NOTIFICATION CONTROL DEVICE

A notification control device includes an attribute identification unit configured to identify a physical attribute of a user who uses an elevator, and a notification control unit configured to control, based on the physical attribute identified by the attribute identification unit, a notification speed at which information is provided by a notification device installed in a car in which the user having the identified physical attribute is to ride.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a notification control device to be used for an elevator.

BACKGROUND ART

A speaker, a display, or other devices are installed in a car for accommodating a user of an elevator as a notification device for providing information. Hitherto, the manner of providing information using the notification device has been controlled to realize an environment in which the user can use an elevator more comfortably. For example, a voice recognition technology is used to determine the type of language spoken by a user, and the type of language to be used for providing information is automatically switched depending on the result of determination (e.g., refer to Patent Literature 1).

Citation List

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

A manner of providing information that is desirable to the user differs depending on the type of language to be used. On the basis of this fact, it is possible to classify a user depending on the type of language to be used. However, an attribute for classifying a user is not limited to the type of language. Thus, it is considered that attributes other than the language to be used are also required to be considered in order to realize the environment in which an elevator is used comfortably.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has an object to provide a notification control device capable of providing information more desirably for a user of an elevator.

Solution to Problem

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a notification control device including: an attribute identification unit configured to identify a physical attribute of a user who uses an elevator; and a notification control unit configured to control, based on the physical attribute identified by the attribute identification unit, a notification speed at which information is provided by a notification device installed in a car in which the user having the identified physical attribute is to ride.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide information more desirably for the user of the elevator.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Now, an electronic circuit according to each embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a diagram for illustrating an example of a configuration of an elevator system constructed by using a notification control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

This elevator system is a system constructed to operate a plurality of elevators1. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the elevator system includes the plurality of elevators1, a hall operation panel group2being hall operation panels20installed in respective halls, a group management control device3, and a notification control device4.

Each hall operation panel20forming the hall operation panel group2is used to allow a user to register a destination floor before riding the elevator. Each hall operation panel20includes numeric keys21, a display device22, a “clear” button23, a “register destination floor” button24, a “register number of users” button25, a language selection button26, a “register disabled person” button27, and a “register elderly person” button28. This hall operation panel20is only one example, and is not limited thereto.

The numeric keys21are used for inputting a destination floor to be registered, the number of users to be registered, and other information. The “clear” button23is a button for instructing to delete input details. A numerical value input through operation of the numeric keys21is displayed on the display device22, and the displayed details are deleted through operation of the “clear” button23.

The “register destination floor” button24is a button for registering the input numerical value as the destination floor. For example, after the user has operated the numeric keys21to input a numerical value specifying the destination floor, the user can operate the “register destination floor” button24to register the destination floor.

The “register number of users” button25is a button for registering the number of users who ride the elevator to the registered destination floor. For example, after the user has operated the numeric keys21to input a numerical value specifying the number of users, the user can operate the “register number of users” button25to register the number of users.

The user of the elevator1may be a foreigner. Not all the foreigners always understand Japanese. Thus, in the first embodiment, the user can select the type of language to be used for providing information. The plurality of language selection buttons26are buttons that are installed so as to enable the user to select a type of language. The user can operate the language selection button26to select the desired type of language.

A disabled person, for example, a visually handicapped person, may use the elevator1. A large number of such disabled people have a difficulty in performing a prompt action. Further, compared to a healthy person, such a disabled person requires a greater time and effort to perform an action. In view of this, in the first embodiment, an issuance speed being a speed at the time of providing information is controlled so that a disabled person can perform a desired action more appropriately. This issuance speed corresponds to a notification speed.

The “register disabled person” button27is a button that is installed to control the issuance speed for a disabled person. In the first embodiment, when this “register disabled person” button27is operated, information is provided in such a manner as to cause the issuance speed to be lower than usual and enable a disabled person to understand the information more clearly.

