Elevator information provision device and elevator information provision method

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain an elevator information provision device that provides information indicating the relationship between an elevator and an object to be carried by the elevator.　The present invention comprises: a building data acquisition unit (10) that acquires building data; a selection unit (11) that selects an elevator suitable for installation in a building from among a plurality of elevators using the building data; and an image data acquisition unit (12) that acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit and an object to be carried by the elevator and outputs the acquired image data.

Description

Elevator information providing device and elevator information providing method

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator information providing device and an elevator information providing method.

[0002] An architectural designer who is ordering an elevator uses the elevator information providing device to obtain information about elevators and orders an elevator that meets his or her requirements.

[0003] Architectural designers can input the building's purpose, the number of floors, the estimated resident population per floor, and the desired elevator specifications into an elevator information providing device, and obtain a CAD symbol for the elevator (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-230253

[0005] Although such elevator information devices can obtain the CAD symbol of the elevator, they do not provide information showing the relationship between the elevator and the object that the elevator transports. As a result, it is difficult for users of the elevator information devices to visualize what the elevator will look like when actually installed, and users of the elevator information devices may be confused when selecting an elevator.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an elevator information providing device that provides information indicating the relationship between an elevator and an object carried by the elevator.

[0007] The elevator information providing device of the present invention includes a building data acquisition unit that acquires building data, a selection unit that uses the building data to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from multiple elevators, and an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit and an object to be carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data.

[0008] The elevator information providing device according to the present invention can provide information indicating the relationship between an elevator and an object carried by the elevator, because image data including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit is output.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an application example of the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a website created by the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data output by the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of image data output by the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of image data output by the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating yet another example of image data output by the elevator information providing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] First Embodiment First, an application example of the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment assumes that the user is an architectural designer, but the user is not limited to this and may be anyone who is considering purchasing or ordering an elevator. Note that, hereinafter, when simply referred to as a user, it refers to a user of the elevator information device 100 who is considering purchasing or ordering an elevator, and elevator users will be referred to as passengers.

[0011] The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment constitutes a part of a website that provides elevator information. In other words, users of the elevator information device 100 are users of the website created by the elevator information device 100. The website created by the elevator information device 100 provides elevator information when a user inputs data on the building in which the elevator is to be installed and data on the specifications desired for the elevator.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an application example of an elevator information device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment provides elevator information to a user via a server 102 and an internet line 103. FIG. 1 will be described along with a data flow. As shown in FIG. 1, a user's personal computer 104 is connected to the server 102 via the internet line 103. Building data entered by the user into the personal computer 104 is input to the elevator information device 100 via the server 102. The elevator information device 100 uses the building data to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from multiple elevators stored in a storage device 101. The elevator information device 100 then obtains image data including the selected elevator and an object carried by the elevator from the image data stored in the storage device 101, and outputs the obtained image data.

[0013] The data output from elevator information device 100 is input to the user's personal computer 104 via server 102, and an image including the elevator selected by elevator information device 100 and an object carried by the elevator is displayed on personal computer 104. In other words, when a user inputs building data, the website created by elevator information device 100 selects an elevator suitable for installation in the building and displays an image including the selected elevator and an object carried by the elevator.

[0014] Next, the configuration of the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the elevator information device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a building data acquisition unit 10 that acquires building data, a selection unit 11 that uses the building data to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from multiple elevators, and an image data acquisition unit 12 that acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data. Note that data on the multiple elevators is stored in a storage device 101.

[0015] The building data acquiring unit 10 acquires, via the server 102, building data that a user of the elevator information providing device 100 has input into the user's personal computer 104. For example, if the user is an architectural designer who is about to build a building, the user inputs data of the building to be built into the personal computer 104. The data of the building to be built that has been input into the personal computer 104 is acquired by the building data acquiring unit 10 of the elevator information providing device 100 via the server 102.

[0016] The building data includes, for example, data on the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people who will use the elevator, data on the size of the building, data on whether the building needs welfare support, etc. The website created by the elevator information providing device 100 has fields for inputting the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people who will use the elevator, data on the size of the building, data on whether the building needs welfare support, etc., and the building data acquiring unit 10 acquires the data entered in these fields.

