Elevator system
The elevator system improves space allocation by allowing priority boarding requests and suggesting yielding behavior, ensuring users with additional needs can board by optimizing car space utilization.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024013368
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing elevator systems fail to accommodate users requiring additional space, such as strollers or carts, when multiple car calls are already registered, leading to a reduced likelihood of boarding.
An elevator system that allows users to input priority boarding requests via a user terminal, determining if additional space is available, and suggests yielding behavior to existing passengers if necessary, with benefits for those who comply.
Increases the likelihood of accommodating users needing additional space by encouraging existing passengers to yield, thereby optimizing car space utilization and enhancing convenience.
Smart Images

Figure 2025118199000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to elevator systems. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for responding to wheelchair calls related to an elevator operating device that controls the operation of a wheelchair-accessible elevator. In this technology, the elevator operating device prohibits the registration of new car calls when a wheelchair call from a hall is registered and the number of registered car calls is one or less. As a result, the elevator does not respond to wheelchair calls when there are multiple registered car calls, but responds to wheelchair calls when the number of car calls reaches one, making it possible to schedule a car to respond to a wheelchair call before the car becomes empty. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-186325 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The device in Patent Document 1 prohibits new car call registrations when there is one or fewer registered car calls, but cannot respond to wheelchair calls when there are already multiple registered car calls. Thus, the device in Patent Document 1 has a problem in terms of increasing the possibility of boarding by utilizing the additional occupied space when a user is already in the car or is planning to board.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an elevator system that can improve convenience by increasing the possibility of boarding for users who require additional space for strollers, carts, etc. when moving around a facility using an elevator. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] The present disclosure relates to an elevator system that dispatches cars based on external call information input from a user terminal carried by a user using an elevator installed in a facility, the external call information including the departure floor and arrival floor, and whether or not priority boarding is required to board the car by using an additional occupied space on a priority basis. The system includes a registration unit that performs registration processing to register call registration information that assigns a car to the external call of the input external call information, a determination unit that performs determination processing to determine whether or not priority boarding is possible in the call registration information, if priority boarding is required in the call registration information, and a presentation unit that performs presentation processing to present a yielding action suggestion to at least one user registered in the call registration information to refrain from boarding the car, if it is determined in the determination processing that priority boarding is not possible in the car. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to the elevator system of the present disclosure, when priority boarding is required in the call registration information and it is determined that priority boarding into the car is not possible, a yielding behavior suggestion to refrain from boarding the car is presented to at least one user registered in the call registration information. This encourages users in the car to yield, thereby increasing the likelihood that users who require additional space for strollers, carts, etc. will be able to board the car, thereby improving convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an external call input screen of a user terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of an additional information input screen of a user terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a data image stored in a storage device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions realized by a processor of the management device executing a program. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of call registration information stored in a storage device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of benefit granting information notified to a user terminal. [Figure 8] 3 is a flowchart of a routine executed in the elevator system of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 3 is a flowchart of a routine executed in the elevator system of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates a modification of the hardware resources of the management device. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a routine executed in the elevator system of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart of a routine executed in the elevator system of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that elements common to the various drawings are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.
[0010] 1. Embodiment 1 1-1. External configuration of the elevator system according to the first embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator system according to the first embodiment.
[0011] The elevator system 100 includes an elevator 2. The elevator 2 is installed in a facility 12 having, for example, multiple floors. A hoistway 3 for the elevator 2 is provided in the facility 12. The hoistway 3 is a vertically long space that spans multiple floors. A landing 4 adjacent to the hoistway 3 is provided on each floor.
[0012] The elevator 2 includes a traction machine 5, a main rope 6, a car 7, a counterweight 8, and a control panel 10. The traction machine 5 is disposed, for example, at the top or bottom of the hoistway 3. For example, if a machine room for the elevator 2 is provided above the hoistway 3, the traction machine 5 may be disposed in the machine room. The traction machine 5 includes a motor and a sheave. The motor of the traction machine 5 is a device that generates driving force. The sheave of the traction machine 5 is a device that rotates by the driving force generated by the motor of the traction machine 5.
[0013] The main ropes 6 are wound around the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5. The main ropes 6 support the load of the car 7 on one side of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5. The main ropes 6 support the load of the counterweight 8 on the other side of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5. The main ropes 6 move so as to be wound up onto the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5 or to be unwound from the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5 as the sheaves of the hoisting machine 5 rotate.
[0014] The car 7 is a device that transports passengers of the elevator 2 between multiple floors by traveling up and down the hoistway 3. The car 7 travels up and down the hoistway 3 in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 6 caused by the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine 5.
[0015] Counterweight 8 is a device that balances the loads acting on both sides of the sheave of hoisting machine 5 with car 7. Counterweight 8 travels up and down in the hoistway 3 in the opposite direction to the car 7 in response to the movement of the main rope 6 caused by the rotation of the sheave of hoisting machine 5.
[0016] The control panel 10 is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 2. The control panel 10 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the elevator shaft 3. For example, if a machine room for the elevator 2 is provided above the elevator shaft 3, the control panel 10 may be disposed in the machine room.
