Video transmitting / receiving device, video linking method, video linking program, and video linking system

Abstract

To solve the problem that a person in a car of an elevator may feel bored or impatient and that, when a person in the car has a health problem and, for example, loses consciousness, nobody may notice it and thereby a delay in rescuing the person may occur.SOLUTION: A video transmitting / receiving device comprises a receiving unit that receives a first video image captured by a first photographing device provided in a first car of an elevator, and a transmitting unit that transmits the first video image to be displayed on a second display device provided in a second car separate from the first car.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a video transmission / reception device, a video linking method, a video linking program, and a video linking system that link videos displayed on display devices of cars individually arranged in multiple elevators. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator monitoring device that automatically transmits images and audio bidirectionally between the equipment in the car and the equipment in the monitoring center when a malfunction occurs. This allows service personnel in the monitoring center to simultaneously know the status of the car interior as well as any abnormalities in the elevator. Support and encouragement can then be provided to passengers in the car via images and audio from the monitoring center, providing a sense of security. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-257842 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Elevator passengers may feel bored or frustrated while inside the car. In Patent Document 1, even if a malfunction occurs and the elevator connects to a monitoring center and provides encouragement, no action is taken during normal operation. Furthermore, even if the display device displays images such as advertisements for stores in the building, the images can become monotonous and boring.

[0005] Furthermore, if a passenger in the car develops a health problem, such as losing consciousness, the problem may not be noticed and rescue may be delayed.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to prevent elevator passengers from feeling bored or impatient, and to enable the elevator to notice and respond quickly if something happens to a passenger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure relates to a video transmission / reception device that includes a receiving unit that receives a first video captured by a first imaging device installed in a first car of an elevator, and a transmitting unit that transmits the first video to be displayed on a second display device installed in a second car separate from the first car. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present disclosure can alleviate passenger boredom or frustration, and is expected to help prevent crimes in elevators and quickly detect emergencies that passengers in elevators cannot handle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an elevator according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an elevator car according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an elevator video linking system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video transmitting / receiving device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is an image diagram showing an example of the state inside an elevator car in which video linking is performed in the elevator video linking system of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute table of elevators registered in an elevator registration information storage unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing control of the elevator car management device in video linkage in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing control in the video transmission / reception device in video linkage in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating hardware resources of a video transmitting and receiving device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating hardware resources of a video transmitting and receiving device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute table of elevators registered in an elevator registration information storage unit in the second embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing control in a video transmission / reception device in video linkage in the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an elevator car according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute table of elevators registered in a grouped elevator registration information storage unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. Duplicate descriptions will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0011] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an elevator according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an elevator car.

[0012] In Fig. 1, an elevator 1 has a machine room 3 provided above a hoistway 2. In the machine room 3, a hoisting machine 4, an elevator control device 5, and a communication device 6 are installed.

[0013] The hoist 4 also has a hoist motor and a drive sheave, and a rope 7 is wound around the drive sheave.

[0014] A car 8 and a counterweight 9 are provided in the hoistway 2 so as to be movable up and down. The car 8 is connected to one end of a rope 7. The counterweight 9 is connected to the other end of the rope 7. The car 8 and the counterweight 9 move up and down in the hoistway 2 by rotating the drive sheave.

[0015] The car 8 also has a car body 100 and a car management device 200 installed on the ceiling of the car body 100. The car management device 200 controls the devices inside the car body 100. It is also connected to the elevator control device 5 by an electric communication line 10, receives power supply, and transmits and receives information. It is also connected to the communication device 6 by a communication line 11, and transmits and receives information.

[0016] The communication device 6 transmits operation information of the elevator 1 received from the elevator control device 5 and the car management device 200 to the outside, and acquires information from the outside.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the car 8. The car body 100 is equipped with imaging devices 101 such as a camera, a speaker 102, a display device 103 such as a monitor, and a microphone 104 as video equipment. The camera 101 captures images from inside the car body 100. The speaker 102 transmits audio, such as announcements of floors the car will stop at, into the car body 100. The display device 103 displays images and other information. The microphone 104 is used by passengers to communicate with the guard room or an elevator maintenance company outside.

[0018] The car body 100 is also provided with a weight sensor 105, a car door 106, lighting 107, an operation panel 108, and an emergency button 109.

