Method for transmitting a user-specific message from a user device to an elevator system

Abstract

A method for transmitting a user-specific message (29) from a user device (5) to an elevator system (3) comprises: receiving input data (27) which a user has input into the user device (5), in a data-processing device (17) of the user device (5); generating, from the input data (27), a user-specific message (29) which is to be displayed via a display device (15) of the elevator system (3); transmitting the message (29) to the elevator system (3) via a data communication link (25) which connects the user device (5) to the elevator system (3) for data communication, in order to enable the message (29) to be displayed via the display device (15).

Description

[0001] Method for sending a user-specific message from a user device to an elevator system

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for sending a user-specific message from a user device to an elevator installation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for displaying a user-specific message via a display device of an elevator installation, as well as to a data processing device, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium for executing one or both of the methods. Furthermore, the invention relates to an elevator installation and an elevator system.

[0003] An elevator system, for example, for transporting people and / or objects in buildings, is typically operated via car and / or floor control panels. Control can also be performed contactlessly using a (mobile) user device such as a smartphone or tablet. A corresponding app can be installed on the user device for this purpose. The functionality of such an app is typically limited to selecting a desired floor and sending a corresponding request to the elevator system via a wireless data communication connection.

[0004] There may be a need for a method that enables a user to display user-specific messages via a display device of the elevator installation. Furthermore, there may be a need for a corresponding data processing device, a corresponding computer program, a corresponding computer-readable medium, a corresponding elevator installation, and a corresponding elevator system.

[0005] These needs can be met by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims, the following description, and the accompanying figures.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for sending a user-specific message from a user device to an elevator installation, wherein the elevator installation comprises a display device and is connected to the user device via a data communication connection for data communication. The method comprises: receiving input data that a user has entered into the user device in a data processing device of the user device; generating a user-specific message to be displayed via the display device from the input data; sending the message via the data communication connection to the elevator installation to enable the message to be displayed via the display device.

[0007] The method may be computer-implemented and executed automatically by a processor, for example the data processing device of the user device.

[0008] The user device can be a device that can be operated by a user and includes a computer, such as a server, a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, a smartwatch or a remote control of the elevator system.

[0009] The data communication connection may be a wired and / or wireless data communication connection. For example, the data communication connection may be an Ethernet, WLAN, cellular, Bluetooth, or Internet connection, or a combination of at least two of these examples.

[0010] It is possible to select one of several possible message contents, particularly with reference to the elevator system, based on the input data, and to generate the message with the selected message content. However, the message can also be generated with a customized message content that includes at least part of the input data (e.g., a text formulated by the user). In other words, the message can also have any user-defined message content. The respective message content can then be displayed via the display device.

[0011] The method enables remote control of the elevator system's display device via the user device, allowing certain information selected by the user to be displayed to other users. This improves the exchange of information between users. For example, such information can help users better plan elevator rides or better estimate how long an elevator ride to a desired floor will take, which in turn improves user comfort.

[0012] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for displaying a user-specific message via a display device of an elevator installation. The method comprises: receiving a user-specific message to be displayed via the display device in a data processing device of the elevator installation; displaying the message via the display device by controlling the display device, wherein the message was generated and / or is displayed using a user device of a user, and wherein the user device is connected to the elevator installation via a data communication connection for data communication.

[0013] In other words, the message is only generated or displayed via the display device as a result of an interaction between the user and the user device and / or an interaction between the user device and the elevator system. Such an interaction can, for example, be the input of data to be displayed into the user device and / or the receipt of data to be displayed via the data communication connection in the elevator system. However, such an interaction can also be a unique identification of the user by means of their user device to the elevator system and / or a detection of the user device (and thus the user) at (for example within) or in the vicinity of an elevator car. In this case, certain data, for example the message itself, a unique user identifier, a unique elevator identifier, or a combination of at least two of these examples, can be transmitted via the data communication connection.

[0014] The method can be computer-implemented and executed automatically by a processor, for example the data processing device of the elevator system.

