About passenger grouping in elevators

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for performing passenger grouping in an elevator system are provided. Embodiments include receiving a call request issued by a user, and receiving user profile data about the user obtained using one or more sensors operably coupled to a controller. Embodiments also include calculating a final exposure level based at least in part on the user profile data, and assigning the user to an elevator based at least in part on the final exposure level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to elevator systems and, more particularly, to grouping passengers in elevator systems. Background Art

[0002] In today's environment, travel for business and personal reasons is very common, and travelers can encounter many others in a short period of time. Because travelers can easily travel to unlimited destinations, if an individual has a contagious health condition (such as a virus or infection), several other individuals may become exposed. The risk of unknowingly spreading a virus or infection may be undesirably increased. It may be necessary to mitigate the risk of contact with others who may be potentially exposed to infectious health conditions and provide effective social separation (distance) techniques to maintain the health of individuals. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to an embodiment, a method for performing passenger grouping in an elevator system is shown. The method includes: receiving a call request issued by a user at a controller; and receiving user status data about the user obtained using one or more sensors operably connected to the controller. The method also includes: calculating a final exposure level based at least in part on the user status data, and assigning the user to an elevator based at least in part on the final exposure level.

[0004] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include one or more sensors including a thermal camera configured to obtain the temperature of a user.

[0005] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include: obtaining a first exposure level based on a temperature from a thermal imager; obtaining a second exposure level from a user device associated with a user; and combining the first exposure level and the second exposure level to calculate a final exposure level.

[0006] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include providing an indication to a user of an elevator car assignment or rejection of a call request.

[0007] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include assigning users to individual elevator cars in response to a final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold.

[0008] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include denying a call request regarding a user in response to a final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold.

[0009] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include assigning a user to an elevator car having one or more passengers in response to a final exposure level being less than a configurable threshold.

[0010] In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include: determining that a user has ridden an elevator car; recalculating an aggregated exposure level for the user and one or more passengers in response to determining that the user has ridden the elevator car; comparing the recalculated aggregated exposure level to an aggregated exposure level threshold; and performing an action based at least in part on the comparison.

[0011] In addition to, or as an alternative to, one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include allowing the elevator car to travel to its destination floor or preventing the elevator car from traveling to its destination floor.

[0012] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include dispatching sanitation service for an elevator car after the elevator car travels to its destination floor in response to assigning a user to the individual elevator car.

[0013] According to an embodiment, a system for performing passenger grouping is shown. The system includes: a building management system; one or more sensors for obtaining user status data; an elevator and an elevator controller; and a user device connected to the elevator controller. The elevator controller is configured to: receive a call request issued by a user; receive user status data about the user obtained using one or more sensors operably connected to the controller; calculate a final exposure level based at least in part on the user status data; and assign the user to the elevator based at least in part on the final exposure level.

[0014] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include one or more sensors including a thermal camera configured to obtain the temperature of a user.

[0015] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to: obtain a first exposure level based on a temperature from a thermal imager; obtain a second exposure level from a user device associated with a user; and combine the first exposure level and the second exposure level to calculate a final exposure level.

[0016] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to provide an indication to a user of an elevator car assignment or rejection of a call request.

[0017] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to assign users to individual elevator cars in response to a final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold.

[0018] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to deny a call request regarding a user in response to a final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold.

[0019] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to assign a user to an elevator car having one or more passengers in response to a final exposure level being less than a configurable threshold.

[0020] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to: determine that a user has boarded an elevator car; recalculate an aggregated exposure level for the user and one or more passengers in response to determining that the user has boarded the elevator car; compare the recalculated aggregated exposure level to an aggregated exposure level threshold; and perform an action based at least in part on the comparison.

[0021] In addition to or as an alternative to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to allow the elevator car to travel to its destination floor or to prevent the elevator car from traveling to its destination floor.

[0022] In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described herein, further embodiments include an elevator controller configured to dispatch sanitation service to an elevator car after the elevator car travels to its destination floor in response to assigning a user to an individual elevator car.

[0023] The technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include grouping healthy passengers with other healthy passengers in an elevator, and isolating passengers who may have been exposed to mitigate the spread of infectious health risks. This facilitates passengers' ability to safely socially separate themselves from other passengers to reduce the spread of health risks.

