METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CONFIGURING WIRELESS DEVICES IN AN ELEVATOR SYSTEM

• US 20200130990A1
• Filed: 11/18/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: MUSTONEN, Matti, LAAKSO, Matti
• Application Number:
  US16/687,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130990A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/34 Details , e.g. call counting devices, data transmission from car to control system, devices giving information to the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3407 Setting or modification of parameters of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3461 between the elevator control system and remote or mobile stations
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3492 Position or motion detectors or driving means for the detector B66B1/40, B66B1/50 take precedence; length measuring G01B; speed measuring G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/466 facilitating maintenance, installation, removal, replacement or repair
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/14 Control systems or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

According to an aspect, there are provided methods and apparatuses for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system. According to an aspect, an elevator car is caused to perform a travel in an elevator shaft. Wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device are recorded based on wireless signals from the wireless devices at landing floors with an elevator car mounted wireless device during the travel. Data is received from the elevator car mounted wireless device, the data comprising for each detected wireless device the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device. Each detected wireless device at the landing floors is associated with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the elevator car mounted wireless device.

Claims

1. An elevator controller of an elevator system, the elevator controller comprising:

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to;

cause an elevator car to perform a travel in an elevator shaft;

cause recording of wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device based on wireless signals from the wireless devices at landing floors with an elevator car mounted wireless device during the travel;

receive data from the elevator car mounted wireless device, the data comprising for each detected wireless device the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device; and

associate each detected wireless device at the landing floors with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the elevator car mounted wireless device.

2. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to stop at locations corresponding to at least some of the landing floors during the travel.

3. An elevator controller according to claim 2, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to open at least one door at each stop.

4. An elevator controller according to claim 3, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to open its doors at a first side of the elevator car;

cause the recording of the wireless signals at a time when the doors are open at the first side;

cause the elevator car to close its doors at the first side;

cause the elevator car to open its doors at a second side of the elevator car;

cause the recording of the wireless signals at a time when the doors are open at the second side;

cause the elevator car to close its doors at the second side.

5. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to perform the travel in the elevator shaft without opening elevator doors during the travel.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises a timestamp associated with the maximum signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values, and wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

determine the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp; and

associate the detected wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

7. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises a set of wireless signal strength value and timestamp pairs, and wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

determine the maximum wireless signal strength value based on the wireless signal strength values;

determine the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp corresponding to the maximum wireless signal strength value; and

associate the detected wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

8. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises wireless signal strength values recorded for the detected wireless device and floor information associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values, and wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

determine the maximum wireless signal strength value based on the wireless signal strength values; and

associate the detected wireless device with a landing floor based on the floor information associated with the maximum wireless signal strength value.

9. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the wireless devices to operate in a configuration mode during the travel, wherein in the configuration mode a device identifier associated with each wireless device is transmitted.

10. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the elevator car mounted wireless device comprises a car operating panel.

11. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the wireless devices comprise at least one of a landing call station, a hall lantern indicator and a display.

12. An elevator controller according to claim 1, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to configure the wireless devices to use a specific time slot or frequency in transmitting wireless signals.

31. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft;

an elevator car mounted wireless device;

a plurality of wireless devices at a plurality of landing floors;

an elevator controller of claim 1; and

an elevator car mounted wireless apparatus including,

at least one processing unit,

at least one memory,

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from the elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from the wireless devices provided at landing floors,

record wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device based on wireless signals from the wireless devices during a travel of the elevator car in an elevator shaft, and

transmit data to the elevator controller, the data including, for each detected wireless device, the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device.

13. An elevator car mounted apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from an elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from wireless devices at landing floors;

record wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device based on wireless signals from the wireless devices during a travel of the elevator car in an elevator shaft; and

transmit data to an elevator controller, the data comprising for each detected wireless device the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device.

14. An elevator car mounted apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises a timestamp associated with the maximum signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values.

15. An elevator car mounted apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises a set of wireless signal strength value and timestamp pairs.

16. An elevator car mounted apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device comprises wireless signal strength values recorded for the detected wireless device and floor information associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values.

17. An elevator car mounted apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the elevator car mounted wireless device comprises a car operating panel.

18. An elevator controller for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the elevator controller comprising:

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to;

cause an elevator car to perform a travel in an elevator shaft;

cause recording of wireless signal strength values based on wireless signals from an elevator car mounted wireless device with a plurality of wireless devices at a plurality of landing floors during the travel;

receive from the plurality of wireless devices data associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values; and

associate each wireless device with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the wireless devices.

19. An elevator controller according to claim 18, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to stop at locations corresponding to at least some of the landing floors during the travel.

20. An elevator controller according to claim 19, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to open at least one door at each stop.

21. An elevator controller according to claim 20, wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

cause the elevator car to open its doors at a first side of the elevator car;

cause the elevator car to close its doors at the first side;

cause the elevator car to open its doors at a second side of the elevator car; and

cause the elevator car to close its doors at the second side.

