Elevator installation access control with position detection

• US 8,381,880 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Finschi, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US13/274,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187380-389, 187391-394
• US Class Current: 187/388
• 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 1/468 Call registering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/48 Adaptations of mechanically-operated limit switches for cranes B66C13/50; for winding mechanisms B66D1/56
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/223 Taking into account the separation of passengers or groups
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4615 Wherein the destination is registered before boarding
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/463 Wherein the call is registered through physical contact with the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4676 for checking authorization of the passengers

Abstract

A method of operating an elevator installation for transporting elevator users in a building area, including the steps of: detecting the position of elevator users in the building area, granting of an access authorization of the elevator users to building regions, triggering of a destination call by a detected elevator user, allocation of an elevator car serving the destination call or elevator call, boarding of an elevator car by at least one detected elevator user, if an elevator call was triggered triggering a car call by a detected elevator user, comparing whether the position of the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car corresponds with the position of the elevator user that has triggered the destination call, and determining whether the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car has an access authorization for a destination location corresponding with the destination call or elevator call.

Claims

1. An elevator operation method, comprising:

detecting, using a position detection device, a position of a user at a building area outside of an elevator car;

determining, while the user is at the building area, that the user is authorized to enter the building area; and

determining, while the user is in the elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel to a destination floor designated by a destination call for the user; and

directing the elevator car to travel to a public area as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor designated by the destination call for the user.

2. The elevator operation method of claim 1, the building area comprising an elevator lobby.

3. The elevator operation method of claim 1, further comprising detecting that the user has boarded the elevator car.

4. The elevator operation method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the destination call for the user.

5. The elevator operation method of claim 1, further comprising activating a security measure as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor.

6. The elevator operation method of claim 1, the user being a first user, the method further comprising:

detecting a position of a second user at the building area outside of the elevator car;

determining that the second user has not actuated a destination call for the second user within a set period of time; and

initiating a security measure as a result of the determining that the second user has not actuated a destination call.

7. A system comprising:

a first position detection device, the first position detection device being positioned at a lobby served by an elevator installation;

a second position detection device, the second position detection device being positioned in an elevator car of the elevator installation; and

a computer-based control unit, the control unit,

detecting a position of a user at the lobby,

determining, while the user is at the lobby, that the user is authorized to be in the lobby,

determining, while the user is in the elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel in the elevator car to a destination floor designated by a destination call for the user, and

directing the elevator car to travel to a public area as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor designated by the destination call for the user.

8. The system of claim 7, the first position detection device comprising a chip-reading means.

9. The system of claim 7, the first position detection device comprising an imaging means.

10. An elevator installation comprising:

an elevator car;

a first detector, the first detector detecting a position of a user in an elevator lobby served by the elevator installation; and

a second detector, the second detector detecting a position of the user in the elevator car, the elevator installation determining, while the user is in the elevator lobby, that the user is authorized to be in the elevator lobby, determining, while the user is in the elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel in the elevator car to a destination floor designated by a destination call for the user, and directing the elevator car to travel to a public area as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor designated by the destination call for the user.

11. The elevator installation of claim 10, the first and second detectors comprising respective chip readers.

12. The elevator installation of claim 10, the first detector comprising a camera.

13. The elevator installation of claim 10, further comprising a computer-based security unit responsive to a determination that the user is not identified or authenticated or a position of the user is not detected for initiating a safety measure.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

detecting a position of a user in a building area outside of an elevator car;

determining, while the user is in the building area, that the user is authorized to be in the building area;

determining, while the user is in the elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel to a destination floor designated by a destination call for the user; and

directing the elevator car to travel to a public area as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor designated by the destination call for the user.

15. A computer-based control unit comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to,

detect a position of a user at an elevator lobby,

determine, while the user is at the elevator lobby, that the user is authorized to be at the elevator lobby,

determine, while the user is in an elevator car accessible by the elevator lobby, that the user is not authorized to travel in the elevator car to a destination floor designated by a destination call for the user, and

direct the elevator car to travel to a public area as a result of the determining that the user is not authorized to travel to the destination floor designated by the destination call for the user.