A solution for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system (100) to an elevator system (200). The method comprises: determining (310) whether pairing status information is received from a battery management unit (110) of the elevator battery system (100); determining (330) based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system (100) is already paired to some elevator system in response to the determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit (110); and performing (350) a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system (100) is paired to the elevator system (200) in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system (100) is already paired to some elevator system. The invention relates also to a control system (230) and an elevator system (200) for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system (100) to an elevator system (200).

Description

[0001] A solution for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevator systems. Especially the invention concerns pairing a battery system to an elevator system.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In a people conveyor system, such as an elevator system, there may exist situations where an external power reserve, such as a battery, is needed to supply electrical energy to the people conveyor system. Such a need may for example arise in case of a power failure in an electric network arranged to supply the people conveyor system in question. The external power reserve may for example be used to drive an elevator car to the nearest floor and to open the door of the elevator car, when the elevator car has reached the nearest floor, in the event of the power failure.

[0006] Typically, the battery needs to be replaced as a spare part at regular intervals, e.g. every five years. However, replacing the battery for example with a repaired battery or a fake battery may form a safety risk. It may also be required that only specific, e.g. authorized, batteries may be used as the spare part.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

[0009] An objective of the invention is to present a method, a control system, and an elevator system for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system. Another objective of the invention is that the method, the control system, and the elevator system for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system enables ensuring that only authorized elevator battery systems that are paired to the elevator system can be used in the elevator system.

[0010] The objectives of the invention are reached by a method, a control system, and an elevator system as defined by the respective independent claims.

[0011] According to a first aspect, a method for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system is provided, wherein the method comprises: determining whether pairing status information is received from a battery management unit of the elevator battery system; determining based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system is already paired to some elevator system in response to the determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit; and performing a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system is paired to the elevator system in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system is already paired to some elevator system.

[0012] The method may comprise performing a pairing operation to pair the elevator battery system to the elevator system in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system is not paired to any elevator system.

[0013] The paring operation may comprise: receiving elevator identification information related to the elevator system in question from a control unit, and storing the received elevator identification information into a memory of the elevator battery system to pair the elevator battery system to the elevator system.

[0014] The pairing verification operation may comprise: receiving elevator identification information related to the elevator system in question from a control unit; comparing the received elevator identification information to elevator identification information stored in a memory of the elevator battery system; and determining a positive pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information corresponds to the stored elevator identification information, or determining a negative pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information deviates from the stored elevator identification information. The method may further comprise generating a battery pairing fault notification in response to the determination of the negative pairing verification result.

[0015] The elevator identification information may comprise an elevator system related serial number.

[0016] The method may further comprise generating a battery pairing fault notification in response to the detection that the pairing status information is not received from the battery management unit.

[0017] According to a second aspect, a control system for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system is provided, wherein the control system comprises: a control unit, and a battery management unit of the elevator battery system comprising a memory, wherein the control unit is configured to: determine whether pairing status information is received from the battery management unit, and determine based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system is already paired to some elevator system in response to the determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit; and wherein the control system is configured to perform a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system is paired with the elevator system in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system is already paired with some elevator system.

[0018] The control system may be configured to perform a pairing operation to pair the elevator battery system to the elevator system in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system is not paired with any elevator system.

[0019] The pairing operation may comprise that the battery management unit is configured to: receive elevator identification information from the control unit, and store the received elevator identification information into the memory of the elevator battery system to pair the elevator battery system to the elevator system.

[0020] The pairing verification operation may comprise that the battery management unit is configured to: receive elevator identification information from the control unit; compare the received elevator identification information to a stored elevator identification information stored in the memory of the elevator battery system; and determine a positive pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information corresponds to the stored elevator identification information, or determine a negative pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information deviates from the stored elevator identification information.

[0021] The battery management unit may further be configured to generate a battery pairing fault notification to the control unit in response to the determination of the negative pairing verification result.

[0022] The elevator identification information may comprise an elevator system related serial number.

[0023] The control unit may further be configured to generate a battery pairing fault notification in response to the detection that the pairing status information is not received from the battery management unit.

[0024] According to a third aspect, an elevator system is provided, wherein the elevator system comprises: an elevator device, and a control system described above.

[0025] Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0026] The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0028] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator battery system. Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of a portion of an elevator system.

[0030] Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of a method for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system to an elevator system.

[0031] Figure 4 illustrates schematically an example of a pairing operation.

[0032] Figure 5 illustrates schematically an example of a pairing verification operation.

