Patent Description:
A precise position and/or direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance systems, such as, for example, elevator systems, escalator systems, and moving walkways, may be difficult and/or costly to determine.

<CIT> describes an electronic speed detection system comprising an accelerometer coupled to a moving object and a hybrid altimeter. <CIT> describes a method for checking elevator operation through a WeChat platform. <CIT> describes a consumer control device and a method for actuating at least one consumer of an elevator.

According to an embodiment, a method of monitoring a direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

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

According to another embodiment, a method of monitoring a direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include determining a direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system in response to a rate of change in atmospheric pressure within the conveyance system proximate the conveyance apparatus.

Referring now to <FIG>, with continued referenced to <FIG>, a view of a sensor system <NUM> including a sensing apparatus <NUM> is illustrated, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM> and transmit the sensor data <NUM> to a remote device <NUM>. Sensor data <NUM> may include but is not limited to pressure data <NUM>, vibratory signatures (i.e., vibrations over a period of time) or accelerations <NUM> and derivatives or integrals of accelerations <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM>, such as, for example, distance, velocity, jerk, jounce, snap. etc. Sensor data <NUM> may also include light, sound, humidity, and temperature, or any other desired data parameter. The pressure data <NUM> may include atmospheric air pressure within the elevator shaft <NUM>. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. For example, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may be a single sensor or may be multiple separate sensors that are interconnected.

In an embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to transmit sensor data <NUM> that is raw and unprocessed to the controller <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM> for processing. In another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to process the sensor data <NUM> prior to transmitting the sensor data <NUM> to the controller <NUM> through a processing method, such as, for example, edge processing. In another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to transmit sensor data <NUM> that is raw and unprocessed to a remote system <NUM> for processing. In yet another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to process the sensor data <NUM> prior to transmitting the sensor data <NUM> to the remote device <NUM> through a processing method, such as, for example, edge processing.

The processing of the sensor data <NUM> may reveal data, such as, for example, a number of elevator door openings/closings, elevator door time, vibrations, vibratory signatures, a number of elevator rides, elevator ride performance, elevator flight time, probable car position (e.g. elevation, floor number), releveling events, rollbacks, elevator car <NUM> x, y acceleration at a position: (i.e., rail topology), elevator car <NUM> x, y vibration signatures at a position: (i.e., rail topology), door performance at a landing number, nudging event, vandalism events, emergency stops, etc..

The remote device <NUM> may be a computing device, such as, for example, a desktop, a cloud based computer, and/or a cloud based artificial intelligence (AI) computing system. The remote device <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 device <NUM> may also be two separate devices that are synced together, such as, for example, a cellular phone and a desktop computer synced over an internet connection.

The remote device <NUM> may be an electronic controller including 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. 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 but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium.

The sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to the controller <NUM> or the remote device <NUM> via short-range wireless protocols <NUM> and/or long-range wireless protocols <NUM>. Short-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (<NUM>. 11ah), zWave, ZigBee, or Wireless M-Bus. Using short-range wireless protocols <NUM>, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to directly to the controller <NUM> or to a local gateway device <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to the remote device <NUM> through a network <NUM> or to the controller <NUM>. The network <NUM> may be a computing network, such as, for example, a cloud computing network, cellular network, or any other computing network known to one of skill in the art. Using long-range wireless protocols <NUM>, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to the remote device <NUM> through a network <NUM>. Long-range wireless protocols <NUM> may include but are not limited to cellular, satellite, LTE (NB-IoT, CAT M1), LoRa, Satellite, Ingenu, or SigFox.

The sensing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including acceleration in any number of directions. In an embodiment, the sensing apparatus may detect sensor data <NUM> including accelerations <NUM> along three axis, an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis, as show in in <FIG>. The X axis may be perpendicular to the doors <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The Y axis may be parallel to the doors <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The Z axis may be aligned vertically parallel with the elevator shaft <NUM> and pull of gravity, as shown in <FIG>. The acceleration data <NUM> may reveal vibratory signatures generated along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis.