[0017] The selection unit 11 uses the building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 10 to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from the plurality of elevators stored in the storage device 101. After selecting an elevator suitable for installation in the building from the plurality of elevators, the selection unit 11 notifies the image data acquisition unit 12 of which elevator has been selected.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the method by which the selection unit 11 selects an elevator is not particularly limited. For example, the selection unit 11 may select an elevator using a trained model for inferring an elevator suitable for installation in a building from building data. Specifically, the selection unit 11 may acquire from the storage device 101 a trained model for inferring an elevator suitable for installation in a building from building data, input the building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 10 into the trained model, and infer and select an elevator suitable for installation in the building. Alternatively, the elevator information providing device 100 may be configured to include a specification data acquisition unit that acquires specification data required for the elevator, and select an elevator suitable for installation in a building from multiple elevators stored in the storage device 101 using the building data and the specification data required for the elevator.

[0019] In this embodiment, the selection unit 11 may select one type of elevator, or two or more types. When the selection unit 11 selects one type of elevator, the selection unit 11 selects the elevator that is most suitable for installation in the building. When the selection unit 11 selects two or more types of elevators, the selection unit 11 may assign a recommendation order to elevators that are suitable for installation in the building, or may select the elevators without assigning a recommendation order. When the selection unit 11 assigns a recommendation order to elevators that are suitable for installation in the building, the selection unit 11 outputs which elevators have been selected together with the recommendation order. When the selection unit 11 infers that elevators that are suitable for installation in the building have not been assigned a recommendation order, only information about which elevators have been selected is output.

[0020] Furthermore, the method by which the selection unit 11 selects an elevator suitable for installation in a building may include a method in which the selection unit 11 presents two or more types of elevators to the user and the user selects one of them. In this case, the selection unit 11 provides information on two or more types of elevators to the user and obtains the information selected by the user before informing the image data acquisition unit 12 of which elevator has been selected. Furthermore, as long as the selection unit 11 can select an elevator suitable for installation in a building from multiple elevators, the number of building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 10 is not particularly limited.

[0021] The image data acquisition unit 12 acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data. The image data is stored in the storage device 101, and the image data acquisition unit 12 acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator from the storage device 101. The object carried by the elevator is a person or object carried by the elevator. The person carried by the elevator is a person using the elevator, i.e., an elevator passenger. The object carried by the elevator is, for example, a robot or wheelchair getting on or off the elevator, or simple luggage such as a cardboard box. If the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 is for luggage rather than passenger use, the object carried by the elevator may be, for example, a vehicle such as a forklift, simple luggage such as a cardboard box, or a cart for carrying luggage.

[0022] The image data output from the image data acquisition unit 12 is input to the personal computer 104 of the user of the elevator information providing device 100. Therefore, the display device of the personal computer 104 displays an image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator. In this embodiment, since the image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator is displayed on the display device, even if the data format is not a data format generally known as an image, such as a CAD drawing in a data format such as DWG or DXF, or PDF, it is considered an image.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a website created by the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A method for displaying image data output by the elevator information providing device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. An image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator may be displayed on a display device as is, without any particular operation by the user of the elevator information providing device 100, once the selection unit 11 selects the elevator, but this is not limited to this. For example, the image may be displayed when the user of the elevator information providing device 100 presses an operation button that displays the image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator.

[0024] Alternatively, for example, as shown in the area X surrounded by a dotted line in Fig. 3, an image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator may be displayed as a link that can be sent by email. Furthermore, as shown in the area Y surrounded by a dashed line in Fig. 3, an image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator may be displayed as an operation button that allows downloading. Furthermore, the operation button that allows downloading may be an operation button that allows printing of an image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator. In either display method, it is assumed that image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator is displayed.

[0025] Next, an elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device 100 includes a data acquisition step S1 of acquiring building data, a selection step S2 of selecting an elevator suitable for installation in the building from multiple elevators using the building data, an image acquisition step S3 of acquiring and outputting image data including the elevator selected in the selection step S2 and an object carried by the elevator, a provision step S4 of providing the output image data to a user, and a display step S5 of displaying the provided image data on the user's personal computer 104.

[0026] The data acquisition step S1 is a step for acquiring building data. In the acquisition step S1, the building data acquisition unit 10 acquires, via the server 102, building data that has been input to the personal computer 104 by a user of the elevator information providing device 100. The building data acquisition unit 10 then outputs the acquired building data to the selection unit 11. After completing the acquisition step S1, the elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device 100 in this embodiment proceeds to the selection step S2.

