Elevator user attribute acquisition system and elevator user attribute acquisition method

Abstract

This system for acquiring elevator user attributes comprises: a first beacon device which is installed at an elevator landing in a facility and which transmits a first beacon signal that includes landing beacon information corresponding to the landing; a second beacon device which is installed in a mobile body used by a user of the facility and which transmits a second beacon signal that includes user attribute beacon information corresponding to user attributes of the mobile body; and a portable terminal. In the event that detection of the second beacon signal has been determined when detection of the first beacon signal has been determined, the portable terminal transmits, to an elevator management device, user attribute information in which the landing beacon information included in the first beacon signal is associated with the user attribute beacon information included in the second beacon signal.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for acquiring elevator user attributes. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an elevator control device that allows stroller users or wheelchair users to use elevators on a priority basis. In this elevator control device, stroller users or wheelchair users, etc., receive a priority card from a priority card issuing device at the entrance of a building, wait near the arrival elevator number written on the priority card at the scheduled arrival time, and use that elevator on a priority basis when it arrives. As a result, stroller users or wheelchair users, etc., are given priority for boarding and appropriate instructions for using the elevator, so that even if the elevator hall is crowded, stroller users or wheelchair users, etc. can use the elevator on a priority basis and comfortably without any trouble. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-238113 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology of Patent Document 1, the elevator control device acquires user attributes such as stroller users or wheelchair users through proactive operations by the users. Such manual input operations by the users are time-consuming for the users. There is a demand for technology that allows a system to acquire user attributes of users using mobile objects such as strollers, wheelchairs, carts, and shopping carts within a facility without the users having to input them manually.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide technology that can obtain user attributes of users using mobile devices such as strollers, wheelchairs, and shopping carts within a facility without requiring manual input by the users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The elevator user attribute acquisition system of the present disclosure includes a first beacon device that is installed at an elevator hall of a facility and transmits a first beacon signal including hall beacon information corresponding to the hall; and a second beacon device that is installed at a mobile body used by a user of the facility and transmits a second beacon signal including user attribute beacon information corresponding to the user attribute of the mobile body. A device carried by a user of the facility detects a first beacon signal transmitted from a first beacon device and a second beacon signal transmitted from a second beacon device. The portable terminal includes a first beacon signal detection unit that determines whether a first beacon signal has been detected, a second beacon signal detection unit that determines whether a second beacon signal has been detected, and a user attribute information transmission unit that, when the detection of the first beacon signal has been determined, transmits user attribute information that associates the hall beacon information included in the first beacon signal with the user attribute beacon information included in the second beacon signal to the elevator management device.

[0007] In addition, the elevator user attribute acquisition method of the present disclosure is executed by a mobile terminal having an application program for receiving facility services implemented therein, which acquires user attributes of a mobile body used by a user waiting at an elevator hall of a facility. In the elevator user attribute acquisition method, the mobile terminal, by starting the application program, performs a first process of determining whether a first beacon signal including hall beacon information corresponding to the hall is detected from a first beacon device installed at the elevator hall of the facility, a second process of determining whether a second beacon signal including user attribute beacon information corresponding to the user attribute of the mobile body is detected, which is transmitted from a second beacon device installed at the mobile body when the first beacon signal is detected, and a third process of determining whether a second beacon signal including user attribute beacon information corresponding to the user attribute of the mobile body is detected. two The user attribute beacon information included in the beacon signal includes oneand a third process of transmitting user attribute information, which is information associated with hall beacon information included in the beacon signal, to the elevator management device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the user attribute acquisition system of the present disclosure, when a mobile terminal determines that it has detected a first beacon signal, it can determine that the mobile terminal is located near a platform where a first beacon device is installed. Therefore, when a mobile terminal detecting a first beacon signal determines that it has detected a second beacon signal, it can determine that a mobile body where a second beacon device, which is the source of the second beacon signal, is installed is located near the platform. This makes it possible to acquire user attributes of users who are presumed to be waiting at a platform without requiring manual input by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overview of an elevator user attribute acquisition system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a user attribute acquisition system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to a facility-specific app that are realized by a processor of a mobile terminal executing a program. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of a routine executed in a user attribute acquisition system. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a modified example of the second beacon signal detection process. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of hardware resources of a mobile terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the various drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] 1. Embodiment 1-1. Overview of the overall configuration of the user attribute acquisition system FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overview of an elevator user attribute acquisition system according to an embodiment. An elevator 10 is, for example, an elevator installed in a large commercial facility. A user attribute acquisition system 100 is a system for acquiring user attributes of facility users waiting at each hall 2 of the elevator 10. The user attributes here are attributes of moving objects accompanying the users, such as a dolly, shopping cart, stroller, wheelchair, etc.

