Method of communicating information for elevator users

• US 7,319,966 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Friedli, Paul, Svensson-Hilford, Lennart, Schuster, Kilian
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss; John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASLER, TRACI
• Application Number:
  US10/095,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/15, 187381-392, 187/396, 704/231, 704/236, 704/243
• US Class Current: 705/346
• 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 of a plurality of elevator users including identification data unique to each of the elevator users and associated information selected by the elevator user to be communicated;

b. providing a display unit in a vicinity of an elevator entrance;

c. after performing said steps a. and b., identifying one of the elevator users, when in a vicinity of an elevator entrance, to the building server with the unique user-specific identification data and selecting at least a portion of the stored associated information based upon, the stored elevator user-specific data;

d. communicating to the one elevator user through the display unit the at least a portion of the stored associated information based upon the stored elevator user-specific data; and

e. when at least another of the elevator users also is in the vicinity of the elevator entrance, analyzing momentary information desires of all of the elevator users in the vicinity and communicating through the display the stored associated information desired by the greatest number of the elevator users in the vicinity when at least two of the elevator users have the same momentary information desires.

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

3. The method according to claim 2 including permitting each of the elevator users to initially input the associated personal information profile into the building server.

4. The method according to claim 2 including permitting each of the elevator users to change the associated personal information profile stored in the building server.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step b. includes connecting the display unit to the building server.

6. 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.

7. The method according to claim 1 including performing said step c. by identifying each of the elevator users with the unique identification data provided to one of a media reader and a touch screen connected to the building server.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unique identification data includes at least one of a name and an identification code.

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

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said step d. is performed by starting communication of the at least a portion of the stored information through the first display unit and continuing the communication through the second display unit when the one elevator user enters the elevator car.