[0015] A third aspect of the invention relates to a data processing device with a processor configured to execute one or both of the methods described above and below. The data processing device may comprise hardware and / or software modules. In addition to the processor, the data processing device may comprise a memory and a data communication interface for wireless and / or wired data communication with peripheral devices. The data processing device may, for example, be a component of the user device and / or a component of a control device of the elevator system.

[0016] It should be noted that features of the methods described above and below can also be features of the data processing device (and vice versa). A fourth aspect of the invention relates to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises: an elevator shaft; an elevator car that can be moved in the elevator shaft between different floors of a building; a display device; the data processing device described above and below, wherein the processor of the data processing device is configured to execute the method described above and below for displaying the message.

[0017] The display device can, for example, comprise a car display arranged inside the elevator car and / or a floor display arranged outside the elevator shaft on one of the floors for displaying the message. For example, the car display can be part of a car panel and / or the floor display can be part of a floor panel.

[0018] It is possible that the message may appear the same or different on different displays of the display device. The different displays may differ, for example, in their size and / or position.

[0019] A fifth aspect of the invention relates to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises the elevator installation described above and below and one or more user devices, each user device comprising the data processing device described above and below. The processor of the data processing device is configured to execute the method for sending the message described above and below.

[0020] Further aspects of the invention relate to a computer program and a computer-readable medium on which the computer program is stored.

[0021] The computer program comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause a processor to perform one or both of the methods described above and below. The computer program may, for example, be special control software running on a control unit of the elevator system and / or a special app running on the user device.

[0022] The computer-readable medium may be a volatile or non-volatile data storage device. For example, the computer-readable medium may be a hard disk, a universal serial bus (USB) storage device, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, or a combination of two or more of these examples. The computer-readable medium may also be a data communications network that enables downloading of program code (e.g., over the Internet), or a cloud.

[0023] It should be noted that features of the methods as described above and below may also be features of the computer program and / or the computer-readable medium (and vice versa).

[0024] Embodiments of the invention may be considered based on the ideas and findings described below. These embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the input data may include a desired display time at which the message is to be displayed, for example time, date, day of the week, calendar week, month or year.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, the input data may include a desired display duration for which the message is to be displayed, for example in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or years.

[0027] Additionally or alternatively, the input data may include a desired repetition pattern according to which the message is to be repeated, for example hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or at a user-defined frequency.

[0028] Additionally or alternatively, the input data may include text formulated by the user (and to be displayed via the display device). However, the input data may also include audio and / or image data for playback via the display device, for example, a voice and / or video message recorded by the user.

[0029] This input data can, for example, be entered via a special app running on the user device.

[0030] It is also conceivable that the message is sent and / or displayed depending on the user's current location. The message can only be sent and / or displayed when the current location matches a desired location. The current and / or desired location can, for example, be part of the input data and / or sent to the elevator system via the data communication connection. The current location can, for example, be determined on a digital map using a receiver for a global navigation satellite system (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or Beidou) or another location sensor that can be part of or coupled to the user device.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the method for displaying the message may further comprise sending the message by performing the steps of the method for sending the message described above and below. In this case, features of the method for sending the message are to be understood as features of the method for displaying the message.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the method for displaying the message may further comprise the following steps: displaying an indication of an alternative floor to which the user could walk from a current floor via the display device by controlling the display device and / or by sending the indication via the data communication connection to the user device to enable the indication to be displayed via the user device, wherein the indication prompts the user to confirm the alternative floor. Once the confirmation is received, a signal transmitted by the user device is waited for a certain waiting time, wherein the received signal indicates that the user has entered an elevator car of the elevator installation located on the alternative floor. The message is only displayed if the signal is received within the waiting time.

[0033] In other words, using the user device, it can be detected whether a specific user has walked at least part of an elevator route. In this case, a corresponding message can be automatically displayed on the display device. By displaying the message, the user in question can, for example, be visually highlighted compared to other users (who did not walk), for example, by being marked with a symbol as being particularly environmentally conscious.

