Elevator system

Abstract

The invention provides an elevator system which can reduce the load of an operator related to registration of a communication format and the like required for communication processing with a robot. An elevator system according to an embodiment includes a storage unit, a communication function determination unit, and a registration control unit. The storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of communication function information corresponding to the types of a plurality of robots capable of using an elevator. The communication function determination unit determines whether communication function information corresponding to the type of the robot is registered in the storage unit when a signal for using the elevator is received from any robot. The registration control unit acquires communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server according to the determination result of the communication function determination unit, and registers the communication function information in the storage unit as communication function information of the robot capable of using the elevator.

Description

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-122408 (filing date: July 27, 2023) and claims priority from the aforementioned application. The present application incorporates the entire contents of the aforementioned application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an elevator system that performs operation control of an elevator such as an elevator or an escalator. Background Art

[0003] In recent years, various robots (autonomous walking robots) such as transport robots and guard robots have been used in buildings such as hotels, hospitals, and offices. These robots can autonomously move on each floor using elevators or escalators installed in the building.

[0004] Here, for example, when a robot uses an elevator, a communication processing function (communication format) for interpreting a communication message of a call signal sent from the robot is required on the elevator control device side. If it is an existing robot, the elevator side has a communication format corresponding to the robot. Therefore, it is possible to correctly interpret a call signal sent from the robot in the elevator lobby of any floor, place the robot in the car, and transport it to the destination floor.

[0005] However, in the case of a new robot, the elevator control device does not have a communication format corresponding to the new robot, so normal communication processing cannot be performed. In this case, even if communication with the new robot is possible, the communication message cannot be correctly interpreted, which may cause malfunctions such as mistaking the destination floor. Therefore, when a new robot is used in a building, it is usually necessary for an operator to go to the site and register the communication format of the new robot in the elevator control device in advance to deal with it. Summary of the invention

[0006] As described above, when a new robot is used in a building, the operator needs to register the communication format for the new robot in advance, which is a burden for the operator. In addition, if there is information required for communication processing in addition to the communication format, the operator needs to intervene when registering the information, which is a burden.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system that can reduce the burden on operators related to registration of a communication format and the like required for communication processing of a robot.

[0008] An elevator system of one embodiment includes: a server, which pre-registers multiple communication function information required for normal communication with each model of multiple robots; and a control device, which is communicably connected to the server via a communication network and controls the operation of the elevator in a building. The control device includes a storage unit, a communication function judgment unit, and a registration control unit. The storage unit stores multiple communication function information corresponding to the models of multiple robots that can use the elevator. When the communication function judgment unit receives a signal for using the elevator from any robot, it determines whether the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot is registered in the storage unit. The registration control unit obtains the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server based on the judgment result of the communication function judgment unit, and registers it in the storage unit as the communication function information of the robot that can use the elevator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the structure of an elevator system according to one embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a robot in this embodiment.

[0011] Figure 3 It is a diagram showing an example of a communication function table in this embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of a robot table in this embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a flowchart for acquiring communication function information from the server in this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of a case where a plurality of robots in this embodiment arrive at an elevator lobby.

[0015] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing an example of a process of deleting a communication format of a robot with low usage frequency as Modification Example 1.

[0016] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an elevator system having a plurality of groups as Modification 2.

[0017] Fig. 9 This is a flowchart of the transfer communication format as variation example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In addition, the disclosure is only an example, and the invention is not limited by the contents described in the following embodiments. Deformations that are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art are of course included in the scope of the present disclosure. In order to explain more clearly, in the accompanying drawings, the size, shape, etc. of each part are sometimes changed relative to the actual embodiment and schematically represented. In multiple drawings, the same reference numerals are added to corresponding elements, and detailed descriptions are sometimes omitted.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system according to one embodiment, and shows a configuration in which an autonomous robot, a server, and an elevator control device are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate.

