Elevator group management device and elevator group management system
By calculating and controlling the infection risk value through elevator group management devices, the problem of infection spread caused by asymptomatic infected persons has been solved, and safer infectious disease prevention and control has been achieved in elevator systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-21
Smart Images
Figure CN115849122B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to an elevator group management device and an elevator group management system for managing the operation of multiple elevators as a group. Background Technology
[0002] Patent document 1 discloses the following technology: when a user with symptoms of infectious diseases such as fever or cough is detected by a camera device or microphone installed in the elevator car, air purification is implemented through an air purification device to reduce the risk of the spread of infection.
[0003] Existing technical documents
[0004] Patent documents
[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-240313 Summary of the Invention
[0006] However, infectious diseases can spread not only due to symptomatic carriers but also due to asymptomatic carriers. In the elevator control device disclosed in Patent Document 1, air purification is implemented in the car when a user has symptoms such as fever or cough; however, air purification is not implemented when the user is asymptomatic. Therefore, in cases where the user is asymptomatic, there is a possibility that infectious air may remain in the car for a period of time, potentially spreading the infection to other users, which poses a problem.
[0007] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an elevator group management device and an elevator group management system that, in an elevator with multiple cars, can reduce the risk of the spread of infectious diseases caused by the user who first uses the car, regardless of whether the user has symptoms of an infectious disease.
[0008] The elevator group management device of the present invention includes: a call acceptance unit that accepts calls from landings; and a car allocation decision unit that, when a call acceptance unit accepts a call from a landing, determines from a plurality of cars which the car to be allocated to the landing caller. The elevator group management device also includes an infection risk calculation unit that, for each car, calculates an infection risk value for an infectious disease based on the total time spent by users of that car in the most recent past specified period. The car allocation decision unit determines which car to be allocated to the landing caller based on the calculated infection risk value.
[0009] The elevator group management system of the present invention includes: the elevator group management device of the present invention described above; a plurality of cars; and an operation control unit, which controls the operation of the plurality of cars according to the car allocation decision made by the car allocation decision unit.
[0010] Invention Effects
[0011] According to the elevator group management device and elevator group management system of the present invention, in an elevator with multiple cars, regardless of whether the user who first uses the car has symptoms of an infectious disease, the risk of the spread of infectious diseases caused by that user can be reduced. Attached Figure Description
[0012] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the elevator group management system according to the first embodiment.
[0013] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates a specific example of how to calculate the risk of infection and how to determine the allocation of elevator cars.
[0014] Figure 3 This is a hardware structure diagram of the elevator group management device according to the first embodiment.
[0015] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the elevator group management system according to the second embodiment.
[0016] Label Explanation
[0017] 1. 100: Elevator group management system; 12: Operation control unit; 13: Air purification device; 17: Floor operation unit; 18: Information acquisition device; 20: Elevator group management device; 21: Call reception unit; 22. 122: Infection risk calculation unit; 23: Car allocation decision unit; 24: Control instruction unit; 29. 129: Storage unit; 51: Processor; 52: Memory; 53: Signal input / output unit; 91: Car operation information; 92: User's elevator riding history; 96: User-related information; 97: Infection status information differentiated by age group; 98: Infection status information differentiated by region; C1, C2: Elevator car; E1, E2: Elevator equipment; Rk: Infection risk value; T1: Elevator call registration form; Vk: Allocation evaluation value; Qkj: Personal risk evaluation value; Rrk: Historical elevator ride evaluation value; Rvk: Historical ventilation evaluation value; Tdkm: Door opening time; Tpkn: Air purification device operation time; Trkj: User's elevator ride time. Detailed Implementation
[0018] [First Implementation Method]
[0019] The elevator group management system 1 of the first embodiment will be described below. Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the general structure of the elevator group management system 1. (See diagram for example.) Figure 1As shown, the elevator group management system 1 includes: multiple (two in this example) elevator devices E1 and E2; and an elevator group management device 20 that manages these elevator devices E1 and E2 as a group.
