Elevator system

Abstract

The invention provides an elevator system capable of mastering the condition of a user through simpler information processing. An elevator system (1) is provided with a plurality of detectors (14) and an estimation unit (15). Each of the detectors (14) is provided to at least one of a car (7) and a counterweight (8), each of a plurality of floors in a building. Each detector (14) is capable of detecting a wireless signal (13) transmitted from the portable device (12) in such a way that the portable device (12) can be identified. The estimation unit (15) estimates, for each of the detectors (14), congestion information of a portion corresponding to the detector (14) on the basis of the number of detected wireless signals (13) from the portable device (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to elevator systems. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an example of an elevator system. In the elevator system, a stereo camera installed in the car captures the range from the inside of the car to the landing of the floor where the car stops, which can be seen through the door. An image processing device calculates the three-dimensional position information of users getting on and off the car based on the image captured by the stereo camera, thereby measuring the number of users.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-175049 Summary of the invention

[0005] In the elevator system of Patent Document 1, the image captured by the stereo camera installed in the car is processed to grasp the status of the landing such as the number of users at the landing. Therefore, grasping the status of users at the landing etc. requires advanced information processing such as image processing.

[0006] The present invention is made to solve such a problem and provides an elevator system capable of understanding the user's status through simpler information processing.

[0007] The elevator system of the present invention comprises: a plurality of detectors, which are respectively arranged on each of a plurality of floors in a building where the elevator is installed, on at least one of the elevator car and the counterweight, and can respectively detect wireless signals transmitted from a portable device held by a user of the elevator in a manner capable of identifying the portable device; and an estimation unit, which estimates congestion information of a location corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors based on the number of detections of the wireless signals from the portable device.

[0008] Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the elevator system of the present invention, the situation of the user can be understood through simpler information processing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a configuration diagram of the elevator system according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing an operation example of the elevator system according to the first embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a hardware configuration diagram of a main portion of the elevator system according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Description of symbols

[0014] 1: Elevator system; 2: Elevator; 3: Hoistway; 4: Floor station; 5: Traction machine; 6: Main rope; 7: Car; 8: Counterweight; 9: Control panel; 10: Group management device; 11: Distribution unit; 12: Portable device; 13: Wireless signal; 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14c1, 14c2, 14c3, 14c4: Detector; 15: Estimation unit; 100a: Processor; 100b: Memory; 200: Special hardware. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent parts, and repeated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. In addition, the object of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and any constituent element of the embodiments can be deformed or omitted without departing from the scope of the purpose of the present invention.

[0016] Implementation method 1.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a configuration diagram of the elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0018] The elevator system 1 includes one or more elevators 2. In this example, the elevator system 1 includes a plurality of elevators 2. Each elevator 2 is applied to a building having a plurality of floors. A shaft 3 for the elevator 2 is provided in the building. The shaft 3 is a space that is long in the vertical direction across a plurality of floors. At each floor of the building, a landing 4 adjacent to the shaft 3 is provided. Each elevator 2 includes a traction machine 5, a main rope 6, a car 7, a counterweight 8, and a control panel 9.

[0019] The hoisting machine 5 is arranged, for example, at the top or bottom of the hoistway 3. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 2 is provided above the hoistway 3, the hoisting machine 5 may be arranged in the machine room. The hoisting machine 5 includes a motor and a sheave. The motor of the hoisting machine 5 is a device that generates a driving force. The sheave of the hoisting machine 5 is a device that rotates by the driving force generated by the motor of the hoisting machine 5.

[0020] The main rope 6 is hung around the sheave of the hoisting machine 5. The main rope 6 supports the load of the car 7 on one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5. The main rope 6 supports the load of the counterweight 8 on the other side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5. The main rope 6 moves so that one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5 is pulled by the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5.

[0021] The car 7 is a device for transporting users of the elevator 2 between multiple floors by running vertically in the hoistway 3. The car 7 runs vertically in the hoistway 3 in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 6 achieved by the rotation of the sheave of the traction machine 5.

[0022] The counterweight 8 is a device for balancing the load applied to both sides of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5 with the car 7. The counterweight 8 moves in the hoistway 3 to the opposite side of the car 7 in the vertical direction in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 6 achieved by the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5.

[0023] The control panel 9 is a device for controlling the movement of the elevator 2. The control panel 9 is, for example, arranged at the upper part or the lower part of the shaft 3. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 2 is provided above the shaft 3, the control panel 9 may also be arranged in the machine room. The movement of the elevator 2 controlled by the control panel 9 includes the movement of the car 7, etc. The movement of the car 7 includes the start, acceleration, constant speed movement, deceleration and stop of the car 7, etc. For example, the control panel 9 causes the car 7 to travel between multiple floors in response to the elevator call registered by the user. At this time, the control panel 9 causes the car 7 to stop after traveling to a certain floor according to the elevator call of the user, and then causes the car 7 to start again in response to other elevator calls, etc.