[0021] Under the control of the elevator control device 20, the passenger car 11 is driven by a hoisting machine (not shown) to perform lifting and lowering actions in the elevator shaft. A hall call button 13 is provided in the elevator lobby 12 on each floor. The hall call button 13 is a button for the user to register a hall call. In addition, "hall call" refers to a call signal registered by operating the hall call button 13 set in the elevator lobby on each floor, and includes information on the registered floor and destination direction. In contrast, "car call" refers to a call signal registered by operating a destination call button (not shown) set in the passenger car 11, and includes information on the destination floor.

[0022] The robots 14a, 14b, and 14c are autonomous walking robots that communicate wirelessly with the elevator control device 20 in the building via the network 10, so that they can move between floors by riding on the passenger car 11. The robots 14a to 14c include, for example, cargo handling robots, security robots, cleaning robots, and maintenance robots. Hereinafter, when the robots 14a to 14c are not particularly distinguished, they are referred to as robots 14 for explanation. When the robot 14 moves to each floor by using the passenger car 11, it sends a signal for using the elevator to the elevator control device 20.

[0023] The "signal for using the elevator" is, for example, a signal sent to the elevator control device when the robot rides in the passenger car, that is, a destination call signal indicating the departure floor and the destination floor. The destination call signal includes identification information for identifying the robot and category information indicating the category (manufacturer, model) of the robot. In addition, for example, when the robot is first introduced into a building, a signal including the identification information and category information and sent to the elevator control device may be used as the initial signal.

[0024] The elevator control device 20 is composed of a computer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and controls the entire elevator. In this embodiment, the elevator control device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, an operation control unit 23, and a robot management unit 24. The communication unit 21 controls the communication of data between the robot 14 and the server 30 via the network 10.

[0025] The storage unit 22 stores hall calls registered by operating hall call buttons 13 provided in the halls of each floor and car calls registered by operating car call buttons (not shown) provided in the passenger car 11. The storage unit 22 also includes a communication function table 22a and a robot table 22b.

[0026] In the communication function table 22a, communication function information required for normal communication with the robot 14 is registered in association with the identification information and category information of the robot 14. The communication function information includes at least a communication format required for interpreting a signal from the robot 14. When the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a, the elevator can be used correctly. The robot table 22b stores information (departure floor and destination floor, identification information, category information) included in the destination call signal transmitted from the robot 14.

[0027] The operation control unit 23 performs operation control such as moving the passenger car 11 to each floor based on calls (hall calls, car calls) from general users stored in the storage unit 22 and destination calls from the robot 14 stored in the robot table 22 b of the storage unit 22 .

[0028] The robot management unit 24 includes a communication function determination unit 24a and a registration control unit 24b. When receiving a signal for using the elevator from the robot 14, the communication function determination unit 24a determines whether the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a. Specifically, the communication function determination unit 24a determines the model of the robot 14 based on the category information included in the signal for using the elevator, searches the communication function table 22a based on the information of the model, and thereby determines whether the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 exists.

[0029] The registration control unit 24b acquires the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 from the server 30 based on the determination result of the communication function determination unit 24a, and registers the communication function information in the communication function table 22a as the communication function information of "robot capable of using an elevator".

[0030] A "robot capable of utilizing an elevator" refers to a robot capable of corresponding to the elevator control device 20, that is, a robot having appropriate communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot on the elevator control device 20 side, and using the communication function information to perform normal communication processing with the elevator control device 20, and being able to move correctly to each floor.

[0031] The server 30 is a computer that manages information (communication function information) related to various robots, and is installed at an arbitrary location independently of the elevator control device 20. The server 30 is communicatively connected to the elevator control device 20 via the network 10, and has a communication function table 30a. In the communication function table 30a, a plurality of communication function information required for normal communication with the robots 14 is registered for each of a plurality of robots 14 of different models.

[0032] Figure 2 It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the robot 14 .

[0033] The robot 14 includes a control unit 41, a sensor 42, a communication device 43, an operation unit 44, a display unit 45, a storage unit 46, a drive unit 47, etc. However, the configuration of the robot 14 is not limited to the communication device 43 that can be connected to the network 10. Figure 2 The composition shown.

