Elevator system with messaging for automated maintenance

• US 9,580,276 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Toutaoui, Mustapha
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US14/350,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/391, 187/393
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3461 between the elevator control system and remote or mobile stations
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0025 for maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0087 Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226

Abstract

An exemplary elevator system includes a controller that is configured to determine a condition of at least one elevator system component. A message transceiver is coupled with the controller. The message transceiver is configured to send a notification message to a remotely located mobile station that includes an indication of the condition determined by the controller. The message transceiver is configured to receive a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising:

a controller configured to determine a condition of at least one elevator system component, the controller classifying the determined condition as one of (i) pertaining to a need for elevator maintenance, (ii) pertaining to a condition in which an elevator is blocked, or (iii) pertaining to a condition in which an elevator is running with disturbance; and

a message transceiver coupled with the controller, the message transceiver being configured as a cellular communication device to utilize a cellular communication service to send a notification message to a remotely located mobile station that includes an indication of the condition determined and classified by the controller without requiring a mechanic to be onsite at the location of the elevator system, the message transceiver being configured to receive a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.

2. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the message transceiver comprises a cellular communication short message service (SMS) transceiver, the notification message comprises a SMS message and the response message comprises a SMS message.

3. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a memory including a plurality of predetermined messages and the controller selects one of the predetermined messages as the notification message responsive to the determined condition.

4. The elevator system of claim 3, wherein

the message transceiver comprises a plurality of inputs;

the controller is coupled to each of the inputs; and

the controller provides an indication on a selected one of the inputs depending on a category of the determined condition.

5. The elevator system of claim 1, wherein

the controller determines a content of the response message received from the remote mobile station;

and

the controller causes a response to the determined condition responsive to the corresponding indication.

6. The elevator system of claim 5, wherein

the response message includes an indication of one of a plurality of predetermined controller commands.

7. The elevator system of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of controllers each configured to determine a condition of at least one elevator system component associated with the controller, each of the controllers being in communication with the message transceiver; and

wherein the message transceiver is configured to send a notification message to a remotely located mobile station that includes an indication of a condition determined by any of the controllers, the message transceiver being configured to receive a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the corresponding controller can address the determined condition.

8. The elevator system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the controllers is configured to identify which of the controllers is the intended recipient of a received response message and to communicate with the intended recipient controller regarding the received response message.

9. A method of addressing a condition of an elevator system, comprising the steps of:

using a controller of the elevator system to determine a condition of at least one component of the elevator system;

classifying the determined condition as one of (i) pertaining to a need for elevator maintenance, (ii) pertaining to a condition in which an elevator is blocked, or (iii) pertaining to a condition in which an elevator is running with disturbance;

communicating between the controller and a message transceiver regarding the determined and classified condition;

sending a notification message from the message transceiver utilizing a cellular communication service to a remotely located mobile station without requiring a mechanic to be onsite at the location of the elevator system, the notification message including an indication of the determined condition; and

receiving a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification message comprises a cellular communication short message service (SMS) message and the response message comprises a SMS message.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller includes a memory including a plurality of predetermined messages and the method includes selecting one of the predetermined messages as the notification message responsive to the determined condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the message transceiver comprises a plurality of inputs and the controller is coupled to each of the inputs;

and wherein the method comprises;

selecting one of the inputs depending on a category of the determined condition; and

providing an indication from the controller on the selected one of the inputs.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein

the controller determines a content of the response message received from the remote mobile station;

and

causes a response to the determined condition responsive to the corresponding indication.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising:

communicating between the message transceiver and a plurality of elevator controllers;

sending notification messages from the message transceiver on behalf of any of the controllers that determines a condition of an associated elevator component;

receiving response messages at the message transceiver; and

providing a corresponding indication to one of the controllers determined to be an intended recipient of a received response message.

15. The method of claim 9, comprising communicating the notification and response messages over a wireless link between the message transceiver and the remote mobile station.