Lift System

Abstract

To provide an elevator system capable of reducing the burden on workers involved in registering communication formats, etc. required for communication processing with a robot.SOLUTION: An elevator system according to an embodiment includes storage means, communication function determination means, and registration control means. The storage means stores a plurality of pieces of communication function information corresponding to a plurality of robot models that can use the elevator. When the communication function determination means receives a signal to use the elevator from any robot, it determines whether or not communication function information corresponding to the robot model is registered in the storage means. Depending on the result of the determination by the communication function determination means, the registration control means obtains communication function information corresponding to the robot model from the server, and registers the communication function information in the storage means as communication function information for a robot that can use the elevator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an elevator system that controls the operation of an elevator such as an elevator or an escalator. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, various types of robots (autonomous robots), such as transport robots and security robots, have come to be used in buildings such as hotels, hospitals, and offices. These robots can move autonomously between floors using the elevators and escalators installed in the building.

[0003] For example, if a robot uses an elevator, the elevator's control device needs a communication processing function (communication format) to interpret the communication message of the call signal sent from the robot. With existing robots, the elevator is equipped with a communication format compatible with the robot. Therefore, the call signal sent from the robot at the landing of any floor can be correctly interpreted, and the robot can be loaded into the elevator car and transported to the destination floor.

[0004] However, in the case of a new robot, the elevator control device does not have a communication format compatible with the new robot, and therefore cannot perform normal communication processing. In this case, even if the new robot can communicate with the new robot, the communication message cannot be interpreted correctly, which may lead to malfunctions such as going to the wrong destination floor. Therefore, when using a new robot in a building, a worker usually goes to the site and registers the communication format of the new robot in the elevator control device in advance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-19590 [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-144983 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, when using a new robot in a building, workers had to register the communication format for the new robot in advance, which was a burden on the workers. Furthermore, if there was any information required for communication processing other than the communication format, the workers had to be involved in registering that information, which was also a burden.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator system capable of reducing the burden on workers involved in registering communication formats and the like required for communication processing with a robot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An elevator system according to one embodiment includes a server in which a plurality of pieces of communication function information necessary for normal communication with a plurality of robot models are registered in advance, and a control device communicatively connected to the server via a communication network and controlling operation of an elevator in a building. The control device includes a storage means, a communication function determination means, and a registration control means. The storage means stores a plurality of pieces of communication function information corresponding to a plurality of robot models that can use the elevator. When the communication function determination means receives a signal from a robot to use the elevator, the communication function determination means determines whether or not communication function information corresponding to the robot model is registered in the storage means. Depending on a result of the determination by the communication function determination means, the registration control means obtains communication function information corresponding to the robot model from the server, and registers it in the storage means as communication function information of a robot that can use the elevator. The communication capability information includes at least a communication format required to interpret the robot's signals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a robot according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a communication function table in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a robot table in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for acquiring communication function information from a server in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a case where a plurality of robots in the embodiment arrive at a hall. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for deleting a communication format of a robot that is used less frequently in the first modification. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an elevator system having a plurality of banks as the second modification. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process for transferring a communication format according to the second modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the disclosure is merely an example, and the invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Modifications that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive are naturally included in the scope of the disclosure. In order to make the explanation clearer, the size, shape, etc. of each part may be changed from the actual embodiment and shown diagrammatically. In multiple drawings, corresponding elements may be given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations may be omitted.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system according to one embodiment, in which an autonomous robot, a server, and an elevator control device are communicatively connected to each other.

[0012] The car 11 moves up and down in the elevator shaft by driving a hoist (not shown) under the control of the elevator control device 20. A hall call button 13 is provided at the landing 12 of each floor. The hall call button 13 is a button that allows users to register a hall call. Note that a "hall call" is a call signal registered by operating the hall call button 13 provided at the landing of each floor, and includes information on the registered floor and destination direction. In contrast, a "car call" is a call signal registered by operating a destination call button (not shown) provided in the car 11, and includes information on the destination floor.