[0027] The selection step S2 is a step in which the building data is used to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from among a plurality of elevators. In the selection step S2, the selection unit 11 uses the building data acquired in the acquisition step S1 to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from among a plurality of elevators stored in the storage device 101. As described above, in this embodiment, the method by which the selection unit 11 selects an elevator is not particularly limited. After selecting an elevator, the selection unit 11 notifies the image data acquisition unit 12 of the selected elevator. In the elevator information provision method using the elevator information provision device 100 in this embodiment, after the selection step S2 is completed, the method proceeds to provision step S3.

[0028] The image acquisition step S3 is a step of acquiring image data including the elevator selected in the selection step S2 and the object carried by the elevator, and outputting the acquired image data. In the image acquisition step S3, the image data acquisition unit 12 acquires image data including the elevator selected in the selection step S2 and the object carried by the elevator from the storage device 101, and outputs the acquired image data. After completing the image acquisition step S3, the elevator information provision method using the elevator information provision device 100 in this embodiment proceeds to provision step S4.

[0029] Providing step S4 is a step in which the image data output from image data acquiring unit 12 is provided to the user. In providing step S4, server 102 provides the image data output from image data acquiring unit 12 to the user via Internet line 103. That is, in providing step S4, the image data output from elevator information providing device 100 is provided to the user via server 102 and Internet line 103. After providing step S4 is completed, the elevator information providing method using elevator information providing device 100 in this embodiment proceeds to displaying step S5.

[0030] The display step S5 is a step of displaying the provided image data on the user's personal computer 104. In the display step S5, the user's personal computer 104 displays the image data provided from the server 102 via the Internet line 103. As described above, in this embodiment, once the selection unit 11 selects the elevator, the image including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator may be displayed on the display device as is without any particular operation by the user of the elevator information providing device 100, but is not limited to this.

[0031] The user can obtain information indicating the relationship between the elevator and the object carried by the elevator because an image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator is displayed on the personal computer 104. The elevator information providing method using the elevator information providing device 100 in this embodiment ends when the display step S4 is completed.

[0032] As described above, the elevator information device 100 according to the present embodiment can provide information indicating the relationship between an elevator and an object carried by the elevator. This is because the image data acquisition unit 12 outputs image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator. Because the elevator information device 100 according to the present embodiment provides information indicating the relationship between an elevator and an object carried by the elevator, users of the elevator information device 100 according to the present embodiment can easily visualize what the elevator will look like when actually installed. Users of the elevator information device 100 according to the present embodiment can use the information indicating the relationship between the elevator and the object carried by the elevator as a reference for installing the selected elevator.

[0033] Next, the image including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 will be described in detail below. As described above, in this embodiment, the image including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 also includes CAD drawings in data formats such as DWG and DXF, and data formats other than those generally referred to as images, such as PDF. There are multiple types of images including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. Specific examples will be described one by one below, but these are merely examples, and the images in this embodiment are not limited to these.

[0034] The first is an image in which a picture of a wheelchair user being carried by an elevator is placed on a CAD drawing of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. The CAD drawing of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 is, for example, a hoistway plan view or an installation drawing. The image in which a picture of a wheelchair user being carried by an elevator is placed on a CAD drawing of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 is, for example, an image in which a picture of a wheelchair user is placed in a car space shown in an elevator hoistway plan view. The car space is the space where passengers stay when they board the elevator. The image in which a picture of a wheelchair user being carried by an elevator is placed on a CAD drawing of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 may also be an image in which a picture of a wheelchair user is placed at the elevator entrance / exit shown in an elevator hoistway plan view, or an image in which a picture of a wheelchair user is placed next to the elevator car shown in an elevator installation drawing.

[0035] The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs image data in which a picture of a wheelchair user being carried by the elevator is placed on the CAD drawing of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11, and therefore can provide information showing the relationship between the elevator and the wheelchair user being carried by the elevator. Therefore, a user of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine the movements of a wheelchair user when the elevator is actually installed.

[0036] The actions of wheelchair users when an elevator is actually installed include the movements of wheelchair users when entering and exiting the elevator, and the movements of wheelchair users when pressing the building floor button inside the elevator car. If you can imagine the movements of wheelchair users when entering and exiting the elevator, you can determine whether the elevator doorway is wide enough or if it is so narrow that the wheelchair wheels will hit it. Also, if you can imagine the movements of wheelchair users when pressing the building floor button inside the elevator car, you can determine whether the control panel with the building floor button is within reach of wheelchair users.

