Abstract:
Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a controller comprising a processor, data that is external to a conveyance device, processing, by the controller, the external data, and controlling, by the controller, the conveyance device based on the processed external data, wherein the external data comprises at least one of: security management data and emergency services data.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    An elevator car may be positioned based on expected or experienced/actual demands. For example, in an office building an elevator controller may cause a greater number of elevator cars to be available in a lobby during early morning hours when employees are expected to first arrive to the office. Similarly, later in the evening, a greater number of elevator cars may be made available at higher-numbered floors of the office building to accommodate the employees leaving the office. 
         [0002]    Control exercised over the elevator is merely based on information that is local or internal to the elevator. Greater efficiency in operation could be realized if a greater or large universe of data is used. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An embodiment of the disclosure is directed to a method comprising: receiving, by a controller comprising a processor, data that is external to a conveyance device, processing, by the controller, the external data, and controlling, by the controller, the conveyance device based on the processed external data, wherein the external data comprises at least one of: security management data and emergency services data. 
         [0004]    An embodiment of the disclosure is directed to an apparatus comprising: at least one processor, and memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive data that is external to an application environment, process the external data, and control an entity located within the application environment based on the processed external data, wherein the external data comprises at least one of: security management data and emergency services data. 
         [0005]    An embodiment of the disclosure is directed to an elevator system comprising: a controller configured to: receive data comprising external data and internal data, and process the data, and an elevator car configured to be controlled by the controller based on the processed data, wherein the external data comprises at least one of: security management data and emergency services data. 
         [0006]    Additional embodiments are described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary computing system in accordance with one or more embodiments; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of inputs influencing elevator controls in accordance with one or more embodiments; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings (the contents of which are included in this disclosure by way of reference). It is noted that these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. In this respect, a coupling between entities may refer to either a direct or an indirect connection. 
         [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for enhancing or improving operation of an elevator. In some embodiments, data that is external to the elevator may be used to influence the operation of the elevator. As used herein, data is external to an elevator when the data is not specific to the elevator (e.g., when the data is not solely used in connection with the maintenance, use, or construction of the elevator) and when the data is sourced from outside of the environment (e.g., the building) where the elevator is located. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary computing system  100  is shown. The system  100  is shown as including a memory  102 . The memory  102  may store executable instructions. The executable instructions may be stored or organized in any manner and at any level of abstraction, such as in connection with one or more processes, routines, procedures, methods, functions, etc. As an example, at least a portion of the instructions are shown in  FIG. 1  as being associated with a first program  104   a  and a second program  104   b.    
         [0014]    The instructions stored in the memory  102  may be executed by one or more processors, such as a processor  106 . The processor  106  may be coupled to one or more input/output (I/O) devices  108 . In some embodiments, the I/O device(s)  108  may include one or more of a keyboard or keypad, a touchscreen or touch panel, a display screen, a microphone, a speaker, a mouse, a button, a remote control, a joystick, a printer, a telephone or mobile device (e.g., a smartphone), etc. The I/O device(s)  108  may be configured to provide an interface to allow a user to interact with the system  100 . 
         [0015]    The system  100  is illustrative. In some embodiments, one or more of the entities may be optional. In some embodiments, additional entities not shown may be included. For example, in some embodiments the system  100  may be associated with one or more networks, such as one or more computer or telephone networks. In some embodiments, the entities may be arranged or organized in a manner different from what is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0016]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary block diagram  200  in accordance with one or more embodiments is shown. As shown in  FIG. 2 , an elevator controller  202 - 1  may be used to control or adjust one or more operations associated with an elevator. In some embodiments, the controller  202 - 1  may include one or more components or devices described in connection with the system  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    A subset of controls that may be provided by the controller  202 - 1  are shown in block  204 . For example, the subset of controls  204  may include one or more of a velocity (V) for an elevator car  202 - 2 , a direction the elevator car  202 - 2  is to travel in (e.g., up or down a hoist-way  202 - 3 ), door controls (e.g., door speed when opening or closing), and specification of a landing or floor that the elevator car  202 - 2  should go to. Other controls may be included, such as elevator car  202 - 2  acceleration, an ambient temperature for the elevator car  202 - 2 , volume of sounds or music played in the elevator car  202 - 2 , etc. 
         [0018]    The controls or commands provided by the controller  202 - 1  to an elevator or elevator car  202 - 2  may be a function of one or more inputs. In some embodiments, the one or more inputs may be based on external data. As an example, the external data may include data derived from or obtained from one or more utilities  206 - 1 . The utilities  206 - 1  may include one or more power utilities. The data obtained from the utilities  206 - 1  may include pricing of power (e.g., electrical power). The pricing may be based on offer and demand data or statistics regarding actual or expect usage. 
         [0019]    Based on the data from the utilities  206 - 1 , operation of the elevator may be adjusted by the controller  202 - 1 . For example, if energy cost is high (relative to a baseline value) as reflected by the data received from the utilities  206 - 1 , then elevator car  202 - 2  velocity (V) and/or elevator car  202 - 2  door speed may be adjusted (e.g., reduced relative to a baseline) in order to minimize peak energy demand. 
         [0020]    The external data may include data received from one or more entities or agencies associated with security  206 - 2 . For example, the data received from security  206 - 2  may pertain to police reports or notices, terror alerts, etc. 
         [0021]    Based on the data from the security  206 - 2 , operation of the elevator may be adjusted by the controller  202 - 1 . For example, if a warning or alert has been issued, use of the elevator may be limited to specific personal, optionally as a function of one or more credentials (e.g., an RFID-card). If a person riding in an elevator car  202 - 2  is identified as a suspect or person of interest, the controller  202 - 1  may cause the elevator car  202 - 2  to stop between floors or at a particular floor or landing to allow the person to be questioned, examined, or apprehended by security personnel, police, the military, etc. 
