Abstract:
Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a computing device comprising a processor, a handwriting input comprising a selection of a destination floor associated with an elevator system, determining, by the computing device, that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, presenting, by the computing device, a message that requests confirmation that the input selection is interpreted correctly based on determining that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, receiving, by the computing device, a response to the message that confirms the input selection, and causing, by the computing device, the elevator system to provide access to the destination floor based on the response.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    A passenger of an elevator system may request elevator service using a touch screen. The touch screen may need to support all the floors that are accessible to passengers. For example, if a building in which the elevator is located has sixty floors, the touch screen may be configured to enable a passenger to select any one of the sixty floors. Referring to  FIG. 1A , a touch screen  1  is shown. The touch screen may include a number of buttons  10 , each of which may correspond to floors of the elevator. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the buttons  10  are numbered one through twenty, which may correspond to the first twenty floors of the building. A slide or “next” button  12  may be provided, such that additional floors  10  may be accessible for selection on the touch screen  1  following a depression of the slide button  12 . For example, if a passenger presses the slide button  12  while floor numbers one through twenty  10  are displayed as shown in  FIG. 1A , following the depression of the slide button  12  a second set of floor numbers (e.g., floor numbers twenty-one through forty) may be displayed. In this manner, a passenger can cycle through all the floors to select a floor of interest using the slide button  12 . 
         [0002]    In some instances, the touch screen  1  may include buttons  10  for all the floors of the building on a single display screen, in lieu of providing the slide button  12 . Thus, if the building has sixty floors, sixty buttons  10  may be included in a single display screen. It may be difficult for a passenger with poor or degraded vision to see the identifiers on each of the sixty buttons  10 . Moreover, even assuming that the passenger can see such identifiers, the passenger&#39;s fingers may be too large relative to the dimensions of the buttons  10 , such that passengers may be prone to depressing an incorrect or unintended button  10 . 
         [0003]    If secure access is provided by the elevator system to a particular floor, a passenger may be required to correctly input an access credential on one or more input devices (e.g., a hall operation panel or car operation panel). It is often difficult for a passenger to enter such a credential using a touch screen (e.g., touch screen  1 ). 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An embodiment is directed to a method comprising: receiving, by a computing device comprising a processor, a handwriting input comprising a selection of a destination floor associated with an elevator system, determining, by the computing device, that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, presenting, by the computing device, a message that requests confirmation that the input selection is interpreted correctly based on determining that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, receiving, by the computing device, a response to the message that confirms the input selection, and causing, by the computing device, the elevator system to provide access to the destination floor based on the response. 
         [0005]    An embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising: at least one processor, and memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive a handwriting input comprising a selection of a destination floor associated with an elevator system, determine that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, present a message that requests confirmation that the input selection is interpreted correctly based on determining that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, receive a response to the message that confirms the input selection, and cause the elevator system to provide access to the destination floor based on the response. 
         [0006]    An embodiment is directed to a system comprising: an elevator configured to convey passengers to a plurality of floors within a building, wherein at least one of the floors is a secured floor, and a processing device configured to: receive a handwriting input comprising a selection of a destination floor included in the plurality of floors, determine that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, present a message that requests confirmation that the input selection is interpreted correctly based on determining that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, receive a response to the message that confirms the input selection, determine that the handwriting input selection corresponds to a secured floor based on the received response, request an access credential based on determining that the handwriting input selection corresponds to a secured floor, receive an access credential based on the request for the access credential, determine that the received access credential matches a stored access credential within a threshold, and cause the elevator to provide access to the destination floor based on determining that the received access credential matches the stored access credential within the threshold. 
         [0007]    Additional embodiments are described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a touch screen in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary computing system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary touch screen for entering a destination floor using handwriting; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary touch screen for confirming an entered destination floor; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary touch screen for receiving an access credential as a handwritten signature; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is an exemplary touch screen for receiving an access credential as a picture or pattern; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is an exemplary touch screen for receiving an access credential as a picture or pattern; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary touch screen for receiving an access credential as a word or character; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings (the contents of which are included in this disclosure by way of reference). It is noted that these connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. In this respect, a coupling between entities may refer to either a direct or an indirect connection. 
         [0019]    Exemplary embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for receiving input on a touch screen associated with an elevator. In some embodiments, the input may correspond to a handwriting that may be used to identify a destination floor or landing of interest. In some embodiments, the input may correspond to an access credential that, when input correctly, may provide access to a secure resource (e.g., a floor or landing of a building). 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , an exemplary computing system  100  is shown. The system  100  is shown as including a memory  102 . The memory  102  may store executable instructions. The executable instructions may be stored or organized in any manner and at any level of abstraction, such as in connection with one or more applications, processes, routines, procedures, methods, etc. As an example, at least a portion of the instructions are shown in  FIG. 1  as being associated with a first program  104   a  and a second program  104   b.    