[0037] The second is an image including an elevator and an object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11, and showing the object being carried by the elevator entering and exiting the elevator. Here, the image showing the object being carried by the elevator entering and exiting the elevator may be a still image or a video showing the time series of the movement. Furthermore, the still image may be a still image taken at a specific point in time, or a still image showing the time series of the movement.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data output by the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of an elevator viewed from above, which is a simplified version of what is generally called a hoistway plan view, and indicates the car's interior dimensions A x B. The elevator shown in FIG. 5 has a car space formed by car components 1 and equipped with handrails 3a and mirrors 3b. The elevator user, a wheelchair user U1, gets on and off the elevator from a landing formed by hall components 2. Note that the elevator shown in FIG. 5 only needs to be illustrated so that the size of the car space can be understood, and the car space does not necessarily have to be formed by the car components 1.

[0039] An image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, and showing the object entering and exiting the elevator, is, for example, a still image, as shown in Fig. 5, showing a wheelchair user U1 being carried by the elevator exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. Fig. 5 shows the movement of the wheelchair user U1 as he exits the elevator, that is, the movement of the wheelchair user U1 as he gets off the elevator. Fig. 5 is a still image representation of a simulation video of the wheelchair user U1 entering and exiting the elevator.

[0040] In Figure 5, the movement of wheelchair user U1 as he exits the elevator is represented by arranging multiple pictures of wheelchair user U1, some of which are in different colors. In Figure 5, the position of wheelchair user U1 in the darkest color indicates the position when wheelchair user U1 remains in the elevator car, that is, the position when wheelchair user U1 begins to exit the elevator. In Figure 5, the wheelchair user U1 in the darkest color moves to the position of wheelchair user U1 in the second darkest color.

[0041] 5, the direction in which the wheelchair user U1 is moving is represented by fading the color of the wheelchair users U1, and the color of the wheelchair user U1 becomes lighter as the wheelchair user U1 moves forward. Note that in FIG. 5, the shade of color is represented by dots for convenience, and the dots with the highest density are the darkest.

[0042] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of image data output by the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Like Fig. 5, Fig. 6 also shows an example of a cross-sectional view of an elevator viewed from above, which is a simplified version of what is generally called a hoistway plan view, and indicates the car's interior dimensions A x B and the doorway width J. The elevator user, a robot U2, gets on and off the elevator from a landing formed by landing members 2. As with the elevator shown in Fig. 5, the elevator shown in Fig. 6 only needs to be shown in a way that allows the size of the car space to be understood, and therefore the car space does not necessarily have to be formed by car members 1.

[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of image data output by the elevator information device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of an elevator viewed from the side, generally a simplified version of what is called a shaft cross-section, and indicates the car depth B and car height C. The elevator shown in FIG. 7 moves up and down in a shaft formed by shaft members 4. In the elevator shown in FIG. 7, a car space is formed by car floor members 5, car ceiling members 6 including lighting and air conditioning, and door members 7. The door members 7 include hall doors and their corresponding door pockets, and car doors and their corresponding door pockets. The elevator is a robot U2, and elevator users get on and off the elevator from halls formed by building floor members 8. Note that the elevator shown in FIG. 7 only needs to be illustrated so that the size of the car space can be understood; the car space does not necessarily have to be formed by the car floor members 5, car ceiling members 6, and door members 7.

[0044] The image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator, and showing the object entering and exiting the elevator, is, for example, a still image showing the robot U2 being carried by the elevator exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11, as shown in Fig. 6 or 7. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show the movement of the robot U2 when it exits the elevator, that is, the movement of the robot U2 when it gets off the elevator. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are still images representing a simulation video of the robot U2 entering and exiting the elevator.

[0045] In Figures 6 and 7, the movement of robot U2 as it exits the elevator is represented by arranging multiple pictures of robot U2 and changing the color of some of them, as in Figure 5. That is, in Figures 6 and 7, the direction in which robot U2 is moving is represented by gradually fading the color of the multiple robots U2, and the color of robot U2 becomes lighter as robot U2 moves forward. Note that in Figures 6 and 7, the shade of color is represented by dots for convenience, and the dots with the highest density represent the darkest color.