[0020] Each elevator unit Ek (k=1, 2) includes a car Ck (k=1, 2) that moves up and down the shaft to transport users, and an operation control unit 12 that controls the various parts of the elevator unit Ek. Additionally, each car Ck is equipped with an air purification device 13. The air purification device 13 includes an exhaust fan that replaces the air inside the car Ck with outside air, and an air purifier that performs purification treatments such as disinfection and virus removal on the air inside the car Ck.
[0021] The elevator group management device 20 includes: a call reception unit 21 that receives calls from landings; an infection risk calculation unit 22 that calculates the infection risk value of infectious diseases for each car Ck; and a car allocation decision unit 23 that determines which car to allocate to a landing call from among multiple cars. Additionally, the elevator group management device 20 includes a control instruction unit 24 that instructs the operation control unit 12 of each elevator unit Ek to control the operation of each car Ck according to the car allocation decision made by the car allocation decision unit 23. Furthermore, the elevator group management device 20 includes a storage unit 29 for storing various data. The storage unit 29 stores a call registration form T1 that records landing calls, operation information 91 for each car Ck, the riding history 92 of users in each car Ck, and the infection risk value Rk for each car Ck, etc.
[0022] The operation control unit 12 of the elevator unit Ek controls the operation of the car Ck according to the instructions from the control instruction unit 24. The operation control unit 12 causes the car Ck to rise and fall within the hoistway, stops at the designated floor, and opens and closes the doors. In addition, the operation control unit 12 controls the operation of the air purification device 13.
[0023] The call reception unit 21 receives elevator calls from users, entered into the landing operation unit 17 located at each floor's landing. A landing call refers to a call to the elevator car specifying a landing floor. The call reception unit 21 registers information such as the landing floor (the floor to be used) involved in each landing call in the call registration form T1 stored in the storage unit 29 for management. Additionally, the call reception unit 21 may also have the function of receiving information related to landing calls from a portable terminal carried by the user and processing landing calls related to the received information.
[0024] When the call reception department 21 receives a call for elevator service from a floor, the infectious disease risk calculation unit 22 calculates the infectious disease risk value Rk for each car Ck based on information such as the total travel time of users who have used that car within the most recent specified period. The infectious disease risk value Rk calculated by the infectious disease risk calculation unit 22 is stored in the storage unit 29. Infectious diseases, in a broad sense, refer to diseases in which pathogens such as influenza invade the body and cause symptoms. The infectious disease risk calculation unit 22 calculates the infectious disease risk value Rk for each car Ck (k=1, 2) using, for example, the following formula (1).
[0025] [Formula 1]
[0026]
[0027] In equation (1) above, Rrk (k=1, 2) is the historical evaluation value of the elevator car Ck, calculated using equation (2) below. Rvk (k=1, 2) is the historical evaluation value of the ventilation of the elevator car Ck, calculated using equation (3) below. a is a positive coefficient, which can be set to any value. For example, it can be set such that the greater the impact of the historical evaluation value Rkr on the risk of infection, the larger the coefficient a will be. b is a positive coefficient, which can be set to any value. For example, it can be set such that the greater the impact of the historical evaluation value Rkv on the risk of infection, the larger the coefficient b will be.
[0028] [Formula 2]
[0029]
[0030] In equation (2) above, Trkj (k=1, 2) represents the travel time of each user (j=1, 2, ...) who used car Ck during the most recent specified period. If no user used car Ck during the most recent specified period, the historical evaluation value Rrk is 0.
[0031] [Formula 3]
[0032]
[0033] In equation (3) above, Tdkm (k=1, 2) is the m-th door opening time of car Ck within the most recent specified period. Tpkn (k=1, 2) is the n-th operation time of the air purification device 13 in car Ck within the most recent specified period. c is a positive coefficient that can be set to any value. For example, it can be set such that the greater the impact of the door opening time Tdkm on the risk of infection, the larger the coefficient c will be. d is a positive coefficient that can be set to any value. For example, it can be set such that the greater the impact of the operation time Tpkn of the air purification device 13 on the risk of infection, the larger the coefficient d will be. In addition, when the air purification device is not installed in car Ck or when the air purification device is not working, the value of Tpkn is 0.