An elderly person may use the elevator1. Some elderly people also have a difficulty in performing a prompt action. A physical ability of a person tends to decrease as the person ages. In view of this, in the first embodiment, the issuance speed is controlled so that an elderly person can perform a desired action more appropriately.

The “register elderly person” button28is a button that is installed to control the issuance speed for an elderly person. In the first embodiment, when this “register elderly person” button28is operated, information is provided in such a manner as to cause the issuance speed to be lower than usual and enable an elderly person to understand the information more clearly.

The hall operation panel group2is connected to the group management control device3. Input information input through operation of the hall operation panel20is transmitted from the hall operation panel20to the group management control device3, and is processed by the group management control device3.

The group management control device3processes the input information transmitted from each hall operation panel20, and schedules the operation of each elevator1. Through this scheduling of operation, the group management control device3selects the elevator1to be caused to stop at a floor at which the hall operation panel20has been operated, and notifies the hall operation panel20of the result of selection. Through this notification, the hall operation panel20displays, on the display device22, information indicating the elevator1that the user is to ride. Thus, the user can grasp the elevator1to ride. The elevator1to be selected includes an elevator that is already determined to stop at the floor at which the hall operation panel20has been operated.

When the input destination floor is not registered in the selected elevator1, the group management control device3registers the input destination floor. The group management control device3gives an instruction to the selected elevator1as required, and performs control so that the user who has operated the hall operation panel20can ride the elevator1.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, each elevator1includes an elevator control device11and a car12. The car12is a structure that the user is to ride, and includes a car control device121, a car operation panel122, a display123, a speaker124, a camera125, and a microphone126. The microphone126is hereinafter abbreviated as “mic126”.

The car operation panel122is a device to be operated by the user who has ridden the car12. The user can operate the car operation panel122to extend an opening period in which the door is open, or communicate to/from an outside, for example.

The display123and the speaker124are notification devices that are assumed to provide information mainly to the user. An update interval at which details displayed on the display123are updated and a speed of a sound emitted from the speaker124both change depending on the issuance speed. The camera125and the mic126are used as devices for acquiring information to estimate a physical attribute of the user.

The car operation panel122, the display123, the speaker124, the camera125, and the mic126are connected to the car control device121. The car control device121is one information processing device, and is connected to the elevator control device11. With this configuration, the car control device121operates under control of the elevator control device11, and transmits required information to the elevator control device11.

The elevator control device11is an information processing device configured to transmit/receive information to/from the group management control device3, and is configured to control the entire elevator1in accordance with an instruction given by the group management control device3. Further, a hoisting machine (not shown) is driven to raise or lower the car12.

The notification control device4is an information processing device configured to transmit/receive information to/from the group management control device3and the elevator control device11of each elevator1. The display123and the speaker124, which are capable of providing information, are installed in the car12of each elevator. The notification control device4determines details of control for providing information for each elevator1, and gives an instruction that depends on the determined details of control to the elevator control device11.

The elevator control device11is configured to control the car control device121in accordance with the instruction given by the notification control device4. Through such control, the car control device121drives the display123and the speaker124in accordance with the details of control determined by the notification control device4. As a result, provision of information to the user by using at least one of the display123or the speaker124is implemented.

FIG. 2is a block diagram for illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the notification control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the car control device. Next, referring toFIG. 2, a specific description is made of the functional configurations of the notification control device4and the car control device121and operations to be implemented by the functional configurations.

First, description is made of the car control device121. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the car control device121includes a voice processing unit1211as the functional configuration. The voice processing unit1211has a function for processing a voice spoken by a user who has ridden the car12to estimate the attribute of the user. The mic126is used to input the voice spoken by the user.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the voice processing unit1211includes a voice recognition unit1211a, a language recognition unit1211b, and an age estimation unit1211c.

