Elevator control device, mobile terminal, elevator management system, and elevator control method

Abstract

To improve convenience for elevator users. [Solution] The elevator control device 1 comprises a control unit 61 that controls the elevator car 31 and a communication unit 62 that communicates with a mobile terminal 2. When the elevator car 31 is called from the mobile terminal 2, the control unit 61 controls the elevator car 31 so that the doors of the elevator car 31 remain open until a waiting period has elapsed, if the stopping floor of the elevator car 31 matches the calling floor of the elevator car 31 specified by the mobile terminal 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator control device, a mobile terminal, an elevator management system, and an elevator control method.

Background Art

[0002] An elevator control device has been proposed that reflects information acquired from a user's mobile terminal in the control of an elevator car. For example, the elevator control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-007698 (Patent Document 1) performs the allocation of the car to the user in consideration of the measured values obtained by the mobile terminal owned by the user when the user registers the destination floor in the destination floor registration unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is always a demand to improve the convenience for elevator users. The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and one of the objects of the present disclosure is to improve the convenience for elevator users.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The elevator control device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that controls an elevator car and a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal. When the car is called from the mobile terminal, the control unit controls the car so that the door of the car remains open until the standby time elapses when the stop floor of the car matches the call floor of the car specified by the mobile terminal.

[0006] The elevator control method relating to the second aspect of this disclosure includes the steps of calling an elevator car using a mobile terminal and, when the stopping floor of the car matches the calling floor specified by the mobile terminal, keeping the doors of the car open until a waiting period has elapsed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an elevator control device, a mobile terminal, an elevator management system, and an elevator control method that can improve convenience for elevator users. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the overall configuration of the elevator management system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an elevator control system. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing an example of a mobile device configuration. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an elevator. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the user interface of an application program that is displayed on a mobile device when a user calls for a shopping cart. [Figure 6] This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an elevator control system. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows an example of the processing procedure for the elevator control method according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows a first example of the processing procedure for an elevator control method according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows a second example of the processing procedure for an elevator control method according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 10] This flowchart shows a third example of the processing procedure for an elevator control method according to a modified embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] This embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0010] [Embodiment] <System Configuration> ≪Overall Structure≫ Figure 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of the elevator management system according to this embodiment. The elevator management system 100 includes an elevator control device 1 and one or more mobile terminals 2. The elevator control device 1 is connected to the one or more mobile terminals 2 via a network NW so that they can communicate with each other.

[0011] The elevator control device 1 controls the elevator car and doors according to information acquired from one or more mobile terminals 2. The configuration of the elevator control device 1 is explained in Figure 2.

[0012] Each of the one or more mobile terminals 2 is a terminal carried by a user of the elevator 3. Each mobile terminal 2 is typically a smartphone. Each mobile terminal 2 may also be a tablet, wearable device (e.g., smartwatch), notebook PC (Personal Computer), etc., as long as it is portable. Each mobile terminal 2 stores an application program 212B (see Figure 3) for using the elevator 3. The configuration of the mobile terminals 2 is explained in Figure 3. Although Figure 1 shows two mobile terminals 2, the number of mobile terminals 2 is arbitrary. There may be one mobile terminal 2 or three or more mobile terminals 2.

[0013] Elevator control device FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the elevator control device 1. The elevator control device 1 includes, for example, a server 101, an input device 102, a display 103, and a communication device 104. The server 101 includes a processor 111, a memory 112, and a network interface 113. The components of the elevator control device 1 are connected to each other by a communication bus.

[0014] The processor 111 is an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit). The memory 112 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a rewritable non-volatile memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory. The memory 112 stores a system program 112A including an OS (Operating System) and a control program 112B including computer-readable code necessary for control operations. The processor 111 realizes various processes by reading out the system program 112A and the control program 112B, expanding them in the memory 112, and executing them. The network interface 113 controls data communication between the server 101 and other devices (such as the mobile terminal 2 and the beacon 4 (see FIG. 4)) via the communication device 104.

[0015] The input device 102 is a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and receives the input of the operator of the server 101. The display 103 displays various information to the operator of the input device 102.

[0016] Note that FIG. 2 shows an example in which the server 101 includes one processor 111, but the server 101 may include a plurality of processors. That is, the server 101 includes one or more processors. The same applies to the memory 112. The same also applies to the configuration of the mobile terminal 2 described later.

[0017] In this specification, the term "processor" is not limited to a processor in the narrow sense that executes processing in a stored-program manner, and may include hard-wired circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). Therefore, the term "processor" can also be read as a processing circuitry in which processing is defined in advance by computer-readable code and / or a hard-wired circuit.