[0033] Figure 6 illustrates schematically non-limiting pairing examples of elevator battery systems.

[0034] Figure 7 illustrates schematically an example of a controlling entity.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

[0036] Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator battery system 100 for supplying electrical energy to an elevator system 200. The elevator battery system 100 may for example be used as a rescue battery of the elevator system 200. The elevator battery system 100 may be used to supply electrical energy to the elevator system 200 for example in case of a power failure in an electric network arranged to supply the elevator system 200. The elevator battery system 100 comprises a battery management unit 110 configured to manage at least some operations of the elevator battery system 100 as is described in the forthcoming description. Further, the elevator battery system 100 comprises a battery module 120 that comprises a number of battery cells 125, e.g. implemented with a Li-ion battery technology, for storing electrical energy in a known manner in them. The number of the battery cells 125 may be connected together so that the battery module 120 may provide the electrical energy to other entities from a common connector. The same applies with respect to charging of the battery cells 125. The elevator battery system 100 further comprises a power supply interface 130 through which electrical energy stored in the battery cells 125 of the battery module 120 may be provided to the elevator system 200. The power supply interface 130 may also be utilized for charging the battery cells 125 of the battery module 120.

[0037] Figure 2 illustrates schematically an example of a portion of the elevator system 200 comprising the elevator battery system 100. The elevator system 200 comprises a control unit 210 which may be configured to control one or more operations of the elevator system 200. For example, the control unit 210 may be an elevator drive control unit (e.g. a drive controller) of an elevator drive system or any other controller of the elevator system 200 (e.g. an elevator controller). In accordance with the present invention the control unit 210 may be configured to control an operation of the elevator drive system, e.g. by generating control signals thereto, so that the elevator drive system may operate an elevator device 220 in a desired manner. The elevator device 220 may comprise e.g. an electric motor to drive a traction sheave in order to causing movement of an elevator car in an elevator shaft. The battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100 and the control unit 210 of the elevator system 200 form a control system 230 for performing one or more operations as is described in the forthcoming description.

[0038] The elevator battery system 100, e.g. the battery management unit 110, comprises a communication interface 240 to communicatively connect the elevator battery system 100 to the control unit 210 and possibly also to one or more other entities of the elevator system 200. The communication interface 240 may e.g. comprise necessary hardware and software to implement a communication technology used in the communication with the control unit 210. The communication technology may be based on a wired or a wireless communication. The communication interface 240 may receive the data to be exchanged from the battery management unit 110. Moreover, the control unit 210 may also transmit data towards the elevator battery system 100 in a manner as is described in the forthcoming description. The control unit 210 may further comprise a communication interface 250 configured to interact with the communication interface 240 of the elevator battery system 100 so that data may be transferred between the entities. According to an example, a serial communication link between the battery management unit 110 and the control unit 210 may be used to communicatively connect the elevator battery system 100 to the control unit 210.

[0039] The elevator system 200 may further comprise a power supply interface (not shown in Figure 2 for sake of clarity). A distribution of the electrical energy from the elevator battery system 100 to the elevator system 200 may be arranged with the power supply interface of the elevator system 200. In other words, the power supply interface 130 of the elevator battery system 100 may be connected with the power supply interface of the elevator system 200. Here, the interface may e.g. refer to an arrangement implemented with suitable connectors at both end, such a plug and a socket type arrangement. For sake of completeness, it is hereby mentioned that the supplied energy to the elevator system 200 from the elevator battery system 100 may be converted to applicable type of current, i.e. between AC and DC currents, in one of the entities. Such an electrical circuit may e.g. be included in the elevator drive system in the elevator system side.

[0040] Only authorized elevator battery systems are allowed to be used in the elevator system 200, for example for safety reasons. The authorized elevator battery systems may for example comprise elevator battery systems approved by the elevator system provider, manufactured by selected suppliers, and / or repaired by selected suppliers, etc. When only authorized elevator battery systems are allowed to be used in the elevator system 200, it can be ensured that only good quality and approved elevator battery systems are used in the elevator system 200. This, in turn, enables improving the safety of the elevator system 200. To be able to prevent the use of non-authorized elevator battery systems in the elevator system 200, an elevator battery system needs to paired to the elevator system 200 before the elevator battery system can be used in the elevator system 200. The non-authorized elevator battery systems may for example comprise fake elevator battery systems and / or elevator battery systems manufactured or repaired by unauthorized suppliers, etc. The pairing limits the use of an elevator battery system only in the elevator system to which the elevator battery system is paired. In other words, when an elevator battery system is paired to an elevator system, said elevator battery system cannot be used in any other elevator system. Moreover, only authorized elevator battery systems that are allowed to be used in the elevator system 200 can be paired to the elevator system 200. The pairing may for example be performed after commissioning of the elevator system 200 and / or after replacing the elevator battery system with another elevator battery system. For example, when the end of lifetime of the elevator battery system is approaching, the elevator battery system needs to be replaced with a new elevator battery system. According to a non-limiting example, a typical lifetime of an elevator battery system may be five years.

