Patent Publication Number: US-9403663-B2

Title: Managing remote control of an elevator system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Elevator systems often include a remote elevator monitoring device that communicates with other devices that are located at sites that are remote from the site of the elevator system, for example. Remote elevator monitoring devices provide information regarding elevator system operation or conditions to remotely located monitoring centers, for example. Remote elevator monitoring devices also often allow remotely located devices to provide command or control signals to the elevator system for purposes of controlling an operation of the elevator system. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary method of managing remote control of an elevator system includes preventing any source located remotely from a site of the elevator system from controlling an operation of the elevator system when there is an indication that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic. 
     An exemplary elevator system includes a remote elevator monitoring device that is configured to prevent any source located remotely from a site of the elevator system from controlling an operation of the elevator system when there is an indication that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic. 
     The various features and advantages of a disclosed example will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system designed according to an embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart diagram summarizing an example approach designed according to an embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows selected portions of an elevator system  20 . An elevator car  22  is situated for providing elevator service in a known manner. An elevator controller  24  controls movement of the elevator car  22 . 
     A remote elevator monitoring device  26  allows for communications over a communication network  28  between the elevator system  20  and remotely located devices such as the example remote access device  30 . The remote elevator monitoring device  26  provides information to such remotely located devices regarding various operating parameters or conditions of the elevator system  20 . Such remote elevator monitoring devices are known in the industry. 
     The example remote elevator monitoring device  26  is unique in that it controls whether the remote access device  30  is capable of communicating with the elevator system  20  to control an operation of the elevator system  20 . For example, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  selectively prevents any remote access device  30  from communicating a command to the elevator controller  24  to cause movement of the elevator car  22 . The remote elevator monitoring device  26  prevents such communication whenever there is an indication that an elevator mechanic  32  is servicing the elevator system  20 . It is desirable to limit any remote control over operation of the elevator system  20  when the mechanic  32  is conducting a service operation. 
     The example of  FIG. 1  includes a manual switch (MS)  34  associated with the remote elevator monitoring device  26 . The mechanic  32  manually actuates the switch  34  when the mechanic  32  is at the site of the elevator system  20  and intends to begin servicing the elevator system  20 . The remote elevator monitoring device  26  determines a condition of the switch  34 , which is associated with the remote elevator monitoring device  26 . In this example the switch  34  is at the same position as the remote elevator monitoring device  26 . When the switch  34  has been manually manipulated by the mechanic  32  into a position to provide an indication that a service operation is ongoing, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  determines that the elevator system  20  is being serviced by the mechanic  32 . In other words, the switch  34  is manually actuated by the mechanic  32  to provide an indication that there is an ongoing service procedure. 
     The example of  FIG. 1  also includes the ability to determine that a mechanic is serving the elevator system by detecting when the mechanic  32  has used a service tool  35  in a manner that is consistent with how the service tool  35  would be used during elevator service. In this example, a communication port (CP)  36  is configured to be connected with the servicing tool  35 . In other words, the mechanic  32  may manually plug in a connector between the servicing tool  35  and the communication port  36  to allow the mechanic to conduct various service operations. In this example, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  detects whenever there is a connection with a communication port  36  and uses that as an indication that a service procedure has begun. In one such example, even if the switch  34  has not been manually actuated, detecting a connection with the communication port  36  allows the remote elevator monitoring device  26  to determine that a service procedure is ongoing. 
     The example of  FIG. 1  also allows for the servicing tool  35  to be a communication device that wirelessly communicates with a transceiver  38  that is configured to receive such wireless communication signals. In this example, the transceiver  38  is associated with the remote elevator monitoring device  26  in a manner that allows it to use reception of a signal by the transceiver  38  as an indication that a mechanic is servicing the elevator system  20 . 
     Some examples will include only the manual switch  34  for providing an indication that a mechanic is servicing the elevator system. Other examples will include only the transceiver  38  or the communication port  36  for providing the indication that the elevator system is being serviced. Still other examples will include a combination of two or more of the manual switch  34 , the communication port  36  and the transceiver  38  to allow the remote elevator monitoring device  26  to determine when a mechanic is servicing the elevator system. 
       FIG. 2  includes a flow chart diagram  40  that summarizes an example approach to managing remote control over an elevator system. At  42 , a determination is made whether an elevator mechanic is servicing the elevator system. This determination is made by the remote elevator monitoring device  26 , for example. In  FIG. 2 , there is the possibility of making the determination that a mechanic is serving the elevator system by detecting whether a manual switch is actuated at  44 . Additionally, it is possible to detect the presence of a service tool at  46  by detecting wireless communications from such a service tool or detecting that such a service tool has been connected with a communication port of the elevator system, for example. 
     If there is an indication that an elevator mechanic is servicing the elevator system, a determination is made at  48  whether a preselected time period has expired. In this example, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  initiates a time period responsive to receiving an indication that the mechanic  32  intends to begin servicing the elevator system. In one example, the preselected time period is equivalent to a normal work day and is on the order of eight or nine hours. This feature allows for addressing a situation in which a mechanic  32  manually actuates the switch  34 , for example, at the beginning of a service procedure and then leaves the site of the elevator system without resetting the switch  34  to indicate that the service procedure has been completed. 
     If there is an indication that the elevator system is in service and the preselected time period has not yet expired, then the remote elevator monitoring device  26  prevents remote control of elevator operation at  50 . In some examples, the indication will interrupt any ongoing remote control that may have started before a mechanic initiates a service procedure. In other words, the decision to prevent remote control of elevator operation can be made anytime that a mechanic initiates or is continuing with a service procedure regardless of the current status of the elevator system. In one example, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  filters out any command signals from a remote access device  30  that are received over the communication network  28  so that any such command signals will not have any affect on the operation of the elevator system. 
     In  FIG. 2 , if the time period has expired at  48  then remote control of elevator operation is allowable at  52 . This feature allows for restoring normal remote communications through the remote elevator monitoring device  26  after a sufficient time period during which an elevator mechanic would have completed servicing the elevator system or will have at least temporarily suspended the service procedure to return to work the next day. Of course, if the elevator mechanic returns the next day, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  will receive another indication from the mechanic that a service procedure is intended. At that point, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  will reset the timer for the preselected time period and prevent remote elevator system control for at least that time period unless the mechanic provides an indication that the service procedure has been completed prior to expiration of that time period. 
     In one example, the step shown at  52  includes limiting the number of remote control sources at a given time. For example, if one authorized source of remote control commands (e.g., the remote access device  30 ) is controlling the elevator operation, the ability for another remote control device to control the elevator system is limited or prevented entirely. In some examples only one remote access device can be used at a time. In another example, only one remote access device issues commands but another can be used to monitor elevator system performance at that same time. 
     The example remote elevator monitoring device  26  maintains status information regarding the elevator system for controlling whether a remote access device is allowed to control an operation of the elevator system. Whenever the remote elevator monitoring device  26  determines that the elevator system is being serviced by a mechanic, the remote elevator monitoring device  26  prevents remote control over the elevator system. 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.