[0024] In this example, the elevator system 1 includes a group control device 10. The group control device 10 is a device that performs operation management of the elevators 2 included in the elevator system 1. The group control device 10 includes an allocation unit 11. The allocation unit 11 is a part equipped with a function of allocating calls to each elevator 2. The allocation unit 11 allocates calls to each elevator 2 in a manner that can improve the overall operation efficiency of the elevator system 1. The allocation unit 11 allocates calls to the elevators 2 based on the user status of the elevator 2, for example. In addition, when the elevator system 1 includes only a single elevator 2, for example, the elevator system 1 may not include the group control device 10.

[0025] In this example, more than a certain percentage of users of the elevator system 1 hold a portable device 12. The portable device 12 is, for example, a generally popular portable device such as a smart phone, a smart watch or a wireless headset. The portable device 12 is equipped with a wireless communication function with a communication range of, for example, a few meters to tens of meters. The portable device 12 is equipped with a wireless communication function based on, for example, the IEEE802.15.1 standard or the IEEE802.11 standard, or their related standards, lower standards, upper standards, successor standards, interchangeable standards or similar standards. When the wireless communication function is valid, the portable device 12 sends a wireless signal 13 that enables the portable device 12 to be identified. The wireless signal 13 includes, for example, identification information of the portable device 12. The wireless signal 13 is, for example, a radio wave signal containing the inherent ID information (ID: IDentifier; identifier) ​​of the portable device 12, which is communicated as the initial stage for establishing two-way communication between devices performing wireless communication. The wireless signal 13 may also be, for example, an advertising signal. The strength of the wireless signal 13 is attenuated when passing through a wall or floor of the landing 4 or the car 7 or the like.

[0026] An information collection system for grasping the user status is applied in the elevator system 1. The information collection system may be an internal system included in the elevator system 1 or an external system applied to the elevator system 1 from the outside. A part or all of the information collection system may be included in the elevator system 1. The information collection system estimates information such as congestion information in the landing 4 and the car 7 of each floor as the user status.

[0027] The information collection system is equipped with a plurality of detectors. The plurality of detectors include detectors 14a, detectors 14b, detectors 14c1, detectors 14c2, detectors 14c3, and detectors 14c4. Here, when the detectors 14a, 14b, 14c1, detectors 14c2, detectors 14c3, and detectors 14c4 are not specifically distinguished, sometimes only detectors 14 are recorded. In addition, when the detectors 14c1, 14c2, detectors 14c3, and detectors 14c4 are not specifically distinguished, sometimes only detectors 14c are recorded. Each detector 14 is set at a corresponding part of the elevator 2. Detector 14a is set in the car 7. Here, the detector 14a set in the car 7 is sometimes recorded as a car detector. When the elevator system 1 includes a plurality of elevators 2, the detector 14a can be set in all cars 7 or only in a part of the cars 7. Detector 14b is set in the counterweight 8. Here, the detector 14b set in the counterweight 8 is sometimes recorded as a counterweight detector. When the elevator system 1 includes a plurality of elevators 2, the detector 14b may be provided on all counterweights 8 or only on a part of the counterweights 8. The detector 14c1 is provided on the landing 4 on the first floor. The detector 14c2 is provided on the landing 4 on the second floor. The detector 14c3 is provided on the landing 4 on the third floor. The detector 14c4 is provided on the landing 4 on the fourth floor. Here, the detectors 14c1, 14c2, 14c3, and 14c4 provided on the landings 4 on each floor of the building are sometimes described as floor detectors. In addition, in the building, the detectors 14c may be provided on the landings 4 on all floors, or there may be floors where the detectors 14c are not provided on the landings 4. The detector 14 is equipped with a wireless communication function in such a manner that it can detect the wireless signal 13 transmitted from the portable device 12 held by the user.

[0028] The information collection system includes an estimation unit 15. The estimation unit 15 is mounted on, for example, a group management device 10. In addition, when the elevator 2 includes only a single elevator 2, the estimation unit 15 may be mounted on the control panel 9 of the elevator 2. In addition, the estimation unit 15 may be mounted on a server device outside the elevator system 1. The estimation unit 15 has a function of estimating user status information such as congestion information. The estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information of the part corresponding to each detector 14 based on the number of detections of the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12. The congestion information may be, for example, the number of users at each part, or a quantity represented by a ratio such as the number of users per unit area, the occupancy rate of users at each part, or the user riding rate in the car 7. The grasping of user information in the information collection system is performed, for example, as described below.

