Remote Configuration of Elevator Control Components After Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current manual process for configuring replaced components in elevators, escalators, and automatic doors is labor-intensive and time-consuming, resulting in increased costs and downtime, as technicians need to physically restore parameters on-site after hardware or software changes.

Innovation Solution

A remote management system that determines the status of control apparatus components, detects changes, defines and transmits configuration parameters, and initiates their transfer to the control apparatus, allowing for automated re-configuration and reducing the need for manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual parameter restoration is performed by technicians on-site, then configuration parameters can be restored to replaced components, but labor costs and downtime increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter restoration accuracyVSAvoiddowntime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated detection of component changes and automatic transmission of configuration parameters to replaced components, eliminating the need for manual technician intervention and thereby reducing both labor costs and downtime while maintaining parameter restoration accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Configuration parameters are stored in advance in a database before component replacement occurs. When a component is replaced, the system automatically retrieves and transmits the pre-stored parameters to the new component, enabling rapid restoration without waiting for manual parameter collection and entry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual parameter restoration is performed by technicians on-site, then configuration parameters can be restored to replaced components, but labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter restoration accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting component changes, retrieving configuration parameters from the database, and transmitting them to replaced components without requiring technician intervention, thereby eliminating labor costs while ensuring accurate parameter restoration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of technicians physically entering parameters is replaced by an automated electronic system that detects component changes and electronically transmits parameters, substituting human labor with automated computational and communication processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of time

If automated remote management is implemented, then downtime and costs are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedowntimeVSAvoidremote management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote management device performs multiple functions including determining component status, detecting changes, retrieving configuration parameters from databases, and transmitting parameters to replaced components. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution, managing complexity through functional consolidation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote management device acts as an intermediary between the control apparatus database and replaced components. It mediates the parameter restoration process by automatically detecting changes, retrieving appropriate parameters, and transmitting them to the correct components, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture through a centralized coordination point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11161713B2Remote configuration of elevators, escalators and automatic doors

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 KONE OYJ

AI summary

There are provided measures for performing a configuration control in relation to an elevator, an escalator and automatic doors in a remote manner. Such measures exemplarily comprise determining a status of a component of said control apparatus, detecting whether a change with respect to said component has occurred based on said status, defining configuration parameters for said component, if it is detected that said change has occurred, and initiating transmission of said configuration parameters to said control apparatus.