Mobile devices, programs, and elevator systems

Abstract

To provide mobile terminals, programs, and elevator systems that can improve user convenience. [Solution] The mobile terminal is a terminal that can communicate with a management device that, upon receiving a call request, transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the bank corresponding to the call request, and includes: a registration unit that accepts registration of a building where a bank is located from a user; an acquisition unit that, when the registration unit accepts the registration of a building, acquires beacon information which is information associated with the building and includes the identifier of a beacon installed at the building's landing; an identification unit that, when radio waves from a beacon are detected, identifies the bank and building floor corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information; and a calling unit that transmits a call request to the management device to which the bank identified by the identification unit is associated and which includes the building floor identified by the identification unit as the departure floor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal, a program, and an elevator system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an elevator car reservation system. According to the car reservation system, a user can make a prior reservation for a car by specifying the date and time, boarding floor, and alighting floor from a mobile terminal at hand.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a large building such as a commercial building, elevator calls are managed for each of a plurality of banks. When applying the car reservation system described in Patent Document 1 to such a large building, the user needs to specify in advance the bank that the user wants to use. However, in many cases, the user does not know where in the building to be visited there are what banks. Therefore, the convenience of the user is reduced.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminal, a program, and an elevator system that can improve the convenience of the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The mobile terminal relating to this disclosure is a terminal that can communicate with a management device that, upon receiving a call request, transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the bank corresponding to the call request, and comprises: a registration unit that accepts registration of a building where a bank is located from a user; an acquisition unit that, when the registration unit accepts the registration of a building, acquires beacon information which is information associated with the building and includes the identifier of a beacon installed at the building's landing; an identification unit that, when radio waves from a beacon are detected, identifies the bank and building floor corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information; and a calling unit that transmits a call request to the management device to which the bank identified by the identification unit is associated and which includes the building floor identified by the identification unit as the departure floor.

[0007] The program relating to this disclosure causes a computer that can communicate with a management device to execute the following steps: a registration step of receiving registration from a user for a building where a bank is located; an acquisition step of obtaining beacon information, which is information associated with the building and includes an identifier for a beacon installed at the building's landing, when the building registration is accepted in the registration step; an identification step of identifying the bank and building floor corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information when radio waves from the beacon are detected; and a call step of transmitting a call request to the management device to which the bank identified in the identification step is associated and which includes the building floor identified in the identification step as the departure floor.

[0008] The elevator system disclosed herein includes: a first control device for controlling the operation of a first car in a first bank of a building; a second control device for controlling the operation of a second car in a second bank of a building; a first beacon installed at the landing of the first bank and emitting radio waves; a second beacon installed at the landing of the second bank and emitting radio waves; a portable terminal carried by a user and capable of detecting radio waves from the first beacon or the second beacon; a storage device for storing beacon information in which the identifiers of the first beacon and the second beacon are associated with a building; and a van that responds to a call request based on a call request from the portable terminal. The mobile terminal includes a call management device that transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the vehicle, and a registration unit that accepts building registration from the user, an acquisition unit that acquires beacon information from a storage device when the building registration is accepted by the registration unit, an identification unit that identifies the bank and building floor corresponding to whichever of the first and second beacons the radio waves are detected based on the beacon information when radio waves from the first beacon or the second beacon are detected, and a calling unit that transmits a call request to the management device that includes the bank identified by the identification unit and the building floor identified by the identification unit as the departure floor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, when a user registers a building on their mobile device and then moves near a beacon, the corresponding elevator car will be activated. This improves user convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a building to which the elevator system in Embodiment 1 is applied. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the elevator system in Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart of the operations performed by the mobile terminal in Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a hardware configuration diagram of a mobile terminal in Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The explanation of such parts will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

[0012] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a building to which the elevator system in Embodiment 1 is applied. Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the elevator system in Embodiment 1.

[0013] The elevator system 1 shown in Figure 1 is applied to building 90. Building 90 consists of multiple floors. For example, building 90 is a commercial building, an office building, etc. Building 90 is equipped with two independently controlled elevator groups, Bank 1 2 and Bank 2 3. Bank 1 2 and Bank 2 3 are spatially separated from each other within building 90.

[0014] The first bank 2 is also referred to as bank A. The first bank 2 is provided with one or more first cars 21. The operation of one or more first cars 21 is controlled by the first control device 22. The first control device 22 may be a control panel for one first car 21, or it may be a group control device that assigns calls to multiple first cars 21.

