Elevator content output system

Abstract

A content output system is provided that can suppress the output of unwanted content based on the usage status of the elevator. The content output system (12) has a receiving unit (19), a user information acquisition unit (20), and a selection unit (24). The receiving unit (19) receives a request information from the portable terminal (16) of the user of the elevator (1) indicating that the user requests the elevator. When the receiving unit (19) receives the request information, the user information acquisition unit (20) obtains the user attributes of the user who requested the elevator call indicated by the request information. The selection unit (24) removes content that corresponds to the user attributes of any user riding in the car (5) as non-output attributes from multiple contents, thereby extracting the output-allowed content. The selection unit (24) selects the content to be output by the output device (13) installed in the car (5) from the extracted output-allowed content.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an elevator content output system. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a step for providing content in an elevator. In this step, at least one individual user profile containing multimedia content is stored for the user. In the elevator, the multimedia content stored in the user profile is provided to the identified user.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-330963 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0007] In the elevator described in Patent Document 1, other users may feel unhappy with the content provided based on one user's profile. Thus, depending on the elevator's usage, unpopular content may be displayed.

[0008] This disclosure relates to a solution to this problem. This disclosure provides a content output system capable of suppressing the output of unwanted content based on elevator usage patterns.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] The elevator content output system disclosed herein includes: a receiving unit that receives a request message representing a user's elevator call from a portable terminal held by a user of an elevator car equipped with an output device; a user information acquisition unit that, when the receiving unit receives the request message, acquires the user attribute of the user who requested the elevator call; and a selection unit that, from a plurality of contents that can be output by the output device and each corresponds to a non-output attribute, removes contents that correspond to the user attribute of any one or more users riding in the car as a non-output attribute, thereby extracting output-allowed content, and, if one or more output-allowed contents are extracted, selects the content to be output by the output device from the one or more output-allowed contents.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the content output system disclosed herein, it is possible to suppress the output of disliked content based on elevator usage. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1This is a structural diagram of the elevator according to implementation method 1.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a table showing examples of information about the content that can be output in the content output system of Implementation 1.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the content output system of Implementation 1.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the content output system of Implementation 1.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a hardware structure diagram of the main parts of the content output system in Implementation Method 1. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical or equivalent parts are labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. Furthermore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments; any modifications or omissions of structural elements of the embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0019] Implementation Method 1

[0020] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of elevator 1 according to implementation method 1.

[0021] Elevator 1 is used, for example, in buildings with multiple floors. A shaft 2 for elevator 1 is provided within the building. The shaft 2 is a relatively long space extending vertically through multiple floors. Elevator 1 includes a traction machine 3, main ropes 4, a car 5, a counterweight 6, and a control panel 7.

[0022] The traction machine 3 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 2. For example, when the machine room of the elevator 1 is provided above the hoistway 2, the traction machine 3 may also be disposed in the machine room. The traction machine 3 has a motor that generates driving force and a sheave that rotates by means of the driving force generated by the motor.

[0023] The main rope 4 is wound around the sheave of the traction machine 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of the car 5 on one side of the sheave of the traction machine 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of the counterweight 6 on the other side of the sheave of the traction machine 3. The main rope 4 moves by means of the driving force generated by the motor of the traction machine 3, either by being wound up by the sheave of the traction machine 3 or by being fed out from the sheave of the traction machine 3.

[0024] The car 5 is a device that transports users of the elevator 1 between multiple floors by traveling vertically within the hoistway 2. The car 5 has a car door 8. The car door 8 is a door that divides the interior and exterior of the car 5. The car door 8 opens and closes so that users can board and alight the car 5 when it stops at any floor. The counterweight 6 is a device that balances the load applied to both sides of the sheave of the traction machine 3 between itself and the car 5. The car 5 and the counterweight 6 move in opposite directions vertically within the hoistway 2 in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 4.

[0025] The control panel 7 is a device for controlling the movement of the elevator 1. The control panel 7 is located, for example, at the top or bottom of the hoistway 2. For example, if a machine room for the elevator 1 is located above the hoistway 2, the control panel 7 can also be located in the machine room. The movements of the elevator 1 controlled by the control panel 7 include, for example, the movement of the car 5. The control panel 7 is connected to the traction machine 3 and the car 5 to output control signals for the elevator 1 and to acquire status information of the elevator 1.