         [0021]    The instructions stored in the memory  102  may be executed by one or more processors, such as a processor  106 . The processor  106  may be coupled to one or more input/output (I/O) devices  108 . In some embodiments, the I/O device(s)  108  may include one or more of a keyboard or keypad, a touchscreen or touch panel, a display screen, a microphone, a speaker, a mouse, a button, a remote control, a joystick, a printer, a telephone or mobile device (e.g., a smartphone), etc. The I/O device(s)  108  may be configured to provide an interface to allow a user to interact with the system  100 . 
         [0022]    As shown, the processor  106  may be coupled to a number ‘n’ of databases,  110 - 1 ,  110 - 2 , . . .  110 - n.  The databases  110  may be used to store data, such as information that may be used to identify one or more users or persons associated with the system  100 . In some embodiments, the data may include variations on one or more inputs (e.g., handwriting) that may be received at a device. In some embodiments, the data may include one or more stored access credentials that may be associated with a secure resource (e.g., a floor or landing of a building). In some embodiments, the stored access credential(s) may be compared to received access credential(s) to determine whether access to a secure resource should be granted. 
         [0023]    The system  100  is illustrative. In some embodiments, one or more of the entities may be optional. In some embodiments, additional entities not shown may be included. In some embodiments, the entities may be arranged or organized in a manner different from what is shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, in some embodiments, the memory  102  may be coupled to or combined with one or more of the databases  110 . 
         [0024]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a touch screen  200  in accordance with one or more embodiments is shown. The touch screen  200  may be implemented in connection with one or more components or devices, such as those described above in connection with the system  100 . 
         [0025]    The touch screen  200  may include a handwriting area or region  202  that may be used to receive an input that selects a destination floor for an elevator system. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the passenger has entered ‘ 25 ’ in the handwriting area  202 , which may correspond to a selection of floor number twenty-five. In some embodiments, the handwriting area  202  may consume more or less of the screen space relative to what is shown in  FIG. 2 . In other words,  FIG. 2  is not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         [0026]    In response to receiving the input ‘ 25 ’ in the handwriting area  202 , a device may process the input to determine which floor the entered input corresponds to. In some embodiments, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques may be used to perform such a determination. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in response to the input ‘ 25 ’ entered into the handwriting area  202 , a message  302  may be provided on the touchscreen  200  to confirm that the handwriting input was interpreted correctly. The passenger may have the option to select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ from the message  302  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the content of the message  302  may take a form different from what is shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, if the handwriting entered in the handwriting area  202  cannot be recognized a message may be displayed that reads, e.g., “input not recognized, please enter again.” In some embodiments, if the passenger enters a floor that, while recognized, is not available in the building (e.g., the passenger enters ‘ 89 ’ in the handwriting area  202  in a building that only has sixty floors), the message  302  may display “floor  89  is not available, please enter floor again.” Of course, other forms for the content of the message  302  may be used in some embodiments. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in response to the input ‘ 25 ’ entered into the handwriting area  202 , a message  402  may be provided on the touchscreen  200  to request and receive an access credential. For example, if floor number twenty-five is a secure floor, a passenger may need to enter an access credential to gain access to the floor using the elevator. The access credential may take one or more forms. In  FIG. 4 , the passenger may apply his/her signature in an area or region of the message  402 . Once the passenger enters his/her signature, a comparison may take place between the entered signature and a stored signature to determine if the signature matches within a threshold. If it does, the passenger may be granted access to floor number twenty-five. On the other hand, if the entered signature does not match the stored signature within the threshold, the passenger may be denied access to floor number twenty-five. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, an access credential may include one or more other forms. For example, in connection with  FIG. 5A  a potential passenger may be requested to draw or enter a picture or pattern (e.g., a ‘Z’ shape) in a region of a message  502  displayed on the touchscreen  200 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates a handwriting picture/pattern  552  (e.g., a ‘star’ shape) that may be entered. The entered picture/pattern may be compared to a stored picture/pattern to determine whether access rights to, e.g., floor number twenty-five should be granted. Much like the use of a signature in connection with  FIG. 4 , the comparison associated with  FIGS. 5A-5B  may be based on one or more thresholds. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 6 , the passenger may be requested to enter a word or sequence of characters in a region of a message  602  displayed on the touchscreen. The entered word/sequence of characters may be compared to a stored word/sequence of characters to determine whether access to floor number twenty-five should be granted. Much like the use of a signature in connection with  FIG. 4 , the comparison associated with  FIG. 6  may be based on one or more thresholds. 