[0041] Next an example of a method for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system 100 to an elevator system 200 is described by referring to Figure 3, which illustrates schematically the method as a flow chart. The method is performed by the control system 230 discussed above. Preferably, the control unit 210 of the control system 230 is the elevator drive control unit, but the control unit 210 may also be any other elevator control unit, e.g. an elevator controller or part of the elevator controller. The method enables ensuring that only authorized elevator battery systems that are paired to the elevator system 200 can be used in the elevator system 200. The method may for example be performed after the installation of the elevator battery system 100 to the elevator system 200, during powering up of the control unit 210 (i.e. each time when the control unit 210 powers up), after a certain period of time (e.g. after every 12 hours, after every 24 hours, etc.), and / or whenever the control unit 210 communicates first time with the elevator battery system 100 (e.g. when the elevator battery system has been replaced with another elevator battery system). The method may alternatively or in addition be used to continuously monitor whether the elevator battery system 100 is paired to the elevator system 200 to prevent the use of the elevator system 200 with an unpaired and / or unauthorized elevator battery system or with an elevator battery system paired to a different elevator system. For example, if the elevator battery system 100 has been replaced while the main power is on, the method may be performed during the first communication to elevator battery system 100 or after a certain period of time.

[0042] The control unit 210 determines 310 whether pairing status information is received from the battery management unit 110. The pairing status may for example be paired or unpaired. The status is paired, when the elevator battery system 100 is paired to an elevator system. The status is unpaired, when the elevator battery system 100 is not paired to any elevator system. The pairing status information may for example comprise information indicating the pairing status of the elevator battery system 100. In response to a determination that the pairing status information is not received by the control unit 210 from the battery management unit 110, the control unit 210 may for example generate 320 a battery pairing fault notification. The determination result that the pairing status information is not received by the control unit 210 from the battery management unit 110 indicates that the elevator battery system 100 is not an authorized elevator battery system. Only battery management units of authorized elevator battery systems are capable of providing, e.g. sending, the pairing status information to the control unit 210. For example, unauthorized elevator battery systems may not have any information representing the pairing status stored thereto; they may have some information representing pairing status stored thereto, but this information is not in a correct form; or they may not even have a battery management system at all, and thus the unauthorized battery systems are not capable of providing the pairing status information to the control unit 210. Thus, if the control unit 210 does not receive the pairing status information from the battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100 installed to the elevator system 200, the control unit 210 may determine that the elevator battery system 100 is most likely an unauthorized elevator battery system that is not allowed to be used in the elevator system 200 in question. In other words, the determination that the pairing status information is not received may be considered as an indication that the elevator battery system 100 installed to the elevator system 200 is most likely an unauthorized elevator battery system that is not allowed to be used in the elevator system 200 in question. This enables to prevent the use of unauthorized elevator battery systems in the elevator systems 200. In response to the generation the fault notification the elevator system 200 may for example be taken out of service.

[0043] In response to a determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit 110, the control unit 210 determines 330 based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system 100 is already paired. In other words, the control unit 210 determines 330 based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system 100 is already paired to an elevator system. More specifically to some elevator system, which may be the elevator system 200 in question, but it may also be any other elevator system. Based on the pairing status information the control unit 210 is capable of determining only whether the elevator battery system 100 is paired to some elevator or not, but the elevator system to which the elevator battery system 100 is paired cannot be determined based on the pairing status information received from the battery management unit 110. However, if the control unit 210 receives the pairing status information from the battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100, the control unit 210 may determine that the elevator battery system 100 is most likely an authorized elevator battery system. In other words, the determination that the pairing status information is received may be considered as an indication that the elevator battery system 100 is most likely an authorized elevator battery system. In response to a determination that the elevator battery system 100 is not paired to any elevator system, the control unit 210 may perform 340 a pairing operation to pair the elevator battery system 100 to the elevator system 200 in question to allow the use of the elevator battery system 100 in the elevator system 200 in question. The pairing operation may for example be needed to be performed, if the elevator battery system 100 is a new elevator battery system installed to the elevator system 200, e.g. after the commissioning of the elevator system 200 or during the elevator battery change process. The elevator battery change process may for example be performed, when the “old” (i.e. the previous) elevator battery system used in the elevator system 200 is replaced with a new elevator battery system, e.g. when the end of lifetime of the “old” elevator battery system is approaching. Before performing the pairing operation after the commissioning of the elevator system 200, the control unit 210 may check that elevator system commissioning is completed. The pairing operation may then be initiated, if the elevator system commissioning completed check indicates that the elevator system commissioning has been completed. The elevator system commissioning completed check may for example comprise determining that the elevator system commissioning has been completed in response to receiving elevator system commissioning completed notification. Alternatively, the elevator system commissioning completed check may for example comprise determining that the elevator system commissioning has been completed by monitoring movement of at least one elevator car of the elevator system 200.