[0026] A remote monitoring device 9 is applied in elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is a device for remotely monitoring the status of elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is connected to the control panel 7 to collect status information of elevator 1 and to output control signals to elevator 1 from external sources. The information collected by the remote monitoring device 9 is transmitted to a central management device 11, for example, via a communication network 10 such as the Internet or telephone lines. The central management device 11 is a device for collecting and managing the status information of elevator 1. The central management device 11 is located, for example, at an information center or other similar location. The central management device 11 may consist of, for example, one or more server devices. Some or all of the functions of the central management device 11 may also be implemented using processing and storage resources on cloud services.

[0027] A content output system 12 is applied in elevator 1. The content output system 12 is a system that outputs content to users of elevator 1. The content may be, for example, images or audio, or a combination thereof. The content output system 12 can be an internal system of elevator 1 or an external system applied to elevator 1 from the outside. The content output system 12 has an output device 13 and an output control unit 14. The output device 13 is, for example, a device that provides content to users via images and audio. In this example, the output device 13 provides content to users by displaying images. The output device 13 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. The output device 13 is installed inside the car 5. The output control unit 14 is a part that carries the function of controlling the output of the output device 13. The output control unit 14 may be, for example, a display controller. The output control unit 14 may be connected to, for example, a control panel 7 or a remote monitoring device 9.

[0028] One or more transmitters 15 are installed in elevator 1. Transmitter 15 is a device that transmits wireless signals. Transmitter 15 may be, for example, a wireless beacon. The wireless signal transmitted by transmitter 15 may be, for example, a short-range wireless communication signal. In this example, transmitter 15 is configured at each floor of elevator 1.

[0029] The user of elevator 1 possesses a portable terminal 16. The portable terminal 16 is, for example, a smartphone or other portable general information processing terminal. The portable terminal 16 is connected to the communication network 10 via wireless communication. The portable terminal 16 may also be equipped with functions such as short-range wireless communication.

[0030] In this example, the user registers elevator 1 usage information via a portable terminal 16. This usage information includes, for example, the user's destination floor. The registered usage information can be stored on the portable terminal 16, or it can be sent from the portable terminal 16 to a central management device 11 along with the user's identification information. In this case, the usage information is stored in the central management device 11 in association with the user's identification information. The user's identification information is, for example, pre-stored on the portable terminal 16. Alternatively, the user can be identified using the identification information on the portable terminal 16 held by the user.

[0031] When the portable terminal 16 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 15, it sends a request for an elevator call, indicating that the user holding the portable terminal 16 is requesting it, to the central management device 11. Alternatively, the portable terminal 16 may send the same request based on user actions. In this case, the central management device 11 obtains the elevator call information based on the request. This information may include, for example, the user's departure and destination floors. The elevator call information may be included in the request information or read from usage information registered based on identification information sent by the portable terminal 16 along with the request information. Based on the obtained elevator call information, the central management device 11 outputs a control signal for registering the user's requested elevator call to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 via the remote monitoring device 9. The control panel 7 registers the requested elevator call based on the input control signal. The control panel 7 controls the movement of the car 5 to respond to the registered elevator call.

[0032] Furthermore, users can also register their own user attributes through the portable terminal 16. User attributes are information indicating the user's attributes, such as "I am an adult," "I am a child," or "a parent with a child." The registered user attributes can be stored in the portable terminal 16, or they can be sent from the portable terminal 16 to the central management device 11 along with the user's identification information. In this case, the user attributes are stored in the central management device 11 in association with the user's identification information.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a table showing examples of information about the content that can be output in the content output system 12 of Embodiment 1.

[0034] Content output system 12 uses information about various contents that can be output by output device 13 as, for example... Figure 2 The content is managed using a list of displayed content. This list includes information such as title, output time, content attributes, and non-output attributes for each piece of content. The output time is the time required to output the content. In the case of video content, the output time is the display time of the video. Content attributes include information such as "animation" or "mathematics" indicating the nature of the content. Content attributes may also include user attributes such as "I am an adult," "I am a child," or "A parent with a child," indicating the user who is the recipient of the content. Non-output attributes include user attributes such as "I am an adult" or "I am a child," indicating the user who is not the recipient of the content.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the content output system 12 of Embodiment 1.