[0013] The robots 14a, 14b, and 14c are autonomous robots that can travel between floors by wirelessly communicating with an elevator control device 20 in a building via the network 10 while riding in the car 11. The robots 14a to 14c include, for example, a baggage transport robot, a security robot, a cleaning robot, and an inspection robot. In the following description, the robots 14a to 14c will be referred to as the robot 14 unless otherwise specified. When the robot 14 travels to each floor using the car 11, the robot 14 transmits a signal to the elevator control device 20 to use the elevator.

[0014] The "signal for using an elevator" is, for example, a signal sent to an elevator control device when a robot gets into a car, that is, a destination call signal indicating the departure floor and the destination floor. The destination call signal includes identification information for identifying the robot and type information indicating the type of robot (manufacturer, model). In addition, it may include a signal sent to the elevator control device with identification information and type information attached as an initial signal, for example, when a robot is first introduced into a building.

[0015] The elevator control device 20 is made up of a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., and controls the entire elevator. In this embodiment, the elevator control device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, an operation control unit 23, and a robot management unit 24. The communication unit 21 controls data communication between the robot 14 and the server 30 via the network 10.

[0016] The memory unit 22 stores hall calls registered by operating hall call buttons 13 installed at the halls of each floor, and car calls registered by operating car call buttons (not shown) installed in the car 11. The memory unit 22 also has a communication function table 22a and a robot table 22b.

[0017] In the communication function table 22a, communication function information required for normal communication with the robot 14 is registered in association with the identification information and type information of the robot 14. The communication function information includes at least a communication format required for interpreting signals from the robot 14. When communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a, the elevator can be used correctly. In the robot table 22b, information (start floor and destination floor, identification information, type information) included in the destination call signal transmitted from the robot 14 is stored.

[0018] The operation control unit 23 performs operation control such as moving the elevator car 11 to each floor based on calls of general users (hall calls, car calls) stored in the memory unit 22 and destination calls of the robot 14 stored in the robot table 22b of the memory unit 22.

[0019] The robot management unit 24 includes a communication function determination unit 24a and a registration control unit 24b. When the communication function determination unit 24a receives a signal from the robot 14 to use an elevator, the communication function determination unit 24a determines whether or not communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a. Specifically, the communication function determination unit 24a identifies the model of the robot 14 from type information included in the signal to use the elevator, and searches the communication function table 22a based on the model information to determine whether or not communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is present.

[0020] The registration control unit 24b acquires communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot 14 from the server 30 in accordance with the judgment result of the communication function judgment unit 24a, and registers this communication function information in the communication function table 22a as communication function information of "robots that can use elevators."

[0021] A "robot capable of using an elevator" is a robot that is compatible with the elevator control device 20, that is, a robot in which the elevator control device 20 is equipped with appropriate communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot, and which can use this communication function information to perform normal communication processing with the elevator control device 20 and move correctly to each floor.

[0022] The server 30 is a computer that manages information (communication function information) relating to various robots, and is installed at an arbitrary location independent of the elevator control device 20. The server 30 is communicably connected to the elevator control device 20 via the network 10, and includes a communication function table 30a. In the communication function table 30a, a plurality of pieces of communication function information required for normal communication with each of a plurality of robots 14 of different models are registered.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the robot 14. The robot 14 is equipped with a control unit 41, a sensor 42, a communication device 43, an operation unit 44, a display unit 45, a storage unit 46, a drive unit 47, etc. However, the configuration of the robot 14 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 as long as it has a communication device 43 that can be connected to the network 10.

[0024] The control unit 41 is composed of a CPU, and by starting a predetermined program, performs control for autonomous movement within a predetermined area including each floor of a building in cooperation with the elevator system. The sensor 42 is, for example, a laser range finder, an ultrasonic range sensor, a dual camera, a LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), etc. The robot 14 moves while avoiding obstacles using the sensor 42, detects an empty space in the car 11, and gets on.