[0046] Another example of an image that includes an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object being carried by the elevator and shows the object entering or exiting the elevator is a still image showing a vehicle being carried by the elevator entering or exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11.

[0047] Furthermore, the image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator, showing the object entering and exiting the elevator, may be a video, and may be, for example, a simulation video of a wheelchair user being carried by an elevator entering and exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11, or a simulation video of an elderly person being carried by an elevator entering and exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. Other possible images showing the object being carried by an elevator entering and exiting the elevator include a simulation video of a robot being carried by an elevator entering and exiting the elevator selected by the selection unit 11.

[0048] The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs image data that includes the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator, and shows the object getting in and out of the elevator, and can therefore provide information that shows the relationship between the elevator and the object carried by the elevator, and shows the object getting in and out of the elevator. Therefore, when an elevator is actually installed, users of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine how the object will get in and out of the elevator.

[0049] In particular, if the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs data of a simulation video of a wheelchair user entering and exiting an elevator, the simulation video including an image of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and a wheelchair user being carried by the elevator, the user of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can visualize how a wheelchair user will enter and exit an elevator when the elevator is actually installed. For example, the user can visualize whether there is enough space for a wheelchair user to turn around after getting into the elevator. In addition, if a wheelchair user does not turn around after getting into the elevator, they will exit the elevator facing backwards, but if a mirror is installed in the elevator, the user can visualize that wheelchair users can exit the elevator easily.

[0050] Furthermore, if the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs data of a simulation video of an elderly person entering and exiting an elevator, the simulation video including an image of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an elderly person being carried by the elevator, a user of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine how an elderly person will enter and exit an elevator when the elevator is actually installed. For example, an elderly person using a cane can imagine that having a handrail inside the elevator will make it easier for them to enter and exit the elevator. Also, an elderly person who walks slowly can imagine that having the elevator doors open for a longer period of time will make it easier for them to enter and exit the elevator.

[0051] The third image includes the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, and shows the object operating the elevator. Again, the image showing the object operating the elevator may be a still image or a video. Figure 8 illustrates yet another example of image data output by the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of an elevator viewed from above, a simplified version of what is generally called a hoistway plan view, and indicates the car's interior dimensions A x B. The elevator shown in Figure 8 has a wheelchair-only control panel 9a and a sleeve wall control panel 9b. As with the elevators shown in Figures 5 and 6, the elevator shown in Figure 8 only needs to be shown in a way that allows the size of the car space to be understood, and the car space does not necessarily need to be formed by the car components 1.

[0052] The image selected by the selection unit 11, which includes an elevator and an object being carried by the elevator and shows the object operating the elevator, is, for example, a still image showing a wheelchair user U1 being carried by the elevator operating the elevator, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows the movements of the wheelchair user U1 when operating the elevator and when the wheelchair user U1 exits the elevator after operating it, that is, the movements of the wheelchair user U1 when operating the elevator and getting off the elevator. Fig. 8 is a still image representation of a simulation video of the wheelchair user U1 operating the elevator.

[0053] In Figure 8, the movement of wheelchair user U1 as he exits the elevator is represented by arranging multiple pictures of wheelchair users U1 and changing the color of some of them, just like in Figure 5. That is, in Figure 8, the direction in which wheelchair user U1 is moving is represented by gradually fading the color of the multiple wheelchair users U1, and the color of wheelchair user U1 becomes lighter as wheelchair user U1 moves forward. Note that in Figure 8, the shade of color is represented by dots for convenience, and the dots with the highest density are the darkest colors.

[0054] Other examples of images that include an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator and show the object operating the elevator include a simulation video of a wheelchair user carried by the elevator operating the elevator, a simulation video of a robot carried by the elevator operating the elevator, and a simulation video of a child carried by the elevator operating the elevator.

[0055] The elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs image data that includes the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator and shows how the object is operating the elevator, and can therefore provide information that shows the relationship between the elevator and the object carried by the elevator and how the object is operating the elevator. Therefore, when the elevator is actually installed, users of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine how the object will operate the elevator.

[0056] In particular, if the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs data of a simulation video of a wheelchair user operating the elevator, which includes an image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and a wheelchair user being carried by the elevator, the user of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine how a wheelchair user will operate the elevator when the elevator is actually installed. For example, the user can imagine whether the buttons for the building floors are located in an easy-to-press position for a wheelchair user. Of course, the user can also imagine that the buttons for the building floors are difficult for a wheelchair user to press.

