Elevator utilization determination system, floor station operation panel, portable terminal, and storage medium storing elevator utilization determination program

Abstract

The present invention provides an elevator utilization determination system, a floor operation panel, a portable terminal, and an elevator utilization determination program that can more accurately determine whether an elevator is used. The utilization determination system (1) includes a first beacon, a second beacon, and a portable terminal (8). The first beacon of the floor operation panel (6) installed on the first floor sends first information to determine the first floor through wireless communication. The second beacon of the floor operation panel (6) installed on the second floor sends second information to determine the second floor through wireless communication. The portable terminal (8) determines whether a user holding the portable terminal (8) has used the elevator (2) from the first floor to the second floor based on the first time and the second time. The first time is the time when the portable terminal (8) receives the first information from the first beacon. The second time is the time when the portable terminal (8) receives the second information from the second beacon after the first time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator utilization determination system, a floor station operation panel, a portable terminal and an elevator utilization determination program. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for registering elevator calls. A mobile terminal held by a user of this system registers the user's call when receiving a wireless signal from a beacon installed on the user's departure floor.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-95439 Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] However, when the use of an elevator is determined by the system of Patent Document 1, even if a user of the system passes by a hall with a mobile terminal but does not use the elevator, it may be erroneously determined that the user has used the elevator.

[0008] The present invention is made to solve such a problem and provides an elevator utilization determination system, a hall operating panel, a mobile terminal, and an elevator utilization determination program that can more accurately determine whether an elevator is utilized.

[0009] Means for solving problems

[0010] The elevator utilization determination system of the present invention comprises: a first beacon, which is set at a floor station operating panel of a first floor which is any floor among a plurality of floors, and transmits first information for determining the first floor through wireless communication; a second beacon, which is set at a floor station operating panel of a second floor which is another arbitrary floor among a plurality of floors, and transmits second information for determining the second floor through wireless communication; and a portable terminal, which is held by an elevator user, and determines whether the user has utilized the elevator from the first floor to the second floor based on a first time when the first information is received from the first beacon and a second time when the second information is received from the second beacon thereafter.

[0011] The floor station operating panel of the present invention has a beacon, which is set at any floor among multiple floors. The beacon sends information that specifies the floor at which the beacon is set to the following portable terminal through wireless communication. The portable terminal determines whether the elevator is used during the period from a first floor that is any floor among multiple floors to a second floor that is another arbitrary floor among multiple floors based on a first time when the first information is received through wireless communication and a second time when the second information is received through wireless communication, wherein the first information is information that specifies the first floor and the second information is information that specifies the second floor.

[0012] The portable terminal of the present invention comprises: a communication unit, which receives first information of a first floor identified as any floor among a plurality of floors and sent by a first beacon via wireless communication, and receives second information of a second floor identified as another arbitrary floor among a plurality of floors and sent by a second beacon via wireless communication, wherein the first beacon is set at a floor station operating panel on the first floor and the second beacon is set at a floor station operating panel on the second floor; and a determination unit, which determines whether an elevator is used during the period from the first floor to the second floor based on a first moment when the communication unit receives the first information from the first beacon and a second moment when the communication unit receives the second information from the second beacon.

[0013] The present invention also provides a storage medium storing an elevator utilization determination program, wherein the elevator utilization determination program enables a portable terminal to execute the following steps: a first step, receiving first information of a first floor determined as any floor among a plurality of floors sent by a first beacon via wireless communication, wherein the first beacon is set at a floor station operating panel on the first floor; a second step, after the first step, receiving second information of a second floor determined as another arbitrary floor among a plurality of floors sent by a second beacon via wireless communication, wherein the second beacon is set at a floor station operating panel on the second floor; and a third step, determining whether the elevator is utilized during the period from the first floor to the second floor based on a first moment when the first information is received from the first beacon in the first step and a second moment when the second information is received from the second beacon in the second step.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the elevator utilization determination system, the hall operating panel, the mobile terminal or the elevator utilization determination program of the present invention, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not an elevator is utilized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is a configuration diagram of the utilization determination system according to the first embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example in which the utilization determination system according to the first embodiment determines the utilization of an elevator.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example in which the utilization determination system according to the first embodiment determines the utilization of an elevator.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an operation example of the utilization determination system according to the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a hardware configuration diagram of the main parts of the utilization determination system according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0022] Implementation method 1.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a configuration diagram of the utilization determination system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0024] The utilization determination system 1 is a system for determining whether an elevator 2 is utilized. The elevator 2 is installed in a building having multiple floors. A shaft 3 is installed in the building. The shaft 3 is a vertically long space spanning multiple floors. A landing 4 communicating with the shaft 3 is installed on each floor.