[0044] Figure 4 illustrates schematically an example of the pairing operation as a flow chart. The pairing operation may be initiated by the control unit 210 of the elevator system 200 by providing, e.g. sending, 410 elevator identification information related to the elevator system 200 in question to the battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100. The elevator identification information may comprise information identifying the elevator system 200, the control unit 210, and / or the elevator drive system. The elevator identification information may for example comprise an elevator system related identifier, e.g. an elevator system related serial number. For example the elevator system related identifier / serial number may be a serial number of the elevator system 200, a serial number of the control unit 210, and / or a serial number the elevator drive system, e.g. a serial number of a drive power board. Alternatively, the elevator identification information may comprise any other information from which the elevator system 200, the control unit 210, and / or the elevator drive system may be identified. The battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100 receives 420 the elevator identification information from the control unit 210, i.e. the elevator identification information sent by the control unit 210. In response to receiving the elevator identification information from the control unit 210, the battery management unit 110 stores 430 the received elevator identification information into a memory 720 of the elevator battery system 100 to pair the elevator battery system 100 to the elevator system 200. Preferably the memory 720 is a non-volatile memory. For example, the memory 720 may have a parameter field representing the pairing status of the elevator battery system 100 into which the received elevator identification information may be stored. The parameter field may for example be a pairing status field. For example, when the elevator battery system 100 is unpaired, i.e. not paired to any elevator system, the battery status field may be empty. Alternatively, the battery status field may have a value indicating that the elevator battery system is unpaired. In case the elevator battery system 100 is paired the battery status field may comprise the received elevator identification information of the elevator system to which the elevator battery system 100 is paired. As a result of this pairing operation the elevator battery system 100 is paired to the elevator system 200. This, in turn, means that the elevator battery system 100 cannot be used in any other elevator system anymore. According to an example, the battery management unit 110 may generate the pairing status information used e.g. in the determination of steps 310 and 330 discussed above, based on the information whether any elevator identification information is stored into the memory 720, e.g. based on the pairing status field or any other respective parameter field.

[0045] Alternatively, in response to a determination that the elevator battery system 100 is paired to some elevator system (either to the elevator system 200 in question or to any other elevator system, but not known yet), the control unit 210 performs 350 a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system 100 is paired to the elevator system 200 in question. The pairing verification operation is performed only for elevator battery systems being already paired (e.g. by performing the pairing operation discussed above), i.e. at least some elevator identification information has been stored into the memory 720 of the elevator battery system 100, e.g. into the pairing status field.

[0046] Figure 5 illustrates schematically an example of the pairing verification operation as a flow chart. The pairing verification operation may be initiated by the control unit 210 of the elevator system 200 by providing, e.g. sending, 510 the elevator identification information related to the elevator system 200 in question to the battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100. The battery management unit 110 of the elevator battery system 100 receives 520 the elevator identification information from the control unit 210, i.e. the elevator identification information sent by the control unit 210. In response to receiving the elevator identification information from the control unit 210, the battery management unit 110 compares 530 the received elevator identification information to the elevator identification information stored in the memory 720 of the elevator battery system 100, e.g. in the pairing status field. The elevator identification information may be stored in the memory 720 of the elevator battery system 100 during the pairing operation.

[0047] If the received elevator identification information corresponds to the stored elevator identification information, the battery management unit 110 may determine 540 a positive pairing verification result. The positive pairing verification result indicates that the elevator battery system 100 is paired to the elevator system 200 in question. As the elevator battery system 100 is paired to the elevator system 200 in question, the elevator battery system 100 is allowed to be used in the elevator system 200 in question. Thus, as a result of the positive pairing verification result the elevator system 200 is allowed to continue its operation and the elevator battery system 100 can be used in the elevator system 200, e.g. as a rescue battery of the elevator system 200.