[0029] Each detector 14 detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 at a predetermined frequency, for example. The detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 outputs detection data including the corresponding part of the detector 14, identification information included in the wireless signal 13, and reception strength information of the wireless signal 13 to the estimation unit 15. The detection data output from the detector 14 to the estimation unit 15 may also include profile information of the portable device 12 read from the wireless signal 13 by the detector 14. The profile information includes, for example, information indicating the type of the portable device 12 such as a smartphone, a smart watch, or a wireless headset.

[0030] The estimation unit 15 receives detection data from each detector 14. The estimation unit 15 processes each piece of identification information received from the detector 14. For example, when the detection data of the identification information "AAA" is received from the detector 14c3, the detection data of the identification information "AAA", "BBB" and "CCC" are received from the detector 14c2, and the detection data of the identification information "BBB" is received from the detector 14a, the estimation unit 15 sequentially performs processing related to the identification information "AAA", "BBB" and "CCC".

[0031] The estimation unit 15 delineates, for each piece of identification information, at which location the portable device 12 identified by the identification information is located. The estimation unit 15 determines at which location each portable device 12 is located based on the delineated result. The estimation unit 15 totals the number of portable devices 12 detected for each location where the detector 14 is installed. Here, the estimation unit 15 may also total the number of portable devices 12 detected, for example, when the detector 14b detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12, deeming that the portable device 12 is located at the floor station 4 of the floor where the counterweight 8 where the detector 14b is installed is currently located. The estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information of each location based on the total number of portable devices 12 detected. For example, the estimation unit 15 may directly use the total number of portable devices 12 detected as the estimated value of the number of people in each location, or may multiply the number of portable devices 12 detected by a coefficient pre-set according to the ratio of users holding the portable devices 12, etc. to obtain the estimated value of the number of people in each location. The congestion information estimated in the information collection system is used, for example, for operation management in the group management device 10 or for motion control of the elevator 2 in the control device. The information collection system estimates user status information such as congestion information using a wireless signal 13 from a generally popular portable device 12, so that an unspecified number of users can be used as detection targets. The estimation unit 15 delimits the location where the portable device 12 exists, for example, as described below.

[0032] The estimation unit 15, for example, delineates the location where the portable device 12 exists based on the reception strength of the wireless signal 13 in each detector 14. Generally speaking, the signal strength of the wireless signal 13 attenuates the farther away from the portable device 12 as the transmission source, and further attenuates if there is a wall or floor between them. Therefore, it can be estimated that the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with a stronger reception strength is located at a position closer to the portable device 12 or at a position not separated by a wall or floor between them. For example, consider a case where any multiple detectors among the multiple detectors 14 detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. In this case, the multiple detectors 14 that detect the wireless signal 13 are examples of receiving detectors. The multiple detectors 14 that detect the wireless signal 13 may be all the detectors 14 of the information collection system or may be part of the detectors 14 of the information collection system. The estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by considering that the portable device 12 identified by the wireless signal 13 exists at the location corresponding to the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the strongest reception strength among the multiple detectors 14 that detect the wireless signal 13.

[0033] In addition, the estimation unit 15 may also regard that the portable device 12 identified based on the wireless signal 13 exists at the location corresponding to the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the strongest receiving intensity when the difference between the receiving intensity of the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the strongest receiving intensity and the receiving intensity of other detectors 14 is greater than a preset threshold value. The other detector 14 is, for example, a detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the second strongest receiving intensity. At this time, the estimation unit 15 may also circle the location where the portable device 12 exists by other methods when the difference between the receiving intensity of the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the strongest receiving intensity and the receiving intensity of other detectors 14 is less than a preset threshold value.

[0034] Alternatively, the estimation unit 15 may also locate the location where the portable device 12 exists, for example, based on the operation of the elevator system 1. For example, the detector 14a or the like provided in the car 7 may include information such as the position of the car 7 in the detection data and output it to the estimation unit 15. In addition, the estimation unit 15 may obtain information such as the position of the car 7 when the detection data is received from any detector 14 from the control panel 9 or the like of the elevator 2. For example, consider a case where the car 7 of the elevator 2 stops at the 2nd floor, and the detector 14a and the detector 14c2 detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. In this case, the 2nd floor of the building is an example of the 1st floor, and the detector 14c2 is an example of the 1st floor detector. When the floor detector that detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 moves from the detector 14c2 to another detector 14 installed on another floor together with the car 7 that has stopped at the second floor starting from the second floor, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by considering that the portable device 12 recognized by the wireless signal 13 exists in the car 7 corresponding to the detector 14a. In this case, the other floor is an example of the second floor, and the other detector 14 is an example of the second floor detector. In addition, when, for example, the state in which the wireless signal 13 is detected by the detector 14c2 among the floor detectors changes to the state in which the wireless signal 13 is detected by another floor detector such as the detector 14c3 among the floor detectors or the detector 14c1, the estimation unit 15 determines that the floor detector that detects the wireless signal 13 has moved from the detector 14c2 to another detector 14. Alternatively, the estimation unit 15 may determine that the floor detector detecting the wireless signal 13 has moved from detector 14c2 to another detector 14 when the reception strength of the wireless signal 13 in other detectors 14 such as detector 14c3 or detector 14c1 is stronger than the reception strength of the wireless signal 13 in detector 14c2.