22. An elevator controller according to claim 18, wherein the data associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values comprises a timestamp associated with the maximum signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values, and wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

determine the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp; and

associate the wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

23. An elevator controller according to claim 18, wherein the data associated with the recorded wireless signal strength comprises a set of wireless signal strength value and timestamp pairs, and wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to:

determine the maximum wireless signal strength value based on the wireless signal strength values;

determine the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp corresponding to the maximum wireless signal strength value; and

associate the wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

24. An elevator controller according to claim 18, wherein the elevator car mounted wireless device comprises a car operating panel.

25. An elevator controller according to claim 18, wherein the wireless devices comprise at least one of landing call station, a hall lantern indicator and a display.

32. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft;

an elevator car mounted wireless device;

a plurality of wireless devices at a plurality of landing floors;

an elevator controller of claim 18; and

a plurality of landing floor apparatuses including,

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to,

receive, from the elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from the elevator car mounted wireless device,

record wireless signal strength values of wireless signals received from the elevator car mounted wireless device,

associate timestamps for the recorded wireless signal strength values,

send data associated with the wireless signal strength values and the timestamps to the elevator controller, and

in response to sending the data, receive from the elevator controller configuration data that associates the landing floor apparatus to a specific floor.

26. An elevator car mounted wireless apparatus of an elevator system, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to;

record data comprising wireless signal strength values and a device identifier based on wireless signals associated with each detected wireless device at landing floors during a travel of the elevator car in an elevator shaft;

associate timestamps for the recorded wireless signal strength values;

determine, for each detected wireless device, the maximum wireless signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values;

determine the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp associated with the maximum wireless signal strength value; and

associate the detected wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

27. An elevator car mounted wireless device according to claim 26, wherein the elevator car mounted wireless device comprises a car operating panel.

33. An elevator system comprising:

an elevator car configured to move in an elevator shaft;

an elevator car mounted wireless device of claim 26;

a plurality of wireless devices at a plurality of landing floors; and

an elevator controller including,

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the elevator controller to,

cause the elevator car to travel in the elevator shaft,

cause recording of wireless signal strength values based on wireless signals from the elevator car mounted wireless device with a plurality of wireless devices at the plurality of landing floors during the travel,

receive from the plurality of wireless devices data associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values, and

associate each wireless device with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the wireless devices.

28. A landing floor apparatus comprising:

at least one processing unit;

at least one memory;

wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from an elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from an elevator car mounted wireless device;

record wireless signal strength values of wireless signals received from the elevator car mounted wireless device;

associate timestamps for the recorded wireless signal strength values;

send data associated with the wireless signal strength values and the timestamps to the elevator controller; and

in response to sending the data, receive from the elevator controller configuration data that associates the landing floor apparatus to a specific floor.

29. A landing floor apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values and the timestamps comprises a timestamp associated with the maximum wireless signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values.

30. A landing floor apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the data associated with the wireless signal strength values and the timestamps comprises a set of wireless signal strength value and timestamp pairs.

34. A method for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the method comprising:

causing an elevator car to perform a travel in an elevator shaft;

causing recording of wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device based on wireless signals from the wireless devices at landing floors with an elevator car mounted wireless device during the travel;

receiving data from the elevator car mounted wireless device, the data comprising for each detected wireless device the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device; and

associating each detected wireless device at the landing floors with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the elevator car mounted wireless device.

39. A computer program comprising program code, which when executed by at least one processing unit, causes the at least one processing unit to perform the method of claim 34.

40. A computer program according to claim 39, wherein the computer program is embodied on a computer readable medium.

35. A method for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the method comprising:

receiving, from an elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from wireless devices at landing floors;

recording wireless signal strength values and a device identifier associated with each detected wireless device based on wireless signals from the wireless devices during a travel of the elevator car in an elevator shaft; and

transmitting data to an elevator controller, the data comprising for each detected wireless device the device identifier of the detected wireless device and data associated with the wireless signal strength values of the detected wireless device.

36. A method for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the method comprising:

causing an elevator car to perform a travel in an elevator shaft;

causing recording of wireless signal strength values based on wireless signals from an elevator car mounted wireless device with a plurality of wireless devices at a plurality of landing floors during the travel;

receiving from the plurality of wireless devices data associated with the recorded wireless signal strength values; and

associating each wireless device with a specific landing floor based on the data received from the wireless devices.

37. A method for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the method comprising:

recording data comprising wireless signal strength values and a device identifier based on wireless signals associated with each detected wireless device at landing floors during a travel of an elevator car in an elevator shaft;

associating timestamps for the recorded wireless signal strength values;

determining, for each detected wireless device, the maximum wireless signal strength value of the wireless signal strength values;

determining the location of the elevator car in the elevator shaft based on the timestamp associated with the maximum wireless signal strength value; and

associating the detected wireless device with a landing floor corresponding to the location of the elevator car.

38. A method for configuring wireless devices in an elevator system, the method comprising:

receiving, with a wireless device from an elevator controller, an instruction to record wireless signals transmitted from an elevator car mounted wireless device;

recording wireless signal strength values of wireless signals received from the elevator car mounted wireless device;

associating timestamps for the recorded wireless signal strength values;

sending data associated with the wireless signal strength values and the timestamps to the elevator controller; and

in response to sending the data, receiving from the elevator controller configuration data that associates the wireless device to a specific floor.