[0034] When the call reception unit 21 receives a floor call, the car allocation decision unit 23 evaluates each car Ck based on the infection risk value Rk and the estimated time required until the car reaches the floor where the floor call occurred, and determines the car with the best evaluation as the allocation car. The car allocation decision unit 23 continuously refers to the call registration form T1 stored in the storage unit 29 to obtain information such as the floor where the floor call occurred. Furthermore, the car allocation decision unit 23 performs the above evaluation based on the operating information 91 of each car Ck and the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck stored in the storage unit 29.
[0035] The car allocation determination unit 23 calculates the allocation evaluation value Vk of each car Ck by formula (4) below, and determines the car with the lowest allocation evaluation value Vk as the car to be allocated (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "allocation car").
[0036] [Formula 4]
[0037]
[0038] In equation (4) above, Tk (k=1, 2) is the expected time (in seconds) until car Ck reaches the floor where the call for the elevator has occurred. Rk (k=1, 2) is the infection risk value of each car Ck calculated by the infection risk calculation unit 22.
[0039] Here, refer to Figure 2 This explains a specific example of calculating the infection risk value Rk when a floor call is received, and determining the appropriate car allocation based on this Rk. Figure 2The diagram illustrates the scenario where users A and B use car C1, and user C uses car C2, within the most recent specified period TX (TX=30 seconds in this example) from the moment the floor call was received (t=TC). Assume that within the most recent specified period TX, the travel time Tr11 for the first user A in car C1 is 5 seconds, the travel time Tr12 for the second user B in car C1 is 10 seconds, and the travel time Tr21 for the first user C in car C2 is 5 seconds. Furthermore, assume that the expected time until car C1 reaches the floor where the floor call occurred is 10 seconds (T1=10), and the expected time until car C2 reaches the floor where the floor call occurred is 30 seconds (T2=30).
[0040] Furthermore, suppose that within the most recent specified period TX, the door in car C1 was opened twice, each time for 10 seconds (Td11=10, Td12=10), and the air purification device 13 operated continuously (Tp11=30). Similarly, suppose that the door in car C2 was opened twice, each time for 10 seconds (Td21=10, Td22=10 seconds), and the air purification device 13 operated continuously (Tp21=30 seconds). Coefficient a is 1, coefficient b is 1, coefficient c is 0.1, and coefficient d is 0.1.
[0041] The infection risk calculation unit 22 first uses equation (2) to calculate the historical evaluation value Rrk of each car Ck, and uses equation (3) to calculate the historical evaluation value Rvk of each car Ck. Thus, the historical evaluation value Rr1 of car C1 is 15 (=Tr11+Tr12=5+10) and the historical evaluation value Rr2 of car C2 is 5 (=Tr21=5). In addition, the historical evaluation value of ventilation in car C1, Rv1, is 5 (= (0.1×ΣTd1m) + (0.1×ΣTp1n) = (0.1×(10+10)) + (0.1×30)), and the historical evaluation value of ventilation in car C2, Rv2, is 5 (= (0.1×ΣTd2m) + (0.1×ΣTp2n) = (0.1×(10+10)) + (0.1×30)).
[0042] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 22 uses formula (1) to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck. As a result, the infection risk value R1 of car C1 is 10 (=Rr1-Rv1=15-5) and the infection risk value R2 of car C2 is 0 (=Rr2-Rv2=5-5).
