METHOD FOR MAKING A CALL FOR AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for making a call for an elevator system by means of a mobile communication device carried by a user of the elevator system.

[0002] Such methods are known in the art.

[0003] For example, US Pat. No. 6,209,685 B1 discloses a method that automatically executes an elevator call using a mobile phone and a beacon. Furthermore, KR 201 600 098 52A discloses a method for making a call for an elevator system, in which a beacon signal is detected by a user's mobile communication device to determine the user's distance from the elevator. However, this can lead to unnecessary elevator calls.

[0004] Furthermore, from US 2019 / 161318A1 a method is known in which a predefined elevator call is executed by means of a gesture, for example by shaking a mobile phone,

[0005] Furthermore, WO 2012 / 130729 discloses user guidance within a building using an elevator system with destination call control. The user uses their mobile phone for user guidance. The position of the mobile phone within the building is determined using known technology. To use the system known from WO 2012 / 130729, however, the user must first find the corresponding application on their device and launch or activate it. This can be time-consuming.

[0006] Furthermore, it is known from the prior art that mobile phones can detect a Bluetooth signal from a beacon and also communicate this detection to the mobile phone user. However, this can lead to unnecessary notifications for the mobile phone user and can even be annoying: If the user's path leads past many Bluetooth transmitters or beacons, but the user does not intend to use one of these services, this leads to numerous annoying notifications for the user. Such notifications can be, for example, visual notifications on the screen or audible notifications such as a beep or even a vibration of the mobile phone.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly, as reliable as possible method for calling an elevator.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0009] According to the invention, it is detected whether the user intends to use the elevator system. If this is detected, a user interface for sending a call to an elevator in the elevator system is displayed.

[0010] Whether the user wishes to use the elevator is determined by recognizing a gesture. A gesture is generally a typical use of the mobile communication device and is well known in mobile communication device operating systems such as iOS and Android. The beacon signal of the elevator's beacon is also detected. Using the detected beacon signal and the recognized gesture, it is determined whether the user intends to use the elevator or not. If an intention to use the elevator is detected, a user interface is displayed on the mobile communication device for sending a call, and any call input is transmitted to the elevator control system.

[0011] The call can be a conventional floor call or a so-called destination call, as described, for example, in WO 2012 / 130729 and in US 6,209,685 B1.

[0012] A gesture that indicates an intended call input can be: taking the mobile communication device out of a pocket, such as a trouser pocket, jacket pocket, shoulder bag, briefcase or the like, activating the screen of the mobile communication device, unlocking the screen or a keypad of the mobile communication device, looking at the screen of the mobile communication device, shaking the mobile communication device, moving the mobile communication device into a position which is typical for making an input and / or inputting via a key or push button, switch and / or keypad or a touch-sensitive screen.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the following sensors of the mobile communication device is used to recognize the gesture: Accelerometer, which can detect movement of the device, gyroscope, which can detect a change in orientation of the device, brightness sensor, which can detect changes in the brightness of the ambient light, camera, which can detect whether a user of the device is looking at the screen displaying the user interface, distance sensor to determine a distance to another object, compass, push button, touch-sensitive screen or capacitive switch.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, a temporal progression of a signal strength of the beacon signal is used when detecting the user's intention to use the elevator system.

[0015] Using this embodiment, in addition to the user's current use of the mobile communication device, which is detected by a gesture, the user's absolute position and / or position relative to the beacon is also used to detect the user's intention. This enables particularly reliable detection of the user's intention.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, a current signal strength of the beacon signal is used when detecting the user's intention to use the elevator system.

[0017] Using this embodiment, in addition to the user's current use of the mobile communication device, which is detected by a gesture, a history of the user's position, absolute and / or relative to the beacon, is also used to detect the user's intention. This enables particularly reliable detection of the user's intention.

[0018] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and from the drawings, in which identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0019] The drawings are merely schematic and not to scale. Fig. 1 shows an access area to an elevator system. Fig. 2 shows an elevator system. Fig. 3 shows a purely schematic method for operating an elevator system.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an access area 12 to a Fig. 2 shown elevator system 10. In Fig. 1 a shaft door 14 of the elevator system 10 is visible.

[0021] A beacon 20 is arranged in the access area 12 formed around the shaft door 14. In this embodiment, it is designed as a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon and transmits a beacon signal 22.

[0022] The Beacon 20 can be used as Fig. 1 shown, be connected via a data connection 24 to a local part 26 of an elevator control 28 in order to exchange data with the elevator control 28. The elevator control can also be referred to as a controller for short. However, this data connection 24 can also be omitted. The local part 26 of the elevator control 28 is further connected via a data network 30, such as the Internet or a local network, to a server 32 of the elevator control 28. The server 32 is designed to receive and process a call from a mobile communication device 52 and to issue a call command or travel command to the local part 26 of the elevator control 28. The server 32 is also a component of the elevator control 28. The server 28 can also be connected to several, in Fig. 1 communicate with local elevator controls of other elevator systems (not shown). In other words, the server 28 can be assigned to multiple local elevator systems.

