Elevator-Based Triangulation for Automatic Signal Device Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for determining the location and orientation of signal emitting devices, such as destination management system units, in large buildings require significant manual installation time and effort, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize wireless communication devices mounted on elevator cars to automatically determine the location and orientation of signal emitting devices by triangulating their positions and using orientation information from magnetometer readings or angle of arrival signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual installation and configuration of signal emitting devices is performed, then location and orientation information can be accurately set, but installation time and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation and orientation information accuracyVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic determination of location and orientation information through wireless communications between elevator cars and signal emitting devices. The automated triangulation process eliminates manual configuration requirements, allowing devices to self-configure their position data without installer intervention while maintaining accurate location and orientation information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated wireless electronic determination. Instead of physically measuring and manually entering location data, the system uses wireless signal triangulation and magnetometer readings to automatically calculate and set position information, substituting electronic automation for manual mechanical installation steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple data collection points are used for triangulation, then location determination accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Elevator cars serve multiple functions: they transport passengers and simultaneously act as mobile data collection points for triangulation. The existing elevator infrastructure is leveraged for dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining location determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamically moving elevator cars as measurement points rather than static fixed infrastructure. As elevators move to different floors, they automatically provide multiple spatial reference points for triangulation, enabling accurate location determination without requiring a complex network of fixed sensors throughout the building.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution simplifies and automates the installation process, reducing time and costs associated with setting up destination management system units and other building monitoring assets, while also enhancing the mobile experience by automatically determining the current floor.

Implementation Method 1

automatically determine the position of the DET and the orientation of the DET with respect to each elevator car or bank of elevators, a distance from the DET to each elevator or bank of elevators, and an estimate travel, or walking, time from the DET to each elevator or bank of elevators

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTriangulation:

Implementation Method 2

the orientation information including a magnetometer reading from the signal emitting device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetometer reading: Magnetometer

Implementation Method 3

the orientation information including an angle of arrival of the first signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAngle of arrival:

Data Source

PatentEP3594161B1Automatic determination of position and orientation of elevator device entry terminals and hallway fixtures

Publication Date: 2025.06.04 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

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AI summary

A system to determine a location of a signal emitting device (308) is provided. First, second, and third data is received from at least one movable communication device (306). Each of the first, second, and third data include a unique identifier of the signal emitting device (308), a signal strength of a signal (312) received by the at least one movable communication device (306) from the signal emitting device (308), and a location of the at least one movable communication device (306) when it received the signal. Each of the first, second, and third data include different locations of the at least one movable communication device (306). A location of the signal emitting device is computed based at least in part on the received first, second, and third data.