Elevator group management device and elevator group management method

Abstract

To provide an elevator control device for controlling an elevator so that a user who has an object to be avoided from riding in an elevator car can use the elevator while reliably and easily avoiding the object from riding in the elevator car. [Solution] According to an embodiment, an elevator control device includes a first registration information storage unit, a first registration information acquisition unit, a first determination unit, and an operation control unit. The first registration information storage unit stores avoidance information, which is registered in advance for each user and indicates an object that the user wishes to avoid riding in the car. The first registration information acquisition unit acquires the avoidance information of a user who has performed a hall call registration operation from the first registration information storage unit. The first determination unit determines whether or not the object indicated by the acquired avoidance information is within the car. When the operation control unit determines that the object indicated by the avoidance information is within the car, it causes the car to run past the floor where the hall call occurred.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention comprises: Elevator group management device and elevator group management method Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] Some elevator users have people they would like to avoid riding in the elevator with. For example, while many users understand that crying babies and noisy small children are acceptable, some users would like to avoid riding in an enclosed space such as an elevator, given the growing concern about infectious diseases. Also, users who have allergies to animals would like to avoid riding in the elevator with their pets.

[0003] Therefore, when a user performs a hall call registration operation and the elevator door opens in response to this, if there is someone in the elevator that the user does not want to ride with, such as a crying baby, a noisy child, or a pet, the user will not board the elevator and will wait for the elevator to depart, and will then perform the hall call registration operation again and wait for the next elevator to arrive.

[0004] If such a situation occurs, the user will have to perform the hall call registration operation multiple times, which is inconvenient for the user and also reduces the operating efficiency of the elevator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-151464 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In light of this, for example, in order to efficiently prevent passengers who wish to avoid riding with pets from riding together with people accompanying their pets, there is technology in which either of these users operates a special button when using the elevator, and the operation of the elevator is controlled to prevent these users from riding together.

[0007] However, when using this technology, either the user who wants to avoid riding with a pet or the person accompanying the pet must press a special button every time they use the elevator, which is troublesome for the user. Also, if the user forgets to press the button, there is a problem that they may not be able to avoid riding with their pet.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a method for controlling an elevator so that a user who has an object that the user wishes to avoid riding in the elevator car can use the elevator while reliably and easily avoiding the object. Elevator group management device and elevator group management method The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to an embodiment for achieving the above object, an elevator control device includes a first registration information storage unit, a first registration information acquisition unit, a first determination unit, and an operation control unit. The first registration information storage unit stores avoidance information, which is registered in advance for each user and indicates an object that the user wishes to avoid riding in the car. The first registration information acquisition unit acquires the avoidance information of the user who performed the hall call registration operation from the first registration information storage unit. The first determination unit determines whether or not the object indicated by the acquired avoidance information is inside the car. When the operation control unit determines that the object indicated by the avoidance information is inside the car, it causes the car to run past the floor where the hall call occurred. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator system using an elevator control device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2]13 is an example of a registration operation screen for avoidance information displayed on a user terminal communicatively connected to the elevator control device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the elevator control device according to the first embodiment when performing elevator control using avoidance information of a registered user. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator system using an elevator group control device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of an elevator group control device according to a second embodiment when performing allocation processing using avoidance information of registered users. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing an operation of the elevator group control device according to the second embodiment when executing an allocation process using all user avoidance information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] First Embodiment Configuration of an elevator system using the elevator control device according to the first embodiment Fig. 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator system 1 using an elevator control device according to this embodiment. The elevator system 1 includes a hoist 11 installed at the top of a hoistway 10-1 in a building, a rope 12 stretched across the hoist 11, a car 13 suspended from one end of the rope 12, and an elevator control device 14 installed at the top of the hoistway 10-1. The car 13 and the elevator control device 14 are connected via a tail cord 15. An in-car camera device 131, an in-car sound collecting device 132, and an in-car operation panel 133 are installed inside the car 13.

[0012] The car interior camera device 131 is installed, for example, on a fascia or ceiling inside the car 13, and captures images inside the car 13. The car interior sound collection device 132 collects sounds inside the car 13. The car interior operation panel 133 has a destination floor registration button (not shown) that allows a user to perform a car call registration operation.

[0013] The elevator system 1 also includes a hall call registration device 21-1, a hall camera device 22-1, an image analysis device 23-1, and a wireless communication device 24-1, all installed at the hall 20-1. The hall call registration device 21-1, the image analysis device 23-1, and the wireless communication device 24-1 are connected to the elevator control device 14 via signal lines 25-1, 26-1, and 27-1, respectively. Although only one hall 20-1 in the building is shown in FIG. 1, halls on other floors can be configured in the same manner.

[0014] The hall camera device 22-1 photographs the hall 20-1. The image analysis device 23-1 analyzes the image information photographed by the hall camera device 22-1 to obtain identification information and facial expression information of the user who performed the hall call registration operation. The wireless communication device 24-1 performs wireless communication with a communication device in the hall 20-1, for example, by short-range wireless communication.

[0015] Furthermore, the elevator system 1 is connected to a user terminal 30-1 carried by a user X1 who uses the elevator system 1 via a wireless communication device 24-1 so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with the user terminal 30-1. The user terminal 30-1 is equipped with an application AP for transmitting and receiving information with the elevator system 1. The user terminal 30-1 uses this application AP to perform a process of registering avoidance information of the user X1 in the elevator control device 14 based on an operation of the user X1. The user terminal 30-1 also outputs information transmitted from the elevator control device 14.