[0019] The weight sensor 105 measures the load of luggage and passengers inside the car body 100. This value makes it possible to determine whether there are passengers or luggage inside the car body 100. The load information measured by the weight sensor 105 is transmitted to the elevator control device 5 via the electric communication line 10.

[0020] Car doors 106 open and close at each floor to allow passengers to get on and off. Lights 107 are installed on the ceiling to illuminate the inside of car body 100. An operation panel 108 is equipped with buttons that allow passengers to specify their destination floors. An emergency button 109 can be pressed by passengers in car body 100 in the event of an emergency. By pressing this button, an emergency signal is transmitted via telecommunication line 10 and elevator control device 5 to the guard room or elevator maintenance company, which then issues an emergency alert. This allows elevator maintenance personnel to know that an emergency has occurred inside car body 100.

[0021] The car 8 also has a car management device 200 on the upper ceiling surface of the car body 100. The car management device 200 includes a video control unit 201 , a device control unit 202 , and a storage unit 203 . The video control unit 201 mainly controls the video and audio of the car main body 100. For example, it transmits video acquired from the photographing device 101 and audio acquired by the microphone 104 to the outside via the communication device 6. It also displays video acquired from the communication device 6 on the display device 103 and transmits acquired audio into the car main body 100 via the speaker 102. In addition to this, it also processes video and audio within the car main body 100.

[0022] The equipment control unit 202 mainly controls the operation of the car 8. For example, it determines whether the car is overweight based on the weight sensor 105. When the car arrives at the landing, it opens and closes the car door 106. It detects that a passenger has boarded and turns on the light 107. It detects the destination floor from the passenger's pressing of a button on the operation panel 108 and notifies the elevator control device 5. It detects the pressing of the emergency button 109 and performs emergency control. In other words, it generates an emergency signal and sends it to the elevator control device 5 to stop the car at the nearest floor.

[0023] The storage unit 203 stores in advance parameters for video and audio control and device control set by the building owner or the elevator installation company. Information related to the video linkage of the present disclosure is also stored, which will be described later.

[0024] Next, we will explain an elevator video linking system for linking videos between multiple elevators with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Note that the video here may also include audio. In this case, audio is transmitted from the speaker at the same time as the video is displayed on the display device.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the elevator video linking system according to the first embodiment. For ease of explanation, nine elevators, from the first elevator 1a to the ninth elevator 1i, are shown here as an example, but the number is not limited to nine. The first elevator 1a to the ninth elevator 1i have the same configuration, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0026] In Fig. 3, the first communication device 6a of the first elevator 1a to the ninth communication device 6i of the ninth elevator 1i are connected to a video transmitting / receiving device 400 via a communication network 300. As also shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each communication device 6 is connected to a car 8, more specifically, to a car management device 200, via a communication line 11. The communication network 300 may be the Internet or a public line.

[0027] 3, the first elevator 1a to the fifth elevator 1e are installed in Japan, the sixth elevator 1f is installed in the United Kingdom (UK), the seventh elevator 1g and the eighth elevator 1h are installed in the United States (US), and the ninth elevator 1i is installed in Indonesia. The target elevators are registered in advance in the video transmitting and receiving device 400.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video transmitting and receiving device 400. As shown in FIG. The video transmitting / receiving device 400 is mainly composed of a transmitting / receiving control unit 401 , a selecting unit 402 , an elevator registration information storage unit 403 , and a recording unit 404 . The transmission / reception control unit 401 is mainly composed of a receiving unit 405 , a transmitting unit 406 , and a cooperation processing unit 407 .

[0029] Here, we will explain the concept of elevator video linkage. Note that this video linkage is basically targeted at elevators that are in motion and have passengers inside the car. Video linking involves selecting two elevators and exchanging video between their cars, making it appear to passengers in both elevators as if the car of the other elevator is connected to the window of the car they are riding in.

[0030] FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing an example of the state inside an elevator car with video linkage. In the car bodies 100 of the two elevators, camera devices 101 are photographing the interior of each car body 100, including passengers. Below the camera devices 101, relatively large display devices 103 are installed in the upper half of the wall surface of the car body 100, and each displays the images photographed by the other car's camera device 101.

[0031] This can reduce boredom or frustration among passengers. Also, by enabling passengers to observe each other's cars, it is expected that crimes inside the cars will be curbed and emergency situations that passengers inside the cars cannot handle will be quickly discovered.