[0017] The elevator system 100 includes a remote monitoring device 14. The remote monitoring device 14 is a device used for remotely monitoring the status of the elevator 2. The remote monitoring device 14 is connected to a control panel 10 or the like so as to collect information on the status of the elevator 2. The information collected by the remote monitoring device 14 is transmitted to a management device 20 or the like provided in a monitoring center 200 via a communication network 13 such as the Internet or a telephone line. The monitoring center 200 is a base for collecting and managing information on the status of the elevator 2. The remote monitoring device 14 receives a control signal for the elevator 2 from outside the facility 12 in which the elevator 2 is provided, or the like, via the communication network 13. The control signal includes a signal representing operation instruction information, which will be described later. The remote monitoring device 14 relays the received control signal to the control panel 10.
[0018] The elevator system 100 includes a user terminal 30. In this example, a user of the elevator 2 carries the user terminal 30. The user terminal 30 is a portable terminal device equipped with wireless communication capabilities, such as a smartphone. The user terminal 30 is connected to a communication network 13, such as the Internet or a telephone line. In this example, the user terminal 30 includes a touch panel display 32 with a display function for displaying information to the user and an operation function for receiving input from the user, and a position sensor 40. An external call registration application for registering external calls made by users of the elevator 2 is installed on the user terminal 30. The user launches the external call registration application on the user terminal 30 to input an external call including the departure and arrival floors of the elevator 2. The user also inputs additional information accompanying the external call. The additional information here includes whether or not priority boarding is required to use additional space in the car 7 and whether or not a yielding behavior suggestion is required to refrain from boarding the car 7. It is assumed that the request for additional occupied space will be made by a user using, for example, a stroller or a cart. The departure floor and arrival floor of the elevator 2 and additional information input by the user are transmitted to the management device 20 via the communication network 13 as external call information linked to the identification information of the user terminal 30.
[0019] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external call input screen of the user terminal 30. When the call registration application is started, for example, the external call input screen shown in Fig. 2 is displayed on the touch panel display 32. The user operates the screen of the touch panel display 32 to input the departure floor and arrival floor.
[0020] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display of the additional information input screen of the user terminal 30. When the user selects "Settings" on the external call input screen, the screen switches to, for example, the additional information input screen shown in Fig. 3. The user operates the screen of the touch panel display 32 to input additional information.
[0021] The position sensor 40 is a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver that receives signals transmitted from multiple GPS satellites and calculates, based on the received signals, the position of the user terminal 30. The position information calculated by the position sensor 40 is transmitted to the management device 20 via the communication network 13.
[0022] The elevator system 100 includes a management device 20. The user terminal 30 and the management device 20 are communicatively connected via a communication network 13. Similarly, the management device 20 and the control panel 10 are communicatively connected via the communication network 13 and a remote monitoring device 14.
[0023] The management device 20 is configured by, for example, one or more server devices. The management device 20 is located in, for example, a monitoring center 200. The management device 20 is connected to a communication network 13. Some or all of the functions of the management device 20 may be implemented by processing and storage resources on a cloud service. The management device 20 includes a processor 22 and a storage device 24. The processor 22 executes various processes. The processor 22 is, for example, a microcomputer. Examples of the storage device 24 include volatile memory, non-volatile memory, etc.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a data image stored in the storage device 24. The storage device 24 stores at least one program 241 executable by the processor 22 and various related data 242. The program 241 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The data 242 stores call registration information, which will be described later. The processor 22 executes the program 241 to perform various processes. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing functions implemented by the processor of the management device executing the program. As shown in FIG. 5, the management device 20 includes a registration unit 201, a measurement unit 202, a determination unit 203, a presentation unit 204, a reception unit 205, an action instruction unit 206, a behavior determination unit 207, an assignment unit 208, a benefit information notification unit 209, and a guidance information provision unit 210 as functions of the processor 22 that implement various processes. Hereinafter, the functions of the processor 22 of the management device 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as well.
[0025] 1-3. Functions of the processor 22 of the management device 20 1-3-1. Registration Section 201 The registration unit 201 is a functional block for executing a process of assigning and registering a car 7 to an external call of external call information received from the user terminal 30. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "registration process." Information registered in the registration process is hereinafter referred to as "call registration information." The call registration information is stored in data 242 of the storage device 24, and its contents are updated as appropriate. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of call registration information stored in the storage device. The call registration information includes, for example, user identification information, the departure and arrival floors of the registered external call, whether priority boarding is required, the assigned car number, whether a yielding behavior suggestion is required, the order of acceptance intentions, and user attributes. These items included in the call registration information will be explained as appropriate in the explanation of the related functional blocks. The departure and arrival floors of the registered external call are transmitted to the control panel 10 via the communication network 13. The control panel 10 dispatches a car 7 based on the received external call.
[0026] 1-3-2. Measurement unit 202 The measurement unit 202 is a functional block for executing a process of measuring the live load based on sensor data of the weighing device of the car 7 of the elevator 2. This process will be referred to as "measurement process" hereinafter.