[0018] ≪Mobile Terminal≫ FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mobile terminal 2. The mobile terminal 2 includes an arithmetic processing unit 201, a touch panel display 202, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module 203, a mobile communication module 204, and a beacon communication module 205. The arithmetic processing unit 201 includes a processor 211, a memory 212, and a network interface 213. The components of the mobile terminal 2 are connected to each other by a communication bus.

[0019] The processor 211 is an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU or an MPU. The memory 212 includes a volatile memory such as a RAM and a rewritable non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. A system program 212A including an OS is stored in the memory 212, and an application program 212B for improving the convenience of the elevator 3 is installed. The processor 211 reads out the system program 212A and the application program 212B, expands them in the memory 212, and executes them to realize various processes. The network interface 213 controls data communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the outside (such as the server 101 (see FIG. 2), the beacon 4 (see FIG. 4), etc.).

[0020] The touch panel display 202 accepts user input and displays various information to the user. The GPS module 203 can be used by the server 101 to obtain the location of the mobile terminal 2 (i.e., the user's current location). The mobile communication module 204 is a long-range communication module that enables communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the server 101. The beacon communication module 205 is a short-range communication module that enables communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the beacon 4 installed in the elevator 3.

[0021] <Elevator Configuration> Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an elevator. In this example, it is assumed that the building in which elevator 3 is installed has one basement floor and ten above-ground floors. Although there are multiple elevators installed in the building, only one elevator 3 is shown in Figure 4 due to space limitations. Elevator 3 is, for example, a rope-type elevator and includes a car 31, a counterweight 32, a rope 33, a hoisting machine 34, and a deflector wheel 35.

[0022] The elevator car 31 and counterweight 32 are installed inside the elevator shaft in the building. The elevator car 31 and counterweight 32 are suspended from both ends of a rope 33, respectively. The rope 33 is attached to a hoisting machine 34 and a deflector wheel 35. The elevator car 31 moves up and down within the elevator shaft, traveling between floors from the lowest floor (basement 1st floor) to the highest floor (10th floor). The counterweight 32 moves in the elevator shaft in the opposite direction to the elevator car 31. The elevator car 31 can stop at each floor.

[0023] Beacons 4 are installed at the landings on each floor. In addition to the landings, beacons 4 may also be installed inside the elevator car 31. The mobile terminal 2 (and elevator control device 1) can calculate the distance between the mobile terminal 2 and the landing (i.e., the distance between the user and the landing) and detect when the mobile terminal 2 has entered the elevator car 31 (i.e., when the user has finished boarding) through communication between the mobile terminal 2 and the beacons 4.

[0024] In the example shown in Figure 4, we assume that user U is on the first floor with a mobile terminal 2 before boarding elevator car 31, and is moving from the first floor to the eighth floor. Before arriving at the boarding area on the first floor (for example, when arriving at the building entrance), user U operates the mobile terminal 2 to call elevator car 31 to move to the first floor. In this case, the first floor is the floor from which the call for boarding elevator car 31 is made (which can also be called the current floor where the mobile terminal 2 is located), and the eighth floor is the destination floor from which the user disembarks from elevator car 31.

[0025] Figure 5 shows an example of the user interface of the application program 212B that is displayed on the mobile terminal 2 when user U calls elevator car 31. As shown in Figure 5, when user U calls elevator car 31, they select the call floor 52 and the destination floor 53 using a scroll list 51 that shows the floors that can be reached using the elevator 3 from among the multiple floors of the building. Subsequently, when user U presses the confirmation button ("Call" button) 54, elevator car 31 moves to the call floor selected by user U.

[0026] <Function Block> Figure 6 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the elevator control device 1. The elevator control device 1 includes a control unit 61 that performs various processes for controlling the elevator 3, and a communication unit 62 that performs communication processing with the outside of the elevator control device 1. The control unit 61 includes a floor determination unit 611, a car control unit 612, a boarding determination unit 613, a waiting time setting unit 614, and a door control unit 615.

[0027] The floor determination unit 611 determines the call floor and destination floor of the elevator car 31 based on the signal received from the mobile terminal 2. The floor determination unit 611 also determines the floor on which the elevator car 31 is currently stopped (stopping floor). The floor determination unit 611 outputs information indicating the call floor, destination floor, and stopping floor of the elevator car 31 to the elevator car control unit 612.