[0016] The elevator control device 14 has a call registration unit 141, a first registration information storage unit 142, and a first CPU 143. The call registration unit 141 registers hall call information based on a hall call registration operation performed by a user on the hall call registration device 21-1, and car call information based on a car call registration operation performed on the car in-car operation panel 133. The first registration information storage unit 142 stores avoidance information indicating targets to be avoided from riding in the car 13, which is registered in advance for each elevator user, as user-specific avoidance information.

[0017] The first CPU 143 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in a general-purpose microcomputer, and configures one or more information processing units described below by installing and executing a predetermined elevator control program. The first CPU 143 has a car information acquisition unit 143a, a first hall information acquisition unit 143b, a first registration information acquisition unit 143c, a first determination unit 143d, an operation control unit 143e, and a first waiting time calculation unit 143f.

[0018] The car information acquisition unit 143a acquires, as car inside information indicating the situation inside the car, information acquired by the car inside camera device 131, the car inside sound collection device 132, and the car inside operation panel 133 in the car 13 via the tail cord 15. The first hall information acquisition unit 143b acquires, from the image analysis device 23-1, identification information, information indicating facial expression, and the like, of the user who performed the hall call registration operation at the hall 20-1.

[0019] The first registration information acquisition unit 143c acquires the avoidance information of the user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the first hall information acquisition unit 143b from the first registration information storage unit 142. The first determination unit 143d determines whether or not the target indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the first registration information acquisition unit 143c is inside the elevator 13, based on the elevator interior information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit 143a.

[0020] When the first determination unit 143d determines that there is an object indicated by the avoidance information in the car 13, the operation control unit 143e causes the car 13 to travel through the floor where the hall call occurs. The first waiting time calculation unit 143f calculates a predicted value of a waiting time, which is a time from when the hall call occurs until the car 13 lands on the floor where the hall call occurs and opens the door.

[0021] Operation of the elevator system according to the first embodiment The operation when a user X1 uses the elevator system 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the image analysis device 23-1 holds face information of a user (hereinafter, referred to as a "registered user") who is registered in advance as a user of the elevator system 1, in association with the identification information of the registered user. User X1 is a registered user of the elevator system 1.

[0022] The user X1 uses the application AP on the user terminal 30-1 to perform an operation to register, in the elevator control device 14, avoidance information indicating a target that the user X1 wishes to avoid riding in the car 13 with.

[0023] The application AP holds in advance information on "babies" and "toddlers" as information on objects to be avoided from riding in the car 13. The application AP also holds information on "crying babies" and "noisy toddlers" as information on objects to be avoided that are in a predetermined status.

[0024] 2 is an example of an avoidance information registration operation screen P1 displayed on the user terminal 30-1 by the application AP. The registration operation screen P1 has a selection area 31 for selecting whether to agree to ride with a "baby" (Yes) or to not agree and avoid (No) based on pre-stored information, and a selection area 32 for selecting whether to agree to ride with a "crying baby" (Yes) or to not agree and avoid (No). The selection area 31 is always selectable, and the selection area 32 becomes selectable when "Yes" is selected in the selection area 31. Here, "Yes" is selected in the selection area 31 by the user X1, and "No" is selected in the selection area 32 that has become selectable. In other words, the user X1 agrees to ride with a baby, but selects to avoid riding with a crying baby.

[0025] The registration operation screen P1 also has a selection area 33 for allowing the user to select whether to agree to ride with a "child" (Yes) or to disapprove and avoid the ride (No) based on pre-stored information, and a selection area 34 for allowing the user to select whether to agree to ride with a "noisy child" (Yes) or to disapprove and avoid the ride (No). The selection area 33 is always selectable, and the selection area 34 becomes selectable when "Yes" is selected in the selection area 33. Here, "No" is selected in the selection area 33 by the user X1, and as a result, the selection area 34 is not selectable. In other words, the user X1 has selected not to agree to ride with a child, regardless of the child's status.

[0026] When user X1 performs an operation to register the selected information, this information is stored in the first registered information storage unit 142 as the avoidance information of user X1.

[0027] 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the elevator control device 14 of the elevator system 1 according to this embodiment when performing elevator control using the avoidance information of registered users. In the initial state, the operation control unit 143e of the elevator control device 14 is set to perform response processing that prioritizes service performance when a hall call or car call is registered in the call registration unit 141. In other words, the operation control unit 143e controls the operation of the car 13 so as to shorten the waiting time of waiting users at the hall as much as possible.

[0028] During operation of the elevator system 1, the hall camera device 22-1 photographs the hall 20-1, and the image analysis device 23-1 analyzes the image information photographed by the hall camera device 22-1 to monitor whether or not there is a user who has performed a hall call registration operation. The image analysis device 23-1 may use an emotion recognition AI to recognize the emotion of the user who has performed a hall call registration operation from the image information.

[0029] Furthermore, the in-car camera device 131 captures an image of the inside of the car 13 and transmits the captured image information to the elevator control device 14. Furthermore, the in-car sound collection device 132 collects sounds inside the car 13 and transmits the acquired sound information to the elevator control device 14. In the elevator control device 14, the car information acquisition unit 143a acquires the captured image information transmitted from the in-car camera device 131 and the sound information transmitted from the in-car sound collection device 132. The car information acquisition unit 143a may analyze the captured image information captured by the in-car camera device 131 to predict the age of the person in the car 13, or may use an emotion recognition AI to recognize the emotions of children, their parents, etc. in the car 13.

[0030] When user X1 enters hall 20-1 and performs hall call registration operation with hall call registration device 21-1, this operation information is transmitted to elevator control device 14. In elevator control device 14, a hall call is registered in call registration unit 141 based on the hall call registration operation information transmitted from hall call registration device 21-1 ("YES" in S1).