[0025] The communication device 43 wirelessly communicates with the elevator control device 20 via the network 10. The operation unit 44 is a section for performing input operations of various data, such as inputting a destination. The display unit 45 displays various data. The memory unit 46 stores programs required for controlling the robot 14, as well as map information including the movement route of the robot 14. The memory unit 46 may further store type information indicating the type of the robot 14 (i.e., type information indicating the type of the robot's own model), etc. The drive unit 47 includes a motor for driving wheels installed at the bottom of the robot 14, etc.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the communication function table 22a provided in the elevator control device 20. As shown in FIG. In the communication function table 22a, communication function information (including communication format) of the robot 14 and type information (manufacturer, model) of the robot 14 are registered in association with each other.

[0027] In the example of Fig. 3, manufacturer: Company A, model: A-01, and communication function information: FA01 are registered in the communication function table 22a. This means that the communication function information corresponding to the robot manufactured by manufacturer Company A as model A-01 is FA01. The same is true for the communication function information with FA02 to FC01 below, and each of the information on the manufacturer and robot model is associated with the corresponding communication function information and registered in the communication function table 22a.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the robot table 22b provided in the elevator control device 20. As shown in FIG. The robot table 22b stores information included in a destination call signal transmitted from the robot 14. The destination call signal includes the departure floor and destination floor of the robot 14, identification information (robot ID), and type information (manufacturer, model). In the example of FIG. 4, robot ID: ID01, manufacturer: Company A, model: A-01, departure floor: 1F, destination floor: 5F are stored in the robot table 22b. This means that the robot 14 manufactured by manufacturer Company A as the A-01 model and given ID01 as the robot ID has a departure floor of 1F and a destination floor of 5F. The same is true for the robots 14 given ID02 to 05, and the information on the departure floor and destination floor, and the information on the manufacturer and model of the robot are associated with the robot ID and stored in the robot table 22b.

[0029] Next, the operation of this system will be described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of this system. The process shown in this flowchart is mainly executed by the elevator control device 20, which is a computer. In the following, we will assume that a "destination call signal" is sent from the robot to the elevator control device 20 as a signal to use the elevator. In addition, we will explain the communication function information by taking "communication format" as an example.

[0030] When the elevator control device 20 receives a destination call signal from the robot 14 via the network 10 (step S11), it executes a process for determining through the robot management unit 24 whether or not the robot 14 is a robot that can use the elevator.

[0031] First, the communication function determination unit 24a of the robot management unit 24 reads out type information of the robot 14 contained in the destination call signal received from the robot 14 (step S12). The communication function determination unit 24a searches the communication function table 22a based on this type information, and determines whether or not a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a (step S13).

[0032] If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 22a (Yes in step S13), the communication function determination unit 24a determines that the robot 14 is a "robot that can use an elevator." In this case, the communication function determination unit 24a communicates with the robot 14 using the communication format registered in the communication function table 22a, interprets information included in the destination call signal transmitted from the robot 14, and stores the information in the robot table 22b (step S14).

[0033] Thereafter, the operation control unit 23 provided in the elevator control device 20 controls the operation of the car 11 based on the information on the departure floor and destination floor contained in the destination call signal stored in the robot table 22b, and loads the robot 14 into the car 11 and moves it (step S15).

[0034] On the other hand, if a communication format compatible with the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the communication function table 22a (No in step S13), the communication function determination unit 24a determines that the robot 14 is currently a robot that cannot use elevators (a non-compatible robot). In this case, the communication function determination unit 24a transmits type information of the robot 14 to the server 30 via the communication unit 21 and requests a communication format compatible with the model of the robot 14 (step S16).

[0035] On the server 30 side, when a request for a communication format is received from the elevator control device 20, it determines whether or not a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 30a based on the type information of the robot 14 sent together with the request. If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the communication function table 30a, the server 30 reads out the communication format from the communication function table 30a and transmits it to the elevator control device 20 that is the request destination.