[0034] The confirmation can, for example, be entered via a panel of the elevator system and / or via the user device. It is also conceivable for the user to enter the confirmation via a panel of the elevator system, and in response, information regarding the alternative floor is sent to the user device (preferably via a wireless data communication connection), so that the information, for example, a designation of the alternative floor and / or directions, can be accessed via the user device independently of the elevator system. This has the advantage that the user can conveniently display the information on their user device while on the move.

[0035] The signal emitted by the user device may include a unique user identifier so that the user can be uniquely identified using the signal. For example, the user device may be equipped with an active or passive (RFID) transponder for emitting the signal and / or configured to emit the signal within a range of no more than 10 meters, preferably no more than 1 meter. The signal may be emitted automatically, for example, in response to confirmation of the alternative floor, or as a result of additional user input, i.e., triggered by the user using the user device.

[0036] The elevator system can be equipped with one or more receivers for receiving the signal. Such a receiver (also called a reader) can be located, for example, on or inside the elevator car or near a door area through which the elevator car is accessible to users of the elevator system from a floor (see below).

[0037] It is also possible that the user device includes a reader and the receiving device of the elevator system is an active or passive (RFID) transponder.

[0038] This enables contactless identification and / or localization of the user via their user device.

[0039] A variant is also possible in which the user sends a user-specific message to the elevator system, the message is stored there, but is only displayed on the display device when the signal is received within the waiting time, ie when it is recognized (in time) that the user has walked part of an elevator route.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the signal can be received via a receiving device arranged on (for example, inside) or near the elevator car. Such a receiving device can be a transmitter and / or receiver for wireless data communication, for example, via Bluetooth and / or using an RFID method. The receiving device can be a component of the data processing device of the elevator system or can be connected to the data processing device of the elevator system for data communication.

[0041] According to one embodiment, displaying the message may display at least one of the following information:

[0042] - Input data entered by the user into the user device (for example, as mentioned above, text written by the user);

[0043] - a user identifier to uniquely identify the user (for example, their name, initials, pseudonym, photo, avatar, a unique character string or a combination of at least two of these examples);

[0044] - a symbol that (additionally) distinguishes the user, or more precisely his or her displayed user ID, from other users, or more precisely from their displayed user IDs;

[0045] - a floor requested by the user at which the elevator should stop;

[0046] - an elevator desired by the user from several possible elevators in the elevator system.

[0047] At least one of the information user ID, symbol, desired floor and desired elevator can be part of the input data, i.e. it can have been entered by the user into the user device.

[0048] The symbol can, for example, be a pictogram, an image, text, or a combination of at least two of these examples. For example, the symbol can identify the user as particularly environmentally conscious or generally as a user particularly worthy of emulation (with regard to their usage behavior). The symbol can be displayed in particular (for example, next to a user ID assigned to the user) if the user has walked part of an elevator route and is intended to be distinguished from other users who did not walk (see also above).

[0049] If the user is a building manager, he or she can, by sending a corresponding user-specific message to the elevator system, display information regarding, for example, a current status of the elevator system (e.g., "maintenance," "repair," or "cleaning"), regarding a current operating mode of the elevator system (e.g., "energy-saving mode active" or "silent mode active"), or regarding certain types of users transported by the elevator system (e.g., "elevator staff" or "wheelchair users").

[0050] It is possible to additionally assign a priority to the message, and receive and / or display the message according to its priority. This allows higher-priority messages to be given priority over lower-priority messages.

[0051] The priority can be determined, for example, using a user ID assigned to the message. In other words, messages from different users can differ in their priority, among other things. For example, a message from a building manager (see above) may generally have a higher priority than a message from a regular elevator passenger.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the message can be received via the data communication connection in the data processing device of the elevator system. This allows the message to be generated independently of and / or outside the elevator system.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the desired floor from the message can be displayed differently than if the desired floor is entered via a panel of the elevator system and displayed via the display device. This enables a visual differentiation of the displayed desired floors depending on whether they were entered via a user device or a panel. For example, in cases where multiple users are waiting in front of one or more elevators of the elevator system to travel to the same floor, it can be confusing if the floor is displayed the same for each user. For example, a user who has requested a floor via their user device does not know in such a case whether the displayed floor was requested by them or by another user who is also waiting via the panel.