[0025] The elevator 2 includes a car 5 and a plurality of landing operating panels 6 .

[0026] The car 5 is installed in the hoistway 3. The car 5 is a device that transports users between a plurality of floors by traveling in the vertical direction in the hoistway 3.

[0027] Each landing operation panel 6 corresponds to a landing 4 of any floor. Each landing operation panel 6 is provided at a corresponding landing 4. The landing operation panel 6 is a device for accepting operations of users of the elevator 2. The operations accepted by the landing operation panel 6 are, for example, operations of landing call. The landing operation panel 6 accepts operations of users, for example, through a plurality of buttons. Alternatively, the landing operation panel 6 may also accept operations of users, for example, through a touch panel.

[0028] The utilization determination system 1 includes a plurality of beacons 7 , a mobile terminal 8 , and a server device 9 .

[0029] Each beacon 7 corresponds to any one of the landing operation panels 6. Each beacon 7 is set in the corresponding landing operation panel 6. In this example, each beacon 7 is built into the corresponding landing operation panel 6. Each beacon 7 is, for example, built into an empty space inside the corresponding landing operation panel 6. Each beacon 7 is equipped with a wireless communication function. Each beacon 7 transmits information for determining the floor on which the beacon 7 itself is set through wireless communication. The information for determining the floor can be, for example, information indicating the floor number such as "1st floor above ground" and "2nd floor underground".

[0030] The portable terminal 8 is held by a user of the building. The portable terminal 8 is, for example, a mobile information terminal such as a smart phone. The portable terminal 8 includes a communication unit 10, a determination unit 11, and a display unit 12. The communication unit 10 is a part that performs wireless communication. The communication unit 10 is equipped with a function of receiving information sent by each beacon 7. The determination unit 11 is a part that determines whether the user holding the portable terminal 8 has used the elevator 2 based on the time when the information is received from the beacon 7. The display unit 12 is a part that displays information to the user holding the portable terminal 8. The display unit 12 is, for example, a display device. The display unit 12 can also be a touch panel that also serves as an operation unit that accepts user operations.

[0031] The operation of the portable terminal 8 in the utilization determination system 1 is performed, for example, according to an installed utilization determination program. The utilization determination program is, for example, a program installed in the portable terminal 8 by a user as application software.

[0032] The server device 9 is connected to the communication unit 10 of the portable terminal 8 via a network such as the Internet. The server device 9 is, for example, one or more server computers. Alternatively, the server device 9 may be a virtual server on a cloud service.

[0033] Next, use Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 , an example of utilization determination performed by the utilization determination system 1 is described.

[0034] Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of the utilization determination of the elevator 2 performed by the utilization determination system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0035] In this example, a user holding a mobile terminal 8 moves from floor A to floor B. Floor A and floor B are arbitrary floors among a plurality of floors of a building in which the elevator 2 is installed. In this example, floor A is a floor below floor B. Floor A is the user's departure floor. Floor B is the user's destination floor.

[0036] An arbitrary beacon 7a of the utilization determination system 1 is installed in the hall operation panel 6a of the floor A. Another arbitrary beacon 7b of the utilization determination system 1 is installed in the hall operation panel 6b of the floor B.

[0037] When using the elevator 2, the user enters the landing 4 of the floor A. At this time, the beacon 7a of the floor A transmits information for specifying the floor A where the beacon 7a itself is installed through wireless communication. The communication unit 10 of the portable terminal 8 receives the information specifying the floor A from the beacon 7a. The determination unit 11 of the portable terminal 8 stores the information specifying the floor A received by the communication unit 10 from the beacon 7a and the time t1 when the information is received. Here, the floor A as the departure floor is an example of the first floor. The beacon 7a installed on the landing operation panel 6a of the floor A is an example of the first beacon. The information specifying the floor A transmitted by the beacon 7a is an example of the first information. The time t1 when the receiving unit of the portable terminal 8 receives the information is an example of the first time.

