Passenger conveyor control system and passenger conveyor control method

Abstract

To enable a passenger conveyor to be operated only when a state of the passenger conveyor can be confirmed.SOLUTION: A control device 20 of a passenger conveyor control system 100 according to one aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit 203 providing identification information of a passenger conveyor and a control unit 201 controlling operation of the passenger conveyor based on a control signal Sc transmitted from a portable terminal 2. The portable terminal 2 includes a communication unit 24 acquiring a feedback signal Sf within a range where the passenger conveyor can be visually confirmed by an operator of the portable terminal 2 and a control unit 21 validating operation input to the portable terminal 2 by the operator when the communication unit 24 acquires the feedback signal Sf.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor control system and a passenger conveyor control method. [Background technology]

[0002] A remote control system has been known in the past that checks the presence or absence of passengers on a passenger conveyor based on images captured by cameras installed around the passenger conveyor, and controls the operation of the passenger conveyor based on the check results. In recent years, remote control of passenger conveyors using mobile devices has also been used.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a passenger conveyor having a control device that acquires first location information and passenger information from a passenger's mobile terminal via a transceiver, determines based on the first location information that the passenger is approaching the entrance to the passenger conveyor, and switches to low-speed operation if the passenger information indicates a desire to slow down. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6797973 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Although Patent Document 1 only describes a technology for adjusting the operating speed of a passenger conveyor while it is in operation, it is desirable that the remote control of a passenger conveyor also be able to control the starting or stopping of the passenger conveyor. When starting or stopping a passenger conveyor, if the operation is performed without checking whether there are passengers using the passenger conveyor or without confirming the safety of the passengers, there is a possibility that passengers will be put in danger. Therefore, it is desirable to operate the passenger conveyor in a situation where the status of the passenger conveyor can be confirmed.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable the operation of a passenger conveyor only under circumstances in which the status of the passenger conveyor can be confirmed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A passenger conveyor control system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a control device that controls the operation of the passenger conveyor and a mobile terminal that transmits a control signal to the passenger conveyor control device. The control device of the passenger conveyor control system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an identification information providing unit that provides identification information of the passenger conveyor and a first control unit that controls the operation of the passenger conveyor based on the control signal transmitted from the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes an identification information acquiring unit that acquires the identification information of the passenger conveyor within a predetermined visible range corresponding to the range within which the operator of the mobile terminal can visually observe the passenger conveyor, and a second control unit that, when the identification information acquiring unit acquires the identification information, enables operation input to the mobile terminal by the operator, generates a control signal based on the operation input, and transmits the control signal to the control device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to at least one aspect of the present invention, the passenger conveyor can be operated only under circumstances in which the status of the passenger conveyor can be confirmed. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a passenger conveyor control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of a mobile terminal and a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of each device constituting a passenger conveyor control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a passenger conveyor operation screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for passenger conveyor control processing by the passenger conveyor control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of a passenger conveyor control system according to a first modified example of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of a passenger conveyor control system according to a second modification of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of a passenger conveyor control system according to a third modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, examples of modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various numerical values ​​in the embodiments are merely examples. Furthermore, in this specification and drawings, identical components or components having substantially the same functions will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] <Overview of passenger conveyor control system> First, the configuration of a passenger conveyor control system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of the passenger conveyor control system 100.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the passenger conveyor control system 100 includes a passenger conveyor 1 and a mobile terminal 2 carried and operated by an operator O who is a maintenance worker or the like of the passenger conveyor 1. The passenger conveyor 1 includes a passenger conveyor body 10 and a control device 20 that controls the operation of the passenger conveyor body 10.

[0013] The passenger conveyor main body 10 is an inclined passenger conveyor, i.e., an escalator, that transports passengers P between upper and lower floors of a building structure. In this embodiment, the passenger conveyor main body 10 is described as an escalator that transports passengers P from a lower floor to an upper floor, i.e., an ascending escalator, but the present invention is not limited to this. The passenger conveyor of the present invention can also be applied to other types of passenger conveyors, such as a descending escalator or a moving walkway.