[0023] Further shows Fig. 1 a user 50 carrying a mobile communication device 52. The mobile communication device 52 may be, for example, a mobile phone. This is designed to receive the beacon signal 22. This is shown in Fig. 1 represented by the arrow 54 shown with a broken line. Furthermore, the mobile communication device 52 is designed to communicate with the elevator control 28 via a data connection 58 in order to make a call to the elevator installation 10, i.e., for example, to trigger a destination call. The data connection 58 is typically established via an at least partially wireless data network, such as a mobile data network of a telephone provider such as 3G, 5G or LTE. Other wireless data networks such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are also possible. The data connection 58 can also be established partially via an electrically conductive cable or fiber optic cable, as is common in data communication networks.

[0024] In Fig. 1 Two possible paths 60, 62 of a possible user 50 of the elevator installation 10 are also shown. On the first path 60, the user 50 approaches the shaft door 14 of the elevator installation 10. It can therefore be assumed that the user 50 intends to use the elevator installation. On the other path, path 62, the user 50 apparently does not want to use the elevator installation 10, since the path 62 leads in a curve past the shaft door 14. The object of the present invention is to provide a method which displays a call input mask to the user 50 on their communication device 52 and informs them that they can enter a call via their communication device 52. On the other hand, the user 50 should not be disturbed as much as possible on their path 62 past the elevator installation 10.

[0025] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the mobile communication device 52 of the user 52 recognizes a typical gesture indicating that the user wishes to use the elevator system 10 and initiate a call via their mobile communication device 52. Consequently, according to the invention, it is firstly recognized whether the user 52 is performing a gesture that is typical if the user wishes to make a call to the elevator control system. If no such gesture is performed, the method is aborted. Furthermore, the beacon signal 22 is also used.

[0026] If a gesture is detected, the gesture is evaluated to determine whether the user intends to use the elevator system 10. If the user's intention to use the elevator system is detected and if the mobile communication device 52 detects the beacon signal 22, the mobile communication device 52 displays a call input screen for the elevator system 10 to the user.

[0027] A gesture that indicates an intended call input can be: removing the mobile communication device 52 from a pocket, such as a trouser pocket, jacket pocket, shoulder bag, briefcase or the like, activating the screen of the mobile communication device 52, unlocking the screen or a keyboard of the mobile communication device 52, viewing the screen of the mobile communication device 52, shaking the mobile communication device 52, moving the mobile communication device 52 into a position which is typical for making an input and / or inputting via a key or push button, switch and / or keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen.

[0028] A keyboard, for example, can be mechanical or on a touch-sensitive screen. Likewise, a key, pushbutton, or switch can be mechanical or touch-sensitive, for example, through a corresponding display on a touch-sensitive screen. A touch-sensitive screen can also recognize a gesture, such as a specific figure or pattern, without a special display.

[0029] If either no gesture is detected indicating an intended call input or the beacon signal 22 is not received, the mobile communication device 52 does not perform any further action with regard to making a call, in particular no call input mask is displayed.

[0030] If the call entry screen is displayed, the user can enter a call via the call entry mast. This call is sent from the mobile communication device 52 to the elevator control 28 of the elevator system 10.

[0031] To detect the gesture, the mobile communication device can use one or more of the following sensors: an acceleration sensor, by means of which a movement of the device can be detected, a gyroscope, by means of which an orientation and / or a change in orientation of the device can be detected, a brightness sensor that can detect a change in the brightness of the ambient light, for example an infrared sensor can be used for this purpose, a camera, by means of which it can be detected whether a user of the device is looking at its screen to display the user interface, a distance sensor to determine a distance to another object, a compass to determine, for example, an orientation of the mobile communication device 52 to the shaft door 14, a push button to detect, for example, the pressing of a push button or push switch, a capacitive switch, or a touch-sensitive screen.

[0032] It may also prove advantageous to use the beacon signal 22 in addition to the gesture when detecting the user's intention to use the elevator system.

[0033] For example, the beacon signal can be evaluated for absolute signal strength. For example, to detect the intention to use the elevator system, the signal strength can be checked to determine whether it exceeds a minimum signal strength. If multiple signals are received from different beacons, it could also be required that the beacon signal 22 of the elevator system 10 be the strongest. For example, other devices could be installed in the vicinity of the shaft door that also have a beacon and emit a corresponding signal.

[0034] Furthermore, the beacon signal 22 could be evaluated with regard to the temporal progression of the signal strength. For example, the signal strength of the beacon 20 on the path 62 would initially increase, but from a certain point, which Fig. 1 marked with point 64. As soon as the beacon signal decreases again, it can be concluded that user 50 does not wish to use the elevator system, as they are no longer moving toward beacon 22. If user 50 picks up their mobile communication device 52 while passing the elevator system 10, for example, at point 66 and looks at its screen, this would correctly not be recognized as intended use of the elevator system. The user interface for sending a call would not be displayed.

