Elevator information display and security monitor system

• US 20090057069A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Boggess
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Boggess
• Inventors: Boggess, Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US12/229,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20090057069A1
• 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: B66B 3/008 Displaying information not related to the elevator, e.g. weather, publicity, internet or TV
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0012 Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A dynamic display and monitor system for use in or near an elevator includes a display mechanism mounted proximate an elevator landing, the display mechanism including a video monitor; a player mechanism remote from and operatively connected with the display mechanism, the player mechanism configured to feed substantially continuous visual content to the video monitor for display thereon; and an Internet-based server mechanism operatively coupled with the player mechanism over the Internet for programming the visual content for feeding by the player mechanism to the video monitor of the display mechanism. An in-elevator cab infotainment and security system includes a display configured for wireless operative coupling with a remote server, the display being configured further to present viewable infotainment content to a viewer riding in the elevator cab, and a security camera configured for wireless operative coupling with a remote server, the camera capturing digital imagery of a substantial portion of the elevator cab interior for remote security monitoring, the display and camera being mounted within an enclosure configured to mount within an interior region of an elevator cab, the display and the camera being operatively coupled to a remote server via the Internet.

Claims

1. A dynamic display and monitor system for use in or near an elevator, the system comprising:

a display mechanism mounted proximate an elevator landing, the display mechanism including a video monitor;

a player mechanism remote from and operatively connected with the display mechanism, the player mechanism configured to feed substantially continuous visual content to the video monitor for display thereon; and

an Internet-based server mechanism operatively coupled with the player mechanism over the Internet for programming the visual content for feeding by the player mechanism to the video monitor of the display mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism and the player mechanism are operatively coupled to one another via a hard-wired connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display mechanism and the player mechanism are operatively coupled to one another wirelessly.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a portable digital processor mechanism operatively coupled with the Internet and with the server, the processor mechanism including a user interface, the user interface including scripting software, the scripting software enabling a user remotely to script visual content for display on the video monitor.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second display monitor mounted within an elevator cab, the second display monitor being operatively coupled with the server, the display monitor displaying the same visual content as that displayed by the first display monitor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the visual content of the first and second display monitors is synchronized in time to enable seamless viewing by a viewer transitioning from the elevator cab to the landing or vice versa.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second display monitor is operatively coupled to the server wirelessly.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second display monitor is operatively coupled to the server via the Internet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display mechanism includes an elevator cab-mounted antenna and a microcomputer within the elevator cab, the microcomputer configured to execute player software capable of establishing a connection via the antenna and via an elevator shaft-mounted wireless access point (WAP) to the server over the Internet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the connection between the antenna and the WAP is wireless.

11. The system of claim 8 in which the content is audiovisual, wherein the display mechanism further includes a speaker.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the display mechanism further includes a security camera operatively coupled with the microcomputer for recording digital imagery and for conveying the same to the remote server.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

an alarm mechanism responsive to a facilities alarm input, the alarm mechanism operatively coupled with at least one of the first and second display monitors to at least partially over-ride the content within a visual indication of the alarm input.

14. An in-elevator cab infotainment and security system comprising:

a display configured for wireless operative coupling with a remote server, the display being configured further to present viewable infotainment content to a viewer riding in the elevator cab, and

a security camera configured for wireless operative coupling with a remote server, the camera capturing digital imagery of a substantial portion of the elevator cab interior for remote security monitoring,

the display and camera being mounted within an enclosure configured to mount within an interior region of an elevator cab,

the display and the camera being operatively coupled to a remote server via the Internet.

15. The system of claim 14 in which the server is Internet-based, wherein the operative wireless couplings also are Internet-based.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an elevator cab-mounted antenna; and

an elevator shaft-mounted wireless access point (WAP).

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the antenna and the WAP are operatively wirelessly coupled with one another.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a microprocessor operatively coupled with the display, the security camera, the antenna, and the WAP, the microprocessor configured to establish a connection via the antenna and via the WAP to the server over the Internet, the established connection enabling an audiovisual feed from the server to the display and an audiovisual feed from the camera to the server.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the audiovisual feed from the server to the display includes content chosen from one or more of weather conditions, weather forecast, traffic conditions, local events, breaking news, entertainment, advertisements, and facility over-ride warnings for informational and entertainment purposes.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the audiovisual feed from the camera to the server includes date-and-time-stamped digital imagery of the interior of the elevator cab for security archiving purposes.