[0043] Next, the car allocation decision unit 23 uses formula (4) to calculate the allocation evaluation value Vk of each car Ck. Thus, the calculation results are obtained such that the allocation evaluation value V1 of car C1 is 20 (=T1+R1=10+10) and the infection risk value R2 of car C2 is 30 (=T2+R2=30+0). Then, the car allocation decision unit 23 determines that car C1, with the lower allocation evaluation value Vk, is the car allocated to the landing call elevator.
[0044] The elevator group management device 20 described above consists of various structures. Figure 3 The computer shown includes a processor 51, a memory 52, and a signal input / output unit 53. The functions of the call handling unit 21, the infection risk calculation unit 22, the car allocation decision unit 23, and the control instruction unit 24 are implemented by this computer. Specifically, the computer's memory 52 stores programs (elevator group management programs) for implementing the functions of the call handling unit 21, the infection risk calculation unit 22, the car allocation decision unit 23, and the control instruction unit 24. Additionally, various information stored in the storage unit 29 is stored in the memory 52. The processor 51 performs computational processing to control the operation of the elevator group management device 20 based on the program stored in the memory 52.
[0045] As explained above, in the elevator group management system 1 of the first embodiment, the elevator group management device 20 includes: a call reception unit 21 that receives floor calls; and a car allocation determination unit 23 that, when a floor call is received by the call reception unit 21, determines the car to be allocated to the floor caller from a plurality of cars Ck. Furthermore, the elevator group management device 20 also includes an infection risk calculation unit 22, which calculates an infection risk value Rk for each car Ck based on the total travel time of users who have used that car within the most recent specified period. The car allocation determination unit 23 then determines the car to be allocated to the floor caller based on the calculated infection risk value Rk. Therefore, it is possible to allocate a car with a larger total travel time of users within the most recent specified period—that is, a car that has been used for longer periods or under more crowded conditions—to a new floor caller. Therefore, in elevators with multiple cars, the risk of the spread of infectious diseases caused by the user who first uses the car can be reduced, regardless of whether the user has symptoms of an infectious disease.
[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the infection risk calculation unit 22 considers the user's elevator travel time, the door opening time of the car Ck, and the operating time of the air purification device 13 to calculate the infection risk value Rk has been explained. However, as long as at least the user's elevator travel time is considered when calculating the infection risk value Rk, the door opening time of the car Ck and the operating time of the air purification device 13 can be appropriately omitted. For example, in the above equation (1), the term of the ventilation history evaluation value Rvk can be omitted, and in the above equation (3), the term related to the door opening time Tdkm or the term related to the operating time Tpkn of the air purification device 13 can also be omitted. This is also true in the embodiments shown below.
[0047] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, for ease of understanding, the case with two cars (k=1, 2) was illustrated, but it can also be three or more cars. For example, in the case with three cars, k=1, 2, 3. The same applies to the embodiments shown below.
[0048] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it was described that the car allocation decision unit 23 evaluates each car using the above formula (4) based on the infection risk value and the expected time until the car reaches the floor where the call was made, and determines the car with the best evaluation as the allocation car, but it is not limited to this. For example, the car allocation decision unit 23 can determine the car with the lowest infection risk value as the allocation car. Thus, the user can take the car with a lower infection risk. In addition, the car allocation decision unit 23 can select cars whose expected time until reaching the floor where the call was made is below a predetermined threshold as allocation candidate cars, and determine the car with the lowest infection risk value among the allocation candidate cars as the allocation car. In addition, the car allocation decision unit 23 can select cars whose infection risk value is below a preset allowable risk value as allocation candidate cars, and determine the allocation car from the allocation candidate cars. Thus, the user can avoid taking the car whose infection risk value exceeds the allowable risk value. This is also the case in the embodiments shown below.
[0049] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the infection risk calculation unit 22 calculates the infection risk value when the call reception unit 21 receives a floor call has been described, but it is not limited to this. The infection risk calculation unit 22 may also calculate the infection risk value periodically or irregularly in addition to when a floor call is received, or it may calculate the infection risk value periodically or irregularly instead of when a floor call is received. In this case, the car allocation determination unit 23 can determine the car allocation by referring to the infection risk value calculated at the moment closest to when the floor call was received. This is also the case in the embodiments shown below.
