Voice-Activated Elevator Interface for Personalized Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elevator systems lack personalized and efficient interaction methods for passengers, particularly in terms of voice-activated interfaces that can adapt to individual user characteristics and preferences, and provide tailored responses and access to secured features.
Innovation Solution
A voice-activated elevator system interface that utilizes a processor to determine user characteristics and preferences based on factors such as language, accent, volume, and authorization to provide customized audible and visual responses, including elevator car assignments and access to secured features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional button-based interfaces are used, then the system is simple and reliable, but the user experience lacks personalization and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical button-pressing interfaces with voice-based acoustic interfaces. The processor captures audible input through microphones, processes speech commands, and generates audible responses through speakers, substituting the mechanical interaction paradigm with an acoustic one that enables personalized service without requiring complex physical interface modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a voice interface as an intermediary between the user and the elevator system. This intermediary layer processes natural language input, interprets user intent, and translates it into system commands, enabling personalized interaction while maintaining the simplicity of the underlying elevator control system
2Ease of operation
If voice recognition is implemented, then the interface becomes more intuitive and personalized, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial voice recognition by focusing on specific predefined commands and phrases rather than attempting full natural language understanding. The system recognizes limited but sufficient voice patterns for elevator operations (floor selection, car assignment confirmation, service requests), reducing processing complexity while maintaining ease of operation for core functions
Solution Approach 2:
The voice interface system serves itself by using the processor's existing capabilities for both capturing audible input and generating audible output. The same processing unit that controls elevator operations also handles voice recognition and synthesis, eliminating the need for separate dedicated voice processing hardware and reducing overall system complexity
3Reliability
If customized responses are provided based on user characteristics, then passenger experience is enhanced, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary voice pattern recognition and user characteristic analysis during idle processing periods or in parallel with elevator operation control. User preferences and voice signatures are captured and stored in advance, allowing the system to retrieve pre-analyzed data rather than processing everything in real-time, thus maintaining service accuracy without significantly increasing response time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback loops to refine voice recognition and personalize responses. The processor analyzes audible input, determines user characteristics, and adjusts subsequent responses based on learned preferences. This iterative process improves service accuracy over time while the feedback mechanism is integrated into the existing control cycle, minimizing additional time requirements
4Reliability
If multiple authorization levels are implemented, then access control is improved, but the system complexity and security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-level authorization using the existing elevator control processor that already manages core elevator operations. The same processor that controls car movement and floor selection also handles voice recognition, user authentication, and authorization management. This universal approach allows multiple authorization levels (building manager, resident, visitor, maintenance personnel) to be implemented without adding separate dedicated security hardware, reducing architectural complexity while improving access control reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator system interface (20) includes a voice-activated input (24) that is configured to receive audible input from a user. A processor (32) is configured to determine a response to the audible input based on a content of the audible input and at least one other factor. An output (26) provides at least an audible indication of the determined response.