[0032] However, even if the cars are able to observe each other, if this does not interest the passengers, it will not alleviate the sense of boredom. For this reason, each elevator can issue a request for the elevator with which it wants to cooperate, enabling optimal video cooperation between elevators.

[0033] For example, instead of using elevators belonging to strangers, elevators belonging to the same company's headquarters and branch offices could be linked together. This would encourage passengers to trust each other and promote mutual interaction. Additionally, by linking it to elevators at tourist spots where passengers can see outside, they can enjoy the scenery in the distance. Furthermore, by linking elevators in foreign countries, passengers can experience the atmosphere of a foreign country. At the same time, elevators with few passengers late at night can be linked with elevators in foreign countries that have many passengers during the daytime due to the time difference. This allows passengers riding alone in the elevator car late at night to feel more secure.

[0034] In Fig. 4, in the transmission / reception control unit 401, the receiving unit 405 receives information from each elevator car 8, and the transmitting unit 406 transmits information to each elevator car 8. The transmission / reception control unit 401 is capable of transmitting and receiving information simultaneously to the same elevator car 8. The linking processor 407 performs processing to send the video information sent from the receiver 405 to the elevator car 8 selected by the selector 402 .

[0035] The selection unit 402 performs matching processing based on the elevator registration information pre-registered in the elevator registration information storage unit 403 and the transmitted request, and selects two elevators for video linkage. The recording unit 404 records the video transmitted and received through this video linkage.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute table of elevators registered in the elevator registration information storage unit 403. As shown in FIG.

[0037] This attribute table contains an ID 403a for identifying a pre-registered elevator, and items such as location 403b, time difference 403c, and feature 403d as attributes of that elevator. The time difference is the time difference from Japan. The details of feature 403d include items such as scenery 403d1, building 403d2, and number of floors 403d3. The scenery 403d1 is a ranking from 1 to 5 of whether the outside view can be seen from the elevator car, and if so, how beautiful it is. For example, elevator 1a, with ID 1a, cannot see outside from the car, so it is ranked 1, the lowest. Elevator 7, with ID 1g, in Tower D in New York, offers a view of the Manhattan skyline from the car, so it is ranked 5, the highest.

[0038] Next, the matching in the selection unit 402 will be explained using a specific example. First, requests relating to the other party in the case of video linkage are set in advance in the storage unit 203 of the car management device 200 of each elevator. For example, suppose that the request for the first elevator 1a is set to Company A. Then, the selection unit 402 searches for a request that matches this request and for which the first elevator 1a matches the request of the other party.

[0039] Now, suppose that a passenger also boards the third car 8c of the third elevator 1c at approximately the same time, and the request from this third elevator 1c is also for the same company, Company A. In this case, the third elevator 1c matches the request for Company A from the first elevator 1a. Also, the first elevator 1a matches the request for Company A from the third elevator 1c. Therefore, the first elevator 1a and the third elevator 1c are selected, and video linkage is performed. That is, the display device in the car of one of the first elevators 1a displays video captured by the camera device in the car of the other elevator, the third elevator 1c. Also, the display device in the car of the other elevator, the third elevator 1c displays video captured by the camera device in the car of one of the first elevators 1a. The passengers feel a sense of affinity because they work for the same company. Furthermore, if they have met this person several times, they can expect to have a conversation.

[0040] Also, for example, suppose that the request for the second elevator 1b is scenery level 3 or higher. Here, suppose there is a passenger in the ninth car 8i of the ninth elevator 1i, but a match has not yet been made. Suppose the request from this ninth elevator 1i is for a foreign country. In this case, the ninth elevator 1i matches the request for scenery level 3 or higher from the second elevator 1b. Furthermore, the second elevator 1b matches the request for a foreign country from the ninth elevator 1i. Therefore, the second elevator 1b and the ninth elevator 1i are selected, and video linking is performed. That is, the display device of the car of the second elevator 1b displays the video captured by the camera device of the car of the other ninth elevator 1i. Furthermore, the display device of the car of the other ninth elevator 1i displays the video captured by the camera device of the car of the other second elevator 1b. Passengers in the second elevator 1b can enjoy the beautiful scenery from between the passengers. Passengers in the ninth elevator 1i may also notice the atmosphere of Tokyo and trends in Japan.