[0024] Unless otherwise expressly indicated, the aforementioned features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity. These features and elements and their operation will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory and non-restrictive in nature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an elevator system in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be employed;

[0027] Figure 2 depicts a block diagram of a passenger grouping system according to one or more embodiments;

[0028] Figure 3 A flowchart depicting a method for performing passenger grouping in an elevator system according to one or more embodiments; and

[0029] Figure 4 A flow chart depicting a method for re-checking a passenger's exposure level in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Many buildings have begun to use thermal sensing technology to allow or prohibit people from entering the building. In some cases, a person's body temperature can provide an indication of health status, and thermal readings can be associated with a person's potential health risks. In many scenarios, thermal readings are the first line of defense and may not work well for all building configurations. In such scenarios, elevators can be used as a second line of defense to detect and notify individuals of their current health risks. The technology described herein leverages body temperature information and contact tracing information to assign exposure levels or levels to passengers to assign users to individual elevators individually or to group users in elevators with other healthy passengers safely. In one or more embodiments, based on multiple factors that can be processed by a third-party application server, the exposure level can indicate the possibility or probability that an individual has been exposed to an identified risk. One factor may include a user making physical contact or approaching another individual who has been exposed to an identified risk. Another factor may include identifying other individuals who have been tested and positively identified as infectious / infected by the identified risk. Additional factors that can be used to determine the exposure level may include the location, distance, and duration of a user's exposure to an infectious / infected individual. In a non-limiting example, if a user is exposed to many other infectious individuals over a long period of time in an enclosed space, the exposure level will be higher than a user who is exposed to the least infectious individual over a short period of time in an open space (outdoors). It should be understood that other factors may be used in generating the exposure level. The technology described herein provides individuals with the ability to socially separate themselves from other passengers.

[0031] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an elevator system 101 including an elevator car 103, a counterweight 105, a tension member 107, a guide rail 109, a machine 111, a position reference system 113, and a controller 115. The elevator car 103 and the counterweight 105 are connected to each other by the tension member 107. The tension member 107 may include or be configured as, for example, a rope, a steel cable, and / or a coated steel belt. The counterweight 105 is configured to balance the load of the elevator car 103 and to facilitate movement of the elevator car 103 in the elevator shaft 117 and along the guide rail 109 relative to the counterweight 105 simultaneously and in opposite directions.

[0032] Tension member 107 engages machine 111, which is part of the overhead structure of elevator system 101. Machine 111 is configured to control movement between elevator car 103 and counterweight 105. Position reference system 113 may be mounted on a fixed portion at the top of elevator shaft 117, such as on a support or guide rail, and may be configured to provide a position signal related to the position of elevator car 103 within elevator shaft 117. In other embodiments, position reference system 113 may be mounted directly to the moving components of machine 111, or may be located in other locations and / or configurations as known in the art. As known in the art, position reference system 113 may be any device or mechanism for monitoring the position of an elevator car and / or counterweight. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, position reference system 113 may be, for example and without limitation, an encoder, sensor, or other system, and may include speed sensing, absolute position sensing, and the like.

[0033] As shown, the controller 115 is located in a controller room 121 of the elevator shaft 117 and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system 101 (and in particular the elevator car 103). For example, the controller 115 may provide drive signals to the machine 111 to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car 103. The controller 115 may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system 113 or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down in the elevator shaft 117 along the guide rails 109, the elevator car 103 may stop at one or more landings 125 under the control of the controller 115. Although shown in the controller room 121, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller 115 may be located and / or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system 101. In one embodiment, the controller may be located remotely or in the cloud.

[0034] The machine 111 may include a motor or similar drive mechanism. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the machine 111 is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which in combination with other components supplies the motor. The machine 111 may include a traction wheel that imparts force to the tension member 107 to move the elevator car 103 within the elevator shaft 117.

[0035] Although shown and described with a roping system including tension members 107, elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms for moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use linear motors to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use hydraulic hoists to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems that use self-propelled elevator cars (e.g., friction wheels or beam climbers). Figure 1 These non-limiting examples are presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes only.

