Elevator content output system

Abstract

The present invention provides a content output system for suppressing output of undesirable content according to the usage status of an elevator. A content output system (12) comprises a reception unit (19), a user information acquisition unit (20), and a selection unit (24). The reception unit (19) receives request information representing a call requested by a user of an elevator (1) from a mobile terminal (16) of the user. The user information acquisition unit (20) acquires user attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information when the reception unit (19) has received the request information. The selection unit (24) extracts output-allowable content by excluding, from among pieces of content, content for which the user attribute of one of users riding in an elevator (5) is associated with a non-output attribute. The selection unit (24) selects content to be output to an output device (13) provided in the elevator (5) from among the extracted one or more pieces of output allowable content.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a content output system for an elevator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an example of a procedure for providing content in an elevator, in which at least one individual user profile with multimedia content is stored for a user, and in the elevator, the identified user is provided with the multimedia content stored in the user profile. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-330963 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the elevator of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that other users may feel uncomfortable with the content provided based on the user profile of a certain user. In this way, depending on the usage situation of the elevator, there is a possibility that undesirable content may be output.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to solving such problems, and provides a content output system that can suppress the output of undesirable content depending on the usage status of an elevator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elevator content output system according to the present disclosure comprises a reception unit that receives request information representing a call requested by a user of an elevator having a car equipped with an output device from a mobile terminal carried by the user, a user information acquisition unit that acquires user attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information when the reception unit receives the request information, and a selection unit that extracts output allowable content from a plurality of contents that can be output to the output device and are each associated with a non-output attribute, by excluding content that is associated as a non-output attribute with any of the user attributes of one or more users riding in the car, and when one or more output allowable contents are extracted, selects a content to be output to the output device from the one or more output allowable contents. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the content output system according to the present disclosure, the output of undesirable content can be suppressed depending on the elevator usage status. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a table showing an example of information on contents that can be output in the content output system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content output system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content output system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a main part of a content output system according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The embodiments for carrying out the subject of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. Note that the subject of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any component of the embodiment may be modified or omitted within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The elevator 1 is applied to, for example, a building having multiple floors. A hoistway 2 for the elevator 1 is provided in the building. The hoistway 2 is a long space in the vertical direction that spans the multiple floors. The elevator 1 includes a hoisting machine 3, a main rope 4, a car 5, a counterweight 6, and a control panel 7.

[0012] The hoisting machine 3 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 2. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 1 is provided above the hoistway 2, the hoisting machine 3 may be disposed in the machine room. The hoisting machine 3 includes a motor that generates driving force and a sheave that rotates by the driving force generated by the motor.

[0013] The main rope 4 is wound around the sheave of the hoisting machine 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of a car 5 on one side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of a counterweight 6 on the other side of the sheave of the hoisting machine 3. The main rope 4 moves so as to be wound up onto the sheave of the hoisting machine 3 or to be unwound from the sheave of the hoisting machine 3 by the driving force generated by the motor of the hoisting machine 3.

[0014] The car 5 is a device that transports users of the elevator 1 and the like between multiple floors by traveling up and down the hoistway 2. The car 5 is equipped with a car door 8. The car door 8 is a door that separates the inside and outside of the car 5. The car door 8 opens and closes to allow users to get on and off the car 5 when the car 5 stops at any floor. The counterweight 6 is a device that balances the load applied to both sides of the sheave of the hoisting machine 3 between the car 5 and the counterweight 6. The car 5 and the counterweight 6 travel in opposite directions to each other up and down the hoistway 2 in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 4.

[0015] The control panel 7 is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 1. The control panel 7 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 2. For example, when a machine room for the elevator 1 is provided above the hoistway 2, the control panel 7 may be disposed in the machine room. The operation of the elevator 1 controlled by the control panel 7 includes, for example, the running of the car 5. The control panel 7 is connected to the hoist 3 and the car 5 so as to be able to output control signals for the elevator 1 and to be able to obtain information on the status of the elevator 1.