[0041] For example, suppose the request is for elevator 7 1g during the daytime. Since it is late at night in New York, where elevator 7 1g is located, and there are few people in the building, in order to prevent crime, the elevator that is relatively busy during the daytime is requested during the late night hours.

[0042] Here, suppose there is a passenger in the fifth car 8e of the fifth elevator 1e, but a match has not yet been made. Suppose the request from this fifth elevator 1e is for a foreign country. In this case, the fifth elevator 1e matches the request for daytime travel from the seventh elevator 1g. Furthermore, the seventh elevator 1g matches the request for a foreign country from the fifth elevator 1e. Therefore, the fifth elevator 1e and the seventh elevator 1g are selected, and video linking is performed. That is, the display device of the car of one of the fifth elevators 1e displays video captured by the camera device of the car of the other seventh elevator 1g. Furthermore, the display device of the car of the other seventh elevator 1g displays video captured by the camera device of the car of the other fifth elevator 1e. Passengers in the seventh elevator 1g feel as if there are several people nearby, which gives them a sense of security. Passengers in the fifth elevator 1e may also notice the atmosphere of New York and trends in New York.

[0043] In some elevators, no particular request is set. In such cases, the elevator will be selected if it matches the request of the other party.

[0044] Next, the control of video linkage will be described. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the control of the elevator car management device 200 in the video linkage. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the control of the video transmitting / receiving device 400 in the video linkage.

[0045] First, in FIG. 7, the equipment control unit 202 of the car management device 200 detects that a person has boarded the empty car body 100 based on a change in weight of the weight sensor 105 (step S001). Next, the video control unit 201 reads the request stored in the storage unit 203, and transmits a video linking request to the video transmission / reception device 400 via the communication device 6 (step S002).

[0046] In FIG. 8, in the video transmitting / receiving device 400, the receiving unit 405 receives a video link request (step S101). Next, the selection unit 402 performs matching based on the request in the transmitted video link request and the information in the elevator registration information storage unit 403, and selects a mutual partner for video linking (step S102).

[0047] Next, the cooperation processing unit 407 determines whether the destination has been selected in step S102 (step S103). If the destination has been selected, the cooperation processing unit 407 transmits a video transmission request to the car management device 200 of each elevator for which a video cooperation request has been made (step S104).

[0048] In FIG. 7, the car management device 200 determines whether or not a video transmission request has been received (step S003). If it is determined that a video transmission request has been received, the video captured by the image capturing device 101 is transmitted to the video transmitting / receiving device 400 via the communication device 6. At the same time, a video of the car of the destination elevator is transmitted from the video transmitting / receiving device 400, and the video is displayed on the display device 103 (step S004). At this time, the audio captured by the microphone 104 may also be transmitted together with the video.

[0049] 8, which corresponds to step S004 in Fig. 7, the video transmitting / receiving device 400 receives video of the inside of each car 8 at the receiving unit 405. The cooperation processing unit 407 sets the elevator selected by the selecting unit 402 as the destination, and the transmitting unit 406 transmits the video to the car management device 200 of the other party (step S105).

[0050] If it is determined in step S103 of Fig. 8 that the selection is not possible, the cooperation processing unit 407 transmits information indicating that cooperation is not possible from the transmission unit 406 to the car management device 200. At this time, the cooperation processing unit 407 also obtains from the recording unit 404 video previously captured of the elevator car that matches the request and transmits it together (step S106). In response to this, in FIG. 7, in the car management device 200, cooperation becomes impossible in step S003, and the transmitted past video is displayed on the display device 103 (step S005).

[0051] It should be noted that there may be cases where a passenger in the car main body 100 does not like the image of the interior of the car of the destination elevator displayed on the display device 103 and wishes to change it. To cope with this, the operation panel 108 has a switch request button that passengers can press to switch.

[0052] In FIG. 7, the car management device 200 determines whether or not this switching request button has been pressed (steps S006 and S009). If it is determined that the switch request button has been pressed, a switch request notification is transmitted to the video transmitting / receiving device 400 (steps S007 and S011). In response to this, in FIG. 8, the receiving unit 405 of the video transmitting / receiving device 400 determines that a switching request notification has been received in determining whether it has been received (step S107), and the selecting unit 402 performs step S102 again.