The voice recognition unit1211ais configured to process, for each user, a voice input to the mic126, to thereby generate a character string and extract an acoustic characteristic based on the voice emitted from the user. The generated character string is output to the language recognition unit1211b, and the extracted acoustic characteristic is output to the age estimation unit1211c.

The language recognition unit1211bis configured to process the input character string to recognize the type of language spoken by the user. This recognition result is transmitted from the car control device121to the notification control device4via the elevator control device11.

The age estimation unit1211cis configured to process the input acoustic characteristic to estimate the age of the user. This estimation result is also transmitted from the car control device121to the notification control device4via the elevator control device11.

A widely known technology is used for various kinds of processing to be executed by the voice processing unit1211. Thus, a more detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Meanwhile, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the notification control device4includes a first communication unit401, a number-of-languages counting unit402, a second update unit403, a language determination unit404, an issuance control unit405, a second communication unit406, an image recognition unit407, an age estimation unit408, a disabled person recognition unit409, and a first update unit410.

The first communication unit401is configured to implement communication to/from the group management control device3. The second communication unit406is configured to implement communication to/from the elevator control device11of each elevator1.

As described above, the user can select the type of language by using each hall operation panel20. This selection result is notified to the notification control device4from the group management control device3together with identification information on the assigned elevator1. Information indicating the details of notification is received by the first communication unit401, and is output to the number-of-languages counting unit402. Then, the number-of-languages counting unit402counts, for each elevator1, the result of selecting the type of language for each type of language. The counting results are output to the second update unit403.

As described above, in each elevator1, the car control device121is used to recognize the type of language spoken by the user and estimate the age of the user, and those results are notified to the notification control device4. The second communication unit406outputs the result of recognizing the type of language to the second update unit403together with, for example, identification information on the elevator1and stop floor information indicating a floor at which the elevator1is to stop. The second update unit403updates the result of counting each language for each elevator1, which is input from the number-of-languages counting unit402, by using the result of recognizing the type of language input from the second communication unit406.

When the user has selected the type of language through operation of the hall operation panel20, a floor at which the hall operation panel20is installed, the selected type of language, and other information are notified to the notification control device4from the group management control device3together with identification information on the assigned elevator1. With this, the notification control device can recognize, for each elevator1, the type of language selected by a user who is currently in the elevator1and the type of language selected by a user who is to ride the elevator.

Even when the type of language can be selected through operation of the hall operation panel20, not all users who are supposed to select one type of language select the type of language. A user who has not selected a type of language to be selected may speak the language in the car12. In view of this, the second update unit403compares the types of language selected by a user who is to ride the elevator at the stop floor and a user who is already in the elevator with the actually recognized type of language. Through this comparison, when a language different from the selected type of language is recognized, a new type of language is added, and the number of users having the recognized new type of language is set as the number of languages.

The type of language is stored in association with the destination floor. In the first embodiment, it is estimated that the type of language is recognized by a voice emitted by any one of users who have ridden the elevator1at the previous stop floor, and the recognized type of language is associated with the destination floor registered at the stop floor. With this, the second update unit403counts the number of users for each destination floor and each type of language. In this manner, in the first embodiment, a notification assuming a user who is to leave the elevator1at the next stop floor is issued. In the following, description is made based on the assumption that there is only one elevator1to avoid confusion.

A plurality of destination floors may be registered at the same floor. In that case, in the first embodiment, as the number of users of the recognized type of language, the number of users of that language is counted for all the registered destination floors, for example. This is because the recognized type of language may have been spoken to check information on usage of the elevator1among users, for example. It is considered to be desirable to provide information in a more understandable manner to users who have had conversation for such a purpose.

The second update unit403is configured to output the counted number of users to the language determination unit404for each destination floor and each type of language. The language determination unit404refers to the number of users counted for each type of language at a destination floor to stop next, and determines the type of language to be used for notification. The determined type of language is a type of language for which the number of users is the largest among selectable types of languages, for example. This determination result is output to the issuance control unit405.

