Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an information display system and an information display method for an elevator. The information display system and the information display method display information on an elevator such as an elevator or an escalator in a superposed manner by AR (virtual reality).

<CIT> discloses a solution in which lamps may be arranged in an elevator car to indicate whether a tenant is available or not.

Thus, it would be beneficial to alleviate at least some of these drawbacks.

According to at least some of the aspects, a solution is provided that enables better service for people working in an office and people visiting the office. Elevator call giving devices may be configured to provide data about the actual usage level of areas of a building to help to optimize traffic in the building. By providing floor occupancy information with elevator signalization devices of an elevator system, users can select their destination floor based on the occupancy information. Further, in an embodiment, a space may be reserved for the users according to their selection.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an elevator signalization apparatus. The elevator signalization apparatus comprises first receiving means for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building, the floor occupancy information indicating the level of occupancy at each floor of a plurality of floors of the building; output means for indicating the floor occupancy information to a user; second receiving means for receiving user associated information, the user associated information comprising a seat or a seat area selection in a specific floor of the building; and first transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to an elevator controller based on the user associated information, the control signal comprising floor information associated with the selected seat or seat area.

In an embodiment, the output means comprises at least one of a display, a touch-sensitive screen or a lighting arrangement.

In an embodiment, the output means are integrated with the second receiving means.

In an embodiment, the second receiving means are configured to identify the user based on the user associated information; and wherein the apparatus further comprises processing means for obtaining preference data based on the user identification and for filtering the floor occupancy information based on the preference data.

In an embodiment, the second receiving means are configured to identify the user based on the user associated information; and wherein the apparatus further comprises; and second transmitting means for transmitting user identification information to a floor occupancy information system; wherein the received floor information has been filtered based on the user identification information.

In an embodiment, the floor occupancy information system comprises an elevator controller or a floor occupancy monitoring system of the building.

In an embodiment, the second receiving means comprises at least one of a push button, a virtual button or gesture recognition means.

In an embodiment, the control signal comprises an elevator call.

In an embodiment, the elevator signalization apparatus further comprises third transmitting means for transmitting the seat area selection or the seat selection to a floor occupancy information system.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a controller of an elevator system. The controller comprises at least one processing unit; at least one memory; wherein the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed on the at least one processing unit, causes the controller to receive floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building, the floor occupancy information indicating the level of occupancy at each floor of a plurality of floors of the building; send the floor occupancy information to an elevator signalization apparatus; receive a control signal from the elevator signalization apparatus, the control signal comprising floor information associated with a selected seat or seat area; and control operation of an elevator car according to the control signal.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed on the at least one processing unit, causes the controller to receive user identification information from the elevator signalization apparatus; filter the floor information based on the user identification information; and send the filtered floor information to the elevator signalization apparatus.

According to a third aspect, there is provided an elevator system comprising the elevator signalization apparatus of the first aspect and the controller of the second aspect.

In an embodiment, the elevator signalization apparatus is arranged in at least one of an elevator car or an elevator lobby.

In an embodiment, the elevator signalization apparatus is a remote elevator signalization apparatus.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method for providing floor occupancy information. The method comprises receiving, by an elevator signalization apparatus, floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building, the floor occupancy information indicating the level of occupancy at each floor of a plurality of floors of the building; indicating, by the elevator signalization apparatus, floor occupancy information to a user; receiving, by the elevator signalization apparatus, user associated information, the user associated information comprising a seat or a seat area selection in a specific floor of the building; and transmitting, by the elevator signalization apparatus, a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information, the control signal comprising floor information associated with the selected seat or seat area.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises identifying the user based on the user associated information; obtaining preference data based on the user identification; and filtering the floor occupancy information based on the preference data.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises identifying the user based on the user associated information; and transmitting the user identification information to a floor occupancy information system, wherein the received floor occupancy information has been filtered based on the user identification information.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises transmitting the seat selection or seat area selection to a floor occupancy information system.

According to fifth aspect, there is provided a method for providing floor occupancy information. The method comprises receiving, by a controller, floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building, the floor occupancy information indicating the level of occupancy at each floor of a plurality of floors of the building; sending, by the controller, the floor occupancy information to an elevator signalization apparatus; receiving, by the controller, a control signal from the elevator signalization apparatus, the control signal comprising floor information associated with the selected seat or seat area; and controlling, by a controller, operation of an elevator car according to the control signal.

According to sixth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising program code, which when executed by at least one processing unit, causes the at least one processing unit to perform the method of the fourth or fifth aspect.

According to sixth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising a computer program comprising program code, which when executed by at least one processing unit, causes the at least one processing unit to perform the method of the fourth or fifth aspect.

The above discussed means may be implemented, for example, using at least one processor, at least one processor and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor, or at least one processor, at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and an input/output interface connected to the at least one processor.

<FIG> illustrates an elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment. The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may be a destination call panel located in an elevator lobby, a car call panel inside an elevator car or a remote call giving device, for example, a mobile device or a mobile phone operated by a user. The apparatus <NUM> may also comprise an application executed in it that enables elevator call signalization.

The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> comprises first receiving means <NUM> for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building. The floor information may be received, for example, from an elevator controller or a floor occupancy monitoring system. The floor information may indicate working spaces that are available in each floor of the building. Further, the floor information may comprise occupied working spaces. The received floor information may be data gathered, for example, by at least one of a sensor system, thermal cameras, laptop docking devices or a reservation system enabling radio frequency identification (RFID) at each working space or at lobbies of the floors.

