AUTO RANGE PROCESS FOR ELEVATOR WIRELESS NODE

A method of calibrating a beacon for an elevator call system including: determining when a calibrator mobile device is located at a desired distance away from the beacon on a specific landing, the beacon being associated with one or more specific elevator systems at a specific elevator bank on the specific landing; detecting a wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the calibrator mobile device when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance; and establishing the desired distance as a selected range of the beacon for locating a passenger device for an elevator call received from the passenger device. The elevator call system is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device detected to be within the selected range of the beacon to the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank on the specific landing.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevator systems, and specifically to a method and apparatus for generating elevator calls for elevator systems.

Elevator systems are typically only able to generate an elevator call based on an individual manually entering an elevator call on an elevator call button in a wall next to an elevator bank.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a method of calibrating a beacon for an elevator call system is provided. The method including: determining when a calibrator mobile device is located at a desired distance away from the beacon on a specific landing, the beacon being associated with one or more specific elevator systems at a specific elevator bank on the specific landing; detecting a wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the calibrator mobile device when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance; and establishing the desired distance as a selected range of the beacon for locating a passenger device for an elevator call received from the passenger device, wherein the elevator call system is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device detected to be within the selected range of the beacon to the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank on the specific landing.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to determining when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance away from the beacon on the specific landing, the method further include: instructing a calibrator to place the calibrator mobile device at the desired distance away from the beacon.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: adjusting a power of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon such that: the wireless signal is configured to not travel beyond the desired distance; or the wireless signal will be undetectable beyond the desired distance.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: detecting, using the communication device of the calibrator mobile device, a received signal strength indicator of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon; and establishing that the received signal strength indicator detected by the communication device at the desired distance as being a minimum received signal strength indicator for the beacon and any future received signal strength indicator from the beacon that is detected to be less than the minimum received signal strength indicator is to be ignored when assigning future elevator calls.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: transmitting an elevator call from an elevator call application on the passenger mobile device; detecting the wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the passenger mobile device; and assigning the elevator call to the one or more specific elevator systems.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: moving an elevator car of the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank to the specific landing to pick-up a passenger in possession of the passenger mobile device.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include placing the calibrator mobile device at the desired distance away from the beacon on the specific landing.

According to another embodiment, a beacon calibration system for calibrating a beacon of an elevator call system is provided. The beacon calibration system including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: determining when a calibrator mobile device is located at a desired distance away from the beacon on a specific landing, the beacon being associated with one or more specific elevator systems at a specific elevator bank on the specific landing; detecting a wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the calibrator mobile device when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance; and establishing the desired distance as a selected range of the beacon for locating a passenger device for an elevator call received from the passenger device, wherein an elevator call system is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device detected to be within the selected range of the beacon to the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank on the specific landing.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to determining when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance away from the beacon on the specific landing, the operations further include: instructing a calibrator to place the calibrator mobile device at the desired distance away from the beacon.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: adjusting a power of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon such that: the wireless signal is configured to not travel beyond the desired distance; or the wireless signal will be undetectable beyond the desired distance.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: detecting, using the communication device of the calibrator mobile device, a received signal strength indicator of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon; and establishing that the received signal strength indicator detected by the communication device at the desired distance as being a minimum received signal strength indicator for the beacon and any future received signal strength indicator from the beacon that is detected to be less than the minimum received signal strength indicator is to be ignored when assigning future elevator calls.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: transmitting an elevator call from an elevator call application on the passenger mobile device; detecting the wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the passenger mobile device; and assigning the elevator call to the one or more specific elevator systems.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: moving an elevator car of the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank to the specific landing to pick-up a passenger in possession of the passenger mobile device.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including: determining when a calibrator mobile device is located at a desired distance away from a beacon on a specific landing, the beacon being associated with one or more specific elevator systems at a specific elevator bank on the specific landing; detecting a wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the calibrator mobile device when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance; and establishing the desired distance as a selected range of the beacon for locating a passenger device for an elevator call received from the passenger device, wherein an elevator call system is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device detected to be within the selected range of the beacon to the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank on the specific landing.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that prior to determining when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance away from the beacon on the specific landing, the operations further include: instructing a calibrator to place the calibrator mobile device at the desired distance away from the beacon.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: adjusting a power of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon such that: the wireless signal is configured to not travel beyond the desired distance; or the wireless signal will be undetectable beyond the desired distance.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the establishing the desired distance as the selected range of the beacon for locating the passenger device for the elevator call received from the passenger device further includes: detecting, using the communication device of the calibrator mobile device, a received signal strength indicator of the wireless signal emitted by the beacon; and establishing that the received signal strength indicator detected by the communication device at the desired distance as being a minimum received signal strength indicator for the beacon and any future received signal strength indicator from the beacon that is detected to be less than the minimum received signal strength indicator is to be ignored when assigning future elevator calls.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: transmitting an elevator call from an elevator call application on the passenger mobile device; detecting the wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the passenger mobile device; and assigning the elevator call to the one or more specific elevator systems.