[0016] A remote monitoring device 9 is applied to the elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is a device used for remotely monitoring the state of the elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is connected to a control panel 7 so as to be able to collect information on the state of the elevator 1 and to be able to output a control signal from outside to the elevator 1. The information collected by the remote monitoring device 9 is transmitted to a central management device 11 via a communication network 10 such as the Internet or a telephone line. The central management device 11 is a device that collects and manages information on the state of the elevator 1. The central management device 11 is provided at a base such as an information center. The central management device 11 is composed of, for example, one or more server devices. A part or all of the functions of the central management device 11 may be implemented by processing and storage resources on a cloud service.

[0017] A content output system 12 is applied to the elevator 1. The content output system 12 is a system that outputs content to be provided to users of the elevator 1. The content is, for example, video or audio, or a combination thereof. The content output system 12 may be an internal system of the elevator 1, or may be an external system applied to the elevator 1 from the outside. The content output system 12 includes an output device 13 and an output control unit 14. The output device 13 is a device that provides content to users by, for example, video and audio. In this example, the output device 13 provides content to users by displaying video. The output device 13 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. The output device 13 is provided inside the car 5. The output control unit 14 is a part that has a function of controlling the output of the output device 13. The output control unit 14 is, for example, a display controller. The output control unit 14 is connected to, for example, the control panel 7 or the remote monitoring device 9.

[0018] In the elevator 1, one or more transmitters 15 are provided. The transmitter 15 is a device that transmits a wireless signal. The transmitter 15 is, for example, a wireless beacon. The wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter 15 is, for example, a wireless signal such as a short-range wireless communication signal. In this example, the transmitter 15 is disposed at the elevator 1 landing of each floor.

[0019] A user of the elevator 1 carries a mobile terminal 16. The mobile terminal 16 is, for example, a portable general-purpose information processing terminal such as a smartphone. The mobile terminal 16 connects to the communication network 10 by wireless communication. The mobile terminal 16 may be equipped with a function such as short-range wireless communication.

[0020] In this example, a user registers usage information of the elevator 1 through the mobile terminal 16. The usage information includes, for example, information such as the user's destination floor. The registered usage information may be stored in the mobile terminal 16, or may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11, for example, together with identification information that identifies the user. At this time, the usage information is stored in the central management device 11, for example, in association with the identification information that identifies the user. The identification information that identifies the user is, for example, stored in advance in the mobile terminal 16. The user may be identified by the identification information of the mobile terminal 16 that the user possesses.

[0021] For example, when the mobile terminal 16 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 15, the mobile terminal 16 transmits request information representing a call requested by a user carrying the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11. The mobile terminal 16 may transmit request information of a call requested by the user to the central management device 11 based on, for example, an operation of the user. At this time, the central management device 11 acquires call information based on the request information. The call information includes, for example, information such as the user's departure floor and destination floor. The call information may be included in the request information, or may be read from the usage information registered based on the identification information transmitted by the mobile terminal 16 together with the request information. Based on the acquired call information, the central management device 11 outputs a control signal for registering the call requested by the user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 through the remote monitoring device 9. The control panel 7 registers the requested call based on the input control signal. The control panel 7 controls the running of the car 5 so as to respond to the registered call.

[0022] Furthermore, the user may register the user attributes of the user himself / herself through the mobile terminal 16. The user attributes are information that indicates the attributes of the user, such as, for example, "the user is an adult," "the user is a child," or "a parent with a child." The registered user attributes may be stored in the mobile terminal 16, or may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11, for example, together with identification information that identifies the user. At this time, the user attributes are stored in the central management device 11, for example, in association with the identification information that identifies the user.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a table showing an example of information on contents that can be output by the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

[0024] The content output system 12 manages information on each content that can be output to the output device 13 as a content list as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The content list includes information such as the title, output time, content attribute, and non-output attribute for each content. The output time of a content is the time required to output the content. If the content is a video, the output time is the display time of the video, for example. The content attribute is information that indicates the attribute of the content, for example, "anime" or "mathematics". The content attribute may include a user attribute of a user targeted by the content, for example, "the user is an adult", "the user is a child", or "a parent with a child". The non-output attribute is a user attribute of a user not targeted by the content, for example, "the user is an adult" or "the user is a child".