[0031] In addition, when user X1 performs a hall call registration operation, the image analysis device 23-1 detects the presence of a user who has performed the hall call registration operation by analyzing the image information captured by the hall camera device 22-1. When the image analysis device 23-1 detects the presence of a user who has performed a hall call registration operation, it performs face authentication by comparing the image information of the face part of the user with the face information stored therein, and determines whether or not the user is a registered user. Here, the image analysis device 23-1 determines that user X1 who performed the hall call registration operation is a registered user, and transmits the identification information of this user X1 to the elevator control device 14.

[0032] In the elevator control device 14, the first hall information acquisition unit 143b acquires the identification information of the user X1 transmitted from the image analysis device 23-1 ("YES" in S2). Upon acquiring the identification information of the user X1, the first hall information acquisition unit 143b recognizes that a hall call registration has been performed by the user X1, who is a registered user.

[0033] Here, the first hall information acquisition unit 143b judges whether or not it has acquired the identification information of two or more registered users who have registered hall calls for the hall 20-1 (S3). Here, the first hall information acquisition unit 143b judges that it has acquired only the identification information of user X1, that is, only one registered user ("NO" in S3). When the first hall information acquisition unit 143b judges that it has acquired the identification information of only one registered user, it sends the identification information of this user X1 to the first registration information acquisition unit 143c.

[0034] The first registration information acquisition unit 143c acquires avoidance information of user X1 corresponding to the identification information acquired by the first hall information acquisition unit 143b from the first registration information storage unit 142 (S4). Here, the first registration information acquisition unit 143c acquires, as the avoidance information of user X1, information indicating that the avoidance targets are a "crying baby" and a "small child" (regardless of their status of whether they are making noise or not).

[0035] The first judgment unit 143d judges whether or not the avoidance target indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the first registration information acquisition unit 143c is present inside the elevator 13 based on the imaging information and sound information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit 143a (S5).

[0036] For example, when the first determination unit 143d analyzes the image information inside the car 13 and recognizes that there is a baby inside the car 13, and recognizes that the baby is crying based on the volume (decibels) of the sound information inside the car 13, the first determination unit 143d determines that a "crying baby" is present inside the car 13. Furthermore, when the first determination unit 143d analyzes the image information inside the car 13 and recognizes that there is an infant inside the car 13, the first determination unit 143d determines that an "infant" is present inside the car 13. When the first determination unit 143d determines that any of these is present inside the car 13, it determines that an object to be avoided by the user X1 is present inside the car 13 ("YES" in S5).

[0037] When the first determination unit 143d determines that an avoidance target for the user X1 exists in the car 13, the operation control unit 143e causes the car 13 to pass through the floor where the hall call registration occurs, that is, the floor of the hall 20-1 (S7) if the predicted value of the waiting time calculated by the first waiting time calculation unit 143f when the car 13 passes through the floor where the hall call registration occurs is not equal to or greater than a preset threshold value (e.g., "1 minute") ("NO" in S7). This threshold value may be set in advance by an administrator, or may be set as a waiting time acceptable to each user when registering the avoidance information.

[0038] When the elevator car 13 passes through the floor of the hall 20-1, the operation control unit 143e transmits notification information to the user terminal 30-1 via the wireless communication device 24-1, indicating that the elevator car 13 has passed through the hall 20-1 because an object to be avoided exists within the elevator car 13 (S8). The user terminal 30-1 outputs the notification information acquired from the elevator control device 14 by display or voice. The user X1 can recognize the output notification information and confirm the reason why the elevator car 13 passed through the hall 20-1.

[0039] Then, returning to step S3, if the identification information of two or more registered users for hall 20-1 has not been obtained, the processing of steps S3 to S8 is repeated until it is determined that the avoidance target indicated in the avoidance information of user X1 is not present in car 13 ("NO" in S5) or it is determined that the predicted waiting time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ("YES" in S6).

[0040] In step S2, when the elevator control device 14 does not acquire the identification information of the user X1 from the image analysis device 23-1 ("NO" in S2), the first hall information acquisition unit 143b recognizes that the hall call registration has been made by a user other than the registered user. In this case, the operation control unit 143e executes normal response processing, that is, response processing to the hall call with priority given to service performance (S9).

[0041] In addition, in step S3, if the first platform information acquisition unit 143b determines that it has acquired the identification information of two or more registered users who have registered platform calls, for example, if two platform calls, an upward platform call and a downward platform call, are registered at platform 20-1 and both are unanswered, and the identification information of both the registered user who registered the upward platform call and the registered user who registered the downward platform call is acquired, the first judgment unit 143d does not perform the judgment process of whether or not an object to be avoided by the user is present in the elevator 13.

[0042] When two registered users perform a hall call registration operation for different directions, it is difficult for the first hall information acquisition unit 143b to identify from the imaging information which registered user performed the hall call registration operation corresponding to the current traveling direction of the car 13. Therefore, when the contents of the avoidance information of these two people are different, for example, when the avoidance information of one registered user is registered with the contents that allow riding with a baby, and the avoidance information of the other registered user is registered with the contents that avoid riding with a baby, the first judgment unit 143d cannot appropriately judge whether or not to allow the car 13 to pass. In such a case, the operation control unit 143e executes a normal call response process for this hall call (S9).

[0043] Furthermore, in step S5, when it is determined that the avoidance target indicated in the avoidance information acquired by the first registration information acquisition unit 143c is not present within the elevator 13 ("NO" in S5), the operation control unit 143e executes normal call response processing for this hall call (S9).