In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include moving an elevator car of the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank to the specific landing to pick-up a passenger in possession of the passenger mobile device.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include automatically calibrating the range of beacon (i.e., wireless node) for an elevator call system using a calibration application installed on a calibrator mobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Elevator systems are typically only able to generate an elevator call based on an individual manually entering an elevator call using a call button on a wall next to an elevator bank. Elevator calls may now be made through applications of mobile devices. The elevators calls may be made automatically by the application or entered manually into the application by an individual. When the elevator call is placed, a dispatcher of the elevator system would need to know where the individual is located in order to send an elevator car to pick up the individual. For example, the dispatcher would need to know what floor (i.e., landing) the individual is on and which elevator bank the individual is near in order to assign an elevator car of the correct elevator bank and send said elevator car to the correct landing. Previously, the elevator call buttons where on the wall next to the elevator bank and thus this was not an issue, but now with the ability to place elevator calls through mobile devices, knowing where to send elevator cars to pick-up passengers becomes more challenging. The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system and a method of configuring an elevator call system that uses beacons (i.e., wireless nodes) to properly locate an individual that has entered an elevator call and determine what elevator bank they will utilize and on what landing they will board the elevator system.

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 shaft117, 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 shaft117. 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 counterweight, 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 shaft117and 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 shaft117along 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 shaft117.

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 shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a linear motor or pinched wheel propulsion 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.

In other embodiments, the system comprises a conveyance system that moves passengers between floors and/or along a single floor. Such conveyance systems may include escalators, people movers, etc. Accordingly, embodiments described herein are not limited to elevator systems, such as that shown inFIG.1. In one example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an elevator system101and a conveyance apparatus of the conveyance system such as an elevator car103of the elevator system101. In another example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an escalator system and a conveyance apparatus of the conveyance system such as a moving stair of the escalator system.

The elevator system101also includes one or more elevator doors104. The elevator door104may be integrally attached to the elevator car103. There may also be an elevator door104located on a landing125of the elevator system101(seeFIG.2).

Referring now toFIG.2, with continued reference toFIG.1, an elevator call system200is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software.

The elevator call system200includes and/or is in wired or wireless communication with one or more beacons250(i.e., wireless nodes). It is understood that one beacon250is illustrated, the embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable to an elevator call system200having one or more beacons250. The beacon250may be configured to act as an extension of the building elevator system100by collecting data for the building elevator system101and transmitting elevator data to a dispatcher350of the building elevator system100. The beacon250is configured to emit a wireless signal290detectable by a passenger mobile device400of passenger190in order to determine a location of the passenger190. The wireless signal290may include location information390that helps identify where the beacon250is located and thus where the passenger190is located. The location information390may be readily understandable by an elevator call application450on the passenger mobile device400. Alternatively, the location information390may be readily translatable by the elevator call application450or the network232. For example, the location information390may be a data string that the elevator call application450translates or sends to the network232to translate into understandable location information. The location of the passenger190will help the dispatcher350determine what elevator bank112to utilize and what landing125to send the elevator car103.