[0027] 1-3-3. Judgment section 203 The determination unit 203 is a functional block for executing a process to determine whether a user can board the elevator when an external call requiring priority boarding is registered. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "determination process." In the determination process, the determination unit 203 determines that the user cannot board if the load weight of the car 7 is greater than a threshold, and determines that the user can board if the load weight of the car 7 is equal to or less than the threshold. As an example, the determination unit 203 calculates the threshold based on the following formula (1) assuming that space for three people is required for priority boarding using additional occupied space. For example, if the specifications of elevator 2 are a car rated capacity of 450 kg and a capacity of six people, the threshold calculated based on formula (1) is threshold Th1 = 225 kg. Threshold Th1 = rated capacity of the car - estimated weight of three people (1)
[0028] 1-3-4. Presentation section 204 The presentation unit 204 is a functional block for executing a process of presenting a yielding action suggestion to at least one user already in the car 7 to encourage them to get off the car when the user of an external call including a request for priority boarding is determined to be "unavailable" in the determination process. This process is hereinafter referred to as "presentation process." In the presentation process, the presentation unit 204 transmits a message presenting a yielding action suggestion via the communication network 13 to the user terminals 30 of users already in the car 7 whose call registration information indicates that they "need" the presentation of a yielding action suggestion. Note that there are no limitations on the form of the message, but a message form that users can immediately check, such as a pop-up message, is preferable.
[0029] 1-3-5. Reception desk 205 The reception unit 205 is a functional block for receiving a user's intention to accept a yielding action proposal. The processing executed here is hereinafter referred to as the "reception processing." When a user who has received a yielding action proposal inputs an intention to accept the proposal into the user terminal 30, the intention to accept is transmitted to the management device 20 via the communication network 13 together with the identification information of the user terminal 30. In the reception processing, the reception unit 205 stores an attribute indicating the "reception order" of the received acceptance intentions in the call registration information in the order in which they were received, and updates the attribute of the user to "get off at the nearest floor."
[0030] 1-3-6.Operation instruction section 206 The operation instruction unit 206 is a functional block for executing a process of transmitting an operation instruction to the control panel 10 to stop the car 7 at the nearest floor. This process will be referred to as "operation instruction process" hereinafter. In the operation instruction process, if there is a user who has the attribute "get off at nearest floor" assigned in the call registration information, the operation instruction unit 206 generates an operation instruction to get off at the nearest floor and transmits it to the control panel 10 via the communication network 13. Furthermore, when the car 7 stops at the nearest floor, the operation instruction unit 206 updates the attribute of the user who has the attribute "get off at nearest floor" assigned in the call registration information to "get off determination."
[0031] 1-3-7. Behavior Judgment Department 207 The behavior determination unit 207 is a functional block for executing a process to determine whether a user who is assigned the attribute "alighting determination" in the call registration information has alighted at the nearest floor where the vehicle stopped. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "alighting determination process." In the alighting determination process, the behavior determination unit 207 uses the position information calculated by the position sensor 40 of the user terminal 30 of the user who is assigned the attribute "alighting determination." Typically, the behavior determination unit 207 determines that the user has "alighted" if the user terminal 30 has moved a specified horizontal distance from the nearest floor where the vehicle stopped. Here, the specified horizontal distance is, for example, 3.0 m. On the other hand, the behavior determination unit 207 determines that the user has "not alighted" if the user terminal 30 has moved a specified vertical distance from the nearest floor where the vehicle stopped. Here, the specified vertical distance is, for example, 2.0 m.
[0032] 1-3-8. Granting section 208 The granting unit 208 is a functional block for executing a process of granting a privilege to a user determined by the behavior determination unit 207 to have "disembarked." This process will be referred to as a "privilege granting process." In the privilege granting process, the granting unit 208 grants a privilege to a user determined to have "disembarked." Examples of the privilege here include granting coupons or points that can be used for services within the facility 12. The granting unit 208 may also provide different added value to the privilege depending on the "reception order" stored in the call registration information. For example, the granting unit 208 grants a privilege with higher added value to users who have received calls earlier in the reception order. In one example, in the privilege granting process, the granting unit 208 grants 50 points, 25 points, and 10 points to the users ranked first, second, and third in the reception order, respectively.
[0033] 1-3-9. Benefit information notification section 209 The privilege information notification unit 209 is a functional block for executing a process of notifying a user of privilege granting information. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "privilege granting information notification process." The privilege granting information includes, for example, the type of privilege, the content of the granted privilege, the reception order, etc. In the privilege granting information notification process, the privilege information notification unit 209 transmits the privilege granting information to the user terminal 30 via the communication network 13. The received privilege granting information is displayed on the user terminal 30. The display format of the privilege granting information is not limited. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of privilege granting information notified to the user terminal. In the example shown in this figure, the points earned for each reception order are displayed, and the reception order and points earned by the user are highlighted. This display configuration is intended to motivate users who wish to earn points to express their intention to accept the request sooner and earn more points next time.