[0035] Alternatively, the estimation unit 15 may also locate the location of the portable device 12 based on the configuration of each detector 14, for example. For example, consider a case where three or more floor detectors disposed on three or more different consecutive floors among the plurality of detectors 14 detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. More specifically, for example, consider a case where the detector 14c2, the detector 14c3, and the detector 14c4 detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. These detectors 14 are disposed on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors, respectively. At this time, generally, the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 is emitted isotropically, and therefore, it can be estimated that the portable device 12 is more likely to be located near the 3rd floor in the center. Therefore, the estimation unit 15 excludes the locations corresponding to the detectors 14 disposed on the upper and lower floors from the locations where the portable device 12 is considered to exist, and estimates the congestion information. In this example, the estimation unit 15 excludes the landings 4 on the 2nd and 4th floors where the detectors 14c2 and 14c4 are installed from the locations where the portable device 12 is considered to exist. The estimation unit 15 may exclude the landings 4 on the upper and lower floors from the locations where the portable device 12 is considered to exist when four or more floor detectors detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. In this case, the location where the portable device 12 is located may be delineated by other methods for multiple detectors 14 installed on multiple floors near the center.

[0036] In addition, the estimation unit 15 may also determine the identification information corresponding to the same user based on the profile information included in the detection data. For example, a smartphone and a wireless headset as the portable device 12 are generally used by the same user at the same time. In this case, for example, when it is determined that a group of portable devices 12 detected at the same location are a smartphone and a wireless headset, the estimation unit 15 determines that these portable devices 12 are held by the same user to estimate the congestion information. In this case, the estimation unit 15 may, for example, estimate the congestion information using only the detection result of one of these portable devices 12, or may estimate the congestion information by multiplying the coefficient corresponding to the probability of being held by the same user by the number of detections of these portable devices 12 and then subtracting a positive decimal value less than 1. In this way, the information collection system can take into account the situation where the same user holds multiple portable devices 12, thereby further improving the estimation accuracy of the congestion information. The estimation unit 15 may also perform the same processing on other combinations of portable devices 12 that are generally used by the same user at the same time.

[0037] In addition, a user holding a portable device 12 may stay at a place near the landing 4, or may just pass by the landing 4 without riding the car 7. In such a case, the estimation unit 15 may determine that the user does not ride the car 7 and exclude the portable device 12 of the user from the estimation object of the congestion information, for example, as described below.

[0038] For example, when a user gets off the car 7, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user will not ride the car 7 again and excludes the portable device 12 of the user from the estimated object of the congestion information. For example, consider a case where the car 7 of the elevator 2 is parked at an arbitrary floor and the detector 14a provided in the car 7 detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12. In this case, the floor is an example of the third floor, and the detector 14 provided in the floor is an example of the third floor detector. More specifically, for example, consider a case where the car 7 is parked at the second floor. When the detector 14 detecting the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 moves from the detector 14a to the detector 14c2 together with the car 7 that has been parked at the second floor and restarts from the second floor, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user holding the portable device 12 has gotten off the car 7 and will not ride the car again. In this case, the estimation unit 15 excludes the portable device 12 from the total object in the estimation of the congestion information until a predetermined time has passed. In addition, the estimation unit 15 determines that the detector 14 that has detected the wireless signal 13 has moved from the detector 14a to the detector 14c2, for example, when the state where the wireless signal 13 is detected by the detector 14a changes to the state where the wireless signal 13 is detected by the detector 14c2. Alternatively, the estimation unit 15 may determine that the detector 14 that has detected the wireless signal 13 has moved from the detector 14a to the other detector 14c2, when the reception strength of the wireless signal 13 in the detector 14c2 is stronger than the reception strength of the wireless signal 13 in the detector 14a.

[0039] Alternatively, the estimation unit 15 may exclude the portable device 12 of the user from the estimation object of the congestion information, for example, if the user does not board the available car 7, by determining that the user has no intention of boarding the car 7. For example, consider a situation where the car 7 stops at any floor, the top or bottom, due to a call, when the riding rate is lower than a preset threshold, and the detector 14 installed at the landing 4 of the floor detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12. In this case, the floor is an example of the 4th floor, and the detector 14 installed at the floor is an example of the 4th floor detector. More specifically, for example, consider a situation where the car 7 stops at the 1st floor. In addition, the riding rate of the car 7 can be measured, for example, by a weighing device installed at the car 7, or can be obtained by other methods. In addition, the call can be any one of a landing call, a car call, and other calls. When the detector 14 detecting the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 does not move from the detector 14c1 to the detector 14a together with the car 7 that has stopped at the first floor and restarts from the first floor, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user has not boarded the car 7. At this time, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information excluding the portable device 12 until the preset time has passed.