[0034] The control unit 41 is composed of a CPU, and by starting a predetermined program, it is linked with the elevator system to perform control for autonomous movement within a predetermined area including each floor of the building. The sensor 42 is, for example, a laser range sensor (Laser Range Finder) or an ultrasonic range sensor, a dual camera, LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), etc. The robot 14 moves while avoiding obstacles through the sensor 42, detects the empty space in the passenger car 11, and rides.

[0035] The communication device 43 wirelessly communicates with the elevator control device 20 via the network 10. The operation unit 44 is a part for inputting various data such as a destination. The display unit 45 displays various data. In addition to the program required for controlling the robot 14, the storage unit 46 also stores map information including the movement path of the robot 14. The storage unit 46 may further store category information indicating the category of the robot 14 (i.e., category information indicating the category of the robot model). The drive unit 47 includes a motor for driving the wheels provided at the bottom of the robot 14.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of the communication function table 22a included in the elevator control device 20.

[0037] In the communication function table 22 a , the communication function information (including the communication format) of the robot 14 and the type information (manufacturer, model) of the robot 14 are registered in association with each other.

[0038] exist Figure 3 In the example, manufacturer: A company, model: A-01, communication function information: FA01 is registered in the communication function table 22a. This means that the communication function information corresponding to the robot manufactured by manufacturer A company as the model A-01 is FA01. The same is true for the communication function information with the following FA02 to FC01 added, and the manufacturer and robot model information are respectively associated with the corresponding communication function information and registered in the communication function table 22a.

[0039] Figure 4 1 is a diagram showing an example of the robot operation table 22 b included in the elevator control device 20 .

[0040] The robot table 22b stores information included in the destination call signal sent from the robot 14. The destination call signal includes the departure floor and destination floor of the robot 14, identification information (robot ID), and category information (manufacturer, model). Figure 4 In the example of , robot ID: ID 01, manufacturer: Company A, model: A-01, departure floor: 1F, destination floor: 5F are stored in the robot table 22b. This means that the robot 14 manufactured by the manufacturer Company A as the model A-01 and assigned ID01 as the robot ID has a departure floor of 1F and a destination floor of 5F. The same is true for the robots 14 assigned ID02 to 05, and the information of the departure floor and the destination floor, the manufacturer and model of the robot are associated with the robot ID and stored in the robot table 22b.

[0041] Next, the operation of this system will be described.

[0042] Figure 5 : is a flowchart showing the operation of this system. The processing shown in this flowchart is mainly performed by the elevator control device 20 which is a computer. In the following, it is assumed that a "destination call signal" is sent from the robot to the elevator control device 20 as a signal for using the elevator. In addition, the "communication format" is described as an example of the communication function information.

[0043] When the elevator control device 20 receives a destination call signal from the robot 14 via the network 10 (step S11), the robot management unit 24 executes a process for determining whether the robot 14 is a robot that can use the elevator.

[0044] First, the communication function determination unit 24a of the robot management unit 24 reads the type information of the robot 14 contained in the destination call signal received from the robot 14 (step S12). The communication function determination unit 24a searches the communication function table 22a based on the type information and determines whether the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a (step S13).

[0045] If the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a (Yes in step S13), the communication function determination unit 24a determines that the robot 14 is a "robot that can use the elevator". In this case, the communication function determination unit 24a communicates with the robot 14 using the communication format registered in the communication function table 22a, interprets the information included in the destination call signal sent from the robot 14, and stores it in the robot table 22b (step S14).

[0046] Afterwards, the operation control unit 23 of the elevator control device 20 controls the operation of the passenger car 11 based on the information of the departure floor and the destination floor contained in the destination call signal stored in the robot table 22b, so that the robot 14 is placed on the passenger car 11 and moves (step S15).