[0034] 1-3-10. Guidance information providing unit 210 The guidance information providing unit 210 is a functional block for executing a process of providing facility guidance information to a user who has input an intention to accept a given-way behavior proposal. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "guidance information providing process." Examples of the guidance information include a floor map of the nearest floor where the user plans to disembark, tenant information, or event information. In the guidance information providing process, the guidance information providing unit 210 transmits the guidance information via the communication network 13 to the user terminal 30 of the user who has the attribute "disembarkation determination" attached in the call registration information. The received guidance information is displayed on the user terminal 30.
[0035] 1-4. Specific Processing Executed in the Elevator System 100 of the First Embodiment A series of operations for granting a privilege to a passenger who has performed a disembarking action as a yielding action will be described below with reference to a flowchart. Figures 8 and 9 are flowcharts of a routine executed in the elevator system of embodiment 1. The routines shown in Figures 8 and 9 are repeatedly executed by the processor 22 of the management device 20 at a predetermined control period.
[0036] The processing of step S100 corresponds to the registration processing executed by the registration unit 201. Specifically, in step S100, the departure floor, arrival floor, whether priority boarding using additional occupied space is required, and whether a yielding behavior suggestion is required, included in the external call information received from the user terminal 30, are registered in the call registration information. In the next step S102, it is determined whether priority boarding using additional occupied space is required in the registered call registration information. As a result, if priority boarding is not required, it is determined that a yielding behavior suggestion is not required, and the processing of this routine is terminated. On the other hand, if priority boarding is required, the processing proceeds to step S104.
[0037] In step S104, the measurement unit 202 executes the above-described measurement process. As a result, the live load in the car 7 is measured. In the next step S106, the determination unit 203 executes a determination process to determine whether the live load is greater than a threshold value. As a result, if the determination is not found to be successful, it is determined that additional occupied space can be secured and that a yielding behavior suggestion is unnecessary. In this case, this routine is terminated.
[0038] On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative in the process of step S106, there is a risk that additional occupied space may not be secured, and it is determined that a yielding action suggestion is necessary. In this case, the process proceeds to step S108.
[0039] In the process of step S108, the above-mentioned presentation process is executed in the presentation unit 204. Here, among the users riding in the car 7, a yielding behavior suggestion recommending disembarking behavior is presented to users for whom the presentation of a yielding behavior suggestion is required in the call registration information.
[0040] In the next steps S110 and S112, the reception unit 205 executes the reception process described above. Typically, in step S110, it is determined whether an acceptance intention has been received from the user terminal 30. As a result, if an acceptance intention has been received, the process proceeds to step S112. Here, an attribute indicating the "reception order" assigned in the order in which the received acceptance intentions were received is registered in the call registration information, and the attribute of the user is updated to "get off at the nearest floor." When the process of step S112 is completed, the process proceeds to step S114.
[0041] On the other hand, if no acceptance intention is received from the user terminal 30 in step S110, the process skips step S112 and proceeds to step S114. In step S114, it is determined whether or not a user with the attribute "get off at nearest floor" exists among the users registered in the call registration information. As a result, if the determination is not established, the process of this routine is terminated, and if the determination is established, the process proceeds to step S116.
[0042] In step S116, the above-described operation instruction processing is executed in the operation instruction unit 206. Here, typically, an operation instruction to stop the car 7 at the nearest floor is transmitted to the control panel 10. When the processing of step S116 is completed, the processing proceeds to step S118.
[0043] In step S118, the guidance information providing unit 210 executes a guidance information providing process. Specifically, floor information of the nearest floor specified in the operation instruction is transmitted to the user terminal 30 of the user who has been assigned the attribute "get off at nearest floor." When the process of step S118 is completed, the process proceeds to step S120.
[0044] In steps S120 to S128, the behavior determination unit 207 executes the above-described disembarkation determination process. Specifically, first, in step S120, it is determined whether the car 7 has stopped at the nearest floor. As a result, if the determination is found to be true, the process proceeds to step S122, and if the determination is not found to be true, the determination process of step S120 is repeatedly executed until the determination is found to be true.
[0045] In step S122, the attribute "nearest floor alighting" in the call registration information is updated to "alighting determination." In the next step S124, the position of the user to whom the attribute "alighting determination" is assigned is measured based on the position information obtained from the position sensor 40 of the user terminal 30 of the user. In the next step S126, it is determined whether the position of the user measured in step S124 has moved beyond a specified horizontal distance from the position of the car 7. The specified horizontal distance here is a threshold value for determining that the user who was riding in the car 7 has alighted, and is, for example, 3.0 m. As a result, if it is determined that the determination is not established, the process proceeds to step S128, and if it is determined that the determination is established, the process proceeds to step S132.
[0046] In step S128, it is determined whether the position of the passenger measured in step S124 has moved more than a specified vertical distance from the position of the car 7. The specified vertical distance here is a threshold value for determining whether the passenger who was riding in the car 7 has not disembarked, and is, for example, 2.0 m. As a result, if the determination is not established, the process proceeds to step S124 again, and if the determination is established, the process proceeds to step S130.
[0047] In step S130, a message stating "The reservation has been invalidated because it has been detected that the user has not disembarked" is sent to the user terminal 30 of the user who has been determined to have "not disembarked" in step S128.