[0040] The estimation unit 15 may also perform the same processing at an intermediate floor other than the uppermost floor or the lowermost floor. For example, consider a case where the elevator occupancy rate is lower than a preset threshold value, and the car 7 stops at any intermediate floor due to calls to both the upper floor and the lower floor, and the detector 14 installed at the landing station 4 of the intermediate floor detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12. In this case, the intermediate floor is an example of the 5th floor, and the detector 14 installed at the intermediate floor is an example of the 5th floor detector. More specifically, for example, consider a case where the car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to calls to both the upper floor and the lower floor. In the case where the elevator system 1 has a plurality of cars 7, for example, when a car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to going to the upper floor, and at the same time, another car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to going to the lower floor, the estimation unit 15 determines that the car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to calls to both the upper floor and the lower floor. In addition, for example, when a certain car 7 stops at the 2nd floor when going to the upper floor or the lower floor, and then another car 7 stops at the 2nd floor in the opposite direction before a preset time has passed, the estimation unit 15 may determine that the car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to both calls to the upper floor and the lower floor. Alternatively, when a certain car 7 stops at the 2nd floor when going to the upper floor or the lower floor, and then the car 7 stops at the 2nd floor in the opposite direction before a preset time has passed, the estimation unit 15 may determine that the car 7 stops at the 2nd floor due to both calls to the upper floor and the lower floor. In addition, when the detector 14 detecting the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 does not move from the detector 14c2 to the detector 14a together with the car 7 stopped at the 2nd floor restarting from the 2nd floor, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user is not riding in the car 7. In this case, the estimation unit 15 excludes the portable device 12 and estimates the congestion information until the preset time has passed.

[0041] In addition, the information collection system may include only the detector 14a or the detector 14b as the plurality of detectors 14. For example, in the case where the information collection system includes only the detector 14a provided in the car 7, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information, for example, as described below. The detector 14a can detect the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 located on each floor when the car 7 passes through the floors of the building and when it stops at the floors of the building. When the detector 14a continues to detect the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 after the car 7 stopped at any floor starts from the floor, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by regarding the user holding the portable device 12 as being located in the car 7. In addition, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by regarding the user holding the portable device 12 as being located in the landing 4 of the floor where the car 7 is stopped or passing when the detector 14a detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12, for example. In addition, when the information collecting system includes only the detector 14 b provided on the counterweight 8 , the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information in the same manner.

[0042] In addition, the information collection system may also include only a plurality of detectors 14c installed on each floor as the plurality of detectors 14. That is, the information collection system may not include the detectors 14a and 14b. When the detector 14c installed on any floor continues to detect the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 while the car 7 is traveling in the up-down direction, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by considering that the user holding the portable device 12 is located at the landing 4 on that floor. When the detector 14c that detects the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 moves along with the travel of the car 7 while the car 7 is traveling in the up-down direction, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information by considering that the user holding the portable device 12 is located in the car 7.

[0043] Next, use Figure 2 An operation example of the elevator system 1 will be described.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a flowchart showing an operation example of the elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0045] exist Figure 2 2 shows an example of processing of the elevator system 1 related to the grasping of the user status by the information collection system.

[0046] In step S101 to step S114 , the estimation unit 15 enters an unconditional loop and repeatedly performs the processing of step S102 to step S113 .

[0047] In step S102, the estimation unit 15 obtains detection data from each detector 14. The detection data may be output by querying each detector 14 from the estimation unit 15, or may be output from each detector 14 at a preset cycle, etc. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S103.

[0048] In steps S103 to S113 , the estimation unit 15 enters a loop for the total number of identification information detected by each detector 14 , and repeats the processing of steps S104 to S112 . The estimation unit 15 performs the processing of steps S104 to S112 for each piece of identification information received from the detector 14 .

[0049] In step S104, the estimation unit 15 determines whether there is only one detector 14 that has detected the identification information processed in this cycle. If there is only one detector 14 that has detected the identification information, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, if there are multiple detectors 14 that have detected the identification information, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S106.

[0050] In step S105, the estimation unit 15 regards that the portable device identified by the identification information processed in this cycle is located at the location corresponding to the detector 14 that detected the identification information, and performs processing related to the estimation of congestion information. The processing related to the estimation of congestion information includes, for example, adding the total value of users at the location. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 enters step S113.