[0015] The following describes an example in which one first elevator car 21 is provided. The first elevator car 21 moves up and down inside the elevator shaft of the first bank 2. The first elevator car 21 stops at the first landing 91 of the first bank 2, which is provided on each floor. A first beacon 23 is provided at the first landing 91 on each floor.

[0016] The first beacon 23 is installed at at least one first landing 91. Hereafter, an example will be described in which the first beacon 23 is installed at the first landing 91 on all floors. The first beacon 23 transmits a first radio wave containing its own identifier.

[0017] The second bank 3 is also referred to as bank B. One or more second cages 31 are provided in the second bank 3. The operation of the one or more second cages 31 is controlled by a second control device 32. The second control device 32 may be a control panel of one second cage 31 or may be a group management device that assigns calls to a plurality of second cages 31.

[0018] Hereinafter, an example in which one second cage 31 is provided will be described. The second cage 31 moves up and down inside the hoistway of the second bank 3. The second cage 31 stops at the second landing 92 of the second bank 3 provided on each floor. A second beacon 33 is provided at each second landing 92 on each floor.

[0019] The second beacon 33 is provided at at least one second landing 92. Hereinafter, an example in which the second beacon 33 is provided at the second landing 92 on all floors will be described. The second beacon 33 transmits a second radio wave including its own identifier.

[0020] The mobile terminal 4 is possessed by a user who plans to use the elevator system 1. For example, the mobile terminal 4 is a smartphone. The mobile terminal 4 can display information. The mobile terminal 4 has an interface for receiving an input operation from the user. The mobile terminal 4 can receive the first radio wave and the second radio wave. A dedicated application used in the elevator system 1 is stored in the mobile terminal 4. The mobile terminal 4 executes a program included in the dedicated application as a computer that performs calculations. Hereinafter, at least a part of the functions of the mobile terminal 4 is realized by the dedicated application.

[0021] For example, the call server 5 is provided in a building different from the building 90. The call server 5 can communicate with the first control device 22, the second control device 32, and the mobile terminal 4 respectively.

[0022] As described above, the elevator system 1 includes a first bank 2, a second bank 3, a mobile terminal 4, and a call server 5. The first bank 2 includes a first car 21, a first control device 22, and a first beacon 23. The second bank 3 includes a second car 31, a second control device 32, and a second beacon 33.

[0023] In the elevator system 1, a user can board the first car 21 or the second car 31 simply by registering the building 90 via the mobile terminal 4. Specifically, the user operates the mobile terminal 4 to register the target building for which the elevator is to be used. Hereinafter, an example in which the building 90 is registered at this time will be described. The mobile terminal 4 acquires beacon information corresponding to the building 90 from the call server 5. The user further registers the fourth floor, which is the floor the user wishes to go to, as the destination floor on the mobile terminal 4.

[0024] When the mobile terminal 4 detects the first radio wave or the second radio wave, it identifies the bank corresponding to the detected beacon and its floor based on the beacon information. For example, when the user approaches the first bank 2 on the second floor, the mobile terminal 4 detects the first radio wave on the second floor. In this case, the mobile terminal 4 identifies the first bank 2 on the second floor based on the beacon information and the identifier included in the first radio wave.

[0025] The mobile terminal 4 transmits a call request including the identified bank, the departure floor, and the destination floor to the call server 5. For example, the call request includes an instruction to use the first bank 2 with the second floor as the departure floor and the fourth floor as the destination floor. The call server 5 that has received the call request transmits a call to the first control device 22 of the first bank 2 with the second floor as the departure floor and the fourth floor as the destination floor. The first control device 22 registers the call in the corresponding first car 21 and dispatches the first car 21 to the second floor.

[0026] Next, the functions of each component of the elevator system 1 will be explained using Figure 2. The call server 5 has the functions of a storage unit 51, a communication unit 52, and a call management unit 53. For example, the functions of the call server 5 may be realized by multiple devices. In this case, the call server 5 may include a storage device that realizes the functions of the storage unit 51, a communication device that realizes the functions of the communication unit 52, and a management device that realizes the functions of the call management unit 53. Note that the storage device, communication device, and management device may each be provided in different locations.