[0036] In other embodiments, the system includes a conveyor system that moves passengers between floors and / or along a single floor. Such conveyor systems may include escalators, people movers, etc. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are not limited to elevator systems, such as Figure 1 The elevator system shown in FIG.

[0037] Figure 2 A block diagram depicting a passenger grouping system 200 for an elevator system according to one or more embodiments. The elevator system may include, but is not limited to, Figure 1 As shown, the passenger grouping system 200 may include an elevator controller 202, which may be Figure 1 The elevator controller 115 provided in. In one or more embodiments, the elevator controller 202 may be configured to exchange various types of information with one or more components, systems or devices, such as but not limited to call requests, exposure levels, other communications, etc.

[0038] One or more sensors may be coupled to the elevator controller 202 to obtain readings for use in performing passenger grouping as described herein. The one or more sensors may include, but are not limited to, a thermal imager 206. The thermal imager 206 is used to perform a temperature scan of a user to obtain a thermal reading of the scanned user. The thermal imager 206 is configured to transmit thermal readings to a kiosk and / or elevator 204 and the elevator controller 202.

[0039] In some embodiments, a thermal imager 206 may be installed in a location prior to entering the elevator car, where the call request is made. Additionally, another thermal imager 206 may be installed in a location inside the elevator car. The thermal imager 206 in the elevator 204 may be used to obtain thermal readings and used to determine the overall exposure level before closing the elevator door and allowing the elevator car to travel to its destination.

[0040] The user device 208 associated with the user can be operably connected to the elevator system for communicating with the elevator system. The user device 208 can be a mobile phone, a smart phone, a tablet or other types of devices. The user device 208 may include a user interface that communicates with the elevator and the elevator system. The user device 208 can transmit a call request about the elevator car to the elevator system. In addition, the user device 208 can transmit various user status information, such as exposure level, to the elevator system. In one or more embodiments, the user device 208 can exchange information with a third-party application server 212 on the network through a third-party application program interface (API), and the network is configured to perform contact tracing on exposed or potentially exposed individuals. Contact tracing information is used to generate exposure levels. In one or more embodiments, the exposure level can be on a scale of 1-5 or a scale of 1-10. It should be understood that different scales can be used, wherein the higher the value, the higher the exposure risk, and the lower the value, the minimum exposure risk.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, the user device 208 may include a location module 210 to identify the location of the user. For example, a global positioning system (GPS) or other type of indoor positioning system may be used to identify when the user is riding in an elevator car.

[0042] The passenger ride system 200 may include a building management system 214, which is also coupled to the elevator controller 202. One or more sensors may be coupled to the building management system 214 to obtain temperature readings from potential passengers before entering the elevator car. It should be understood that other types of information may be shared between the elevator controller 202 and the building management system 214. For example, the elevator controller 202 may transmit a signal to the building management system 214 to provide an alarm or announcement that the elevator car requires maintenance or other service. For example, an alarm may indicate that a particular elevator car requires sanitation after a passenger with an elevated exposure level travels in the elevator car. The alarm may be a tactile alarm, an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or any combination thereof.

[0043] Figure 3 Describe the use of Figure 1 and Figure 2 Flowchart of a method 300 for performing passenger grouping using the systems 100 and 200 shown in FIG. 1 . It should be understood that the method 300 is not limited to Figure 3, but rather provide an illustrative example. Method 300 begins at block 302 and proceeds to block 304, which provides for elevator controller 202 to receive a passenger call request. The call request may be transmitted from a user device 208 or a kiosk. Block 306 performs a temperature scan using thermal imager 206.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, a request may be transmitted from the elevator controller 202 to the thermal imager 206 coupled to the elevator 204. The request may include a request to perform a temperature scan on the user who issued the call request. In response to the thermal imager 206 performing the scan, a response including a value representing the temperature scan is transmitted to the elevator controller 202 by the elevator 204. Box 308 calculates an exposure level based on the temperature reading obtained from the thermal imager 206 or the sensor. The exposure level obtained from the thermal imager 206 is referred to as a first exposure level. In one or more embodiments, the higher the temperature reading above the average user temperature, the higher the first exposure level, and the closer the user temperature is to the average user temperature, the lower the exposure level.