[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

[0026] The content output system 12 includes a content management unit 17, a user information storage unit 18, a reception unit 19, a user information acquisition unit 20, a call registration unit 21, a number of users detection unit 22, a required time calculation unit 23, and a selection unit 24. The content management unit 17, the user information storage unit 18, the reception unit 19, the user information acquisition unit 20, the call registration unit 21, the number of users detection unit 22, the required time calculation unit 23, and the selection unit 24 are mounted on, for example, the central management device 11.

[0027] The content management unit 17 is a section equipped with a function for managing the content to be output. The content management unit 17 manages, for example, information on the content as a content list. In this example, the content management unit 17 manages information on each piece of content itself on the content list. The content management unit 17 may also manage information on external resources such as the source from which each piece of content itself on the content list is obtained.

[0028] The user information storage unit 18 is a part that has a function of storing information. The user information storage unit 18 stores, for example, the usage information of a user of the elevator 1 in association with the identification information of the user. The user information storage unit 18 also stores the user attributes of the user in association with the identification information of the user. In this example, the user information storage unit 18 stores the output refusal attribute, output desired attribute, and confidentiality desired attribute of the user in association with the identification information of the user. The output refusal attribute of the user is information that represents the attribute of a content that the user does not like to be output to the output device 13. The output desired attribute of the user is information that represents the attribute of a content that the user desires to be output to the output device 13. The confidentiality desired attribute of the user is information that represents the attribute of a content that the user desires to be concealed from others as the output desired attribute of the user, among the output desired attributes of the user. Information such as the user attribute, the output refusal attribute, the output desired attribute, and the confidentiality desired attribute is, for example, registered in advance by the user through the mobile terminal 16 in the same manner as the usage information.

[0029] The reception unit 19 is a part equipped with a function of receiving request information indicating a call requested by a user from the mobile terminal 16 carried by the user.

[0030] The user information acquisition unit 20 is a part that has a function of acquiring user attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information when the reception unit 19 accepts the request information. The user information acquisition unit 20 reads, for example, identification information included in the request information. Using the read identification information as a key, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires information such as the usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes that are associated with the identification information and stored in the user information storage unit 18. Note that when the request information includes information such as the user's usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes, the user information acquisition unit 20 may read the information from the request information.

[0031] The call registration unit 21 is a part equipped with a function of outputting a control signal for registering a call requested by a user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the call registration unit 21 acquires call information represented by the request information. The call registration unit 21 acquires the call information, for example, by using usage information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 based on identification information included in the request information. The call registration unit 21 outputs a control signal for registering a call requested by a user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 via the remote monitoring device 9 based on the acquired call information.

[0032] The number of passengers detection unit 22 is a part equipped with a function of detecting the number of passengers riding in the car 5 of the elevator 1. The number of passengers detection unit 22 detects the number of passengers riding in the car 5 based on, for example, call information registered by the call registration unit 21. The required time calculation unit 23 is a part equipped with a function of calculating the travel time required for the car 5 from when the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 closes until it opens again. The required time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time required for the car 5 based on, for example, call information registered by the call registration unit 21. The number of passengers detection unit 22 and the required time calculation unit 23 may obtain the position of the car 5, the travel speed of the car 5, the response status of the car 5 to a call, or other necessary information from the elevator 1 via, for example, the remote monitoring device 9.

[0033] The selection unit 24 is a part that has a function of selecting content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 selects content to be output by the output device 13 from a plurality of contents managed by the content management unit 17, for example, in the following manner.