[0044] Also, in step S6, when the first judgment unit 143d judges that the predicted waiting time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value ("YES" in S6), the operation control unit 143e executes normal call response processing for this hall call (S9). By carrying out processing in this manner, it is possible to avoid a significant decrease in convenience for users.

[0045] According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible for a user who has a subject that he / she wishes to avoid riding in the elevator car to use the elevator without needing to perform any special operation when using the elevator, and to be able to reliably and easily avoid riding in the elevator with the subject. Also, by controlling in this way, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of unnecessary hall calls, and to operate the elevator efficiently.

[0046] In the above-described first embodiment, the elevator control device 14 may acquire image information captured by the hall camera device 22-1, and perform face authentication processing on the user who has performed the hall call registration operation. In this case, the elevator control device 14 stores face information of the registered user in advance.

[0047] In the above-described first embodiment, a case has been described in which the image analyzing device 23-1 analyzes the image information captured by the hall camera device 22-1 to obtain the identification information of the user who has performed the hall call registration operation, and the image analyzing device 23-1 transmits this identification information to the elevator control device 14. However, this is not limited to the above, and the elevator control device 14 may obtain the user's identification information from a user terminal carried by the user who has performed the hall call registration operation, via a short-range wireless communication device (not shown) installed on the floor where the hall call is generated.

[0048] Second Embodiment <Configuration of an elevator system using an elevator group control device according to the second embodiment> 4 is an overall diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system 2 using an elevator group control device according to this embodiment. The elevator system 2 includes a number of elevators, namely, elevator A 100A and elevator B 100B, and an elevator group control device 40 that performs group control of the elevators 100A and 100B. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the elevator group control device 40 performs group control of two elevators, but the present invention is not limited to this and may perform group control of three or more elevators.

[0049] The A-unit elevator 100A includes a hoist 11A installed at the top of a hoistway 10-2 in a building, a rope 12A stretched across the hoist 11A, a car 13A suspended from one end of the rope 12A, and an A-unit control device 14A installed at the top of the hoistway 10-2. The car 13A and the A-unit control device 14A are connected via a tail cord 15A. An in-car camera device 131A, an in-car sound collecting device 132A, and an in-car operation panel 133A are installed in the car 13A.

[0050] The B elevator 100B has a similar configuration to the A elevator 100A.

[0051] The elevator system 1 also includes a hall call registration device 21-2, a hall camera device 22-2, an image analyzer 23-2, and a wireless communication device 24-2, which are installed at the hall 20-2. The hall call registration device 21-2, the image analyzer 23-2, and the wireless communication device 24-2 are connected to the elevator group control device 40 via signal lines 25-2, 26-2, and 27-2, respectively. A pass button 28 is installed near the hall call registration device 21-2. The pass button 28 is connected to the elevator group control device 40 via a signal line 29. Although only one hall 20-2 in the building is shown in FIG. 4, halls on other floors can be configured in the same manner.

[0052] The hall camera device 22-2 photographs the hall 20-2. The image analyzer 23-2 analyzes the image information photographed by the hall camera device 22-2 to obtain identification information and facial expression information of the user who performed the hall call registration operation. The wireless communication device 24-2 wirelessly communicates with a communication device in the hall 20-2, for example, by short-range wireless communication. The pass button 28 is a button for indicating the user's intention to request that the car 13A or 13B pass through the floor of the hall 20-2.

[0053] Furthermore, the elevator system 2 is connected to a user terminal 30-2 carried by a user X2 who uses the elevator system 2 via a wireless communication device 24-1 so as to be able to wirelessly communicate with the user terminal 30-2. The user terminal 30-2 is equipped with an application AP for transmitting and receiving information to and from the elevator system 2. The user terminal 30-2 uses this application AP to perform a process of registering avoidance information of the user X2 in the elevator group control device 40 based on an operation of the user X2. Furthermore, the user terminal 30-2 outputs information transmitted from the elevator group control device 40.

[0054] The elevator group control device 40 has a hall call registration unit 41, a second registration information storage unit 42, and a second CPU 43. The hall call registration unit 41 registers hall call information based on a hall call registration operation performed by a user on the hall call registration device 21-2.

[0055] The second registered information storage unit 42 stores avoidance information indicating objects that the registered users want to avoid riding in the cars 13A and 13B as user-specific avoidance information. The second registered information storage unit 42 also stores all-user avoidance information indicating objects that the registered users want to avoid riding in the cars 13A and 13B, which is registered in advance for all users of the elevator system 2, regardless of whether they are registered users or not. The all-user avoidance information is objects that many people generally want to avoid riding in the cars, such as babies, children, and pets.

[0056] The second CPU 43 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) provided in a general-purpose microcomputer, and configures one or more information processing units described below by installing and executing a predetermined elevator control program. The second CPU 43 has a car number information acquisition unit 431, a second hall information acquisition unit 432, a second registration information acquisition unit 433, a second determination unit 434, a second waiting time calculation unit 435, an allocation control unit 436, and an operation instruction unit 437.

[0057] The elevator information acquisition unit 431 acquires operation information of the elevator A 100A from the elevator A control device 14A, and acquires operation information of the elevator B 100B from the elevator B control device 14B. The second hall information acquisition unit 432 acquires, from the image analysis device 23-1, identification information, facial expression information, and the like, of the user who performed the hall call registration operation at the hall 20-1.

[0058] The second registration information acquisition unit 433 acquires, from the second registration information storage unit 42, the avoidance information of the user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the second hall information acquisition unit 432. In addition, when the second registration information acquisition unit 433 detects that a hall call registration operation has been performed, it acquires all-user avoidance information from the second registration information storage unit 42.