[0036] On the other hand, if a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the communication function table 30a, the server 30 transmits a signal to the requesting elevator control device 20 indicating that the communication format is not registered. At this time, the server 30 may record type information indicating the model of the robot 14 for which a communication format is not registered (i.e., type information indicating the model of the incompatible robot) in an incompatible robot table (not shown). In this way, the administrator of the server 30 can confirm the presence of an incompatible robot by referring to the incompatible robot table, and can take measures such as creating (arranging) a communication format corresponding to the incompatible robot.

[0037] The registration control unit 24b judges whether or not the communication format has been acquired from the server 30 (step S17). If the communication format has been acquired (Yes in step S17), the registration control unit 24b associates the communication format with the type information of the robot 14 and registers it in the communication function table 22a (step S18). After the process of step S18, the process of S14 is executed.

[0038] Here, if the communication format is not registered in the communication function table 30a of the server 30, that is, if the communication format cannot be acquired from the server 30 (No in step S17), the registration control unit 24b records the type information of the robot 14 in the storage unit 22 as an incompatible robot (step S19). This allows, for example, a worker to confirm the presence of an incompatible robot from the contents recorded in the storage unit 22 during inspection, and can take measures such as arranging for a communication format required to communicate with this incompatible robot.

[0039] In the case of an incompatible robot, that is, even if the elevator control device 20 does not have a communication format compatible with the incompatible robot, communication may still be possible. However, there is a possibility that the signal transmitted from the incompatible robot cannot be correctly interpreted, causing the car 11 to malfunction. Therefore, when the robot 14 is recorded as an incompatible robot, it is desirable to set the communication unit 21 to prohibit communication with this robot 14.

[0040] 6 is a diagram for explaining the movement of an elevator when multiple robots arrive at a landing. In this example, a case is shown in which three robots 14a, 14b, and 14c are present at the landing. The communication format corresponding to the robot 14a is registered in the elevator control device 20, and the communication formats corresponding to the robots 14b and 14c are not registered in the elevator control device 20. Also, the communication formats corresponding to the robots 14a and 14b are registered in the server 30, but the communication format corresponding to the robot 14c is not registered.

[0041] First, consider the case where the robot 14a transmits a destination call signal to the elevator control device 20. The elevator control device 20 correctly interprets the destination call signal because a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14a is registered in the elevator control device 20. The car 11 is controlled based on the departure floor and destination floor included in the destination call signal, and the robot 14a gets on the car 11 and moves.

[0042] Next, consider the case where the robot 14b transmits a destination call signal to the elevator control device 20. Since the elevator control device 20 does not have a registered communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14b, the type information of the robot 14b contained in the destination call signal is transmitted to the server 30, which requests a communication format. In this example, since the server 30 has registered a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14b, the communication format is transmitted to the elevator control device 20, which is the request destination. This communication format allows the destination call signal of the robot 14b to be correctly interpreted, and the robot 14b can board the car 11 and move to the desired floor.

[0043] Also, consider the case where the robot 14c transmits a destination call signal to the elevator control device 20. As with the robot 14b, the elevator control device 20 does not have a registered communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14c, so the type information of the robot 14c included in the destination call signal is transmitted to the server 30, which requests the communication format. Here, the server 30 does not have a registered communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14c, so a signal indicating that the communication format is not registered is transmitted to the elevator control device 20, which is the request destination. As a result, the elevator control device 20 records the robot 14c as an incompatible robot, and prohibits communication with the robot 14c (prohibits use of the elevator) until a communication format corresponding to the robot 14c is registered.

[0044] Thus, according to this embodiment, if the communication format corresponding to the robot 14 is not registered in the elevator control device 20, the elevator control device 20 can immediately obtain it from the server 30, and can immediately perform normal communication processing with the robot 14, correctly interpret the signal from the robot 14, and move the robot 14 to its destination floor.