[0034] The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13, for example, after the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 is closed. The selection unit 24 collects information on user attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. Here, the user information acquisition unit 20 may determine whether or not the user is currently riding in the car 5, for example, based on information on the user's call and the state of response to the call of the car 5. The selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed content by excluding content to which the user attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 are associated as non-output attributes from among the contents managed by the content management unit 17. For example, when a user with the user attribute "the user is an adult" is riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed content excluding content for which the attribute "the user is an adult" is set as a non-output attribute. When collecting a plurality of user attributes, the selection unit 24 excludes content for which the attribute is set as a non-output attribute for each user attribute from the output-allowed content to be extracted.

[0035] When extracting output permitted content, the selection unit 24 may collect information on output refusal attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. For each collected output refusal attribute, the selection unit 24 excludes content for which the attribute is set as a content attribute from the output permitted content to be extracted. For example, when a user who has registered the output refusal attribute "child" is riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts output permitted content excluding content for which the attribute "child" is set as a content attribute.

[0036] When extracting the output permitted content, the selection unit 24 may collect information on the confidentiality desired attribute acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. At this time, the selection unit 24 acquires information on the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22. When the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22 is multiple, the selection unit 24 excludes content from the output permitted content based on the confidentiality desired attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 excludes content for which the collected confidentiality desired attribute is set as a content attribute from the output permitted content to be extracted for each collected confidentiality desired attribute. For example, when multiple users including a user who has registered the confidentiality desired attribute "anime" are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts the output permitted content excluding content for which the attribute "anime" is set as a content attribute. Here, when the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22 is one, the selection unit 24 does not exclude content based on the confidentiality desired attribute. For example, when only users who have registered the confidentiality-desired attribute "anime" are riding in cage 5, the selection unit 24 does not exclude content for which the attribute "anime" is set as a content attribute from the output-allowed content based solely on the confidentiality-desired attribute.

[0037] When one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content to be output to the output device 13. For example, from the extracted output permitted contents, the selection unit 24 selects a content to be output to the output device 13 by giving priority to a content to which the user attributes collected about each user currently riding in the car 5 correspond as a content attribute.

[0038] When selecting content to be output by the output device 13, the selection unit 24 may collect information on the desired output attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. For example, from among the extracted output permitted contents, the selection unit 24 selects content to be output by the output device 13 by giving priority to content for which the desired output attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 are associated as content attributes. For example, the selection unit 24 may select content based on the desired output attributes more preferentially than content based only on user attributes.

[0039] The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output to the output device 13 by, for example, scoring the extracted output-allowed content. For example, the selection unit 24 adds a score for the number of users of the user attribute to the content to which the user attribute collected about each user currently riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. For example, the selection unit 24 adds a score for the number of users who have registered the output-desired attribute to the content to which the output-desired attribute collected about each user currently riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. The score based on the output-desired attribute may be set higher than the score based on the user attribute. The selection unit 24 selects the content with the highest score from the extracted output-allowed content as the content to be output to the output device 13. The selection unit 24 may also select the content using the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit 23. The selection unit 24 selects, for example, from the extracted output-permitted contents, the content with the highest score among the contents whose output time is within the required driving time, as the content to be output by the output device 13. Note that the selection unit 24 may select content from the extracted output-permitted contents by using other methods.

[0040] When there is no selectable content, the selection unit 24 sets a preset default content as the content to be output by the output device 13. Here, when there is no selectable content, this corresponds to a case where no output-allowed content is extracted, or a case where there are multiple contents with the highest scores among the extracted output-allowed contents and they compete with each other. The default content is, for example, a scenic image or weather information, which is unlikely to cause discomfort to many users.

[0041] The selection unit 24 transmits information on the selected content to the output control unit 14, for example, via the remote monitoring device 9. The selection unit 24 may transmit information on the selected content itself to the output control unit 14, or may transmit information on an external resource such as an acquisition destination of the selected content itself to the output control unit 14. The output control unit 14 causes the output device 13 to output the selected content based on the information transmitted from the selection unit 24. The output control unit 14 may previously acquire information on the content that can be output to the output device 13 from the acquisition destination. The previously acquired content is stored, for example, in a storage device inside the output control unit 14. At this time, the selection unit 24 transmits information identifying the selected content to the output control unit 14. The output control unit 14 reads out the content identified by the information transmitted from the selection unit 24, for example, from an internal storage device, and outputs the content to the output device 13. When the content identified by the information transmitted from the selection unit 24 is not stored in the internal storage device, the output control unit 14 may acquire the content from the acquisition destination.

