Patent Description:
Conveyance systems, such as, for example, elevator systems, escalator systems, moving walkways, metro systems (e.g., subway systems), train systems, conveyer systems, and production lines may need to communicate with other devices or systems in a wireless manner. Often, the available network signal strength varies as a conveyance system component moves along a travel path, such as vertically in an elevator hoistway. The available network signal strength can be too low for effective wireless communication at certain locations along the travel path.

<CIT> discloses a method of exchanging data between a sensor unit and a remote monitoring unit. Sensory data is transmitted to a first communications unit disposed on an elevator car when the car is in the vicinity of the sensor, stored in the first communications unit and transmitted from the first communications unit to a second communications unit which then transmits the data to the remote monitoring unit.

<CIT> discloses a cordless telephone system in which a portable cordless phone in communication with a fixed base station is able to have its calls handed off to a moving-conveyance base station in order to allow a user to continue to use the phone without interruption when boarding an elevator. A central switch controls this handing off of calls between base stations.

<CIT> discloses a wireless communication system according to the preamble of the independent claims, to enable radio-frequency (RF) signals to be transmitted from inside an enclosed (shielded) environment to outside of the environment. The system comprises a primary gateway to provide data to and from the enclosed environment.

According to an embodiment, a method for data transfer in a conveyance system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Some embodiments may include that conveying the data to a local gateway device further includes: saving the data to a memory of the mobile wireless access point; moving the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point to a location where the mobile wireless access point is within wireless range of a local gateway device; and transmitting the data from the memory of the mobile wireless access point to the local gateway device.

Some embodiments may include that the data is received from the communication node to the mobile wireless access point via short-range wireless protocol.

Some embodiments may include that the conveyance system is an elevator system and the conveyance apparatus is an elevator car.

Some embodiments may include that the local gateway device is configured to transmit the data to a remote system via long-range wireless protocol.

Some embodiments may include: saving the data to a memory of the mobile wireless access point.

According to another embodiment, a method for data transfer in a conveyance system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Some embodiments may include that conveying data from a local gateway device to a mobile wireless access point attached to a conveyance apparatus further includes: moving the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point to a location where the mobile wireless access point is within wireless range of a local gateway device; receiving the data from the local gateway device to the mobile wireless access point; and saving the data to a memory of the mobile wireless access point.

Some embodiments may include that the data is conveyed from local gateway device to the mobile wireless access point via short-range wireless protocol.

Some embodiments may include that the local gateway device is configured to receive the data from a remote system via long-range wireless protocol.

Some embodiments may include saving the data to a memory of the mobile wireless access point.

Some embodiments may include: moving the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point attached to the conveyance apparatus to a location where the mobile wireless access point is within wireless range of a communication node.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include creating a wireless data network utilizing mobile wireless access points located on conveyance apparatus configured to receive, store, and then transmit data outside of the building when in a selected location along a travel path of the conveyance apparatus.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an elevator system <NUM> including an elevator car <NUM>, a counterweight <NUM>, a tension member <NUM>, a guide rail <NUM>, a machine <NUM>, a position reference system <NUM>, and a system controller <NUM>.

The system controller <NUM> is located, as shown, in a controller room <NUM> of the elevator shaft <NUM> and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system <NUM>, and particularly the elevator car <NUM>. For example, the system controller <NUM> may provide drive signals to the machine <NUM> to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car <NUM>. The system controller <NUM> may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system <NUM> or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft <NUM> along guide rail <NUM>, the elevator car <NUM> may stop at one or more landings <NUM> as controlled by the system controller <NUM>. In one embodiment, the system controller <NUM> may be located remotely or in the cloud.

Such conveyance systems may include escalators systems, moving walkways, metro systems (e.g., subway systems), train systems, conveyer systems, production lines, people movers, etc. Accordingly, embodiments described herein are not limited to elevator systems, such as that shown in <FIG>. In one example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an elevator system <NUM> and a conveyance system component such as an elevator car <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>. In another example, embodiments disclosed herein may be applicable conveyance systems such as an escalator system and a conveyance system component such as a moving stair of the escalator system.

