Automatic elevator destination call processing

• US 6,397,976 B1
• Filed: 10/04/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Hale, Charles F., Drop, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/411,571
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 187/380, 187/381, 187/382, 187/389, 187/384, 187/388, 187/390, 187/391, 187/393, 49/24, 49/31, 340/825.06, 340/825.19, 340/825.27, 340/825.28, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 187/392
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2408 where the allocation of a call to an elevator car is of importance, i.e. by means of a supervisory or group controller
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/103 Destination call input before entering the elevator car

Abstract

A potential elevator passenger or occupant (bearer) carries a portable transmitting device with which he must overtly indicate his intent to take an elevator trip before interrogation by a beacon will cause an elevator call to be automatically registered for him, or indicate his intent before gaining access to a space. The intent to take a trip is cancelled when the bearer enters an elevator car, requiring an additional overt act prior to entering an automatic elevator call the next time that the bearer approaches an elevator. Default destinations (floors or spaces) may be signified for the bearer, depending on the floor where the device is located, or the bearer may establish an alternative destination, the alternative destination being cancelled from the device when the bearer enters an elevator or gains access to a space. The intent may be managed and a default destination may be provided either by the portable device or by a system in the building. Authentication of the bearer'"'"'s voice may precede provision of the token. Tokens may be manifested by the presence alternative destinations.

Claims

1. A method of automatically (1) providing access to spaces controlled by an access system and (2) registering calls for service in an elevator system within a building, in response to transmissions from a portable device having bearer-operable data input means and carried by a unique potential occupant and/or passenger, comprising:

(a) providing in response to input to said device by said bearer, at least one of (1) an elevator token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to use an elevator the next subsequent time that said bearer approaches the elevator, (2) a manifestation of a destination floor for an elevator call for service to be automatically registered for said bearer at a subsequent point in time, and at least one of (3) an access token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to gain access to a space, and (4) a manifestation of a destination space to which said bearer desires access; and

(b) transmitting at least one of (1) said token manifestations and (2) said destination manifestations from said device to said system;

(c) registering an elevator call for said bearer for elevator service only in response to the presence in said elevator system, if any, of one of (1) said elevator token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination floor, and providing said bearer with access to a space only in response to the presence in said access system, if any, of one of (3) said access token manifestation and (4) said manifestation of a destination space; and

(d) terminating said elevator token manifestation, if any, and said manifestation of a destination floor, if any, prior to said bearer concluding elevator service provided in response to said call, and terminating said access token manifestation, if any, and said manifestation of a destination space, if any, as soon as said access is provided in response thereto.

2. Apparatus for automatically (1) providing access to spaces controlled by an access system and (2) registering calls for elevator service to be provided by an elevator system in a building, comprising:

a portable device to be worn by a bearer, said portable device having data input means operable by said bearer to provide at least one of (1) an elevator token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to use an elevator the next subsequent time that said bearer approaches said elevator, (2) a manifestation of a destination floor for elevator service desired by said bearer, and to provide at least one of (3) an access token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to gain access to a space, and (4) a manifestation of a destination space to which access is desired by said bearer, said portable device transmitting at least one of said manifestations to said system;

means for registering an elevator call for said bearer for service only in response to the presence of at least one of (1) said elevator token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination floor, and for providing said bearer with access to a space only in response to the presence of at least one of (3) said access token manifestation and (4) said manifestation of a destination space; and

means for terminating said elevator token manifestation, if any, and/or said manifestation of a destination floor, if any, prior to said bearer concluding elevator service provided in response to said call, and for terminating said access token manifestation, if any, and/or said manifestation of a destination space, if any, as soon as said access is provided in response thereto.

3. A method of automatically providing access to spaces controlled by an access system in response to transmissions from a portable device having bearer-operable data input means and carried by a unique potential occupant, respectively, comprising:

(a) providing in response to input to said device by said bearer, at least one of (1) an access token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to gain access to a space and (2) a manifestation of a destination space to which said bearer desires access;

(b) transmitting at least one of (1) said token manifestation and (2) said destination manifestation from said device to said system;

(c) providing said bearer with access to a space only in response to the presence in said access system, if any, of one of (1) said access token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination space; and

(d) terminating said access token manifestation, if any, and said manifestation of a destination space, if any, as soon as said access is provided to said bearer in response thereto.

