Elevator voice guidance output device and elevator voice guidance method

Abstract

It is possible to transmit information of appropriate content to elevator users individually inside the car according to the usage situation. 【Solution means】 It is communicably connected to a camera that photographs the entire inside of the car including elevator users and the car operation panel, and an output device that outputs voice guidance information directed to elevator users, and stores floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel. A floor information storage unit, a common floor information storage unit that stores guidance information common to all floors, and when analyzing the photographed information taken by the camera and detecting a destination floor button operator who operates the destination floor button of the car operation panel, it acquires the attribute information of the destination floor button operator. An analysis unit, an output control unit that acquires floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel or guidance information common to all floors from the floor information storage unit or the common floor information storage unit based on the attribute information acquired by the analysis unit, and causes it to be output as voice guidance information from the output device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an elevator voice guidance output device and an elevator voice guidance method.

Background Art

[0002] When transmitting information, notices, advertisements, etc. from the building side to building users, it is necessary for the building users to recognize the information content. Conventionally, as a method for building users to recognize the information content, there are posters pasted on the wall surface. However, although building users recognize that the posters are pasted on a predetermined wall, if they do not notice that the posters have been replaced and the content has changed, the meaning of information transmission is lost.

[0003] In addition, there is a technology for individually transmitting information corresponding to each destination floor to elevator users in the car as sound. By using this technology, elevator users can receive information transmitted from the building side without searching for information themselves, and can effectively utilize the moving time in the elevator.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, conventionally, when transmitting information, notices, advertisements, etc. from the building side to building users or elevator users, posters and digital signage are used, and it is necessary for building users to search for information themselves.

[0006] In addition, elevator users have different destinations, and the information they seek also varies. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology that can individually convey information according to each destination floor to elevator users, rather than simply displaying common information using posters or digital signage.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an elevator voice guidance output device and an elevator voice guidance method capable of individually transmitting information according to the destination floor to elevator users as sound.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] An elevator voice guidance output device according to an embodiment for achieving the above object is communicably connected to a camera that photographs the entire interior of the elevator car including elevator users and the car operation panel, and an output device that outputs voice guidance information directed to elevator users.

[0009] In addition, a floor information storage unit that stores floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel, a common information storage unit for all floors that stores guidance information common to all floors, and analyzes the photographed information captured by the camera to detect a destination floor button operator who operates the destination floor button of the car operation panel, an analysis unit that acquires attribute information of the destination floor button operator, and based on the attribute information acquired by the analysis unit, acquires floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel or guidance information common to all floors from the floor information storage unit or the common information storage unit for all floors, and an output control unit that causes the output device to output it as voice guidance information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] <Configuration of an elevator system using the voice guidance output device of the embodiment> FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0012] The elevator system 1 includes a camera 31 installed in the car of the elevator 10, a first super-directional speaker 21, a second super-directional speaker 22, a third super-directional speaker 23, a fourth super-directional speaker 24, a normal speaker 25, and a voice guidance output device 50. The voice guidance output device 50 is communicably connected to the camera 31, the first super-directional speaker 21, the second super-directional speaker 22, the third super-directional speaker 23, the fourth super-directional speaker 24, and the normal speaker 25.

[0013] In the present embodiment, a case where the voice guidance output device 50 is connected to one camera 31, four super-directional speakers 21 to 24, and one normal speaker 25 installed for one elevator will be described. However, it may be connected to one camera, three or less or five or more super-directional speakers, and one normal speaker installed for one elevator.

[0014] The elevator 10 has a car operation panel 11 and a destination floor button 12 arranged on the car operation panel 11. The destination floor button 12 registers the destination floor when the user who has entered the car presses the destination floor button of interest. In the embodiment, a building with destination floors (stop floors) from the first floor to the tenth floor is assumed.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 31 is installed in the ceiling near the entrance and photographs the entire area AR1 in the car, including the users of the elevator 10 and the car operation panel 11.

[0016] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the first super-directional speaker 21 outputs audio information toward the first area AR11. The second super-directional speaker 22 outputs audio information toward the second area AR12. The third super-directional speaker 23 outputs audio information toward the third area AR13. The fourth super-directional speaker 24 outputs audio information toward the fourth area AR14. The normal speaker 25 outputs audio information toward the entire area AR1 inside the car. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the standing position (in-car location area) of the elevator user inside the car is such that the destination floor button operator 41 is located in the third area AR13. The destination floor button operators 42 and 43 during conversation are located in the fourth area AR14. The destination floor button operator 44 looking at the mobile terminal is located in the first area AR11. The destination floor button operators 45 wearing earphones are respectively located in the second area AR12.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the voice guidance output device 50 includes a CPU 51 and a storage unit 52.

[0018] The CPU 51 is, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) provided in a general-purpose microcomputer. By installing and executing a predetermined elevator movement time effective utilization program, functionally, the CPU 51 includes an imaging information acquisition unit 511, an analysis unit 512, and an audio output control unit 513.