[0012] The user attribute acquisition system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes at least one second beacon device 20, at least one first beacon device 30, at least one mobile terminal 40, a management server 50, and a management device 8.

[0013] The first beacon device 30 is installed at each elevator hall 2 of the elevator 10 in the facility. , Preliminary The first beacon device 30 may be installed only in one or more halls 2 set for the purpose. The first beacon device 30 functions as a transmitter that periodically transmits weak radio wave information including three types of identifiers: UUID, Major, and Minor. This radio wave information is hereinafter referred to as the "first beacon signal." The first beacon signal includes hall beacon information corresponding to the hall 2 where the first beacon device 30 is installed. The hall beacon information includes information on the elevator 10 and the floor of the hall 2, such as "12345670-001, 3F." The transmission interval and transmitted radio wave intensity of the first beacon signal transmitted by the first beacon device 30 can be set appropriately according to various standards.

[0014] The second beacon device 20 is installed in each of the moving bodies M. The second beacon device 20 functions as a transmitter that periodically transmits weak radio wave information including three types of identifiers: UUID, Major, and Minor. This radio wave information is hereinafter referred to as the "second beacon signal." The second beacon signal includes user attribute beacon information corresponding to the user attribute of the moving body M in which it is installed, and unique identification information of the moving body M. The transmission interval and transmitted radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal transmitted by the second beacon device 20 can be set appropriately according to various standards.

[0015] The mobile terminal 40 is a portable terminal device carried by a facility user. Examples of the mobile terminal 40 include a smartphone and a tablet. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a user A carries the mobile terminal 40. The mobile terminal 40 is configured to be able to communicate with the management server 50 via a communication network 52.

[0016] The mobile terminal 40 has an operating system and application program software installed on its hardware. The application program includes, for example, a dedicated application program for receiving services within a commercial facility. This application program is hereinafter referred to as a "facility-specific application." The facility-specific application is executed under the operating system to realize various functions described below.

[0017] The management server 50 receives the information transmitted from the mobile terminal 40 and transmits the information to the management device 8 of the target elevator 10. The management server 50 is installed, for example, within the facility where the elevator 10 is installed or in a remote location away from the facility.

[0018] The management device 8 is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 10 based on information received from the management server 50. The operation of the elevator 10 controlled by the management device 8 includes, for example, opening and closing of doors, management of registered calls, and management of dispatching and running of cars that respond to calls.

[0019] 2. Overview of the user attribute acquisition system In the example shown in FIG. 1, facility users A, B, and C are shown near the elevator hall 2 of the elevator 10. User A carries a mobile terminal 40. User A uses a shopping cart as a mobile object M. User B uses a stroller as a mobile object M. User C uses a wheelchair as a mobile object M. Each of these mobile objects M is equipped with a second beacon device 20 that transmits a corresponding second beacon signal.

[0020] User A is using a facility-specific app on mobile terminal 40 within the facility. While the facility-specific app is running, the operation system of mobile terminal 40 accepts elevator 10 call registration input by user A and transmits the information to management server 50. This process will be referred to as "call registration process" hereinafter. Management server 50 transmits the received call registration information to management device 8 of the corresponding elevator 10.

[0021] Furthermore, the operation system of the mobile terminal 40 determines whether a first beacon signal has been detected while the facility-specific app is running. This process is hereinafter referred to as "first beacon signal detection process." In the first beacon signal detection process, for example, it determines whether a first beacon signal with a radio wave intensity greater than a preset first threshold has been detected. The radio wave intensity here can be, for example, an RSSI value. The first threshold can be set to a value that can be detected when user A carrying the mobile terminal 40 is waiting near the hall 2.

[0022] Furthermore, the operation system of the mobile terminal 40 determines whether a second beacon signal has been detected while the facility-specific app is running. This process will be referred to as "second beacon signal detection process" hereinafter. In the second beacon signal detection process, for example, it determines whether a second beacon signal with a radio wave intensity greater than a preset second threshold is detected. The radio wave intensity here can be, for example, an RSSI value. The second threshold can be set to a value that allows detection of second beacon signals of other users who are waiting in the vicinity of user A who is waiting near the hall 2. Note that the second threshold here is the same as the second threshold in the first beacon signal detection process. first It may be the same value as the threshold.