[0057] Furthermore, if the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment outputs data of a simulation video of a child operating the elevator, which includes an image of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and a child being carried by the elevator, users of the elevator information device 100 according to this embodiment can imagine how a child would get in and out of the elevator when it is actually installed. For example, it can be imagined whether a short child can press all the buttons for building floors. Of course, it is also possible to imagine that there are buttons for building floors that children cannot press.

[0058] When the image including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 described above is displayed as a picture on a display device, the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator are displayed on the same screen. In other words, when the image including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 is displayed as a picture on a display device, the object carried by the elevator is displayed near the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. Note that, among the images including the elevator and the object carried by the elevator selected by the selection unit 11, the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 does not need to show detailed parts, as long as it is shown in a way that makes it possible to understand the size of the car space.

[0059] The fourth is an image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, which is an image showing the interior of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. The elevator information providing device 100 according to the present embodiment outputs data of an image including an elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and an object carried by the elevator, which is an image showing the interior of the elevator selected by the selection unit 11. This makes it easier for users of the elevator information providing device 100 to imagine what the elevator will look like when actually installed, and allows them to consider the harmony of the design between the elevator and the building.

[0060] The elevator information providing device 100 is realized by, for example, but not limited to, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage device 101 is realized by, for example, but not limited to, a semiconductor memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a flash memory.

[0061] Second Embodiment The configuration of an elevator information providing device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The elevator information providing device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same application example as the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment of the present invention, only the differences from the first embodiment of the present invention will be described, and a description of the parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

[0062] 9 is a configuration diagram of an elevator information providing device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment includes a building data acquiring unit 20 that acquires building data, a selecting unit 21 that uses the building data to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from multiple elevators, and an image data acquiring unit 12 that acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selecting unit 21 and an object carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data. Data on the multiple elevators is stored in a storage device 101.

[0063] The building data acquiring unit 20 acquires, via the server 102, building data that a user of the elevator information providing device 200 has input into the user's personal computer 104. The building data acquired by the building data acquiring unit 20 of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of data, including data on the area where the building will be constructed. For example, the plurality of building data acquired by the building data acquiring unit 20 includes data on the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people who will use the elevator, data on the size of the building, data on whether the building requires welfare facilities, etc. The website created by the elevator information providing device 200 has fields for inputting the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people who will use the elevator, data on the size of the building, data on whether the building requires welfare facilities, etc., and the building data acquiring unit 20 acquires the data entered in these fields.

[0064] The selection unit 21 uses the building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 20 to select an elevator suitable for installation in a building from among the plurality of elevators stored in the storage device 101. The selection unit 21 of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment selects an elevator suitable for installation in a building from among the plurality of elevators using building data generated by weighting each of the plurality of building data. Note that, also in this embodiment, the selection unit 21 may select one type of elevator, or two or more types.

[0065] The weights applied to each of the multiple pieces of building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 20 will be described. In this embodiment, the building data acquired by the building data acquisition unit 20 includes multiple pieces of data including data on the area where the building will be constructed. Therefore, it is assumed that the building data acquisition unit 20 acquires, for example, five pieces of data: data on the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people using the elevator, and data on whether the building requires welfare facilities. The selection unit 21 of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment selects an elevator suitable for installation in a building from the multiple elevators stored in the storage device 101, using data generated by multiplying the data on the area where the building will be constructed, data on the type of building, data on the number of floors in the building, data on the number of people using the elevator, and data on whether the building requires welfare facilities acquired by the building data acquisition unit 20 by weights.

[0066] At this time, the selection unit 21 assigns the largest weight to the data on the area where the building will be constructed among the weights assigned to each of the multiple data. Then, the data with the next highest weight is assigned to the data on the type of building, the data with the next highest weight is assigned to the data on the number of floors of the building, the data with the next highest weight is assigned to the data on the number of people using the elevator, and the data with the next highest weight is assigned to the data on whether or not the building requires welfare facilities. More specifically, the weight assigned to the data on the number of people using the elevator is equal to or greater than the weight assigned to the data on whether or not the building requires welfare facilities. The weight assigned to the data on the number of floors of the building is equal to or greater than the weight assigned to the data on the number of people using the elevator. The weight assigned to the data on the type of building is greater than the weight assigned to the data on the number of floors of the building. The weight assigned to the data on the area where the building will be constructed is greater than the weight assigned to the data on the type of building. Furthermore, the sum of the weights assigned to each of the multiple data is 1.