[0042] More specifically, for example, in the content list shown in Fig. 2, content is selected as follows: User A's user attributes are "adult" and "adult with no children," and user A has registered "anime" and "math" as attributes he wishes to output, and has registered "anime" as an attribute he wishes to keep secret. User B's user attribute is "child," and user B has registered "math" as an attribute he wishes to refuse to output. User C's user attributes are "adult" and "parent with a child in junior high school."

[0043] When user A and user B are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the user attribute "adult without children" of user A. The selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the user attribute "child" of user B. The selection unit 24 excludes the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the output refusal attribute "mathematics" of user B. At this time, since no output-permitted content is extracted, the selection unit 24 transmits default content to the output control unit 14. As a result, user A, who is an adult, is not provided with content targeted at children, and is therefore unlikely to feel discomfort. Furthermore, user B is not provided with mathematics content that he does not want to see, and is therefore unlikely to feel discomfort.

[0044] When user A and user C are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output allowable content to be extracted based on the user attribute "adult without children" of user A. Since two users are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the output allowable content to be extracted based on the confidentiality desired attribute "anime" of user B. The selection unit 24 extracts the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" as the output allowable content. The selection unit 24 selects the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" from the extracted output allowable content based on the output desired attribute "mathematics" of user A and the output desired attribute "parent with junior high school children" of user C. As a result, the anime content according to user A's preferences is not output when another user C is riding in the car at the request of user A, so that user A's preferences are concealed from others.

[0045] When only user A is riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output allowable contents to be extracted based on the user attribute "adult without children" of user A. Since there is only one user riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" and "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" as output allowable contents. In this example, the required time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time to be 15 seconds. At this time, the selection unit 24 selects the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the extracted output allowable contents based on the required travel time and user A's output desired attribute "anime". As a result, the anime content according to user A's preferences is output according to user A's wishes, so user A can spend his / her time using the elevator 1 comfortably.

[0046] Next, an example of the operation of the content output system 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

[0047] In step S101, the content output system 12 judges whether the reception unit 19 has received request information from the user's mobile terminal 16. If the judgment result is No, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S101 again. If the judgment result is Yes, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S102.

[0048] In step S102, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires information such as the usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes of the user who requested the requested information accepted by the acceptance unit 19. Thereafter, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S103.

[0049] In step S103, the selection unit 24 reads the content list managed by the content management unit 17. After that, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S104.

[0050] In step S104, the selection unit 24 extracts output-permitted content from the content on the content list. The extraction of the output-permitted content may be performed, for example, after the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 is closed and the user riding in the car 5 is confirmed. After the extraction of the output-permitted content, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S105.

[0051] In step S105, the selection unit 24 determines whether there is any extracted output-permitted content. If the result of the determination is No, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. If the result of the determination is Yes, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S107.

[0052] In step S106, the selection unit 24 transmits the default content to the output control unit 14. After that, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0053] In step S107, the selection unit 24 judges whether a plurality of pieces of output-permitted content are extracted. If the judgment result is No, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S108. If the judgment result is Yes, the process of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S109.

[0054] In step S108, the selection unit 24 selects only one of the extracted output-permitted contents as the content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 transmits the selected output-permitted content to the output control unit 14. Thereafter, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0055] In step S109, the selection unit 24 performs a process of selecting, from the extracted plurality of output-permitted contents, a content to be output by the output device 13. Thereafter, the process of the content output system 12 ends.

[0056] In step S110, the selection unit 24 determines whether there is any selectable output-permitted content. For example, when the number of selectable output-permitted contents cannot be narrowed down to one due to conflicting user preferences, the selection unit 24 determines that there is no selectable output-permitted content. When there is no selectable output-permitted content, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. When there is selectable output-permitted content, the selection unit 24 selects that content. Thereafter, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S111.

