Effecting communication bridge with elevator system

Disclosed is an elevator system having an elevator including a controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate over a plurality of networks with a plurality of devices, the plurality of networks including a first network and a second network and the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device being within or proximate the elevator, wherein the plurality of devices are configured to communicate over a third network, and wherein, while the plurality of devices are communicating over the third network, the controller selectively effects a communications bridge over the plurality of networks between the plurality of devices and supersedes the communication over the third network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of India Patent No. 201811035079 filed Sep. 18, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate to communication bridges and more specifically to effecting a communications bridge with an elevator system.

A GSM (global system for mobile) signal inside an elevator may be weak or lost. Accordingly a passenger entering an elevator while on an active mobile call may become disconnected.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an elevator system comprising an elevator including a controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate over a plurality of networks with a plurality of devices, the plurality of networks including a first network and a second network and the plurality of devices including a first device and a second device, the first device being within or proximate the elevator, wherein the plurality of devices are configured to communicate over a third network, and wherein, while the plurality of devices are communicating over the third network, the controller selectively effects a communications bridge over the plurality of networks between the plurality of devices and supersedes the communication over the third network.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the first network, the second network and the third network apply mutually different protocols and communicate on mutually different frequencies.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the first network is a personal area network, the second network is a wide area network, and the third network is a cellular network.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the controller obtains a communications address for the second device from the first device.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate after effecting the communications bridge, the controller selectively terminates the communications bridge to resume communications between the plurality of devices over the third network or terminate communications between the plurality of devices.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the elevator includes an interactive panel and prior to effecting the communications bridge, the controller receives a first request through the panel to effect the communications bridge.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate prior to terminating the communications bridge, the controller receives a second request through the interactive panel to terminate the communications bridge.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the controller applies VoIP over the second network to effect the bridge.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the controller is configured to receive a plurality of first requests from a respective plurality of first devices including the first device that are within or proximate the elevator to effect a respective plurality of mutually independent bridges with a respective plurality of second devices including the second device.

In addition to one or more of the above the disclosed features or as an alternate the controller is configured to independently effect and terminate the respective plurality of bridges.

Further disclosed is a method of effecting a communication bridge with an elevator system, the elevator system comprising one or more of the above disclosed features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The tension member107engages the machine111, which is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system101. The machine111is configured to control movement between the elevator car103and the counterweight105. The position reference system113may be mounted on a fixed part at the top of the elevator hoistway117, such as on a support or guide rail, and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car103within the elevator hoistway117. In other embodiments, the position reference system113may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine111, or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art. The position reference system113can be any device or mechanism for monitoring a position of an elevator car and/or counter weight, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, the position reference system113can be an encoder, sensor, or other system and can include velocity sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

The controller115is located, as shown, in a controller room121of the elevator hoistway117and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system101, and particularly the elevator car103. For example, the controller115may provide drive signals to the machine111to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car103. The controller115may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system113or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down within the elevator hoistway117along guide rail109, the elevator car103may stop at one or more landings125as controlled by the controller115. Although shown in a controller room121, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the controller115can be located and/or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system101. In one embodiment, the controller may be located remotely or in the cloud.

The machine111may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine111is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor. The machine111may include a traction sheave that imparts force to tension member107to move the elevator car103within elevator hoistway117.

Although shown and described with a roping system including tension member107, elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator hoistway may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a linear motor to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a hydraulic lift to impart motion to an elevator car.FIG. 1is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes.

Turning toFIG. 2, the figure illustrates an elevator system generally referred to as200. The system200may include an elevator210including a controller220, wherein the controller220may be capable of communicating over a plurality of networks generally referred to as230, and with a plurality of devices generally referred to as240. The plurality of networks230may include a first network250and a second network260and the plurality of devices may240include a first device270and a second device280. The first device270may be within or proximate the elevator210. In addition, the plurality of devices240may be capable of communicating over a third network290. The plurality of devices240may be used by a respective plurality of persons where the person using the first device270may be an elevator passenger.

Turning toFIG. 3, while the plurality of devices240are communicating over the third network290, the controller220may perform a process S200of selectively effecting a communications bridge over the plurality of networks230for the plurality of devices240. The communications bridge may supersede the communication over the third network290.

In one embodiment the first network250, the second network260and the third network290may apply mutually different protocols and communicate on mutually different frequencies. In one embodiment the first network250may be a personal area network, the second network may be is a wide area network, and the third network290may be a cellular network.

In performing process S200, the controller220may perform step S210of obtaining a communications address for the second device280from the first device270. In performing process S200, the controller220may perform step S220of selectively terminating the communications bridge to resume communications between the plurality of devices240over the third network290or terminate communications between the plurality of devices240.

Turing back toFIG. 2, the elevator210may include an interactive panel300. In one embodiment prior to effecting the communications bridge, the controller220may receive a first request through the panel300to effect the communications bridge. In one embodiment prior to terminating the communications bridge, the controller220may receive a second request through the interactive panel300to terminate the communications bridge.

In one embodiment the controller220applies VOID over the second network260to effect the bridge. In addition the controller220may apply Bluetooth over the first network250to effect the bridge.

In one embodiment the controller220may be capable of receiving a plurality of first requests from a respective plurality of first devices including the first device270that are within or proximate the elevator210. The plurality of first requests may be to effect a respective plurality of mutually independent bridges with a respective plurality of second devices including the second device280. According to an embodiment the controller220may be capable of independently effecting and terminating the respective plurality of bridges.

According to the above description, passengers entering an elevator while on a mobile call may have the call transferred to an elevator communication system, which may initiate a voice over IP (VoIP) call to link the parties. Any passenger desiring to transfer the active call from a mobile phone to an elevator system, which may support VoIP calling, may do so thorough their mobile device by (1) having the mobile device communicate with the elevator controller and to have an option to transfer the live call to the elevator communication system, (2) accept the option, (3) sends a Bluetooth signal to elevator controller with calling parties credentials, including caller identifications, (4) the elevator controller may initiate a session initiation protocol (SIP) call to the remote party, thus handling SIP headers, and (5) on successfully connecting with the remote party, relays Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets to the local mobile device over Bluetooth, and (6) the local caller may end the VoIP connection through a control signal executed by the mobile device, and (7) the elevator controller may receive the termination signal from the local caller via the local caller device and send an electronic termination signal to the remote party with SIP “BYE” communications.

In one embodiment multiple simultaneous calls may be made connected through the elevator controller. The disclosed embodiments may provide a passenger experience that is enhanced for seamless mobile communications due to weak signals. The system may provide for emergency calls for users even in situations with weak signals.

The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity and/or manufacturing tolerances based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application.