<FIG> shows a possible installation location of the sensing apparatus <NUM> within the elevator system <NUM>. The sensing apparatus <NUM> may include a magnet (not show) to removably attach to the elevator car <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment shown in <FIG>, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may be installed on the door hanger 104a and/or the door <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>. It is understood that the sensing apparatus <NUM> may also be installed in other locations other than the door hanger 104a and the door <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>. It is also understood that multiple sensing apparatus <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> to show various locations of the sensing apparatus <NUM> and the embodiments disclosed herein may include one or more sensing apparatus <NUM>. In another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may be attached to a door header 104e of a door <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM>. In another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may be located on a door header 104e proximate a top portion 104f of the elevator car <NUM>. In another embodiment, the sensing apparatus <NUM> is installed elsewhere on the elevator car <NUM>, such as, for example, directly on the door <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may be located on the elevator car <NUM> in the selected areas <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The doors <NUM> are operably connected to the door header 104e through a door hanger 104a located proximate a top portion 104b of the door <NUM>. The door hanger 104a includes guide wheels 104c that allow the door <NUM> to slide open and close along a guide rail 104d on the door header 104e. Advantageously, the door hanger 104a is an easy to access area to attach the sensing apparatus <NUM> because the door hanger 104a is accessible when the elevator car <NUM> is at landing <NUM> and the elevator door <NUM> is open. Thus, installation of the sensing apparatus <NUM> is possible without taking special measures to take control over the elevator car <NUM>. For example, the additional safety of an emergency door stop to hold the elevator door <NUM> open is not necessary as door <NUM> opening at landing <NUM> is a normal operation mode. The door hanger 104a also provides ample clearance for the sensing apparatus <NUM> during operation of the elevator car <NUM>, such as, for example, door <NUM> opening and closing. Due to the mounting location of the sensing apparatus <NUM> on the door hanger 104a, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may detect open and close motions (i.e., acceleration) of the door <NUM> of the elevator car <NUM> and a door at the landing <NUM>. Additionally mounting the sensing apparatus <NUM> on the hanger 104a allows for recording of a ride quality of the elevator car <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a block diagram of the sensing apparatus <NUM> of the sensing system of <FIG>. 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 sensing apparatus <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>, a plurality of sensors <NUM> in communication with the controller <NUM>, a communication module <NUM> in communication with the controller <NUM>, and a power source <NUM> electrically connected to the controller <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor <NUM> configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including accelerations <NUM> of the sensing apparatus <NUM> and the elevator car <NUM> when the sensing apparatus <NUM> is attached to the elevator car <NUM>. The IMU sensor <NUM> may be a sensor, such as, for example, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a similar sensor known to one of skill in the art. The accelerations <NUM> detected by the IMU sensor <NUM> may include accelerations <NUM> as well as derivatives or integrals of accelerations, such as, for example, velocity, jerk, jounce, snap. etc. The IMU sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM> of the sensing apparatus <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> includes a pressure sensor <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including pressure data <NUM>, such as, for example, atmospheric air pressure within the elevator shaft <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> may be a pressure altimeter or barometric altimeter in two non-limiting examples. The pressure sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> may also include additional sensors including but not limited to a light sensor <NUM>, a pressure sensor <NUM>, a microphone <NUM>, a humidity sensor <NUM>, and a temperature sensor <NUM>. The light sensor <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including light exposure. The light sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>. The microphone <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including audible sound and sound levels. The microphone <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>. The humidity sensor <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including humidity levels. The humidity sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> is configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including temperature levels. The temperature sensor <NUM> is in communication with the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> of the sensing apparatus <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, edge pre-processing or processing the sensor data <NUM> collected by the IMU sensor <NUM>, the light sensor <NUM>, the pressure sensor <NUM>, the microphone <NUM>, the humidity sensor <NUM>, and the temperature sensor <NUM>. In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may process the accelerations <NUM> and/or the pressure data <NUM> in order to determine a probable location of the elevator car <NUM>, discussed further below. 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 sensing apparatus <NUM> is configured to store and supply electrical power to the sensing apparatus <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 sensing apparatus <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 sensing apparatus <NUM> includes a communication module <NUM> configured to allow the controller <NUM> of the sensing apparatus <NUM> to communicate with the remote device <NUM> and/or controller <NUM> through at least one of short-range wireless protocols <NUM> and long-range wireless protocols <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the remote device <NUM> using short-range wireless protocols <NUM>, such as, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HaLow (<NUM>. 11ah), Wireless M-Bus, zWave, ZigBee, or other short-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art. Using short-range wireless protocols <NUM>, the communication module <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to a local gateway device <NUM> and the local gateway device <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to a remote device <NUM> through a network <NUM>, as described above. The communication module <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the remote device <NUM> using long-range wireless protocols <NUM>, such as for example, cellular, LTE (NB-IoT, CAT M1), LoRa, Ingenu, SigFox, Satellite, or other long-range wireless protocol known to one of skill in the art. Using long-range wireless protocols <NUM>, the communication module <NUM> is configured to transmit the sensor data <NUM> to a remote device <NUM> through a network <NUM>. In an embodiment, the short-range wireless protocol <NUM> is sub GHz Wireless M-Bus. In another embodiment, the long-range wireless protocol is SigFox. In another embodiment, the long-range wireless protocol is LTE NB-IoT or CAT M1 with <NUM> fallback.

