A SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY COMMUNICATING VOICE AND DATA TO AND FROM AN ELEVATOR CONTROLLER

Abstract: A wireless communications system for use with an elevator system in a building includes a first transeiver connected to an elevator controller and a second transceiver located remotely within the building. The first and second transeivers each have antennas which allow wireless transmission of data between the transceivers. A building monitoring center is hard-wired to the second transceiver to allow personnel to monitor and interact with each elevator controller. A third transceiver and antenna are located outside of the building and are connected to a central monitoring station to allow remote mointoring and interaction with each elevator controller. The wireless communicatiosn system can be used with a network of elevators where each elevator has a unique electronic address to allow discreet wireless communications with a specific elevator.

Description: A SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY COMMUNICATING VOI CE AND DATA TO AND FROM AN ELEVATOR CONTROLLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field The present invention relates to an elevator system and, more particularly, to a wireless elevator communications system tor transmitting voices and operating data between an elevator and a monitoring center. 2. Background Art The practice of hard wiring together multiple elevator systems to form a communications system is known in the art. In buildings with multiple elevators, each elevator transmits its performance and operating data through hard wiring to a local monitoring center, which then compiles the data for on- site review or subsequent transmission to a central station capable ot monitoring elevators ot several buildings. Public phone lines are typicallv used to connect the local monitoring center with the central monitoring station. The current state ot the art creates a communications <=vstem bv har wiring together a network ot elevator systems, which can be impractical or impossible in some applications. In a building with multiple elevators, hard wiring the elevators to a local monitoring center is a difficult, cumbersome and expensive task which involves routing communication cables and wiring around or through obstacles such as floors and walls. When voice and data communications are transmitted between the monitoring center and the control station using public phone lines substantial use and maintenance expenses are incurred There is a need tor an elevator communications svstem that does not require expensive hard wiring in each building or the high cost associated with the extensive use and maintenance ot public phone lines m a network ot multiple elevator svstems in separate buildings DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object ot the present invention to provide a voice and data communications system that is easier and cheaper to install and use by eliminating the need tor hard wiring between elevators m separate buildings It is another object ot the present invention to provide a common monitoring station to simplify the monitoring, collecting, or changing of operating data for an array ot elevators According to the present invention, a wireless communications system tor use in a building with at least one electronically controlled elevator system includes a tirst transceiver attached to an electronic elevator controller and a second transceiver attached to a local monitoring center located in the building The tirst transceiver has a tirst antenna which transmits data to and trom a second antenna attached to the second transceiver The communications svstem ot the present invention may also include a second monitoring center ιn<ι a third transceiver which communicates with the second transceiver to enable monitoring ot the elevator trom outside ot the building The first transceiver has a unique electronic address allowing discreet communications between the elevator and monitoring center in a communication system with multiple elevators According to one embodiment ot the present invention, a mobile transceiver can be used with the communications network to allow emerςencv personnel to communicate trom a sate location with any ot the elevators withm the tunctional range ot the mobile transceiver According to another embodiment ot the present inv ention trαnsce ' Λ ers ot neighboring communications seems are used to link the sv stems in the event that a monitoring center tails One advantage ot the present inv ention is that hard wiring is no longer required to link multiple elevators in a single building. Operating data is transmitted between the elevators and a monitoring center using wireless transceivers. Another advantage ot the present invention is that hard wiring is no longer required to link elevator svstems m separate buildings The elevators are networked together using remote transceivers, thereby eliminating use ot some phone lines, reducing monthlv phone line expenses, and simphtving the installation ot the entire network These and other objects, features and adv ntage ot the present in ention Ά IU become more apparent in the light ot the following detailed description ot b st mode em Documents thereof as lilustrateα in the accompanv ing draw ings BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partially broken-awav schematic view ot an elevator svstem network, with a floor landing in a building shown having two elevator systems and a building communications system; Fie;. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the building communications svstem of Fig. 1 shown with a building monitoring center and controller transceivers; Fig. 3 is a schematic view ot an area communications svstem including; building monitoring centers linked to a central station via telephone line; Fig. 4 is a schematic view ot an area communications svstem similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that a wireless communication link is used between one of the building monitoring centers and the central station; and Fig. 5 is a schematic view of two adjacently located area communications svstems linked together via their building monitoring centers. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Fig. 1, an elevator system network 10 includes a plurahtv of elevator cars 12, each ot which is supported in a hoistwav 14. Each elevator car 12 is attached to a respective rope 16 with a motor IS driving each rope 16 to move each elevator car 12 independently between floor landings 20 ot the building. Each motor IS receives electronic direction and speed commands trom a controller 22 dedicated to each elevator. Each elevator hoistwav 14 has a hoistwav doorway opening 24 at the floor landing 20 for the ingress and egress ot passengers. The elevator cars 12 have car doorwavs 26 that cooperate with the hoistwav doorway openings 24. The elevator system network 10 also includes a building communications network 27 for wireless communications and monitoring of elevators therein, as can also be seen in Fig. 2. The building communications network 27 includes a controller transceiver 28 connected to a controller transceiver antenna 29 which is hard wired to one of the controllers 22 in the elevator system network 10. Each oi the controllers 22 in the building is connected to the controller transceiver 2S via a suitable hard wire, as indicated bv the letter W. The building communications network 27 also includes a building transceiver 30 with a building transceiver antenna 32. The building transceiver 30 is connected via telephone line 33 to a monitoring center 36 with a displav screen 38. Referring to Fig. 3, an area communications system 50 includes a central station 52, which communicates with the building transceivers 30. The central station 52 is hard wired to a central station transceiver 53 having an omnidirectional station transceiver antenna 54. Preferably, the hard wiring between the central station 52 and central station transceiver 53 is telephone line. The transceiver antenna 54 communicates with the building transceiver antennas 32 located in the network 50. A central station display screen 56 displays elevator operating data of any elevator in the area communications network 50. Referring to Fig. 4, an area communication svstem 60 includes a central station 52 which communicates which is linked via telephone line ol to building transceiver 62A. Building transceivers 62A, 62B and 62C are in wireless communication with each other using transceiver antennas 32, and anv ot the WO 01/53183 ft PCT/USOl/01985 building transceivers is reachable trom the central station 52 via the telephone line όlconnected between the building transceiver o2A and the central station 52. Referring to Fig 5, a wide area communication network 70 includes at least two adjacently located area communication svstems 60 For illustrative purposes, the building transceivers 62 have been labeled with the letters A through F, with building transceivers 62A, 62B and 62C belonging to one area communication system 60, and building transceivers 62D, 62E and 62F belonging to the adjacent area communication system 60. Each ot the two area communication systems 60 have their own central station 52 which is hard-wired to building transceivers 62A and 62F, respectively. Building transceivers 62C and 62D are located within operable wireless transmission range ot one another, as indicated by arrow 71, so that m the event that one of the central stations 52 fails or is inoperable tor some reason, the building transceivers ot the effected area communication system 60 can be reached via the central station 52 ot the adjacent communication system 60 A hand-held control unit 72 can communicate with any controller transceiver 2S it the control unit 72 is within its operable communication range ot the transceiver 2S In operation, the building communications netw rk 27 is used in a building having one or more elevator svstems, with each elevator svstem having a dedicated controller, as best seen in Fig 1 The controllers 22 are haid- wired together, and one ot the controllers is equipped with a transceiver 2S with a unique electronic address However, the embodiment ot Fig. 1 presumes that the elevators are situated such that a hard wire connection between the elevators is possible. In the alternative, each elevator can be configured with its own controller transceiver 28 and antenna 29 so that the building transceiver 30 can communicate with each elevator controller 22. The building monitoring center 36 is programmed with the electronic address of the transceiver 28 and is capable ot communicating with anv of the elevators in the network via the single transceiver 2S. In this manner, a maintenance or emergency worker can contact or monitor any specific elevator bv entering the electronic address tor the specific controller. After entering an electronic address, emergency or maintenance personnel view the display screen 38 to monitor or change operating data ot any of the elevators or communicate verbally with elevator occupants. Thus, the building monitoring center 36 is located m the building so as to provide emergency or maintenance personnel with a sate, convenient location to control, monitor or communicate with each elevator in the elevator system network 10. The area communications network 50 is formed with multiple building communication networks 27 located within an operable transceiving range of the central station 52, as best seen in Fig. 3. The operable transceiving range is a tune:, n ot the type or transceiv er u in the building communications netw orks 27. The central station 52 is programmed with the electronic addresses ot all transceivers 28 in the network 27 so that personnel can use the displa y screen 56 to enter the appropriate electronic address and interact, via the building transceivers 30, with a specific controller 22, or verbally communicate with α person in anv of the elevator cars The wireless communications are transmitted from the central station 52 to the building transceiver 30, and finally to a specific controller 22 via its associated controller transceiver 28. The area communications network 60 is similar to the area communications network 50, except that the central station 52 is hard wired to one ot the building transceivers 30 instead of using a wireless link. The remaining building transceivers 30 have wireless transceivers and communicate with the central station 52 via the building transceiver 30 with the hard wire link to the central station 52. The hand held unit 72 is used by maintenance or emergency personnel to interact with an elevator controller 22 as long as the unit 72 is withm its operable transceiving range. As long as the electronic address of an elevator is known, a communication link can be established with that elevator via its elevator controller 22. One advantage of the present invention is the reduction or elimination ot hard wiring or telephone lines to communicate between a control center and multiple elevators in a building. Remote antennas attached to controllers and monitoring centers allow two-wav wireless communications between the elevator controllers and building-monitoring center. Another advantage of the present invention is that costly phone line service is not required to link elevator systems ot separate buildings. The elevator svstems are remotely linked together by antenna, and a single telephone line linking a control station to one elevator provides communications between the control station and anv elevator in the network One tvpe ot transceiver that can be used as a controller transceiver 2S, a building transceiver 30, or a central station transceiver 53 is model WIT 2400 manufactured by Digital Wireless Communications, of Norcross, Georgia. This model transmits data in a 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is a known to be a noisv band because it is also used bv microwave ovens. The WIT 2400 avoids the noise problem by utilizing a proprietary form of direct sequence spread 5 spectrum technology, which transmits data between the transceivers in a random, rapidly changing sequence of frequencies. This technology ensures a robust communication link between transceivers that avoids interference or jamming. The 2.4 GHz frequency band also provides a secure, high bandwidth range to transmit data for distances up to one thousand meters (1000m). This 10 frequency band is unregulated in most countries across the globe, thus allowing for a nearly universal solution to wireless elevator communications. Although the preferred embodiment uses a WIT 2400 transceiver and operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, other types of transceivers can be used and can operate at other frequency bands. 