Building system and method for user registration for content publishing

Abstract

A building system (1) having a content management system (6) provides for automated self-registration of a user (8) upon the user (8) submitting content for the first time while being present at or inside a building in which the content is to be published. If a device identifier of the mobile communications device (5) the user uses for submitting the content, does not match a stored device identifier of users authorized to publish, it is determined if the content is received together with a unit identifier of a radio unit (28) installed at or in the building. The unit identifier is obtained by the mobile communications device (5) when the mobile communications device (5) is within radio range of the radio unit (28). In response to determining that the provided content is accompanied by the unit identifier, the device identifier is registered as belonging to a user authorized to publish content via the content management system (6).

Description

[0001] BUILDING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER REGISTRATION FOR CONTENT PUBLISHING

[0002] Description

[0003] The technology described herein relates to a building system and a method for operating such a building system.

[0004] In a building, a user can interact with a building system such as an elevator system and / or an access control system. For example, the user can call an elevator using either a mobile phone or an elevator operating terminal on a landing or in an elevator car, or request access to the building or an access-restricted zone within the building. US 2021 / 0323789 Al discloses a system that enables a remote mobile application user to either call an elevator car for dispatch to a selected destination or gain access to access-restricted floors. In this system, the user's physical proximity to the elevator system is determined using radio communications based on BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) beacons.

[0005] Although such user interactions are usually sufficient for elevator and access control purposes, in certain buildings, e. g., apartment houses, commercial / office buildings or mixed-use buildings (apartment and commercial / office uses), more user interactions with a building system may be beneficial for individual or all users of the building and for an efficient operation of the building system. There is therefore a need for a technology that provides for an additional way of interacting with a building system to allow for efficient operation of the building system.

[0006] One aspect of the technology described herein relates to a building system having a content management system that includes a content management controller, a display screen coupled to the content management controller and arranged for displayed content to be observable by a user, and a radio unit arranged at or in the building and configured to transmit a radio signal within a pre-set radio range. The radio range is set for the radio signal to be receivable by a mobile communications device only within the radio range, wherein the radio signal includes a unit identifier. The content management system is configured to receive content to be displayed by the display screen from mobile communications devices. Each content includes a device identifier of the mobile communications device sending the respective content. Further, the content management system is configured to use a device identifier to search a database for a matching device identifier. The database stores device identifiers of mobile communication devices of registered users authorized to provide content to the content management system. In response to determining that the device identifier of a mobile communications device providing content does not match a stored device identifier, the content management system is configured to determine if the respective content is received together with the unit identifier of the radio unit. The unit identifier is obtained by the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is within the radio range of the radio unit. In response to determining that the provided content is accompanied by the unit identifier, the content management system is configured to register the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content via the content management system.

[0007] Another aspect relates to a method of operating such a building system. The method includes steps to execute an automated user registration procedure to allow a user to publish content within the building using a mobile communications device. Content to be displayed by the display screen is received from the mobile communications device. The content includes a device identifier of the mobile communications device sending the content. The device identifier is used to search a database for a matching device identifier. The database stores device identifiers of mobile communication devices of registered users authorized to provide content to the content management system. In response to determining that the device identifier of a mobile communications device providing content does not match a stored device identifier, the method determines if the content is received together with the unit identifier of the radio unit. The unit identifier is obtained by the mobile communications device when the mobile communications device is within the radio range of the radio unit. If it is determined that the provided content is accompanied by the unit identifier, the method registers the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content via the content management system.

[0008] The various aspects of the technology disclosed herein improve the operation of the building system due to an additional functionality. The additional functionality provides for an automated procedure that registers a user's mobile communications device with the building system so that the user is allowed to publish ("to post") content on a display screen within the building. The building system is configured to execute the procedure without involvement of, for example, a building manager or administrator. The user can register the mobile communications device with the building system if and when the user wishes to use the mobile communications device to publish content for the first time. Hence, the building system automatically recognizes the user's first-time submission of content to be published. Registration of new "publishing" users is, therefore, simplified without the need for a manual registration by the user, a building manager or an administrator. The procedure is convenient for the user and meets building security requirements because the user is already "known" in the building system due to the user using the mobile communications device and a software application (App) configured for building uses.

[0009] In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the building system is configured to store the device identifier in a record of a database when registering the mobile communications device. The device identifier is stored in the record together with information of the user authorized to publish content. The record, therefore, reflects which users have the right to publish within the building.

