Managing remote control of an elevator system

An exemplary method of managing remote control of an elevator system includes preventing any source located remotely from a site of the elevator system from controlling an operation of the elevator system when there is an indication that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic.

BACKGROUND

Elevator systems often include a remote elevator monitoring device that communicates with other devices that are located at sites that are remote from the site of the elevator system, for example. Remote elevator monitoring devices provide information regarding elevator system operation or conditions to remotely located monitoring centers, for example. Remote elevator monitoring devices also often allow remotely located devices to provide command or control signals to the elevator system for purposes of controlling an operation of the elevator system.

SUMMARY

An exemplary method of managing remote control of an elevator system includes preventing any source located remotely from a site of the elevator system from controlling an operation of the elevator system when there is an indication that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic.

An exemplary elevator system includes a remote elevator monitoring device that is configured to prevent any source located remotely from a site of the elevator system from controlling an operation of the elevator system when there is an indication that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic.

The various features and advantages of a disclosed example will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1schematically shows selected portions of an elevator system20. An elevator car22is situated for providing elevator service in a known manner. An elevator controller24controls movement of the elevator car22.

A remote elevator monitoring device26allows for communications over a communication network28between the elevator system20and remotely located devices such as the example remote access device30. The remote elevator monitoring device26provides information to such remotely located devices regarding various operating parameters or conditions of the elevator system20. Such remote elevator monitoring devices are known in the industry.

The example remote elevator monitoring device26is unique in that it controls whether the remote access device30is capable of communicating with the elevator system20to control an operation of the elevator system20. For example, the remote elevator monitoring device26selectively prevents any remote access device30from communicating a command to the elevator controller24to cause movement of the elevator car22. The remote elevator monitoring device26prevents such communication whenever there is an indication that an elevator mechanic32is servicing the elevator system20. It is desirable to limit any remote control over operation of the elevator system20when the mechanic32is conducting a service operation.

The example ofFIG. 1includes a manual switch (MS)34associated with the remote elevator monitoring device26. The mechanic32manually actuates the switch34when the mechanic32is at the site of the elevator system20and intends to begin servicing the elevator system20. The remote elevator monitoring device26determines a condition of the switch34, which is associated with the remote elevator monitoring device26. In this example the switch34is at the same position as the remote elevator monitoring device26. When the switch34has been manually manipulated by the mechanic32into a position to provide an indication that a service operation is ongoing, the remote elevator monitoring device26determines that the elevator system20is being serviced by the mechanic32. In other words, the switch34is manually actuated by the mechanic32to provide an indication that there is an ongoing service procedure.

The example ofFIG. 1also includes the ability to determine that a mechanic is serving the elevator system by detecting when the mechanic32has used a service tool35in a manner that is consistent with how the service tool35would be used during elevator service. In this example, a communication port (CP)36is configured to be connected with the servicing tool35. In other words, the mechanic32may manually plug in a connector between the servicing tool35and the communication port36to allow the mechanic to conduct various service operations. In this example, the remote elevator monitoring device26detects whenever there is a connection with a communication port36and uses that as an indication that a service procedure has begun. In one such example, even if the switch34has not been manually actuated, detecting a connection with the communication port36allows the remote elevator monitoring device26to determine that a service procedure is ongoing.

The example ofFIG. 1also allows for the servicing tool35to be a communication device that wirelessly communicates with a transceiver38that is configured to receive such wireless communication signals. In this example, the transceiver38is associated with the remote elevator monitoring device26in a manner that allows it to use reception of a signal by the transceiver38as an indication that a mechanic is servicing the elevator system20.

Some examples will include only the manual switch34for providing an indication that a mechanic is servicing the elevator system. Other examples will include only the transceiver38or the communication port36for providing the indication that the elevator system is being serviced. Still other examples will include a combination of two or more of the manual switch34, the communication port36and the transceiver38to allow the remote elevator monitoring device26to determine when a mechanic is servicing the elevator system.

FIG. 2includes a flow chart diagram40that summarizes an example approach to managing remote control over an elevator system. At42, a determination is made whether an elevator mechanic is servicing the elevator system. This determination is made by the remote elevator monitoring device26, for example. InFIG. 2, there is the possibility of making the determination that a mechanic is serving the elevator system by detecting whether a manual switch is actuated at44. Additionally, it is possible to detect the presence of a service tool at46by detecting wireless communications from such a service tool or detecting that such a service tool has been connected with a communication port of the elevator system, for example.

If there is an indication that an elevator mechanic is servicing the elevator system, a determination is made at48whether a preselected time period has expired. In this example, the remote elevator monitoring device26initiates a time period responsive to receiving an indication that the mechanic32intends to begin servicing the elevator system. In one example, the preselected time period is equivalent to a normal work day and is on the order of eight or nine hours. This feature allows for addressing a situation in which a mechanic32manually actuates the switch34, for example, at the beginning of a service procedure and then leaves the site of the elevator system without resetting the switch34to indicate that the service procedure has been completed.

If there is an indication that the elevator system is in service and the preselected time period has not yet expired, then the remote elevator monitoring device26prevents remote control of elevator operation at50. In some examples, the indication will interrupt any ongoing remote control that may have started before a mechanic initiates a service procedure. In other words, the decision to prevent remote control of elevator operation can be made anytime that a mechanic initiates or is continuing with a service procedure regardless of the current status of the elevator system. In one example, the remote elevator monitoring device26filters out any command signals from a remote access device30that are received over the communication network28so that any such command signals will not have any affect on the operation of the elevator system.

InFIG. 2, if the time period has expired at48then remote control of elevator operation is allowable at52. This feature allows for restoring normal remote communications through the remote elevator monitoring device26after a sufficient time period during which an elevator mechanic would have completed servicing the elevator system or will have at least temporarily suspended the service procedure to return to work the next day. Of course, if the elevator mechanic returns the next day, the remote elevator monitoring device26will receive another indication from the mechanic that a service procedure is intended. At that point, the remote elevator monitoring device26will reset the timer for the preselected time period and prevent remote elevator system control for at least that time period unless the mechanic provides an indication that the service procedure has been completed prior to expiration of that time period.

In one example, the step shown at52includes limiting the number of remote control sources at a given time. For example, if one authorized source of remote control commands (e.g., the remote access device30) is controlling the elevator operation, the ability for another remote control device to control the elevator system is limited or prevented entirely. In some examples only one remote access device can be used at a time. In another example, only one remote access device issues commands but another can be used to monitor elevator system performance at that same time.

The example remote elevator monitoring device26maintains status information regarding the elevator system for controlling whether a remote access device is allowed to control an operation of the elevator system. Whenever the remote elevator monitoring device26determines that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic, the remote elevator monitoring device26prevents remote control over the elevator system.