Patent Publication Number: US-2017355556-A1

Title: System and method of initiating elevator service by entering an elevator call

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/074,178 filed Nov. 3, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety into the present disclosure. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is generally related to elevator systems and, more specifically, a system and method for initiating elevator service by entering an elevator call. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     Entering an elevator call from a location away from the elevator provides convenience to a user to allow an elevator car to be potentially ready once the user arrives at the elevator doors. Generally, initiating an elevator call remotely requires an inconvenient and cumbersome process of a user using a mobile device to scroll and/or input an appropriate source and destination landing; then, possibly confirming that the selections made are correct. There is therefore a need for a more intuitive, convenient, and faster method of initiating an elevator call. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     In one aspect, a system for initiating elevator service is provided. The system includes an elevator system and a call input device in communication with the elevator system, wherein the call input device includes a graphical user interface, and software configured to display a plurality of graphical objects on the graphical user interface a initiate an elevator call by selecting at least one of the plurality of graphical objects. In one embodiment, the call input device includes a mobile device. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a touch screen display. In one embodiment, the floor graphical object is moveable. In one embodiment, the software is configured to: initiate an elevator call by allowing a user to select a current floor graphical object and a destination floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical object, create at least one trip graphical object, and allow the user to select the at least one trip graphical object. In one embodiment, the current floor graphical object includes a suggested current floor graphical object. In one embodiment, the destination floor graphical object includes a suggested destination floor graphical object. In one embodiment, the at least one trip graphical object is based at least in part on selecting the destination floor graphical object and/or includes a suggested trip graphical object suggested by the call input device, and/or includes a return trip graphical object. 
     In one embodiment, the software is configured to detect the selection of the current floor graphical object by allowing the user to touch the current floor graphical object at least once with an object, and/or initiate a voice command with the call input device. In one embodiment, the software is configured to detect the selection of the destination floor graphical object by allowing the user to touch the destination floor graphical object at least once with an object, and/or move the current floor graphical object to overlay the destination floor graphical object. In one embodiment, the software is configured to detect the selection of the trip graphical object by allowing the user to touch the at least one trip graphical object at least once with an object, and/or initiate a voice command to select the at least one trip graphical object. 
     In one aspect, a method of initiating elevator service by entering an elevator call on a call input device operating a program including a plurality of graphical objects displayed on a graphical user interface is provided. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a touch screen display. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of graphical objects is moveable. 
     The method includes the steps of selecting a current floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects and selecting a destination floor graphical object from the plurality of graphical objects. In one embodiment, the current floor graphical object includes a suggested current floor graphical object selected by the call input device. In one embodiment, the destination floor graphical object includes a suggested destination floor graphical object selected by the call input device. In one embodiment, the method further includes the steps of creating at least one trip graphical object, and selecting the at least one trip graphical object. 
     In one embodiment, selecting the current floor graphical object includes designating a user&#39;s location at a source landing, and/or touching the current floor graphical object at least once with an object, and/or initiating a voice command with the call input device. 
     In one embodiment, selecting the destination floor graphical object includes designating a user&#39;s desired destination landing, and/or moving the current floor graphical object to overlay the destination floor graphical object, and/or touching the destination floor graphical object at least once with an object, and/or initiating a voice command with the call input device. 
     Other embodiments are also disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments and other features, advantages and disclosures contained herein, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for initiating elevator service; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic flow diagram of a method for initiating elevator service by initiating an elevator call; and 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  are schematic diagrams of a call input device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
       FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a system for initiating elevator service, generally indicated at  10 . The system  10  includes an elevator system  12  and a call input device  14  in communication with the elevator system  12 . In one embodiment, the call input device  14  includes a mobile device. It will be appreciated that the call input device  14  may be any mobile device specifically suited for this purpose, for example, a mobile telephone, tablet device, or any device capable of being carried by a person outside of a home to name a few non-limiting examples. It will be appreciated that a communication module (not shown) is located within each of the elevator system  12  and the call input device  14  to enable wireless communication between the elevator system  12  and the call input device  14 . The call input device  14  includes a processor  16 , memory  18 , and a graphical user interface  20 . In one embodiment, the graphical user interface  20  includes a touch screen display. A program stored in memory  18  operates to display a plurality of graphical objects  22  on the graphical user interface  20 . It will be appreciated that the plurality of graphical objects  22  need not fit on one page of the screen, and may occupy multiple pages on the display. It will also be appreciated that the plurality of graphical objects  22  may be on a current page and accessible via a scrolling action on the display. The program is further configured to initiate a call to the elevator system  12 , as described in the method of  FIG. 2 , by allowing a user to select at least one of the plurality of graphical object  22 . In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of graphical objects  22  includes a floor graphical object  24 . In one embodiment, the floor graphical object  24  is moveable. In one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of graphical objects  22  includes at least one trip graphical object  26 . 
     The system  10  additionally includes up-down call buttons (not shown) as are normally used for the input of traditional landing calls, and car call buttons inside the elevator car. Those passengers who have a call input device  14  use it to summon the elevator car to where the user is located and place a call to another landing. Other passengers give a landing call in the traditional manner by pressing the up-down call buttons and a car call via the car operating panel. 