[0045] At box 310, the elevator controller 202 used in method 300 requests an exposure level from a user device. The exposure level obtained from the user device is referred to as a second exposure level. In one or more embodiments, a third-party API installed in the user device may be used to communicate with a third-party API server 212 and obtain contact tracing information of others who may have potentially been exposed to the virus.

[0046] At block 312, the elevator controller 202 authenticates and authorizes the exposure level received from the user device. Block 310 combines the exposure level from the thermal imager 206 (the first exposure level), and combines the exposure level from the user device (the second exposure level), and block 314 calculates the final exposure level. In one or more embodiments, the combination of the exposure levels from the thermal imager 206 and the user device 208 may include averaging the exposure levels to calculate the final exposure level.

[0047] The method 300 proceeds to decision block 318, where the elevator controller 202 proceeds to block 320 or 326 based on comparing the final exposure level calculated at block 316 with a configurable threshold value for the final exposure level. The user may assign, deny requests, or group passengers with passengers for individual cars based on the comparison. Block 320 provides notification to the passenger and building management system that the final exposure level is above the configurable threshold value. Block 322 may assign an individual car to the user or deny the user's call request. Users may be individually assigned or denied based on the configuration of the building. The method 300 may end at block 324.

[0048] Additionally, at decision block 318, if the final exposure level is below a configurable threshold for the final exposure level, method 300 proceeds to block 326, which groups the user with other passengers so that the aggregate exposure level remains low. In one or more embodiments, users grouped together in an elevator car receive notification of the assignment of the elevator car using their respective user devices. Method 300 may proceed to block 326, which groups the user with other passengers so that the aggregate exposure level remains low. Figure 4 , which performs a re-screening process of the exposure levels of passengers who have boarded the elevator car.

[0049] Now refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 4 is a flow chart of a method 400 for re-screening passengers once assigned passengers have boarded an elevator car according to one or more embodiments. As shown in block 402, after each of the assigned passengers has boarded the elevator car, an exposure level for the group of boarding passengers is calculated.

[0050] Block 404 determines whether any changes have been determined from the original assignment information. The elevator controller 202 can identify whether an unauthorized user has ridden the elevator car or whether the health of the assigned user has changed by comparing the location information of each user device present in the elevator car and determining the aggregated total exposure level for the group. In addition, the system 200 can identify whether there are any other deviations from the measured information.

[0051] Can detect that passenger has boarded elevator car by a variety of technologies.For example, can detect that unassigned user has boarded elevator car by using the location system of user device.

[0052] In addition, the expected passengers determined by the passenger assignment data can be compared with the location information for each user device detected in the elevator car. For example, the elevator controller 202 can assign passengers A, B, and C to the elevator car. The elevator controller 202 can poll each of the corresponding user devices to determine whether the location data indicates that the user has boarded the elevator car. Subsequently, the passenger exposure level for each of the users can be aggregated.

[0053] In one or more embodiments, for all passengers currently riding in the assigned elevator car, a total exposure level is calculated and compared to a total exposure level threshold. In a non-limiting example, the total exposure level threshold may be configured as the highest permissible score for each user multiplied by each number of assigned passengers who have ridden the elevator car. The comparison of the total exposure level and the total exposure level threshold is used to take action.

[0054] Block 406 provides for stopping the elevator movement in response to detecting a change in the original assignment / user status of the passenger assigned to the elevator car using the elevator controller 202. In one or more embodiments, in addition to stopping the elevator car, actions may include: a) fully opening the elevator doors when an unexpected exposure level is detected, b) announcing the passenger, c) notifying the building management system of the status of the passenger / elevator car, etc. The actions are not limited to those previously discussed, but are provided merely as illustrative examples.

[0055] Technical effects and benefits include enabling passengers to be safely grouped with other healthy passengers in the elevator or isolating passengers in the elevator based on the calculated exposure level. The accuracy of the technology described herein is improved by utilizing data from a contact tracing application and correlating the user's current body temperature with the user's current exposure level.

[0056] As described above, embodiments may be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices (such as processors) for implementing those processes. Embodiments may also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media (such as network cloud storage, SD card, flash drive, floppy disk, CD ROM, hard drive, or any other computer-readable storage medium), wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by the computer, the computer becomes a device for implementing the embodiments. Embodiments may also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by a computer, or transmitted on a transmission medium, loaded into a computer and / or executed by a computer, or transmitted on a transmission medium (such as on a wire or cable, through an optical fiber, or via electromagnetic radiation), wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into a computer and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for implementing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segment configures the microprocessor to generate a specific logic circuit.