The sensing apparatus <NUM> includes a location determination module <NUM> configured to determine a location (i.e., position) of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM>. The location of the elevator car <NUM> may be fixed locations along the elevator shaft <NUM>, such as for example, the landings <NUM> of the elevator shaft <NUM>. The locations may be equidistantly spaced apart along the elevator shaft <NUM> such as, for example, <NUM> meters or any other selected distance. Alternatively, the locations may be or intermittently spaced apart along the elevator shaft <NUM>.

The location determination module <NUM> may utilize various approaches to determine a location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM>. The location determination module <NUM> may be configured to determine a location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> using at least one of a pressure location determination module <NUM> and an acceleration location determination module <NUM>.

The acceleration location determination module <NUM> is configured to determine a distance traveled of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> in response to the acceleration of the elevator car <NUM> detected along the Y axis. The sensing apparatus <NUM> may detect an acceleration along the Y axis shown at <NUM> and may integrate the acceleration to get a velocity of the elevator car <NUM> at <NUM>. At <NUM>, the sensing apparatus <NUM> may also integrate the velocity of the elevator car <NUM> to determine a distance traveled by the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> during the acceleration <NUM> detected at <NUM>. The direction of travel of the elevator car <NUM> may also be determined in response to the acceleration <NUM> detected. The location determination module <NUM> may then determine the location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> in response to a starting location and a distance traveled away from that starting location. The starting location may be based upon tracking the past operation and/or movement of the elevator car <NUM>.

The pressure location determination module <NUM> is configured to detect an atmospheric air pressure within the elevator shaft <NUM> when the elevator car <NUM> is in motion and/or stationary using the pressure sensor <NUM>. The pressure detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> may be associated with a location (e.g., height, elevation) within the elevator shaft <NUM> through either a look up table or a calculation of altitude using the barometric pressure change in two non-limiting embodiments. The direction of travel of the elevator car <NUM> may also be determined in response to the change in pressure detected via the pressure data <NUM>. The pressure sensor <NUM> may need to periodically detect a baseline pressure to account for changes in atmospheric pressure due to local weather conditions. For example, this baseline pressure may need to be detected daily, hourly, or weekly in non-limiting embodiments. In some embodiments, the baseline pressure may be detected whenever the elevator car <NUM> is stationary, or at certain intervals when the elevator car <NUM> is stationary and/or at a known location. The acceleration of the elevator car <NUM> may also need to be detected to know when the elevator car <NUM> is stationary and then when the elevator car <NUM> is stationary the sensing apparatus <NUM> may need to be offset to compensate the sensor drift and environment drift.