[0045] In addition, when a robot 14 that cannot communicate normally with the elevator control device 20 uses an elevator, there is no need for an operator to go to the site and register the communication format of the robot 14, reducing the burden of the operator's registration work. In addition, while it was previously necessary for an operator to stop the elevator's operation when performing registration work, according to this system, the necessary communication format can be instantly obtained from the server 30 without the intervention of an operator and easily registered, so there is no need to stop the elevator's operation.

[0046] In the example of FIG. 5, the communication format is used as an example of the communication function information. However, the same applies to information other than the communication format, and can be acquired from the server 30 as appropriate.

[0047] (Modification) The communication function information will be described by taking a communication format as an example. (1) Handling of infrequently used robot communication formats For example, it is conceivable that the robot 14 uses the elevator (car 11) to go to a destination floor, completes some work, and then uses the elevator again to move. If the communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is deleted immediately after the robot 14 uses the elevator once, a process for acquiring the same communication format from the server 30 will be required when the robot 14 uses the elevator again. Therefore, when the communication format of the robot 14 is acquired from the server 30, it is desirable to hold the communication format for a certain period of time. However, considering the capacity of the storage unit 22, it is desirable to delete the communication format of a robot that is used infrequently.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process of determining a robot that uses an elevator infrequently and deleting a communication format corresponding to the model of that robot as Modification 1. It is assumed that a communication format corresponding to each model of the robots 14a, 14b, and 14c is registered in the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22.

[0049] The registration control unit 24b provided in the elevator control device 20 periodically detects the number of registered calls for each of the robots 14a, 14b, and 14c from the robot table 22b (step S21). If any of the robots 14a, 14b, and 14c has a number of registered calls less than a certain value (e.g., 2 times) during a certain period (e.g., one month) (Yes in step S22), the registration control unit 24b determines that the robot is a robot that is used infrequently (step S23). The registration control unit 24b deletes the communication format corresponding to the model of this robot from the communication function table 22a (step S24).

[0050] For example, if the number of registered calls for the robot 14c is below a certain value and the robot is determined to be an infrequently used robot, the communication format of the robot 14c is deleted from the communication function table 22a. If the robot 14c uses the elevator again at a later time, the elevator control device 20 executes the process of Fig. 5 again to obtain the communication format of the robot 14c from the server 30 and registers the communication format in the communication function table 22a again.

[0051] As described above, communication formats corresponding to robot models that are used infrequently are periodically deleted from the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22. This prevents the capacity of the storage unit 22 from being wasted by infrequently used robots, and when a new robot arrives, the communication format of that robot can be registered in the storage unit 22.

[0052] 5, the elevator control device 20 can instantly obtain a communication format from the server 30, and can immediately respond and perform normal communication processing with a robot corresponding to a communication format once deleted from the communication function table 22a of the storage unit 22 when the robot uses the elevator again. Although the above embodiment has been described in detail using the elevator control device 20, in the case of one bank having multiple elevator numbers, the group management control device may have the functions of the elevator control device 20.

[0053] (2) When it is divided into multiple banks In an elevator system divided into multiple banks, a group management control device is provided for each bank, and each bank controls the operation of multiple elevators (cars). For example, if a robot moves from bank A to bank B, and the group management control device for bank B does not have a communication format compatible with the model of the robot, it must access a server to obtain the communication format, so it is more efficient to obtain the communication format from bank A.

[0054] 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of an elevator system having multiple banks in a building. In this example, the elevator system is divided into bank A and bank B, and a group management control device 51 of bank A and a group management control device 61 of bank B are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0055] The group management control device 51 of bank A is further equipped with a transfer control unit 25a in addition to the functional configuration of the elevator control device shown in Fig. 1. When the transfer control unit 25a receives a request signal for a communication format from the group management control device 61 of another bank, bank B, if the communication format is registered in the group management control device 51, it transfers the communication format to the group management control device 61 of the request destination.

