Information provision system

Abstract

Provide a user with information regarding the operating status of the elevator that the user plans to use. [Solution] The information provision system (100) is a terminal device (9) for a user of the elevator (1), and includes a data transmission system (200) that, in response to a request from the terminal device which has read the elevator number information from an information code (10) installed at the elevator landing, obtains operation information of a target elevator from an elevator control device (2) which controls the target elevator identified by the read elevator number information, and transmits the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system for providing information to users who use elevators. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technique for predicting the arrival time of an elevator in an elevator system in which hall calls and car calls are registered. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for predicting the arrival time of an elevator by the lighting pattern of a hall lantern. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-371472 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional technology as described above, there was a problem that it was difficult to accurately determine the arrival time when hall calls and car calls were registered from moment to moment and when the door opening time at the stopping floors was long.

[0005] An aspect of the present invention aims to provide a user with information regarding the operating status of an elevator that the user plans to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an information provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front-signal machine of an elevator having multiple machines installed in a building with multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator landing and reads machine information from an information code in which machine information identifying the machine is recorded, obtains the operation information of the target machine from an elevator control device that controls the target machine identified by the read machine information, and transmits the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0007] In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front sign of an elevator having multiple units installed in a building with multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, reads group information from an information code installed at the elevator landing and recording group information identifying a group consisting of the multiple units, obtains the operation information of a target unit, which is all the units included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of the elevator control devices that control the target unit, and transmits each of the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0008] In addition, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information provision system according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front sign machine of an elevator having multiple machines installed in a building with multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator landing and reads the group information identifying a group consisting of the multiple machines and the floor information indicating the floor from an information code in which the group information and floor information indicating the floor are recorded, obtains the operation information of a target machine, which is all the machines included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of the elevator control devices that control the target machines, and transmits, from the obtained operation information, the operation information of a front sign machine that is scheduled to stop at the floor indicated by the read floor information to the terminal device.

[0009] The information provision system according to each aspect of the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, the control program of the information provision system that realizes the information provision system on a computer by causing the computer to operate as each part (software element) of the information provision system, and the computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded, also fall within the scope of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a user with information regarding the operating status of an elevator that the user plans to use. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of operation information displayed on a display unit of a terminal device. [Diagram 3] 13 is an example of a layout image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device. [Figure 4]13 is a sequence illustrating an example of a data flow based on an initial use of an API. [Diagram 5] 13 is a sequence showing an example of a data flow based on the second or subsequent use of the API after switching to a transmission mode. [Figure 6] 13 is a sequence showing an example of a data flow when an API has not been used for a predetermined period of time. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is an example of the correspondence between group information (group code) and elevator identification information (identification number). [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operating status of each elevator. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a display device when the information code for the seventh floor is read in the information provision system according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] [Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information provision system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The information provision system 100 according to this embodiment is a system that provides operation information related to the operating status of an elevator 1 having multiple units installed in a building having multiple floors.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, the information providing system 100 includes a data transmission system 200. The data transmission system 200 is a system that, in response to a request from a terminal device 9 of a user of an elevator 1 that has read car number information from an information code 10 that is installed at the hall of the elevator 1 and records car number information for identifying the car, acquires operation information of a car of interest from an elevator control device 2 that controls the car of interest identified by the read car number information, and transmits the acquired operation information to the terminal device 9.

[0014] The information code 10 used in the information provision system 100 is a code on which readable information is recorded, and is installed at the elevator 1 landing. For example, the information code 10 records car number information that identifies each of the multiple elevators 1. A user can read the car number information recorded in the information code 10 by using a terminal device 9. The information code 10 may be any code that allows the terminal device 9 to read information, and may be, for example, a two-dimensional code such as a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark).

[0015] The information code 10 is installed at a position corresponding to the elevator 1 identified by the elevator number information recorded in the information code 10. For example, the information code 10 may be installed at the elevator hall of the elevator 1 near the entrance of the elevator corresponding to the elevator number information recorded in the information code 10. Also, in the case where a hall call operation panel capable of receiving an operation for registering a hall call is provided for each elevator at the elevator hall, the information code 10 may be installed near each of the operation panels.

[0016] A user can use his / her own terminal device 9 to read the machine number information of the information code 10. When the terminal device 9 reads the machine number information, it uses the data transmission system 200 to obtain operation information of the machine corresponding to the read machine number information, and presents it to the user. As described above, by using the information provision system 100, a user can grasp the operating status of the machine that he / she wishes to check.

[0017] <Details of the data transmission system> The data transmission system according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. The data transmission system 200 is a system capable of transmitting operation information relating to the operation status of the elevator 1 controlled by the elevator control device 2 from the elevator control device 2 to a terminal device 9. The data transmission system 200 transmits the operation information of the elevator 1 to the terminal device 9, thereby enabling a user of the terminal device 9 to grasp the operation status of the elevator 1.

[0018] The operation information includes, for example, information on the occurrence of an abnormality in the elevator 1 and the operation status of the elevator 1. The information indicating the operation status may include, for example, information on the position of the car, the weight inside the car, and the opening and closing status of the doors. The operation information is associated with the identification information of the elevator 1. In addition to the operation information, the identification information of the elevator 1 may be associated with detailed information on the elevator 1, such as the model name of the elevator 1 and installation information of the elevator 1.

[0019] The operation information may include at least one of information indicating the latest moving direction of the car and information indicating the latest floor on which the car is located. The operation information may further include information indicating the latest congestion status of the car. The congestion status may be determined from the load of the car, an image captured inside the car, etc.

[0020] The terminal device 9 may display the operation information acquired from the data transmission system 200 on a display unit. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the operation information displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 9. Reference numeral 201 in Fig. 2 is an example of the operation information of a target car. In the example shown by reference numeral 201, information is displayed as the operation information indicating that the movement direction of the target car is downward, that it is located on the 18th floor, and that the congestion situation is unoccupied.

[0021] Reference numerals 202 to 204 in FIG. 2 show examples of operation information that are congestion statuses different from the example shown by reference numeral 201. The example shown by reference numeral 202 shows that the congestion status of the target machine is in a slightly empty state. The example shown by reference numeral 203 shows that the congestion status of the target machine is in a slightly crowded state. Moreover, the example shown by reference numeral 204 shows that the congestion status of the target machine is in a crowded state. Note that the display mode of the congestion status is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2, and may be represented, for example, by a color instead of a pattern, or an index such as a numerical value. Moreover, the congestion status of the target machine may be divided into more detailed categories.

[0022] The terminal device 9 may display on the display unit a layout image of the hall indicating the installation positions of the information codes 10, in addition to the operation information of the elevator of interest. Fig. 3 is an example of a layout image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 9. As shown in Fig. 3, the layout image indicates the installation positions of the information codes 10 at the hall and the installation positions of the elevators 1.

