Elevator Beacon Location Tracking via Time of Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevator systems face challenges in determining the location of passengers who make elevator calls through mobile devices, as existing methods rely on manual input and lack precision in directing elevator cars to the correct floor and bank.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method using beacons that transmit poll wireless signals and receive response signals from passenger mobile devices to calculate distances and determine locations, potentially using Ultra-Wideband signals and triangulation with multiple beacons to accurately pinpoint the passenger's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual input methods are used for elevator calls, then system simplicity is maintained, but location determination precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces beacons as intermediary devices that transmit wireless signals to enable location determination. These beacons act as mediators between the elevator system and passenger mobile devices, allowing precise location tracking without requiring complex manual input systems. The beacons transmit poll signals and receive response signals to calculate distances and determine locations automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical input (pressing physical buttons) with wireless electronic communication. Instead of requiring passengers to manually enter location information through physical interfaces, the system uses wireless signal transmission and time-of-flight calculations to automatically determine location, substituting mechanical interaction with electronic field-based communication.
2Productivity
If automated location tracking is implemented, then service efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service location tracking where passenger mobile devices automatically participate in the location determination process by receiving poll signals and transmitting response signals. The devices themselves contribute to the measurement process without requiring manual operation, allowing the system to automatically track locations and improve service efficiency without proportionally increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacons serve multiple functions: transmitting poll signals, receiving response signals, calculating time of flight, determining distances, and providing location data to the elevator system. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated device, improving service efficiency while managing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple beacons are used for triangulation, then location accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the location determination task across multiple beacons positioned at different locations. Each beacon independently measures distance to the passenger device, and these segmented measurements are combined through triangulation to achieve high location accuracy. The segmentation of measurement functions across multiple devices enables precise positioning without requiring a single complex system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise location determination of passengers, allowing elevator systems to efficiently direct elevator cars to the correct floor and bank, improving service accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
determining a first time of flight between transmission of the first poll wireless signal from the first beacon and receipt of the first response wireless signal at the first beacon; calculating a first distance between the first beacon and the passenger mobile device based on the first time of flight
Implementation Method 2
the first poll wireless signal and the first response wireless signal are each Ultra-Wideband wireless signals
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calling an elevator car for an elevator system including: transmitting, using a first beacon, a first poll wireless signal, the first poll wireless signal having a first poll transmission speed; receiving, using the first beacon, a first response wireless signal from a passenger mobile device in response to the first poll wireless signal, the first response wireless signal having a first response transmission speed; determining a first time of flight between transmission of the first poll wireless signal from the first beacon and receipt of the first response wireless signal at the first beacon; calculating a first distance between the first beacon and the passenger mobile device based on the first time of flight, the first poll transmission speed, and the first response transmission speed; and determining a location of the passenger mobile device based on at least the first distance.