[0054] According to one embodiment, at least one second user device can be connected to the user device and / or the elevator installation via the data communication connection for data communication. In this case, the method can further comprise sending the message via the data communication connection to the second user device or the second user devices in order to enable the message to be additionally displayed via the second user device or the second user devices. Thus, the message can be displayed to users regardless of their location. In other words, the message can also be displayed to users who are not in the vicinity of the display device, i.e., the users do not necessarily have to be in the vicinity of the display device in order to be informed of the message.

[0055] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Neither the description nor the drawings are to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0056] Fig. 1 shows an elevator system according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows a display device of an elevator installation according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0058] The drawings are purely schematic and not to scale. Where identical reference symbols are used in different drawings, these reference symbols indicate identical or equivalent features.

[0059] Fig. 1 shows an elevator system 1 comprising an elevator installation 3 and a user device 5, in this case a smartphone. However, the user device 5 can also be a PC, a laptop, a tablet, a smartwatch, or a specially developed remote control. The elevator system 1 can also comprise two (as here) or more than two user devices 5.

[0060] The elevator system 3 comprises an elevator shaft 7 in which an elevator car 9 (hereinafter referred to as car 9) can be moved between several floors 10 of a building 11 by means of an electric drive 13. Furthermore, the elevator system 3 comprises a control unit 14 for controlling components of the elevator system 3, for example, the electric drive 13, depending on the desired floors at which the car 9 is to stop, and a display device 15 (see Fig. 2) on which certain information relevant to users of the elevator system 3 can be displayed.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 2, the display device 15 can comprise multiple displays, for example a car display 15a, which can be arranged within the car 9, and / or a floor display 15b, which can be arranged next to or above a door area through which the car 9 is accessible to users from a floor 10. Each of the devices 5, 14 comprises a data processing device 17 with a memory 19 on which a special computer program is stored, a processor 21 configured to execute the computer program, and a data communication interface 23. The data communication interface 23 of the user device 5 is connected to the data communication interface 23 of the control device 14 via a data communication connection 25 for data communication, here for wireless data communication, for example via WLAN, mobile radio, Bluetooth and / or the Internet.However, a wired data communication connection 25 is also possible. The data communication between the devices 5, 14 can take place directly or indirectly, for example via at least one server and / or at least one other user device.

[0062] By the processor 21 of the user device 5 executing the computer program stored in the memory 19 of the user device 5, the following steps of a method for sending a user-specific message to the elevator system 3 can be carried out.

[0063] In a first step, input data 27 that a user has entered into the user device 5, here for example via a touch display of the smartphone in a special elevator app running on the smartphone, are received in the data processing device 17 of the user device 5.

[0064] The input data 27 includes, on the one hand, information to be displayed via the display device 15, for example, a text formulated by the user, a voice message recorded by the user, a video message recorded by the user, or a combination of at least two of these examples. Such information can also be a user identifier for uniquely identifying the user (for example, their name, their initials, their pseudonym, their photo, their avatar, a unique character string, or a combination of at least two of these examples), a floor desired by the user, or an elevator desired by the user from several possible elevators of the elevator system 3.

[0065] Additionally, the input data 27 can define, ie, the user can define by entering corresponding input data 27 when and / or for how long and / or according to which repetition pattern this information should be displayed. In a second step, a user-specific message 29 is generated from the input data 27, which message 29 is to be displayed via the display device 15. The content of the message 29 to be displayed can correspond to the input data 27 or at least a portion thereof.

[0066] In a third step, the message 29 is finally sent via the data communication connection 25 to the data processing device 17 of the control unit 14 in order to enable the message 29 to be displayed via the display device 15.