[0010] As to the location of the storage device, and, hence, where the record is stored, the technology described herein provides for alternatives. In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the database is stored in a storage device of or communicatively coupled to an elevator control system or the content management system. The storage device may be provided locally, e. g., integrated in the elevator control system or the content management system, or placed separate from these systems within the building, e. g., in connection with a building management system or an access control system. In another embodiment, at least one component of the content management system such as the storage device or its storage function may be provided at a remote location, e. g., implemented by so-called cloud-based computing or cloud-based storing.

[0011] In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the radio unit is configured to transmit the radio signal according to at least one of a Bluetooth, WiFi / WLAN and ultrawideband (UWB) standard. Therefore, the radio unit can be adapted to the radio technology that is most suitable for a specific building. The radio unit emits preferably short-range radio signals, for example, to avoid signal overlap / interference with radio signals emitted other radio units on the same or a neighboring floor.

[0012] In one embodiment, the building system includes an elevator system having an elevator control system, an elevator car movable under control of the elevator control system between floors of a building. The elevator control system is configured to move the elevator car in response to an elevator call entered by a user for which the user may use the mobile communication device. Content to be published can, therefore, be directed to elevator users.

[0013] In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the display screen is arranged at a floor or inside the elevator car. In another embodiment, the display screen is arranged in a landing operating terminal, which is arranged on a floor and coupled to the elevator control system, or in a car operating terminal, which is arranged inside the elevator car and coupled to the elevator control system. Depending on the kind of building, the display screen can be installed at a most suitable location regarding noticing the published content. For example, at a landing operating terminal or a car operating terminal, the content is noticed while entering an elevator call or travelling in the elevator car.

[0014] In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the radio unit is arranged on an access-restricted floor. The building system is configured to register the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content while the user is at the access-restricted floor. This ensures that only a user that is authorized to be on the access-restricted floor can publish content.

[0015] In one embodiment, which may be applicable in connection with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein, the content management system includes a workstation configured to display the content provided by the user to be registered for review, and to block or unlock a mobile communications device identified by its device identifier. For using the content management system, certain rules can be defined a user must adhere to when publishing content. To ensure that users follow these rules, content may be reviewed, e. g., when a user publishes content for the first time, or every time the user publishes content. Upon detecting that a content does not comply with the rules, the workstation can notify the user by sending a message to the user's mobile communications device identified by the device identifier. The message may indicate that the content will not be published and / or that the user is blocked from further publishing content. In case the user explains or declares compliance with the rules, the workstation can unblock the user's mobile communications device. It is contemplated that the workstation, as a component of the content management system, may be provided locally within the building or at location remote from the building, e. g., implemented or facilitated by so-called cloud-based computing.

[0016] In the following, various aspects of the improved technology are explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments in connection with the figures. All figures are merely schematic illustrations of methods and system or their components according to exemplary embodiments of the improved technology. In particular, distances and size relations are not reproduced to scale in the figures. In the figures, identical elements have identical reference signs. In the drawings:

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary building system in a building having several floors;

[0018] Fig. 2 shows an example of an embodiment of a method for operating the building system.

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a building system 1 having a content management system (CMS) 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the building system 1 includes an elevator system 2 installed in a building of which only a plurality of floors LI, L2, L3 and an elevator shaft 26 are shown. The building can be any type of multilevel building (e. g., residential building, hotel, office building, sports station, etc.). It is contemplated, however, that in certain buildings no elevator systems 2 are installed and that certain aspects of the technology described herein can be implemented independent of or without an elevator system 2. It is further contemplated that the content management system 6 or certain components and / or functions of the content management system 6 can be part of the elevator system 2.

[0020] In the following, the technology is described with reference to the building system 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The content management system 6 includes a content management controller (CMS CTRL) 6c, at least one display screen 6a coupled to the content management controller 6c and a workstation 6b coupled to the content management controller 6c. In the illustrated embodiment, each floor LI, L2, L3 is provided with a display screen 6a. It is, however, contemplated that a display screen 6a may not be provided on every floor LI, L2, L3, or that more than one display screen 6a may be provided on a floor LI, L2, L3. It is contemplated that at least one component of the content management system 6 may be provided within the building or at a remote location, e. g., implemented by so-called cloud-based computing.