[0047] On the other hand, if the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the communication function table 22a (No in step S13), the communication function determination unit 24a determines that the robot 14 is a robot that cannot currently use the elevator (non-compatible robot). In this case, the communication function determination unit 24a sends the type information of the robot 14 to the server 30 via the communication unit 21, and requests a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 (step S16).

[0048] When receiving a request for a communication format from the elevator control device 20, the server 30 determines whether the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 30a based on the type information of the robot 14 sent together with the request. If the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 30a, the server 30 reads the communication format from the communication function table 30a and transmits it to the elevator control device 20 of the request destination.

[0049] On the other hand, when the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the communication function table 30a, the server 30 transmits a signal indicating that the communication format is not registered to the elevator control device 20 of the request destination. At this time, the server 30 may also record the type information indicating the model of the robot 14 for which the communication format is not registered (i.e., the type information indicating the model of the non-compatible robot) in a non-compatible robot table (not shown). Thus, the manager of the server 30 can confirm the existence of the non-compatible robot by referring to the non-compatible robot table, and can take countermeasures such as creating (arranging) a communication format corresponding to the non-compatible robot.

[0050] The registration control unit 24b determines whether the communication format can be obtained from the server 30 (step S17). If the communication format can be obtained (yes in step S17), the registration control unit 24b registers the communication format in the communication function table 22a in association with the category information of the robot 14 (step S18). After the processing of step S18, the processing of S14 is executed.

[0051] Here, when the communication format is not registered in the communication function table 30a of the server 30, that is, when the communication format cannot be obtained from the server 30 (No in step S17), the registration control unit 24b regards the robot 14 as a non-compatible robot and records the type information of the robot 14 in the storage unit 22 (step S19). Thus, for example, when checking, the operator can confirm the existence of the non-compatible robot based on the recorded content of the storage unit 22, and can take measures such as setting the communication format required for communication with the non-compatible robot.

[0052] Even in the case of a non-compatible robot, that is, even if the elevator control device 20 does not have a communication format compatible with the non-compatible robot, it is sometimes possible to simply communicate. However, the signal sent from the non-compatible robot cannot be correctly interpreted, and there is a possibility that the boarding car 11 malfunctions. Therefore, it is preferable to set the communication unit 21 so as to prohibit communication with the robot 14 when the robot 14 is recorded as a non-compatible robot.

[0053] Figure 6 This is a diagram for explaining the operation of an elevator when a plurality of robots arrive at an elevator lobby. In this example, a situation is shown where three robots 14a, 14b, and 14c are present in the elevator lobby. It is assumed that the communication format corresponding to the robot 14a is registered in the elevator control device 20, and the communication format corresponding to the robots 14b and 14c is not registered in the elevator control device 20. In addition, it is assumed that the communication format corresponding to the robots 14a and 14b is registered in the server 30, but the communication format corresponding to the robot 14c is not registered.

[0054] First, consider a case where a destination call signal is transmitted from the robot 14a to the elevator control device 20. Since the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14a is registered in the elevator control device 20, the destination call signal is correctly interpreted. The car 11 is controlled based on the departure floor and destination floor included in the destination call signal, and the robot 14a moves by riding in the car 11.

[0055] Next, consider a case where a destination call signal is sent from the robot 14b to the elevator control device 20. Since the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14b is not registered in the elevator control device 20, the type information of the robot 14b included in the destination call signal is sent to the server 30 to request a communication format. In this example, since the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14b is registered in the server 30, the communication format is sent to the elevator control device 20 of the requested destination. With this communication format, the destination call signal of the robot 14b is correctly interpreted, and the robot 14b can get on the passenger car 11 and move to the destination floor.

[0056] Furthermore, consider a case where a destination call signal is sent from the robot 14c to the elevator control device 20. As with the robot 14b, since the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14c is not registered in the elevator control device 20, the type information of the robot 14c included in the destination call signal is sent to the server 30 to request the communication format. Here, since the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14c is not registered in the server 30, a signal indicating that the communication format is not registered is sent to the elevator control device 20 of the request destination. As a result, the elevator control device 20 side records the robot 14c as a non-compatible robot, and prohibits communication (prohibits the use of the elevator) until the communication format corresponding to the robot 14c is registered.