As illustrated inFIG.2, a building elevator system100within a building102may include one or more individual elevator systems101organized in elevator banks112on a landings125(i.e., floor of the building102). It is understood that while a single elevator system101is illustrated in a single elevator bank112, the elevator bank112may comprise any number of elevator systems101and there may be one or more elevator banks112. The elevator system101illustrated inFIG.2may be a single deck elevator system (e.g., one elevator car) or a double-deck elevator system. The elevator system101ofFIG.2includes an elevator car103. The elevator car103may serve any number of landings125.

The landing125in the building102ofFIG.2may have an elevator call device89located proximate the elevator system101. The elevator call device89is configured to transmit an elevator call380to a dispatcher350of the building elevator system100. It should be appreciated that, although the dispatcher350is separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, the dispatcher350may be combined via hardware and/or software in the controller115or any other device. The elevator call380may include the source of the elevator call380. The elevator call device89may include a destination entry option that includes the destination of the elevator call380. The elevator call device89may be a push button and/or a touch screen and may be activated manually or automatically. For example, the elevator call380may be sent by the passenger190.

A passenger mobile device400is configured to transmit an elevator call380and the passenger190may be in possession of said passenger mobile device400to transmit the elevator call380. The passenger mobile device400may belong to the passenger190, such as, for example, a passenger or potential passenger of the elevator system101. The passenger190may utilize an elevator call application450through a passenger mobile device400to make an elevator call380or an elevator call380may be made automatically by the elevator call application450. The elevator call380sent from the elevator call application450may include identifier information382that indicates what passenger mobile device400and/or passenger190has transmitted the elevator call380. The elevator call application450may be installed on the passenger mobile device400or accessed via the network232, internet, or some other known portal through the passenger mobile device400, such as, for example a software-as-a service.

The passenger mobile device400may be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a smart watch, a tablet, a laptop, or any other mobile computing device known to one of skill in the art. In an embodiment, the passenger mobile device400is a smart phone.

The passenger mobile device400includes a controller410configured to control operations of the passenger mobile device400. The controller410may be an electronic controller including a processor430and an associated memory420comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor430, cause the processor430to perform various operations. The processor430may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory420may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The passenger mobile device400includes a communication device440configured to communicate with the WAP234or a beacon280through one or more wireless signals. The one or more wireless signals may include Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, HaLow (801.11ah), zWave, ZigBee, ultra-wideband, Wireless M-Bus, cellular, or any other short-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art.

The passenger mobile device400may include a display device480, such as for example a computer display, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a touchscreen of a smart phone, or any other similar display device known to one of the skill in the art. The passenger190operating the passenger mobile device400is able to view the elevator call application450through the display device480.

The passenger mobile device400includes an input device470configured to receive a manual input from the passenger190(e.g., human being) of mobile device400. The input device470may be a keyboard, a touch screen, a joystick, a knob, a touchpad, one or more physical buttons, a microphone configured to receive a voice command, a camera or sensor configured to receive a gesture command, an inertial measurement unit configured to detect a shake of the passenger mobile device400, or any similar input device known to one of skill in the art. The passenger190operating the passenger mobile device400is able to enter feedback into the elevator call application450through the input device470. The input device470allows the passenger190operating the passenger mobile device400to enter feedback into the elevator call application450via a manual input to input device470. For example, the passenger190may respond to a prompt on the display device480by entering a manual input via the input device470. In one example, the manual input may be a touch on the touchscreen or a voice command into the microphone. In an embodiment, the display device480and the input device470may be combined into a single device, such as, for example, a touchscreen. There may be more than one input devices470, such as, for example, a touchscreen, a microphone, and/or a physical button.