[0035] In contrast, on path 60, the beacon signal 22 continuously increases. From this, it can be concluded that the user 50 is moving toward the beacon 20 and consequently toward the elevator system 10, and therefore intends to use the elevator system. If the user 50 picks up their mobile communication device 52 on the path 60 toward the elevator system 10 and looks at its screen, this would be recognized as an intended use of the elevator system. The user interface would be displayed to send a call.

[0036] In one embodiment, the beacon 20 sends as beacon signal 22 at least the following information: A Uniform Resource Locator, abbreviated as URL, which specifies the network address of the server 32 or its network name, An identification of the elevator system 10 An identification of the floor or the shaft door 14

[0037] The identification of elevator system 10 and / or the floor can also be transmitted as part of the URL.

[0038] In one embodiment, the mobile communication device 52 can be configured to open the URL received with the beacon signal 54 directly using a web browser. The server responds by sending back a website that displays the user interface, in particular the graphical user interface for the elevator system 10, on the mobile communication device 52. The user can then enter their call via the mobile communication device 52, and the browser sends the input back to the server.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the mobile communication device 52 can also use a dedicated application instead of the previously described web browser on the mobile communication device 52 to open the URL. In this case, for example, the data for displaying the user interface from the server 32 to the mobile communication device 52 could be omitted.

[0040] In another embodiment, if a dedicated application is used, the beacon 20 may also only send an identification, such as a Universally Unique Identifier, which is typically abbreviated to UUID.

[0041] Other protocols for beacon signals are known to those skilled in the art and can also be used.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows the elevator system 10, whereby the Fig. 1 The components shown are not shown for the sake of clarity. The elevator system 10 has a shaft 16 in which a car 18 can travel essentially vertically between the individual floors served by the elevator system 10. The shaft 16 is closed on each floor by the shaft door 14. On each floor, the access area 12 to the elevator system 10 is formed in front of the shaft door 14.

[0043] The elevator system 10 shown in Fig. 12 is designed as a traction elevator. Alternatively, the elevator system could be designed as a hydraulic elevator or with cars, each driven by a linear motor. In an embodiment with a linear motor, the car can typically also move horizontally. Other types of elevator systems are known to those skilled in the art and can also be used.

[0044] Furthermore, the elevator system can also have multiple elevator shafts and / or multiple cars moving in the same elevator shaft. If multiple cars serve the same floors or common floors and / or have common access areas 12, the elevator system can typically be controlled by a so-called group control.

[0045] The elevator system 10 can be equipped with the beacon 20 on every floor. However, it is also conceivable that the beacon 20 is installed only on selected floors or access areas 12. If no beacon is installed in an access area 12, the elevator can be called in a conventional manner or in a conventional manner using the mobile communication device 52, as is known from the prior art.

[0046] The method for making a call for a lift installation 10 described above is shown schematically in Fig. 3 and includes the following steps: In a step S1, the beacon signal 22 is detected by the mobile communication device 52. In a step S2, a gesture of the user 50 is recognized by the mobile communication device 52. In a step S3, the user's intention to use the elevator system 10 is recognized, using the detected gesture and the detected beacon signal 22 for this purpose. In a step S4, a user interface for sending a call is displayed on the mobile communication device 52. In a step S5, the call is sent to the controller 28 of the elevator system 10.

[0047] The steps S 1 and S2 are in Fig. 3 shown one after the other. However, step S2 can also occur before step S1 or at the same time as step S1.

Claims

1. Method for placing a call for a lift system (10), comprising: - a mobile communication device (52) which is carried by a user (50) of the lift system (10), - a beacon (20) of the lift system (10), which is designed to emit a beacon signal (22), and - a controller (28) of the lift system (10), wherein the method comprises the following steps: - capturing the beacon signal (22) by means of the mobile communication device (52), - recognizing a gesture of the user (50) by means of the mobile communication device (52), - identifying an intention of the user to use the lift system (100), wherein the recognized gesture and the captured beacon signal (22) are used for this purpose, - displaying a user interface on the mobile communication device (52) for the purpose of sending a call, and - sending the call to the controller (28) of the lift system (10).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the following sensors of the mobile communication device (52) is used to recognize the gesture: - an acceleration sensor, by means of which a movement of the device can be identified, - a gyroscope, by means of which an orientation and / or a change in orientation of the device can be identified, - a brightness sensor which can identify a change in the brightness of the ambient light, - a camera, by means of which it is possible to identify whether a user of the device is looking at its screen for displaying the user interface, - a distance sensor for determining a distance to another object, - a compass, - a push-button, - a touch-sensitive screen, or - a capacitive switch.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a time profile of a signal strength of the beacon signal (22) is used when identifying the intention of the user to use the lift system.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a current signal strength of the beacon signal (22) is used when identifying the intention of the user to use the lift system (10).