[0023] The terminal device 9 may display the installation position of the information code 10 from which the machine number information has been read, among the installation positions of the information codes 10, in a display mode different from that of the installation positions of the other information codes 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the layout image, the installation position (reference symbol 301) of the information code 10 from which the machine number information has been read may be displayed in a display mode different from that of the installation positions of the other information codes 10, specifically, in a different color, as an example. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal device 9 may display the operation information of a target machine at the position (reference symbol 302) of the target machine identified by the read machine number information in the layout image. This allows the user to easily grasp the positional relationship in the hall between the information code 10 from which the machine number information has been read and the target machine corresponding to the information code 10, as well as the operation status of the target machine.

[0024] The elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired may be one or more. However, it is preferable that the operation information of the elevator 1 designated by the user is transmitted to the terminal device 9.

[0025] A user of the data transmission system 200 is, for example, a user who gets on and off the elevator 1. A user of the data transmission system 200 may be, for example, a manager of the elevator 1. A user of the data transmission system 200 may also be, for example, a maintenance worker who performs maintenance on the elevator 1. In this case, a monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the elevator 1 may be used as the terminal device 9.

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the data transmission system 200 includes, for example, an elevator 1, an elevator control device 2, a communication device 3, a first server device 4 (server device), a second server device 5, a destination device 6, a storage device 7, a providing device 8, and a terminal device 9. As shown in the figure, the first server device 4, the second server device 5, the storage device 7, and the providing device 8 may be built on, for example, a virtual private cloud (VPC). Furthermore, a part or the whole of the destination device 6 may be built on the virtual private cloud.

[0027] The elevator control device 2 is communicatively connected to the elevator 1, and is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 1 and monitors the operation status of the elevator 1. The elevator control device 2 is communicatively connected to a communication device 3, and transmits operation information of the elevator 1 controlled by the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3. The elevator control device 2 may transmit detailed information of the elevator 1 to the communication device 3 together with the operation information.

[0028] The elevator control device 2 generates operation information in association with the identification information of the elevator 1, and transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 by method A described below. Furthermore, the elevator control device 2 may be capable of transmitting the operation information to the communication device 3 by method B described below. Note that method B is a method that has traditionally been adopted in many cases as a communication method between the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. Therefore, the data transmission system 200 may be constructed by adding method A to an existing system that adopts method B.

[0029] (Method A: Push type) The elevator control device 2 transmits operation information to the communication device 3 every time a change occurs in the operating status of the elevator 1. In this case, the elevator control device 2 transmits operation information to the communication device 3 every time it generates the operation information, via the first control line 101 connecting the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. In method A, the communication device 3 does not request the elevator control device 2 to transmit the operation information.

[0030] (Method B: Pull type) Upon receiving a transmission request for operation information from the communication device 3, the elevator control device 2 transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 as a response to the transmission request. In this case, the elevator control device 2 transmits the operation information to the communication device 3 via the second control line 102 connecting the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3. A transmission request to the elevator control device 2 by method B is hereinafter referred to as a "transmission request each time."

[0031] The operating status of the elevator 1 may change from moment to moment. Therefore, the frequency of transmitting the operating information by the above method A is higher than the frequency of transmitting the operating information by the above method B. Therefore, it is preferable to adopt a communication standard for the first control line 101 that allows more frequent communication than the second control line 102. For example, the first control line 101 may be RS422, and the second control line 102 may be RS232C. However, the same communication standard as that of the first control line 101 may be adopted for the second control line 102.

[0032] The communication device 3 is communicatively connected to each of the first server device 4 and the second server device 5, and transmits and receives data between the first server device 4 and the second server device 5. For example, Soracom (registered trademark) can be used for communication between the communication device 3 and each of the first server device 4 and the second server device 5. Note that the communication network connecting the communication device 3 and the first server device 4 and the communication network connecting the communication device 3 and the second server device 5 may be physically the same or may be physically separate.

[0033] The communication device 3 transmits the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above method A to the first server device 4. Specifically, the communication device 3 starts transmitting the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above method A to the first server device 4 at a predetermined timing according to a publish / subscribe communication method, and stops transmitting the information to the first server device 4 at a predetermined timing. That is, the communication device 3 is a device capable of communicating with the first server device 4 according to the publish / subscribe communication method. The publish / subscribe communication method is hereinafter referred to as the "first communication method." A protocol used in the first communication method is preferably, for example, MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport). By using the MQTT protocol, the operation information can be transmitted from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4 at a high frequency. Therefore, the operation information transmitted from the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 at a high frequency according to the above method A is subsequently transmitted from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4 at a high frequency. That is, in the data transmission system 200, the operation information can be transmitted from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4 at a high frequency.

[0034] On the other hand, the communication device 3 may transmit the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 by the above method B to the second server device 5 in accordance with a second communication method different from the first communication method. The second communication method does not need to be a publish / subscribe type, and may use, for example, a protocol based on TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), or may use an independently defined protocol. The second communication method is a method that is often adopted as a communication method between existing elevator monitoring systems and the communication device 3.

[0035] In the above method B, the operation information to be transmitted by the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 as a response to the each-time transmission request may be the latest operation information at the time when the each-time transmission request is received from the communication device 3, or may be untransmitted operation information accumulated up to the time when the each-time transmission request is received. In the latter case, the elevator control device 2 may generate operation information every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator 1 and store the information in a storage unit (not shown) of the elevator control device 2. In this case, when the communication device 3 receives the each-time transmission request from the second server device 5, the communication device 3 may transmit the operation information stored in the storage unit (not shown) of the communication device 3 at that time to the second server device 5 as a response to the each-time transmission request.

[0036] The communication device 3 also receives a "transmission start request" of the operation information from the second server device 5 according to the second communication method. Upon receiving the transmission start request, the communication device 3 transmits the operation information to the first server device 4 according to the first communication method every time the communication device 3 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2. In other words, the transmission start request is a request to start real-time transmission of the operation information to the first server device 4. The communication device 3 also receives a "continue transmission request" of the operation information from the first server device 4 according to the first communication method. While the communication device 3 continues to receive the transmission continuation request, the communication device 3 continues to transmit the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4. In other words, the transmission continuation request is a request to continue real-time transmission of the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0037] One elevator control device 2 and one communication device 3 are provided for each elevator 1. As described above, the data transmission system 200 may include one elevator 1 or multiple elevators 1. When the data transmission system 200 includes multiple elevators 1, one set of the elevator control device 2 and the communication device 3 is provided for each elevator 1.

[0038] The first server device 4 is a device that functions as a broker and is capable of communicating with the communication device 3 according to the first communication method. The data transmission system 200 may be a system that includes at least the first server device 4 as a broker and the communication device 3, which are capable of communicating with each other according to the first communication method. While receiving operation information from the communication device 3 according to the first communication method, the first server device 4 transmits the received operation information to the destination device 6 every time it receives operation information.

[0039] The first server device 4 is connected to be able to communicate with the second server device 5 and the providing device 8 according to the first communication method. The first server device 4 transmits a transmission continuation request received from the providing device 8 to the communication device 3 according to the first communication method, while transmitting a transmission start request received from the providing device 8 to the second server device 5 according to the second communication method.