[0014] The control device 20 has a communication unit 203 provided on the side surface of the passenger conveyor main body 10 at approximately the center thereof. When the communication unit 203 (an example of an identification information providing unit) receives a pairing signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 2, it transmits a feedback signal including identification information of the passenger conveyor 1 to the mobile terminal 2. In this embodiment, the communication range of the feedback signal is set to the visible range Rc.

[0015] The visible range Rc is a range whose radius is the distance D between a predetermined position P1, which is set in advance as a position where the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 can see the passenger conveyor main body 10, and a position P2 where the communication unit 203 is provided. The visible range Rc is a range that is set with the intention of preventing the operator O from controlling the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 from a position where he / she cannot check the state of the passenger conveyor main body 10, and can be set to any range by the manager of the passenger conveyor 1, etc.

[0016] In this embodiment, an example is given in which the communication unit 203 is provided on the side surface of the passenger conveyor main body 10 at approximately the center thereof, but the present invention is not limited to this. The communication unit 203 may be disposed at any position on the passenger conveyor main body 10 or at a position near the passenger conveyor main body 10.

[0017] The portable terminal 2 is a terminal carried and operated by an operator O, such as a maintenance worker for the passenger conveyor 1, and is configured, for example, as a smartphone, a mobile phone terminal, or a maintenance terminal. The portable terminal 2 transmits a pairing signal to the communication unit 203 of the passenger conveyor 1 based on an operation input by the operator O when control of the passenger conveyor main body 10 is started. After pairing with the communication unit 203 of the control device 20 of the passenger conveyor 1 is established, the portable terminal 2 generates a control signal based on an operation input by the operator O, and transmits the control signal to the communication unit 203.

[0018] <Configuration of the control system of the mobile terminal and the control device> Next, the configuration of the control system of the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control system of the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20.

[0019] [Mobile device] As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, an operation display unit 23, and a communication unit 24. The control unit 21 (an example of a second control unit) generates a pairing signal Sp based on an operation input by an operator O (see FIG. 1 ) and performs control to transmit the pairing signal Sp to the control device 20 (the communication unit 203 thereof) via the communication unit 24. Furthermore, when the control unit 21 receives a feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20, it performs control to establish pairing with the control device 20 (the communication unit 203 thereof). The pairing signal Sp and the feedback signal Sf are composed of wireless signals used in communication based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example.

[0020] Furthermore, the control unit 21 generates a control signal Sc according to the content of the operation input by the operator O, and performs control to transmit the control signal Sc to the control device 20 via the communication unit 24.

[0021] The storage unit 22 stores screen data to be displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 23, etc. The operation display unit 23 is configured as, for example, a touch panel in which a touch sensor as an operation input unit and a display panel as a display unit are integrally formed. A screen for operating the passenger conveyor main body 10, etc. are displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 23. An example of the configuration of the screen for operating the passenger conveyor main body 10 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4 described later.

[0022] In the present embodiment, an example has been given in which the portable terminal 2 is provided with a display unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. The portable terminal 2 may be applied to a dedicated maintenance terminal that does not have a display unit and has only dedicated buttons required for operating the passenger conveyor main body 10.

[0023] The communication unit 24 (an example of an identification information acquisition unit or transmission unit) performs processes such as transmitting the pairing signal Sp or the control signal Sc generated by the control unit 21 to the control device 20, and receiving the feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20 and supplying it to the control unit 21.

[0024] [Control device] The control device 20 includes a control unit 201 , a storage unit 202 , and a communication unit 203 . The control unit 201 controls the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 (see FIG. 1). When the communication unit 203 receives a pairing signal Sp transmitted from the mobile terminal 2, the control unit 201 sets the communication range to the visible range Rc and transmits a feedback signal Sf including identification information of the passenger conveyor 1 to the mobile terminal 2 via the communication unit 203. Thereafter, the control unit 201 controls the establishment of pairing with the mobile terminal 2. Furthermore, the control unit 201 also controls the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 based on a control signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 after the pairing is established.