[0027] The storage unit 51 has pre-stored beacon information corresponding to each target building, including building 90. Target buildings are buildings where a service is available that allows users to call a elevator car using a mobile terminal 4, such as building 90. At least one landing in a target building is equipped with a beacon, such as the first beacon 23, that corresponds to the bank and the floor on which it is installed. The beacon information is information corresponding to a target building and includes identifiers for all beacons installed in the target building. The beacon information includes the identifier of the beacon installed in the target building, the identification information of the bank corresponding to the beacon, and the floor on which the beacon is installed, in association with each other. Table 1 shows an example of beacon information corresponding to building 90.

[0028] [Table 1]

[0029] The second and third columns of the table list Bank A, which is the first bank 2, and Bank B, which is the second bank 3, respectively. The rows of the table indicate the floor on which the beacons are installed. The table lists the identifiers of the first beacons 23 and the second beacons 33 installed on each floor. In the example in Table 1, the identifier of the beacon installed in bank X on the nth floor is shown as "XnF". In other words, the beacon identifier and beacon information allow for the simultaneous identification of the bank to which the beacon corresponds and the floor on which the beacon is installed.

[0030] The communication unit 52 is an interface that communicates with the first control unit 22, the second control unit 32, and the mobile terminal 4. Based on an acquisition request received from the mobile terminal 4, the communication unit 52 transmits the beacon information stored in the storage unit 51 to the mobile terminal 4.

[0031] When the call management unit 53 receives a call request from the mobile terminal 4, it identifies the building 90 and the bank of building 90 included in the call request. The call management unit 53 transmits the call, including the departure floor and destination floor included in the call request, to the control device that controls the bank of the identified building 90. The control device registers the call from the call management unit 53 to the elevator car. The elevator car then operates based on the call.

[0032] The mobile terminal 4 has the following functions: registration unit 41, storage unit 42, acquisition unit 43, detection unit 44, identification unit 45, and calling unit 46.

[0033] The registration unit 41 is a user interface displayed on the screen by a dedicated application. The registration unit 41 presents the user with target buildings where elevators can be called. Specifically, for example, the registration unit 41 displays icons indicating target buildings on a map, displays a list of target buildings that house facilities included in the search criteria, etc. The registration unit 41 accepts registration from the user for the target building where they wish to use the elevator. Along with the target building, the registration unit 41 also accepts registration of the desired destination floor.

[0034] The memory unit 42 stores information necessary for operation by a dedicated application.

[0035] When the registration unit 41 accepts the registration of a target building, the acquisition unit 43 acquires beacon information corresponding to that target building from the calling server 5. Specifically, the acquisition unit 43 sends an acquisition request regarding the registered target building to the communication unit 52 of the calling server 5. The acquisition unit 43 stores the beacon information received from the communication unit 52 as information about the target building in the storage unit 42.

[0036] The detection unit 44 is capable of detecting radio waves from beacons, including the first beacon 23 and the second beacon 33. When the detection unit 44 detects radio waves from beacons, it extracts information such as identifiers contained in those radio waves. The detection unit 44 may choose not to detect radio waves until the acquisition unit 43 has acquired the beacon information.

[0037] When the detection unit 44 detects a beacon's radio wave, the identification unit 45 identifies the beacon corresponding to the radio wave from the beacon information stored in the storage unit 42. At this time, the identification unit 45 identifies the target building where the beacon is installed, the bank corresponding to the beacon, and the floor corresponding to the beacon. Since the identification unit 45 uses the beacon information stored in the storage unit 42, the identification process is performed after the acquisition unit 43 has acquired the beacon information corresponding to the building 90.

[0038] When the detection unit 44 detects a first radio wave from the first beacon 23 or a second radio wave from the second beacon 33, the calling unit 46 creates a call request and sends it to the calling server 5. At this time, the calling unit 46 creates a call request corresponding to the building 90 identified by the identification unit 45 and the identified bank. Furthermore, the calling unit 46 creates a call request that includes the departure floor, which is the floor identified by the identification unit 45, and the destination floor, which is registered in association with the building 90 in the registration unit 41.

[0039] Next, we will explain the operation performed by the mobile terminal 4 using Figure 3. This operation is achieved by executing a program included in a dedicated application on the mobile terminal 4. Figure 3 is a flowchart of the operations performed by the mobile terminal in Embodiment 1.

[0040] For example, the flowchart in Figure 3 starts when the dedicated application is launched. Note that the flowchart in Figure 3 illustrates an example where building 90 is registered among the target buildings.