<FIG> is a view of a data network <NUM> including one or more mobile wireless access points <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The mobile wireless access point <NUM> may be a radio communication device capable of communicating via short-range wireless protocols <NUM> (e.g., BLE, Zwave, BT, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and IEEE <NUM>. <NUM> Sub-GHz). The mobile wireless access points <NUM> may also be capable of communicating via long-range wireless protocols <NUM> internally within a building but may be in a location within the building such that communication via long-range wireless protocols <NUM> to a device located outside of the building may be difficult. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile wireless access points <NUM> are each located on an elevator car <NUM> and are configured to move up and down throughout a respective hoistway <NUM> with the elevator car <NUM>. Alternatively, the wireless access point <NUM> can be located on another part of the elevator system <NUM> that moves through the hoistway <NUM>, such as, for example, the counterweight <NUM>. The mobile wireless access points <NUM> are configured to communicate via short-range wireless protocols <NUM> with communication nodes <NUM>, other mobile wireless access points <NUM>, and a local gateway device <NUM>. Additionally the data network <NUM> may include one or more stationary information buffers <NUM> that could be assist with moving data <NUM> from lower landings <NUM> to the higher landings <NUM> or in horizontal motion (i.e., act like a temporary buffer in systems that don't have continuous communication). The mobile wireless access points <NUM> are configured to transfer data <NUM> between the communication nodes <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM>, then the local gateway device <NUM> is configured to transmit the data <NUM> to a remote system <NUM> through a network <NUM> via long-range wireless protocol <NUM>. The local gateway device <NUM> may also receive data <NUM> from the remote system <NUM> through the network <NUM> via long-range protocol <NUM> and then the data <NUM> may be distributed to communication nodes <NUM> by the mobile wireless access points <NUM>. The network <NUM> may be a computing network, such as, for example, a cloud computing network, cellular network, satellite network, or any other computing network known to one of skill in the art. The network <NUM> may also be a computing network hardwired from the local gateway device <NUM> to the remote system <NUM>.

The communication nodes <NUM> may be low power devices with a limited wireless range <NUM>. The communication nodes <NUM> not be able to communicate wirelessly through building landings <NUM> due to the limited wireless range of the communication nodes <NUM>. The communication nodes <NUM> may be dedicated devices specifically for transferring data <NUM> to the mobile wireless access points <NUM> or may be dual devices that serve other functions in addition to transferring data <NUM> to the mobile wireless access points <NUM>, such as, for example, a thermostat, a smoke sensor, a CO detector, a CO<NUM> detector, The communication node <NUM> is configured to transmit data <NUM> to a mobile wireless access point <NUM> via short-range wireless protocol <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is located within the wireless range <NUM> of the communication node <NUM>. Short-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (<NUM>. 11ah), zWave, Zigbee, RFID, or Wireless M-Bus. The mobile wireless access point <NUM> may only be located within the wireless range <NUM> of the communication node <NUM> if the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is located on the same landing <NUM> of the communication node <NUM> (e.g., if the communication node <NUM> cannot transmit through landings <NUM> of the building.

The mobile wireless access points <NUM> may then save the data <NUM> within a memory <NUM> of the of the mobile wireless access points <NUM> and then transmit the data <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within a wireless range of the local gateway device <NUM>. The mobile wireless access point <NUM> may also transmit the data <NUM> to another wireless access point <NUM> if it would be more efficient for the other wireless access point <NUM> to carry the data <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM>. For example, if a wireless access point <NUM> on a first elevator car 103a was traveling downward and passing a wireless access point <NUM> on a second elevator car 103b travelling upward to the local gateway device <NUM> then the wireless access point <NUM> on the first elevator car 103a may transfer data <NUM> to the wireless access point <NUM> on the second elevator car 103b, so that the wireless access point <NUM> on the second elevator car 103b could convey the data <NUM> up to the local gateway device <NUM>.

The mobile wireless access point <NUM> may only be located within the wireless range of the local gateway device <NUM> if the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is located on the same landing <NUM> of the local gateway device <NUM> (e.g., if the mobile wireless access point <NUM> cannot transmit through landings <NUM> of the building). For example, if the mobile wireless access point <NUM> cannot transmit through landings <NUM> of the building and the local gateway device <NUM> is located on a top landing 125a then the mobile wireless access point <NUM> can only transmit data <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is on the top landing 125a.

