Abstract:
A method for controlling a fixture ( 122 ) includes receiving a message from a controller ( 102 ), determining whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture ( 122 ), retrieving an identifier of the controller ( 102 ) from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture ( 122 ), determining whether the fixture ( 122 ) includes a fixture channel ( 204 ) controlled by the controller ( 102 ), and resetting a timer ( 203 ) associated with the fixture channel ( 204 ) controlled by the controller ( 102 ) responsive to determining that the fixture ( 122 ) includes the fixture channel ( 204 ) controlled by the controller ( 102 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to elevator and escalator systems, and more specifically, to methods and systems for controlling elevator and escalator systems. 
         [0002]    Elevator systems, for example, may include a plurality of elevator cars that service a number of floors in a structure. Each elevator car includes associated controllers or processors that may control the system. The system includes fixtures such as push buttons, visual indicators and audio indicators that may be located on each floor, in an elevator car, in a controller, and in a central location such as a machinery room or control room. Previous systems connected each fixture to the controllers independently using cables dedicated to each fixture or group of fixtures. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a fixture includes receiving a message from a controller, determining whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture, retrieving an identifier of the controller from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture, determining whether the fixture includes a fixture channel controlled by the controller, and resetting a timer associated with the fixture channel controlled by the controller responsive to determining that the fixture includes the fixture channel controlled by the controller. 
         [0004]    According to another embodiment of the present invention a fixture device includes a fixture channel operative to output a signal, a timer associated with the fixture channel, and a processor operative to receive a message from a controller, determine whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture, retrieve an identifier of the controller from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture, determine whether the fixture includes a fixture channel controlled by the controller, and reset a timer associated with the fixture channel controlled by the controller responsive to determining that the fixture includes the fixture channel controlled by the controller. 
         [0005]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention a control system includes a controller; and a fixture communicatively connected to the controller, the fixture including a fixture channel operative to output a signal, a timer associated with the fixture channel, and a processor operative to receive a message from the controller, determine whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture, retrieve an identifier of the controller from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture, determine whether the fixture includes a fixture channel controlled by the controller, and reset a timer associated with the fixture channel controlled by the controller responsive to determining that the fixture includes the fixture channel controlled by the controller. 
         [0006]    Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with the advantages and the features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an elevator system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of fixtures of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate block diagrams of exemplary methods for controlling the system of claim  1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates and exemplary embodiment of an elevator system  100 . The system  100  includes a group controller  102  that includes processors such as, for example, an elevator management system (EMS)  104  that may be used to monitor and/or control the system, a group control sub-system (GCSS)  106  that may control dispatching and a power supply  108 . The group controller  102  is communicatively connected to a bus  101 . In the illustrated embodiment, the system  100  includes three cars  110 , however other embodiments may include any number of cars  110  and associated hardware. Car controllers  112  are associated with each car  110  and are communicatively connected to the bus  101  and the associated car  110 . The car controllers  112  may include processors such as, for example, an operational control sub-system (OCSS)  114  that may perform car logic functions, a motion control sub system (MCSS)  116  that controls the motion of the cars  110 , and a safety system interface board (SSIB)  118 . A plurality of bridges  120  may be connected to the bus  101 . A plurality of fixtures such as, hall fixtures (HF)  122  and group fixtures (GF)  124  are connected to the bus  101  via the bridges  120  and are associated with the cars  110 . Hall fixtures  122  may include, for example, visual indicators such as lights or lanterns, audio indicators such as gongs or bells, and car position indicators. Group fixtures  124  may include, for example, buttons such as up and down buttons that may include visual indicators such as lights. Group fixtures  124  may also include, for example, keypad type input devices. Other similar fixtures may be located in the cars  110  and may operate in a similar manner. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of fixtures  122  and  124 . The fixtures  122  and  124  are similar, and include processors  202  that are operative to receive and send signals to the car controllers  112  and the group controller  102  (of  FIG. 1 ) via the bridge  120  and the bus  101 . Each of the fixtures  122  and  124  is assigned a unique identifier. The fixtures  122  and  124  include channels  204  that are assigned to logically control particular functions in the fixture. For example, the hall fixture  122  may include a visual indicator  206  connected to the channel I  204  and an audio indicator  208  connected to the channel II  204 , while the group fixture  124  may include an up button  210  connected to the channel I  204  (of the group fixture  124 ) and a down button  212  connected to the channel II  204  (of the group fixture  124 ). The processor  202  includes timers  203  that are associated with each channel  204 . 