As described above, the camera125is installed in the car12. This camera125is installed so as to be capable of picking up an image of a user who rides the elevator through a door, for example. The car control device121causes the camera125to pick up an image while the door is open, for example, and transmits the picked up image to the elevator control device11. As a result, the image picked up by the camera125is transmitted to the notification control device4via the elevator control device11together with information on, for example, the previous stop floor, and is received by the second communication unit406.

The image received by the second communication unit406is output from the second communication unit406to the image recognition unit407. The image recognition unit407executes, based on the input image, for example, face detection processing of extracting a location at which there is a face of the user who has ridden the car12or belongings detection processing of extracting a location at which there are belongings or the like of the user. A face image present at the location extracted by the face detection processing is output to the age estimation unit408, and a belongings image present at the location extracted by the belongings detection processing is output to the disabled person recognition unit409.

The age estimation unit408is configured to execute, for each input face image, characteristic point extraction processing of extracting a location of a characteristic point of the face, and estimate the age of the user whose face image is picked up by using the extracted characteristic point. The extracted characteristic point is also used for determination of whether the age of the user is already estimated, for example. With this, the age estimation unit408estimates, for each newly recognized user, the age of that user. This estimation result is output to the first update unit410.

In the first embodiment, only the elderly person is assumed as the user whose age is to be considered. This is the reason why the “register elderly person” button28is installed on the hall operation panel20. Only the elderly person is assumed, and thus only the result estimating an age equal to or higher than a lower limit age of an elderly person is output from the age estimation unit408to the first update unit410.

A visually handicapped person usually holds a white cane. In the belongings detection processing, the location of a white cane is to be extracted as a belongings image. The disabled person recognition unit409checks, for each input belongings image, whether there is a white cane in that input belongings image, to thereby recognize the user holding a white cane as a disabled person. This recognition result is output to the first update unit410.

As described above, the user can operate the hall operation panel20to register a disabled person or an elderly person. Those registration results are output from the group management control device3to the notification control device4together with information indicating the destination floor. Those pieces of information are received by the first communication unit401, and output to the first update unit410.

The first update unit410is configured to manage, for each destination floor, the number of registered disabled people and the number of registered elderly people. However, the user does not always register a disabled person or an elderly person. In view of this, the first update unit410uses the result of estimation by the age estimation unit408and the result of recognition by the disabled person recognition unit409to update the number of disabled people or the number of elderly people as required, which is identified based on information from the group management control device3.

In a case where a disabled person or an elderly person is newly recognized from an image obtained when the elevator1has stopped at the floor at which the hall operation panel20with a registered disabled person or elderly person is installed, the first update unit410does not update any of the number of disabled people and the number of elderly people. When a disabled person is newly recognized after the elevator1has stopped at a floor at which a disabled person is not registered, the first update unit410estimates that there is a disabled person among users who have ridden the elevator1at the floor, and makes such an update that there is a disabled person who has ridden the elevator1to the destination floor registered at the floor. When an elderly person is recognized after the elevator1has stopped at a floor at which an elderly person is not registered, the first update unit410updates the number of elderly people based on the fact that there is an elderly person among users who have ridden the elevator at the floor.

A plurality of destination floors may be registered at the same floor. In that case, in the first embodiment, existence of a disabled person or an elderly person is set for all the registered destination floors, for example. This is based on an idea that a disabled person and an elderly person are required to be prioritized over a user who is not a disabled person or an elderly person. When it is confirmed that a disabled person or an elderly person has left the elevator before the elevator1is caused to stop at all the destination floors, settings of remaining destination floors are cleared.

In this manner, the first update unit410manages, for each destination floor, whether there is a disabled person and whether there is an elderly person based on information. The managed information is output to an issuance speed determination unit411every time an update is made. Arrival at the destination floor is notified by the elevator control device11, to thereby clear information on the destination floor.