[0025] The storage unit 202 stores various data used to control the passenger conveyor main body 10, identification information of the passenger conveyor 1, and the like.

[0026] The communication unit 203 (an example of an identification information providing unit) performs processes such as receiving a pairing signal Sp transmitted from the portable terminal 2, transmitting a feedback signal Sf to the portable terminal 2, and establishing pairing with the portable terminal 2.

[0027] <Example of computer hardware configuration> Next, the configuration (hardware configuration) of the control system of each device constituting the passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of each device that constitutes the passenger conveyor control system 100. A calculator 500 shown in Fig. 3 is hardware used as a so-called computer.

[0029] The computer 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, a non-volatile storage 504, a communication I / F (Interface) 505, a display unit 506, and an operation input unit 507, each of which is connected to a bus B.

[0030] The CPU 501 reads out program code of software that realizes each function of the passenger conveyor control system 100 according to this embodiment from the ROM 502, expands it in the RAM 503, and executes it. Alternatively, the CPU 501 directly reads out the program code from the ROM 502 and executes it as is. The computer 500 may include a processing device such as an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit) instead of the CPU 501. Variables, parameters, etc. that are generated during the calculation processing by the CPU 501 are temporarily written to the RAM 503.

[0031] The functions of the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2 and the functions of the control unit 201 of the control device 20 are realized by the CPU 501.

[0032] The nonvolatile storage 504 may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flexible disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, or a nonvolatile memory card. In addition to an operating system (OS) and various parameters, programs for operating the computer 500 are recorded in the nonvolatile storage 504. The functions of the storage unit 22 of the mobile terminal 2 and the storage unit 202 of the control device 20 are realized by the nonvolatile storage 504.

[0033] The program may be stored in the ROM 502. The program is stored in the form of a computer-readable program code, and the CPU 501 sequentially executes operations in accordance with the program code. In other words, the ROM 502 or the non-volatile storage 504 is used as an example of a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium that stores a program to be executed by a computer.

[0034] The communication I / F 505 is configured by a communication device that controls communication with other devices, etc. The function of the communication unit 24 of the mobile terminal 2 and the function of the communication unit 203 of the control device 20 are realized by the communication I / F 505.

[0035] The display unit 506 is, for example, a monitor configured with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays the results of processing performed by the computer 500. The display unit in the operation display unit 23 of the mobile terminal 2 is realized by the display unit 506.

[0036] The operation input unit 507 is configured with, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch sensor, etc., and generates an operation signal according to an operation by a user and supplies it to the CPU 501. The function of the operation input unit in the operation display unit 23 of the mobile terminal 2 is realized by the operation input unit 507.

[0037] The display unit 506 and the operation input unit 507 may be integrated into a touch panel. The computer 500 may also be configured without the display unit 506 and the operation input unit 507.

[0038] <Passenger conveyor operation screen transition> Next, an example of transition of the passenger conveyor operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 23 of the mobile terminal 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of transition of the passenger conveyor operation screen.

[0039] The passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1 shown on the far left of Fig. 4 is the screen that opens when the passenger conveyor operation screen is first started up. Four buttons are displayed on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1: an UP button Bn1, a DN button Bn2, a STOP button Bn3, and a pairing button Bn4.

[0040] The UP button Bn1 is a button for raising (UP) the passenger conveyor main body 10 (see FIG. 1), the DN button Bn2 is a button for lowering (DOWN) the passenger conveyor main body 10, and the STOP button Bn3 is a button for stopping the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10. These buttons for controlling the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 are grayed out on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1, and operation input to these buttons is disabled. In other words, the operator O (see FIG. 1) cannot operate (press) these grayed out buttons on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1.

[0041] The pairing button Bn4 is a button for performing pairing with the communication unit 203 (see FIG. 1) of the passenger conveyor 1. When detecting that this button has been pressed, the control unit 21 (see FIG. 2) of the portable terminal 2 generates a pairing signal Sp and transmits it to the communication unit 203 of the control device 20 via the communication unit 24. When operating the passenger conveyor main body 10, the operator O of the portable terminal 2 first presses this pairing button Bn4.