[0028] The car control unit 612 controls car 31 according to the call floor, destination floor, and stopping floor of car 31. More specifically, when the car control unit 612 receives a call request for car 31 from the mobile terminal 2, it assigns one of the cars (car 31 in this example) from among several cars according to the call floor, destination floor, and stopping floor. The car control unit 612 outputs a command to move to the call floor or a command to move from the call floor to the destination floor to the assigned car 31 via the communication unit 62.

[0029] The boarding determination unit 613 determines whether the user has completed boarding the car 31. More specifically, the boarding determination unit 613 can determine that boarding is complete when it receives a boarding completion notification from the mobile terminal 2 indicating that the user has completed boarding the car 31. The boarding determination unit 613 outputs the determination result indicating whether the user has completed boarding to the door control unit 615.

[0030] The standby time setting unit 614 sets the "standby time" during which the elevator car 31, which is stopped at the calling floor, waits with its doors open. In this embodiment, the length of the standby time is a predetermined fixed length (for example, several seconds to several minutes).

[0031] The door control unit 615 controls the opening and closing of the doors based on the boarding determination result from the boarding determination unit 613 and the waiting time set by the waiting time setting unit 614. More specifically, the door control unit 615 controls the doors of the elevator car 31, which is stopped at the calling floor, to keep the doors open from the time they are opened until the waiting time has elapsed (open command). Then, when the waiting time has elapsed, the door control unit 615 controls the doors to close (close command). The door control unit 615 outputs the open command or the close command to the elevator car 31 via the communication unit 62.

[0032] Furthermore, the event that marks the start of the waiting period is not limited to the moment the door is opened, but may also be the moment when the elevator car 31 stops at the call floor. The event that marks the start of the waiting period may also be the moment when a call request is received from the mobile terminal 2.

[0033] <Processing Flow> Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure for the control method of elevator 3 according to this embodiment. The steps included in this flowchart are executed when predetermined conditions are met. Each step on the left is executed by the elevator control device 1 (processor 111 of server 101). Each step on the right is executed by the mobile terminal 2 (processor 211 of arithmetic processing unit 201). Each step is typically implemented by software processing (execution of an application program), but may also be implemented by hardware (electrical circuit). The same applies to other flowcharts described later. Hereinafter, steps will be abbreviated as S.

[0034] In S21, the mobile terminal 2 accepts user input to select the floor (calling floor and destination floor) (see Figure 5). The calling floor and destination floor may be registered in the mobile terminal 2 in advance. The mobile terminal 2 transmits the elevator call command to the elevator control device 1 and notifies the elevator control device 1 of the calling floor and destination floor selected by the user (S22).

[0035] In S11, the elevator control device 1 assigns one of the multiple elevator cars (car 31 in Figure 4) and determines whether the current stopping floor of car 31 matches the calling floor of the mobile terminal 2. If the stopping floor and the calling floor do not match (NO in S11), the elevator control device 1 controls car 31 to move from its current stopping floor to the calling floor (S12). On the other hand, if the stopping floor and the calling floor match (YES in S11), the elevator control device 1 proceeds to S13.

[0036] In S13, the elevator control device 1 controls the doors of the elevator car 31 so that they open (or maintain that state if they are already open).

[0037] In S23, the mobile terminal 2 determines whether the user has completed boarding the elevator car 31. As mentioned above, the mobile terminal 2 can determine whether it has moved inside the elevator car 31 by communicating with the beacon 4. Once the user has completed boarding (YES in S23), the mobile terminal 2 sends a boarding completion notification to the elevator control device 1 (S24).

[0038] The method for determining whether a user has completed boarding the elevator car 31 is not limited to this. The elevator control device 1 may obtain location information of the mobile terminal 2 (information indicating the relative positional relationship between the mobile terminal 2 and the beacon 4) by communicating with the beacon 4. Alternatively, the mobile terminal 2 may transmit its own GPS information to the elevator control device 1, and the elevator control device 1 may determine that boarding is complete based on the GPS information of the mobile terminal 2.

[0039] In S14, the elevator control device 1 determines whether it has received a boarding completion notification from the mobile terminal 2. If it has not received a boarding completion notification (NO in S14), the elevator control device 1 proceeds to S15 and determines whether the waiting time has elapsed. If the waiting time has not elapsed (NO in S15), the elevator control device 1 disables the door closing button (a button for closing the door) provided on the car 31 (S16). After that, the elevator control device 1 returns to processing S13. As a result, even if the door closing button is operated by another user inside the car 31, the doors of the car 31 will remain open.

[0040] Once the waiting time has elapsed (YES in S15), the elevator control device 1 controls the doors of the elevator car 31 so that they close (S17). Although not shown, the elevator control device 1 then controls the elevator car 31 so that it moves from the call floor to the destination floor.