[0048] Alternatively, if the received elevator identification information deviates from the stored elevator identification information, the battery management unit 110 may determine 550 a negative pairing verification result. The negative pairing verification result indicates that the elevator battery system 100 is not paired to the elevator system 200 in question, but instead to some other elevator system. As the elevator battery system 100 is paired to some other elevator system than the elevator system 200 in question, the elevator battery system 100 cannot be used in the elevator system 200 in question. As a result of, i.e. in response to, the determination of the negative verification result, the battery management unit 110 generates 560 a battery pairing fault notification. In response to the generation the fault notification the elevator system 200 may for example be taken out of service. This enables that the elevator system 200 cannot be operated, if an elevator battery system paired to some other elevator system is installed to said elevator system 200.

[0049] Figure 6 illustrates schematically some non-limiting pairing examples of elevator battery systems 100a-100d. The example of Figure 6 illustrates an example elevator system 200, i.e. an elevator system A, that has an identifier AAAA, e.g. a serial number related to the elevator system A, from which the elevator system 100a can be identified. The example of Figure 6 further illustrates an example elevator battery system 100a, i.e. battery system (BS) 1 . The identifier AAAA of the elevator system A is stored in the pairing status field of the battery system 1 . In other words, the battery system 1 is an authorized elevator battery system already paired to the elevator system A. Thus, the battery system 1 can be used in the elevator system A.

[0050] Further, the example of Figure 6 illustrates an example elevator battery system 100b, i.e. battery system (BS) 2. The pairing status field of the battery system 2, is empty, which indicates that the battery system 2 is an authorized unpaired elevator battery system, e.g. a new elevator battery system. A new elevator battery system may for example be used as a spare part to replace an “old” elevator battery system that is already at the end of its lifetime. To be able to use the battery system 2 in the elevator system A, the battery system 2 needs to be paired to the elevator system A, e.g. by using the pairing operation discussed above. After the battery system 2 is paired to the elevator system A, the battery system 2 can be used in the battery system A.

[0051] Still further, the example of Figure 6 illustrates an example elevator battery system 100c, i.e. battery system (BS) 3. The pairing status field of the battery system 3 has an identifier BBBB stored thereto, which indicates that the battery system 3 is already paired to an elevator system to which the identifier BBBB stored into the pairing status field of the battery system 3 relates. In other words, the battery system 3 is an authorized elevator battery system already paired to another elevator system than the elevator system A. Thus, the battery system 3 cannot be used in the elevator system A. The battery system 3 may for example be a used battery system already paired with the other elevator system or a repaired battery system already paired with the other elevator system. Thus, the pairing and the paring check limits the use of used (authorized) battery systems and / or repaired (authorized) battery systems only in the elevator system to which the battery system in question is initially paired.

[0052] Still further, the example of Figure 6 illustrates an example elevator battery system 100d, i.e. battery system (BS) 4. The battery system 4 does not even have the pairing status field. As the battery system 4 does not have the pairing status field, it can be considered as an indication that the battery system 4 is not capable of providing the pairing status information to the control unit 210 of the elevator system A. This, in turn, indicates that the battery system 4 is most likely an unauthorized elevator battery system that is not allowed to be paired to the elevator system A and thus not used in the elevator system A. Thus, the pairing and the paring check enables to prevent the use of unauthorized elevator battery systems in the elevator systems 200.

[0053] As already mentioned, both entities, i.e. the elevator battery system 100 and the elevator system 200 comprises controlling entities, i.e. the battery management unit 110 and the control unit 210. A non-limiting example of such a controlling entity 110, 210 is schematically illustrated in Figure 7. The apparatus configurable to operate as the controlling entity 110, 210 comprises a processor 710, a memory 720, a communication interface 730, and possibly a user interface (III) 740. The components of the apparatus may be communicatively connected to each other via data bus that enables transfer of data and control information between the components. The memory 720 may store and maintain portions of a computer program (code) 725 and any other data, such as pieces of data as described. The computer program 725 may comprise computer-readable instructions which, when the computer program 725 is executed by the processor 710 may cause the processor 710, and thus apparatus to carry out desired tasks, e.g. the one or more method steps as described. The processor 710 may thus be arranged to access the memory 720 and retrieve and store any information therefrom and thereto. For sake of clarity, the processor herein refers to any unit suitable for processing information and control the operation of the apparatus among other tasks. The operations may also be implemented with a microcontroller solution with embedded software. Similarly, the memory 720 is not limited to a certain type of memory only, but any memory type suitable for storing the described pieces of information may be applied in the context of the present invention. Although the processor 710 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate processing components. Similarly, although the memory 720 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate components.

