluetooth beacons.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein the activity parameter includes a desired number of steps to be taken by the user.

15. A method of controlling a system having an elevator controller of an elevator installation in a building, a storage device storing building plan data of the building, and a route planning computer, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving by the route planning computer a trip inquiry from a user at a current location within the building, the trip inquiry including a desired destination and a desired activity parameter, wherein the desired activity parameter is a health/fitness goal expressed as a number by the user when setting up the trip inquiry, the desired activity parameter indicating at least one of a desired number of steps on a way to the desired destination and a walking time to the desired destination, the trip inquiry further including a request for route options with a particular identification of a desired number of steps for each route option;
reading by the route planning computer building plan data from the storage device, the building plan data including locations of building access doors, hallways, stairs, designated areas, and elevator landings;
determining by the route planning computer the current location of the user within the building;
calculating by the route planning computer at least two route options based on the trip inquiry, the current location of the user, the building plan data, the desired destination and the desired activity parameter expressed as the desired number of steps;
communicating by the route planning computer the at least two route options to the user, wherein for each route option an estimated n

Assignees

• Inventio Ag

Inventors

• Nowel Edward

Classifications

• G01C21/206 Primary

  specially adapted for indoor navigation · CPC title

• B66B2201/4653

  wherein the call is registered using portable devices · CPC title

• B66B2201/4638

  Wherein the call is registered without making physical contact with the elevator system · CPC title

• B66B2201/4615

  Wherein the destination is registered before boarding · CPC title

• B66B2201/40

  Details of the change of control mode · CPC title