Method of communicating information for elevator users

• US 20020129995A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Schuster, Kilian, Friedli, Paul, Svensson-Hilford, Lennart
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/392
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A method of communicating information to elevator users utilizes a building server to store elevator user personal information profiles and information to be communicated. When an elevator user is identified, the building server communicates a portion of the stored information based upon the associated profile. The building server functions as a data manager and is connected to various different sources of data to collect the information to be communicated. The data sources can include videos, movies, the Internet, the elevator control, the building control center, etc. An identification unit controls access by the elevator users. The elevator user is able to receive the communicated information on a display unit in the vicinity of or in the elevator car.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information for elevator users comprising the steps of:

a. storing in a building server elevator user-specific data and information to be communicated;

b. providing a display unit; and

c. communicating to an elevator user through the display unit at least a portion of the stored information based upon the stored elevator user-specific data.

2. The method according to claim 1 including prior to performing said step c. identifying the elevator user to the building server and selecting the information to be communicated depending on the identification of the elevator user.

3. The method according to claim 1 including storing a personal information profile as at least a portion of the elevator user-specific data stored in the building server.

4. The method according to claim 3 including permitting each elevator user to initially input the associated personal information profile into the building server.

5. The method according to claim 3 including permitting each elevator user to change the associated personal information profile stored in the building server.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step b. is performed by providing the display unit in a vicinity of an elevator and connecting the display unit to the building server.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein step a. is performed by obtaining the information to be communicated from a plurality of data sources selected based upon the elevator user-specific data.

8. The method according to claim 1 including analyzing momentary information needs of several elevator users and communicating the stored information desired by the greatest number of the several elevator users.

9. A method of communicating information for elevator users comprising the steps of:

a. ring in a building server elevator user-specific data for a plurality of elevator users and information to be communicated to the elevator users;

b. providing a display unit in one of a vicinity of and in an elevator car; and

c. communicating to each of the elevator users through the display unit at least a portion of the stored information based upon the stored elevator userspecific data associated with each of the elevator users.

10. The method according to claim 9 including prior to performing said step c. identifying each of the elevator users to the building server and selecting the information to be communicated depending on the identification of the elevator user.

11. The method according to claim 10 including identifying each of the elevator users with identification data provided to one of a media reader and a touch screen connected to the building server.

12. The method according to claim 9 including storing a personal information profile as at least a portion of the elevator user-specific data stored in the building server.

13. The method according to claim 12 including permitting each elevator user to initially input the associated personal information profile into the building server.

14. The method according to claim 12 including permitting each elevator user to change the associated personal information profile stored in the building server.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein said step b. is performed by providing the display unit in a vicinity of an elevator and connecting the display unit to the building server.

16. The method according to claim 9 wherein step a. is performed by obtaining the information to be communicated from a plurality of data sources selected based upon the elevator user-specific data.

17. The method according to claim 9 including analyzing momentary information needs of several of the elevator users and communicating the stored information desired by the greatest number of the several elevator users.