The passenger mobile device400device may also include a feedback device460. The feedback device460may activate in response to a manual input via the input device470. The feedback device460may be a haptic feedback vibration device and/or a speaker emitting a sound. The feedback device460device may activate to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device470was received via the elevator call application450. For example, the feedback device460device may activate by emitting an audible sound or vibrate the passenger mobile device400to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device470was received via the elevator call application450.

The passenger190may enter the elevator call380using a keypad, physical button, or touchscreen of the passenger mobile device400. The display device480may also act as a touch screen. The passenger190may also enter the elevator call380via a voice command that is received by a microphone of the passenger mobile device400.

The controller115is configured to control and coordinate operation of an elevator system101. The controller115may be an electronic controller including a processor152and an associated memory154comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor152, cause the processor152to perform various operations. The processor152may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory154may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The dispatcher350is configured to control and coordinate operation of one or more elevator systems101in one or more elevator banks112. The dispatcher350may be an electronic controller including a processor352and an associated memory354comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor352, cause the processor352to perform various operations. The processor352may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory354may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The controller115can be local, remote, cloud, etc. The dispatcher350may be local, remote, cloud, etc. The dispatcher350is in communication with the controller115of each elevator system101. The dispatcher350may be a ‘group’ software that is configured to control the elevator system101.

The dispatcher350is in communication with the elevator call device89of the building elevator system100. The dispatcher350is configured to receive the elevator call380transmitted from the elevator call device89, beacon250, and/or the passenger mobile device400. The dispatcher350is configured to manage the elevators calls380coming in from the elevator call device89, beacon250, and/or the passenger mobile device400then command one or more elevator systems101to respond to elevator call380.

The beacon250may be configured to emit a wireless signal290(i.e., advertisement) from a communication device280using short-range wireless protocols. Short-range wireless protocols may include, but not are limited to, Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, HaLow (801.11ah), zWave, ZigBee, Wireless M-Bus ultra-wideband, Wireless M-Bus, or any other short-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art. In an embodiment, the wireless signal290is a Bluetooth wireless signal. The wireless signal290may be emitted from the communication device280at a selected frequency within a selected range R1of the beacon250. The wireless signal290is detected by the passenger mobile device400once the passenger mobile device400is within the selected range of the beacon250.

Before, during and/or after the transmission of an elevator call380from the passenger mobile device400, the elevator call application450may command the communication device440to search for the wireless signal290of the beacon250that is nearest to the passenger mobile device400in order to identify what elevator bank112the passenger190will be using and what landing125the passenger190will be departing from. Once the passenger mobile device400detects the advertisement290then the elevator call application450may utilize the location information390and/or the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the wireless signal.

The elevator call application450may request and receive location information390from the beacon250identifying what landing125(i.e., floor) the beacon250is located on and what elevator bank112the beacon250is located near or what elevator bank112the beacon250belongs to. For example, the beacon250may be located at the front door of a building102and belong to an elevator bank112on the first floor / landing125on the other side of the building102.

The beacon250may be configured to transmit the location information390of the beacon250to the passenger mobile device400and then the passenger mobile device400is configured to transmit the location information390to the dispatcher350. Alternatively, the beacon250may be configured to receive identifier information382from the passenger mobile device400and transmit the location information390of the beacon250and the identifier information382to the dispatcher350.

There may be a beacon250located at or proximate the elevator bank112. It is understood that whileFIG.2illustrates a single beacon250located proximate the elevator bank112, the embodiments described herein are applicable to one or more beacons250located anywhere inside or outside the building102. For example, the beacons250may be located in a parking garage, parking lot, a lobby, a door, a hallway, a meeting room, a cafeteria, or any other possible location inside or outside of the building.

A beacon250may be located at the elevator bank112to confirm when the passenger190is proximate the elevator bank112, which may confirm that the individual intends to use the elevator system101.