[0040] The first server device 4 functions as a broker. Therefore, the communication device 3 subscribes to the first server device 4 so that the first server device 4 can transmit the transmission continuation request received from the providing device 8 to the communication device 3. This subscription will be described later as an explanation of a subscribing unit 313 of the communication device 3.

[0041] The second server device 5 transmits the transmission start request for the operation information received from the first server device 4 to the communication device 3 according to the second communication method. Furthermore, when the second server device 5 receives a transmission request for the operation information from the providing device 8, it may transmit the transmission request for the operation information to the communication device 3 according to the second communication method and receive the operation information as a response to the transmission request for the operation information. In this case, the second server device 5 executes a process for storing the received operation information in the storage device 7. In this embodiment, the second server device 5 directly stores the operation information in the storage device 7, but the operation information may be stored in the storage device 7 via a relay device.

[0042] The destination device 6 is a device that executes a process for storing the received operation information in the storage device 7 every time the destination device 6 receives operation information from the first server device 4. In this embodiment, the destination device 6 directly stores the operation information in the storage device 7, but may store the operation information in the storage device 7 via a relay device. The destination device 6 may be a device provided as a Web service platform such as AWS IoT Core. The storage device 7 is a device that stores the operation information, and includes, for example, a database. The database included in the storage device 7 is preferably a NoSQL such as a key-value type database that has excellent scalability in order to store the operation information transmitted at a high frequency. The database and the mechanism for storing the operation information in the database may be provided as a database cloud service.

[0043] As described above, the first server device 4 functions as a broker. Therefore, the destination device 6 subscribes to a predetermined first topic for the first server device 4 so that the first server device 4 can transmit the operation information received from the communication device 3 to the destination device 6. The first topic is a topic for receiving the operation information, and may be set to any value.

[0044] After receiving the transmission start request, the communication device 3 starts transmitting the operation information to the first server device 4. Therefore, in order for the first server device 4 to be able to transmit the operation information to the destination device 6 every time it receives it, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic for the first server device 4 before the first server device 4 starts receiving the operation information. In this embodiment, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic for the first server device 4 before the terminal device 9 uses (calls) an API (Application Programming Interface) 813.

[0045] The providing device 8 has a function for providing operation information of the specified elevator 1 that is available to the terminal device 9. In this embodiment, the providing device 8 is, for example, a Web server, and the function is provided by the API 813. The API 813 is a software interface that is available to a Web browser or application software (hereinafter, these will be simply referred to as "terminal side software") executed in the terminal device 9, and is used to acquire operation information of the elevator 1 stored in the storage device 7 and transmit the information to the terminal device 9. While the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the providing device 8 sequentially acquires operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 and transmits the acquired operation information to the terminal device 9. "The terminal device 9 is using the API 813" refers to a state in which the terminal device 9 is executing terminal side software that can use the API 813 in order to acquire operation information of the elevator 1 specified based on the elevator number information.

[0046] When the API 813 is used from the terminal device 9 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the API 813 was last used from the terminal device 9, the providing device 8 executes processing for transmitting a transmission start request for operation information to the first server device 4. That is, when the terminal device 9 starts using the API 813, the providing device 8 transmits the transmission start request to the first server device 4. In this embodiment, the providing device 8 transmits the transmission start request directly to the first server device 4, but may transmit the transmission start request to the first server device 4 via a relay device.

[0047] Also at this time, the providing device 8 receives designation information (e.g., identification information of the elevator 1) that designates the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired. Therefore, the providing device 8 transmits a transmission start request to the first server device 4, including the received designation information. Here, the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired and that is designated by the designation information is the elevator identified by the elevator number information (identification information) recorded in the information code 10 read by the terminal device 9, that is, the elevator of interest. Furthermore, the designation information is the elevator number information of the elevator of interest. This enables the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 provided for the designated elevator of interest, and to receive operation information of the elevator of interest from the communication device 3.

[0048] Furthermore, while the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the providing device 8 transmits a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. The first server device 4 also transmits the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 provided for the specified elevator 1, and therefore transmits designation information designating the elevator 1 to the communication device 3 together with the transmission continuation request.

[0049] The first server device 4 transmits and receives data to and from the communication device 3 according to the first communication method. For this purpose, the providing device 8 creates a second topic based on the identification information of the elevator 1, and publishes a continuation transmission request to the first server device 4 using the created second topic. This enables the first server device 4 to transmit the continuation transmission request to the communication device 3 provided for the specified elevator 1 and subscribes to the second topic.

[0050] The terminal device 9 is a device capable of notifying a user of the operation information transmitted by the elevator control device 2. The terminal device 9 may be a device capable of notifying a user of detailed information transmitted by the elevator control device 2. In this embodiment, the terminal device 9 functions as a display device that displays various information. The terminal device 9 may also function as an input device that can accept an input operation by a user. The terminal device 9 may also be capable of accepting an operation for a user to obtain operation information of a target elevator as an input operation by the user.

[0051] The terminal device 9 may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook computer, etc., but is not limited thereto. The terminal device 9 may have at least a communication function and a function to display various information. The terminal device 9 may be one or more.

[0052] When the terminal device 9 approaches the information code 10 installed at the elevator hall of the elevator 1, it reads the information recorded in the information code 10. Specifically, the terminal device 9 reads the information code 10 using a camera function or the like, and decodes the information code 10 to read the car number information recorded in the information code 10. The terminal device 9 may be capable of accepting an input operation from a user, and may start reading nearby information codes 10 when it receives an input instructing to start reading the information codes 10.

[0053] By utilizing the API 813, the terminal device 9 can cause the providing device 8 to issue a request to start transmitting and a request to continue transmitting operation information of the specified elevator 1, and can also receive the operation information from the providing device 8. The terminal device 9 starts using the API 813 after reading the elevator number information of the target elevator from the information code 10. This allows the terminal device 9 to transmit the specified information to the providing device 8 when using the API 813. The terminal device 9 can cause the providing device 8 to issue a transmission request each time operation information is transmitted, and can also receive operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the providing device 8, by utilizing the API 813.

[0054] When the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 for the first time, the providing device 8 transmits a transmission start request to the first server device 4, and thereafter, every time the terminal device 9 uses the API 813, the providing device 8 transmits a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. Moreover, after the first use of the API 813, the terminal device 9 receives and displays the operation information acquired by the providing device 8 from the storage device 7 every time the API 813 is used. The terminal device 9 uses the API 813 at a predetermined frequency (for example, once every 10 seconds) while the above-mentioned terminal side software is running, for example.

[0055] Note that the API 813 is not limited to a form in which it passively provides the operation information to the terminal device 9 in response to a request from the terminal device 9, and may be a form in which it actively provides the operation information to the terminal device 9. For example, in a situation in which the terminal device 9 subscribes to a first topic to the providing device 8 and the providing device 8 subscribes to the first topic to the storage device 7, when a change occurs in the storage device 7's storage state of the operation information (when new operation information is stored in the storage device 7), the providing device 8 may publish the operation information stored in the storage device 7 to the terminal device 9.