[0036] The content output system 12 includes a content management unit 17, a user information storage unit 18, a receiving unit 19, a user information acquisition unit 20, an elevator call registration unit 21, a number of people detection unit 22, a required time calculation unit 23, and a selection unit 24. The content management unit 17, user information storage unit 18, receiving unit 19, user information acquisition unit 20, elevator call registration unit 21, number of people detection unit 22, required time calculation unit 23, and selection unit 24 are, for example, mounted on a central management device 11.

[0037] Content management unit 17 is a component that manages the output content. For example, content management unit 17 manages content information as a content list. In this example, content management unit 17 manages the information of each individual content item in the content list. Content management unit 17 can also manage information about external resources, such as the source of each individual content item in the content list.

[0038] The user information storage unit 18 is a component that stores information. For example, the user information storage unit 18 stores the user information of the elevator 1 in association with the user's identification information. Furthermore, the user information storage unit 18 stores the user attributes in association with the user's identification information. In this example, the user information storage unit 18 stores the user's output rejection attribute, output preference attribute, and concealment preference attribute in association with the user's identification information. The user's output rejection attribute is information indicating that the user does not like the content output by the output device 13. The user's output preference attribute is information indicating that the user wants the content output by the output device 13 to be displayed. The user's concealment preference attribute is information indicating that the user wants to conceal the content of their output preference attribute from others. The user attributes, output rejection attribute, output preference attribute, and concealment preference attribute, etc., are, for example, pre-registered by the user via the portable terminal 16, similar to the usage information.

[0039] The receiving unit 19 is a part that has the function of receiving elevator call request information from the portable terminal 16 held by the user.

[0040] The user information acquisition unit 20 is a component that, when the receiving unit 19 receives a request, acquires the user attributes of the user who requested the elevator call indicated by the request. For example, the user information acquisition unit 20 reads identification information contained in the request. Using the read identification information as a key, the user information acquisition unit 20 retrieves information associated with that identification information, such as usage information, user attributes, output rejection attributes, output request attributes, and concealment request attributes, stored in the user information storage unit 18. Furthermore, if the request includes user usage information, user attributes, output rejection attributes, output request attributes, and concealment request attributes, the user information acquisition unit 20 can also read that information from the request.

[0041] The elevator call registration unit 21 is a component that outputs the control signal for an elevator call requested by a registered user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1. When the receiving unit 19 receives a request, the elevator call registration unit 21 obtains the elevator call information represented by that request. For example, the elevator call registration unit 21 uses the usage information obtained by the user information acquisition unit 20 based on the identification information contained in the request to obtain the elevator call information. Based on the obtained elevator call information, the elevator call registration unit 21 outputs the control signal for the elevator call requested by the registered user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 via the remote monitoring device 9.

[0042] The passenger detection unit 22 is equipped with the function of detecting the number of users riding in the elevator car 5 of the elevator 1. The passenger detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5, for example, based on call information registered in the call registration unit 21. The travel time calculation unit 23 is equipped with the function of calculating the travel time of the car 5 from the time the car door 8 of the elevator 1 closes until it opens again. The travel time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time of the car 5, for example, based on call information registered in the call registration unit 21. The passenger detection unit 22 and the travel time calculation unit 23 can also obtain information such as the position of the car 5, the travel speed of the car 5, the response status of the car 5 to calls, or other necessary information from the elevator 1 via a remote monitoring device 9.

[0043] The selection unit 24 is a part that carries the function of selecting the content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from a plurality of contents managed by the content management unit 17, for example as follows.

[0044] The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 after the car door 8 of the elevator car 5 of the elevator 1 closes. The selection unit 24 collects user attribute information obtained by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. Here, the user information acquisition unit 20 may determine whether a user is currently riding in the car 5 based on the user's call information and the car 5's response to the call. The selection unit 24 removes content managed by the content management unit 17 that corresponds to user attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 as non-output attributes, thereby extracting output-allowed content. For example, when a user with the attribute "I am an adult" is riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 removes content where the attribute "I am an adult" is set as a non-output attribute to extract output-allowed content. When multiple user attributes are collected, the selection unit 24 removes content where that attribute is set as a non-output attribute from the output-allowed content to be extracted.

[0045] When retrieving permitted output content, the selection unit 24 can also collect information on output rejection attributes obtained by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in car 5. For each collected output rejection attribute, the selection unit 24 removes the content for which the attribute is set as a content attribute from the permitted output content to be retrieved. For example, if a user registered with the output rejection attribute "I am a child" is riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 removes the content for which the attribute "I am a child" is set as a content attribute to retrieve permitted output content.