[0057] Thus, according to the present embodiment, when the communication format corresponding to the robot 14 is not registered in the elevator control device 20, it is immediately obtained from the server 30, whereby the elevator control device 20 can immediately perform normal communication processing with the robot 14, and can correctly interpret the signal from the robot 14 to move it to the destination floor of the robot 14.

[0058] In addition, when a robot 14 that cannot normally communicate with the elevator control device 20 uses the elevator, the operator does not need to register the communication format of the robot 14 on site, thereby reducing the burden of the operator's registration work. In addition, when the operator performs the registration work, the operation of the elevator needs to be stopped, but according to the present system, since the required communication format can be immediately obtained from the server 30 and easily registered without the intervention of the operator, there is no need to stop the operation of the elevator.

[0059] In addition, Figure 5 In the example of , the communication format is described as an example of the communication function information, but even information other than the communication format is similar and can be handled by appropriately acquiring it from the server 30.

[0060] (Variation Example)

[0061] The communication format will be described as an example of the communication function information.

[0062] (1) Handling the communication format of robots that are used less frequently

[0063] For example, it can be considered that after the robot 14 uses the elevator (ride car 11) to go to the destination floor, it completes a certain operation and uses the elevator again to move. If the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is deleted immediately when the robot 14 uses the elevator once, it is necessary to obtain the same communication format from the server 30 when the robot 14 uses the elevator again. Therefore, it is preferable to keep the communication format for a certain period of time when the communication format of the robot 14 is obtained from the server 30. However, considering the capacity of the storage unit 22, it is preferable to delete the communication format of the robot with low usage frequency.

[0064] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing a process of determining a robot with low frequency of use of an elevator and deleting a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot as Modification 1.

[0065] It is assumed that communication formats corresponding to the respective models are registered in the communication function table 22 a of the storage unit 22 for the robots 14 a , 14 b , and 14 c .

[0066] The registration control unit 24b of the elevator control device 20 periodically detects the number of registered calls of each of the robots 14a, 14b, and 14c from the robot table 22b (step S21). Here, if there is a robot among the robots 14a, 14b, and 14c whose number of registered calls within a certain period (for example, one month) is less than a certain value (for example, 2 times) (yes in step S22), the registration control unit 24b determines that the robot is a robot with low frequency of use (step S23). The registration control unit 24b deletes the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot from the communication function table 22a (step S24).

[0067] For example, when the number of registered calls of the robot 14c is less than a certain value and the robot is judged to be a robot with low usage frequency, the communication format of the robot 14c is deleted from the communication function table 22a. In addition, when the robot 14c uses the elevator again at a later time, the elevator control device 20 executes the above-mentioned Figure 5 The communication format of the robot 14c is obtained from the server 30 and the communication format is registered again in the communication function table 22a.

[0068] As described above, the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot with low usage frequency is periodically deleted from the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22. This can prevent the capacity of the storage unit 22 from being wasted by the robot with low usage frequency, and when a new robot arrives, the communication format of the robot can be registered in the storage unit 22.

[0069] In addition, the elevator control device 20 passes the above Figure 5 The communication format can be immediately acquired from the server 30 by the processing of the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22. Therefore, even if a robot corresponding to the communication format temporarily deleted from the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22 uses the elevator again, it is possible to immediately respond and perform normal communication processing with the robot. The above embodiment is described in detail using the elevator control device 20, but in the case of a group having a plurality of elevators, the function of the elevator control device 20 may be included in the group management control device.

[0070] (2) When divided into multiple groups

[0071] In an elevator system divided into multiple groups, a group management control device is provided for each group to control the operation of multiple elevators (passenger cars) in the group. Here, for example, when a robot moves from group A to group B, if the group management control device of group B does not have a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot, it is necessary to access the server to obtain the communication format, so it is more efficient to obtain the communication format from group A.