[0057] The term "about" is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement and / or manufacturing tolerances of the particular quantity based on the equipment available at the time the application was filed.

[0058] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, element components, and / or groups thereof.

[0059] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various exemplary embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in a particular embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereby. On the contrary, the present disclosure may be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not previously described but commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, although various embodiments of the present disclosure are described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for performing passenger grouping, the method comprising: receiving, at a controller, a call request issued by a user via a user device associated with the user; receiving, at the controller, user condition data regarding a user obtained using one or more sensors operably coupled to the controller; calculating, at the controller, a final exposure level based at least in part on the user profile data, the final exposure level indicating a likelihood or probability that the individual has been exposed to the identified risk; as well as assigning the user to an elevator based at least in part on the final exposure level using the controller; wherein in response to the final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold, assigning the user to a separate elevator car; wherein the one or more sensors include a thermal imager configured to obtain a temperature of a user; Wherein, calculating the final exposure level includes: obtaining a first exposure level based on a temperature from the thermal imager; obtaining a second exposure level from the user device; and combining the first exposure level and the second exposure level to calculate the final exposure level; The user device exchanges information with a third-party application server via a third-party application program interface over a network, the network being configured to perform contact tracing on exposed or potentially exposed individuals, and the contact tracing information being used to generate the second exposure level.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method also includes providing an indication to the user of an elevator car assignment or a rejection of the call request.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In response to the final exposure level being less than a configurable threshold, the user is assigned to an elevator car having one or more passengers.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Determining that the user has boarded the elevator car; recalculating an aggregated exposure level for the user and one or more passengers in response to determining that the user has boarded the elevator car; comparing the recalculated aggregated exposure level to an aggregated exposure level threshold; and An action is performed based at least in part on the comparison.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The action includes allowing the elevator car to travel to its destination floor or preventing the elevator car from traveling to its destination floor.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The method also includes, in response to assigning the user to an individual elevator car, scheduling sanitation service for the elevator car after the elevator car travels to its destination floor.

7. A system for performing passenger grouping, comprising: Building Management Systems; One or more sensors for obtaining user status data; Elevators and elevator controllers; A user device is coupled to the elevator controller, wherein the elevator controller is configured to: Receiving a call request issued by a user; receiving user condition data about a user obtained using one or more sensors operably coupled to the controller; calculating a final exposure level based at least in part on the user profile data, the final exposure level indicating a likelihood or probability that the individual has been exposed to the identified risk; as well as assigning the user to an elevator based at least in part on the final exposure level; wherein the elevator controller is further configured to assign the user to a separate elevator car in response to the final exposure level exceeding a configurable threshold; wherein the one or more sensors include a thermal imager configured to obtain a temperature of a user; Wherein calculating the final exposure level includes the elevator controller being further configured to: obtaining a first exposure level based on a temperature from the thermal imager; obtaining a second exposure level from a user device associated with the user; as well as combining the first exposure level and the second exposure level to calculate the final exposure level; The user device exchanges information with a third-party application server via a third-party application program interface over a network, the network being configured to perform contact tracing on exposed or potentially exposed individuals, and the contact tracing information being used to generate the second exposure level.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The elevator controller is also configured to provide an indication to the user of an elevator car assignment or rejection of the call request.

9. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that In response to the final exposure level being less than a configurable threshold, the user is assigned to an elevator car having one or more passengers.

10. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The elevator controller is also configured to: Determining that the user has boarded the elevator car; recalculating an aggregated exposure level for the user and one or more passengers in response to determining that the user has boarded the elevator car; comparing the recalculated aggregated exposure level to an aggregated exposure level threshold; and An action is performed based at least in part on the comparison.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that The action includes allowing the elevator car to travel to its destination floor or preventing the elevator car from traveling to its destination floor.

12. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The elevator controller is further configured to, in response to assigning the user to an individual elevator car, dispatch sanitation service to the elevator car after the elevator car travels to its destination floor.

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