[0056] The elevator control device 52a of the bank A controls the operation of the car 53a. The elevator control devices 52b and 52c of the bank A control the operation of the car 53a in the same manner. Each of the elevator control devices 52a to 52c of the bank A is made up of a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

[0057] The group management control device 61 of bank B is also provided with a transfer control unit 25b, like the group management control device 51 of bank A. When the transfer control unit 25b receives a request signal for a communication format from the group management control device 51 of another bank, bank A, if the communication format is registered in the group management control device 61, it transfers the communication format to the group management control device 51 of the request destination.

[0058] The elevator control device 62a of bank B controls the operation of the car 63a. The elevator control device 62b and elevator control device 62c of bank B control the operation of the car 63a in the same manner. Each of the elevator control devices 62a to 62c of bank B is formed by a computer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

[0059] In the example of FIG. 8, the group management control device 51 and the elevator control devices 52a to 52c of the A bank are independent, but the group management control device 51 and the elevator control devices 52a to 52c may be configured as one control device (referred to as the control device 50), and the control device 50 may control the operation of the multiple cars 53a to 53c in the A bank. Similarly, the group management control device 61 and the elevator control devices 62a to 62c may be configured as one control device (referred to as the control device 60), and the control device 60 may control the operation of the multiple cars 63a to 63c in the B bank. In this case, the control device 50 of the A bank and the control device 60 of the B bank are connected to be able to communicate with each other. The control device 50 transfers a communication format to the control device 60 in response to a request from the control device 60, and the control device 60 transfers a communication format to the control device 50 in response to a request from the control device 50.

[0060] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process for transferring a communication format according to the second modification. Now, suppose that the robot 14, having used an elevator (any of the cars 53a to 53c) in bank A, moves to bank B and then transmits a destination call signal to use an elevator (any of the cars 63a to 63) in bank B. Assume that a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered in the group management control device 51 in bank A, but a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is not registered in the group management control device 61 in bank B.

[0061] First, when the group management control device 61 of bank B receives a destination call signal from the robot 14 (step S31), it reads out the type information of the robot 14 contained in the destination call signal (step S32). Based on this type information, the group management control device 61 determines whether or not a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered (step S33).

[0062] If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 is registered (Yes in step S33), the group management control device 61 determines the robot 14 as a "robot that can use the elevator", communicates with the robot 14 using the communication format of the robot 14, and stores the departure floor and destination floor information contained in the destination call signal sent from the robot 14 (step S34).

[0063] Thereafter, the group management control device 61 determines an optimal car from among the cars 63a to 63c as an assigned car based on the information on the departure floor and the destination floor, and places the robot 14 in the assigned car and moves it (step S35).

[0064] On the other hand, if a communication format corresponding to the model of robot 14 is not registered (No in step S33), the group management control device 61 of bank B sends type information of robot 14 to the group management control device 51 of bank A via the transfer control unit 25b and requests a communication format corresponding to the model of robot 14 (step S36).

[0065] On the group management control device 51 of bank A, when a request for a communication format is received from the group management control device 61, it determines whether or not a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 has been registered based on the type information of the robot 14 sent along with the request. If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 has been registered, the transfer control unit 25a of the group management control device 51 transmits the communication format to the group management control device 61 of bank B. If a communication format corresponding to the model of the robot 14 has not been registered, the transfer control unit 25a transmits a signal to the group management control device 61 to the effect that the communication format has not been registered.

[0066] If the communication format is not registered in the group management control device 51 of Bank A, that is, if the group management control device 61 of Bank B is unable to obtain the communication format from the group management control device 51 of Bank A, the group management control device 61 of Bank B will perform the process of obtaining the communication format from the server 30 (the process from step S16 onwards in Figure 5) as described in the above embodiment.

[0067] The group management control device 61 of bank B determines whether or not it has acquired the communication format from the group management control device 51 of bank A (step S37). If it has acquired the communication format (Yes in step S37), the group management control device 61 registers the communication format in association with the type information of the robot 14 (step S38). Thereafter, the group management control device 61 communicates with the robot 14 using the registered communication format (step S34), and moves the robot 14 in the assigned cage (step S35).