[0048] In step S132, the above-described privilege granting process is executed in the granting unit 208. Typically, here, a privilege according to the "reception order" is granted to a user who is determined to have "disembarked."
[0049] After the process of step S132 or step S130 is executed, the process proceeds to step S134. In step S134, all attributes and reception order attributes in the call registration information are deleted, and this routine ends.
[0050] As described above, according to the elevator system 100 of the first embodiment, when priority boarding using additional occupied space is determined to be "unavailable," a suggestion for disembarking is presented to the passenger in the car 7. This can encourage the passenger in the car 7 to disembark, thereby increasing the possibility of securing space in the car 7.
[0051] Furthermore, according to the elevator system 100 of the first embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not priority boarding using the additional occupied space is possible, based on the live load of the car 7 measured in the measurement process.
[0052] Furthermore, according to the elevator system 100 of the first embodiment, when an acceptance intention is received from a user who has received a yielding behavior proposal, the car is stopped at the nearest floor, thereby allowing the user who has expressed an acceptance intention to disembark at the nearest floor.
[0053] In addition, a special benefit is given to a user who is determined to have dismounted, which increases the motivation to dismount. In addition, the dismounting determination process can determine whether a user has dismounted by comparing the horizontal movement distance of the user terminal with a threshold value.
[0054] In addition, the benefits are points or coupons that can be used for services at the facility, making it easy for users to use. Furthermore, the earlier the acceptance intention is received, the higher the added value benefits will be, which increases the motivation to express acceptance intention as soon as possible.
[0055] Furthermore, facility guide information is provided to users who have indicated their willingness to accept, improving convenience for users who get off at a floor different from the arrival floor of the external call.
[0056] 1-5. Variations The elevator system 100 of the first embodiment may be modified as follows: The following modifications may also be applied to elevator systems of other embodiments described later.
[0057] 1-5-1. Management device 20 Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the hardware resources of the management device. In the example shown in Fig. 10, the management device 20 includes, for example, a processor 22, a storage device 24, and a processing circuit 28 including dedicated hardware 26. Fig. 10 shows an example in which some of the functions of the management device 20 are realized by the dedicated hardware 26. All of the functions of the management device 20 may also be realized by the dedicated hardware 26. The dedicated hardware 26 may be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.
[0058] There are no limitations on the functional arrangement of the management device 20. That is, some of the functions of the management device 20 may be arranged inside the user terminal 30, the remote monitoring device 14, or the control panel 10, or may be arranged on an external server. Note that when some of the functions of the management device 20 are arranged on an external server, the management device 20 may be connected to the external server via wired communication or wireless communication such as the Internet.
[0059] 1-5-2.External call information The external call information does not need to include additional information about whether or not to present the yielding behavior suggestion. In this case, in the presentation process, the presentation unit 204 may present the yielding behavior suggestion to all passengers in the car 7.
[0060] 1-5-3. Granting section 208 In the reward granting process, the granting unit 208 may grant the reward without taking into consideration the order of reception.
[0061] 1-5-4. Benefit information notification section 209 The privilege information notification process executed by the privilege information notification unit 209 is not essential.
[0062] 1-5-5. Guidance information providing unit 210 The guide information providing process executed by the guide information providing unit 210 is not essential.
[0063] 2. Embodiment 2 2-1. Features of the elevator system according to the second embodiment Next, an elevator system according to a second embodiment will be described. The elevator system 100 according to the second embodiment is characterized by a configuration that presents a yielding behavior suggestion to pass on to passengers who are waiting at a landing and who are scheduled to board the elevator and are included in the call registration information. The functions of the processor 22 of the management device 20 provided in the elevator system 100 according to the second embodiment will be described below. The management device 20 includes, as functions of the processor 22 that realizes various processes, a registration unit 201, a measurement unit 202, a determination unit 203, a presentation unit 204, a reception unit 205, an operation instruction unit 206, a behavior determination unit 207, an assignment unit 208, and a benefit information notification unit 209. Note that, here, functions that differ from the functions of the processor 22 of the management device 20 provided in the elevator system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described, and a description of common functions will be omitted.
[0064] 2-1-1. Presentation section 204 In the presentation process, the presentation unit 204 executes a process of presenting a yielding action proposal that encourages at least one user who is planning to board the car 7 to take a boarding and seeing off action. Typically, the presentation unit 204 transmits a message presenting the yielding action proposal via the communication network 13 to the user terminals 30 of users who are planning to board the car 7 and whose call registration information indicates that the presentation of the yielding action proposal is "required." Note that there are no limitations on the form of the message, but a message form that can be immediately confirmed by users, such as a pop-up message, is preferable.
[0065] 2-1-2. Reception desk 205 In the reception process, when the reception unit 205 receives an acceptance from a passenger who is waiting at the boarding area and intends to board, it stores an attribute indicating the "reception order" in the order of reception in the call registration information, and updates the attribute of the user to "waiting for judgment."