[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the operation control unit 12 may also have the function of controlling the operation of the air purifier 13 based on the infection risk value. For example, the operation control unit 12 can determine whether the infection risk value calculated by the infection risk calculation unit 22 exceeds a preset threshold, and if it determines that the threshold has been exceeded, it will operate the air purifier 13. Additionally, the operation control unit 12 can also operate the air purifier 13 for a longer period or increase its output when the infection risk value is higher. This operation control unit 12 corresponds to the operation control unit of the present invention. This is also true in the embodiments shown below.
[0051] [Second Implementation]
[0052] The elevator group management system 100 of the second embodiment will be described below. Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the general structure of the elevator group management system 100. (See diagram for example.) Figure 4 As shown, the elevator group management system 100 differs from the first embodiment in the following aspects: it also includes an information acquisition device 18 that obtains information capable of identifying the user from a card key or similar device carried by the user; the storage unit 129 further stores user-related information 96, information 97 related to infection status differentiated by age group, and information 98 related to infection status differentiated by region; the infection risk calculation unit 122 further considers the user-related information to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck. In the following description, these differences will be the focus, and descriptions of structures identical to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
[0053] Information acquisition device 18 is installed in each floor station or in each car Ck, and obtains information (user identification information) that can identify the user from the card key, portable terminal, wireless tag, etc. carried by the user in a contact or non-contact manner, such as a card reader.
[0054] The storage unit 129 stores user association information 96, which is a collection of information related to the user. For example, as shown in Table 1 below, a database corresponding to the user's age, address, workplace information and the user's identification information is established and stored as user association information 96.
[0055] [Table 1]
[0056]
[0057] Additionally, storage unit 129 stores information 97 related to the infection status categorized by age group. For example, as shown in Table 2 below, a first index, which numerically represents the extent of infection spread for each age group, is stored as information 97 related to the infection status categorized by age group. Here, the first index is, for example, obtained by numerically representing the extent of infection spread for each age group using a prescribed formula, based on information such as the number of positive cases of infectious diseases for each age group published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The greater the extent of infection spread in an age group, the larger the value of the first index. Storage unit 129 corresponds to the first storage unit of the present invention.
[0058] [Table 2]
[0059]
[0060] Furthermore, storage unit 129 stores information 98 related to the infection status by region. For example, as shown in Table 3 below, a second index, which numerically represents the extent of infection spread in each region, is stored as information 98 related to the infection status by region. Here, the second index is, for example, an index obtained by numerically representing the extent of infection spread in each region using a prescribed formula, based on information such as the number of positive cases of infectious diseases by prefecture published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The greater the extent of infection spread in a region, the larger the value of the second index. This storage unit 129 also corresponds to the second storage unit of the present invention.
[0061] [Table 3]
[0062]
[0063] When the call reception unit 21 receives a call for elevator service at a floor, the infection risk calculation unit 122 calculates the infection risk value Rk for each car Ck (k=1, 2). At this time, in addition to considering information such as the total elevator travel time of users who have used the car in the most recent specified period, the infection risk calculation unit 122 also considers information such as the age of each user to calculate the infection risk value Rk. Specifically, the infection risk calculation unit 122 calculates the historical evaluation value Rrk of each car Ck according to the following formula (5), and inputs the calculated value into the above formula (1) to calculate the infection risk value Rk. The following formula (5) is an expression that adds the variable Qkj (k=1, 2) obtained based on information such as the age of each user to the above formula (2) used to calculate the historical evaluation value Rrk in the first embodiment.