[0041] As described above, in this embodiment, when a call request is received from the mobile terminal 2, the elevator control device 1 determines whether the stopping floor of the elevator car 31 matches the calling floor of the elevator car 31 specified by the mobile terminal 2. When the stopping floor and the calling floor match, the elevator control device 1 disables the door closing button and controls the elevator car 31 so that even if the door closing button is operated, the doors of the elevator car 31 remain open until the waiting time has elapsed. As a result, the doors close before the user who called the elevator car 31 moves to the elevator car 31, reducing the possibility of the user missing the elevator car 31. Therefore, according to this embodiment, convenience for the user can be improved.

[0042] [Differentiation] In the embodiment described, an example was given where the waiting time is of a fixed length. However, as will be explained below, the waiting time may be of a variable length.

[0043] ≪User Settings≫ Figure 8 is a flowchart showing a first example of the processing procedure for the control method of elevator 3 according to a modified embodiment. This flowchart differs from the flowchart in the embodiment (see Figure 7) in that it includes the processing of S25.

[0044] In S25, the mobile terminal 2 transmits to the elevator control device 1 the waiting time set by the user within a specified time range using the mobile terminal 2. The elevator control device 1 uses the waiting time received from the mobile terminal 2 to determine whether the waiting time has elapsed since the doors were opened (S15).

[0045] If a uniform waiting time is set, users who do not require a long waiting time may become dissatisfied because the doors remain open and the elevator car 31 is immobile until the waiting time has elapsed. In contrast, in the first example, users can set their own waiting time. By setting a shorter waiting time based on their own judgment, it is possible to suppress dissatisfaction that may arise from an excessively long waiting time being set for that user, causing them to wait after reaching the elevator car 31. As a result, it is also possible to suppress a decrease in the operating efficiency of the elevator car 31.

[0046] ≪Moving speed≫ Figure 9 is a flowchart showing a second example of the processing procedure for the control method of elevator 3 according to a modified embodiment. This flowchart differs from the flowchart in the embodiment (see Figure 7) in that it includes the processing of S26 and S18.

[0047] In S26, the mobile terminal 2 transmits its own speed (i.e., the user's walking speed) to the elevator control device 1. The mobile terminal 2 can calculate its own speed using the GPS module 203. The mobile terminal 2 may also use an acceleration sensor (not shown) built into the mobile terminal 2. The acceleration sensor can be used to estimate an indicator of the user's agility (e.g., the number of steps per unit time). The mobile terminal 2 may calculate the speed by multiplying the agility indicator thus obtained by a coefficient.

[0048] If the elevator control device 1 determines that the stopping floor of the car 31 matches the called floor (YES in S11), it sets a waiting time according to the movement speed of the mobile terminal 2 (S18). More specifically, the elevator control device 1 sets a longer waiting time the slower the movement speed. In other words, the elevator control device 1 sets a shorter waiting time the faster the movement speed. As an example, the elevator control device 1 may multiply the standard waiting time by a coefficient corresponding to the movement speed (a coefficient that increases as the movement speed decreases). The elevator control device 1 may have a table that defines the relationship between movement speed and waiting time. Subsequently, the elevator control device 1 determines, based on the waiting time set in S18, whether the waiting time has elapsed since the doors were opened (S15).

[0049] If the waiting time is set uniformly, slow walkers may not be able to reach the car 31 before the waiting time expires, while fast walkers may be made to wait after reaching the car 31. In contrast, in the second example, the waiting time is set according to the movement speed of the mobile terminal 2, which is correlated with the user's walking speed. This more reliably reduces the possibility of slow walkers missing the car 31. Conversely, it also suppresses dissatisfaction that may arise from fast walkers being made to wait after reaching the car 31. Furthermore, it becomes possible to suppress a decrease in the operating efficiency of the car 31.

[0050] Furthermore, the execution timing of the process S18, which sets the waiting time according to the movement speed of the mobile terminal 2, is not limited to between the processes of S14 and S15. The process S18 may be executed only once, for example, after the process of S11.

[0051] ≪Distance from the basket≫ Figure 10 is a flowchart showing a third example of the processing procedure for the control method of elevator 3 according to a modified embodiment. This flowchart differs from the flowchart in the embodiment (see Figure 7) in that it includes the processing of S27 and S19.

[0052] In S27, the mobile terminal 2 transmits its current location to the elevator control device 1. The mobile terminal 2 can determine its current location by communicating with the beacon 4. The mobile terminal 2 may also obtain its current location using the GPS module 203.