     When a user carrying a call input device  14  initiates elevator service, the call input device  14  and the elevator system  12  establish a connection permitting data transfer. When the user initiates the call, by the method presented in  FIG. 2 , a communication cycle is started between the call input device  14  and the elevator system  12 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method  100  for initiating an elevator call using the system  10 . The method includes the step  102  of selecting a current floor graphical object  24  from the plurality of graphical objects  22 . In one embodiment, selecting the current floor graphical object  24  includes touching the current floor graphical object  24  at least once with an object (not shown). It will be appreciated that the object may include any object that may be detectable by the touchscreen display  20 , such as a finger or stylus to name two non-limiting examples. In one embodiment, selecting the current floor graphical object  24  includes initiating a voice command with the call input device  14  to select the current floor graphical object  24 . In one embodiment, the selected current floor graphical object  24  designates the source landing of the user. For example, the user operates the program on the call input device  14  to initiate an elevator call; the user selects the source floor in which the user is currently located. If the user is located on the fourth floor of a building, the user selects the floor graphical object  24  displayed on the graphical user interface  20  designating the fourth floor. It will be appreciated that the selected current floor graphical object  24  may designate a front or rear opening landing. For example, if the building has a front and rear landing on the fourth floor, and the user is located at the rear landing on the fourth floor, the user selects the floor graphical object  24  displayed on the graphical user interface  20  designating the fourth floor rear opening. In one embodiment, the program may suggest a current floor graphical object  24  for selection based at least in part on the user&#39;s travel history and/or anticipated travel. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3A , if the user typically initiates an elevator call from the first floor around 8 am, the program may suggest the current floor graphical object  24 A designated as the first landing by illuminating or shading the current floor graphical object  24 A in a different color to name a couple of non-limiting examples. Alternatively, the program may suggest the current floor graphical object  24 A based on the current floor graphical object  24 A being the user&#39;s prior destination landing. For example, if the user&#39;s prior destination was the first floor, the program may suggest the current floor graphical object  24 A designated as the first landing by illuminating or shading the current floor graphical object  24 A in a different color to name a couple of non-limiting examples. 
     After selection of the current floor graphical object  24 , the method proceeds to step  104  of selecting a destination floor graphical object  24  from the plurality of graphical objects  22 . In one embodiment, the selected destination floor graphical object  24  designates the desired destination landing of the user. In one embodiment, selecting the destination floor graphical object  24  includes moving the current floor graphical object  24  such that the current floor graphical object  24  overlays the desired destination floor graphical object  24 . For example, if the user desires to move from the fourth floor to the ninth floor, the user moves the current floor graphical object  24 D designated for the fourth floor until the current floor graphical object  24 D overlays the destination floor graphical object  241  designated for the ninth floor. It will be appreciated that the selected destination floor graphical object  24  may designate a front or rear opening landing. For example, if the building has a front and rear landing on the ninth floor, and the user desires to move from the fourth floor to the ninth rear landing, the user moves the current floor graphical object  24 D designated for the fourth floor until the current floor graphical object  24 D overlays the destination floor graphical object  24 J designated for the ninth rear landing. In one embodiment, selecting the destination floor graphical object  24  includes touching the destination floor graphical object  24  at least once with an object. In one embodiment, selecting the destination floor graphical object  24  includes initiating a voice command with the call input device  14 . In one embodiment, the program may suggest a destination floor graphical object  24  for selection based at least in part on the user&#39;s travel history and/or anticipated travel. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3B , if the user typically initiates an elevator call to travel to the first floor around 12 pm, the program may suggest the destination floor graphical object  24  designated as the first landing by illuminating or shading the destination floor graphical object  24  in a different color to name a couple of non-limiting examples. 
     The method  100  further includes the step  106  of selecting a trip graphical object  26  from the plurality of graphical objects  22 . After selection of the destination floor graphical object  24 , the program is configured to create at least one trip graphical object  26 . The at least one trip graphical object  26  stores the recent selections of the user to allow for quick access to the travel history of the user. For example, if the user selected a current floor graphical object  24 D designating the fourth floor and a destination floor graphical object  241  designating the ninth floor, the program creates a trip graphical object  26  designating travel in the up direction from the fourth floor to the ninth floor. It will be appreciated that the program may create a trip graphical object in the down direction if the source floor is higher than the desired destination landing. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one trip graphical object  26  includes a return trip graphical object. For example, if the user selected a current floor graphical object  24 D designating the fourth floor and a destination floor graphical object  241  designating the ninth floor, the program creates a return trip graphical object  26  designating the ninth floor as the source landing with a down direction call to the fourth floor as the desired destination landing. This allows the user to initiate a faster elevator call without the need to select a current floor graphical object and a destination floor graphical object. In one embodiment, the program may suggest a trip graphical object  26  for selection based at least in part on the user&#39;s travel history and/or anticipated travel. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3C , if the user typically initiates an elevator call to travel from the first floor to the fifth floor to begin the work day around 8 am, the program may suggest a trip graphical object  26  with an up direction travel from the landing designated as the first floor to the landing designated as the fifth floor. 
     It will be appreciated that a user may conveniently initiate elevator service from a call input device  14  by selecting a current floor graphical object  24  and a destination floor graphical object  24  from a plurality of graphical objects  22  displayed on a graphical user interface  20 . 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.