[0023] When the operation system of the mobile terminal 40 detects a first beacon signal in the first beacon signal detection process, it is considered that user A carrying the mobile terminal 40 is waiting near the platform 2 of the platform beacon information included in the first beacon signal. At this time, when the operation system of the mobile terminal 40 detects one or more second beacon signals in the first beacon signal detection process, it is considered that a user corresponding to the user attribute beacon information included in the detected second beacon signal is waiting near the platform 2, just like user A. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , it is considered that second beacon signals corresponding to users B and C waiting near the platform 2 are detected.

[0024] The operation system of the mobile terminal 40 transmits user attribute information, in which the detected user attribute beacon information is associated with the hall beacon information, to the management server 50. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "user attribute information transmission process." The management server 50 transmits the received user attribute information to the management device 8 of the corresponding elevator 10. This process allows the management device 8 to acquire the user attributes of users waiting at the hall 2. This allows the management device 8 to dispatch cars according to the user attributes, thereby improving convenience for users using mobile objects M such as shopping carts.

[0025] 3. Example of configuration of user attribute acquisition system 100 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the user attribute acquisition system 100. The user attribute acquisition system 100 includes at least one second beacon device 20, at least one first beacon device 30, a mobile terminal 40, a management server 50, and a management device 8. The mobile terminal 40 has the function of a processing device as a computer. Typically, the mobile terminal 40 includes at least one processor 400 and at least one memory 410 coupled to the processor 400. The memory 410 stores at least one program 420 executable by the processor 400 and various data 430 associated therewith. The at least one program 420 includes a program for an operation system and a program for a facility-specific application executed under the operation system. The facility-specific application is a dedicated application program used in the facility where the elevator 10 is installed.

[0026] When the facility-specific app of the mobile terminal 40 is launched, the processor 400 executes the program 420 to realize various processes related to the facility-specific app. Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to the facility-specific app realized by the processor 400 of the mobile terminal 40 executing the program 420. As shown in Fig. 3, the processor 400 includes a first beacon signal detection unit 42, a second beacon signal detection unit 44, a user attribute information transmission unit 46, and a call registration unit 48.

[0027] The first beacon signal detection unit 42 is a functional block for executing a first beacon signal detection process. The second beacon signal detection unit 44 is a functional block for executing a second beacon signal detection process. The user attribute information transmission unit 46 is a functional block for executing a user attribute information transmission process. The call registration unit 48 is a functional block for executing a call registration process. The processes executed in each functional block of the processor 400 will be described in detail below with reference to flowcharts.

[0028] 4. Specific Processing Executed in the User Attribute Acquisition System 100 Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a routine executed in the user attribute acquisition system 100. The routine shown in Fig. 4 is repeatedly executed by the processor 400 at a predetermined control period while the facility-specific app is running on the mobile terminal 40. The processing of the routine shown in Fig. 4 also represents a user attribute acquisition method for the elevator 10.

[0029] In the first process shown in step S10, the processor 400 executes a first beacon signal detection process in the first beacon signal detection unit 42. In the first beacon signal detection process, in step S12, it is determined whether the radio wave strength of the detected first beacon signal is greater than a first threshold. Here, the radio wave strength is an RSSI value. As a result, if the radio wave strength of the first beacon signal is equal to or less than the first threshold, it is determined that the user carrying the mobile terminal 40 is not near the first beacon device 30, i.e., near the hall 2, and this routine is ended. On the other hand, if the radio wave strength of the first beacon signal is greater than the first threshold, it is determined that the user carrying the mobile terminal 40 is near the hall 2, and the process proceeds to step S20.

[0030] In the second process shown in step S20, the processor 400 executes the second beacon signal detection process in the second beacon signal detection unit 44. In the second beacon signal detection process, in step S22, it is determined whether the radio wave strength of the detected second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold. Here, the radio wave strength is an RSSI value. As a result, if the radio wave strength of the second beacon signal is equal to or less than the second threshold, it is determined that there is no second beacon device 20 in the vicinity of the user carrying the mobile terminal 40, that is, there is no mobile object M around the user, and this routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the radio wave strength of the second beacon signal is greater than the second threshold, it is determined that there is a user using a mobile object M around the user carrying the mobile terminal 40, and the process proceeds to step S30. Note that if the mobile terminal 40 detects multiple second beacon signals, the processor 400 executes the second beacon signal detection process for each second beacon signal.