[0053] If the elevator control device 1 determines that the stopping floor of the elevator car 31 matches the called floor (YES in S11), it calculates the distance between the elevator car 31 and the mobile terminal 2 based on the current location of the mobile terminal 2. The elevator control device 1 then sets a waiting time according to the distance (S19). More specifically, the elevator control device 1 sets a longer waiting time the longer the distance. In other words, the elevator control device 1 sets a shorter waiting time the shorter the distance. The elevator control device 1 may also multiply the standard waiting time by a coefficient corresponding to the distance (a coefficient that increases with distance). The elevator control device 1 may have a table that defines the relationship between distance and waiting time. Subsequently, the elevator control device 1 determines, based on the waiting time set in S19, whether the waiting time has elapsed since the doors were opened (S15).

[0054] In the third example, the waiting time is set according to the distance between the car 31 and the mobile terminal 2, which correlates with the time it takes for the user to arrive at the car 31. This more reliably reduces the possibility of users far from the car 31 missing out on the train. Conversely, it can suppress dissatisfaction that may arise from users close to the car 31 having to wait after arriving at the car 31. It also helps to suppress a decrease in the operating efficiency of the car 31.

[0055] Furthermore, the timing of the execution of process S19, which sets the waiting time according to the distance between the basket 31 and the mobile terminal 2, is not limited to between processes S14 and S15. Process S19 may be executed only once, for example, after process S11.

[0056] As described above, in this modified version, the elevator control device 1 sets the waiting time variably according to the information received from the mobile terminal 2. This makes it possible to reflect the user's circumstances (preference for waiting time length, walking speed, distance from the elevator car 31, etc.) in the waiting time. Therefore, the possibility of the user missing the elevator car 31 is further reduced, and the possibility of the user having to wait a long time after arriving at the elevator car 31 is also reduced. Thus, this modified version can further improve convenience for the user.

[0057] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 100 Elevator management system, 1 Elevator control device, 101 Server, 102 Input device, 103 Display, 104 Communication device, 111 Processor, 112 Memory, 112A System program, 112B Control program, 113 Network interface, 2 Mobile terminal, 201 Processing unit, 202 Touch panel display, 203 Module, 204 Mobile communication module, 205 Beacon communication module, 211 Processor, 212 Memory, 212A System program, 212B Application program, 213 Network interface, 3 Elevator, 31 Car, 32 Counterweight, 33 Rope, 34 Hoisting machine, 35 Car, 4 Beacon, 51 Scroll list, 52 Calling floor, 53 Destination floor, 61 Control unit, 611 Floor determination unit, 612 Car control unit, 613 Load determination unit, 614 Time setting unit, 615 Door control unit, 62 Communication unit.

Claims

1. A control unit that controls the elevator car, It is equipped with a communication unit that communicates with a mobile terminal, The control unit controls the elevator car such that, when the car is called from the mobile terminal, the car's stopping floor matches the floor specified by the mobile terminal for calling the car, and the car's doors are kept open until a waiting period has elapsed.

2. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit disables the button for closing the door and controls the elevator car so that the door remains open until the waiting time has elapsed, even if the button is operated.

3. The elevator control device according to claim 2, wherein when the control unit receives a notification from the mobile terminal that boarding the elevator car is complete, it controls the elevator car so that the doors change from the open state to the closed state even before the waiting time has elapsed.

4. The elevator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit sets the waiting time variably according to the information obtained from the mobile terminal.

5. The elevator control device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit obtains the movement speed of the mobile terminal and sets the waiting time to be longer the slower the movement speed.

6. The elevator control device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit acquires location information of the mobile terminal and sets the waiting time to be longer the further the mobile terminal is from the elevator car.

7. A portable terminal that transmits the boarding completion notification to the elevator control device according to claim 3.

8. A portable terminal that transmits the waiting time to the elevator control device according to claim 4.

9. A portable terminal that transmits the speed of movement to the elevator control device according to claim 5.

10. An elevator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An elevator management system comprising the aforementioned mobile terminal.

11. The elevator control device according to claim 4, An elevator management system comprising the aforementioned mobile terminal.

12. The elevator control device according to claim 5, An elevator management system comprising the aforementioned mobile terminal.

13. The elevator control device according to claim 6, An elevator management system comprising the aforementioned mobile terminal.

14. A method for controlling an elevator, The steps include calling the elevator car using a mobile device, An elevator control method comprising the step of keeping the doors of the elevator open until a waiting period elapses, when the stopping floor of the elevator car matches the call floor of the elevator car specified by the mobile terminal.

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