In one embodiment, the pressure location determination module <NUM> may be used to verify and/or modify a location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> determined by the acceleration location determination module <NUM>. In another embodiment, the acceleration location determination module <NUM> may be used to verify and/or modify a location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> determined by the pressure location determination module <NUM>. In another embodiment, the pressure location determination module <NUM> may be prompted to determine a location of the elevator car <NUM> within the elevator shaft <NUM> in response to an acceleration detected by the IMU sensor <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, while referencing components of <FIG>. <FIG> shows a flow chart of a method <NUM> of monitoring a direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> and the conveyance apparatus is an elevator car <NUM>. In an embodiment, the method <NUM> may be performed by at least one of the sensing apparatus <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the remote device <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a height change of the conveyance apparatus within the conveyance system is detected. In an embodiment, the height change may be determined by detecting a change in atmospheric air pressure within the conveyance system. In an embodiment, a first atmospheric air pressure is detected within the conveyance system proximate the conveyance apparatus at a first time and a second atmospheric air pressure is detected within the conveyance system proximate the conveyance apparatus at a second time.

As discussed above, the atmospheric air pressure (e.g., the first atmospheric air pressure and the second atmospheric air pressure) may be detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> may be associated with a location (e.g., height) within the elevator shaft <NUM> through either a look up table or a calculation of altitude using the barometric pressure change in two non-limiting embodiments. In another embodiment, the pressure sensor <NUM> may need to periodically detect a baseline pressure to account for changes in atmospheric pressure due to local weather conditions or sensor drift. For example, this baseline pressure may need to be detected daily, hourly, or weekly in non-limiting embodiments.

A change in atmospheric air pressure proximate the conveyance apparatus is determined in response to the first atmospheric air pressure and the second atmospheric air pressure within the conveyance system, which may mean a change in height. A height change height change of a conveyance apparatus within the conveyance system between the first time and the second time may be determined in response to the change in atmospheric air pressure within the conveyance system proximate the conveyance apparatus.

Once a change in height has been detected, then a direction of motion (e.g., upward or downward) of the conveyance apparatus within the conveyance system may be determined in response to the change in height. The direction of motion of the conveyance apparatus is determined by blocks <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, changes in height over a period of time may indicate motion. The method may use an up(t<NUM>) function to indicate that the conveyance apparatus is moving up at a first time t<NUM> and a down(t<NUM>) function to indicate that the conveyance apparatus is moving down at a second time t<NUM>. It is understood that the first time t<NUM> may be equivalent to the second time t<NUM> (i.e., the same time) and the first time t<NUM> and the second time t<NUM> are illustrated as different time in <FIG> for ease of explanation so that they may appear separately in <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a change in height <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus over a period of time <NUM> is detected by a sensing apparatus <NUM> detecting a change in atmospheric pressure, as shown by line <NUM> in chart <NUM>. Vertical acceleration of the conveyance apparatus is also plotted on chart <NUM>, as shown by line <NUM>, for exemplary purposes. As shown by line <NUM>, the vertical acceleration of the conveyance apparatus may not always by correlated with vertical movement of the conveyance apparatus, as shown by line <NUM>, which may be due to various vibrations experience by the conveyance apparatus while stopped (e.g., doors <NUM> opening and closing, or passengers moving in and out, etc.). Thus, this is why it may be advantageous to utilize a detected pressure change to determine a change in height of the conveyance apparatus versus a detected vertical acceleration.

At block <NUM>, it is determined whether the height change is greater than a first selected height change Δh<NUM> between a first time t<NUM> and a first selected time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time t<NUM>. At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may utilize equation (i).