[0021] Components and functions of the elevator system 2 are explained as far as they are believed to be helpful for an understanding of the technology described herein. The floors LI, L2, L3 of the building are served by the elevator system 2, e. g., a user 8 can be transported from a boarding floor to a destination floor by the elevator system 2 after inputting an elevator call ("call") at a landing operating terminal 4 (also referred to as "floor terminal 4") while at the boarding floor. In the shown embodiment, the elevator system 2 has an elevator car 10 that is movable along a travel path in the building. For example, the travel path extends along the vertical elevator shaft 26, without being limited to such a travel path. Further, in the shown embodiment, a car operating terminal 20 and a display screen 6a are arranged in the elevator car 10 and accessible by a user 8 in the elevator car 10.

[0022] The elevator system 2 shown in Fig. 1 also comprises an elevator control system (ECS) 12, a drive machine (M) 14, a counterweight 18, a signal transmission system 30, a suspension means 16 (one or more steel ropes or flat belts) and a plurality of deflection pulleys. In Fig. 1, the illustrated elevator control system 12 represents several control functions performed in the elevator system 2, including controlling the movement of the elevator car 10, processing and allocating calls to the elevator car 10, and managing access rights to the elevator system 2 or to the floors LI, L2, L3 of the building. For these functions, the elevator control system 12 includes, for example, one or more computers, processors and storage devices, a representative storage device 12a storing a database is coupled to the elevator control system 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The skilled person will appreciate that these functions may be implemented as individual and separate (sub)systems or system components. For example, the storage device 12a can be integrated in the elevator control system 12 or implemented as a cloud-based storage system coupled to the elevator control system 12 via, e. g., the internet. In another embodiment, the storage device 12a may be coupled to the content management system 6; the storage device 12a may be used by the elevator system and the content management system 6. Further details of the elevator system 2 are described below.

[0023] In one embodiment, the building system 1 is configured to enable a user 8 to request certain building functions, e. g., request access to the building or call an elevator, using a mobile communications device 5. For example, the elevator system 2 is configured to allow entering a call using a mobile communications device 5. For illustrative purposes, the user 8 on the floor LI carries a mobile communications device 5. The mobile communications device 5 is configured to execute a software application (App) that enables communications at least with the elevator system 2. The App generates a graphical user interface for display by the mobile communications device 5.

[0024] Once registered with the building system 1 and / or the elevator system 2, the mobile communications device 5 is enabled for use by the user 8, e. g., to request building access, to enter credential information and call information, and to receive information about the elevator car 10 assigned to serve an entered call. For at least one of these uses, a user profile is stored by the building system 1 ; depending on the building and the building system 1, personnel (e. g., a building manager) may administer a plurality of user profiles stored in a building management system or the elevator system 2. An exemplary App is the ElevateMe App available from the Schindler group.

[0025] Enabled by the App, the mobile communications device 5 communicates via a communications network (NW) 24 that is communicatively coupled to the building system 1 (in Fig. 1 to the elevator control system 12 and the content management controller 6c). A person skilled in art will recognize that the communications network 24 can be configured for so-called cloud computing (colloquially also referred to as “cloud”). This includes, for example, storing data in a remote data center but also executing programs that are installed remotely rather than locally. Depending on the design, a certain functionality can be made available in a (local) computer system of the building system 1 or via the “cloud,” for example. For this purpose, a software application or program parts thereof can be executed in the “cloud,” for example. The computer system then accesses this infrastructure as required to execute the software application.

[0026] The building system 1 includes at least one radio unit 28 configured to transmit a radio signal including a (unique) unit identifier (also referred to as "unit ID) within a pre-set radio range. The unit identifier identifies a radio unit 28 in the building, and a fixed location (installation site) in the building is associated with it. Using the unit identifier of a radio unit 28, information about the location of the radio unit 28 can be determined which can then be used to determine the floor the radio unit 28 is located. The radio range is set for the radio signal to be receivable by a mobile communications device 5 only within the radio range. Further, using short-range radio signals, for example, avoids signal overlap / interference with radio signals emitted by other radio units 28 on the same or a neighboring floor.

[0027] The radio unit 28 is configured to transmit a radio signal based on a known radio technology, such as RFID, NFC, WiFi / WLAN or Bluetooth standards. For example, if a Bluetooth standard is use, the radio unit 28 includes a Bluetooth beacon that transmits its unit identifier and has a radio range of 10-30 meters. The limited radio range ensures that the mobile communications device 5 (therefore also the user 8) is at or in the building when the mobile communications device 5 is to be registered according to the technology described herein.