[0067] In addition, the user device 5 can send the message 29 to at least one second user device 5 to enable the message 29 to also be displayed via the second user device 5.

[0068] By the processor 21 of the control unit 14 executing the computer program stored in the memory 19 of the control unit 14, the following steps of a method for displaying a user-specific message 29 via the display device 15 can be carried out.

[0069] In a first step, the message 29 is received in the data processing device 17 of the control unit 14. For example, the message 29 can be read from the memory 19 of the control unit 14. However, the message 29 can also be received, as here, via the data communication connection 25, i.e., from the user device 5. In this case, the message 29 can have been sent by executing the steps of the transmission method described above.

[0070] In a second step, the control unit 14 generates a control command 30 which causes the message 29 to be displayed via the display device 15, for example in accordance with the aforementioned display parameters such as display time, display duration and repetition pattern.

[0071] Generally, generating and / or displaying message 29 requires at least one interaction between the user device 5 and the user (see above) and / or with the control device 14 (see below). For example, it is possible for message 29 to be displayed depending on whether the user walks at least part of an elevator route between two floors 10 connected by a staircase or travels the entire elevator route in the car 9.

[0072] In this case, for example, an indication of an alternative floor to which the user could walk from a current floor can be displayed by the control device 14 controlling the display device 15 so that the indication is displayed via the display device 15, and / or sending the indication via the data communication connection 25 to the user device 5 to enable the indication to be displayed via the user device 5, here for example via the touch display of the smartphone in the elevator app.

[0073] The notification may also prompt the user to confirm the displayed alternative floor in a specific manner. The confirmation may be entered, for example, via a control element of a panel of the elevator system 3 and / or via the user device 5 (for example, by touching a corresponding control panel on a touch display of the panel or the user device 5).

[0074] In both cases, the confirmation can be received in the data processing device 17 of the control unit 14 and further processed there.

[0075] Receipt of the confirmation can trigger a timer. If a signal 31 transmitted by the user device 5 is received in the control unit 14 within a certain waiting period after receipt of the confirmation, for example, via a receiving device 33 in the form of an RFID reader located in a car 9 located on the alternative floor, message 29 is displayed. Otherwise, i.e., if the signal 31 is not received or is only received after the waiting period has elapsed, message 29 is not displayed.

[0076] By displaying message 29, the user in question who has walked can be distinguished from other users who may not have walked (more precisely, from the displayed user IDs of these users) as a particularly environmentally friendly and / or exemplary user, for example by means of a specific symbol next to their user ID, which is also displayed. In addition, by displaying message 29, information regarding the length of the elevator route covered on foot and / or an associated (estimated) energy saving can be displayed. The waiting time can be constant, i.e., set to a specific value such as 5, 10, or 15 minutes. However, it is also possible for the waiting time to vary, for example, depending on the length of the elevator route to be covered on foot and / or the current capacity utilization of the elevator system 3.Thus, the waiting time can be selected to be longer, the longer the elevator distance to be covered on foot and / or the greater the utilization of the elevator system 3 (ie the longer the user, once he has arrived at the alternative floor, may have to wait for a car 9 in order to cover the rest of the elevator distance in the car 9).

[0077] If the message 29 includes a desired floor, as mentioned above, it is possible for the control device 14 to control the display device 15 to display the desired floor from the message 29 differently than if the same floor is to be entered in the usual way via a panel of the elevator system 3 and displayed as the desired floor via the display device 15.

[0078] For example, if a first user waiting in front of a first elevator in elevator system 3 requests a floor via their user device 5, while a second user waiting in front of a second elevator in elevator system 3 requests the same floor via the panel, a display device 15 of the first elevator can display, in addition to the designation of the desired floor, a first symbol associated with the user device 5, and a display device 15 of the second elevator can display, in addition to the designation of the desired floor, a second symbol different from the first symbol and associated with the panel. Thus, users can clearly assign the displayed desired floors, even if their designations are identical.