The beacon250includes a processor252and an associated memory254including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor252, cause the processor252to perform various operations. The processor252may be but is not limited to a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory254may be a storage device such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The beacon250includes a communication device280configured to allow the beacon250emit the wireless signal290. The beacon may also be capable of communicating with the dispatcher350. The communication device280is capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the dispatcher350through a computer network232. The computer network232may be a cloud computing network or the internet. In another embodiment, the communication device280is capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the dispatcher350by communicating directly with the dispatcher350.

The communication device280may be connected to the dispatcher350through a wired connection. The communication device280may be connected to the call device89through a wired connection, and then the call device89may be connected to the dispatcher350through a wired connection.

The communication device280may alternatively communicate to the computer network232through a wireless access protocol device (WAP)234using short-range wireless protocols. Short-range wireless protocols may include, but not are limited to, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (801.11ah), zWave, ZigBee, ultra-wideband, Wireless M-Bus, or any other short-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art. Alternatively, the communication device280may communicate directly with the computer network232using long-range wireless protocols. Long-range wireless protocols may include, but are not limited to, cellular, LTE (NB-IoT, CAT M1), LoRa, satellite, Ingenu, or SigFox.

The communication device280may communicate to the dispatcher350through a WAP234using short-range wireless protocols. Alternatively, the communication device280may communicate directly with the dispatcher350using short-range wireless protocols.

The communication device280is configured to communicate with the passenger mobile device400using short-range wireless protocols. The communication device280may also be configured communicate with the passenger mobile device400through the WAP234or any other desired short-range wireless protocol.

Referring now toFIG.3, with continued reference toFIGS.1-2, a beacon calibration system500for the elevator call system200is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. The beacon calibration system500is illustrated with two beacons250including a first beacon250aand a second beacon250bbut it is understood that that the beacon calibration system500may work with any number of beacons250.

InFIG.3and the associated description, the first beacon250ais being calibrated or recalibrated by the calibrator790who is attempting to prevent overlap or control an amount of overlap between the first wireless signal290aof the first beacon250aand the second wireless signal290b(i.e., wireless signal) of the second beacon250b. The beacon calibration system500may be utilized upon initial installation of the elevator call system200and initial calibration of the beacons250or upon recalibration of one or more beacons250, where each may be referred to as a calibration of the one or more beacons250herein. The first beacon250amay be associated with one or more specific elevator systems101aat a specific elevator bank112aon a specific landing125a. The association of the first beacon250with the one or more specific elevator systems101aat the specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125amay be established by the calibrator790through a calibration application650. The association of the first beacon250with the one or more specific elevator systems101aat the specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125amay be saved in the calibration application650, the memory254of the first beacon250, the memory154, of the controller115, the memory354of the dispatcher350, and/or the network232. The association of the first beacon250with the one or more specific elevator systems101aat the specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125amay be referred to as the location information390ofFIG.2

The beacon calibration system500may include the components of the elevator call system200and the calibration application650operated through a calibrator mobile device600. The calibration application650may be installed on the calibrator mobile device600or accessed via the network232through the calibrator mobile device600, such as, for example a software-as-a service.

The calibrator mobile device600may be a similar mobile computing device as the passenger mobile device400. The calibrator mobile device600may be the same mobile computing device as the passenger mobile device400and the calibrator790may also be the passenger190. Alternatively, the calibrator mobile device600may be a different mobile computing device than the passenger mobile device400and the calibrator790may be a different person than the passenger190.

The calibrator mobile device600may be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a smart watch, a tablet, a laptop, or any other mobile computing device known to one of skill in the art. In an embodiment, the calibrator mobile device600is a smart phone.