[0042] 4 is a screen displayed when the communication unit 24 (see FIG. 2) receives a feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20. The feedback signal Sf is transmitted from the transmission unit 203 of the control device 20 in response to a pairing signal Sp transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 in response to the operator O pressing the pairing button Bn4.

[0043] A pop-up message Mp asking "Pair with ESC No. 1?" is displayed on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_2. This message asks the operator O (see FIG. 1) of the mobile terminal 2 whether or not to perform pairing with ESC No. 1 (escalator).

[0044] When the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2 detects that the pairing button Bn4 has been pressed while this pop-up message Mp is displayed, the control unit 21 establishes pairing with the control device 20 and enables various operation buttons on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn_1. The passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3 shown second from the right in Fig. 4 has the various operation buttons enabled.

[0045] On the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3, "ESC No. 1" is displayed at the top of the screen. By looking at this display, the operator O of the portable terminal 2 can understand that the passenger conveyor 1 being operated is ESC No. 1.

[0046] Furthermore, on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3, the UP button Bn1, DN button Bn2, and STOP button Bn3 are no longer grayed out, indicating that all of these buttons can be pressed (operated). When the operator O of the portable terminal 2 presses any of these buttons, a control signal corresponding to the control of the passenger conveyor main body 10 assigned to the button is transmitted from the portable terminal 2 to the control device 20. Then, the control device 20 controls the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 based on the control signal.

[0047] On the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3, after the UP button Bn1 or the DN button Bn2 is pressed, the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_4 shown on the far right of Fig. 4 is displayed. On the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_4, both the UP button Bn1 and the DN button Bn2 are grayed out.

[0048] In other words, it is indicated that these buttons cannot be operated. By performing such display control, when the passenger conveyor main body 10 is ascending based on the pressing of the UP button Bn1, it is possible to prevent the operator O of the portable terminal 2 from pressing the DN button Bn2. Similarly, when the passenger conveyor main body 10 is descending based on the pressing of the DN button Bn2, it is possible to prevent the operator O of the portable terminal 2 from pressing the UP button Bn1.

[0049] It is preferable that the operation to bring the passenger conveyor main body 10 to an emergency stop can be performed not only by the operator O of the mobile terminal 2, but also by anyone, for example, by pressing an emergency stop button provided on the passenger conveyor main body 10 or in its vicinity.

[0050] 4, the passenger conveyor operation screen includes four buttons: an UP button Bn1, a DN button Bn2, a STOP button Bn3, and a pairing button Bn4, but the present invention is not limited to this. The passenger conveyor operation screen may also include other buttons, such as a buzzer button for emitting a buzzer sound, an emergency stop button, an operation speed change button for changing the operation speed of the passenger conveyor main body 10, and a lighting on / off button for turning the lighting on and off.

[0051] <Passenger conveyor control method using passenger conveyor control system> Next, a passenger conveyor control method by the passenger conveyor control system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of passenger conveyor control processing by the passenger conveyor control system.

[0052] First, the control unit 21 (see FIG. 1) of the mobile terminal 2 determines whether or not the pairing button Bn4 has been pressed (step SA1) on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1 (see FIG. 4) displayed on the operation display unit 23. If it is determined in step SA1 that the pairing button Bn4 has not been pressed (if the determination in step SA1 is NO), the control unit 21 repeats the determination in step SA1.

[0053] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA1 that the pairing button Bn4 has been pressed (YES in step SA1), the control unit 21 transmits a pairing signal Sp to the control device 20 via the communication unit 24 (step SA2).

[0054] The pairing signal Sp transmitted in step SA2 is received by the communication unit 203 (see FIG. 2) of the control device 20 (step SB1). Next, the control unit 201 of the control device 20 transmits a feedback signal Sf, which includes identification information of the passenger conveyor 1 and has a communication range set to the visible range Rc, to the mobile terminal 2 via the communication unit 203 (step SB2).