[0056] <How to send a request to start sending> As described above, in the present embodiment, the first server device 4 is configured to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 in the second communication method via the second server device 5, but the request may be transmitted directly to the communication device 3 in the first communication method without going through the second server device 5. In this case, however, for example, in order for the communication device 3 to monitor the reception of the transmission start request from the first server device 4, it becomes necessary to constantly connect the communication session between the communication device 3 and the first server device 4 and subscribe according to the first communication method.

[0057] Therefore, the first server device 4 is required to have a processing performance capable of withstanding the constant connection of the communication session. Moreover, the communication sessions must be kept valid for the number of communication devices 3, and since a large number of communication devices 3 are generally connected to the first server device 4, a high-performance first server device 4 is required to keep the communication sessions constantly connected. Furthermore, while the time during which real-time transmission of operation information is required is often limited, keeping the communication sessions constantly connected generates an extra communication load.

[0058] Therefore, in this embodiment, the transmission start request is transmitted to the communication device 3 via the second server device 5 in accordance with the second communication method, thereby realizing suppression of the processing load and communication load on the first server device 4.

[0059] <Purpose of the data transmission system> The data transmission system 200 of this embodiment includes a first server device 4 and a communication device 3 that can communicate with each other according to a first communication method, and a first control line 101. After the communication device 3 receives a request to start transmitting operation information, while the communication device 3 is continuously receiving a request to continue transmitting, the communication device 3 transmits operation information to the first server device 4 every time the operation status of the elevator 1 changes. Then, the first server device 4 stores the operation information in the storage device 7 every time it receives the operation information. As a result, in the data transmission system 200, the terminal device 9 can sequentially obtain the operation information stored in the storage device 7 during the period in which the terminal side software using the API 813 is being executed, and the user can visually recognize the operation status of the elevator 1, which may change from moment to moment, in real time. An example of specific functions and processes that realize such a data transmission system 200 will be described below.

[0060] [Details of the data transmission system] In the following, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of a specific configuration of the communication device 3, the first server device 4, and the providing device 8 will be mainly described.

[0061] <Communication Device> 1, the communication device 3 includes, for example, a first control unit 31 and a second control unit 32. The first control unit 31 includes, for example, a receiving unit 311, a publishing unit 312, and a subscribing unit 313. The second control unit 32 includes, for example, a transmitting / receiving unit 321.

[0062] The receiving unit 311 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2. The receiving unit 311 receives the operation information from the elevator control device 2 via the first control line 101 every time the operational status of the elevator 1 specified by the user changes.

[0063] The publishing unit 312 controls transmission and reception of data with the first server device 4 in accordance with the first communication method, and switches the operation mode between a transmission mode in which the received operation information is published to the first server device 4 using a predetermined first topic every time the receiving unit 311 receives operation information, and a non-transmission mode in which the publishing is not performed. In this embodiment, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode when the communication device 3 (the transmitting / receiving unit 321 of the second control unit 32) receives a request to start transmitting operation information. This allows the publishing unit 312 to publish the operation information to the first server device 4 at the timing when the transmitting / receiving unit 312 receives the request to start transmitting operation information.

[0064] Furthermore, if the publishing unit 312 receives a transmission continuation request before a predetermined period has elapsed since the communication device 3 last received a transmission continuation request for operation information during the transmission mode, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. On the other hand, if a predetermined period has elapsed since the communication device 3 last received a transmission continuation request without receiving a transmission continuation request, the publishing unit 312 switches to the non-transmission mode. The predetermined period may be longer than the reception interval of continuous transmission continuation requests. The reception interval may be equal to the interval at which the terminal device 9 uses the API 813.

[0065] The publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode depending on the reception status of the transmission continuation request, so that the publishing side can easily determine whether or not to continue the process of publishing the operation information according to the first communication method. Also, since the first server device 4 functions as a broker, it cannot actively obtain the operation information by monitoring the communication device 3. Therefore, the communication device 3 determines whether or not to transmit the operation information to the first server device 4 by monitoring the reception status of the transmission continuation request (i.e., by monitoring the first server device 4).

[0066] The subscribing unit 313 controls transmission and reception of data with the first server device 4 in accordance with the first communication method, and when the operation mode switches to the transmission mode, subscribes to a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 for the first server device 4. The second topic only needs to be created by the first control unit 31 so that the elevator 1 can be identified.

[0067] As described above, the providing device 8 publishes the transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 in the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1. Therefore, by subscribing to the second topic that can identify the elevator 1 to which the communication device 3 is connected to the first server device 4, the first server device 4 can transmit the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 connected to the specified elevator 1.

[0068] The transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request from the second server device 5, and transmits a signal indicating that the transmission start request has been received, to the first control unit 31. As a result, at the timing when the transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode to the transmission mode and publishes the operation information to the first server device 4, and the subscribing unit 313 subscribes to the second topic for the first server device 4.

[0069] <First server device> 1, the first server device 4 functioning as a broker includes, for example, a server control unit 41. The server control unit 41 controls the operation of the first server device 4, and includes, for example, a first transmission unit 411, a second transmission unit 412, and a server transmission unit 413.

[0070] The first transmitting unit 411 transmits the transmission continuation request published by the providing device 8 to the first server device 4 in the second topic to the communication device 3 that has subscribed to the second topic for the first server device 4. This enables the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission continuation request to the communication device 3 connected to the specified elevator 1.

[0071] When the second transmitting unit 412 receives the operation information published from the publishing unit 312, it transmits the received operation information to the destination device 6 that has subscribed to the first topic for the first server device 4. This allows the destination device 6 to store the operation information of the specified elevator 1 received by the first server device 4 in the storage device 7. Therefore, the providing device 8 can obtain the operation information from the storage device 7 and transmit it to the terminal device 9.

[0072] The server transmitting unit 413 transmits the transmission start request received from the providing device 8 to the second server device 5. This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission start request to the communication device 3 via the second server device 5 (in accordance with the second communication method).

[0073] <Providing device> 1, the providing device 8 includes, for example, a providing control unit 81. The providing control unit 81 controls the operation of the providing device 8, and includes a providing unit 811, a providing publishing unit 812, and an API 813.

[0074] As described above, when the API 813 is used from the terminal device 9 after a predetermined period has elapsed since the API 813 was last used from the terminal device 9, the providing unit 811 transmits a transmission start request to the first server device 4. In this embodiment, when the API 813 is used in a state in which the API 813 has not been used for a predetermined period, the providing unit 811 transmits a transmission start request to the first server device 4, including designation information that designates the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired.

[0075] The providing and publishing unit 812 publishes the transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 in the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1. In this embodiment, after the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 for the first time, the providing and publishing unit 812 publishes the transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 in the second topic every time the terminal device 9 uses the API 813. That is, the providing and publishing unit 812 publishes the transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 in the second topic while the operation information is provided from the providing device 8 to the terminal device 9 at a predetermined frequency by the terminal device 9 using the API 813. The second topic may be created so that the specified elevator 1 can be identified by the providing control unit 81. The predetermined frequency corresponds to the usage frequency of the API 813. When the API 813 actively provides the operation information to the terminal device 9, the predetermined frequency may be determined corresponding to the frequency at which a change occurs in the storage device 7.