[0038] Thereafter, the user operates the landing operating panel 6a, for example, to register a landing call to the floor B. Thereafter, the user gets on the car 5 that has arrived at the floor A and goes to the floor B.

[0039] Afterwards, if Figure 3 As shown, the user gets off the car 5 and arrives at the landing 4 of the floor B. At this time, the beacon 7b of the floor B transmits information for specifying the floor B where the beacon 7b itself is installed through wireless communication. The communication unit 10 of the portable terminal 8 receives the information specifying the floor B from the beacon 7b. The determination unit 11 of the portable terminal 8 stores the information specifying the floor B received by the communication unit 10 from the beacon 7b and the time t2 when the information is received. Here, the floor B as the destination floor is an example of the second floor. The beacon 7b of the landing operation panel 6b installed on the floor B is an example of the second beacon. The information specifying the floor B transmitted by the beacon 7b is an example of the second information. The time t2 when the receiving unit of the portable terminal 8 receives the information is an example of the second time.

[0040] Then, the determination unit 11 of the portable terminal 8 calculates the time difference between time t2 and time t1. When the calculated time difference is within a preset range, the determination unit 11 determines that the user has used the elevator 2 from floor A to floor B. The time range is set, for example, based on the average travel time of the car 5 from floor A to floor B. Alternatively, the time range is set, for example, based on the number of floors between floor A and floor B. In this example, the determination unit 11 determines whether the time difference between time t2 and time t1 is less than a preset threshold value t0. When the determination unit 11 determines that the calculated time difference is less than the threshold value t0, it determines that the user has used the elevator 2 from floor A to floor B. On the other hand, when the determination unit 11 determines that the calculated time difference is greater than the threshold value t0, it determines that the user did not use the elevator 2 in the movement from floor A to floor B. In this case, the user moves from floor A to floor B, for example, using stairs.

[0041] When the determination unit 11 determines that the user has used the elevator 2, the communication unit 10 transmits the result of the determination to the server device 9. The server device 9 transmits service information for the user to the communication unit 10 of the portable terminal 8 based on the received determination result. The service information is, for example, information on services that can be provided to the user in the building where the elevator 2 is installed. For example, the server device 9 transmits information on services that can be provided on the floor B that is the destination floor to the portable terminal 8. Alternatively, the server device 9 may also transmit information on services that can be provided to the user moving from floor A to floor B to the portable terminal 8. For example, the server device 9 may also transmit service information related to health promotion that prompts the amount of activity when using the stairs from floor A to floor B to the portable terminal 8. The display unit 12 of the portable terminal 8 displays the service information received by the communication unit 10.

[0042] Next, use Figure 4 An operation example of the utilization determination system 1 will be described.

[0043] Figure 4 This is a flowchart showing an operation example of the utilization determination system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0044] In step S1, the communication unit 10 receives information specifying the floor A from the beacon 7a. The determination unit 11 stores the time t1 at which the information is received. Then, the operation of the utilization determination system 1 proceeds to step S2.

[0045] In step S2, the communication unit 10 receives information specifying the floor B from the beacon 7b. The determination unit 11 stores the time t2 at which the information is received. Then, the operation of the utilization determination system 1 proceeds to step S3.

[0046] In step S3, the determination unit 11 determines whether the time difference between time t2 and time t1 is less than the threshold value t0. If the determination result about the time difference is "No", the determination unit 11 determines that the user has not used the elevator 2. Then, the operation of the use determination system 1 proceeds to step S1. On the other hand, if the determination result about the time difference is "Yes", the operation of the use determination system 1 proceeds to step S4.

[0047] In step S4, the determination unit 11 determines that the user has used the elevator 2 when moving from floor A to floor B. Then, the communication unit 10 transmits the determination result of the determination unit 11 to the server device 9. Then, the operation of the use determination system 1 proceeds to step S5.