[0079] It is possible for the control device 14 to additionally forward the message 29 to at least one second user device 5 in order to enable the message 29 to also be displayed via the second user device 5.

[0080] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising," "including," "including," "having," etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with features or steps described with reference to other of the above embodiments. Reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the scope of the subject matter defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A method for sending a user-specific message (29) from a user device (5) to a lift installation (3), wherein the lift installation (3) comprises a display device (15) and is connected to the user device (5) via a data communication connection (25) for data communication, the method comprising: Receiving input data (27) that a user has entered into the user device (5) in a data processing device (17) of the user device (5); Generating a user-specific message (29) to be displayed via the display device (15) from the input data (27); Sending the message (29) via the data communication connection (25) to the elevator system (3) to enable the message (29) to be displayed via the display device (15).

2. The method according to claim 2, wherein the input data (27) comprise a desired display time at which the message (29) is to be displayed; and / or wherein the input data (27) comprise a desired display duration during which the message (29) is to be displayed; and / or wherein the input data (27) comprise a desired repetition pattern according to which the display of the message (29) is to be repeated; and / or wherein the input data (27) comprise text formulated by the user.

3. A method for displaying a user-specific message (29) via a display device (15) of a lift installation (3), the method comprising: Receiving a user-specific message (29) to be displayed via the display device (15) in a data processing device (17) of the elevator installation (3); Displaying the message (29) via the display device (15) by controlling the display device (15); wherein the message (29) was generated and / or is displayed using a user device (5) of a user, wherein the user device (5) is connected to the elevator installation (3) via a data communication connection (25) for data communication. The method of claim 3, wherein the message (29) is received via the data communication link (25). The method of claim 3 or 4, further comprising: Sending the message (29) by performing the steps of the method according to claim 1. Method according to one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising: Displaying an indication of an alternative floor to which the user could walk from a current floor via the display device (15) by controlling the display device (15) and / or by sending the indication via the data communication connection (25) to the user device (5) to enable the indication to be displayed via the user device (5), wherein the indication prompts the user to confirm the alternative floor; when the confirmation is received: waiting for the receipt of a signal (31) transmitted by the user device (5) for a specific waiting time, wherein the received signal (31) indicates that the user has entered an elevator car (9) of the elevator installation (3) located on the alternative floor; wherein the message (29) is displayed if the signal (31) is received within the waiting time.Method according to claim 6, wherein the signal (31) is received via a receiving device (33) arranged on or near the elevator car (9). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the following information is displayed by displaying the message (29): Input data (27) that the user has entered into the user device (5); a user ID for uniquely identifying the user; a symbol that distinguishes the user from other users; a floor desired by the user at which the elevator system (3) should stop; an elevator desired by the user from several possible elevators of the elevator system (3).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the desired floor from the message (29) is displayed differently than if the desired floor is entered via a panel of the elevator installation (3) and displayed via the display device (15).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one second user device (5) is connected to the user device (5) and / or the elevator installation (3) via the data communication connection (25) for data communication, the method further comprising: Sending the message (29) via the data communication connection (25) to the second user device (5) to enable the message (29) to be additionally displayed via the second user device (5).

11. Data processing device (17) comprising a processor (21) configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 and / or the method according to claim 3.

12. Elevator installation (3), comprising: an elevator shaft (7); an elevator car (9) that can be moved in the elevator shaft (7) between different floors (10) of a building (11); a display device (15); a data processing device (17) according to claim 11, wherein the processor (21) of the data processing device (17) is configured to carry out the method according to claim 3.

13. Elevator system (1) comprising: the elevator installation (3) according to claim 12; a user device (5) comprising a data processing device (17) according to claim 11, wherein the processor (21) of the data processing device (17) is configured to execute the method according to claim 1.

14. A computer program comprising instructions which cause a processor (21) to carry out the method according to claim 1 and / or the method according to claim 3 when the computer program is executed by the processor (21).

15. A computer-readable medium on which the computer program according to claim 14 is stored.

Images