[0064] [Formula 5]
[0065]
[0066] In equation (5) above, Trkj (k=1, 2) is the elevator travel time of each user (j=1, 2, ...) who used car Ck in the most recent specified period, and Qkj is an individual risk assessment value that evaluates the risk of the user spreading infectious diseases based on information such as the age of each user (j=1, 2, ...) who used car Ck. This individual risk assessment value Qkj can be calculated based on information related to the infectious disease status of the age group including the user's age, information related to the infectious disease status of the area where the user lives (address, workplace, etc.).
[0067] The infection risk calculation unit 122 refers to the user association information 96 stored in the storage unit 129 and obtains information on the user's age, address, and workplace corresponding to the user identification information obtained by the information acquisition device 18. This infection risk calculation unit 122 corresponds to the first information acquisition unit and the second information acquisition unit of the present invention.
[0068] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 122 refers to the information 97 related to the infection status by age group and the information 98 related to the infection status by region stored in the storage unit 29, obtains the value of the first indicator corresponding to the user's age, the value of the second indicator corresponding to the user's address, and the value of the second indicator corresponding to the user's workplace, and sums these values as the user's personal risk assessment value Qkj.
[0069] Here, in Figure 2 In the situation shown, a specific example of calculating the infection risk value Rk and determining the allocation of the elevator car based on the infection risk value Rk will be described using this second embodiment. In this case, it is assumed that the identification information of users A and B who used car C1 and the identification information of user C who used car C2 are obtained in advance by the information acquisition device 18.
[0070] When the infection risk calculation unit 122 receives a floor call, it first refers to the user association information 96 (Table 1) stored in the storage unit 129 and establishes corresponding age, address, and workplace information for each user based on the identification information obtained by the information acquisition device 18. For user A, the information obtained is: age = 42 years old, address = Aichi, workplace = Aichi. For user B, the information obtained is: age = 26 years old, address = Tokyo, workplace = Tokyo. For user C, the information obtained is: age = 35 years old, address = Osaka, workplace = Aichi.
[0071] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 122 refers to the information 97 (Table 2) related to infection status by age group and the information 98 (Table 3) related to infection status by region stored in the storage unit 129, and obtains the values of the first indicator corresponding to each user's age, the second indicator corresponding to their address, and the second indicator corresponding to their workplace. For user A, the information obtained is that the first indicator corresponding to age = 1, the second indicator corresponding to address = 1, and the second indicator corresponding to workplace = 1. For user B, the information obtained is that the first indicator corresponding to age = 3, the second indicator corresponding to address = 3, and the second indicator corresponding to workplace = 3. For user C, the information obtained is that the first indicator corresponding to age = 2, the second indicator corresponding to address = 2, and the second indicator corresponding to workplace = 1.
[0072] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 122 sums up the values of the aforementioned indicators for each user and calculates the individual risk assessment value Qkj. The individual risk assessment value Q11 of the first user A in car C1 is 3 (=1+1+1), the individual risk assessment value Q12 of the second user B in car C1 is 9 (=3+3+3), and the individual risk assessment value Q21 of the first user C in car C2 is 5 (=2+2+1).
[0073] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 22 uses formula (5) to calculate the historical evaluation value R of each car Ck. Thus, the historical evaluation value Rr1 of car C1 is 105 (= (Q11×Tr11) + (Q12×Tr12) = (3×5) + (9×10)) and the historical evaluation value Rr2 of car C2 is 25 (= Q21×Tr21 = 5×5). In addition, the infection risk calculation unit 22 uses formula (3) to calculate the ventilation historical evaluation value Rvk of each car Ck. Regarding this aspect, similar to the first embodiment, the calculation results are obtained: the ventilation historical evaluation value Rv1 of car C1 is 5 and the ventilation historical evaluation value Rv2 of car C2 is 5.
[0074] Next, the infection risk calculation unit 22 uses formula (1) to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck. As a result, the infection risk value R1 of car C1 is 100 (=Rr1-Rv1=105-5) and the infection risk value R2 of car C2 is 20 (=Rr2-Rv2=25-5).