[0059] The second judgment unit 434 judges, based on the information of elevator A 100A and elevator B 100B acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit 431, whether or not the object indicated in the avoidance information acquired by the second registration information acquisition unit 433 is located within elevator cars 13A, 13B.

[0060] The second waiting time calculation unit 435 calculates a predicted value of a waiting time, which is a time from when a hall call is generated until each of the cars 13A and 13B arrives at the floor where the hall call is generated and opens its door.

[0061] The allocation control unit 436 executes an allocation process to allocate an elevator to respond to a hall call registered in the hall call registration unit 41 based on the information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit 431 and the result of the judgment by the second judgment unit 434.

[0062] The operation instruction unit 437 generates notification information to be notified to the user based on the elevator information assigned by the assignment control unit 436, and transmits the notification information to the user terminal 30-2.

[0063] Operation of the elevator system according to the second embodiment The following describes the operation of the elevator system 2 according to this embodiment when a user X2 who is a registered user of the elevator system 2 uses the elevator system 2. In this embodiment, the image analysis device 23-2 holds face information of the registered user of the elevator system 2 in association with identification information of the registered user, as in the first embodiment.

[0064] The user X2 uses the application AP on the user terminal 30-2 to perform an operation to register avoidance information indicating targets that the user X2 wishes to avoid riding in the cars 13A and 13B in the elevator group control device 40. The process of registering the avoidance information is similar to the process described in the first embodiment, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0065] 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the elevator group control device 40 according to this embodiment when performing allocation processing using avoidance information of registered users. In the initial state, the allocation control unit 436 of the elevator group control device 40 is set to perform allocation processing that prioritizes service performance when a hall call is registered in the hall call registration unit 41. In other words, the allocation control unit 436 performs allocation control so as to shorten the waiting time of waiting users at the hall as much as possible.

[0066] In addition, while the elevator system 2 is operating, the hall camera device 22-2 photographs the hall 20-2, and the image analysis device 23-2 analyzes the image information photographed by the hall camera device 22-2 to monitor whether or not any user has performed a hall call registration operation.

[0067] Furthermore, the in-cab camera devices 131A and 131B capture images of the insides of the cars 13A and 13B, respectively, and transmit the captured image information to the elevator group management device 40 via the control devices 14A and 14B. Furthermore, the in-cab sound collection devices 132A and 132B collect sounds from the insides of the cars 13A and 13B, respectively, and transmit the acquired sound information to the elevator group management device 40 via the control devices 14A and 14B. In the elevator group management device 40, the car information acquisition unit 431 acquires the captured image information transmitted from the in-cab camera devices 131A and 131B and the sound information transmitted from the in-cab sound collection devices 132A and 132B.

[0068] When user X2 enters hall 20-2 and performs hall call registration operation with hall call registration device 21-2, this operation information is transmitted to elevator group control device 40. In elevator group control device 40, a hall call is registered in hall call registration unit 41 based on the hall call registration operation information transmitted from hall call registration device 21-2 ("YES" in S11).

[0069] In addition, when user X2 performs a hall call registration operation, the image analysis device 23-2 detects the presence of a user who has performed the hall call registration operation by analyzing the image information captured by the hall camera device 22-2. When the image analysis device 23-2 detects the presence of a user who has performed a hall call registration operation, it performs face authentication in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, determines that user X2 who has performed the hall call registration operation is a registered user, and transmits identification information of this user X2 to the elevator group control device 40.

[0070] In the elevator group control device 40, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 acquires the identification information of user X2 transmitted from the image analysis device 23-2 ("YES" in S12). Upon acquiring the identification information of user X2, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 recognizes that hall call registration has been performed by user X2, who is a registered user.

[0071] Here, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 judges whether or not it has acquired the identification information of two or more registered users who have registered hall calls for hall 20-2 (S13). Here, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 judges that it has acquired only the identification information of user X2, that is, only one registered user ("NO" in S13). When the second hall information acquisition unit 432 judges that it has acquired the identification information of only one registered user, it sends the identification information of user X2 to the second registration information acquisition unit 433.

[0072] The second registration information acquisition unit 433 acquires, from the second registration information storage unit 42, avoidance information of user X2 corresponding to the identification information acquired by the second landing information acquisition unit 432 (S14). Here, the second registration information acquisition unit 433 acquires, as the avoidance information of user X2, information indicating that the avoidance targets are a "crying baby" and a "small child" (regardless of their status of whether they are making noise or not).

[0073] The second judgment unit 434 judges, for each car, based on the imaging information and sound information acquired by the car information acquisition unit 431, whether or not the avoidance target indicated in the avoidance information acquired by the second registration information acquisition unit 433 is present in the cars 13A, 13B, as described in the first embodiment (S15).

[0074] The allocation control unit 436 determines whether or not there is an avoidance target for user X2 in all cars, that is, in both cars 13A and 13B, based on the determination result by the second determination unit 434 (S16). Here, if there is no avoidance target for user X2 in at least one of the cars 13A and 13B ("NO" in S16), the allocation control unit 436 obtains a predicted value of the waiting time for a car that does not have an avoidance target from the second waiting time calculation unit 435.

[0075] The allocation control unit 436 judges whether the predicted waiting times of all the cars that do not have an avoidance target are equal to or greater than a predetermined value (e.g., "1 minute") based on the information acquired from the second waiting time calculation unit 435 (S17). When the allocation control unit 436 judges that the cars that do not have an avoidance target include a car whose predicted waiting time is less than the predetermined value ("NO" in S17), the allocation control unit 436 allocates the car with the shortest waiting time among them to the hall call (S18).