[0051] In step S106, the estimation unit 15 determines whether the difference between the reception strength of the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 with the strongest reception strength and the reception strength of other detectors 14 is greater than a preset threshold value for the identification information processed in this cycle. If the difference in reception strength is greater than the threshold value, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, if the difference in reception strength is less than the threshold value, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S108.

[0052] In step S107, the estimation unit 15 performs processing related to estimating congestion information by assuming that the portable device identified by the identification information processed in this cycle is located at the location corresponding to the detector 14 that detected the identification information with the strongest reception intensity. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S113.

[0053] In step S108, the estimation unit 15 determines whether the car detector and the floor detector detect the identification information processed in this cycle and whether the floor detector that detects the wireless signal 13 moves together with the start of the car 7. In the case where the floor detector that detects the wireless signal 13 moves together with the start of the car 7, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S109. On the other hand, in the case where the floor detector that detects the wireless signal 13 does not move together with the start of the car 7, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S110.

[0054] In step S109, the estimation unit 15 performs processing related to estimation of congestion information by assuming that the portable device identified based on the identification information processed in this cycle is located in the car 7 provided with the car detector. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S113.

[0055] In step S110, the estimation unit 15 determines whether the number of floor detectors detecting the identification information processed in this cycle is three or more. If the number of floor detectors detecting the identification information is three or more, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S111. On the other hand, if the number of floor detectors detecting the identification information is two or less, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S112.

[0056] In step S111, the estimation unit 15 excludes the topmost floor and the bottommost floor of the floors corresponding to the three or more floor detectors that detect the identification information processed in this cycle from the location where the portable device identified by the identification information is considered to exist. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S112.

[0057] In step S112, the estimation unit 15 performs processing related to the estimation of congestion information by assuming that the portable device identified by the identification information processed in this cycle is located in the location corresponding to the detector 14 that detected the identification information with the strongest reception intensity among the non-excluded locations. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S113.

[0058] In step S113, the processing of the estimation unit 15 in the loop related to the current identification information ends. The estimation unit 15 selects one from the unprocessed identification information. Then, the processing of the estimation unit 15 is set as the processing of the next loop, and the process proceeds to step S104. In the case that there is no unprocessed identification information, the processing of the estimation unit 15 proceeds to step S114. In step S114, the processing of the estimation unit 15 is set as the processing of the next unconditional loop, and the process proceeds to step S102.

[0059] As described above, the elevator system 1 of the first embodiment includes a plurality of detectors 14 and an estimation unit 15. Each detector 14 is installed on each of a plurality of floors in a building, at least one of the car 7 and the counterweight 8. Each detector 14 can detect the wireless signal 13 transmitted from the portable device 12 in a manner that can identify the portable device 12. The estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information of the portion corresponding to each detector 14 based on the number of detections of the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12.

[0060] With such a structure, the elevator system 1 can grasp the user's situation through simple information processing such as the total number of detected wireless signals 13 emitted by the portable device 12 held by the user. As a result, the required specifications of the device that performs information processing in the elevator system 1 can be suppressed. In addition, it is sufficient for the detector 14 to be able to perform wireless communication, so it can be installed in a size and arrangement that does not affect the aesthetics. In this way, the elevator system 1 does not require special devices such as stereo cameras, so it is possible to suppress costs, suppress power consumption, and suppress installation space, and it is possible to suppress the reduction of the aesthetics of the elevator system 1. In addition, if a signal for establishing communication based on a communication standard such as an advertising signal is used for the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12, it is not necessary to operate the portable device 12, so the convenience of the user is not impaired. In addition, it is not necessary to install a corresponding application that requires development costs in advance on the portable device 12. The elevator system 1 can be operated according to the grasped user situation, so the convenience of the user's movement efficiency can be further improved.

[0061] Furthermore, when a plurality of detectors 14 detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12, the estimation unit 15 determines whether the difference between the strongest receiving strength and the second strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal 13 in each detector 14 is greater than a preset threshold. If the difference in receiving strength is greater than the threshold, the estimation unit 15 deems that there is a portable device 12 corresponding to the wireless signal 13 at the location corresponding to the detector 14 having the strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal 13, and estimates the congestion information of the location.

[0062] With such a configuration, in estimating the congestion information, the location where the portable device 12 is present can be further narrowed down based on the reception strength of the wireless signal 13, so that the estimation result of the congestion information is more accurate.

[0063] In addition, the detector 14 installed in the car 7 and the detector 14 installed on the floor where the car 7 is parked may sometimes detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12. In this case, when the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 moves from the detector 14 on the floor to the detector 14 on another floor together with the start of the car 7, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information of the car 7 by considering that the portable device 12 exists inside the car 7.