[0046] When extracting permitted output content, the selection unit 24 can also collect information on the concealment attribute obtained by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. At this time, the selection unit 24 obtains information on the number of people detected by the people detection unit 22. If the people detection unit 22 detects multiple people, the selection unit 24 excludes content from the permitted output content based on the concealment attribute. In this case, the selection unit 24 removes content for each concealment attribute that is set as a content attribute from the permitted output content to be extracted. For example, if multiple users, including those who have registered the concealment attribute "animation," are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 removes content for which the attribute "animation" is set as a content attribute to extract the permitted output content. Here, if the people detection unit 22 detects only one person, the selection unit 24 does not exclude content based on the concealment attribute. For example, when a user who has only registered the "Animation" attribute of the Concealment Desire is riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 will not exclude the content for which the "Animation" attribute is set as a content attribute from the output allowed content based solely on the Concealment Desire attribute.

[0047] When the selection unit 24 extracts one or more output-allowed contents, it selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the one or more output-allowed contents. For example, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed contents, prioritizing the content that corresponds to the user attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 as content attributes.

[0048] When selecting content to be output by the output device 13, the selection unit 24 can also collect information on output desired attributes obtained by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. For example, from the extracted permitted output content, the selection unit 24 prioritizes content that corresponds to the output desired attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 as content attributes, and selects content to be output by the output device 13. For example, the selection unit 24 can also prioritize content based on output desired attributes over content based solely on user attributes.

[0049] The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content, for example, by assigning a score. The selection unit 24 may use content with user attributes collected from each user currently riding in the car 5 as content attributes, plus a score based on the number of users with those user attributes. The selection unit 24 may also use content with output desired attributes collected from each user currently riding in the car 5 as content attributes, plus a score based on the number of users who have registered those output desired attributes. The score based on the output desired attributes can also be set higher than the score based on user attributes. The selection unit 24 selects the content with the highest score from the extracted output-allowed content as the content to be output by the output device 13. Alternatively, the selection unit 24 may use the travel time calculated by the required travel time calculation unit 23 to select content. For example, the selection unit 24 selects the content with the highest score from the extracted output-allowed content whose output time is within the required travel time as the content to be output by the output device 13. Alternatively, the selection unit 24 may also select content from the extracted output-allowed content using other methods.

[0050] If no content can be selected, the selection unit 24 sets the preset default content as the content to be output by the output device 13. Here, the situation where no content can be selected is equivalent to the situation where at least one output-allowed content is not extracted, or the extracted output-allowed content contains multiple content with the highest score that conflict with each other. The default content is, for example, scenery images or weather information, which is unlikely to cause displeasure to most users.

[0051] The selection unit 24 sends information about the selected content to the output control unit 14, for example, via the remote monitoring device 9. The selection unit 24 can send information about the selected content itself, or information about external resources such as the source of the selected content. Based on the information sent from the selection unit 24, the output control unit 14 causes the output device 13 to output the selected content. Alternatively, the output control unit 14 can pre-obtain information about content that can be output by the output device 13 from the source. This pre-obtained content may be stored, for example, in the internal storage of the output control unit 14. In this case, the selection unit 24 sends information determining the selected content to the output control unit 14. The output control unit 14, for example, reads the content determined by the information sent from the selection unit 24 from its internal storage and outputs it via the output device 13. If the content determined by the information sent from the selection unit 24 is not stored in its internal storage, the output control unit 14 can also obtain the content from the source.

[0052] More specifically, for example in Figure 2Select content from the list shown as follows. Here, User A's user attributes are "I am an adult" and "An adult without children." User A registers "Animation" and "Mathematics" as desired output attributes, and "Animation" as a desired concealment attribute. Furthermore, User B's user attribute is "I am a child," and User B registers "Mathematics" as an output rejection attribute. Additionally, User C's user attributes are "I am an adult" and "A parent with a child who is a middle school student."

[0053] When users A and B are riding together in car 5, the selection unit 24 removes the content "ranking of popular anime among children" from the output allowed content to be extracted based on user A's user attribute "adult without children". The selection unit 24 also removes the content "ranking of popular anime among adults" from the output allowed content to be extracted based on user B's user attribute "I am a child". Furthermore, the selection unit 24 removes the content "problems and solutions in middle school mathematics" from the output allowed content to be extracted based on user B's output rejection attribute "mathematics". At this point, no at least one output allowed content has been extracted, therefore, the selection unit 24 sends the default content to the output control unit 14. Thus, user A, as an adult, does not accept the provision of content targeting children, and therefore is less likely to feel unhappy. Similarly, user B does not accept the provision of mathematical content that they do not want to see, and therefore is less likely to feel unhappy.