Each elevator1is not always operated. An elevator1that accommodates no user and has no determined floor to which the car12is moved so that the user can ride the elevator1is not required to manage information to be notified to the user. Thus, under such a situation, information that has been managed for notification is all cleared. A destination floor at which the elevator1is caused to stop last under a situation in which a floor to which the elevator1is moved next is not determined is hereinafter referred to as “last destination floor”. The first update unit410and the second update unit403clear the information managed for notification after arrival at the last destination floor.

The information managed for notification for each elevator1is hereinafter referred to as “notification management information”. The information for each destination floor within the notification management information is referred to as “destination floor management information”. As described above, the destination floor management information is information indicating the number of elderly people, the number of disabled people, and the number of users for each type of language.

The issuance speed determination unit411is configured to determine, for each stop floor, for example, the issuance speed for providing information, and output the determination result to the issuance control unit405. With this, the determined issuance speed is output to the issuance control unit405in addition to the determined type of language.

The issuance control unit405is configured to perform control for providing information to be provided to the user with the determined type of language at the determined issuance speed. For that purpose, the issuance control unit405outputs, to the second communication unit406, specific information for specifying details of information to be provided, issuance speed information, door opening period information, and other information, and instructs the second communication unit406to transmit those pieces of information. The specific information is information that differs depending on the type of language.

As a result, those pieces of information are transmitted to the car control device121via the elevator control device111. Through transmission of those pieces of information, the car control device121controls at least one of the display123or the speaker124to provide information.

In this manner, in the first embodiment, the user who has ridden the car12selects the type of language or changes the issuance speed as required. Through selection of the type of language, it is possible to provide information in accordance with the social and cultural attributes of the user. Through change of the issuance speed, it is possible to provide information in accordance with the physical attribute such as whether the user is an elderly person or whether the user is a disabled person.

As a result, under a situation in which only the users having the same attribute ride the elevator, it is possible to provide information in a manner suited to the attribute. Under a situation in which users having different attributes ride the elevator, it is possible to provide information in a manner suited to a user who is to be considered more preferentially. Under this situation, it is possible to provide information more desirably for the users as a whole. In this manner, under any situation, an environment in which the users as a whole can use the elevator1more comfortably is implemented.

As control for an elderly person, a hall call button for an elderly person is provided, and the volume of a sound of guidance, which is emitted by a speaker for the elevator, is changed depending on a distance between the operated hall call button and the hall of an assigned elevator (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2016-3107).

FIG. 3is a block diagram for illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing device that can be used as the notification control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Now, referring toFIG. 3, a specific description is made of an exemplary configuration of an information processing device that can be used as the notification control device4according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, this information processing device includes a central processing unit (CPU)301, a read only memory (ROM)302, a random access memory (RAM)303, an auxiliary storage device304, an inter-face controller (I/FC) group305, a medium drive device306, and a bus307. Each of the components301to306is connected to the bus307. This configuration is only one example, and the configuration of the information processing device that can be used is not limited to that illustrated inFIG. 3.

The ROM302is a memory that stores a basic input/output system (BIOS), for example. This BIOS is read out by the CPU301into the RAM303for execution.

The auxiliary storage device304is a large-capacity storage device, for example, a hard disk device or a solid state drive (SSD). This auxiliary storage device304stores, for example, an operating system (OS) and an application program that operates on that OS. The application program includes a notification control program304a being a program to be operated as the notification control device4. Thus, after activation of the BIOS is complete, the CPU301can read the OS and the notification control program304afrom the auxiliary storage device304into the RAM303for execution.

The I/FC group305includes, for example, an I/FC for implementing communication to/from the group management control device3, and an I/FC for implementing communication to/from the elevator control device11of each elevator1. The CPU301can use the I/FC group305to receive required information from the group management control device3, and to transmit/receive required information to/from the elevator control device11of each elevator1.

The medium drive device306is a device capable of accessing a portable medium, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD). This portable medium can store the notification control program304adescribed above. With this, the medium drive device306can be used for installing the notification control program304a. This installation can be performed also by using the I/FC group305.