         [0013]    In operation, a car controller  112  is designated as a master controller, for illustrative purposes, in this example, the car controller A  112  is initially the master controller. Any of the car controllers  112  may be designated as the master controller, and may transfer master control duties at any time, such as, for example, when a particular car  110  is removed from service. When a user presses the up button  210  in group fixture  124  to call a car  110 , the actuated group fixture  124  processes the button press and sends a message to the car controller A  112  via the bus  101 . The message includes the unique indicator of the group fixture  124  (fixture address) and data that notifies the car controller A  112  that the up button  210  has been actuated (i.e., that a channel, in this case the button, has changed states). The car controller A  112  may dispatch a car  110  to the floor associated with the group fixture  124 . When the car  110  arrives at the floor, the car controller A  112  may send a message that includes the unique identifier of the car controller A  112  (the controller address), the unique identifier of the hall fixture  122  on the floor (the fixture address), an indication that a state will change in a channel of the hall fixture  122  (a state change notification), and an instruction to change the state of the channel (a channel state instruction). In the illustrated example, the message may include an instruction to change the state of the audio indicator  208  (gong) and visual indicator  206  (lantern) channels  204  to sound the gong and light the lantern, thus notifying a user that the car has arrived. In the above example, the instructions to change the state of the channel may include binary signals that toggle an indicator on or off, or data that includes a position of a car  110  such as, for example, a floor number that may be displayed by a fixture. 
         [0014]    In the example discussed above, the car controller A  112  has been designated as the master controller, and the fixtures  122  and  124  perform logic that assigns control of each channel  204  to a particular controller. However, if the master controller changes, such as when the controller is removed from service for maintenance, it is desirable to update the control assignments of the channels. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate block diagrams of exemplary logic embodiments for assigning channel control in the fixtures  122  and  124  (of  FIG. 1 ). In this regard, referring to  FIG. 3 , a message from a controller  112  is received by a fixture  122  (or  124 ) in block  302 . In block  304 , the fixture  122  determines whether the message includes the fixture address associated with the receiving fixture  122 . If the message includes the fixture address associated with the receiving fixture, the message is processed to determine if the message includes a channel state change in a channel  204  (of  FIG. 2 ) of the fixture  122 . If the message includes a channel state change, in block  307 , the processor  202  in the fixture  122  outputs the channel state change to the device associated (or connected) to the channel  204  (i.e., updates the channel state). In block  308 , the processor  202  associates control of the updated channel with the controller  112  that sent the message. In block  310  the timers  203  that are associated with the updated channels  204  are reset. 
         [0016]    If in block  304 , the fixture  122  determines that the message does not include the fixture address associated with the receiving fixture  122 , the fixture determines whether the message includes an instruction to change a state of a channel in block  311 . For example, a position indicator fixture (or a number of position indicator fixtures) may receive a message indicating that the position indicator(s) should display a particular visual indication. The position indicator fixtures may process the message to determine and process a channel state change without the message being addressed to a particular fixture. If the message includes an instruction to change a state of a channel in the fixture, the message is processed in block  306  in a similar manner as discussed above. If the message does not include an instruction to change a state of a channel in the fixture, the controller address (of the sending controller  112 ) is retrieved from the message in block  312 . In block  314 , the processor  202  determines whether any of the channels  204  in the fixture  122  are assigned to the controller  112  that sent the message. If a channel  204  is assigned to the controller  112  that sent the message, the timer  203  associated with the channel  204  is reset in block  316 . In a similar manner, the controller may output periodic messages that do not cause the timers  203  to reset. In this regard, an example message that does not include the fixture address, and is not already associated with a channel of that fixture will not cause the timers  203  to reset. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , if a timer associated with a channel has expired in block  318 , the channel state of the associated channel  204  is reset to a default state by the processor  202  in block  320 . In block  322 , the channel control is disassociated (or unassigned) from the assigned controller  112 . For example, if a controller  112  is removed from service, the controller  112  will not send messages, and the timers  203  associated with channels  204  that are assigned to the controller  112  will expire. Once expired, the channels will be reset (e.g., audio indicating channels may be set to a default off state), and channel control will be disassociated from the out of service controller  112 . 
         [0018]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0019]    The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
         [0020]    The flow diagrams depicted herein are just one example. There may be many variations to this diagram or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
         [0021]    While the preferred embodiment to the invention had been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.