[0067] In other words, the selection unit 22 of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment selects an elevator suitable for installation in a building from among multiple elevators using data generated by, for example, multiplying data on the area where the building will be constructed with a weight of 0.5, data on the type of building with a weight of 0.3, data on the number of floors in the building with a weight of 0.1, data on the number of people using the elevator with a weight of 0.05, and data on whether the building requires welfare support with a weight of 0.05.

[0068] The image data acquisition unit 12 acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data. The image data is stored in the storage device 101, and the image data acquisition unit 12 acquires the image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit 11 and the object carried by the elevator from the storage device 101.

[0069] The image data output from the image data acquisition unit 12 is input to the personal computer 104 of the user of the elevator information providing device 200. Therefore, the display device of the personal computer 104 displays an image including the elevator selected by the selection unit 21 and the object carried by the elevator. In this embodiment, too, the image includes the elevator selected by the selection unit 21 and the object carried by the elevator, and therefore even if the data format is not a data format generally known as an image, such as a CAD drawing in a data format such as DWG or DXF, or PDF, it is still considered an image.

[0070] As described above, the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment can provide users of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment with information on elevators that are more suitable for installation in a building than the information on elevators provided by the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is because the selection unit 22 selects an elevator that is more suitable for installation in a building from the plurality of elevators stored in the storage device 101, using data generated by weighting each of the plurality of data on the building.

[0071] In particular, at the stage of considering an elevator to be installed in a building, the construction site cannot be changed, so if the weight applied to the data on the area where the building is to be constructed is set to the largest value among the weights applied to each of the multiple data on the building, it is possible to provide users of the elevator information providing device 200 according to this embodiment with more accurate information than the elevator information provided by the elevator information providing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Also, when the selection unit 21 assigns a recommendation rank to select two or more types of elevators, the data generated by applying a weight to each of the multiple data on the building is useful for assigning the recommendation rank.

[0072] Within the scope of the present invention, the embodiments and modifications can be freely combined, and the embodiments can be modified or omitted as appropriate.

[0073] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Cage member, 2 Landing member, 3a Handrail, 3b Mirror, 4 Elevator shaft member, 5 Cage floor member, 6 Cage ceiling member, 7 Door member, 8 Building floor member, 9a Wheelchair-dedicated control panel, 9b Sleeve wall control panel, 10, 20 Building data acquisition unit, 11, 21 Selection unit, 12 Image data acquisition unit, 100, 200 Elevator information providing device, 101 Storage device, 102 Server, 103 Internet line, 104 Personal computer.

Claims

1. A building data acquisition unit that acquires building data; a selection unit that uses the data of the building to select an elevator suitable for installation in the building from among a plurality of elevators; an image data acquisition unit that acquires image data including the elevator selected by the selection unit and an object carried by the elevator, and outputs the acquired image data; Equipped with The building data includes a plurality of data including data of an area in which the building is to be constructed; The selection unit selects the elevator using data generated by weighting each of the plurality of data of the building. Elevator information device.

2. The images show the subject entering and exiting the elevator. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1.

3. The image shows the subject operating the elevator.

3. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the subject is a wheelchair user, The image is a simulation video of the wheelchair user entering and exiting the elevator.

3. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the subject is a wheelchair user, The image is a simulation video of the wheelchair user operating the elevator. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1.

6. The subject is an elderly person, The elevator information providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image is a simulation video of the elderly person entering and exiting the elevator.

7. the subject is a child; The image is a simulation video of the child operating the elevator. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1.

8. The image shows the interior of the elevator selected by the selection unit.

3. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The selection unit sets the weight to be multiplied to the data of the area in which the building is to be constructed to the largest value.

3. The elevator information providing device according to claim 1 or 2.

10. A data acquisition step of acquiring building data; A selection step of selecting an elevator suitable for installation in the building from among a plurality of elevators using the building data; an image acquisition step of acquiring image data including the elevator selected in the selection step and an object carried by the elevator, and outputting the acquired image data; Equipped with The building data includes a plurality of data including data of an area in which the building is to be constructed; In the selection step, the elevator is selected using data generated by weighting each of the plurality of data of the building. How to provide elevator information.