[0053] It should be noted that when all passengers in the car body 100 have gotten off the car and the car body 100 is empty, there is no need to continue the video linkage. Therefore, in FIG. 7, the car management device 200 constantly determines whether or not there is a passenger in the car main body 100 by using the weight sensor 105 (steps S008 and S010). Then, in steps S008 and S010, if it is determined that all passengers have disembarked from the car body 100 and the car is now empty, a disconnection request is sent to the video transmitting / receiving device 400, and video transmission is terminated (step S012).

[0054] 8, the video transmitting / receiving device 400 constantly determines whether a disconnection request has been transmitted (step S108). If a disconnection request has been received, the video link termination process is performed (step S109). In this termination process, even if one elevator car becomes empty, there is usually still a passenger in the other elevator car that is linked with the video. Therefore, the video transmission / reception device 400 continues to transmit the last image of the video of one elevator car to the other car management device 200. Then, when a disconnection request is received from the other elevator car, the video linkage is completed.

[0055] 9 is a diagram showing hardware resources of the video transmitting and receiving device 400. The video transmitting and receiving device 400 includes, as hardware resources, a processor 410, a memory 411, and a transmitting and receiving circuit 412. Note that there may be multiple processors 410 and multiple memories 411.

[0056] In the first embodiment, the roles of the elevator registration information storage unit 403 and the recording unit 404 are played by a memory 411. The memory 411 also stores a program that performs the processing of the flowchart in Fig. 8. Upon startup, this program starts operation in the processor 410 and performs various processing functions.

[0057] The processor 410 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 411 may be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a minidisk, or a DVD. Usable semiconductor memories include RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM.

[0058] In this way, the first embodiment can alleviate passenger boredom or frustration. It is also expected to prevent crimes from occurring inside the elevator and to quickly detect any emergency that the passengers inside the elevator are unable to deal with.

[0059] The request is stored in the memory unit 203 of the car management device 200 and transmitted to the video transmission / reception device 400 each time, but it may also be set in a registration table in the elevator registration information memory unit 403 corresponding to the elevator, for example.

[0060] Furthermore, in elevators that use beginner's cards to call the car, beginners can be identified, so requests can be stored according to the individual. For example, if the individual likes foreign countries, the individual's name and the request "foreign country" can be stored. Then, when the individual is identified by the beginner's card, a request for "foreign country" can be issued.

[0061] The timing for transmitting the video linkage request from the car management device may also be when the car call button is pressed at the hall, or when the hall beacon identifies a passenger who is due to board the car.

[0062] Furthermore, if the destination cannot be selected, the display device displays past images, but completely unrelated images such as advertisements or scenery may also be displayed.

[0063] Furthermore, when all passengers have left one elevator car during video linkage, the selection unit 402 may perform matching again with the other elevator car and link the video images.

[0064] The hardware resources of the video transmitting / receiving device 400 may be the hardware resources shown in Fig. 10. The video transmitting / receiving device 400 includes a processing circuit including a processor 410, a memory 411, a transmitting / receiving circuit 412, and dedicated hardware 413. Some of the functions of the processor 410 in Fig. 9 are performed by the dedicated hardware 413. The dedicated hardware 413 may be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0065] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, video linking is performed on a one-to-one elevator basis. However, for example, if there are many requests to see a nice view, that is, requests for views of level 3 or higher, it may be difficult to achieve a match. Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is possible to transmit video of a specific elevator to a plurality of elevators.

[0066] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator information table stored in elevator registration information storage unit 403 in the second embodiment. The elevator information table in FIG. 11 is different from the elevator information table in FIG. 6 in that the number of simultaneous transmissions 403e is added. The number of simultaneous transmissions 403e is set to the number of simultaneous video transmissions that can be made to other than video-linked destinations.

[0067] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control in the video transmitting / receiving device 400 in video linkage. FIG. 12 differs from FIG. 8 only in that step S106 is replaced by simultaneous video transmission (step S110).

[0068] For example, if the request from the eighth elevator 1h is for scenery level 3 or higher and the request from the fourth elevator 1d is for a foreign country, a match is made and video linking is performed. That is, the display device of the car of one of the fourth elevators 1d displays video captured by the camera device of the car of the other eighth elevator 1h. Also, the display device of the car of the other eighth elevator 1h displays video captured by the camera device of the car of one of the fourth elevators 1d.