[0076] As described above, the API 813 is an example of a function for providing operation information of the specified elevator 1. When the terminal device 9 uses the API 813, the providing unit 811 can specify the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired and transmit a transmission start request to the first server device 4. The providing and publishing unit 812 can also specify the elevator 1 from which operation information is to be acquired and transmit a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4. Based on this transmission, the operation information of the specified elevator 1 is stored in the storage device 7. Therefore, while the terminal device 9 is using the API 813, the providing device 8 can sequentially acquire operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 and transmit the operation information to the terminal device 9.

[0077] [Sequence] The data flow between the devices will be described with reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a sequence showing an example of the data flow based on the first use of API 813. Fig. 5 is a sequence showing an example of the data flow based on the second or subsequent use of API 813 after switching to the transmission mode. Fig. 6 is a sequence showing an example of the data flow when API 813 has not been used for a predetermined period of time.

[0078] Fig. 5 shows an example of a sequence after the sequence of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows an example of a sequence after the sequence of Fig. 5. In addition, in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, it is assumed that the operation information is transmitted from the elevator control device 2 to the communication device 3 via the first control line 101 every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator 1.

[0079] 4, in this embodiment, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic for the first server device 4 (S1) before the terminal device 9 uses the API 813. This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the operation information to the destination device 6 at the timing when the communication device 3 receives a transmission start request from the second server device 5 and publishes the operation information to the first server device 4.

[0080] The terminal device 9 reads the car number information from the information code 10 installed at the landing of the elevator 1. Specifically, the terminal device 9 reads the car number information by decoding the information code 10 read using a camera function or the like. After reading the car number information, the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 of the providing device 8 (S2). At this time, the terminal device 9 transmits the read car number information to the providing device 8 as the designated information of the elevator 1.

[0081] In the providing device 8, the providing unit 811 transmits a transmission start request including the designation information to the first server device 4 (S3). In the first server device 4, the server transmitting unit 413 transmits the transmission start request received from the providing device 8 to the second server device 5 (S4). The second server device 5 transmits the transmission start request received from the first server device 4 to the communication device 3 (S5).

[0082] In the communication device 3, the transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives a transmission start request from the second server device 5. Upon receiving this request, the publishing unit 312 switches the operation mode from the non-transmission mode to the transmission mode (S6). Then, the publishing unit 312 publishes the operation information received from the elevator control device 2 to the first server device 4 on the first topic (S8). Every time the publishing unit 312 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2, it publishes the operation information to the first server device 4 on the first topic.

[0083] Furthermore, in the communication device 3, when the transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request, the subscribing unit 313 subscribes to the second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 to which the communication device 3 is connected, for the first server device 4 (S7). The process of S7 may be performed before or simultaneously with the process of S6, or may be performed at the start of or after the start of the process of S8, as long as it is performed after the communication device 3 receives the transmission start request in S5.

[0084] In S1, the destination device 6 subscribes to the first topic for the first server device 4. Therefore, in the first server device 4, the second transmitting unit 412 transmits the operation information of the specified elevator 1 published from the communication device 3 to the destination device 6 (S9). Every time the second transmitting unit 412 receives operation information from the communication device 3, it transmits the operation information to the destination device 6. Then, every time the destination device 6 receives operation information from the first server device 4, it stores the operation information in the storage device 7 (S10).

[0085] 5, the terminal device 9 uses the API 813 following the initial use of the API 813 (S11). In the providing device 8, the providing / publishing unit 812 publishes a transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 using a second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 (S12). This allows the first server device 4 to transmit the transmission continuation request published by the providing device 8 to the communication devices 3 that have subscribed to the same second topic as the second topic.

[0086] 4, the second topic created based on the identification information of the elevator 1 is subscribed to from the communication device 3 to the first server device 4. Therefore, in the first server device 4, the first transmitting unit 411 transmits the transmission continuation request published by the providing device 8 to the communication device 3 that has subscribed to the second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1 (S13).

[0087] Furthermore, in the providing device 8, the providing control unit 81 sequentially acquires operation information of the specified elevator 1 from the storage device 7 in response to the use of the API 813 in S11 (S14), and transmits it to the terminal device 9 (S15). The storage device 7 stores operation information that is generated every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator 1 after S10 in Fig. 4. Therefore, the terminal device 9 can notify the user of the operation status of the elevator 1 in real time by sequentially receiving the operation information to be provided from the providing device 8.

[0088] In the communication device 3, after the transmitting / receiving unit 321 receives the transmission start request in S5 of Fig. 4, the first control unit 31 starts clocking. Then, the publishing unit 312 judges whether or not a transmission continuation request is received before a predetermined period of time has elapsed after receiving the transmission start request. If the publishing unit 312 judges that the transmission continuation request transmitted in S13 has been received before the predetermined period of time has elapsed, the publishing unit 312 continues the transmission mode. Therefore, every time the publishing unit 312 receives operation information from the elevator control device 2, it continues publishing to the first server device 4 in the first topic (S16). The clocking by the first control unit 31 is reset when the publishing unit 312 receives a transmission continuation request or when a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

[0089] In the first server device 4, the second transmitting unit 412 transmits the operation information of the specified elevator 1 to the destination device 6 every time the operation information is received from the communication device 3 (S17). Then, the destination device 6 stores the operation information in the storage device 7 every time the operation information is received from the first server device 4 (S18).

[0090] On the other hand, when the publishing unit 312 determines that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since receiving the transmission start request in S5 of Fig. 4, it switches the operation mode from the transmission mode to the non-transmission mode. During the non-transmission mode, the communication device 3 does not publish the operation information to the first server device 4 even if it receives the operation information from the elevator control device 2 every time the operation status of the elevator 1 changes. In other words, the communication device 3 stops transmitting the operation information to the first server device 4 by switching to the non-transmission mode.

[0091] As described above, the information providing system 100 can sequentially provide the terminal device 9 with operation information of the target machine, and the user who possesses the terminal device 9 can grasp the operation status of the target machine in real time.

[0092] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to members having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0093] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 100A according to embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the information providing system 100A according to this embodiment includes a data transmission system 200A. The data transmission system 200A differs from the data transmission system 200 according to embodiment 1 in that it includes an information code 10A instead of the information code 10 and includes a providing device 8A instead of the providing device 8.

[0094] The information code 10A may be installed near a hall call operation panel installed at a hall. The information code 10A records group information for identifying a group consisting of a plurality of cars.

[0095] The data transmission system 200A records operation information of a target elevator, which is all elevators included in the group identified by the group information, and transmits the operation information of the target elevator to the terminal device 9 that reads the information code 10A. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence between group information (group code) and identification information (identification number) of elevators 1. As an example, as shown in FIG. 8, the group identified by the group code "GRP0001" includes six elevators indicated by identification numbers "ELV1001" to "ELV1006". In this case, the data transmission system 200A obtains operation information of the six elevators indicated by the identification numbers "ELV1001" to "ELV1006" and transmits the operation information to the terminal device 9.