[0064] With such a configuration, in the estimation of congestion information, the location where the portable device 12 is present is further narrowed down based on the operation status of the elevator 2, so that the estimation result of the congestion information is more accurate.

[0065] Furthermore, when three or more floor detectors detect the wireless signal 13 from the same portable device 12 , the estimation unit 15 excludes the uppermost floor and the lowermost floor of the floors where these floor detectors are installed from the location where the portable device 12 is considered to exist.

[0066] With such a configuration, in estimating the congestion information, the location where the portable device 12 is present can be further narrowed down according to the arrangement of the detector 14, so that the estimation result of the congestion information is more accurate.

[0067] Furthermore, when the detector 14 detecting the wireless signal 13 from the portable device 12 of the user moves from the detector 14a of the car 7 to the detector 14c of the floor together with the car 7 restarting after stopping at any floor, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user will not get on the elevator again because he / she has gotten off the car 7. In this case, the estimation unit 15 estimates the congestion information excluding the portable device 12 until the preset time has passed.

[0068] With such a configuration, the estimation unit 15 can exclude users who are predicted not to get on the car 7 again after just getting off the elevator from the estimation of the congestion information, so that the estimation result of the congestion information as the utilization status of the elevator 2 becomes more accurate.

[0069] In addition, when the riding rate is lower than a preset threshold value, the car 7 may stop at the uppermost or lowermost floor due to a call. Then, when the detector 14 detecting the wireless signal 13 from the user's portable device 12 does not move from the detector 14c of the floor to the detector 14a of the car 7 together with the restart of the car 7, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user has not boarded the car 7. In this case, the estimation unit 15 excludes the portable device 12 and estimates the congestion information until the preset time has passed.

[0070] In addition, when the riding rate is lower than a preset threshold value, the car 7 may stop at a floor that is an intermediate floor due to calls to both the upper floor and the lower floor. Then, when the detector 14 that detects the wireless signal 13 from the user's portable device 12 does not move from the detector 14c of the floor to the detector 14a of the car 7 together with the restart of the car 7, the estimation unit 15 determines that the user has not boarded the car 7. In this case, the estimation unit 15 excludes the portable device 12 and estimates the congestion information until the preset time has passed.

[0071] With such a configuration, the estimation unit 15 can exclude users who are predicted not to intend to board the car 7 from the estimation of the congestion information, so that the estimation result of the congestion information as the utilization status of the elevator 2 becomes more accurate.

[0072] Next, use Figure 3 An example of the hardware configuration of the elevator system 1 will be described.

[0073] Figure 3 This is a hardware configuration diagram of a main part of the elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0074] Each function of the elevator system 1 can be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit has at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may have a processor 100a, a memory 100b, and at least one dedicated hardware 200, or the processing circuit may have at least one dedicated hardware 200 instead of the processor 100a and the memory 100b.

[0075] When the processing circuit includes a processor 100a and a memory 100b, each function of the elevator 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 elevator system 1 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b.

[0076] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 100b is composed of a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0077] When the processing circuit has dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuit is implemented by, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0078] Each function of the elevator system 1 can be implemented by a processing circuit separately. Alternatively, each function of the elevator system 1 can also be implemented collectively by a processing circuit. Regarding each function of the elevator system 1, a part can be implemented by dedicated hardware 200, and the other part can be implemented by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit implements each function of the elevator system 1 through dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0079] To summarize the above description, the technology of the present invention can adopt configurations including the configurations shown below as supplementary notes.

[0080] (Note 1)

[0081] An elevator system, wherein the elevator system comprises:

[0082] a plurality of detectors, each of which is provided on each of a plurality of floors of a building in which an elevator is installed, at least one of a car and a counterweight, and is capable of detecting a wireless signal transmitted from a portable device held by a user of the elevator in a manner capable of identifying the portable device; and

[0083] An estimating unit estimates, for each of the plurality of detectors, congestion information of a location corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors based on the number of detections of the wireless signal from the portable device.

[0084] (Note 2)

[0085] The elevator system according to Supplement 1, wherein:

[0086] When multiple receiving detectors included in the multiple detectors detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, and the difference between the receiving strength of the wireless signal in the receiving detector with the strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal among the multiple receiving detectors and the receiving strength of the wireless signal in other receiving detectors with the second strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal is greater than a preset threshold, the estimation unit regards that the portable device exists at the location corresponding to the receiving detector with the strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal and estimates the congestion information of the location.

[0087] (Note 3)

[0088] The elevator system according to Supplement 1 or 2, wherein:

[0089] The multiple detectors include a car detector, a first floor detector, and a second floor detector, wherein the car detector is arranged on the car, the first floor detector is arranged on the first floor among the multiple floors, and the second floor detector is arranged on the second floor adjacent to the first floor among the multiple floors.