The calibrator mobile device600includes a controller610configured to control operations of the calibrator mobile device600. The controller610may be an electronic controller including a processor630and an associated memory620comprising computer-executable instructions (i.e., computer program product) that, when executed by the processor630, cause the processor630to perform various operations. The processor630may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory620may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The calibrator mobile device600includes a communication device640configured to communicate with the WAP234or the beacon250through one or more wireless signals. The one or more wireless signals may include Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, HaLow (801.11ah), zWave, ZigBee, ultra-wideband, Wireless M-Bus, or any other short-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art.

The calibrator mobile device600may include a display device680, such as for example a computer display, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a touchscreen of a smart phone, or any other similar display device known to one of the skill in the art. The calibrator790operating the calibrator mobile device600is able to view the calibration application650through the display device680.

The calibrator mobile device600includes an input device670configured to receive a manual input from the calibrator790(e.g., human being) of mobile device600. The input device670may be a keyboard, a touch screen, a joystick, a knob, a touchpad, one or more physical buttons, a microphone configured to receive a voice command, a camera or sensor configured to receive a gesture command, an inertial measurement unit configured to detect a shake of the calibrator mobile device600, or any similar input device known to one of skill in the art. The calibrator790operating the calibrator mobile device600is able to enter feedback into the calibration application650through the input device670. The input device670allows the calibrator790operating the calibrator mobile device600to enter feedback into the calibration application650via a manual input to input device670. For example, the calibrator790may respond to a prompt on the display device680by entering a manual input via the input device670. In one example, the manual input may be a touch on the touchscreen or a voice command into the microphone. In an embodiment, the display device680and the input device670may be combined into a single device, such as, for example, a touchscreen. There may be more than one input devices670, such as, for example, a touchscreen, a microphone, and/or a physical button.

The calibrator mobile device600device may also include a feedback device660. The feedback device660may activate in response to a manual input via the input device670. The feedback device660may be a haptic feedback vibration device and/or a speaker emitting a sound. The feedback device660device may activate to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device670was received via the calibration application650. For example, the feedback device660device may activate by emitting an audible sound or vibrate the calibrator mobile device600to confirm that the manual input entered via the input device670was received via the calibration application650.

The calibration application650on the calibrator mobile device600may generate an alert to be displayed on the display device680when the wireless signal290of the beacon250is detected. The beacon250may be detected by the communication device630of the calibrator mobile device600.

During a calibration process of the elevator call system200, the selected range R1of each beacon250needs to be established. Advantageously, by establishing a selected range R1that is appropriate for a beacon250it will ensure that the “territory” desired for the beacon250is properly established so that any elevator call380made from a passenger mobile device400within the selected range R1of the beacon250will be identified with that beacon250. To avoid confusion with other beacons250, it is important that the selected range R1for a beacon250does not bleed into the selected range R1of another beacon or if the selected range R1does bleed into the selected range R1of another beacon250it does so minimally. This includes minimizing the bleeding of a beacon250on a landing125into different landings125where the beacon250is not located.

For example, the first selected range SR1of the first beacon250aneeds to be established so that it does not overlap with the second selected range SR2of the second beacon250. Advantageously, by establishing the first selected range SR1that is appropriate for the first beacon250ait will ensure that the “territory” desired for the first beacon250ais properly established so that any elevator call380made from a passenger mobile device400within the first selected range SR1of the first beacon250awill be identified with the first beacon250a.

In order to establish, the first select range SR1of the first beacon250a calibration process may be imitated through a calibration application650of a calibrator mobile device600. The calibration process may be initiated automatically by the calibration application650or manually by the calibrator790. For example, the calibration application650may instruct the calibrator790to stand with the calibrator mobile device600at a desired distance D1away from the first beacon250aat a particular time. The desired distance D1may be how far the calibrator790wants the first wireless signal290aof the first beacon250ato reach. The calibration application650may ask, through a visual command on the display device680or an audible command through the feedback device660, the calibrator790to confirm that they are at the desired distance D1away from the first beacon250using a manual input to the input device670. For example, the manual input may be a tap on the touch screen, a shake of the calibrator mobile device600, or voice confirmation.