[0019] The imaging information acquisition unit 511 acquires the imaging information captured by the camera 31.

[0020] The analysis unit 512 analyzes the imaging information acquired by the imaging information acquisition unit 511 to detect a user (destination floor button operator) who presses the destination floor button 12 of the car operation panel 11 inside the elevator 10. When the analysis unit 512 detects a destination floor button operator, it further acquires the attribute information of this destination floor button operator. The attribute information of the destination floor button operator includes the destination floor of the destination floor button operator and the standing position of the destination floor button operator inside the car.

[0021] The voice output control unit 513 acquires information corresponding to the attribute information of the destination floor button operator acquired by the analysis unit 512 from the storage unit 52, and selects one or more and four or less of the first super-directional speaker 21, the second super-directional speaker 22, the third super-directional speaker 23, or the fourth super-directional speaker 24, or selects the normal speaker 25 and causes it to output.

[0022] The storage unit 52 includes a floor information storage unit 521 and a common information storage unit 522 for all floors. The floor information storage unit 521 stores floor information set for each floor. The common information storage unit 522 for all floors stores common guidance information transmitted to the entire inside of the car including auto-announcement, for example, guidance information common to all floors from the first floor to the tenth floor.

[0023] <Operation of the elevator system according to the embodiment> The operation of the elevator system 1 according to the embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the analysis unit 512 of the voice guidance output device 50 acquires, as attribute information, whether the destination floor button operator is wearing earphones, whether a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet is being used, and whether there is a conversation.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the selection of the target person to be executed by the voice guidance output device 50 for the elevator 10 during the operation of the elevator system 1.

[0025] The selection of the target person to be executed by the voice guidance output device 50 for the elevator 10 will be described. During the operation of the elevator system 1, the imaging information acquisition unit 511 of the voice guidance output device 50 sequentially acquires the imaging information captured by the camera 31 (S1). The analysis unit 512 analyzes the acquired imaging information and monitors whether there is a destination floor button operator in the entire car area AR1 (S2).

[0026] When the analysis unit 512 detects the destination floor button operator from the imaging information (''YES'' in S2), it further analyzes the imaging information to acquire information indicating whether the number of this destination floor button operators is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 (S3).

[0027] Here, when the analysis unit 512 acquires information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators is equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 (\"YES\" in S3), the voice output control unit 513 acquires floor information corresponding to the destination floor, which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator (for example, the 5th floor) from the floor information storage unit 521, and causes the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 corresponding to the standing position (in-car location area) in the car, which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator, to output (S4).

[0028] When, in step S3, the analysis unit 512 acquires information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators is not equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 (\"NO\" in S3), further information indicating whether the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones is equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 is acquired (S5).

[0029] Here, when the analysis unit 512 acquires information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones is equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 (\"YES\" in S5), the voice output control unit 513 acquires floor information corresponding to the destination floor, which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator (for example, the 6th floor) from the floor information storage unit 521, and causes the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 corresponding to the standing position (in-car location area) in the car, which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator, to output (S4). In the example of FIG. 2 When, in step S3, the analysis unit 512 acquires information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones is not equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 (\"NO\" in S5), further information indicating whether the number of destination floor button operators not using a mobile terminal is equal to or less than the number of the super-directional speakers 21 to 24 is acquired (S6).

[0030] Here, when the analysis unit 512 obtains information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not using the mobile terminal is less than or equal to the number of hyper-directional speakers ( "YES" in S6), the voice output control unit 513 obtains floor information corresponding to the destination floor, which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator, from the floor information storage unit 521, and causes it to be output from the hyper-directional speakers 21 to 24 according to the in-car location (in-car location area) which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator (S4).

[0031] When, in step S6, information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not using the mobile terminal is not less than or equal to the number of hyper-directional speakers is obtained ( "NO" in S6), further information indicating whether the number of destination floor button operators not engaged in conversation is less than or equal to the number of hyper-directional speakers 21 to 24 is obtained (S7).

[0032] Here, when the analysis unit 512 obtains information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not engaged in conversation is less than or equal to the number of hyper-directional speakers ( "YES" in S7), the voice output control unit 513 obtains floor information corresponding to the destination floor (for example, the 10th floor), which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator, from the floor information storage unit 521, and causes it to be output from the hyper-directional speakers 21 to 24 according to the in-car location area which is the attribute information of the destination floor button operator (S4).

[0033] When, in step S7, information indicating that the number of destination floor button operators not engaged in conversation is not less than or equal to the number of hyper-directional speakers 21 to 24 is obtained ( "NO" in S7), the voice output control unit 513 obtains the common floor information from the common floor information storage unit 522 and causes it to be output from the normal speaker 25 (S8).

[0034] While the elevator system 1 is operating, the voice guidance output device 50 repeats the processes of steps S1 to S8 for the elevator 10 to execute target person selection.