[0057] In step S111, the selection unit 24 transmits the selected output-permitted content to the output control unit 14. After that, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

[0058] As described above, the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment includes the reception unit 19, the user information acquisition unit 20, and the selection unit 24. The elevator 1 has a car 5. The output device 13 is provided in the car 5. The output device 13 outputs a plurality of contents. A non-output attribute is associated with each of the contents. A user of the elevator 1 carries a mobile terminal 16. The reception unit 19 receives request information representing a call requested by the user from the mobile terminal 16 of the user. When the reception unit 19 receives the request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the user attribute of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information. The selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed contents from the plurality of contents by excluding contents associated with the user attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5 as a non-output attribute. When one or more output-allowed contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects a content to be output by the output device 13 from the one or more output-allowed contents.

[0059] With this configuration, output-allowed content is extracted according to the user attributes of the user riding in the car 5 and the non-output attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content. As a result, the content is not output to users with user attributes that are not targeted by the content. This makes it possible to suppress the output of undesirable content according to the usage status of the elevator 1. As a result, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with.

[0060] Furthermore, a content attribute is associated with each piece of content. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the output refusal attribute of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. The selection unit 24 does not extract, as output permitted content, content to which the output refusal attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 extracts, as output permitted content, content to which the output refusal attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5 is not associated as a content attribute.

[0061] With this configuration, output permitted content is extracted according to the output refusal attribute of the user riding in the car 5 and the content attribute of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output permitted content. As a result, content that the user of the elevator 1 does not want to be provided is not provided. This makes it less likely that the content output system 12 will cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with. In addition, the output refusal attribute can reflect the preferences of each user, so that content that takes each user into greater consideration is output.

[0062] Furthermore, each content is associated with a content attribute. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the output desired attributes of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. When one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content associated as a content attribute with the output desired attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5, as the content to be output by the output device 13.

[0063] With this configuration, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content according to the output desired attributes of the user riding in the car 5 and the content attributes of the content. This allows the user of the elevator 1 to be provided with the desired content while taking into consideration other users. In addition, the output desired attributes can reflect the preferences of each user, allowing each user to spend their time using the elevator 1 more comfortably.

[0064] The content output system 12 also includes a number-of-users detection unit 22. The number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the confidentiality-desired attribute of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. When the number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5 as one person, if one or more output-allowed contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output-allowed contents, a content to which the output-desired attribute of the user riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute, as a content to be output by the output device 13. When the number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5 as multiple people, the selection unit 24 does not extract, as an output-allowed content, a content to which the confidentiality-desired attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 extracts, as output-permitted content, content that is not associated as a content attribute with the confidentiality preference attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5.

[0065] With this configuration, when multiple users are in car 5, output-permitted content is extracted according to the confidentiality desired attributes of the users in car 5 and the content attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-permitted content. As a result, content based on the preferences of any one user is not output when other users are on board at the request of that user. Therefore, the preferences of a user are kept confidential from other users at the request of that user. Therefore, content is output with consideration given to the privacy of users.

[0066] The content output system 12 also includes a required time calculation unit 23. The required time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time required for the car 5 from when the car door 8 of the car 5 is closed until it is opened again. When one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, as the content to be output by the output device 13, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content whose output time is within the travel required time calculated by the required time calculation unit 23.

[0067] With this configuration, the output of the content selected by the selection unit 24 is completed within the time required for the car 5 to travel. Therefore, since the content is not output while the user is getting on or off the car 5, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 getting on or off the car 5 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with.

[0068] Moreover, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 after the car door 8 is closed.

[0069] With this configuration, the content is selected after the user riding in the car 5 is determined, so that the output of undesirable content depending on the usage status of the elevator 1 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0070] The content selected in the content output system 12 may be a character to be displayed on the output device 13, or a costume for that character.