[0055] Next, the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2 determines whether the communication unit 24 has received the feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20 in step SB2 (step SA3). If it is determined in step SA3 that the feedback signal Sf has not been received (if the determination in step SA3 is NO), the control unit 21 repeats the determination in step SA3.

[0056] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA3 that the feedback signal Sf has been received (if step SA3 is determined as YES), the control unit 21 displays a message (pop-up message Mp in Figure 4) asking whether or not to perform pairing, superimposed on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1 (step SA4).

[0057] Next, control unit 21 determines whether or not an operation to instruct execution of pairing has been input (step SA5). If it is determined in step SA5 that an operation to instruct execution of pairing has not been input (if step SA5 returns NO), control unit 21 repeats the determination in step SA5.

[0058] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA5 that an operation to instruct pairing has been input (if step SA5 is determined as YES), the control unit 21 executes pairing with the control device 20 (step SA6). Next, the control unit 21 validates the operation input to the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3 (see FIG. 4) displayed on the operation display unit 23 (step SA7).

[0059] Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not an operation has been input by the operator O to the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3 (step SA8). If it is determined in step SA8 that no operation has been input (NO in step SA8), the control unit 21 determines whether or not a non-operation state on the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_3 has exceeded a predetermined threshold time (step SA9).

[0060] If it is determined in step SA9 that the no-operation state has exceeded the threshold time (if step SA9 is determined as YES), the control unit 21 cancels the pairing established with the control device 20 (step SA10). After the processing of step SA10, the processing by the portable terminal 2 ends. If it is determined in step SA9 that the no-operation state has not exceeded the threshold time (if step SA9 is determined as NO), the control unit 21 repeats the determination processing of step SA8.

[0061] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SA8 that an operation has been input (if step SA8 is determined as YES), the control unit 21 generates a control signal Sc according to the operation content and transmits the control signal Sc to the control device 20 via the communication unit 24 (step SA11).

[0062] The control signal Sc transmitted in step SA11 is received by the communication unit 203 of the control device 20 (step SB3). Next, the control unit 201 of the control device 20 controls the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 based on the control signal Sc received in step SB3 (step SB4). Next, the control unit 201 determines whether or not pairing with the mobile terminal 2 has been canceled (step SB5). If it is determined in step SB5 that pairing has not been canceled (if step SB5 returns NO), the control unit 201 performs the reception process of step SB3.

[0063] On the other hand, if it is determined in step SB5 that the pairing has been released (if the determination in step SB5 is YES), the processing by the control device 20 ends.

[0064] In the embodiment described above, when a feedback signal Sf whose communication range is set to the visible range Rc is received from the control device 20 of the passenger conveyor 1, the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2 enables operation input to the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1. In other words, while the feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20 cannot be received, the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 cannot operate the passenger conveyor main body 10. In other words, the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 can operate the passenger conveyor main body 10 only when he or she approaches to a position where the passenger conveyor main body 10 is visible.

[0065] In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the operation of the passenger conveyor main body 10 from being controlled by the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 from a location where the status of the passenger conveyor main body 10 (such as usage status by passengers) cannot be confirmed.

[0066] Therefore, there is no need to provide an operation panel near the passenger conveyor main body 10, a monitoring camera for checking the situation, or a monitoring device that performs control based on images captured by the monitoring camera, in order to prevent operation from a location where the status of the passenger conveyor main body 10 cannot be confirmed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to operate the passenger conveyor main body 10 after checking the status of the passenger conveyor main body 10, without requiring additional construction or the like that would increase costs.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, if the mobile terminal 2 is not operated for a predetermined threshold time after pairing with the control device 20 is established, the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2 cancels the pairing. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the pairing between the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 from remaining established, for example, when the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 finishes operation and moves out of the visible range of the passenger conveyor main body 10. In other words, it is possible to prevent the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 from operating the passenger conveyor main body 10 from outside the visible range Rc.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been given in which the pairing between the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 is canceled when the no-operation state of the mobile terminal 2 exceeds a predetermined threshold time, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even after the pairing between the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 is established, the pairing request and pairing response processes may be repeated between the control device 20 and the mobile terminal 2 at predetermined time intervals. Then, when the pairing between the control device 20 and the mobile terminal 2 is no longer established, that is, when the control device 20 can no longer receive a feedback signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 2, the control device 20 performs control to cancel the pairing with the mobile terminal 2.