[0054] When users A and C are riding together in car 5, selection unit 24 removes the content "ranking of popular anime among children" from the output allowed content to be extracted based on user A's user attribute "adult without children". Since two users are riding in car 5, selection unit 24 removes the content "ranking of popular anime among adults" from the output allowed content to be extracted based on user B's hidden preference attribute "anime". Selection unit 24 extracts the content "problems and solutions in middle school mathematics" as output allowed content. From the extracted output allowed content, selection unit 24 selects the content "problems and solutions in middle school mathematics" based on user A's output preference attribute "mathematics" and user C's output preference attribute "parent with a child who is a middle school student". Therefore, based on user A's preference, when another user C is riding with them, content related to user A's preferences is not output, thus hiding user A's preferences from others.

[0055] When only user A is riding in car 5, selection unit 24 removes the content "ranking of popular anime among children" from the output allowed content to be extracted, based on user A's user attribute "adult without children". Since there is only one user in car 5, selection unit 24 extracts "ranking of popular anime among adults" and "middle school math problems and solutions" as output allowed content. In this example, the required travel time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time as 15 seconds. At this time, selection unit 24 selects "ranking of popular anime among adults" from the extracted output allowed content based on the travel time and user A's output preference attribute "anime". Thus, content based on user A's preferences and anime is output according to user A's wishes, allowing user A to comfortably use elevator 1.

[0056] Next, use Figure 4 An example of the actions of the content output system 12 is given.

[0057] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the content output system 12 in Implementation 1.

[0058] In step S101, the content output system 12 determines whether the receiving unit 19 has received the request information from the user's portable terminal 16. If the determination result is "no", the processing of the content output system 12 returns to step S101. If the determination result is "yes", the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S102.

[0059] In step S102, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires information such as user information, user attributes, output rejection attributes, output expectation attributes, and concealment expectation attributes of the user whose request for information was accepted by the request acceptance unit 19. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S103.

[0060] In step S103, the selection unit 24 reads the content list managed by the content management unit 17. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S104.

[0061] In step S104, the selection unit 24 extracts the output-permitted content from the content list. For example, the output-permitted content may be extracted after the user is identified as being in the elevator car 5 when the car door 8 of the elevator 1 is closed and the user is currently in the car 5. After the output-permitted content is extracted, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S105.

[0062] In step S105, the selection unit 24 determines whether the extracted output-permitted content exists. If the determination result is "no", the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. If the determination result is "yes", the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S107.

[0063] In step S106, the selection unit 24 sends the default content to the output control unit 14. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0064] In step S107, the selection unit 24 determines whether there are multiple extracted output-allowed contents. If the determination result is "no", the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S108. If the determination result is "yes", the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S109.

[0065] In step S108, the selection unit 24 selects only one of the extracted output-allowed contents as the content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 sends the selected output-allowed contents to the output control unit 14. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0066] In step S109, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted multiple output-allowed contents. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0067] In step S110, the selection unit 24 determines whether there is any selectable output content. For example, if the selectable output content cannot be reduced to one due to conflicting user preferences, the selection unit 24 determines that there is no selectable output content. If there is no selectable output content, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. If selectable output content exists, the selection unit 24 selects that content. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S111.

[0068] In step S111, the selection unit 24 sends the selected output-allowed content to the output control unit 14. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0069] As explained above, the content output system 12 of Embodiment 1 includes a receiving unit 19, a user information acquisition unit 20, and a selection unit 24. Elevator 1 includes a car 5. An output device 13 is provided in the car 5. The output device 13 outputs multiple contents. Each content corresponds to a non-output attribute. The user of elevator 1 holds a portable terminal 16. The receiving unit 19 receives a request message from the user's portable terminal 16 representing a call for elevators. When the receiving unit 19 receives the request message, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the user attribute of the user who requested the elevator call as indicated by the request message. The selection unit 24 removes content from the multiple contents that corresponds to the user attribute of any user riding in the car 5 as a non-output attribute, thereby extracting output-allowed content. When more than one output-allowed content is extracted, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the more than one output-allowed content.