The CPU301is configured to execute the BIOS, the OS, and the notification control program304a. For that purpose, the CPU301uses at least the ROM302, the RAM303, the auxiliary storage device304, and the I/FC group305. In this manner, each of the components401to411illustrated inFIG. 2are realized by using the CPU301, the ROM302, the RAM303, the auxiliary storage device304, the I/FC group305, and the bus307.

FIG. 4is a flow chart for illustrating notification control processing. This notification control processing is processing implemented by the CPU301executing the notification control program304a. Through execution of this notification control processing, the information processing device illustrated inFIG. 3operates as the notification control device4. Next, referring toFIG. 4, a detailed description is made of this notification control processing. The CPU301executes this processing.

The notification control device4is configured to control all the elevators1. However, in order to avoid confusion, description is made on the assumption that there is only one elevator1.

First, in Step S41, the CPU301determines whether information is received from the group management control device3. When the information transmitted from the group management control device3is received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S41results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S42. When the information transmitted from the group management control device3is not received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S41results in “NO”, and the processing proceeds to Step S43.

As described above, the group management control device3operates the hall operation panel20to select the elevator1, and notifies the notification control device4of the result of selection. Further, the group management control device3notifies of various kinds of information on details of operation of the hall operation panel20, which indicate, for example, a button operated among the language selection buttons26, a destination floor for which registration is instructed, whether there is operation of the “register disabled person” button27, and whether there is operation of the “register elderly person” button28. In this manner, in Step S42, the CPU301uses the received information to perform required registration. As a result, the notification management information is generated or updated as required.

In Step S43, the CPU301determines whether information is received from the elevator control device11of the elevator1. When the information transmitted from the elevator control device11is received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S43results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S44. When the information transmitted from the elevator control device11is not received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S43results in “NO”, and the processing proceeds to Step S48.

In Step S44, the CPU301determines whether information notifying of arrival at the floor is received from the elevator control device11. When the information is received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S44results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S45. When the information is not received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S44results in “NO”, and the processing proceeds to Step S50.

In Step S45, the CPU301determines whether the arrival floor is the last destination floor. When a floor to which the elevator1is to move next is not set, the determination of Step S45results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S46. When the floor to which the elevator1is to move next is set, the determination of Step S45results in “NO”, and the processing proceeds to Step S47.

In Step S46, the CPU301clears the notification management information. After the CPU301clears the notification management information, the processing proceeds to Step S48.

In Step S47, the CPU301updates the notification management information. When the arrival floor is registered as the destination floor, there is a user who is to leave the elevator1at the arrival floor. Accordingly, the destination floor management information corresponding to this destination floor is cleared. After that, the processing proceeds to Step S48. Update including generation of the destination floor management information is performed in Step S42described above.

In Step S48, the CPU301determines whether the timing for notification has arrived. When the timing has arrived, the determination of Step S48results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S49.

In Step S49, the CPU301assumes a user who is to leave the elevator1at the next arrival floor, and performs notification control for providing required information to the car control device121. For that purpose, selection of the type of language and determination of the issuance speed are at least performed. After that, the processing returns to Step S41described above.

In Step S50, to which the processing proceeds due to the determination of Step S44described above resulting in “NO”, the CPU301determines whether an image is received from the elevator control device11. When the image is received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S50results in “YES”, and the processing proceeds to Step S51. When the image is not received by the I/FC group305, that is, when information indicating the type of language recognized by a voice recognition technology or the estimated age is received by the I/FC group305, the determination of Step S50results in “NO”, and the processing proceeds to Step S53.

In Step S51, the CPU301analyzes the received image, that is, performs image recognition, to check whether there is a new unexpected elderly person or disabled person. Destination floor management information on a floor at which the elevator1has stopped immediately before is referred to in order to check whether there is a new unexpected elderly person or disabled person. In Step S52, to which the processing proceeds next, the CPU301updates one or more pieces of destination floor management information as required depending on the checking result. After that, the processing proceeds to Step S48described above.