[0090] When the car detector and the first floor detector detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, and the detector detecting the wireless signal moves from the first floor detector to the second floor detector together with the start of the car, the estimation unit estimates the congestion information of the car by regarding the portable device as existing inside the car.

[0091] (Note 4)

[0092] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein:

[0093] The plurality of detectors include three or more floor detectors disposed on different floors among the plurality of floors.

[0094] When the three or more floor detectors respectively detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, the estimation unit excludes the part corresponding to the floor detector located at the top floor among the three or more floor detectors and the part corresponding to the floor detector located at the bottom floor among the three or more floor detectors from the parts considered to have the portable device, to estimate the congestion information.

[0095] (Note 5)

[0096] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein:

[0097] The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a third floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the third floor detector is disposed on the third floor among the plurality of floors.

[0098] When the detector detecting the wireless signal moves from the car detector to the third floor detector together with the restart of the car after the car stops at the third floor, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device will not get on the car again because he has got off the car, and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

[0099] (Note 6)

[0100] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, wherein:

[0101] The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a fourth floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the fourth floor detector is disposed on the fourth floor which is the uppermost floor or the lowermost floor among the plurality of floors.

[0102] When the car stops at the 4th floor due to an elevator call under a state where the occupancy rate is lower than a preset threshold, and the detector detecting the wireless signal does not move from the 4th floor detector to the car detector together with the restart of the car, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device did not board the car and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

[0103] (Note 7)

[0104] An elevator system according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, wherein:

[0105] The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a fifth floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the fifth floor detector is disposed on the fifth floor which is an intermediate floor among the plurality of floors.

[0106] When the elevator occupancy rate is lower than a preset threshold, and after the car stops at the 5th floor due to calls to both the upper and lower floors, if the detector detecting the wireless signal has not moved from the 5th floor detector to the car detector together with the restart of the car, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device has not boarded the car and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

Claims

1. An elevator system, wherein: The elevator system comprises: A plurality of detectors, each of which is provided on each of a plurality of floors of a building in which an elevator is provided, at least one of a car and a counterweight, and is capable of detecting a wireless signal transmitted from a portable device held by a user of the elevator in a manner capable of identifying the portable device; as well as An estimating unit estimates, for each of the plurality of detectors, congestion information of a location corresponding to each of the plurality of detectors based on the number of detections of the wireless signal from the portable device.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: When multiple receiving detectors included in the multiple detectors detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, and the difference between the receiving strength of the wireless signal in the receiving detector with the strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal among the multiple receiving detectors and the receiving strength of the wireless signal in other receiving detectors with the second strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal is greater than a preset threshold, the estimation unit regards that the portable device exists at the location corresponding to the receiving detector with the strongest receiving strength of the wireless signal and estimates the congestion information of the location.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The multiple detectors include a car detector, a first floor detector, and a second floor detector, wherein the car detector is arranged on the car, the first floor detector is arranged on the first floor among the multiple floors, and the second floor detector is arranged on the second floor adjacent to the first floor among the multiple floors. When the car detector and the first floor detector detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, and the detector detecting the wireless signal moves from the first floor detector to the second floor detector together with the start of the car, the estimation unit estimates the congestion information of the car by regarding the portable device as existing inside the car.

4. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of detectors include three or more floor detectors disposed on different floors among the plurality of floors. When the three or more floor detectors respectively detect the wireless signal from the same portable device, the estimation unit excludes the part corresponding to the floor detector located at the top floor among the three or more floor detectors and the part corresponding to the floor detector located at the bottom floor among the three or more floor detectors from the parts considered to have the portable device, to estimate the congestion information.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a third floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the third floor detector is disposed on the third floor among the plurality of floors. When the detector detecting the wireless signal moves from the car detector to the third floor detector together with the restart of the car after the car stops at the third floor, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device will not get on the car again because he has got off the car, and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a fourth floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the fourth floor detector is disposed on the fourth floor which is the uppermost floor or the lowermost floor among the plurality of floors. When the car stops at the 4th floor due to an elevator call under a state where the occupancy rate is lower than a preset threshold, and the detector detecting the wireless signal does not move from the 4th floor detector to the car detector together with the restart of the car, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device did not board the car and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of detectors include a car detector and a fifth floor detector, wherein the car detector is disposed on the car, and the fifth floor detector is disposed on the fifth floor which is an intermediate floor among the plurality of floors. When the elevator occupancy rate is lower than a preset threshold, and after the car stops at the 5th floor due to calls to both the upper and lower floors, if the detector detecting the wireless signal has not moved from the 5th floor detector to the car detector together with the restart of the car, the estimation unit determines that the user holding the portable device has not boarded the car and excludes the portable device to estimate the congestion information until a preset time has passed.

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