[0048] In step S5, the communication unit 10 receives the service information transmitted by the server device 9 based on the received determination result. Then, the display unit 12 displays the service information received by the communication unit 10. Then, the operation of the utilization determination system 1 proceeds to step S1.

[0049] In addition, the use determination system 1 can determine whether the elevator 2 is used in the movement from floor A to floor B, and can also determine whether the elevator 2 is used in the movement from floor B to floor A. The use determination system 1 can also determine whether the elevator 2 is used in the movement between other floors where the beacon 7 is provided on the landing operating panel 6 of the landing 4.

[0050] As described above, the utilization determination system 1 of the first embodiment includes a first beacon, a second beacon, and a portable terminal 8. The first beacon is provided at the landing operation panel 6 on the first floor. The first floor is an arbitrary floor among a plurality of floors. The first beacon transmits first information by wireless communication. The first information is information for specifying the first floor. The second beacon is provided at the landing operation panel 6 on the second floor. The second floor is another arbitrary floor different from the first floor among a plurality of floors. The second beacon transmits second information by wireless communication. The second information is information for specifying the second floor. The portable terminal 8 is held by a user of the elevator 2. The portable terminal 8 determines whether the user holding the portable terminal 8 has used the elevator 2 from the first floor to the second floor based on the first time and the second time. The first time is the time when the portable terminal 8 receives the first information from the first beacon. The second time is the time when the portable terminal 8 receives the second information from the second beacon after the first time.

[0051] Moreover, the hall operating panel 6 of Embodiment 1 is equipped with the beacon 7. The beacon 7 is installed in any floor among a plurality of floors. The beacon 7 transmits information which specifies the floor where the beacon 7 itself is installed to the mobile terminal 8.

[0052] In addition, the portable terminal 8 of the first embodiment includes a communication unit 10 and a determination unit 11. The communication unit 10 receives the first information transmitted by the first beacon through wireless communication. The communication unit 10 receives the second information transmitted by the second beacon through wireless communication. The determination unit 11 determines whether the elevator 2 is used during the period from the first floor to the second floor based on the first time when the communication unit 10 receives the first information and the second time when the communication unit 10 receives the second information.

[0053] In addition, the utilization determination program of the first embodiment causes the portable terminal 8 to execute the first step, the second step, and the third step. The first step is a step of receiving the first information transmitted by the first beacon through wireless communication. The second step is a step of receiving the second information transmitted by the second beacon through wireless communication after the first step. The third step is a step of determining whether the elevator 2 is utilized during the period from the first floor to the second floor based on the first time when the first information is received from the first beacon in the first step and the second time when the second information is received from the second beacon in the second step.

[0054] In the utilization determination system 1, whether the elevator 2 is used is determined based on the information sent by the beacon 7 installed on both sides of the two floors where the user moves. Therefore, even if the user passes through the landing 4 without using the elevator 2 while holding the portable terminal 8, it will not be mistakenly determined that the user has used the elevator 2. As a result, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the elevator 2 is used. In addition, the beacon 7 used for utilization determination is installed on the landing operating panel 6. The operator who performs maintenance work on the elevator 2 can remove the panel of the landing operating panel 6 from the landing 4 and easily access the inside of the landing operating panel 6. On the other hand, by installing the beacon 7 inside the landing operating panel 6, the beacon 7 can no longer be seen from the outside, so there is no need to configure the beacon 7 in a range that is difficult for the operator to access, such as the wall or ceiling of the building, and it is possible to prevent mischief on the beacon 7. As a result, the installation and maintenance of the beacon 7 become easy. In addition, it can also be applied to the already installed elevator 2.

[0055] The utilization determination system 1 includes a server device 9. The server device 9 receives the utilization determination result of the elevator 2 from the mobile terminal 8. The server device 9 transmits service information for the user to the mobile terminal 8 based on the received determination result.

[0056] By more accurately determining the use of the elevator 2, it is possible to provide service information corresponding to the use status of the elevator 2. This improves the convenience of the user.

[0057] Furthermore, when the mobile terminal 8 can obtain information on the floor on which each beacon 7 is installed from, for example, the server device 9 or the like, the information identifying the floor transmitted by the beacon 7 may be information identifying the beacon 7 itself.