[0054] The communication interface 730 provides one or more communication interfaces, such as a wireless communication interface or a communication interface for wired communication, or both to communicate with other entities as described. The communication interface 730 may thus comprise one or more modems, antennas, and any other hardware and software for enabling an execution of the communication e.g. under control of the processor 710. In some embodiments, the communication interface 730 may correspond to the previously described communication interfaces cited with 240 and 250 in Figure 2.

[0055] The user interface 740 may comprise one or more input / output (I / O) devices, such as buttons, keyboard, touch screen, microphone, loudspeaker, display and so on, to provide a user interface for receiving user input from a user and / or outputting information to the user. The computer program 725 may be a computer program product that may be comprised in a tangible non-volatile (non-transitory) computer-readable medium bearing the computer program code 725 embodied therein for use with a computer, i.e. the controlling entity 110, 210.

[0056] The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and / or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A method for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system (100) to an elevator system (200), the method comprises: determining (310) whether pairing status information is received from a battery management unit (110) of the elevator battery system (100); determining (330) based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system (100) is already paired to some elevator system in response to the determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit (110); and performing (350) a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system (100) is paired to the elevator system (200) in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system (100) is already paired to some elevator system.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising performing (340) a pairing operation to pair the elevator battery system (100) to the elevator system (200) in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system (100) is not paired to any elevator system.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the paring operation comprises: receiving (420) elevator identification information related to the elevator system (200) in question from a control unit (210), and storing (430) the received elevator identification information into a memory (720) of the elevator battery system (100) to pair the elevator battery system (100) to the elevator system (200).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pairing verification operation comprises: receiving (520) elevator identification information related to the elevator system (200) in question from a control unit (210),comparing (530) the received elevator identification information to elevator identification information stored in a memory (720) of the elevator battery system (100), and determining (540) a positive pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information corresponds to the stored elevator identification information, or determining (550) a negative pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information deviates from the stored elevator identification information.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising, generating (560) a battery pairing fault notification in response to the determination (550) of the negative pairing verification result.

6. The method according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the elevator identification information comprises an elevator system related serial number.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims comprising generating (320) a battery pairing fault notification in response to the detection that the pairing status information is not received from the battery management unit (110).

8. A control system (230) for checking a pairing of an elevator battery system (100) to an elevator system (200) comprising: a control unit (210), and a battery management unit (110) of the elevator battery system (100) comprising a memory (720), wherein the control unit (210) is configured to: determine whether pairing status information is received from the battery management unit (110), and determine based on the received pairing status information whether the elevator battery system (100) is already paired to some elevator system in response to the determination that the pairing status information is received from the battery management unit (110); andwherein the control system (230) is configured to perform a pairing verification operation to determine whether the elevator battery system (100) is paired with the elevator system (200) in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system (100) is already paired with some elevator system.

9. The control system (230) according to claim 8 configured to perform a pairing operation to pair the elevator battery system (100) to the elevator system (200) in question in response to the determination that the elevator battery system (100) is not paired with any elevator system.

10. The control system (230) according to claim 9, wherein the pairing operation comprises that the battery management unit (110) is configured to: receive elevator identification information from the control unit (120), and store the received elevator identification information into the memory (720) of the elevator battery system (100) to pair the elevator battery system (100) to the elevator system (200).11 . The control system (230) according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the pairing verification operation comprises that the battery management unit (110) is configured to: receive elevator identification information from the control unit (210), compare the received elevator identification information to a stored elevator identification information stored in the memory (720) of the elevator battery system (100), and determine a positive pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information corresponds to the stored elevator identification information, or determine a negative pairing verification result, if the received elevator identification information deviates from the stored elevator identification information.

12. The control system (230) according to claim 11 , wherein the battery management unit (110) is further configured to generate a battery pairing faultnotification to the control unit (210) in response to the determination of the negative pairing verification result.

13. The control system (230) according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the elevator identification information comprises an elevator system related serial number.

14. The control system (230) according to any of claim 8 to 13, wherein the control unit (210) is further configured to generate a battery pairing fault notification in response to the detection that the pairing status information is not received from the battery management unit (110).

15. An elevator system (200) comprising: an elevator device (220), and a control system (230) according to any of claims 8 to 14.

Images