[0069] In this state, suppose that a video link request is made from the third elevator 1c with a view level of 3 or higher. In this case, in step S102, the selection unit 402 first searches for a partner for video linking. However, there is no partner, and it is determined in step S103 that there is no partner. In this case, the selection unit 402 searches for an elevator that meets the request from elevators that have not yet reached the number of simultaneous transmissions possible, and the link processing unit 407 transmits the video (step S110). In this case, the number of simultaneous transmissions possible for the fourth elevator 1d is 30, but the current number of simultaneous transmissions is 0. Therefore, the video captured by the camera of the fourth elevator 1d will also be transmitted to the third car 8c of the third elevator 1c. In this case, the display device of the fourth car 8d of the fourth elevator 1d continues to display the image captured by the camera of the eighth car 8h of the eighth elevator 1h.

[0070] In this way, even if a match cannot be made, it is possible to deliver a video taken in an elevator that matches the request, thereby alleviating passengers' feelings of boredom or impatience.

[0071] In addition, there is no benefit to the elevator that allows simultaneous transmission. Therefore, some kind of incentive is provided to obtain permission.

[0072] Embodiment 3 In the first embodiment, by linking the video, if something happens to the other party, it can be discovered quickly. However, if the video is linked with an elevator in a foreign country, it may not be possible to take immediate action. Therefore, in the third embodiment, it is possible to remotely perform the same function as pressing the emergency button on the car body 100 of the other party.

[0073] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the car 8 in the third embodiment. FIG. 13 differs from FIG. 2 only in that a linked emergency button 110 is added.

[0074] For example, if an emergency occurs in one elevator car during video linkage, such as a lone passenger having a seizure and collapsing, a passenger in the other elevator will press the linkage emergency button 110 in the car 8.

[0075] The video control unit 201 of the car management device 200 detects that the linked emergency button 110 has been pressed and transmits emergency information to the video transmission / reception device 400 via the communication device 6. In the video transmission / reception device 400, the receiving unit 405 receives the emergency information, and the link processing unit 407 overlays the emergency information on the video and transmits it from the transmitting unit 406 to the car 8 of the destination elevator. In the car 8 of the destination elevator, the video control unit 201 receives the emergency information along with the video. The video control unit 201 performs the same emergency control as when the emergency button 109 is pressed. That is, it generates an emergency signal and transmits it to the elevator control device 5. As a result, the car 8 stops at the nearest floor. The emergency signal is also transmitted via the elevator control device 5 to the guard room or the elevator maintenance company, which issues an emergency alert. This allows the elevator maintenance personnel to know that an emergency has occurred inside the car main body 100.

[0076] In this way, by making it possible to remotely perform the same function as pressing the other party's emergency button via video linkage, even if the other party witnesses an emergency, the maintenance staff of the other party's elevator can be urged to respond quickly.

[0077] The above describes the first to third embodiments. Of course, the detailed configurations can be modified appropriately within the scope of the disclosure.

[0078] For example, related elevators may be grouped together, and only those elevators may be linked to each other. Fig. 14 shows an attribute table of elevators grouped by Company A. Only elevators at the head office and branch offices of Company A are registered in this table, and other elevators are registered in other tables. Therefore, the first elevator 1a only has video linkage with the third elevator 1c and the eighth elevator 1h.

[0079] By grouping in this way, video linking can be achieved within the range of elevators at the headquarters and branch offices of Company A. In this case, if you only want to connect to each other within the group, there is no need to make a request. [Industrial Applicability]

[0080] Thus, the present disclosure is useful in a system consisting of multiple elevators each having a car equipped with a display device that displays images. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 elevator, 2 elevator shaft, 3 machine room, 4 hoisting machine, 5 elevator control device 5, 6 communication equipment, 7 rope, 8 cage, 9 counterweight, 10 telecommunication line, 11 communication lines, 100 cage body, 101 imaging device, 102 speaker, 103 display device, 104 microphone, 105 weight sensor, 106 car door, 107 lighting, 108 Operation panel, 109 Emergency button, 110 Linked emergency button, 200 car management device, 201 video control unit, 202 equipment control unit, 203 storage unit, 300 communication network, 400 video transmitting / receiving device, 401 transmission / reception control unit, 402 selection unit, 403 elevator registration information storage unit, 404 recording unit, 405 receiving unit, 406 transmitting unit, 407 cooperation processing unit, 410 processor, 411 memory, 412 Transmitting and receiving circuit, 413 Dedicated hardware

Claims

1. A video transmitting and receiving device comprising: a receiving unit that receives a first video image captured by a first photographing device provided in a first car of an elevator; and a transmitting unit that transmits the first video image to be displayed on a second display device provided in a second car separate from the first car.