[0031] From the result of the first beacon signal detection process in step S10, it is considered that the user carrying the portable terminal 40 is waiting near the platform 2. Therefore, it is considered that the users of one or more moving bodies M determined to be around the user in the second beacon signal detection process in step S20 are waiting near the platform 2, just like the user carrying the portable terminal 40.

[0032] In a third process indicated in step S30, the processor 400 executes a user attribute information transmission process in the user attribute information transmission unit 46. In the user attribute information transmission process, in step S32, the processor 400 extracts hall beacon information from the first beacon signal and extracts user attribute beacon information from the second beacon signal. Then, the processor 400 generates user attribute information in which the hall beacon information is associated with the extracted user attribute information. After the process of step S32 is executed, the process proceeds to step S34. In step S34, the generated user attribute information is transmitted to the management server 50. Note that, if the mobile terminal 40 detects multiple second beacon signals, the processor 400 executes the user attribute information transmission process for each second beacon signal.

[0033] According to the user attribute acquisition system 100 described above, it is possible to acquire the user attributes of users waiting near the hall 2 without requiring manual input by the users. This allows the management device 8 of the elevator 10 to perform car dispatching and the like according to the user attributes in response to user call registration through the call registration process. As a result, convenience for users using the moving object M within the facility is improved.

[0034] It is also possible that a user who has a mobile terminal 40 running a facility-specific app is waiting at the boarding area 2 without using the mobile object M, or is simply passing by the boarding area 2. Even in such a case, the user attribute acquisition system 100 can acquire the user attributes of the user who is waiting near the boarding area 2.

[0035] 5. Variations The user attribute acquisition system 100 according to the embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0036] 5-1. Management Server 50 The management server 50 is not an essential component of the user attribute acquisition system 100. That is, in the user attribute information transmission process, the processor 400 may be configured to directly transmit the user attribute to the management device 8 via the communication network 52.

[0037] 5-2. Second beacon signal detection process In the second beacon signal detection process, even if a passerby using the mobile object M passes near a user carrying the mobile terminal 40, there is a possibility that the user attributes of the passerby may be transmitted as the user attributes of the user waiting at the hall 2. Therefore, in the second beacon signal detection process, the radio wave strength of the second beacon signal over time may be further added to the determination.

[0038] 5 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the second beacon signal detection process. In the process of step S20 of the modified example, processor 400 determines in step S22 whether the radio wave intensity of the detected second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold. If the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal is greater than the second threshold, it is determined that a user using mobile object M is present around the user carrying mobile terminal 40, and the process proceeds to step S24.

[0039] In step S24, the processor 400 determines whether the elapsed time since the start of the second beacon signal detection process has exceeded the determination time. The determination time here is a time for determining whether the user corresponding to the second beacon device 20 is a waiting person or a passerby, and a preset value is used. As a result, if it is determined that the elapsed time has not exceeded the determination time, the processor 400 executes the process of step S22 again. Then, in the process of step S22, if the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal becomes equal to or less than the second threshold, it is determined that the second beacon device 20 has moved away from the vicinity of the user carrying the mobile terminal 40, that is, the user corresponding to the second beacon device 20 is a passerby, and this routine is terminated.

[0040] On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of step S24 that the elapsed time exceeds the judgment time, it is determined that the second beacon device 20 is staying near the user carrying the mobile terminal 40, that is, the user corresponding to the second beacon device 20 is a waiting person, and the processing proceeds to the next user attribute information transmission processing.

[0041] According to the second beacon signal detection process of this modified example, it is possible to exclude detection of the second beacon signal of a passerby passing near the user carrying the mobile terminal 40. This makes it possible to accurately acquire the user attributes of the user waiting at the hall 2.

[0042] In addition, the second beacon signal detection process may further include a process for identifying the user attributes of the user who owns the mobile terminal 40. That is, the second beacon signal that is always detected in the second beacon signal detection process is likely to be the second beacon signal transmitted from the second beacon device 20 corresponding to the user who owns the mobile terminal 40. Therefore, in the second beacon signal detection process, the processor 400 may identify the user attribute information of the second beacon signal that is always detected as the user attribute corresponding to the user who owns the mobile terminal 40. According to such additional process, when the call registration process is performed from the mobile terminal 40, the call registration can be associated with the user attribute, so that the convenience of the management device 8 in dispatching cars, etc. can be further improved.