[0096] When the terminal device 9 reads the group information recorded in the information code 10A, it transmits the group information to the providing device 8A as designation information designating a target for acquiring action information.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 7, the providing device 8A includes a providing control unit 81A including a providing unit 811A, a providing publishing unit 812A, and an API 813. The providing device 8A acquires operation information of a target car based on the designation information received from the terminal device 9. Here, the target car from which operation information is acquired and designated by the designation information is all cars included in the group identified by the group information read by the terminal device 9. As an example, the providing device 8A may store a database in which group information is associated with identification information of the car of the elevator 1. In this case, the providing device 8A identifies the target car by searching the database for identification information of the car associated with the same group information as the group information that is the designation information received from the terminal device 9.

[0098] When the API 813 is used after not having been used for a predetermined period of time, the providing unit 811A transmits a transmission start request to the first server device 4, including designation information that designates all elevators 1 from which operation information is to be acquired, i.e., elevators 1 that are the target elevators. As a result, each of the communication devices 3 corresponding to the elevator control devices 2 that control the respective target elevators transmits operation information to the first server device 4 according to the first communication method every time it receives operation information from the elevator control devices 2. As a result, operation information of all target elevators included in the group is recorded in real time.

[0099] The providing publishing unit 812A publishes the transmission continuation request to the first server device 4 in a second topic created based on the identification information of the specified elevator 1. Here, in this embodiment, the second topic created by the providing control unit 81A only needs to be created so as to be able to identify all of the elevators of interest included in the group identified by the group information.

[0100] The provision control unit 81A sequentially acquires operation information of all specified elevators 1 from the storage device 7 in response to the use of the API 813 by the terminal device 9, and transmits the information to the terminal device 9. In this way, the provision device 8A can acquire operation information of all elevators of interest included in the group, and transmit the information to the terminal device 9.

[0101] When the terminal device 9 receives from the providing device 8A the operation information of all the target cars included in the group identified by the group information, it displays the received operation information on the display unit. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 9. As shown in Fig. 9, the terminal device 9 displays a layout image of the hall indicating the installation position of the information code 10A. The terminal device 9 may display the installation position (symbol 901) of the information code 10A whose car information has been read in a display mode different from the installation positions of the other information codes 10A.

[0102] The layout image also includes operation information of the car whose operation information has been acquired. As shown in Fig. 9, the layout image includes operation information (reference numerals 902 to 907) of six cars included in the group, for example.

[0103] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, the layout image of the hall may indicate the position of the elevator 1. The layout image also includes operation information of the elevator for which operation information has been acquired. As shown by reference numerals 902 to 907 in Fig. 9, the operation information of a plurality of elevators may be displayed at the installation positions of the elevators corresponding to the respective operation information.

[0104] As described above, in the information provision system 100A according to this embodiment, when a user reads the car number information of the information code 10A using the terminal device 9, the terminal device 9 receives the operation information of all the cars included in the group from the provision device 8A and displays it on the display unit. This allows the user to easily grasp the operation status of the cars included in the group, for example, all the cars present at the boarding area.

[0105] [Embodiment 3] Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 100B according to embodiment 3. As shown in Fig. 10, the information providing system 100B according to this embodiment includes a data transmission system 200B. The data transmission system 200B differs from the information providing system 100A according to embodiment 2 in that it includes an information code 10B instead of the information code 10A and includes a providing device 8B instead of the providing device 8A.

[0106] The data transmission system 200B records operation information of all locomotives of interest, which are all locomotives included in the group identified by the group information, and transmits operation information of the locomotives of interest that are scheduled to stop at a specified floor to the terminal device 9.

[0107] In addition to group information, floor information indicating the floor is recorded in the information code 10B. For example, information indicating the floor on which the information code 10B is installed is recorded in the information code 10B as floor information. The information code 10B may be installed near a hall call operation panel installed in the hall, similar to the information code 10A according to the second embodiment.

[0108] The providing device 8B differs from the providing device 8A according to the second embodiment in that it includes a providing control unit 81B instead of the providing control unit 81A. The providing control unit 81B sequentially acquires operation information of all elevators 1 included in the group from the storage device 7, similar to the providing control unit 81A. In addition, the providing control unit 81B identifies, among the focused elevators, an elevator that is scheduled to stop at the floor indicated by the floor information, and transmits operation information of the identified elevator to the terminal device 9.

[0109] The terminal device 9 presents the operation information received from the providing device 8 B. The terminal device 9 may display the received operation information together with the layout image.

[0110] As described above, the information providing system 100B can provide a user with operation information of a car scheduled to stop at a floor indicated by the floor information. When information indicating the floor on which the information code 10B is installed is recorded as floor information, the operation information acquired by the terminal device 9 is the operation information of a car scheduled to stop at the floor on which the terminal device 9 read the information code 10B, i.e., the floor on which the user carrying the terminal device 9 is present. This allows the user to easily grasp the car scheduled to stop at the floor on which the user is present and its operation status.

[0111] Hereinafter, an example of operation information transmitted to the terminal device 9 in the information provision system 100B according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the operation status of each elevator 1. In FIG. 11, the column "travel position + load" indicates the latest floor where the car of the elevator is located, the travel direction of the car, and the latest congestion status of the elevator. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 11, elevator A is located on the 4th floor, the travel direction is downward, and it is very crowded. In FIG. 11, "ON" indicates that a call with the corresponding floor as the departure floor or destination floor is registered, and "OFF" indicates that a call with the corresponding floor as the departure floor or destination floor is not registered.

[0112] As shown in Figure 11, vehicle D is located on the 10th floor, traveling downward, and is somewhat empty. A downward hall call with the 7th floor as the departure floor is registered for vehicle D. A car call with the 1st floor as the destination floor is registered for vehicle D. Therefore, vehicle D is scheduled to stop on the 7th and 1st floors.

[0113] As shown in Figure 11, E-machine is located on the third floor, traveling in an upward direction and is very crowded. E-machine has an upward hall call registered with the seventh floor as its departure floor. E-machine has car calls registered with the sixth, ninth, and tenth floors as its destination floors. E-machine is scheduled to stop on the sixth, seventh, nineth, and tenth floors.

[0114] As shown in Figure 11, Unit F is located on the second floor, traveling upwards, and is somewhat empty. Unit F does not have a hall call registered, but has a car call with the eighth floor as its destination. Therefore, Unit F is scheduled to pass the seventh floor and stop at the eighth floor. Units A, B, and C, like Unit F, do not stop at the seventh floor either.

[0115] Figure 12 shows an example of the display on the display device when the operating status of each elevator 1 is as shown in Figure 11 and the information code 10B installed on the 7th floor is read by the user's terminal device 9.

[0116] When the information code 10B installed on the 7th floor is read by the user's terminal device 9, the information code 10B includes group information and floor information indicating the 7th floor. As described above, cars D and E are scheduled to stop on the 7th floor, and cars A, B, C, and F are scheduled not to stop on the 7th floor. Therefore, when cars A to F are included in the group indicated in the group information, as shown in FIG. 12, the operation information transmitted to the terminal device 9 includes the operation information of cars D and E, but does not include the operation status of cars A, B, C, and F.