[0071] Some or all of the content management unit 17, user information storage unit 18, reception unit 19, user information acquisition unit 20, call registration unit 21, number of people detection unit 22, required time calculation unit 23, and selection unit 24 of the content output system 12 may be mounted on the control panel 7, the remote monitoring device 9, or other equipment of the elevator 1. Some or all of these units of the content output system 12 may be provided integrally with the output control unit 14 or the output device 13.

[0072] Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the content output system 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the main part of the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

[0073] Each function of the processing in the content output system 12 may be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may include at least one dedicated hardware 200 together with or in place of the processor 100a and the memory 100b.

[0074] When the processing circuit includes the processor 100a and the memory 100b, each function of the content output system 12 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a realizes each function of the content output system 12 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b.

[0075] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 100b is composed of a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

[0076] Where the processing circuitry comprises dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuitry may be implemented, for example, as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0077] Each processing function in the content output system 12 can be realized by a processing circuit. Alternatively, each function of the content output system 12 can be realized collectively by a processing circuit. Some of the functions of the content output system 12 may be realized by dedicated hardware 200, and the other parts may be realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit realizes each function of the content output system 12 by dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination of these. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] The content output system according to the present disclosure can be applied to an elevator. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 elevator, 2 hoistway, 3 hoist, 4 main rope, 5 cage, 6 counterweight, 7 control panel, 8 cage door, 9 remote monitoring device, 10 communication network, 11 central management device, 12 content output system, 13 output device, 14 output control unit, 15 transmitter, 16 mobile terminal, 17 content management unit, 18 user information storage unit, 19 reception unit, 20 user information acquisition unit, 21 call registration unit, 22 number of people detection unit, 23 required time calculation unit, 24 selection unit, 100a processor, 100b memory, 200 dedicated hardware

Claims

1. a reception unit that receives request information representing a call requested by a user of an elevator having a car provided with an output device from a mobile terminal carried by the user; a user information acquisition unit that acquires user attributes of a user who has requested a call represented by the request information when the request information is received by the reception unit; a selection unit that extracts output-permitted contents by excluding contents that are associated as a non-output attribute with any of user attributes of one or more users riding in the car from among a plurality of contents that can be output to the output device and are each associated with a non-output attribute, and when one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, selects a content to be output to the output device from the one or more output-permitted contents; A content output system for an elevator comprising:

2. A content attribute is associated with each of the plurality of contents; the user information acquisition unit, when the reception unit receives the request information, acquires an output refusal attribute of a user who has requested the call represented by the request information; the selection unit does not extract, as an output permitted content, a content to which an output refusal attribute of any one of the one or more users riding in the car is associated as a content attribute. The elevator content output system according to claim 1 .

3. A content attribute is associated with each of the plurality of contents; the user information acquisition unit acquires, when the reception unit receives the request information, desired output attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information; when one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content having an output desired attribute of one or more users riding in the car associated as a content attribute, as a content to be output by the output device; The elevator content output system according to claim 1 .

4. A number-of-passengers detection unit that detects the number of passengers riding in the car Equipped with the user information acquisition unit acquires, when the reception unit receives the request information, a confidentiality preference attribute of a user who has requested a call represented by the request information; The selection unit is when the number-of-users detection unit detects the number of users riding in the car as one person, if one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, a content having a content attribute corresponding to an output desired attribute of the user riding in the car as a content attribute is selected from the one or more output-permitted contents as a content to be output by the output device; When the number of users detection unit detects the number of users riding in the car as a plurality of users, a content having a confidentiality desire attribute of any of the plurality of users riding in the car as a content attribute is not extracted as an output permitted content. The elevator content output system according to claim 3.

5. a required time calculation unit that calculates a travel time required for the car from when the car door of the car is closed to when the car door is opened again Equipped with when one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content whose output time is within the required running time calculated by the required running time calculation unit, as a content to be output by the output device. The elevator content output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The selection unit selects the content to be output by the output device after the car door is closed. The elevator content output system according to claim 5.

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