         [0022]    The external data may include data received from one or more transportation facilities  206 - 3 . For example, the data received from transportation facilities  206 - 3  may pertain to private (individual) or public transportation (e.g., bus, taxi, train, aircraft, marine craft) information, such as schedules, availability, delays, etc. 
         [0023]    Based on the data from the transportation facilities  206 - 3 , an elevator car  202 - 2  arrival time may be adjusted by the controller  202 - 1 . For example, if the controller  202 - 1  knows that a user rides the “number  7 ” train upon leaving the office for the day (potentially based on the user providing such information via, e.g., a mobile device), and the controller  202 - 1  knows based on data provided by the transportation facilities  206 - 3  that the number  7  train is running behind schedule that day, the controller  202 - 1  may prioritize picking up other passengers/users of the elevator relative to the user that rides the number  7  train. Conversely, if the number  7  train is running ahead of schedule, the controller  202 - 1  may prioritize picking up the user relative to other passengers/users of the elevator in an effort to get the user to the number  7  train before the number  7  train departs the train station. 
         [0024]    The external data may include data received from emergency services  206 - 4 . For example, the data received from emergency services  206 - 4  may include weather information, earthquake alerts, tidal wave or tsunami alerts, fire alerts, evacuation alerts, etc. 
         [0025]    Based on the data from the emergency services  206 - 4 , operation of the elevator may be adjusted by the controller  202 - 1 . For example, travel within the elevator may be adjusted to accommodate, e.g., evacuation needs. 
         [0026]    Operation of the elevator by the controller  202 - 1  may be a function of additional data provided by one or more other entities, such as an operator  208 . Data provided by the operator  208  may include external data that is not included in the data provided by entities  206 - 1  through  206 - 4 . Data provided by the operator  208  may include “internal data” or data that has been used by conventional or traditional elevator systems, such as actual or expected demand for the elevator system. Thus, the controller  202 - 1  may cause the elevator to operate based on a combination of external data and internal data. 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a method  300  is shown. The method  300  may be executed in connection with one or more systems, components, or devices, such as those described herein (e.g., the system  100 , the controller  202 - 1 , etc.). The method  300  may be used to control or adjust the operation of an elevator. 
         [0028]    In block  302 , data may be received. The data source may be one or more of the sources shown in  FIG. 2 . The data may include internal data and/or external data. 
         [0029]    In block  304 , the data of block  302  may be processed. 
         [0030]    In block  306 , the processed data of block  304  may be compared to one or more thresholds. 
         [0031]    If in block  306  a determination is made that a change in the data (relative to an initial or baseline value) is greater than a threshold, then one or more parameters that control the operation of the elevator may be adjusted in block  308 . From block  308 , flow may proceed to block  302 , and the data may continue to be received to determine if any additional updates or changes to the operation of the elevator are needed. 
         [0032]    If in block  306  a determination is made that any change in the data (relative to an initial or baseline value) is less than (or equal to) a threshold, then the elevator may be operated in accordance with parameters that may have been established prior to the receipt of the data in block  302 . In that case, flow may proceed from block  306  to block  302 , and the data may continue to be received to determine if any updates or changes to the operation of the elevator are needed. 
         [0033]    The method  300  is illustrative. In some embodiments, one or more blocks or operations (or a portion thereof) may be optional. In some embodiments, the blocks may execute in an order or sequence different from what is shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, additional blocks not shown may be included. 
         [0034]    While some of the examples described herein related to elevators, aspects of this disclosure may be applied in connection with other types of conveyance devices, such as a dumbwaiter, an escalator, a moving sidewalk, a wheelchair lift, etc. In some embodiments, aspects of the disclosure may be applied to other application environments, such as trains, aircraft, marine craft, etc. 
         [0035]    Embodiments of the disclosure may be used to enhance or improve the operation of an elevator. In some embodiments, the cost of operating an elevator may be reduced based on the price of power. Performance and timing may be adjusted to accommodate user preferences or schedules. Functionality may be adjusted to support security activities. Operations may be adapted to accommodate environmental circumstances, organizational considerations, or other factors. In some embodiments, a centralized control may be provided to support multiple applications using common algorithms and information/data. Furthermore, provision of a centralized control may be used to make adjustments available and effective to multiple installations maintained or administered by a centralized or common organization/authority. 
         [0036]    Embodiments of the disclosure may be tied to one or more particular machines. For example, a controller may be configured to receive data external to an elevator system. The controller may process the data to control or adjust operation of the elevator. 
         [0037]    As described herein, in some embodiments various functions or acts may take place at a given location and/or in connection with the operation of one or more apparatuses, systems, or devices. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of a given function or act may be performed at a first device or location, and the remainder of the function or act may be performed at one or more additional devices or locations. 
         [0038]    Embodiments may be implemented using one or more technologies. In some embodiments, an apparatus or system may include one or more processors, and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus or system to perform one or more methodological acts as described herein. Various mechanical components known to those of skill in the art may be used in some embodiments. 
         [0039]    Embodiments may be implemented as one or more apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. In some embodiments, instructions may be stored on one or more computer program products or computer-readable media, such as a transitory and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium. The instructions, when executed, may cause an entity (e.g., an apparatus or system) to perform one or more methodological acts as described herein. 
         [0040]    Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps described in conjunction with the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and that one or more steps illustrated may be optional.