[0066] 2-1-3. Operation instruction section 206 In the operation instruction processing, if there is a user who has the attribute ``waiting for judgment'' in the call registration information, the operation instruction unit 206 generates an operation instruction to skip the call registration of that user and sends it to the control panel 10 via the communication network 13.
[0067] 2-1-4. Behavior Judgment Department 207 The behavior determination unit 207 executes a process to determine whether a user who is assigned the attribute "waiting for determination" in the call registration information has decided not to board the train at the departure floor. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "not-boarding determination process." In the not-boarding determination process, the behavior determination unit 207 uses the position information calculated by the position sensor 40 of the user terminal 30 of the user who is assigned the attribute "waiting for determination." Typically, the behavior determination unit 207 determines that the user has "boarded" if the user terminal 30 has moved more than a specified vertical distance in the vertical direction after the car 7 has passed the departure floor of the user who is assigned the attribute "waiting for determination." Furthermore, the behavior determination unit 207 determines that the user has "not boarded" if the user terminal 30 has not moved more than a specified vertical distance in the vertical direction from the departure floor. Note that the specified vertical distance here is, for example, 2.0 m.
[0068] 2-1-5. Granting unit 208 In the reward granting process, the granting unit 208 grants a reward to a user who is determined by the behavior determining unit 207 to be an "unridden" user and is in the "waiting for determination" state.
[0069] 2-2. Specific Processing Executed in the Elevator System 100 of the Second Embodiment A series of operations for granting a privilege to a passenger who has performed a boarding and seeing-off action as a yielding action will be described below with reference to a flowchart. Figures 11 and 12 are flowcharts of a routine executed in the elevator system of embodiment 2. The routines shown in Figures 11 and 12 are repeatedly executed by the processor 22 of the management device 20 at a predetermined control period.
[0070] In steps S200, S201, S204, and S206, the same processes as in steps S100, S101, S104, and S106 executed in the elevator system of the first embodiment are executed.
[0071] In the process of step S208, the above-mentioned presentation process is executed in the presentation unit 204. Here, among the users at the hall who are planning to board the car 7, a yielding action proposal that encourages the user to board and see off is presented to users for whom the presentation of a yielding action proposal is required in the call registration information.
[0072] In the next steps S210 and S212, the reception unit 205 executes the reception process described above. Typically, in step S210, it is determined whether an acceptance intention has been received from the user terminal 30. As a result, if an acceptance intention has been received, the process proceeds to step S212. Here, an attribute indicating the "reception order" assigned in the order in which the received acceptance intentions were received is registered in the call registration information, and the attribute of the user is updated to "waiting for determination." When the process of step S212 is completed, the process proceeds to step S214.
[0073] On the other hand, if an acceptance intention is not received from the user terminal 30 in step S210, the process skips step S212 and proceeds to step S214. In step S214, it is determined whether or not there is a user with the attribute "waiting for judgment" among the users registered in the call registration information. If the result of the determination is not affirmative, the process of this routine is terminated, and if the result of the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S216.
[0074] In step S216, in the operation instruction process in the operation instruction unit 206, an operation instruction to skip call registration of a user with the attribute "waiting for judgment" is transmitted to the control panel 10. When the process of step S216 is completed, the process proceeds to step S218.
[0075] In steps S218 to S222, the behavior determination unit 207 executes the above-described non-boarding determination process. Specifically, first, in step S218, it is determined whether the car 7 of the elevator 2 has passed the departure floor of a user with the attribute "waiting for determination." If the determination is found to be true, the process proceeds to step S220; if the determination is not found to be true, the determination process of step S218 is repeatedly executed until the determination is found to be true.
[0076] In step S220, the position of the user who has the attribute "waiting for determination" is measured based on the position information obtained from the position sensor 40 of the user terminal 30 of the user. In the next step S222, it is determined whether the position of the user measured in step S220 has moved more than a specified vertical distance from the position of the departure floor. The specified vertical distance here is a threshold value for determining whether a user who was waiting at a boarding area has not boarded the train, and is, for example, 2.0 m. As a result, if the determination is found to be successful, it is determined that the user has boarded the train and has not performed a seeing-off behavior, and the process proceeds to step S222. On the other hand, if the determination is not found to be successful, it is determined that the user has not boarded the train and has performed a seeing-off behavior, and the process proceeds to step S226.
[0077] In step S224, a message stating "The ticket has been invalidated because boarding has been detected" is sent to the user terminal 30 of the user who was determined to have boarded the ticket in step S222.
[0078] In step S226, the above-described benefit providing process is executed in the providing unit 208. Typically, a benefit is provided to a user who has been determined to be "not yet boarded" according to the "reception order."
[0079] After the process of step S224 or step S226 is executed, the process proceeds to step S228. In step S228, all attributes and reception order attributes in the call registration information are deleted, and this routine ends.
[0080] As described above, according to the elevator system 100 of the second embodiment, when priority boarding using additional occupied space is determined to be "unavailable," a proposal for boarding and seeing off behavior is presented to users who plan to board the car 7. This encourages boarding and seeing off behavior, thereby increasing the possibility of securing space in the car 7.