[0070] According to this structure, the permissible content for output is extracted based on the user attributes of the user riding in the elevator car 5 and the non-output attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted permissible content. Therefore, for users whose user attributes are not the object of the content, the content is not output. As a result, it is possible to suppress the output of undesirable content based on the usage of the elevator 1. Therefore, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause unpleasant feelings to the users of the elevator 1 due to accidentally receiving content they do not want to be provided.

[0071] Furthermore, each piece of content has corresponding content attributes. When the receiving unit 19 receives the request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 obtains the output rejection attribute of the user who requested the elevator call as indicated by the request information. The selection unit 24 does not extract content with an output rejection attribute corresponding to any user riding in the car 5 as an output acceptable content. At this time, the selection unit 24 extracts content with no output rejection attribute corresponding to any user riding in the car 5 as an output acceptable content.

[0072] According to this structure, the permissible output content is extracted based on the user's output rejection attribute and the content attribute of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted permissible output content. Therefore, unwanted content is not provided to the user of elevator 1. As a result, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause unpleasant feelings to the user of elevator 1 due to accidentally receiving unwanted content. Furthermore, the output rejection attribute can reflect the preferences of each user, thus enabling the output of content that further considers each user.

[0073] Furthermore, each content item has a corresponding content attribute. When the receiving unit 19 receives a request, the user information acquisition unit 20 obtains the output desired attributes of the user calling the elevator as indicated by the request. If the selection unit 24 extracts more than one permissible output content, it selects from the more than one permissible output content the content that corresponds to the output desired attributes of any user riding in the elevator car 5 as the content attribute to be output by the output device 13.

[0074] According to this structure, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted permissible output content, based on the output desire attributes of the user riding in the elevator car 5 and the content attributes of the content. Therefore, the desired content is provided to the user of the elevator 1, taking into account other users. Furthermore, the output desire attributes can reflect the preferences of each user, so that each user can spend more comfortably during the use of the elevator 1.

[0075] Furthermore, the content output system 12 includes a people detection unit 22. The people detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the elevator car 5. When the receiving unit 19 receives a request, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the concealment attribute of the user who requested the elevator call as indicated by the request. When the people detection unit 22 detects that there is only one user riding in the elevator car 5, the selection unit 24, after extracting more than one output-allowed content, selects content from the more than one output-allowed content that corresponds to the output-desire attribute of the user riding in the elevator car 5 as a content attribute, and uses this content as the content to be output by the output device 13. When the people detection unit 22 detects that there are multiple users riding in the elevator car 5, the selection unit 24 does not extract content that corresponds to the concealment attribute of any user riding in the elevator car 5 as a content attribute as output-allowed content. In this case, the selection unit 24 extracts content that does not correspond to the concealment attribute of any user riding in the elevator car 5 as output-allowed content.

[0076] According to this structure, when multiple users are riding in car 5, the output-permitted content is extracted based on the privacy preferences of the users riding in car 5 and the content attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-permitted content. Thus, according to the wishes of any user, content based on that user's preferences is not output when other users are also riding in the car. Therefore, according to the user's wishes, the user's preferences are hidden from other users. Thus, content is output while taking into account the user's privacy.

[0077] Furthermore, the content output system 12 includes a required time calculation unit 23. The required time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time of the car 5 from the time the car door 8 closes until it opens again. When more than one output-allowed content is extracted, the selection unit 24 selects content from the more than one output-allowed content whose output time is within the travel time calculated by the required time calculation unit 23, and uses this content as the content to be output by the output device 13.

[0078] According to this structure, the content selected by the selection unit 24 is output within the time required for the car 5 to travel. Therefore, no content is output during the user's ride in and out of the car 5, and thus, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause unpleasant feelings to users of the elevator 1 who are riding in and out of the car 5 due to unexpectedly receiving content they do not want to be provided.

[0079] In addition, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 after the car door 8 is closed.

[0080] Based on this structure, content is selected after the user riding in car 5 is determined, thus more reliably suppressing the situation where undesirable content is output based on the usage status of elevator 1.

[0081] In addition, the content selected in the content output system 12 can also be a character or the character's clothing displayed in the output device 13.

[0082] Some or all of the content management unit 17, user information storage unit 18, receiving unit 19, user information acquisition unit 20, elevator call registration unit 21, number of people detection unit 22, required time calculation unit 23, and selection unit 24 in the content output system 12 may also be mounted on the control panel 7, remote monitoring device 9, or other equipment of the elevator 1. Some or all of these components of the content output system 12 may also be integrated with the output control unit 14 or the output device 13.