[0028] The radio unit 28 can be coupled to the content management system 6 and / or the elevator system 2, as indicated in Fig. 1 through dashed lines. In one embodiment, the radio unit 28 can be a stand-alone component which is neither coupled to the content management system 6 nor to the elevator system 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each floor LI, L2, L3 is provided with a radio unit 28. It is, however, contemplated that a radio unit 28 may not be provided on every floor LI, L2, L3, or that more than one radio unit 28 may be provided on a floor LI, L2, L3. Further, a radio unit 28 may be integrated in a floor terminal 4.

[0029] If a battery-powered Bluetooth beacon is used as stand-alone component, the radio units 28 are not linked with the elevator control system 12 or the content management system 6, and so a connection / cable 34 can be omitted. Communications between the mobile communications device 5 (e. g., a smartphone), which is Bluetooth-enabled, and the radio units 28 take place in accordance with a version of a Bluetooth standard, e. g. Bluetooth standard 4.0 (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)). According to one version of the Bluetooth standard, the radio unit 28 continuously transmits its unit ID. As soon as the mobile communications device 5 is within radio range of the radio unit 28, the mobile communications device 5 receives the unit ID and can forward it to the building system 1. As the building system 1 maintains a database in which the location of the radio unit 28 assigned to the unit ID is stored, the building system 1 can determine the location, e. g., floor, the mobile communications device 5 is located.

[0030] In the embodiment of the building system 1 shown in Fig. 1, the technology described herein can be advantageously used to operate the building system 1 in an efficient and secure manner, e. g., because of an automated registration process that allows a user 8 to publish content in the building via the content management system 6. The content may be a message that informs, e. g., other building tenants about the fact and date of a reserved or limited-availability elevator due to the user 8 moving, or of a special event in the building. The content may also be an image (with or without text) or a video (with or without sound). Any installed display screen 6a is configured to reproduce (display and any sound) such content.

[0031] Briefly and as an example, the content management system 6 of the building system 1 is configured to receive content from a user's mobile communications device 5 which the user 8 wants to have displayed (published) on at least one display screen 6a. The mobile communications device 5 executes one of the above-mentioned apps, which indicates that a user profile exists for the user 8. The user 8, however, must have the right to publish content. The technology described herein registers the mobile communications device 5 as belonging to a registered user 8 the first time the user 8 wants to publish content while within radio range of the radio unit 28, i. e., the user 8 must be present at or in the building when publishing content for the first time. The user's presence is confirmed when the content management system 6 receives the unit identifier at essentially the same time as the content. Once the user 8 is then registered, the user 8 can use the mobile communications device 5 to send content via the communications network 24 for publication from within the building or a location remote from the building. With the understanding of the above-described components of the building system 1 and their functionalities, a description of an exemplary method for operating the building system 2 is provided below with reference to Fig. 2. The exemplary description is provided with reference to the situation shown in Fig. 1 wherein the user 8 wants to publish content within the building for the first time. The user 8 may reside in the building and use the mobile communications device 5 and the installed App to interact with the building system 2. For example, based on a stored user profile, the App may allow the user 8 to access the building or restricted zones therein, and / or to call an elevator. Within the building system 1, however, the user 8 has not (yet) the right to publish content via the content management system 6. The method described with reference to Fig. 2 starts in a step SI and ends in a step S8 and is described from the perspective of the building system 1. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the division into the steps shown is exemplary, and that one or more of these steps can be divided into one or more sub-steps, or that several of the steps can be combined into one step.

[0032] Referring to a step S2, content is received from the user's mobile communications device 5 to be displayed by at least one of the display screens 6a. In one embodiment, the content is received by the content management system 6. The received content includes a device identifier of the mobile communications device 5 sending the content. As the App enables the communications between the building system 1 and the mobile communications device 5, the App causes the device identifier to be included in a signal transmission that transmits the content to the building system 1. The building system 1 determines the device ID from the received signal transmission and uses it to search a database 12a. Further, the device identifier allows the building system 12 to identify the user 8.

[0033] At a step S3, the (received) device identifier (device ID) is used to search the database 12a for a matching device identifier. The database 12a stores device identifiers of mobile communication devices 5 of users 8 that are registered / authorized to provide content to the content management system 6 for publishing.