[0075] Next, the car allocation decision unit 23 uses formula (4) to calculate the allocation evaluation value Vk of each car Ck. Thus, the calculation results are obtained such that the allocation evaluation value V1 of car C1 is 110 (=T1+R1=10+100) and the allocation evaluation value V2 of car C2 is 50 (=T2+R2=30+20). Then, the car allocation decision unit 23 determines that car C2, with the lower allocation evaluation value Vk among cars C1 and C2, is the car allocated to the landing call elevator.
[0076] As explained above, in the second embodiment, the infection risk calculation unit 122 further considers information on the infection status corresponding to each user's age, address, and workplace to calculate the infection risk value Rk for each car Ck. This allows for the calculation of an infection risk value Rk that more appropriately reflects the risk of infection amplified by each user. Therefore, the car allocation decision unit 23 can determine the car allocation based on this calculated infection risk value Rk.
[0077] Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the information acquisition device 18 obtains user identification information from a card key or the like carried by the user. However, for example, the user can also be photographed by a camera installed at each floor station or in each car Ck, and the user can be identified by image analysis, thereby obtaining the user's identification information.
[0078] Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the case of using the user's age, address, and workplace information to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck was explained. However, it is also possible to use only one or two of these pieces of information, or to use other information of the user in addition to these pieces of information to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck, or to use other information of the user instead of these pieces of information to calculate the infection risk value Rk of each car Ck.
[0079] [Third Implementation Method]
[0080] The third embodiment will now be described. The difference between the third and second embodiments is that the information acquisition device 18 has the function of acquiring information about the age of the user who has entered a floor call and either or both of their underlying medical conditions, and the car allocation decision unit 23 also considers the acquired user's age and other information to determine the car allocation. In the following description, these differences will be the focus, and descriptions of structures identical to those in the second embodiment will be omitted.
[0081] The information acquisition device 18 is a card reader or similar device installed at each floor's landing station. It acquires information about the user's age and any one or both of their underlying medical conditions from a card key, portable terminal, or wireless tag carried by the user who has entered a landing call. This information acquisition device 18 corresponds to the third information acquisition unit of the present invention.
[0082] The car allocation decision unit 23 sets a permissible risk value based on information obtained by the information acquisition device 18 regarding the user's age and any one or both of their underlying medical conditions. Cars with an infection risk value Rk below this set permissible risk value are selected as candidate cars for allocation, and the car to be allocated is determined from these candidate cars. At this time, the car allocation decision unit 23 evaluates the degree to which the user can tolerate the risk of infectious disease transmission based on information related to the user's age and any one or both of their underlying medical conditions. The lower the degree of tolerance, the lower the permissible risk value is set. This prevents users with weak resistance to infectious diseases or those with underlying medical conditions from riding in cars where the infection risk value Rk exceeds the permissible risk value.
Claims
1. An elevator group management device, comprising: The elevator call handling unit handles elevator calls at its designated floor level; and The car allocation decision unit, when the call handling unit receives the call for elevator at a landing, determines from multiple cars which to allocate to the elevator making the call at that landing. The elevator group management device also includes an infection risk calculation unit, which calculates the infection risk value of each car based on the total riding time of users who have used that car within the most recent specified period. The car allocation decision unit determines which car to allocate to the call elevator at each floor based on the calculated infection risk value. The elevator group management device also has: The second information acquisition unit acquires information relating to either or both of the user's residential address and workplace; and The second storage unit stores information related to the regional distribution of infectious diseases. The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on any one or both of the information related to the infection status by region stored in the second storage unit, the information corresponding to the user's address, and the information corresponding to the user's workplace.
2. The elevator group management device according to claim 1, wherein, The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the opening time of the car within the most recent specified period.
3. The elevator group management device according to claim 1, wherein, The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the operating time of the air purification device installed in the car during the most recent specified period.
4. The elevator group management device according to claim 2, wherein, The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the operating time of the air purification device installed in the car during the most recent specified period.