[0083] Next, use Figure 5 An example of the hardware structure of the content output system 12 is explained.

[0084] Figure 5 This is a hardware structure diagram of the main parts of the content output system 12 in Implementation Method 1.

[0085] The various processing functions in the content output system 12 can be implemented by processing circuitry. Processing circuitry has at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. Processing circuitry may also have at least one dedicated hardware 200, either together with or in place of the processor 100a and memory 100b.

[0086] When the processing circuit has a processor 100a and a memory 100b, the functions of the content output system 12 are 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 reads and executes the program stored in the memory 100b, thereby implementing the functions of the content output system 12.

[0087] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), processing device, arithmetic device, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 100b is composed of non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM.

[0088] When the processing circuit has dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuit is implemented, for example, by a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmable processor, a parallel programmable processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0089] Each function of the content output system 12 can be implemented separately by processing circuitry. Alternatively, each function of the content output system 12 can be implemented uniformly by processing circuitry. Some functions of the content output system 12 can also be implemented by dedicated hardware 200, while others can be implemented by software or firmware. Thus, the processing circuitry implements each function of the content output system 12 through dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0090] Industrial availability

[0091] The content output system disclosed herein can be applied to elevators.

[0092] Label Explanation

[0093] 1: Elevator; 2: Shaft; 3: Traction machine; 4: Main rope; 5: Car; 6: Counterweight; 7: Control panel; 8: Car door; 9: Remote monitoring device; 10: Communication network; 11: Central management device; 12: Content output system; 13: Output device; 14: Output control unit; 15: Transmitter; 16: Portable terminal; 17: Content management unit; 18: User information storage unit; 19: Reception unit; 20: User information acquisition unit; 21: Call registration unit; 22: Passenger detection unit; 23: Required time calculation unit; 24: Selection unit; 100a: Processor; 100b: Memory; 200: Dedicated hardware.

Claims

1. A content output system for an elevator, comprising: The receiving department receives elevator call request information from a portable terminal held by the elevator user, indicating the user's request for an elevator call, and the elevator has a car equipped with an output device. The user information acquisition unit acquires the user attributes of the user who requested the elevator call as indicated by the request information when the receiving unit receives the request information. as well as The selection unit removes content whose user attribute corresponds to any one or more users riding in the car as a non-output attribute from a plurality of content that can be output by the output device and each has a corresponding non-output attribute, thereby extracting output-allowed content. If more than one output-allowed content is extracted, the unit selects the content to be output by the output device from the one or more output-allowed content.

2. The elevator content output system according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the multiple content items corresponds to a content attribute. When the receiving department accepts the request information, the user information acquisition department obtains the output rejection attribute of the user who requested the elevator, as represented by the request information. The selection unit does not extract content that corresponds to the output rejection attribute of any user among the more than one users riding in the car as output permitted content.

3. The elevator content output system according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the multiple content items corresponds to a content attribute. When the receiving department receives the request information, the user information acquisition department obtains the output desired attributes of the elevator user represented by the request information. When the selection unit extracts one or more output-allowed contents, it selects from the one or more output-allowed contents the content for which the output desired attribute of any one or more users riding in the car is used as the content to be output by the output device.

4. The elevator content output system according to claim 3, wherein, The elevator's content output system includes a people detection unit that detects the number of users riding in the elevator car. When the receiving department accepts the request information, the user information acquisition department obtains the anonymity wish attribute of the user calling the elevator as represented by the request information. When the number of passengers detected by the passenger detection unit is one, the selection unit, after extracting more than one output-allowed content, selects from that content the content corresponding to the output desired attribute of the passenger in the car, and uses this content as the content to be output by the output device. When the number of users detected by the number of users in the car is multiple, the selection unit does not extract the content that corresponds to the concealment wish attribute of any user among the multiple users in the car as the content attribute as the output allowed content.

5. The elevator content output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The elevator's content output system includes a time calculation unit that calculates the travel time required for the car from when the car doors close until they open again. When the selection unit extracts one or more output allowable contents, it selects from the one or more output allowable contents the content whose output time is within the driving time required calculated by the required time calculation unit, and uses it as the content to be output by the output device.

6. The elevator content output system according to claim 5, wherein, The selection unit selects the content to be output by the output device after the car door is closed.

Images