Elevator Call Automation via Gesture and Beacon Intent Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for calling an elevator using a mobile device often result in unnecessary calls due to the detection of beacon signals, leading to user annoyance and inefficiency, as users must manually activate an application to initiate a call, which can be time-consuming and intrusive.

Innovation Solution

A method that recognizes user intent through gestures and beacon signal analysis, using sensors like acceleration, gyroscope, and brightness sensors to display a user interface for elevator calls only when the user intends to use the system, thereby reducing unnecessary notifications and improving user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a beacon signal is detected by a user's mobile communication device to determine the user's distance from the elevator, then the elevator call can be automatically executed, but this can lead to unnecessary elevator calls and user annoyance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic elevator call executionVSAvoidaccuracy of user intent detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple detection methods (beacon signal detection, gesture recognition, application state detection) into a unified user intent detection system. The elevator call is only triggered when all conditions are met: beacon signal is detected, user performs a specific gesture (such as double-clicking), and the elevator application is active. This merging of multiple criteria resolves the contradiction by maintaining automation while significantly improving the reliability of user intent detection, thereby eliminating unnecessary calls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring user actions and system state. When a beacon signal is detected, the system waits for additional user confirmation through gesture recognition and application state verification before executing the elevator call. This feedback mechanism ensures that automatic calls are only made when the user truly intends to use the elevator, resolving the contradiction between automation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the user must find and activate the corresponding application on their device to use the elevator system, then the system can provide user guidance, but this can be time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser guidance capabilityVSAvoidtime to activate application
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by requiring the user to perform a gesture (such as double-clicking) and have the application already active before the elevator call is executed. This preliminary preparation of the system state (application already running, gesture already performed) eliminates the time-consuming step of searching for and activating the application at the moment of needing the elevator, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If mobile phones detect Bluetooth signals from beacons and communicate this to the user, then the user can be informed about nearby services, but this can lead to numerous annoying notifications for the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about nearby servicesVSAvoiduser annoyance from notifications
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function (elevator call initiation) from the general beacon notification system. Instead of notifying the user about every beacon detected, the system only triggers an elevator call when all specific conditions are met: the correct beacon is detected, the user performs the designated gesture, and the elevator application is active. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating unnecessary notifications while preserving the useful information about nearby elevator services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4313826B1Method for cancelling a call for a lift installation
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 INVENTIO AG
  • EP4313826B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4313826B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4313826B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for placing a call for a lift system. The method (10) comprises: - a mobile communication device (52) which is carried by a user (50) of the lift system (10), - a beacon (20) of the lift system (10) which is designed to emit a beacon signal (22), and - a controller (28) of the lift system (10), wherein the method comprises the following steps of: - capturing the beacon signal (22) by means of the mobile communication device (52), - recognizing a gesture of the user (50) by means of the mobile communication device (52), - identifying an intention of the user to use the lift system (100), wherein the recognized gesture and the captured beacon signal (22) are used for this purpose, - displaying a user interface on the mobile communication device (52) for the purpose of sending a call, and - sending the call to the controller (28) of the lift system (10).