[0072] Figure 81 is a diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system when there are a plurality of groups in a building. In this example, the elevator system is divided into group A and group B, and the group control device 51 of group A and the group control device 61 of group B are connected to each other so as to be communicable.

[0073] In the group management control device 51 of group A, except Figure 1 In addition to the functional configuration of the elevator control device shown, the forwarding control unit 25a is also provided. When receiving a request signal of a communication format from the group control device 61 of group B, which is another group, if the communication format is registered in the group control device 51, the forwarding control unit 25a forwards the communication format to the group control device 61 of the request destination.

[0074] The elevator control device 52a of the group A performs operation control of the car 53a. The same applies to the elevator control device 52b and the elevator control device 52c of the group A. These elevator control devices 52a to 52c of the group A are constituted by a computer equipped with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

[0075] The group control device 61 of group B also includes a transfer control unit 25b similarly to the group control device 51 of group A. When receiving a request signal of a communication format from the group control device 51 of group A, which is another group, if the communication format is registered in the group control device 61, the transfer control unit 25b transfers the communication format to the group control device 51 of the request destination.

[0076] The elevator control device 62a of the group B performs operation control of the car 63a. The same applies to the elevator control device 62b and the elevator control device 62c of the group B. The elevator control devices 62a to 62c of the group B are constituted by a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

[0077] In addition, Figure 8 In the example of , the group management control device 51 and the elevator control devices 52a to 52c of group A are independent, but the group management control device 51 and the elevator control devices 52a to 52c may be configured as one control device (labeled as control device 50), and the control device 50 controls the operation of multiple passenger cars 53a to 53c in group A. Similarly, for group B, the group management control device 61 and the elevator control devices 62a to 62c may be configured as one control device (labeled as control device 60), and the control device 60 controls the operation of multiple passenger cars 63a to 63c in group B. In this case, the control device 50 of group A and the control device 60 of group B are connected to each other so as to be communicable. The control device 50 transfers the communication format to the control device 60 in response to a request from the control device 60, and the control device 60 transfers the communication format to the control device 50 in response to a request from the control device 50.

[0078] Fig. 9 This is a flowchart showing the processing when transferring the communication format as Modification Example 2.

[0079] Assume that the robot 14 currently using the elevator of group A (using any one of the cars 53a to 53c) moves to group B and then transmits a destination call signal in order to use the elevator of group B (using any one of the cars 63a to 63c). Assume that the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the group control device 51 of group A, but the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the group control device 61 of group B.

[0080] First, when receiving a destination call signal from the robot 14 (step S31), the group management control device 61 of group B reads the type information of the robot 14 contained in the destination call signal (step S32). The group management control device 61 determines whether a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered based on the type information (step S33).

[0081] When a communication format corresponding to the model of robot 14 is registered (yes in step S33), the group management control device 61 determines that robot 14 is a "robot that can use the elevator", communicates with robot 14 using the communication format of robot 14, and stores the information of the departure floor and destination floor contained in the destination call signal sent from robot 14 (step S34).

[0082] Thereafter, the group control device 61 determines the most suitable car from among the cars 63a to 63c as the assigned car based on the information on the departure floor and the destination floor, and places the robot 14 on the assigned car to move it (step S35).

[0083] On the other hand, when the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered (No in step S33), the group management control device 61 of group B sends the category information of the robot 14 to the group management control device 51 of group A through the transfer control unit 25b, and requests the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 (step S36).

[0084] When receiving a request for a communication format from the group control device 61, the group control device 51 of group A determines whether a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered based on the type information of the robot 14 sent together with the request. If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered, the transfer control unit 25a of the group control device 51 sends the communication format to the group control device 61 of group B. If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered, the transfer control unit 25a sends a signal to the group control device 61 indicating that the communication format is not registered.