[0117] In this case, the terminal device 9 displays the operation information of car No. D and car No. E on the display unit. As shown in FIG. 12, the terminal device 9 displays a layout image of the hall indicating the installation position of the information code 10B. The layout image includes the operation information (reference numerals 1202 to 1203) of the car from which the operation information was acquired, for example, car No. D and car No. E in the above example. The terminal device 9 may display the installation position (reference numeral 1201) of the information code 10B from which the car information was read in a display mode different from the installation positions of the other information codes 10B.

[0118] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 12, the layout image of the hall may show the position of the elevator 1. As shown in Fig. 12, the operation information of the elevator whose operation information has been acquired may be displayed at the installation position of the elevator in the layout image of the hall.

[0119] As described above, when a user reads the elevator information of information code 10B using terminal device 9, terminal device 9 displays on the display unit the elevator number that is scheduled to stop at the floor where the user is located and the operating status of that elevator, allowing the user to easily understand this information.

[0120] [Software implementation example] The functions of information provision systems 100, 100A, 100B (hereinafter referred to as the "system") can be realized by a program for causing a computer to function as the system, and a program for causing a computer to function as each control block of the system (particularly each part included in data transmission systems 200, 200A, 200B).

[0121] In this case, the system includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The control device and storage device execute the program to realize each function described in each of the above embodiments.

[0122] The program may be non-transitory and may be recorded in one or more computer-readable recording media. The recording media may or may not be included in the system. In the latter case, the program may be provided to the system via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0123] In addition, some or all of the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of each of the control blocks can be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0124] Furthermore, each process described in each of the above embodiments may be executed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). In this case, the AI ​​may be operated by the control device or may be operated by another device (for example, an edge computer or a cloud server).

[0125] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0126] 〔summary〕 The information provision system according to aspect 1 of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front-signal machine of an elevator having multiple machines installed in a building having multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator landing and reads machine number information from an information code in which machine number information identifying the machine is recorded, obtains the operation information of the target machine from an elevator control device that controls the target machine identified by the read machine number information, and transmits the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0127] In the information provision system according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect, the information code may be installed for each car at a position corresponding to the car.

[0128] An information provision system according to aspect 3 of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front-loading machine of an elevator having multiple machines installed in a building with multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator landing and reads group information from an information code in which group information identifying a group consisting of the multiple machines is recorded, obtains the operation information of a target machine, which is all the machines included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of the elevator control devices that control the target machine, and transmits each of the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0129] An information provision system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an information provision system that provides operation information regarding the operating status of a front sign machine of an elevator having multiple machines installed in a building with multiple floors, and includes a data transmission system that, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator landing and reads group information identifying a group consisting of the multiple machines and floor information indicating a floor from an information code in which the group information and floor information indicating a floor are recorded, obtains operation information of a target machine, which is all the machines included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of the elevator control devices that control the target machines, and transmits, from the obtained operation information, the operation information of a front sign machine that is scheduled to stop at the floor indicated by the read floor information to the terminal device.

[0130] An information provision system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned third or fourth aspect, may be such that the information code is installed in the vicinity of a hall call operating panel provided at the hall.

[0131] An information provision system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is in any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the operation information includes information indicating the latest moving direction of the vehicle.

[0132] An information provision system according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is in any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the operation information includes information indicating the latest floor number on which the car is located.

[0133] In the information provision system according to an eighth or ninth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the operation information may include information indicating the latest congestion status of the car.

[0134] In the information providing system according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect, the terminal device may display the operation information acquired from the data transmission system on a display unit.

[0135] An information provision system according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect described above, may further comprise the terminal device causing the display unit to display a layout image of the hall indicating the installation position of the information code.

[0136] In an information provision system according to aspect 12 of the present invention, in aspect 11 above, the terminal device may display the installation location of the information code from which the unit information has been read in a display manner different from the installation locations of the other information codes.

[0137] In an information providing system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned third or fourth aspect, the terminal device may cause a display unit to display the operation information acquired from the data transmission system.

[0138] In an information provision system according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the terminal device may further cause the display unit to display a layout image of the hall indicating the installation position of the information code.

[0139] In an information providing system according to aspect 15 of the present invention, in aspect 14 above, the terminal device may display the installation location of the information code from which the group information has been read in a display manner different from the installation locations of the other information codes.

[0140] The information providing system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, wherein the data transmission system includes a server device functioning as a broker, which are capable of communicating with each other using a publish / subscribe type communication method, one or more communication devices, and a providing device, wherein the communication device includes a receiving unit that receives the operation information of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device connected to the communication device so as to be able to communicate with the communication device, and an operation mode that is selected from a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device on a predetermined first topic each time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-sending mode in which the publishing is not performed. and a publishing unit which switches between the first topic and the second topic, wherein when the server device receives the operation information published from the publishing unit, it transmits the received operation information to a destination device which has subscribed to the first topic for the server device, and each time the destination device receives the operation information from the server device, it executes a process for storing the received operation information in a storage device, and the providing device has a function for providing the operation information of the machine which is usable by the terminal device of the user, and while the terminal device is using the function, it may sequentially obtain the operation information to be provided from the storage device and transmit the obtained operation information to the terminal device.

[0141] In an information provision system according to aspect 17 of the present invention, in aspect 16 above, the elevator control device may transmit the operation information to the communication device each time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device.

[0142] An information providing system according to aspect 18 of the present invention is such that, in aspect 16 or 17 above, when the function is used from the terminal device after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the function was last used from the terminal device, the providing device executes a process for sending a request to start transmitting the operational information to the communication device, and when the communication device receives the request to start transmitting, the publishing unit switches the operating mode to the transmission mode.

[0143] An information providing system according to aspect 19 of the present invention, in any of aspects 16 to 18 above, wherein the communication device, when switching to the transmission mode, is provided with a subscribing unit that subscribes to a second topic created for the server device based on machine information identifying the machine of interest, and the server device transmits a request to continue transmitting the operation information published by the providing device to the server device on the second topic to the communication device that has subscribed to the second topic for the server device, and the publishing unit may continue the transmission mode if, during the transmission mode, the communication device receives the continuation transmission request within a predetermined period of time since it last received the continuation transmission request, and switch to the non-transmission mode if the predetermined period of time has elapsed since the communication device last received the continuation transmission request without receiving the continuation transmission request.

[0144] In an information providing system according to aspect 20 of the present invention, in aspect 19 above, the providing device may publish the transmission continuation request to the server device in the second topic created based on the machine information of the target machine while the operation information is provided from the providing device to the terminal device at a predetermined frequency by the terminal device utilizing the function.

