Elevator dispatch using facial recognition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988238-B2
Application number	US-201314914163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2013
Priority date	Sep 3, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A conveyance system includes a camera to generate an image of an area of interest; a dispatch system including a facial recognition unit and a profile unit, the facial recognition unit detecting facial features of a user in the image; the dispatch system determining if the facial features match a profile stored in the profile unit, the dispatch system scheduling car service in response to the facial features matching the profile stored in the profile unit; a system interface including a system interface camera, the system interface camera to generate a second image of the user at the system interface; the facial recognition unit detecting facial features of the user in the second image; the dispatch system determining if the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conveyance system comprising:
a camera to generate an image of an area of interest;
a dispatch system including a facial recognition unit and a profile unit, the facial recognition unit detecting facial features of a user in the image;
the dispatch system determining if the facial features match a profile stored in the profile unit, the dispatch system scheduling car service in response to the facial features matching the profile stored in the profile unit;
a system interface including a system interface camera, the system interface camera to generate a second image of the user at the system interface;
the facial recognition unit detecting facial features of the user in the second image;
the dispatch system determining if the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit;
the system interface requesting a destination from the user when the facial features of the user in the second image do not match the profile stored in the profile unit;
the system interface presenting an anticipated destination from the profile when the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit.

2. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
when the facial features of the user in the second image do not match the profile stored in the profile unit, the system interface prompts the user to register the destination.

3. The conveyance system of claim 2 wherein:
when the user confirms to register the destination, the system interface initiates creation of a new profile for the user.

4. The conveyance system of claim 3 wherein:
the new profile includes the facial features of the user and the destination as an anticipated destination.

5. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
when the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit, the system interface prompts the user to override the anticipated destination.

6. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
when the user overrides the anticipated destination, the system interface requests a destination from the user.

7. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
the dispatch system initiates a car call to a controller in response to the destination.

8. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
the dispatch system initiates a car call to a controller in response to the anticipated destination.

9. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
the dispatch system deletes the profile after a period of time.

10. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
the scheduling car service includes scheduling elevator car service.

11. The conveyance system of claim 1 wherein:
when the facial features of the user in the second image do not match the profile stored in the profile unit, the dispatch system determines a probable destination;
the system interface presenting the probable destination to the user.

12. The conveyance system of claim 11 wherein:
the dispatch system determines the probable destination in response to at least one of time of day, user location, scheduled events and historical usage of the conveyance system.

13. The conveyance system of claim 11 wherein:
when the user overrides the probable destination, the system interface requests a destination from the user.

14. A method for operating a conveyance system, the method comprising:
generating an image of an area of interest;
detecting facial features of a user in the image;
determining if the facial features match a profile;
scheduling conveyance service in response to the facial features matching the profile;
generating a second image of the user at a system interface;
detecting facial features of the user in the second image;
determining if the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored;
requesting a destination from the user when the facial features of the user in the second image do not match the profile; and
presenting an anticipated destination from the profile when the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit.

15. A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, for operating a conveyance system, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
generating an image of an area of interest;
detecting facial features of a user in the image;
determining if the facial features match a profile;
scheduling conveyance service in response to the facial features matching the profile;
generating a second image of the user at a system interface;
detecting facial features of the user in the second image;
determining if the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored;
requesting a destination from the user when the facial features of the user in the second image do not match the profile;
presenting an anticipated destination from the profile when the facial features of the user in the second image match the profile stored in the profile unit.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Simcik Paul A
• Scoville Bradley Armand
• Peterson Eric C

Classifications

• B66B1/468 Primary

  Call registering systems · CPC title

• B66B2201/4661

  for priority users · 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