[0068] If the communication format cannot be acquired from the group management control device 51 of bank A (NO in step S37), the process of acquiring the communication format from the server 30 is performed as described above. If the communication format cannot be acquired from the server 30 either, the group management control device 61 records the type information of the robot 14 in the memory unit of the group management control device 61 as an incompatible robot (corresponding to the process of step S19 in FIG. 5).

[0069] In this way, when the group management control device 61 of bank B does not have the communication format of the robot 14, it can efficiently acquire the communication format from the group management control device 51 of bank A without accessing the server 30. This enables the group management control device 61 to communicate normally with the robot 14, place the robot 14 in the assigned car, and move it to the destination floor.

[0070] Note that, although the example described here is one in which the system is divided into two banks, Bank A and Bank B, the same applies to a system in which the system is further divided into multiple banks. If the robot's communication format is registered in a certain bank, it can be transferred to the bank that requires it, eliminating the need to access server 30.

[0071] In this embodiment, an elevator has been described as an elevator, but the present invention can be applied to an escalator as well. For an escalator, the operation control needs to be changed depending on the model of the robot, for example by slowing down the escalator's operating speed, so the escalator control device needs communication function information (including a communication format) for normal communication with the robot. If there is no communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot, this can be achieved by acquiring communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server, as in the above embodiment.

[0072] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide an elevator system that can reduce the burden on workers involved in registering communication formats and the like required for communication processing with a robot.

[0073] 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 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 of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims, as well as in the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10...network, 11...car, 12...landing, 13...landing call button, 14a-14c...robot, 20...elevator control device, 21...communication unit, 22...memory unit, 22a...communication function table, 22b...robot table, 23...operation control unit, 24...robot management unit, 24a...communication function determination unit, 24b...registration control unit, 25a, 25b...transfer control unit, 30...server, 30a...communication function table, group management control device...51, elevator control device...52a-52c, car...53a-53c, group management control device...61, elevator control device...62a-62c, car...63a-63c.

Claims

1. a server in which a plurality of pieces of communication function information necessary for normal communication with a plurality of robot models are registered in advance; a control device communicatively connected to the server via a communication network and controlling operation of an elevator in a building, The control device includes: a storage means for storing a plurality of pieces of communication function information corresponding to a plurality of robot models that can use the elevator; a communication function determination means for determining, when a signal for using the elevator is received from any robot, whether or not communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot is registered in the storage means; a registration control means for acquiring communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot from the server according to a result of the judgment by the communication function judgment means, and registering the communication function information of the robot that can use the elevator in the storage means; Equipped with An elevator system, wherein the communication function information includes at least a communication format required to interpret a signal from the robot.

2. The communication function determination means The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is determined whether communication function information corresponding to the model of the arbitrary robot is registered in the storage means based on type information indicating the type of the arbitrary robot contained in the signal of the arbitrary robot.

3. The registration control means The elevator system according to claim 2, characterized in that when communication function information corresponding to the model of any robot is not registered in the storage means, the type information is sent to the server to obtain communication function information corresponding to the model of the robot.

4. The registration control means The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that if communication function information corresponding to the model of any of the robots is not registered in the server, the robot is recorded in the memory means as an incompatible robot.

5. The registration control means The elevator system according to claim 1, characterized in that, among a plurality of robots that can use the elevator, a robot that has a certain number of registered calls within a certain period of time or less is determined to be an infrequently used robot, and communication function information corresponding to the model of said robot is deleted from the storage means.

6. 2. The elevator system according to claim 1, wherein the registration control means holds the communication function information of the robot for a certain period of time after the communication function information is registered in the storage means.

7. Equipped with a function to control the operation of multiple elevators in the first bank, The elevator system according to claim 1, further comprising an information transfer means for transferring the communication function information to another control device which controls the operation of the elevators in the second bank closer to the second location when the robot moves to a first location using any one of the elevators in the first bank and then moves to a second location in a second bank different from the first bank.

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