[0081] Furthermore, according to the elevator system 100 of the second embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not priority boarding using additional occupied space is possible based on the live load of the car 7 measured in the measurement process.
[0082] Furthermore, according to the elevator system 100 of the second embodiment, when an acceptance intention is received from a user who has received a yielding behavior proposal, call registration for that user is skipped. This makes it possible to avoid unnecessary stops of the car 7.
[0083] In addition, a user who is determined to have performed the boarding and seeing-off behavior is given a special benefit, which can increase the motivation to perform the giving-off behavior. In addition, the non-boarding determination process can determine whether or not a user has performed the boarding and seeing-off behavior by comparing the vertical movement distance of the user terminal with a threshold value.
[0084] 7.Other Although the preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.
[0085] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.
[0086] (Appendix 1) An elevator system that dispatches elevator cars based on an external call input from a user terminal carried by a user using an elevator installed in a facility, the external call information including a departure floor and an arrival floor, and whether or not priority boarding is required to board an elevator car by using an additional occupied space first, a registration unit that performs a registration process to register call registration information that assigns a car to the external call of the input external call information; a determination unit that performs a determination process to determine whether or not priority boarding is permitted in the car when priority boarding is required in the call registration information; a presentation unit that performs a presentation process to present a yielding action suggestion to at least one user registered in the call registration information to refrain from boarding the car when it is determined in the determination process that priority boarding into the car is not possible; An elevator system comprising: (Appendix 2) 2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the yielding behavior suggestion includes recommending disembarking behavior to at least one passenger riding in the car. (Appendix 3) Further, a measurement unit that performs a measurement process to measure the load of the car is provided, In the determination process, the determination unit determines that priority boarding to the car is not permitted when the live load measured in the measurement process is greater than a threshold value. 3. The elevator system of claim 2, configured as follows: (Appendix 4) a reception unit that receives an acceptance intention from a user who has received the yielding behavior proposal; an operation instruction unit that stops the car at the nearest floor when the reception unit receives the intention to accept; 4. The elevator system of claim 2 or 3, further comprising: (Appendix 5) a behavior determination unit that performs a disembarking determination process to determine whether the user who has indicated his / her intention to accept disembarked at the nearest floor; an awarding unit that awards a benefit to a user who is determined to have disembarked in the disembarking determination process; 5. The elevator system of claim 4, comprising: (Appendix 6) In the dismounting determination process, the behavior determination unit determines that the user has dismounted if the horizontal movement distance of the user who has expressed the intention to accept is greater than a threshold value. 6. The elevator system of claim 5, configured as follows: (Appendix 7) The elevator system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the benefit includes the provision of points or coupons that can be used for services at the facility. (Appendix 8) the reception unit is configured to store an attribute indicating a reception order of the received acceptance intentions; The granting unit grants a privilege with higher added value to a user who has an earlier reception order. 8. The elevator system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows: (Appendix 9) An elevator system as described in Appendix 8, further comprising a privilege information notification unit that notifies the user who has been granted the privilege of the content of the granted privilege and the reception order. (Appendix 10) 10. The elevator system according to any one of claims 4 to 9, further comprising a guidance information providing unit that provides guidance information about the facility to the user who has indicated his / her intention to accept. (Appendix 11) The external call information includes whether or not the yielding behavior suggestion needs to be presented, In the presentation process, the presentation unit does not present the yielding action suggestion to a user for whom the presentation of the yielding action suggestion is not required in the call registration information. 11. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows: (Appendix 12) The yielding action suggestion recommends a behavior of passing off the ride to at least one user who is scheduled to board the car. 2. The elevator system of claim 1, (Appendix 13) Further, a measurement unit that performs a measurement process to measure the load of the car is provided, In the determination process, the determination unit determines that priority boarding to the car is not permitted when the live load measured in the measurement process is greater than a threshold value. 13. The elevator system of claim 12, configured as follows: (Appendix 14) a reception unit that receives an acceptance intention from a user who has received the yielding behavior proposal; an operation instruction unit that, when the reception unit receives the acceptance intention, operates the car so as to skip the external call of the user who has expressed the acceptance intention; 14. The elevator system of claim 12 or 13, further comprising: (Appendix 15) a behavior determination unit that performs a non-boarding determination process to determine whether the user who has indicated the intention to accept has not yet boarded the car; an awarding unit that awards a benefit to a user who is determined to have not boarded a train in the non-boarding determination process; 15. The elevator system of claim 14, comprising: (Appendix 16) In the non-boarding determination process, if the vertical movement distance of the user who has expressed the acceptance intention is smaller than a threshold value, the behavior determination unit determines that the user has not boarded the car. 16. The elevator system of claim 15, configured as follows: (Appendix 17) The elevator system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the benefit includes the provision of points or coupons that can be used for services at the facility. (Appendix 18) the reception unit is configured to store an attribute indicating a reception order of the received acceptance intentions; The granting unit grants a higher added value privilege to a user who is earlier in the reception order. 18. The elevator system of any one of claims 15 to 17, configured as follows: (Appendix 19) An elevator system as described in Appendix 18, further comprising a privilege information notification unit that notifies the user who has been granted the privilege of the content of the granted privilege and the reception order. [Explanation of symbols]