5. The elevator group management device according to claim 1, wherein, The elevator group management device also has: A first information acquisition unit acquires information related to the user's age; and The first storage unit stores information related to the age-group-specific infectious disease status. The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the information related to the infection status classified by age group stored in the first storage unit and the information corresponding to the user's age.
6. The elevator group management device according to claim 2, wherein, The elevator group management device also has: A first information acquisition unit acquires information related to the user's age; and The first storage unit stores information related to the age-group-specific infectious disease status. The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the information related to the infection status classified by age group stored in the first storage unit and the information corresponding to the user's age.
7. The elevator group management device according to claim 3, wherein, The elevator group management device also has: A first information acquisition unit acquires information related to the user's age; and The first storage unit stores information related to the age-group-specific infectious disease status. The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the information related to the infection status classified by age group stored in the first storage unit and the information corresponding to the user's age.
8. The elevator group management device according to claim 4, wherein, The elevator group management device also has: A first information acquisition unit acquires information related to the user's age; and The first storage unit stores information related to the age-group-specific infectious disease status. The infection risk calculation unit also calculates the infection risk value based on the information related to the infection status classified by age group stored in the first storage unit and the information corresponding to the user's age.
9. The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The car allocation decision unit evaluates each car based on the infection risk value and the expected time until the car reaches the floor where the call for elevator was made, and determines the car with the best evaluation as the allocated car.
10. The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The car allocation decision unit selects cars whose expected time to reach the floor where the call was made is below a predetermined threshold as candidate cars for allocation, and determines the car with the lowest infection risk value among the candidate cars as the assigned car.
11. The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The car allocation decision unit determines the car with the lowest infection risk value among the multiple cars as the allocated car.
12. The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The elevator group management device also includes a third information acquisition unit, which acquires information about the age of the user who calls the elevator at a floor level, as well as information about any one or both of their underlying medical conditions. The car allocation decision unit sets an allowable risk value based on information obtained by the third information acquisition unit regarding the user's age and any one or both of their underlying diseases. Cars with infection risk values below the set allowable risk value are selected as candidate cars for allocation, and the car to be allocated is determined from these candidate cars.
13. The elevator group management device according to claim 12, wherein, The car allocation decision unit evaluates the degree of permissible risk of infectious disease transmission based on information related to the age of the user who has entered the floor call and either or both of their underlying medical conditions. The lower the permissible level, the lower the permissible risk value is set.
14. An elevator group management device, comprising: The elevator call handling unit handles elevator calls at its designated floor level; and The car allocation decision unit, when the call handling unit receives the call for elevator at a landing, determines from multiple cars which to allocate to the elevator making the call at that landing. The elevator group management device also includes an infection risk calculation unit, which calculates the infection risk value of each car based on the total riding time of users who have used that car within the most recent specified period. The car allocation decision unit determines which car to allocate to the call elevator at each floor based on the calculated infection risk value. The elevator group management device also includes a third information acquisition unit, which acquires information about the age of the user who calls the elevator at a floor level, as well as information about any one or both of their underlying medical conditions. The car allocation decision unit sets an allowable risk value based on information obtained by the third information acquisition unit regarding the user's age and any one or both of their underlying diseases. Cars with infection risk values below the set allowable risk value are selected as candidate cars for allocation, and the car to be allocated is determined from these candidate cars.
15. The elevator group management device according to claim 14, wherein, The car allocation decision unit evaluates the degree of permissible risk of infectious disease transmission based on information related to the age of the user who has entered the floor call and either or both of their underlying medical conditions. The lower the permissible level, the lower the permissible risk value is set.
16. An elevator group management system, wherein, The elevator group management system has the following features: The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 15; The plurality of cars; and The operation control unit controls the operation of the plurality of cars in accordance with the car allocation decision made by the car allocation decision unit.
17. The elevator group management system according to claim 16, wherein, The elevator group management system also includes an operation control unit, which controls the operation of the air purification device installed in the car based on the infection risk value calculated by the infection risk calculation unit.