[0035] In this way, according to this embodiment, information corresponding to the destination floor can be individually transmitted as sound to elevator users, and the time during movement can be set as the time for providing information according to each elevator user. As a result, for users, it is possible to save the trouble of searching for floor information by themselves, and it is possible to provide an elevator voice guidance output device and an elevator voice guidance method that enable more efficient and meaningful building use guidance and notification. <Modification Example>

[0036] The wall surface constituting the car compartment may be composed of a sound-absorbing member that absorbs the reflection of the sound emitted from the super-directional speakers 21 to 24. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the reflection of highly directional sound from the wall surface, so that it is possible to suppress providing floor information to users on other floors due to reflection, and it is possible to provide the service only to users who truly want to receive the floor information.

[0037] As described above, some embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0038] 1... Elevator system, 10... Elevator, 11... Car operation panel, 12... Destination floor button, 50... Voice guidance output device, 21... First super-directional speaker, 22... Second super-directional speaker, 23... Third super-directional speaker, 24... Fourth super-directional speaker, 25... Normal speaker, 31... Camera, 41... Destination floor button operator, 42, 43... Destination floor button operators in conversation, 44... Destination floor button operator looking at a mobile terminal, 45... Destination floor button operator wearing earphones, 51... CPU, 52... Storage unit, 511... Imaging information acquisition unit, 512... Analysis unit, 513... Voice output control unit, 521... Floor information storage unit, 522... Common information storage unit for all floors

Claims

1. A camera that photographs the entire inside of the elevator car, including elevator users and the car operation panel, and an output device that outputs voice guidance information directed to the elevator users, are communicably connected, a floor information storage unit that stores floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel, a common information storage unit for all floors that stores guidance information common to all floors, an analysis unit that analyzes the photographed information taken by the camera, detects a destination floor button operator who operates the destination floor button of the car operation panel, and acquires attribute information of the destination floor button operator, an output control unit that, based on the attribute information acquired by the analysis unit, acquires floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel or guidance information common to all floors from the floor information storage unit or the common information storage unit for all floors, and causes the output device to output it as voice guidance information. An elevator voice guidance output device comprising:

2. The analysis unit acquires, as attribute information of the destination floor button operator, the destination floor of the destination floor button operator and the standing position of the destination floor button operator inside the car, and information indicating whether the destination floor button operator is wearing earphones, information indicating whether the destination floor button operator is looking at a mobile terminal when not wearing earphones, and information indicating whether the destination floor button operator is in conversation when not wearing earphones and not looking at a mobile terminal. The elevator voice guidance output device according to claim 1, which acquires at least any one of the above.

3. The output device includes a super-directional speaker arranged on the ceiling that delivers sound over a narrow range and a long distance, and a normal speaker that transmits sound throughout the inside of the car including auto-announcement, The output control unit When the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers, causes the super-directional speaker to output floor information corresponding to the destination floor to the destination floor button operator not wearing the earphones, When the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones exceeds the number of the super-directional speakers, but the number of destination floor button operators not using a mobile terminal is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers, causes the super-directional speaker to output floor information corresponding to the destination floor to the destination floor button operator not using the mobile terminal, When the number of destination floor button operators not using a mobile terminal exceeds the number of the super-directional speakers, but the number of destination floor button operators not in conversation is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers, output floor information corresponding to the destination floor from the super-directional speakers toward the destination floor button operator not in conversation. When the number of destination floor button operators is greater than the number of the super-directional speakers, output the guidance information in the common information storage unit for all floors from the normal speaker toward all elevator users in the car. The voice guidance output device for an elevator according to claim 2.

4. The voice guidance output device for an elevator according to claim 1, comprising a sound absorption member that absorbs reflection of the voice emitted from the output device.

5. Store floor information set for each destination floor of the car operation panel and guidance information common to all floors in the building. When analyzing shooting information from a camera that shoots the entire car including elevator users and the car operation panel and detecting a destination floor button operator who operates the destination floor button of the car operation panel, obtain the destination floor of the destination floor button operator and the standing position of the destination floor button operator in the car as the attribute information of the destination floor button operator. When the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones is less than or equal to the number of super-directional speakers arranged on the ceiling, output floor information corresponding to the destination floor from the super-directional speakers toward the destination floor button operator not wearing earphones. When the number of destination floor button operators not wearing earphones exceeds the number of the super-directional speakers, but the number of destination floor button operators not using a mobile terminal is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers, output floor information corresponding to the destination floor from the super-directional speakers toward the destination floor button operator not using a mobile terminal. When the number of destination floor button operators not using a mobile terminal exceeds the number of the super-directional speakers, but the number of destination floor button operators not in conversation is less than or equal to the number of the super-directional speakers, output floor information corresponding to the destination floor from the super-directional speakers toward the destination floor button operator not in conversation. When the number of destination floor button operators is greater than the number of the super-directional speakers, output guidance information common to all floors in the building from the normal speaker toward all elevator users in the car. A voice guidance method for an elevator.

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