15 While preferred embodiments have been shown and described above, various modifications and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the present invention is described in connection with an electrically-driven elevator, the system is equallv applicable to one that is driven hvdraulically. Further, the local ""0 monitoring center functions as described whether the building has one or multiple elevators because each elevator is programmed with a unique electronic address. Additionally, within an area densely populated with area communication networks, it may be beneficial to use directionallv sensitive building transceiver antennas to narrowly focus communications from the n 5 building communications network to the central station. Still further, the controller transceiver antenna may be positioned and mounted remotely from its associated transceiver to provide a clear path for communications between the building transceiver antenna and the controller transceiver antenna. Still even further, in lieu of a suitable telephone line to connect the central station to the central station transceiver, or to connect the building transceiver to the monitoring center, suitable wire can be routed to connect these components. In the alternative, hard wire connections such as phone line or suitable wire can be avoided altogether by using RF transmitters to communicate between the components. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Claims: We claim 1 An elevator communications svstem tor use with at least one elevator svstem having an electronic controller a building, said elevator communications svstem comprising a first wireless transceiving means attached to said electronic controller ot said elevator svstem tor receiving and transmitting ele ator data to and trom said controller, a second wireless transceiving means located within a transmission range ot said first transceiving means tor remotely communicating data to and trom said tirst transceiving means; and a monitoring center associated with said second transceiving means tor sending and receiving said data to and from said controller ot said elevator svstem via said first and second transceiving means 2 The elevator communications system ot claim 1 wherein said first transceiving means includes an antenna mounted remotely trom said first transceiving means tor receiving and transmitting said data 3 The elevator communications svstem ot claim 1 herein said tirst and second transceiv ing means transmit said data using a frequence hopping spread spectrum technique 4 The elevator communications system ot claim 1 wherein said first transce i v i ng means has a programmable electronic address for discrete wireless communication with said monitoπnσ center 5 The elevator communications s stem ot claim 1 further comprising a second elevator svstem hard wired to said at least one elevator system and i n communication with said first wireless transceiving means. 6. The elevator communications system ot claim 1 further comprising a central station positioned remotely trom said building for communicating said data to and trom said monitoring center. 7 The elevator communications system ot claim 6 wherein the central station is hard wired to said monitoring center S The elevator communications svstem ot claim b w herein the central station has a sa i d third transceiving means tor communicating wirelesslv with said second wireless transceiving means 9. The elevator communications system of claim 8 wherein said third transceiving means has an omni-directional antenna for communicating with said second transceiving means. 10. The elevator communications system oi claim 8 wherein said second transceiving means has a directionally sensitive antenna for focusing communications to and from said third transceiving means. 11. The elevator communications system of claim 1 further comprising: a hand held transceiving means for use within said transmission range for communicating data to and from said monitoring center. 12. An elevator communications system for use with at least one elevator system having a controller in a building, said elevator communications system comprising: a first wireless transceiving means attached to said controller for receiving and transmitting elevator data to and from said controller; a second wireless transceiving means located within a transmission range of said first transceiving means for remotely communicating said data to and from said first transceiving means; a monitoring center associated with said second transceiving means for transmitting and receiving said data to and from said controller; and a central station with a third transceiving means for transmitting and receiving data to and from said controller via said first and second transceivin means, said central station being located remotely from said building. 13. The elevator communications system of claim 12 wherein a second communications svstem in a second building is wirelessly linked to said with at least one elevator system via said first wireless transceiving means. 14. The elevator communications system of claim 12 further comprising: a hand held transceiving means for use within said transmission range for communicating data to and from said monitoring center. 15. An elevator system comprising: an elevator car and an electronic controller in a building; and a wireless communications system having a first wireiess transceiving means attached to said controller for receiving and transmitting elevator operating and performance data to and from said controller and a second wireless transceiving means located within said building in a transmission range of said first transceiving means for remotely communicating said data to and from said first transceiving means, said communications svstem further hav i ng a mon i toring center associated with said second transceiv i ng means for monitor i ng data from said electronic controller. 16. The elevator s y stem of claim 15, further comprising a central station having a third transceiving means for communicating with said second transce i v i ng means, said central station being located remotel y from sa i d building. 17 . The elevator system of claim 15, wherein said monitoring center can communicate with a monitoring center of an adjacently situated, second wireless communications system in a second buildin *g < -

Inventors: BLACKABY BARRY G, REMMERS TIMOTHY M, BLACKABY, BARRY, G., REMMERS, TIMOTHY, M.
Applicants: OTIS ELEVATOR CO, OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B66B1
IPC codes: B66B1, B66B5