BLE Elevator Request Management via Role Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems often result in significant wait times due to users needing to interact with a system kiosk in a building lobby, leading to inefficient communication and potential chaos with multiple mobile devices connecting to the same access point.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, where mobile devices function as peripherals and BLE access points act as central devices, allowing for quick and efficient connection and processing of elevator requests, with features like role reversal of devices and single connection management to prevent duplication and improve traffic flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple mobile devices connect to the same BLE access point simultaneously, then more users can request elevators concurrently, but communication chaos and request duplication occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional master-slave relationship by making the mobile device the master (initiator) and the BLE access point the slave (responder). This allows each mobile device to independently manage its connection and request processing, eliminating communication chaos while maintaining concurrent request capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having mobile devices scan for and connect to BLE access points before actually submitting elevator requests. The connection establishment phase is separated from the request submission phase, allowing for proper connection management and preventing request duplication
2Reliability
If users interact with system kiosks to submit elevator calls, then centralized control is maintained, but significant wait times result due to queue congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The BLE access point acts as an intermediary device between mobile devices and the central control system. It receives requests from multiple mobile devices simultaneously and forwards them to the elevator control system, eliminating the need for users to physically queue at centralized kiosks while maintaining centralized control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of physical kiosk terminals with wireless BLE communication. Users can submit elevator requests remotely using their mobile devices, eliminating the need to physically approach and interact with kiosk systems, thereby reducing wait times caused by queue congestion
3Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices function as BLE central devices and access points as peripherals, then connection flexibility increases, but connection management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional BLE role assignment where access points are typically masters and mobile devices are slaves. By making mobile devices masters and access points slaves, the system simplifies connection management on the mobile device side while maintaining flexibility, as the mobile device can independently initiate and manage connections
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system includes an operating environment proximate a plurality of elevator car locations. Also included is at least one Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) access point device (306) connectable to a mobile device (208) located within the operating environment upon receipt of a BLE signal by the mobile device (208), the mobile device (208) permitting a single BLE access point device (306) to connect to the mobile device (208) at a time, for requesting an elevator assignment from the connected BLE access point device (306). Each BLE access point device is a BLE central communication device and each mobile device is a BLE peripheral communication device.