[0085] In the case where there is no group management control device 51 registered in group A, that is, in the case where the group management control device 61 of group B cannot obtain the communication format from the group management control device 51 of group A, as described in the above embodiment, the group management control device 61 of group B performs a process of obtaining the communication format from the server 30 ( Figure 5 (processing after step S16).

[0086] The group control device 61 of group B determines whether the communication format can be acquired from the group control device 51 of group A (step S37). If the communication format can be acquired (yes in step S37), the group control device 61 registers the communication format in association with the type information of the robot 14 (step S38). Thereafter, the group control device 61 communicates with the robot 14 using the registered communication format (step S34), and causes the robot 14 to be placed on the assigned car and move (step S35).

[0087] In addition, when the communication format cannot be obtained from the group control device 51 of group A (No in step S37), the process of obtaining the communication format from the server 30 is performed as described above. Here, when the communication format cannot be obtained from the server 30, the group control device 61 regards the robot 14 as a non-compatible robot and records the category information of the robot 14 in the storage unit of the group control device 61 (equivalent to Figure 5 (processing of step S19).

[0088] In this way, when the group control device 61 of group B does not have the communication format of the robot 14, it can efficiently obtain the communication format from the group control device 51 of group A without accessing the server 30. As a result, the group control device 61 can communicate normally with the robot 14, place the robot 14 in the assigned car, and move it to the destination floor.

[0089] In addition, although the configuration divided into two groups, Group A and Group B, is described here as an example, the configuration further divided into multiple groups is also the same. If the communication format of the robot is registered in a certain group, it can be forwarded to the necessary group without accessing the server 30.

[0090] In addition, in this embodiment, an elevator is used as a lift, but it can also be applied to an escalator. Even in an escalator, it is necessary to change the operation control such as slowing down the operation speed of the escalator according to the model of the robot, so the control device of the escalator needs communication function information (including communication format) for the robot to communicate normally. If there is no communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot, it can be handled by obtaining the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server as in the above embodiment.

[0091] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide an elevator system that can reduce the burden on workers related to registration of a communication format and the like required for communication processing of a robot.

[0092] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are given as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter of the invention. These embodiments or their variations are the same as those included in the scope or subject matter of the invention, and are included in the invention recorded in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An elevator system comprising: A server in which a plurality of communication function information required for normal communication with the plurality of robots is pre-registered for each model of the plurality of robots; and A control device, which is communicatively connected to the server via a communication network, controls the operation of the elevator in the building, The elevator system is characterized in that The control device comprises: a storage unit storing a plurality of communication function information corresponding to a plurality of robot models capable of utilizing the lift; a communication function determination unit that, when receiving a signal for utilizing the lift from any robot, determines whether communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot is registered in the storage unit; and A registration control unit obtains communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server according to the determination result of the communication function determination unit, and registers the communication function information of the robot capable of utilizing the lift in the storage unit.

2. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that The communication function information includes at least a communication format required to interpret a signal of the robot.

3. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that The communication function determination unit determines whether the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot is registered in the storage unit based on the type information indicating the type of the robot included in the signal of the arbitrary robot.

4. The elevator system according to claim 3, characterized in that When the communication function information corresponding to the model of the arbitrary robot is not registered in the storage unit, the registration control unit transmits the category information to the server to acquire the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot.

5. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that When the communication function information corresponding to the model of the arbitrary robot is not registered in the server, the registration control unit records the robot as a non-compatible robot in the storage unit.

6. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that The registration control unit determines a robot whose number of call registrations within a certain period is below a certain value among multiple robots that can use the elevator as a robot with low usage frequency, and deletes the communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the storage unit.

7. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that The registration control unit registers the communication function information of the robot in the storage unit and holds it for a certain period of time.

8. The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that The control device has the function of controlling the operation of the plurality of elevators in the first group. The elevator system includes an information transfer unit, which transfers the communication function information to other control devices when the robot moves to the first place using any one of the multiple elevators in the first group and then moves to the second place in the second group different from the first group. The other control devices perform operation control of the multiple elevators in the second group close to the second place.

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