Where the h(t<NUM>) is the height of the conveyance apparatus at the first time t<NUM>, and the h(t<NUM>-ΔT<NUM>) is the height of the conveyance apparatus at the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time t<NUM>. In an embodiment, the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> may be five seconds and the first selected height change Δh<NUM> may be <NUM> meters (<NUM> feet). At block <NUM>, if the height change is greater than the first selected height change Δh<NUM> then the up(t<NUM>) function is true as shown by line <NUM> of <FIG> and the method <NUM> moves onto block <NUM> where it is determined that the height change was upward and then the method <NUM> may move to block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, if the height change is not greater than the first selected height change Δh<NUM> then the up(t<NUM>) function is not true (i.e., FALSE) and the method <NUM> moves onto block <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, an upward corrective value UCV1 is subtracted from the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> and the first time t<NUM> to shift the first selected time period ΔTP<NUM> and the first time t<NUM> into the past by the upward corrective value UCV1 because there may be a delay in detecting the upward movement of the conveyance apparatus and actual upward movement. The upward corrective value UCV1 shifts the true up(t<NUM>) function as shown by line <NUM> to line <NUM> of <FIG>. The upward corrective value UCV1 may be determined from close historical examination (e.g., experimentation) of the time delay in detecting the upward movement of the conveyance apparatus. In one embodiment, the upward corrective value UCV1 may be equal to three seconds.

The upward corrective value UCV1 is applied to the first time t<NUM> and the first time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time t<NUM> and it may be determined that the conveyance apparatus was moving in the upward direction in a time period between the first time t<NUM> minus the upward corrective value UCV1 and the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time t<NUM> minus the upward corrective value UCV1.

At block <NUM>, it is determined whether the height change is less than the first selected height change Δh<NUM> between a second time t<NUM> and a first selected time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the second time t<NUM>. At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may utilize equation (ii).

In an embodiment, the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> may be five seconds and the first selected height change Δh<NUM> may be <NUM> meters (<NUM> feet). At block <NUM>, if the height change is less than the first selected height change Δh<NUM> then the down(t<NUM>) function is true as shown by line <NUM> of <FIG> and the method <NUM> moves onto block <NUM> where it is determined that the height change was downward and then the method <NUM> may move to block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, if the height change is not less than the first selected height change Δh<NUM> then the down(t<NUM>) function not true (i.e., FALSE) and the method <NUM> moves onto block <NUM> to repeat the method <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, a downward corrective value DCV1 is subtracted from the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> and the second time t<NUM> to shift the first selected time period ΔTP<NUM> and the second time t<NUM> into the past by the downward corrective value DCV1 because there may be a delay in detecting the downward movement of the conveyance apparatus and actual downward movement. The downward corrective value DCV1 shifts the true down(t<NUM>) function as shown by line <NUM> to line <NUM> of <FIG>. The downward corrective value DCV1 may be determined from close historical examination (e.g., experimentation) of the time delay in detecting the downward movement of the conveyance apparatus. In one embodiment, the downward corrective value DCV1 may be equal to three seconds.

The downward corrective value DCV1 is applied to the first time t<NUM> and the first time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time t<NUM> and it may be determined that the conveyance apparatus was moving in the downward direction in a time period between the first time t<NUM> minus the downward corrective value DCV1 and the first selected time period ΔT<NUM> prior to the first time first time t<NUM> minus the downward corrective value DCV1.

For example, in one embodiment, it may be determined first whether the conveyance apparatus is moving in the upward direction (as shown in <FIG>), whereas in another embodiment it may be determined first whether the conveyance apparatus is moving in the downward direction, whereas in another embodiment it may be determined simultaneously whether the conveyance apparatus is moving in the upward direction or downward direction.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited.

Claim 1:
A method of monitoring a direction of motion of a conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) within a conveyance system (<NUM>), the method comprising:
detecting a first height at a first time;
detecting a second height at a first selected time period prior to the first time;
detecting a height change of a conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) within the conveyance system (<NUM>) in response to the first height and the second height;
determining whether the height change is greater than a first selected height change; and
determining that the conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) is moving in an upward direction when the height change is greater than the first selected height change;
characterized in that the method further comprises:
applying an upward corrective value to the first time and the first time period prior to the first time; and
determining that the conveyance apparatus (<NUM>) was moving in the upward direction in a time period between the first time minus the upward corrective value and the first selected time period prior to the first time minus the upward corrective value.