[0069] The processing of pairing requests and pairing responses between the control device 20 and the mobile terminal 2 can be realized, for example, by transmitting a pairing signal Sp (an example of a second pairing signal) from the control device 20 to the mobile terminal 2, and the control device 20 receiving a feedback signal Sf (an example of a second feedback signal) transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 that has received the pairing signal.

[0070] By performing such control, it is possible to prevent the pairing between the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 from continuing to be established, for example, when the operator O of the mobile terminal 2 finishes operation and moves out of the visible range of the passenger conveyor main body 10.

[0071] <Variation 1> In the above-described embodiment, the pairing signal Sp and the feedback signal Sf are configured as wireless signals, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the feedback signal Sf may be configured as an audio signal (Modification 1).

[0072] Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of passenger conveyor control system 100A according to Modification 1. In passenger conveyor control system 100A shown in Fig. 6, components common to passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. Passenger conveyor control system 100A shown in Fig. 6 differs from passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 in that control device 20A includes speaker 204 (an example of an identification information providing unit) and mobile terminal 2A includes microphone 25 (an example of an identification information acquiring unit).

[0073] When the communication unit 203 receives the pairing signal Sp transmitted from the mobile terminal 2A, the control unit 201 of the control device 20A transmits a feedback signal Sfa in the form of an audio signal from the speaker 204 to the mobile terminal 2. In this first modification, the visible range Rc (see FIG. 1) in the passenger conveyor control system 100 according to the first embodiment is adjusted by the volume (loudness) of the feedback signal Sfa configured by an audio signal. Note that the visible range Rc may be adjusted by both the volume and directionality of the feedback signal Sfa.

[0074] The identification information of the passenger conveyor 1 included in the feedback signal Sfa is indicated by the sound pattern, scale, etc. of the feedback signal Sfa.

[0075] When the microphone 25 picks up the sound of the feedback signal Sfa, the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2A establishes pairing with the control device 20A.

[0076] The above-described first modification can also provide the same effects as those provided by the above-described embodiment. <Variation 2> Furthermore, the feedback signal Sf transmitted from the control device 20 to the mobile terminal 2 may be configured as an optical signal (Modification 2).

[0077] Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of passenger conveyor control system 100B according to Modification 2. In passenger conveyor control system 100B shown in Fig. 7, components common to passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. Passenger conveyor control system 100B shown in Fig. 7 differs from passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 in that control device 20B includes light source 205 (an example of an identification information providing unit) and mobile terminal 2B includes light receiving unit 26 (an example of an identification information acquiring unit).

[0078] When the communication unit 203 receives the pairing signal Sp transmitted from the portable terminal 2B, the control unit 201 of the control device 20B transmits (irradiates) a feedback signal Sfb in the form of an optical signal from the light source 205 to the portable terminal 2. In the passenger conveyor control system 100 according to the above-described embodiment, in this second modification, the visible range Rc is adjusted by the light intensity of the feedback signal Sfb configured by an optical signal, etc. Note that the visible range Rc may be adjusted by both the light intensity and directionality of the feedback signal Sfb.

[0079] Furthermore, the identification information of the passenger conveyor 1 included in the feedback signal Sfb can be indicated by the type of light, blinking pattern, etc., of the feedback signal Sfb. The type of light may be, for example, red light or other light having a wavelength that is not used as illumination light in buildings, or light other than visible light.

[0080] When the light receiving unit 26 receives the light corresponding to the feedback signal Sfa, the control unit 21 of the portable terminal 2B establishes pairing with the control device 20B.

[0081] The above-described second modification can also provide the same effects as those provided by the above-described embodiment.