In Step S53, the CPU301compares the received information with the destination floor management information on the floor at which the elevator1has stopped immediately before to check whether there is a new unexpected elderly person or disabled person, and updates one or more pieces of destination floor management information as required depending on the checking result. After that, the processing proceeds to Step S48described above.

Through the execution of such notification control processing, the notification control device4processes pieces of information transmitted from the group management control device3and each elevator control device11, and provides required information to a subject person among users in each car12in a timely manner. The required information is provided in consideration of the social and cultural attributes and physical attribute of the subject person. Therefore, it is possible to provide information desirable to the user.

In the first embodiment, the issuance speed is changed for a disabled person or an elderly person, and information is provided at a lower issuance speed. However, control of factors other than the issuance speed may be added in combination. For example, an elderly person tends to have a difficulty in hearing a high-pitched sound. Most consonants are high-pitched sounds. In view of this, information may be provided to an elderly person in such a manner that the consonants are pronounced with lower-pitched sounds. Further, two types of people, namely, an elderly person and a disabled person, are assumed as the physical attribute. However, the number and combination of assumed physical attributes are not particularly limited. At least one of an elderly person or a disabled person may be assumed, or another physical attribute may be assumed.

Second Embodiment

The first embodiment described above adopts the hall operation panel20, which enables not only registration of a destination floor but also selection of a type of language, registration of an elderly person, and registration of a disabled person. However, when the above-mentioned hall operation panel20is installed, the cost of an elevator system increases. In view of this, a second embodiment of the present invention is applied to an elevator system in which a hall operation panel that does not enable registration of a destination floor is installed. Now, a specific description is made of a part different from that of the first embodiment described above by using the reference symbols assigned in the first embodiment described above as they are.

In the second embodiment, there is no number-of-languages counting unit402in the functional configuration of the notification control device4illustrated inFIG. 2. This is because the type of language cannot be selected on the hall operation panel20. The first update unit410and the second update unit403can basically be set to have the same configuration although those units operate differently from the first embodiment described above. This is because the first update unit410and the second update unit403both handle information transmitted from the elevator1.

Association between the user and the destination floor is different depending on whether a destination floor is newly specified when the user rides the elevator. When a destination floor is newly specified, the user who has ridden the elevator is likely to have the destination floor as his or her destination. Thus, it is considered that the user is associated with the newly specified destination floor.

On the contrary, when a destination floor is not newly specified, it can be estimated that the user who has ridden the elevator has any one of already registered destination floors as his or her destination. In view of this, similarly to the first embodiment described above, it is considered that the user is associated with all the registered destination floors. It suffices that the notification management information for generating or updating the destination floor management information in this manner is cleared not only at the last destination floor but also at the top floor or the bottom floor.

It is difficult to associate the user with the destination floor. In view of this, it is preferred that an elevator system in which the hall operation panel20having a hall push button or the like installed thereon pick up an image of a user who rides the car12, and pick up an image of a user who leaves the car12. This is because unrequired association between the user and the destination floor can be reduced more by recognizing the user in the car12more accurately. As a result, notification control can be performed more preferably.

In the notification control processing illustrated in the flow chart ofFIG. 4, the registration in Step S42is performed to assign to a user an elevator1that is not operated for the user. Thus, it suffices that the notification management information is generated similarly to the first embodiment described above. The determination of Step S45results in “YES” when the floor is any one of the last destination floor, the top floor, and the bottom floor.

Also when such control is performed, it is possible to provide information more appropriately depending on the physical attribute of the user. Thus, an environment in which the user can use the elevator1more comfortably is implemented.

In the first and second embodiments, the voice processing unit1211is installed in the car control device121. However, the voice processing unit1211may be installed in another information processing device. The voice processing unit1211can also be installed in the notification control device4.

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