The calibration application650may be configured to automatically establish the desired distance D1as the first selected range SR1. Alternatively, the calibrator790may establish the desired distance D1as the first selected range SR1through a manual input to the input device670. The calibration application650is configured to automatically establish the desired distance D1as the first selected range SR1by adjusting a power of the first wireless signal290aso that the first wireless signal290does not travel beyond the desired distance or will be undetectable beyond the first desired distance D1. Alternatively, the calibration application650is configured to automatically establish the desired distance D1as the first selected range SR1by identifying the RSSI detected by the communication device640at the desired distance D1as being the minimum RSSI for the first beacon250aand any RSSI of the first beacon250adetected below the minimum RSSI will be ignore by the calibration application650. Alternatively, the calibration application650is configured to automatically establish the desired distance D1as the first selected range SR1by adjusting a power of the first wireless signal290aand identifying the RSSI detected by the communication device640at the desired distance D1as being the minimum RSSI for the first beacon250a.

Referring now toFIG.4, while referencing components ofFIGS.1-3.FIG.4shows a flow chart of method800of calibrating a beacon250for an elevator call system200, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the method800is performed by the beacon calibration system500ofFIG.2. In an embodiment, the method800is performed by the calibration application650ofFIG.3.

At block804, it is determined when a calibrator mobile device600is located at a desired distance D1away from the beacon250on a specific landing125a. The beacon250being associated with one or more specific elevator systems101aat a specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125a.

At block806, a wireless signal emitted by the beacon250is detected using a communication device640of the calibrator mobile device600when the calibrator mobile device600is located at the desired distance D1.

At block808, the desired distance is established as the selected range R1of the beacon250for locating a passenger device400for an elevator call380received from the passenger device400. An elevator call system200is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device400detected to be within the selected range R1of the beacon250to the one or more specific elevator systems101aat the specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125a.

The desired distance D1may be established as the selected range R1of the beacon250for locating the passenger device400for the elevator call380received from the passenger device400by adjusting a power of the wireless signal emitted290by the beacon250such that the wireless signal290is configured to not travel beyond the desired distance D1or the wireless signal290will be undetectable beyond the desired distance D1.

The desired distance D1may be established as the selected range R1of the beacon250for locating the passenger device400for the elevator call380received from the passenger device400by detecting, using a communication device640of the calibrator mobile device600, a RSSI of the wireless signal290emitted by the beacon250. Then it may be established that the RSSI detected by the communication device640at the desired distance D1as being a minimum RSSI for the beacon250and any future RSSI from the beacon250that is detected to be less than the minimum RSSI is to be ignored when assigning future elevator calls380.

The method800may further include that the beacon250is associated with the one or more specific elevator systems101aat the specific elevator bank112aon the specific landing125a.

Prior to block804, the method800may include that a calibrator790is instructed to place the calibrator mobile device600with the calibration application650at the desired distance D1away from the beacon250. The calibrator790may be instructed via a message display on a display device680of the calibrator mobile device600or through a message audibly emitted through a feedback device660of the calibrator mobile device600.

The method800may also include that the calibrator790places the calibrator mobile device600at the desired distance D1away from the beacon250on the specific landing125a. The calibrator790may place the calibrator mobile device600at the desired distance D1away from the beacon250on the specific landing125aprior to block804.

Once the beacon250is calibrated, the method800may further include a testing phase or a passenger use phase including the following steps. An elevator call380is transmitted from an elevator call application450on the passenger mobile device400, the wireless signal290emitted by the beacon250using a communication device440of the passenger mobile device400, and then the elevator call380is assigned to the one or more specific elevator systems101a. The method800may then move an elevator car103of the one or more specific elevator systems101at the specific elevator bank112ato the specific landing125ato pick-up a passenger190in possession of the passenger mobile device400.

While the above description has described the flow process ofFIG.4in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code (e.g., computer program product) containing instructions embodied in tangible media (e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium), such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an device for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

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.