[0041] In step S01, the registration unit 41 displays a screen for accepting registration of the target building as a display step. The screen may also display the target building and the floors of the tenants located within it.

[0042] Subsequently, in step S02, the registration unit 41 determines whether or not it has received registration of the building 90 and the destination floor from the user as a registration step. If registration has not been received in step S02, the operations from step S01 onward are repeated.

[0043] If the user registers building 90 and destination floor in step S02, the operation in step S03 is performed. In step S03, the acquisition unit 43, as an acquisition step, retrieves beacon information corresponding to the registered building 90 from the server 5.

[0044] Subsequently, in step S04, the detection unit 44 determines, as a detection step, whether or not it has detected the radio waves of the beacons, particularly the first radio waves from the first beacon 23 or the second radio waves from the second beacon 33. Note that the detected radio waves may be the first radio waves from the first beacon 23 or the second radio waves from the second beacon 33 on either floor.

[0045] If no beacon signal is detected in step S04, the operation of step S04 is repeated. Note that the detection step does not need to be performed all the time. For example, if a trigger occurs indicating that a beacon signal has been detected, it may be determined in step S04 that a signal has been detected.

[0046] If a beacon signal is detected in step S04, the operation in step S05 is performed. In step S05, the identification unit 45, as an identification step, identifies the bank and floor corresponding to one of the detected signals, either the first signal from the first beacon 23 or the second signal from the second beacon 33, based on the beacon information. At this time, the identification unit 45 also identifies the building 90 where the first beacon 23 and the second beacon 33 are installed.

[0047] Subsequently, in step S06, the calling unit 46 creates a call request as a call step, specifying the building 90 and the identified bank identified in step S05. At this time, the calling unit 46 creates a call request that includes the floor identified in step S05 as the destination floor and the floor registered in step S02 as the destination floor. The calling unit 46 sends the created call request to the calling server 5.

[0048] After that, the flowchart operation ends.

[0049] Following this flowchart, the call server 5 transmits a call based on the call request to either the first control device 22 or the second control device 32, whichever corresponds to the call request. This call includes the departure floor and destination floor included in the call request.

[0050] The first control device 22 or the second control device 32, whichever receives the call, assigns the call to the car to be controlled. Based on the assigned call, the control device controls the operation of the car.

[0051] In addition, the destination floor does not need to be registered in the registration unit 41. In this case, the destination floor will not be included in the call request. Even in this case, the user can board the elevator without making a boarding call.

[0052] With the above actions performed, users can board the elevator simply by registering building 90 on their mobile device 4 and moving to a boarding area equipped with a beacon.

[0053] According to Embodiment 1 described above, the elevator system 1 comprises a first control device 22, a second control device 32, a first beacon 23, a second beacon 33, a storage device, a management device, and a portable terminal 4. The portable terminal 4 includes a registration unit 41, an acquisition unit 43, a specification unit 45, and a calling unit 46 as its functions. The functions of the portable terminal 4 are realized by the portable terminal 4 executing steps indicated in the program. When the portable terminal 4 receives registration of a building 90 from a user, it acquires beacon information corresponding to the building 90. Subsequently, when it detects radio waves from a beacon corresponding to the beacon information, the portable terminal 4 transmits a call request corresponding to the floor and bank of the building 90 to the calling server 5. The calling server 5 transmits a call to the corresponding control device based on the call request. The control device operates the elevator car based on the call. In this way, users can board an operating elevator car simply by registering the building 90 and moving to the landing. As a result, the elevator system 1 and the portable terminal 4 can improve user convenience. At this time, the destination floor is registered in the registration unit 41. In this case, the user can board the elevator without having to enter their destination floor.

[0054] Furthermore, the identification unit 45 identifies the bank and the floor of the building 90 after the beacon information has been acquired. Because the beacon information is acquired early, the mobile terminal 4 can quickly transmit a call request after detecting radio waves from the beacon.

[0055] Next, we will explain an example of the hardware that makes up the mobile terminal 4 using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a mobile terminal in Embodiment 1.

[0056] Each function of the mobile terminal 4 can be realized by a processing circuit. For example, the processing circuit comprises at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. For example, the processing circuit comprises at least one dedicated hardware 200.

[0057] When the processing circuit comprises at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b, each function of the mobile terminal 4 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. At least one of the software and firmware is stored in at least one memory 100b. At least one processor 100a realizes each function of the mobile terminal 4 by reading and executing the program stored in at least one memory 100b.