[0076] In step S12, when the elevator group control device 40 does not acquire the identification information of the user X2 from the image analysis device 23-2 ("NO" in S12), the second hall information acquisition unit 432 recognizes that the hall call registration has been made by a user other than the registered user. In this case, the first determination unit 143d does not perform the process of determining whether or not the user's avoidance target exists in the car 13, and the allocation control unit 436 executes the normal allocation control, that is, the allocation process to the hall call by prioritizing the service performance (S19).

[0077] In addition, if the second hall information acquisition unit 432 determines in step S13 that it has acquired the identification information of two or more registered users who have registered hall calls ("YES" in S13), if the allocation control unit 436 determines in step S16 that there are avoidance targets for user X2 in both cars 13A and 13B ("YES" in S16), or if the allocation control unit 436 determines in step S17 that the predicted waiting times of all cars that have no avoidance targets are equal to or greater than a predetermined value ("YES" in S17), the allocation control unit 436 also performs normal allocation processing (S19).

[0078] Next, as another operation example of the elevator system 2, an operation when performing the allocation process using all-user avoidance information will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation when the elevator group control device 40 performs the allocation process using all-user avoidance information. This process may be performed in place of the normal allocation process in step S19 when the allocation process is performed using the avoidance information of registered users as described above.

[0079] When a user X3 who is not registered in the elevator group control device 40 enters and performs a hall call registration operation in the hall call registration device 21-2, a hall call is registered in the hall call registration unit 41 based on this operation ("YES" in S21).

[0080] In addition, when user X3 performs a hall call registration operation, the image analysis device 23-2 detects the presence of a user who has performed a hall call registration operation by analyzing the image information captured by the hall camera device 22-2. When the image analysis device 23-2 detects the presence of a user who has performed a hall call registration operation, the image analysis device 23-2 notifies the elevator group control device 40 that there is a user who has performed a hall call registration operation, regardless of whether the user is a registered user or not.

[0081] In the elevator group control device 40, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 acquires the notification transmitted from the image analysis device 23-2 and sends it to the second registration information acquisition unit 433. The second registration information acquisition unit 433 acquires all-user avoidance information from the second registration information storage unit 42 based on the acquired notification.

[0082] The second judgment unit 434 judges, based on the imaging information and sound information acquired by the car information acquisition unit 431, whether or not an avoidance target registered as all-user avoidance information is present in car 13A or 13B for each car (S22).

[0083] The allocation control unit 436 judges whether or not the avoidance target for all users exists in the elevator car assigned to this hall call by normal allocation control based on the judgment result by the second judgment unit 434 (S23). If the avoidance target exists in the elevator car assigned to this hall call ("YES" in S23), the allocation control unit 436 further judges whether or not the avoidance target for all users exists in the cars of all cars, that is, in both cars 13A and 13B (S24).

[0084] Here, when the allocation control unit 436 determines that there is no avoidance target for all users in at least one of the cars 13A and 13B ("NO" in S24), it obtains from the second waiting time calculation unit 435 the estimated waiting time of user X3 when the elevator car assigned to this hall call by normal allocation control passes through the occurrence floor of the hall call registration.

[0085] The operation instruction unit 437 outputs announcement information from a speaker device (not shown) installed at the platform 20-1 to inform the passenger that the car in which the avoidance target is located is scheduled to arrive and to notify the passenger of the expected waiting time if the pass button 28 is operated (S25).

[0086] When user X3 presses the pass button 28 due to the output of the announcement information, information on this pressing operation is transmitted to the elevator group control device 40. In the elevator group control device 40, the allocation control unit 436 acquires the operation information on the pass button 28.

[0087] When the allocation control unit 436 obtains the operation information of the pass button 28 ("YES" in S26), it detects that user X3 has indicated an intention to pass through the elevator to avoid riding with an avoidance target, and allocates to the hall call the car with the shortest waiting time among the cars that do not have an avoidance target for all users (S27).

[0088] In step S23, if the allocation control unit 436 determines that there are no avoidance targets for all users in the elevator cars assigned to this hall call by normal allocation control ("NO" in S23), if it determines in step S24 that there are avoidance targets for all users in the cars of all elevators ("YES" in S24), or if in step S26 operation information of the pass button 28 is not obtained within a predetermined time ("NO" in S26), the allocation control unit 436 executes normal allocation processing (S28).

[0089] The allocation process using the avoidance information of registered users and the allocation process using the all-user avoidance information described above may be executed simultaneously, or the allocation process using the all-user avoidance information may be executed only when no hall calls by registered users are registered.

[0090] According to the second embodiment described above, when a user who wishes to avoid riding in an elevator car with a person uses one of a plurality of elevators, the elevator group management can be performed so that the user can use the elevator without being in the elevator car with the person without any special operation and without having to reliably and easily avoid being in the elevator car with the person. Furthermore, by controlling in this manner, the generation of unnecessary hall calls can be reduced, and the group management of a plurality of elevators can be performed efficiently. Furthermore, for a person who is generally desired to be avoided from riding in the elevator car with a person, even a user who is not preregistered in the elevator group management device 40 can be allowed to choose whether or not to ride in the elevator car with the person.

[0091] In the above-described second embodiment, the elevator group control device 40 may acquire image information captured by the hall camera device 22-2, and perform face recognition processing on the user who has performed the hall call registration operation. In this case, the elevator group control device 40 stores face information of the registered user in advance.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above-described second embodiment, when the elevator group control device 40 recognizes that a user who has registered a hall call is in a hurry, the elevator group control device 40 may shorten the opening and closing time of the car doors at the hall where the user is present.