[0034] At a step S4, if the received device identifier matches a stored device identifier, the method proceeds along the YES branch to a step S7. In this case, the user 8 is already authorized to publish content; accordingly, the content management system 6 causes the content to be published on at least one of the display screens 6a. Depending on a particular implementation, the content management system 6 may cause sending a message to the user 8 confirming the publication of the content. Once the content is published, the method ends in the step S8. Otherwise, if there is no match in the step S4, the method proceeds along the NO branch to a step S5. In this case, the user 8 is not (yet) authorized to publish content; accordingly, the content management system 6 does not yet publish the content.

[0035] At a step S5, it is determined if the provided content is associated with the unit identifier of a radio unit 28. In one embodiment, the App is configured to detect and obtain the unit identifier from the radio unit 28 when the user 8 is within radio range of the radio unit 28 and about to send content to the content management system 6. The App causes the unit identifier to be included in the signal transmission that transmits the content to the building system 1. In one embodiment, the signal transmission includes the unit identifier and the device identifier.

[0036] If the unit identifier is included, the method proceeds along the YES branch to a step S6. In this case, the device identifier of the user's mobile communications device 5 is registered in the database 12a (step S6), and the content is published by the content management system 6 in the step S7. The user 8 is then a registered user and can publish content via the content management system 6 from within the building or from a location remote from the building.

[0037] The registration is based on the signal transmission received by the building system 1. The device identifier indicates that the user 8 is "known" within the building system 1, and the unit identifier indicates that the user 8 is within radio range of a radio unit 28. Once the registration is completed, the App may communicate the successful registration and content publication to the user 8 and indicate that future request for publishing content can be made from within the building or from a location remote from the building.

[0038] Otherwise, if it is determined in the step S5 that there is no unit identifier included, e. g., because the user 8 is not at the building, the method proceeds along the NO branch to the step S8 and ends there. In this case, the user 8 is not registered and not authorized to publish content. Depending on a particular implementation, the content management system 6 may cause sending a message to the user 8 informing the user 8 about the requirement to be present at or in the building when wanting to publish for the first time.

[0039] The content management system 6 may have rules that govern the kind of content users 8 can publish, for how long content is published, how the content is published (e. g., small / large font depending how many users 8 are contemporaneously publishing) or how publishing conflicts are handled (e. g., setting priority rules (building content has priority over private content) or intermittent / altemating display of content from different users 8. It is contemplated that the content management system 6 can revoke the right to publish within the building, e. g., due to inappropriate content, generally or on a content-by- content basis. For these purposes and in one embodiment, the workstation 6b of the content management system 6 can be used to display and review the content provided by the user 8 the first time at registration or thereafter. A person tasked to review the content may by located within the building or at a location remote from the building assisted by the cloud-computing technology. The content management system 6 can, for example, block or unlock a mobile communications device 5 identified by its device identifier.

[0040] Hereinafter, further aspects of the building system 1 and its elevator system 2 are described with reference to Fig. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the elevator system 2 is a traction elevator, wherein further details, such as, for example, guide rails for the elevator car 10 and guide rails for the counterweight 18 are not shown in Fig. 1. The elevator control system 12 is connected to the drive machine 14 and controls it to move the elevator car 10 in the shaft 26 in response to an elevator call. The function of a traction elevator, the components of which and the tasks of an elevator control system 12 are generally known to the person skilled in the art. The skilled person will recognize that embodiments of the technology described herein are not limited to a traction elevator. The skilled person will also recognize that the elevator system 2 can comprise a plurality of elevator cars 10 or multi -deck cars in one or more elevator shafts 26, or can comprise one or more groups of elevators controlled by a group controller.

[0041] In Fig. 1, an operating terminal 4 is arranged on each floor LI, L2, L3 and coupled to the elevator control system 12 by means of a communication connection 32. The communication connection 32 may be implemented using wires / cables (e. g., by individual lines or a communication bus), a wireless technology or a combination thereof. Each of these operating terminals 4 can have, for example, a terminal identifier (also referred to as a terminal ID) by which an operating terminal 4 is identifiable and addressable, in particular if a communication bus is used. For example, the operating terminal 4 can send a call along with its terminal ID to the elevator control system 12 which can then confirm the call to the operating terminal 4 identified by the terminal ID. In this case, information about an elevator allocated to serve the call can also be sent.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 1, a further operating terminal 20 is arranged in the elevator car 10 and connected to the elevator control system 12 by means of the signal transmission system 30. The floor-side operating terminal 4 may be referred to as floor terminal 4 and the carside operating terminal 20 may be referred to as car terminal 20. The configurations of these terminals (4, 20) depend on the control technology implemented in the elevator system 2; either a destination call control technology, or a direction call control technology. If the destination call control technology is implemented, the floor-side operating terminal 4 allows a user 8 to enter a destination floor, while the car terminal 4a may allow the user 8 only, e. g., to signal an emergency and / or to affect the closing of the elevator doors. If the direction call control technology is implemented, the floor-side operating terminal 4 allows the user 8 to enter the travel direction (up or down), and the car terminal 20 allows the user 8 to enter a destination floor. Irrespective of the call control technology, and for illustrative purposes, the terminals (4, 20) are depicted by the same pictogram.