[0043] 5-3. Hardware resources of the mobile terminal 40 Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example of the hardware resources of the mobile terminal 40. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the mobile terminal 40 includes, for example, a processor 400, a memory 410, and a processing circuit 450 including dedicated hardware 440. Fig. 6 shows an example in which some of the functions of the mobile terminal 40 are realized by the dedicated hardware 440. All of the functions of the mobile terminal 40 may also be realized by the dedicated hardware 440. The dedicated hardware 440 may be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 2 landing, 8 management device, 10 elevator, 20 second beacon device, 30 first beacon device, 40 mobile terminal, 42 first beacon signal detection unit, 44 second beacon signal detection unit, 46 user attribute information transmission unit, 48 call registration unit, 50 management server, 52 communication network, 100 user attribute acquisition system, 400 processor, 410 memory, 420 program, 430 data, 440 dedicated hardware, 450 processing circuit

Claims

1. a first beacon device that is installed at an elevator hall of the facility and that transmits a first beacon signal including hall beacon information corresponding to the hall; A second beacon device is installed in a mobile body used by a user of the facility and transmits a second beacon signal including user attribute beacon information corresponding to a user attribute of the mobile body; A portable terminal carried by a user of the facility and detecting the first beacon signal transmitted from the first beacon device and the second beacon signal transmitted from the second beacon device, The mobile terminal a first beacon signal detection unit that determines whether the first beacon signal has been detected; a second beacon signal detection unit that determines whether the second beacon signal has been detected; a user attribute information transmitting unit that, when it is determined that the first beacon signal has been detected or when it is determined that the second beacon signal has been detected, transmits to the elevator management device user attribute information that is information in which the user attribute beacon information included in the second beacon signal is associated with the hall beacon information included in the first beacon signal; An elevator user attribute acquisition system including:

2. an application program for receiving services of the facility is installed in the mobile terminal; The mobile terminal executes the application program to perform processes in the first beacon signal detection unit, the second beacon signal detection unit, and the user attribute information transmission unit. The elevator user attribute acquisition system according to claim 1, configured as follows:

3. The first beacon signal detection unit determines that the first beacon signal has been detected when the radio wave intensity of the first beacon signal is greater than a first threshold.

3. The elevator user attribute acquisition system according to claim 1 or 2, configured as follows:

4. The second beacon signal detection unit determines that the second beacon signal has been detected when the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold.

3. The elevator user attribute acquisition system according to claim 1 or 2, configured as follows:

5. The second beacon signal detection unit determines that the second beacon signal has been detected when the elapsed time during which the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold exceeds a determination time.

3. The elevator user attribute acquisition system according to claim 1 or 2, configured as follows:

6. 1. An elevator user attribute acquisition method, comprising: acquiring user attributes of a mobile object used by a user waiting at an elevator hall of a facility, the mobile terminal having an application program for receiving a service of the facility installed therein; When the application program is started, the mobile terminal a first process for determining whether a first beacon signal including hall beacon information corresponding to an elevator hall is detected from a first beacon device installed at the elevator hall of the facility; When the detection of the first beacon signal is determined, a second process of determining the detection of a second beacon signal including user attribute beacon information corresponding to the user attribute of the mobile body, which is transmitted from a second beacon device installed in the mobile body; a third process of transmitting user attribute information, which is information in which the user attribute beacon information included in the second beacon signal is associated with the hall beacon information included in the first beacon signal, to the elevator management device; An elevator user attribute acquisition method, characterized by executing the following.

7. In the first process, the mobile terminal When the radio wave intensity of the first beacon signal is greater than a first threshold, the first beacon signal is detected. The elevator user attribute acquisition method according to claim 6.

8. In the second process, the mobile terminal When the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold, the second beacon signal is detected.

8. The elevator user attribute acquisition method according to claim 6 or 7.

9. In the second process, the mobile terminal When the time elapsed during which the radio wave intensity of the second beacon signal is greater than a second threshold exceeds a determination time, the second beacon signal is detected.

8. The elevator user attribute acquisition method according to claim 6 or 7.

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