[0082] <Variation 3> Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and various modified examples, an example has been given in which the establishment of pairing between the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 20 is used as a trigger to enable operation input to the passenger conveyor operation screen on the mobile terminal 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. Operation input to the passenger conveyor operation screen may be enabled when an operator O who is within a range where the passenger conveyor main body 10 can see the passenger conveyor main body 10 is able to photograph, with the camera of the mobile terminal 2, identification information provided on the passenger conveyor main body 10 or the like, or a two-dimensional or three-dimensional code including the identification information (Modified Example 3).

[0083] Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system of passenger conveyor control system 100C according to Modification 3. In passenger conveyor control system 100C shown in Fig. 8, components common to passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. Passenger conveyor control system 100C shown in Fig. 8 differs from passenger conveyor control system 100 shown in Fig. 1 in that control device 20C includes identification information display unit 206 (an example of an identification information providing unit) and mobile terminal 2C includes camera 27 (an example of an identification information acquiring unit).

[0084] The identification information display unit 206 of the control device 20C is provided, for example, on the side of the passenger conveyor main body 10, and displays characters indicating the identification information of the passenger conveyor 1, or a two-dimensional code or three-dimensional code indicating the identification information.

[0085] When the control unit 21 of the mobile terminal 2C acquires a photographed image of the display content of the identification information display unit 206 by the camera 27, the control unit 21 validates an operation input to the passenger conveyor operation screen Sn1_1 (see FIG. 4) displayed on the operation display unit 23. Then, the control unit 21 generates a control signal Sc based on the operation input content and transmits the control signal Sc to the control device 20C via the communication unit 24.

[0086] Unless the operator O of the portable terminal 2 approaches the position of the identification information display unit 206, the operator O cannot photograph the display content of the identification information display unit 206 with the camera 27. Therefore, in the third modification, the range in which the operator O can photograph the display content of the identification information display unit 206 with the camera 27 is the visible range Rc. Also, the third modification can achieve the same effects as those achieved by the above-described embodiment.

[0087] Although the third modification has been described as an example in which the identification information display unit 206 is provided on the side surface or the like of the passenger conveyor main body 10, the present invention is not limited to this. The identification information display unit 206 may be disposed in a position away from the passenger conveyor main body 10, such as on the side surface or wall surface of some facility, as long as it is in a position near the passenger conveyor main body 10.

[0088] <Other variations> Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and various modified examples, an example has been given in which the communication range and propagation range of the feedback signal Sf (Sfa, Sfb) transmitted from the control device 20 (20A to 20C) are set to the visible range Rc (see FIG. 1), but the present invention is not limited to this. The communication range and propagation range of the pairing signal Sp (Spa, Spb) transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 (2A to 2C), rather than the feedback signal Sf (Sfa, Sfb), may be set to the visible range Rc. A passenger conveyor control system configured in this manner can also achieve effects similar to those achieved by the above-described embodiment.

[0089] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments and various modified examples provide detailed and specific descriptions of the configurations of the devices and systems in order to clearly explain the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those that include all of the configurations described.

[0090] 1, 2, 6-8, the control lines or information lines indicated by solid lines or arrows are those considered necessary for explanation, and do not necessarily show all control lines or information lines in the product. In reality, it can be considered that almost all components are interconnected.

[0091] Furthermore, in this specification, processing steps describing chronological processing include not only processing that is performed chronologically in the order described, but also processing that is not necessarily performed chronologically but is performed in parallel or individually (for example, parallel processing or processing by objects).