[0043] The building system 1 may require that users 8 have to present a credential to access the building and / or use the elevator system 2. At least one floor terminal 4, e. g., at a building lobby (e. g., at a floor on which a main building entrance is provided), may be provided with a credential reader, wherein all floor terminals 4 may be provided with a credential reader. Depending on the building system 1 and / or the elevator system 2, the credential may be a (physical) key, a biometric feature (e. g., fingerprint, iris pattern, speech / voice characteristics) or an access code captured from a magnetic card, chip card or RFID card or from an electronic terminal (NFC-, Bluetooth- or cellular network-based mobile radio / mobile phone, smartphone, tablet PC). The credential reader is configured in accordance with the credential used. This means that the credential reader has, for example, a terminal for capturing a biometric feature, a terminal for capturing an optical code (a barcode, QR code or color code), a reader for a magnetic stripe card or a chip card, or a transmitting and receiving terminal for radio signals. The optical code, magnetic stripe, chip or RFID antenna may be implemented on the information carrier. The skilled person recognizes that the car terminal 20 and / or the floor terminals 4 may be configured for more than one of these credential and credential reader alternatives. The captured credential can be forwarded, e. g., to the elevator control system 12, which carries out or initiates the authorization check, for example, by checking whether the captured credential is assigned to an authorized user 8 in a database. The check can be carried out, for example, by an access control function of the elevator system 2, e. g., implemented within the elevator control system 12, or of an (separate) access control system. If the user 8 is authorized to access, an elevator call can be registered by the elevator control system 12.

[0044] The communication network 32 connects the floor terminals 4 to the elevator control system 12 and thus makes communication possible between the elevator control system 12 and the floor terminals 4. For this communication, the floor terminals 4 and the elevator control system 12 can be directly or indirectly connected to the communication network 32. The communication network 32 can comprise a communication bus system, individual data lines, a wireless communications system or a combination thereof. Depending on the implementation of the communication network 32, individual addresses and / or identifiers can be allocated to the elevator control system 12 and each floor terminal 4, such that, for example, the elevator control system 12 can send a message to a desired floor terminal 4 in a targeted manner. Communications can take place in accordance with a protocol for wired or wireless communication, for example, the Ethernet protocol. In one embodiment, the floor terminals 4 are supplied with electrical energy via the communication network 32 using power of Ethernet (PoE) technology.

[0045] In one exemplary embodiment, the signal transmission system 30 shown in Fig. 1 includes an electric cable provided, for example, in a traction elevator for transmitting electrical energy and electrical signals and extending between the elevator car 10 and a fixed point to which the elevator control system 12 is coupled. For this purpose, the electrical cable has electrical power and signal lines. For example, the electrical cable supplies electrical energy to the elevator car 10 and transmits signals (e. g., load, status, and / or car call information) to and from the elevator car 10. The electrical cable is also known to the person skilled in the art as a traveling cable. Terminals that couple the traveling cable, on the one hand, to the elevator control system 12 and its power / voltage supply and, on the other hand, to the elevator car 10 and its electrical and electronic components are therefore known to the person skilled in the art. The person skilled in the art will recognize that the car terminal 20 is in one embodiment electrically coupled to the traveling cable.