2. The video transmitting and receiving device described in claim 1, characterized in that the receiving unit receives a second video captured by a second photographing device installed in the second car while the first video is displayed on the second display device, and the transmitting unit transmits the second video to be displayed on a first display device installed in the first car.

3. A video transmission / reception device characterized by having: a selection unit that selects two elevators to be linked from among a plurality of elevators each having a car equipped with a camera and a display device; and a transmission / reception control unit that receives video captured by the camera of the car of one of the two elevators selected by the selection unit and transmits it to be displayed on the display device of the car of the other elevator, while simultaneously receiving video captured by the camera of the car of the other elevator and transmits it to be displayed on the display device of the car of one of the elevators.

4. 4. The video transmitting and receiving device according to claim 3, wherein passengers are on board the two elevator cars selected by said selection unit.

5. The video transmitting and receiving device according to claim 4, further comprising an elevator registration information storage unit in which a plurality of elevators are registered, and the selection unit selects two elevators to be linked based on the elevator registration information storage unit.

6. The video transmitting and receiving device according to claim 5, characterized in that the elevator registration information storage unit stores, for each registered elevator, at least one of the location where the elevator is installed and the status of the building in which the elevator is installed.

7. 5. The video transmitting and receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the selection unit selects two elevators to be linked based on a request sent from the car.

8. 8. The video transmitting and receiving device according to claim 3, wherein when a switching request to switch cooperation is received from one of the cars of the two elevators selected by the selection unit, the selection unit redoes the selection.

9. The video transmission / reception device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the transmission / reception control unit receives video captured by a camera device in the car of one of the elevators and transmits it to be displayed on a display device in a car of an elevator other than the other elevator.

10. The video transmission / reception device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that when emergency information is received from the car of one of the two elevators selected by the selection unit, the transmission / reception control unit transmits the emergency information to the car of the other elevator so that emergency control is performed in the other elevator.

11. A video linking method for receiving a first video image captured by a first camera device installed in a first car of an elevator, and transmitting the first video image from the first car to a second display device installed in a second car.

12. The image linking method described in claim 11, characterized in that while the first image is displayed on the second display device, a second image captured by a second imaging device installed in the second car is received and the second image is transmitted to be displayed on a first display device installed in the first car.

13. receiving a video link request transmitted from an elevator having a car in which an image capturing device and a display device are installed; selecting a destination elevator to be linked with the elevator that transmitted the video link request; A video linking method characterized by comprising a step of displaying the video captured by the camera of the elevator car that sent the video linking request on the display device of the car of the destination elevator, and simultaneously displaying the video captured by the camera of the car of the destination elevator on the display device of the car of the destination elevator.

14. An image linking program that causes a computer to execute a process of receiving a first image captured by a first camera device installed in a first elevator car, and transmitting the first image from the first car to a second display device installed in a separate second car for display.

15. The video linking program described in claim 14 causes a computer to execute a process of receiving a second video captured by a second camera device provided in the second car while the first video is being displayed on the second display device, and transmitting the second video to be displayed on a first display device provided in the first car.

16. selecting two elevators to be linked from among a plurality of elevators each having a car equipped with a photographing device and a display device; An image linking program that causes a computer to execute the following process: receive an image captured by a camera device in the car of one of the two selected elevators, and transmit it to be displayed on a display device in the car of the other elevator; and simultaneously receive an image captured by a camera device in the car of the other elevator, and transmit it to be displayed on a display device in the car of the one of the selected elevators.

17. a plurality of elevators each having a car in which a photographing device and a display device are installed; a video transmitting / receiving device that receives the video captured by the photographing device from the car, The video transmitting and receiving device a selection unit that selects two elevators to be linked; A video linkage system characterized by having a transmission / reception control unit that receives video captured by the camera device of the car of one of the two elevators selected by the selection unit and transmits it to be displayed on the display device of the car of the other elevator, and at the same time receives video captured by the camera device of the car of the other elevator and transmits it to be displayed on the display device of the car of one of the elevators.

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