[0092] Furthermore, the components of the passenger conveyor control system according to one embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in any hardware as long as the respective hardware can transmit and receive information to each other via a network. Furthermore, the processing performed by a certain processing unit may be realized by a single piece of hardware, or may be realized by distributed processing using multiple pieces of hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 1... passenger conveyor, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C... mobile terminal, 10... passenger conveyor main body, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C... control device, 21... control unit, 22... memory unit, 23... operation display unit, 24... communication unit, 25... microphone, 26... light receiving unit, 27... camera, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C... passenger conveyor control system, 201... control unit, 202... memory unit, 203... communication unit, 204... speaker, 205... light source, 206... identification information display unit

Claims

1. A passenger conveyor control system having a control device that controls the operation of a passenger conveyor and a mobile terminal that transmits a control signal to the passenger conveyor control device, The control device an identification information providing unit that provides identification information of the passenger conveyor; a first control unit that controls an operation of the passenger conveyor based on the control signal transmitted from the mobile terminal, The mobile terminal an identification information acquisition unit that acquires the identification information of the passenger conveyor within a predetermined visible range corresponding to a range within which the operator of the mobile device can visually observe the passenger conveyor; a second control unit that, when the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information, validates an operation input to the mobile terminal by an operator, generates the control signal based on the operation input, and transmits the control signal to the control device. Passenger conveyor control system.

2. The visible range is a range defined by the distance between a predetermined position corresponding to a position where the operator of the mobile terminal can visually observe the passenger conveyor and a position where the identification information providing unit is provided.

2. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 1.

3. the portable terminal further includes a transmitter that transmits a pairing signal to the control device to start pairing with the control device; When the first control unit of the control device receives the pairing signal transmitted from the transmission unit, the first control unit generates a feedback signal including the identification information and causes the feedback signal to be transmitted to the mobile terminal via the identification information providing unit.

3. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 2.

4. The communication range of the pairing signal or the feedback signal is set to the visible range.

4. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 3.

5. the second control unit establishes pairing with the control device when the identification information acquisition unit receives the feedback signal; The transmission unit transmits the control signal generated by the second control unit based on the operation input by the operator to the control device via communication with which the pairing has been established.

5. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 4.

6. the mobile terminal further includes an operation input unit to which an operation by the operator is input, The second control unit cancels the pairing established with the control device when it determines that a non-operation state on the operation input unit has lasted for a predetermined threshold time or longer after the pairing with the control device has been established.

6. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 5.

7. The first control unit of the control device causes the identification information providing unit to periodically transmit a second pairing signal to the portable terminal at predetermined time intervals while pairing with the portable terminal is established, and cancels the pairing established with the portable terminal when the identification information providing unit does not receive a second feedback signal from the portable terminal in response to the second pairing signal.

6. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 5.

8. The pairing signal and / or the feedback signal, and the second pairing signal and / or the second feedback signal are audio signals, and the visible range is adjusted by the volume of the audio signal and / or the volume and directionality of the audio signal.

8. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 7.

9. The pairing signal and / or the feedback signal, and the second pairing signal and / or the second feedback signal are optical signals, and the visible range is adjusted by the light intensity of the optical signals and / or the light intensity and directionality of the optical signals.

8. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 7.

10. the identification information providing unit is a display unit that displays the identification information or a two-dimensional or three-dimensional code including the identification information, the identification information acquisition unit is a camera that captures an image of the identification information or a two-dimensional or three-dimensional code including the identification information, the identification information providing unit is disposed on a side of the passenger conveyor or at a predetermined position around the passenger conveyor, The visible range is the range in which the camera can capture the identification information or a two-dimensional or three-dimensional code including the identification information.

2. The passenger conveyor control system of claim 1.

11. A passenger conveyor control method using a passenger conveyor control system having a control device that controls the operation of a passenger conveyor and a mobile terminal that transmits a control signal to the passenger conveyor control device, an identification information providing unit of the control device providing identification information of the passenger conveyor; an identification information acquisition unit of the mobile terminal acquires the identification information of the passenger conveyor within a predetermined visible range corresponding to a range within which the operator of the mobile terminal can visually observe the passenger conveyor; a second control unit of the mobile terminal, when the identification information acquisition unit acquires the identification information, a step of validating an operation input to a mobile terminal by an operator, generating the control signal based on the operation input, and transmitting the control signal to the control device; a procedure in which a first control unit of the control device controls an operation of the passenger conveyor based on the control signal transmitted from the mobile terminal. Passenger conveyor control method.

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