[0058] If the processing circuit includes at least one dedicated piece of hardware 200, the processing circuit may be implemented as, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. For example, each function of the mobile terminal 4 may be implemented by a processing circuit. For example, each function of the mobile terminal 4 may be implemented together by a processing circuit.

[0059] For each function of the mobile terminal 4, some may be implemented by dedicated hardware 200, and others by software or firmware. For example, the function of the detection unit 44 may be implemented by a processing circuit as dedicated hardware 200, while functions other than those of the detection unit 44 may be implemented by at least one processor 100a reading and executing a program stored in at least one memory 100b.

[0060] In this way, the processing circuit realizes each function of the mobile terminal 4 through hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0061] Although not shown in the diagram, each function of the calling server 5 is implemented using processing circuits equivalent to those that implement each function of the mobile terminal 4.

[0062] Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the calling server 5 may be implemented on the cloud server. In this case, the processing circuit is composed of multiple sub-circuits. These multiple sub-processing circuits are provided in each of the multiple devices that make up the cloud server. The multiple devices that make up the cloud server may each be located in a different building. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1 Elevator system, 2 First bank, 3 Second bank, 4 Mobile terminal, 5 Call server, 21 First car, 22 First control device, 23 First beacon, 31 Second car, 32 Second control device, 33 Second beacon, 41 Registration unit, 42 Storage unit, 43 Acquisition unit, 44 Detection unit, 45 Identification unit, 46 Call unit, 51 Storage unit, 52 Communication unit, 53 Call management unit, 90 Building, 91 First landing, 92 Second landing, 100a Processor, 100b Memory, 200 Hardware

Claims

1. A management device that, upon receiving a call request, transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the bank corresponding to the call request, has a terminal that can communicate with the management device, A registration department that accepts registrations from users for buildings where the aforementioned bank is located, When the registration of the building is accepted by the registration unit, the acquisition unit acquires beacon information which is information associated with the building and includes the identifier of the beacon installed at the building's landing, When radio waves from the beacon are detected, the identification unit identifies the bank and the floor of the building corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information, A calling unit that transmits a call request to the management device, to which the bank identified by the identifying unit is associated, and which includes the floor of the building identified by the identifying unit as the starting floor, A mobile device equipped with [a specific feature / ability].

2. The identification unit identifies the bank and the floor of the building corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information after the acquisition unit has acquired the beacon information. The mobile terminal according to claim 1.

3. The registration unit receives registration of the destination floor of the building from the user. The calling unit transmits the calling request, which includes the destination floor, received by the registration unit. A mobile terminal according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. Regarding a management device that, upon receiving a call request, transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the bank corresponding to the call request, a computer capable of communicating with the management device, A registration step in which the user registers the building where the aforementioned bank is located, When the registration of the building is accepted in the registration step, the acquisition step involves acquiring beacon information which is information associated with the building and includes the identifier of the beacon installed at the building's landing, When radio waves from the beacon are detected, the identification step involves identifying the bank and the floor of the building corresponding to the beacon based on the beacon information, A call step that transmits to the management device a call request to which the bank identified in the specified step is associated and which includes the floor of the building identified in the specified step as the starting floor, A program that executes the command.

5. A first control device for controlling the operation of the first elevator car in the first bank of the building, A second control device for controlling the operation of the second elevator car in the second bank of the aforementioned building, A first beacon that emits radio waves is installed at the boarding area of ​​the first bank, A second beacon is installed at the boarding area of ​​the second bank, which emits radio waves, A portable terminal possessed by the user and capable of detecting radio waves from the first beacon or the second beacon, A storage device that stores beacon information in which the identifier of the first beacon and the identifier of the second beacon are associated with the building, A call management device that transmits a call including the departure floor to the control device of the bank corresponding to the call request based on a call request from the aforementioned mobile terminal, Equipped with, The aforementioned mobile terminal is A registration department that accepts registration of the building from the aforementioned users, When the registration of the building is accepted by the registration unit, the acquisition unit acquires the beacon information from the storage device, When a radio wave from the first beacon or a radio wave from the second beacon is detected, the identification unit identifies the bank and the floor of the building corresponding to whichever of the first and second beacons the radio wave was detected, based on the beacon information. A calling unit that associates the bank identified by the identifying unit with the calling unit and transmits the calling request, which includes the floor of the building identified by the identifying unit as the starting floor, to the management device, It had, Elevator system.

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