[0087] 2 elevator, 3 hoistway, 4 landing, 5 hoisting machine, 6 main rope, 8 counterweight, 10 control panel, 12 facility, 13 communication network, 14 remote monitoring device, 20 management device, 22 processor, 24 storage device, 26 dedicated hardware, 28 processing circuit, 30 user terminal, 32 touch panel display, 40 position sensor, 100 elevator system, 200 monitoring center, 201 registration unit, 202 measurement unit, 203 determination unit, 204 presentation unit, 205 reception unit, 206 operation instruction unit, 207 action determination unit, 208 grant unit, 209 privilege information notification unit, 210 guidance information provision unit, 241 program, 242 data
Claims
1. An elevator system that dispatches elevator cars based on an external call input from a user terminal carried by a user using an elevator installed in a facility, the external call information including a departure floor and an arrival floor, and whether or not priority boarding is required to board an elevator car by using an additional occupied space first, a registration unit that performs a registration process to register call registration information that assigns a car to the external call of the input external call information; a determination unit that performs a determination process to determine whether or not priority boarding is permitted in the car when priority boarding is required in the call registration information; a presentation unit that performs a presentation process to present a yielding action suggestion to at least one user registered in the call registration information to refrain from boarding the car when it is determined in the determination process that priority boarding into the car is not possible; An elevator system comprising:
2. The elevator system according to claim 1 , wherein the yielding behavior suggestion includes recommending that at least one passenger in the car get off the elevator.
3. Further, a measurement unit that performs a measurement process to measure the load of the car is provided, In the determination process, the determination unit determines that priority boarding to the car is not permitted when the live load measured in the measurement process is greater than a threshold value.
3. The elevator system according to claim 2, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows:
4. a reception unit that receives an acceptance intention from a user who has received the yielding behavior proposal; an operation instruction unit that stops the car at the nearest floor when the reception unit receives the intention to accept; The elevator system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising:
5. a behavior determination unit that performs a disembarking determination process to determine whether the user who has indicated his / her intention to accept disembarked at the nearest floor; an awarding unit that awards a benefit to a user who is determined to have disembarked in the disembarking determination process; 5. The elevator system of claim 4, comprising:
6. In the dismounting determination process, the behavior determination unit determines that the user has dismounted if the horizontal movement distance of the user who has expressed the intention to accept is greater than a threshold value.
6. The elevator system according to claim 5, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows:
7. The elevator system according to claim 5 , wherein the benefit includes the provision of points or coupons that can be used for services in the facility.
8. the reception unit is configured to store an attribute indicating a reception order of the received acceptance intentions; The granting unit grants a privilege with higher added value to a user who has an earlier reception order.
6. The elevator system according to claim 5, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows:
9. The elevator system according to claim 8, further comprising a privilege information notification unit that notifies the user to whom the privilege has been granted of the content of the granted privilege and the reception order.
10. 5. The elevator system according to claim 4, further comprising a guide information providing unit that provides guide information about the facility to the user who has indicated his / her intention to accept.
11. The external call information includes whether or not the yielding behavior suggestion needs to be presented, In the presentation process, the presentation unit does not present the yielding action suggestion to a user for whom the presentation of the yielding action suggestion is not required in the call registration information.
2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the elevator system is configured as follows:
12. The yielding action suggestion recommends a behavior of passing off the ride to at least one user who is scheduled to board the car.
10. The elevator system of claim 1, further comprising:
13. Further, a measurement unit that performs a measurement process to measure the load of the car is provided, In the determination process, the determination unit determines that priority boarding to the car is not permitted when the live load measured in the measurement process is greater than a threshold value.
13. The elevator system of claim 12, configured as follows:
14. a reception unit that receives an acceptance intention from a user who has received the yielding behavior proposal; an operation instruction unit that, when the reception unit receives the acceptance intention, operates the car so as to skip the external call of the user who has expressed the acceptance intention; 14. The elevator system according to claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising:
15. a behavior determination unit that performs a non-boarding determination process to determine whether the user who has indicated the intention to accept has not yet boarded the car; an awarding unit that awards a benefit to a user who is determined to have not boarded a train in the non-boarding determination process; 15. The elevator system of claim 14, comprising:
16. In the non-boarding determination process, if the vertical movement distance of the user who has expressed the acceptance intention is smaller than a threshold value, the behavior determination unit determines that the user has not boarded the car.
16. The elevator system of claim 15, configured as follows:
17. The elevator system according to claim 15, wherein the reward includes points or coupons that can be used for services at the facility.
18. the reception unit is configured to store an attribute indicating a reception order of the received acceptance intentions; The granting unit grants a higher added value privilege to a user who is earlier in the reception order.
16. The elevator system of claim 15, configured as follows:
19. The elevator system according to claim 18, further comprising a privilege information notification unit that notifies the user to whom the privilege has been granted of the content of the granted privilege and the reception order.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Elevator operating device
JP2007186325A