[0093] In this case, the second hall information acquisition unit 432 acquires, from the image analysis device 23-2, facial expression information indicating the facial expression of the user who performed the hall call registration operation, and waiting user presence information indicating the presence or absence of waiting users other than the user who performed the hall call registration operation at the hall where the hall call registration operation was performed. In addition, the elevator information acquisition unit 431 acquires car call information registered in each of the multiple elevators.

[0094] Then, the operation instruction unit 437 recognizes that the user who has registered the hall call is in a hurry based on the facial expression information acquired by the second hall information acquisition unit 432, and determines that there are no waiting users at the hall other than the user who has registered the hall call based on the waiting user presence information, and when the car number information acquisition unit 431 determines that no car call has been registered in the elevator assigned to the hall call with the floor where the hall call occurred as a destination floor, it shortens the car door opening time when the car of the assigned elevator arrives at the floor where the hall call occurred.

[0095] By carrying out the processing in this manner, the elevator can be operated so that passengers who are in a hurry can move between floors in as short a time as possible.

[0096] In the above-described second embodiment, a case has been described in which the image analyzing device 23-2 analyzes the image information captured by the hall camera device 22-2 to obtain the identification information of the user who has performed the hall call registration operation, and the image analyzing device 23-2 transmits this identification information to the elevator group control device 40. However, this is not limited to the above, and the elevator group control device 40 may obtain the user's identification information from a user terminal carried by the user who has performed the hall call registration operation, via a short-range wireless communication device (not shown) installed on the floor where the hall call is generated.

[0097] In the second embodiment described above, the hall call registration device 21-2 may be configured as a hall destination floor registration device in which a user specifies a destination floor and performs a hall call registration operation. In this case, even if the second determination unit 434 of the elevator group management device 40 acquires the identification information of two or more registered users, it can determine the destination direction of each user from the operation information of the hall destination floor registration device and the analysis information of the image information by the image analysis device 23-2. Therefore, based on the destination direction determined for each user who performed the hall call registration operation, the allocation control unit 436 assigns elevators other than the elevators in which it is determined that each avoidance target is in the car as elevators that respond to the corresponding hall call. This allows allocation control to be performed so that each user avoids riding with each avoidance target.

[0098] Also, the hall call registration device 21-2 may be configured as a hall destination floor registration device, and when a user uses an elevator, the user may hold a user terminal or the like held by the user over the hall destination floor registration device to transmit destination floor information stored in the user terminal to the elevator group control device 40 and register a hall call. In this case, information on avoidance targets that the user wants to avoid riding with may be stored in advance in the user terminal, and when the user holds the terminal over the hall destination floor registration device, the information on the avoidance targets may also be transmitted to the elevator group control device.

[0099] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] Reference Signs List 1, 2... elevator system, 10-1, 10-2... elevator shaft, 11, 11A, 11B... hoist, 12, 12A, 12B... rope, 14, 14A, 14B... elevator control device, 15, 15A, 15B... tail cord, 20-1, 20-2... landing, 21-1, 21-2... landing call registration device, 22-1, 22-2... landing camera device , 23-1, 23-2... image analysis devices, 24-1, 24-2... wireless communication devices, 25-1, 25-2, 26-1, 26-2, 27-1, 27-2, 29... signal lines, 28... passing buttons, 30-1, 30-2... user terminals, 31 to 34... selection areas, 40... elevator group control device, 41... hall call registration unit, 42... second registration information storage unit, 43... 2nd CPU, 100A... Elevator A, 100B... Elevator B, 131, 131A, 131B... Camera device in car, 132, 132A, 132B... Sound collecting device in car, 133, 133A, 133B... Operation panel in car, 141... Call registration unit, 142... First registration information storage unit, 143... 1st CPU, 143a... Car information acquisition unit, 1 43b...first hall information acquisition unit, 143c...first registration information acquisition unit, 143d...first judgment unit, 143e...operation control unit, 143f...first waiting time calculation unit, 431...unit number information acquisition unit, 432...second hall information acquisition unit, 433...second registration information acquisition unit, 434...second judgment unit, 435...second waiting time calculation unit, 436...allocation control unit, 437...operation instruction unit

Claims

1. Group management of multiple elevators, A registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information indicating a target that a user wants to avoid riding in a car, which is registered in advance for each user, as user-specific avoidance information; a car information acquisition unit that acquires car interior information indicating a status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators; a hall information acquiring unit that acquires, when a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call; a registration information acquisition unit that acquires, from the registration information storage unit, avoidance information of a user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not an object indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is inside a car based on the car in-information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit; and an allocation control unit that allocates an elevator other than the elevator in which the determination unit has determined that the object is in a car as an elevator that will respond to the hall call, The elevator information acquisition unit is an elevator group management device that acquires, as in-cab information for each of the plurality of elevators, image information obtained by photographing the inside of each car and sound information obtained by collecting sound inside each car.

2. Group management of multiple elevators, A registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information indicating a target that a user wants to avoid riding in a car, which is registered in advance for each user, as user-specific avoidance information; a car information acquisition unit that acquires car interior information indicating a status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators; a hall information acquiring unit that acquires, when a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call; a registration information acquisition unit that acquires, from the registration information storage unit, avoidance information of a user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not an object indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is inside a car based on the car in-information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit; and an allocation control unit that allocates an elevator other than the elevator in which the determination unit has determined that the object is in a car as an elevator that will respond to the hall call, The platform information acquisition unit acquires facial expression information indicating an expression of the user who performed the platform call registration operation, and waiting user presence / absence information indicating the presence or absence of waiting users other than the user who performed the platform call registration operation at the platform where the platform call registration operation was performed, The elevator information acquisition unit acquires information of car calls registered in a plurality of elevators, an operation instruction unit that recognizes that the user who registered the hall call is in a hurry based on the facial expression information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit, determines that there are no waiting users at the hall other than the user who registered the hall call based on the waiting user presence information, and when the car number information acquisition unit determines that no car call has been registered in an elevator assigned to the hall call with the floor where the hall call occurred as a destination floor, shortens the door-opening time of the car of the assigned elevator when the car of the assigned elevator arrives at the floor where the hall call occurred.