In an embodiment, the mobile wireless access point <NUM> may be a passive rider of the elevator car <NUM> not having control of the movement of the elevator car <NUM>, thus the data transfer rate may be a subservient to and dependent upon the schedule of the elevator car <NUM>. In another embodiment, the mobile wireless access point <NUM> may be an active rider of the elevator car <NUM> configured to control the schedule and operation of the elevator car <NUM> to facilitate the transfer of data <NUM> between communication nodes and the local gateway device <NUM>, and then onto the remote system <NUM>. It is import to note that the process may also operate in reverse with data <NUM> being transferred from the remote system <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM>, to the mobile wireless access points <NUM>, and onto the communication nodes <NUM>, as illustrated by method <NUM> in <FIG>.

The remote system <NUM> may be a computing device, such as, for example, a desktop computer, server, cloud computer, etc. The remote system <NUM> may also be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a smartphone, PDA, smartwatch, tablet, laptop, etc. The remote system <NUM> may also be two or more separate devices that are synced together, such as, for example, a cellular phone and a desktop computer synced over an internet connection.

As mentioned above, short-range wireless protocols <NUM> facilitate communication: between communication nodes <NUM> and mobile wireless access points <NUM>; between a mobile wireless access point <NUM> and another mobile wireless access point <NUM>; and between the mobile wireless access points <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM>. Short-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (<NUM>. 11ah), zWave, Zigbee, RFID, or Wireless M-Bus.

As mentioned above, long-range wireless protocols <NUM> facilitate communication: between the local gateway device <NUM> and the network <NUM>; between the network <NUM> and the remote system <NUM>; and between the local gateway device <NUM> and the remote system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the local gateway device <NUM> may communicate directly with the remote system <NUM> via long-range wireless protocol <NUM>. Long-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to cellular, satellite, GSM, CDMA, LTE (NB-IoT, CAT M1), LoRa, Ingenu or SigFox.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagram of <FIG>, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile wireless access point <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, a short-range communication module <NUM> in communication with the controller <NUM>, and a power source <NUM> electrically connected to the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> and an associated memory <NUM> comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, cause the processor <NUM> to perform various operations, such as, for example, processing the data <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be but is not limited to a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory <NUM> may be a storage device, such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The power source <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is configured to store and supply electrical power to the mobile wireless access point <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may include an energy storage system, such as, for example, a battery system, capacitor, or other energy storage system known to one of skill in the art. The power source <NUM> may also generate electrical power for the mobile wireless access point <NUM>. The power source <NUM> may also include an energy generation or electricity harvesting system, such as, for example synchronous generator, induction generator, or other type of electrical generator known to one of skill in the art.

The mobile wireless access point <NUM> includes a short-range communication module <NUM> located within the mobile wireless access point <NUM>. The short-range communication module <NUM> is configured to allow the controller <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM> to communicate with the communication nodes <NUM>, other mobile wireless access points <NUM>, and the local gateway device <NUM> through short-range wireless protocols <NUM>. The short-range communication module <NUM> may consist of one or more wireless transceivers capable of transmitting/receiving data <NUM> to/from the local gateway device <NUM> and the nodes <NUM>. In an embodiment, the short-wave wireless protocol <NUM> for communication between the mobile wireless access point <NUM> and the communication nodes <NUM> may be different than the short-wave wireless protocol <NUM> for communication between the mobile wireless access point <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM>, and thus may require two different wireless transceivers within the short-range communication module <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, while referencing components of <FIG>. <FIG> shows a flow chart of a method <NUM> for data transfer in a conveyance system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment where the data <NUM> is saved onto a memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>, however in other embodiments the data <NUM> may not be saved onto the memory <NUM> but is rather the data <NUM> is transferred through the mobile wireless access point <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within range of both the communication node <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM>. At block <NUM>, a conveyance apparatus and a mobile wireless access point <NUM> attached to the conveyance apparatus are moved to a location where the mobile wireless access point is within wireless range of the communication node <NUM>. The mobile access point <NUM> including a memory <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, data <NUM> is received from a communication node <NUM> to the memory <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range <NUM> of the communication node <NUM>. The data <NUM> is received from the communication node <NUM> to the memory <NUM> via short-range wireless protocol <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the data <NUM> is conveyed to a local gateway device <NUM>. The data <NUM> may be conveyed to the local gateway device <NUM> by moving the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point <NUM> to a location where the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range of a local gateway device <NUM>; and transmitting the data <NUM> from the memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM>.