[0145] In an information providing system according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in any one of the sixteenth to twentieth aspects, the function may be provided by an API (Application Programming Interface). [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] 1. Elevator 2 Elevator control device 3. Communications equipment 4. First server device (server device) 6 Destination device 7 Storage device 8, 8A, 8B Provided equipment 9 Terminal Equipment 10, 10A, 10B Information Code 100, 100A, 100B Information System 200, 200A, 200B Data Transmission System 311 Receiving unit 312 Publishing Department 313 Subscriber Department 411 First Transmission Unit 412 Second Transmission Unit 813 API (Function)

Claims

1. An information providing system for providing operation information regarding the operation status of a front-signal machine of an elevator having a plurality of units installed in a building having a plurality of floors, a data transmission system which, in response to a request from a terminal device for a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator hall and reads car number information from an information code in which car number information for identifying the car is recorded, acquires the operation information of the car of interest from an elevator control device which controls the car of interest identified by the read car number information, and transmits the acquired operation information to the terminal device; The data transmission system includes a server device functioning as a broker, one or more communication devices, and a providing device, which are capable of communicating with each other using a publish / subscribe type communication method; The communication device includes: A receiving unit that receives, from the elevator control device that is communicably connected to the elevator control device itself, the operation information of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device; a publishing unit that switches an operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic every time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-transmission mode in which the publishing is not performed; The server device includes: When receiving the operational information published from the publishing unit, transmitting the received operational information to a destination device that has subscribed to the first topic with respect to the server device; The destination device is Each time the operation information is received from the server device, a process is executed for storing the received operation information in a storage device; The providing device comprises: a function for providing the operation information of the machine, which is available to the terminal device of the user; While the terminal device is using the function, the operation information to be provided is sequentially acquired from the storage device, and the acquired operation information is transmitted to the terminal device. Information provision system.

2. The information code is installed for each car at a position corresponding to the car. The information providing system according to claim 1 .

3. An information providing system for providing operation information regarding the operation status of a front-signal machine of an elevator having a plurality of units installed in a building having a plurality of floors, a data transmission system which, in response to a request from a terminal device of a user of the elevator, which is installed at the elevator hall and reads group information from an information code in which group information identifying a group consisting of the plurality of elevators is recorded, obtains operation information of a target elevator, which is all the elevators included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of elevator control devices which control the target elevator, and transmits each of the obtained operation information to the terminal device; The data transmission system includes a server device functioning as a broker, one or more communication devices, and a providing device, which are capable of communicating with each other using a publish / subscribe type communication method; The communication device includes: A receiving unit that receives, from the elevator control device that is communicably connected to the elevator control device itself, the operation information of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device; a publishing unit that switches an operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic every time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-transmission mode in which the publishing is not performed; The server device includes: When receiving the operational information published from the publishing unit, transmitting the received operational information to a destination device that has subscribed to the first topic with respect to the server device; The destination device is Each time the operation information is received from the server device, a process is executed for storing the received operation information in a storage device; The providing device comprises: a function for providing the operation information of the machine, which is available to the terminal device of the user; While the terminal device is using the function, the operation information to be provided is sequentially acquired from the storage device, and the acquired operation information is transmitted to the terminal device. Information provision system.

4. An information providing system for providing operation information regarding the operation status of a front-signal machine of an elevator having a plurality of units installed in a building having a plurality of floors, a data transmission system for receiving, in response to a request from a terminal device for a user of the elevator, the terminal device which is installed at the elevator hall and reads group information identifying a group consisting of the plurality of elevators and floor information indicating a floor from an information code in which the group information and floor information indicating a floor are recorded, the operation information of a target elevator, which is all the elevators included in the group identified by the read group information, from each of elevator control devices which control the target elevator, and transmits, from the obtained operation information, the operation information of a preceding elevator scheduled to stop at the floor indicated by the read floor information to the terminal device; The data transmission system includes a server device functioning as a broker, one or more communication devices, and a providing device, which are capable of communicating with each other using a publish / subscribe type communication method; The communication device includes: A receiving unit that receives, from the elevator control device that is communicably connected to the elevator control device itself, the operation information of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device; a publishing unit that switches an operation mode between a sending mode in which the receiving unit publishes the received operation information to the server device using a predetermined first topic every time the receiving unit receives the operation information, and a non-transmission mode in which the publishing is not performed; The server device includes: When receiving the operational information published from the publishing unit, transmitting the received operational information to a destination device that has subscribed to the first topic with respect to the server device; The destination device is Each time the operation information is received from the server device, a process is executed for storing the received operation information in a storage device; The providing device comprises: a function for providing the operation information of the machine, which is available to the terminal device of the user; While the terminal device is using the function, the operation information to be provided is sequentially acquired from the storage device, and the acquired operation information is transmitted to the terminal device. Information provision system.

5. The information code is installed near a hall call operation panel provided at the hall.

5. The information providing system according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The operation information includes information indicating the latest moving direction of the vehicle.

5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

7. The operation information includes information indicating the latest floor number on which the vehicle is located.

5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

8. The operation information includes information indicating the latest congestion status of the vehicle.

7. An information providing system according to claim 6.

9. The operation information includes information indicating the latest congestion status of the vehicle. The information providing system according to claim 7.

10. the terminal device causes a display unit to display the operation information acquired from the data transmission system. The information providing system according to claim 1 .

11. The terminal device further causes a layout image of the hall, in which an installation position of the information code is indicated, to be displayed on the display unit. The information providing system according to claim 10.

12. the terminal device displays, among the installation locations, the installation location of the information code from which the machine number information has been read, in a display mode different from the installation locations of the other information codes; The information providing system according to claim 11.

13. the terminal device causes a display unit to display the operation information acquired from the data transmission system.

5. The information providing system according to claim 3 or 4.

14. The terminal device further causes a layout image of the hall, in which an installation position of the information code is indicated, to be displayed on the display unit. The information providing system according to claim 13.

15. the terminal device displays, among the installation positions, the installation position of the information code from which the group information has been read, in a display mode different from that of the installation positions of the other information codes. The information providing system according to claim 14.

16. The elevator control device transmits the operation information to the communication device every time a change occurs in the operation status of the elevator controlled by the elevator control device.

5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

17. The providing device comprises: executes a process for transmitting a request to start transmitting the operation information to the communication device when the function is used from the terminal device after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the function was last used from the terminal device; When the communication device receives the transmission start request, the publishing unit switches the operation mode to the transmission mode.

5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

18. the communication device includes a subscribing unit that, when switching to the transmission mode, subscribes to a second topic created based on machine information identifying the target machine to the server device; the server device transmits a request for continuing transmission of the operation information, which is published by the providing device to the server device using the second topic, to the communication device that subscribes to the second topic with respect to the server device; The publishing unit, during the transmission mode, if the communication device receives the transmission continuation request within a predetermined period of time since the communication device last received the transmission continuation request, the communication device continues the transmission mode; if the predetermined period has elapsed since the communication device last received the transmission continuation request without receiving the transmission continuation request, switching to the non-transmission mode; 5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

19. The providing device comprises: while the operation information is provided from the providing device to the terminal device at a predetermined frequency by the terminal device utilizing the function, the transmission continuation request is published to the server device using the second topic created based on the machine information of the target machine.

20. The information providing system according to claim 18.

20. The function for providing the operation information of the machine is provided by an API (Application Programming Interface), 5. An information providing system according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

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