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said step (a) comprises providing said token manifestation but not said manifestation of a destination;

and further comprising;

(e) providing a manifestation of a default destination.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step (e) is performed by said device.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step (e) is performed by said system.

8. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein at least one of (1) said token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination are maintained in said device until completion of said step (c);

and

said step (d) is performed in said device.

9. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said step (d) is performed in said device following said step (b), and said step (d) is performed in said system following completion of said step (c).

10. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said steps (a) and (b) comprise providing and transmitting (1) both a token manifestation and a manifestation of a destination.

11. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein said step (a) comprises:

(f) providing an alternative destination manifestation in response to a specific input to said device indicative of said alternative destination; and

(g) providing a default destination manifestation if said token manifestation is present unless said alternative destination manifestation is also present.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said step (g) is performed in said device.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein said step (g) is performed in said elevator system.

15. A method according to claim 3 wherein said step (a) consists solely of:

providing said access token manifestation;

said step (b) consists solely of;

transmitting said access token manifestation; and

said step (d) consists solely of;

terminating said access token manifestation.

4. A method of automatically registering calls for service in an elevator system within a building, in response to transmissions from a portable device having bearer-operable data input means and carried by a unique potential passenger, respectively, comprising:

(a) providing in response to input to said device by said bearer, at least one of (1) an elevator token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to use an elevator the next subsequent time that said bearer approaches the elevator and (2) a manifestation of a destination floor for an elevator call for service to be automatically registered for said bearer at a subsequent point in time;

(b) transmitting at least one of (1) said elevator token manifestation and (2) said destination manifestation from said device to said system;

(c) registering an elevator call for said bearer for elevator service only in response to the presence in said elevator system, if any, of one of (1) said elevator token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination floor; and

(d) terminating said elevator token manifestation, if any, and said manifestation of a destination floor, if any, prior to said bearer concluding elevator service provided in response to said call.

14. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step (d) comprises:

terminating one or more of said (1) elevator token manifestation and (2) said manifestation of a destination floor in response to receipt by said device of a signal from a beacon disposed within an elevator car.

16. A method according to claim 4 wherein said step (a) consists solely of:

providing said elevator token manifestation;

said step (b) consists solely of;

transmitting said elevator token manifestation; and

said step (d) consists solely of;

terminating said elevator token manifestation.

17. Apparatus for automatically providing access to spaces controlled by an access system in a building, comprising:

a portable device to be worn by a bearer, said portable device having data input means operable by said bearer to provide at least one of (1) an access token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to gain access to a space and (2) a manifestation of a destination space to which access is desired by said bearer, said portable device transmitting at least one of said manifestations to said system;

means for providing said bearer with access to a space only in response to the presence of at least one of (a) said access token manifestation and (b) said manifestation of a destination space; and

means for terminating said access token manifestation, if any, and/or said manifestation of a destination space, if any, as soon as said access is provided in response thereto.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein said apparatus further comprises:

default means for providing a manifestation of a default destination in the event that said passenger operates said data input means to provide a token manifestation but not to provide said manifestation of a destination.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said default means is within said device.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said default means is within said system.

22. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein at least one of (1) said token manifestation, if any, and said manifestation of a destination, if any, are maintained in said device and said means for terminating is within said device.

23. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein said means for terminating comprises:

first means for terminating said manifestations in said device after transmitting said manifestations and second means for terminating said manifestations in said system after use thereof in said system.

24. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein at least one token manifestation is provided and transmitted.

26. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 wherein said portable device comprises means for authenticating the voice of the bearer before providing any of said manifestations.

18. Apparatus for automatically registering calls for elevator service to be provided by an elevator system in a building, comprising:

a portable device to be worn by a bearer, said portable device having data input means operable by said bearer to provide at least one of (1) an elevator token manifestation of said bearer'"'"'s intent to use an elevator the next subsequent time that said bearer approaches said elevator and (2) a manifestation of a destination floor for elevator service desired by said bearer, said portable device transmitting at least one of said manifestations to said system;

means for registering an elevator call for said bearer for service only in response to the presence of at least one of (a) said elevator token manifestation and (b) said manifestation for a destination floor; and

means for terminating said elevator token manifestation, if any, and/or said manifestation for a destination floor, if any, prior to said bearer concluding elevator service provided in response to said call.

25. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for terminating terminates any of said manifestations in response to a signal from a beacon within an elevator car.