         [0032]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , a flow chart of an exemplary method  700  is shown. The method  700  may be executed by one or more systems, components, or devices, such as those described herein (e.g., the system  100 ). The method  700  may be used to provide elevator service to a passenger with respect to one or more destination floors or landings. 
         [0033]    In block  702 , one or more inputs may be received. The input may be received by one or more devices. For example, the input may be received by a hall or car operation panel, a destination input device, or a user device associated with a potential passenger of an elevator system. The input may include handwriting entered on a touchscreen (e.g., touchscreen  200 ). The input may (attempt to) select a destination floor. 
         [0034]    In block  704 , a determination may be made whether the input of block  704  is recognizable. As part of block  704 , the input of block  702  may be compared to one or more stored versions of the input to determine whether the input of block  702  is within a threshold of the stored version(s) of the input. If the input is recognizable (e.g., the input of block  702  is within the threshold of the stored version of the input), flow may proceed from block  704  to block  706 . Otherwise, if the input is not recognizable (e.g., the input of block  702  is different from the stored version in an amount greater than the threshold), flow may proceed from block  704  to block  702 . 
         [0035]    In block  706 , a confirmation message (e.g., message  302 ) may be presented for the passenger to confirm that the input of block  702  has been correctly interpreted/recognized in block  704 . If the input was interpreted correctly, then flow may proceed from block  706  to block  708 . Otherwise, if the input was interpreted incorrectly, flow may proceed from block  706  to block  702 . 
         [0036]    In block  708 , a determination may be made whether the selected floor is a secure floor. If the selected floor is not a secure floor, flow may proceed from block  708  to block  710 . If the selected floor is a secure floor, flow may proceed from block  708  to block  712 . 
         [0037]    In block  710 , elevator service may be provided to the passenger. The elevator may take the passenger to the selected destination floor. 
         [0038]    In block  712 , one or more messages (e.g., messages  402 ,  502 ,  602 ) may be presented requesting the passenger to provide one or more access credentials. As part of block  712 , input may be received pertaining to the access credentials. As part of block  712 , a determination may be made whether the entered access credential corresponds to a stored access credential, potentially as a function of one or more thresholds. If the entered access credential corresponds to the stored access credential, flow may proceed from block  712  to block  710 . Otherwise, if the entered access credential does not correspond to the stored access credential, flow may proceed from block  712  to block  702 . 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, if, in block  712 , an entered access credential does not correspond to a stored access credential, flow may remain in block  712  to allow the passenger to “retry” entering the access credential. In such embodiments, a retry counter may be implemented to only allow the passenger to attempt re-entry of the access credential a number of times before access might be prohibited. 
         [0040]    The method  700  is illustrative. In some embodiments, one or more of the blocks or operations (or a portion thereof) may be optional. In some embodiments additional blocks or operations not shown may be included. In some embodiments, the blocks or operations (or a portion thereof) may execute in an order or sequence that is different from what is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0041]    As described herein, a passenger may enter handwriting on a touchscreen to select a destination floor for an elevator. Handwriting may be used to avoid a need for the passenger to: (a) scroll through a listing of candidate destination floors, or (b) select the destination floor from a single display screen, both of which can be difficult and time-consuming when the number of candidate destination floors is large. Embodiments may reduce the probability or likelihood of the passenger incorrectly entering a destination floor. Embodiments may make more efficient use of the space or real estate available on the touchscreen, which can result in a smaller form factor being used for the touchscreen or display device. Embodiments may be used to enhance or improve the security associated with a resource (e.g., a particular floor in a building), as verification of picture, pattern, and/or handwriting (e.g., signature, word, or character) inputs may be a robust solution for confirming that a particular passenger should be granted access to the resource. 
         [0042]    As described herein, in some embodiments various functions or acts may take place at a given location and/or in connection with the operation of one or more apparatuses, systems, or devices. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of a given function or act may be performed at a first device or location, and the remainder of the function or act may be performed at one or more additional devices or locations. 
         [0043]    Embodiments may be implemented using one or more technologies. In some embodiments, an apparatus or system may include one or more processors, and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus or system to perform one or more methodological acts as described herein. Various mechanical components known to those of skill in the art may be used in some embodiments. 
         [0044]    Embodiments may be implemented as one or more apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. In some embodiments, instructions may be stored on one or more computer-readable media, such as a transitory and/or non-transitory computer-readable medium. The instructions, when executed, may cause an entity (e.g., an apparatus or system) to perform one or more methodological acts as described herein. 
         [0045]    Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps described in conjunction with the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and that one or more steps illustrated may be optional.