3. Group management of multiple elevators, A registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information indicating a target that a user wants to avoid riding in a car, which is registered in advance for each user, as user-specific avoidance information; a car information acquisition unit that acquires car interior information indicating a status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators; a hall information acquiring unit that acquires, when a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call; a registration information acquisition unit that acquires, from the registration information storage unit, avoidance information of a user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not an object indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is inside a car based on the car in-information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit; and an allocation control unit that allocates an elevator other than the elevator in which the determination unit has determined that the object is in a car as an elevator that will respond to the hall call, The registration information storage unit further stores all-user avoidance information indicating targets to be avoided from riding in the elevator car, the all-user avoidance information being registered in advance for all users of the plurality of elevators, The determination unit determines whether or not a target indicated by the all-user avoidance information is present in an elevator car assigned to the hall call by the assignment control unit, based on the car in-car information acquired by the car number information acquisition unit; The allocation control unit, when the determination unit determines that the elevator car assigned to the hall call contains a target indicated in the all-user avoidance information, detects that the user who registered the hall call recognizes the determination result and performs an operation indicating an intention to avoid riding in the hall call, and changes the elevator that responds to the hall call.

4. Group management of multiple elevators, A registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information indicating a target that a user wants to avoid riding in a car, which is registered in advance for each user, as user-specific avoidance information; a car information acquisition unit that acquires car interior information indicating a status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators; a hall information acquiring unit that acquires, when a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call; a registration information acquisition unit that acquires, from the registration information storage unit, avoidance information of a user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not an object indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is inside a car based on the car in-information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit; and an allocation control unit that allocates an elevator other than the elevator in which the determination unit has determined that the object is in a car as an elevator that will respond to the hall call, The elevator group management device, in which, when there are multiple users who have performed the hall call registration operation at the floor where the hall call is generated, the determination unit does not perform a determination as to whether or not the target indicated in the user-specific avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is within a car.

5. Group management of multiple elevators, A registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information indicating a target that a user wants to avoid riding in a car, which is registered in advance for each user, as user-specific avoidance information; a car information acquisition unit that acquires car interior information indicating a status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators; a hall information acquiring unit that acquires, when a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call; a registration information acquisition unit that acquires, from the registration information storage unit, avoidance information of a user corresponding to the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not an object indicated by the avoidance information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is inside a car based on the car in-information acquired by the elevator information acquisition unit; and an allocation control unit that allocates an elevator other than the elevator in which the determination unit has determined that the object is in a car as an elevator that will respond to the hall call, The hall call is registered together with information on an operation for designating a destination floor performed by a user at a hall destination floor registration device, The determination unit determines a destination direction for each user who has performed the hall call registration operation from information on an operation performed by the hall destination floor registration device and the identification information acquired by the hall information acquisition unit, The allocation control unit assigns, for each user who has performed the hall call registration operation, elevators other than the elevators determined to have the respective avoidance targets in their cages as elevators that will respond to the corresponding hall calls based on the destination direction determined by the determination unit.

6. The registration information storage unit stores information on an avoidance target in a predetermined status as information on an avoidance target for each user of the plurality of elevators, The registration information acquisition unit acquires, from the registration information storage unit, information on an avoidance target that is in a predetermined status and corresponds to the identification information of the user acquired by the hall information acquisition unit, the determination unit determines, for each of the plurality of elevator cars, whether or not an avoidance target having a predetermined status corresponding to the information acquired by the registration information acquisition unit is present in the car based on the car in-information acquired by the car number information acquisition unit; The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the allocation control unit allocates elevators other than an elevator in which the determination unit has determined that an avoidance target in a predetermined status is present in a car, as an elevator to respond to the hall call.

7. A waiting time calculation unit is further provided for calculating a predicted value of a waiting time from when a hall call is generated until the elevator car arrives at the floor where the hall call is generated and the door opens, for each of the plurality of elevators, The elevator group management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the allocation control unit performs allocation control to allocate, as the elevator responding to the hall call, an elevator having the shortest waiting time among elevators whose predicted waiting time values ​​calculated by the waiting time calculation unit are less than a predetermined value.

8. The elevator group control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hall information acquisition unit acquires identification information of the user who performed the hall call registration operation based on information obtained by analyzing image information obtained by photographing the floor where the hall call is generated, or acquires identification information of the user from a user terminal carried by the user who performed the hall call registration operation, via a short-range wireless communication device installed on the floor where the hall call is generated.

9. Group management of multiple elevators, an elevator group control device including a registration information storage unit that stores avoidance information, which is registered in advance for each user and indicates a target that the user wishes to avoid riding in a car with, as user-specific avoidance information; When a hall call of the plurality of elevators is registered, identification information of a user who has performed an operation to register the hall call is acquired, and avoidance information of the user corresponding to the acquired identification information is acquired from the registration information storage unit, acquiring image information of the interior of each car and sound information of the interior of each car as car interior information indicating the status inside the car for each of the plurality of elevators, and determining, based on the acquired car interior information, for each of the plurality of elevators, whether or not the object indicated by the acquired avoidance information is inside the car; The elevator group management method assigns elevators other than the elevator in which it is determined that the target is in a car as elevators that will respond to the hall call.

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