The data <NUM> may also be conveyed to the local gateway device <NUM> by transmitting the data <NUM> from the memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM> to a memory <NUM> of a second mobile wireless access point attached to a second conveyance apparatus. The second mobile wireless access point <NUM> is configured to transmit the data <NUM> from the memory <NUM> of the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM>. The second conveyance apparatus 103b and the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> may be moved to a location where the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range of a local gateway device <NUM> and the data <NUM> is then transmitted from the memory <NUM> of the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> to the local gateway device <NUM>. The conveyance system of method <NUM> may be an elevator system <NUM> and the conveyance apparatus may be an elevator car <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, while referencing components of <FIG>. <FIG> shows a flow chart of a method <NUM> for data transfer in a conveyance system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates an embodiment where the data <NUM> is saved onto a memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>, however in other embodiments the data <NUM> may not be saved onto the memory <NUM> but is rather the data <NUM> is transferred through the mobile wireless access point <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within range of both the communication node <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM>. At block <NUM>, data <NUM> is conveyed from a local gateway device <NUM> to a memory <NUM> of a mobile wireless access point <NUM> attached to a conveyance apparatus. The data <NUM> may be conveyed from a local gateway device <NUM> to a memory <NUM> of a mobile wireless access point <NUM> by moving the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point <NUM> to a location where the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range of a local gateway device <NUM>; and the data <NUM> from the local gateway device <NUM> is received to the memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>. The data <NUM> may be received from the local gateway device <NUM> to the memory <NUM> via short-range wireless protocol <NUM>.

The data <NUM> may be conveyed from a local gateway device <NUM> to a memory <NUM> of a mobile wireless access point <NUM> by receiving data <NUM> from the local gateway device <NUM> to a memory <NUM> of a second mobile wireless access point <NUM> attached to a second conveyance apparatus. The second mobile wireless access point <NUM> is configured to receive the data <NUM> from the local gateway device <NUM> to the memory <NUM> of the second mobile wireless access point <NUM>; move the second conveyance apparatus and the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> to a location where the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>; and transmit the data <NUM> from the memory <NUM> of the second mobile wireless access point <NUM> to the memory <NUM> of the mobile wireless access point <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the conveyance apparatus and the mobile wireless access point <NUM> attached to the conveyance apparatus are moved to a location where the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range <NUM> of a communication node <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the data <NUM> is transmitted from the memory <NUM> when the mobile wireless access point <NUM> is within wireless range <NUM> of the communication node <NUM>. The conveyance system of method <NUM> may be an elevator system <NUM> and the conveyance apparatus may be elevator car <NUM>. As mentioned above, the local gateway device <NUM> is configured to receive the data from a remote system <NUM> via long-range wireless protocol <NUM>.

As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as a processor <NUM> in mobile wireless access point <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method for data transfer in a conveyance system (<NUM>), the method comprising:
moving a conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) and a mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) attached to the conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) to a location where the mobile wireless access point is within wireless range of a communication node (<NUM>);
receiving data from the communication node (<NUM>) when the mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) is within wireless range of the communication node (<NUM>); and
conveying the data to a local gateway device (<NUM>);
characterized in that conveying the data to the local gateway device (<NUM>) comprises:
transmitting the data from the mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) to a second mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) attached to a second conveyance apparatus (103b);
moving the second conveyance apparatus (103b) and the second mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) to a location where the second mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) is within wireless range of the local gateway device (<NUM>); and
transmitting the data from the second mobile wireless access point (<NUM>) to the local gateway device (<NUM>).