[0058] Next, use Figure 5 An example of the hardware configuration of the utilization determination system 1 will be described.

[0059] Figure 5 This is a hardware configuration diagram of the main parts of the utilization determination system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0060] Each function of the utilization determination system 1 can be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may also include at least one dedicated hardware 200 together with the processor 100a and the memory 100b, or may include at least one dedicated hardware 200 instead of the processor 100a and the memory 100b.

[0061] When the processing circuit includes a processor 100a and a memory 100b, each function of the utilization determination system 1 is implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is described as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a implements each function of the utilization determination system 1 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b.

[0062] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, a computing device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 100b is composed of a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

[0063] When the processing circuit has dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuit is implemented by, for example, a single circuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0064] Each function of the use determination system 1 can be realized by a processing circuit separately. Alternatively, each function of the use determination system 1 can also be realized by a processing circuit in a unified manner. Regarding each function of the use determination system 1, a part can be realized by dedicated hardware 200, and the other part can be realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit realizes each function of the use determination system 1 by dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0065] Industrial Applicability

[0066] The utilization determination system, the hall operating panel, the portable terminal, and the utilization determination program of the present invention can be applied to determination of whether an elevator is utilized.

[0067] Description of symbols

[0068] 1: Utilization determination system; 2: Elevator; 3: Hoistway; 4: Floor station; 5: Car; 6, 6a, 6b: Floor station operating panel; 7, 7a, 7b: Beacon; 8: Portable terminal; 9: Server device; 10: Communication unit; 11: Determination unit; 12: Display unit; 100a: Processor; 100b: Memory; 200: Special hardware.

Claims

1. An elevator utilization determination system, wherein: The elevator utilization determination system comprises: A first beacon is provided at a landing operation panel of a first floor which is any floor among a plurality of floors, and transmits first information identifying the first floor through wireless communication; a second beacon, which is provided at a landing operation panel of a second floor which is another arbitrary floor among the plurality of floors, and transmits second information identifying the second floor by wireless communication; as well as The portable terminal is held by an elevator user and determines whether the user has used the elevator from the first floor to the second floor based on a first time when the first information is received from the first beacon and a second time when the second information is received from the second beacon.

2. The elevator utilization determination system according to claim 1, wherein: The elevator utilization determination system includes a server device that receives a determination result of whether or not an elevator is utilized from the mobile terminal and transmits service information for a user to the mobile terminal based on the received determination result.

3. A landing operation panel, wherein: The floor station operating panel includes a beacon, which is set at any floor among a plurality of floors, and sends information identifying the floor at which the beacon is set to the following portable terminal through wireless communication. The portable terminal determines whether the elevator is used during the period from a first floor which is any floor among the plurality of floors to a second floor which is another arbitrary floor among the plurality of floors based on a first time when the first information is received through wireless communication and a second time when the second information is received through wireless communication, wherein the first information is information identifying the first floor, and the second information is information identifying the second floor.

4. A portable terminal, wherein: The portable terminal comprises: a communication unit that receives first information identifying a first floor as any floor among a plurality of floors and that is transmitted by a first beacon through wireless communication, and receives second information identifying a second floor as another arbitrary floor among the plurality of floors and that is transmitted by a second beacon through wireless communication, wherein the first beacon is provided at a landing operation panel on the first floor and the second beacon is provided at a landing operation panel on the second floor; and A determination unit determines whether the elevator is used from the first floor to the second floor based on a first time when the communication unit receives the first information from the first beacon and a second time when the communication unit receives the second information from the second beacon.

5. A storage medium storing an elevator utilization determination program, wherein: The elevator utilizes the determination program to cause the portable terminal to execute the following steps: The first step is to receive first information of a first floor determined as any floor among a plurality of floors, which is sent by a first beacon through wireless communication, wherein the first beacon is set at a landing operation panel of the first floor; A second step, after the first step, receiving second information of a second floor determined as another arbitrary floor among the plurality of floors, which is sent by a second beacon through wireless communication, wherein the second beacon is set at a landing operation panel of the second floor; as well as The third step is to determine whether the elevator is used from the first floor to the second floor based on the first time when the first information is received from the first beacon in the first step and the second time when the second information is received from the second beacon in the second step.

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