Claims

Claims1. A building system (1), comprising: a content management system (6) having a content management controller (6c); a display screen (6a) coupled to the content management controller (6c) and arranged for displayed content to be observable by a user (8); and a radio unit (28) arranged at or in the building and configured to transmit a radio signal within a pre-set radio range, wherein the radio range is set for the radio signal to be receivable by a mobile communications device (5) only within the radio range, wherein the radio signal includes a unit identifier; wherein the content management system (6) is configured: to receive content to be displayed by the display screen (6a) from mobile communications devices (5), wherein each content includes a device identifier of the mobile communications device (5) sending the respective content; to use a device identifier to search a database (12a) storing device identifiers of mobile communication devices (5) of registered users (8) authorized to provide content to the content management system (6) for a matching device identifier, in response to determining that the device identifier of a mobile communications device (5) providing content does not match a stored device identifier, to determine if the content is received together with the unit identifier of the radio unit (28), wherein the unit identifier is obtained by the mobile communications device (5) when the mobile communications device (5) is within the radio range of the radio unit (28); and in response to determining that the provided content is accompanied by the unit identifier, to register the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content via the content management system (6).

2. The building system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radio unit (28) is configured to transmit the radio signal according to at least one of a Bluetooth, WiFi / WLAN and ultrawideband (UWB) standard.

3. The building system (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the building system (1) is configured to store the device identifier in a record of a database when registering the mobile communications device (5), wherein the device identifier is stored in the record together with information of the user authorized to publish content.

4. The building system (1) according to any preceding claim, further comprising an elevator system (2) having an elevator control system (12), an elevator car (10) movable under control of the elevator control system (12) between floors (LI, L2, L3) of a building, wherein the elevator control system (12) is configured to move the elevator car (10) in response to an elevator call entered by a user (8).

5. The building system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the display screen (6a) is arranged at a floor (LI, L2, L3) or inside the elevator car (10).

6. The building system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the display screen (6a) is arranged in a landing operating terminal (4), which is arranged on a floor (LI, L2, L3) and coupled to the elevator control system (12), or in a car operating terminal (20), which is arranged inside the elevator car (10) and coupled to the elevator control system (12).

7. The building system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the radio unit (28) is arranged on an access-restricted floor (LI, L2, L3) and wherein the building system (1) is configured to register the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content while the user (8) is at the access-restricted floor (LI, L2, L3).

8. The building system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the content management system (6) comprises a workstation (6b) configured to display the content provided by the user (8) to be registered for review, and to block or unlock a mobile communications device (5) identified by its device identifier.

9. A method of operating a building system (1) comprising a content management system (6) having a content management controller (6c), a display screen (6a) coupled to the content management controller (6c) and arranged for displayed content to be observable by a user (8), and a radio unit (28) arranged at the building and configured to transmit a radio signal within a pre-set radio range, wherein the radio range is set for the radio signal to be receivable by a mobile communications device (5) only within the radio range, wherein the radio signal includes a unit identifier, the method comprising: receiving content to be displayed by the display screen (6a) from the mobilecommunications device (5), wherein the content includes a device identifier of the mobile communications device (5) sending the content; using the device identifier to search a database (12a) storing device identifiers of mobile communication devices (5) of registered users (8) authorized to provide content to the content management system (6) for a matching device identifier, in response to determining that the device identifier of a mobile communications device (5) providing content does not match a stored device identifier, determining if the content is received together with the unit identifier of the radio unit (28), wherein the unit identifier is obtained by the mobile communications device (5) when the mobile communications device (5) is within the radio range of the radio unit (28); and in response to determining that the provided content is accompanied by the unit identifier, registering the device identifier as belonging to a user authorized to publish content via the content management system (6).

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising transmitting the radio signal by the radio unit (28) according to at least one of a Bluetooth, WiFi / WLAN and ultrawideband (UWB) standard.

11. The method according to one of claims 9 or 10, further comprising storing the device identifier in a record of a database (12a) of the building system (1) when registering the mobile communications device (5), wherein the device identifier is stored in the record together with information of the user (8) authorized to publish content.

12. The method according to one of claims 9 - 11, further comprising displaying the content using the display screen (6a), wherein the display screen (6a) is arranged at a floor (LI, L2, L3) or inside an elevator car (10).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the display screen (6a) is arranged in a landing operating terminal (4), which is arranged on a floor (LI, L2, L3) and coupled an elevator control system (12), or in a car operating terminal (20) arranged inside the elevator car (10) and coupled to the elevator control system (12).

14. The method according to one of claims 9 - 13, further comprising displaying the content provided by the user (8) to be registered at a workstation (6b) for review, whereinthe workstation (6b) is configured to block or unlock the mobile communications device (5) identified by its device identifier.

15. The method according to one of claims 9 - 14, further comprising registering the mobile communications device (5) and its App while the user (8) is at or inside the building.

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