The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> further comprises output means <NUM> for indicating the floor occupancy to guide a user based on the floor information. The output means <NUM> may comprise, for example, a display, a touch-sensitive screen or a lighting arrangement. The lighting arrangement may be configured to indicate the floor occupancy with light intensity or different colors, such as red light indicating that a floor is fully occupied, yellow indicating that there is only some space left and green indicating that the floor has plenty of free working spaces available.

Further, the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> comprises second receiving <NUM> means for receiving user associated information. The second receiving means <NUM> may comprise, for example, at least one push button, virtual button, a touch-sensitive screen and/or gesture recognition means. The user associated information may comprise, for example, a destination call or a car call. The user associated information comprises a seat area selection or a seat selection in a specific floor of the building. In an embodiment, the output means <NUM> may be integrated with the second receiving means <NUM>. For example, the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may be a destination call panel located in an elevator lobby. As an example, a touch-sensitive panel may provide both the output means <NUM> and the receiving means <NUM>. Further, in an embodiment, a user may select an available seat or seat area with a touch input and the selection serves also as a car call to the floor in which the selected seat is located.

The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> also comprises transmitting means <NUM> for transmitting a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information. In an embodiment, the control signal may comprise a floor selection from the user. In another embodiment, the control signal may additionally comprise information about a seat or seat area selection. This means that the user may be required to separately select a floor and a seat or seat area in this floor. In another example, if the elevator signalization device <NUM> is able to provide a seat arrangement for a floor, a selection of a specific seat from the user may cause transmission of a control signal that comprises only the floor associated with the selected seat or both the floor and an indication of the selected seat. In another example, the elevator signalization apparatus may further comprise third transmitting means for transmitting the seat selection to the floor occupancy system. This enables a solution where the elevator call and the seat selection may be performed at a single point (i.e. at the elevator signalization apparatus).

In an embodiment, the second receiving means are configured to identify the user based on the user associated information. The user identification may refer, for example, to facial recognition performed using a camera and associated face recognition software, an RFID reader based identification arranged in the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> or by an entrance door, or to a touch-sensitive display based solution via which the user may input his personal identifier, for example, a person identification number. The apparatus <NUM> may further comprise processing means for obtaining preference data based on the user identification and for filtering the floor occupancy information based on the preference data. Alternatively, user identification information may be transmitted to a floor occupancy information system, and the filtering is performed by the floor occupancy information system. The floor information received by the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> has been filtered based on the user identification information.

In an embodiment, the floor occupancy information provided to users may relate to floor occupancy data associated with a single company or multiple companies. As discussed above, the elevator signalization apparatus may be configured to identify the user. The identification may refer, for example, to facial recognition performed using a camera and associated face recognition software, an RFID reader arranged in the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> or by an entrance door, or to a touch-sensitive display via which the user may input his personal identifier, for example, a person identification number. Thus, when the user has been identified, only floor occupancy information that is associated with the company the user works for may be shown to the user.

In one embodiment, in response to user identification, for example, using facial or RFID recognition, the obtained preference data may be based on fixed or dynamic preferences. Fixed preference may refer, for example, to a specific seat or seat area that the user prefers. Dynamic preference may refer, for example, to preference data that changes upon time. In one example, machine learning may be used to learn patterns of a specific user. In another example, the dynamic preference may be based on social media data or to project data for which the user words. For example, people working for the same project can be directed to a certain floor and/or seat area.

Further, the floor occupancy situation in a building may significantly vary. For example, construction or renovation work may result in closure of one or more floors at a time. The floor occupancy system may be kept updated about these type of changes, and floors associated with the construction or renovation work may be excluded from the floor occupancy information. Similarly, in certain areas or cities, for example, London City, it may be more beneficial for a principal tenant renting office space to rent it onwards to a secondary tenant, for example, during summer time etc. In these situations the floor occupancy system may be kept updated about these type of changes.

<FIG> illustrates an elevator signalization apparatus 200A according to an embodiment. The elevator signalization apparatus 200A may, for example, be a destination call panel of an elevator or an elevator group.

The elevator signalization apparatus 200A comprises first receiving means for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building from a floor occupancy information system, output means 202A for indicating floor occupancy to guide a user decision based on the floor information and second receiving means 204A for receiving input from the user.

The output means 202A may comprise a display indicating the floor occupancy information to guide the user decision. As illustrated in <FIG>, the occupancy level of each floor may be indicated, for example, with bars, wherein striped sections may be used to indicate the level of occupied workspaces and blank sections may indicate the level of available workspaces. Thus, the user may be able to perceive the floor occupancy status of the building by a single glance. The lowermost bar in <FIG> represents a lobby floor. The two topmost bars may indicate restricted floors. The floors with no available workspaces may be also equipped with symbols and/or colors indicating non-availability.

The floor occupancy information of the building may be received by the first receiving means from an elevator controller. The first receiving means may refer to a receiver configured to receive information from the elevator controller. The elevator controller may have filtered the floor occupancy information sent to elevator signalization apparatus 200A. In one example, the filtering has been performed so that the operation of the elevator or the elevator group may be improved. Alternatively or additionally, the filtering may be based on other aspects, for example, associated with the building.

In another example, the filtering may have been performed based on user information. For example, the user may have been identified when approaching the elevator signalization apparatus 200A, and the elevator signalization apparatus 200A may have sent user information to the elevator controller or to a floor occupancy information system providing floor occupancy information. Thus, this means that the information provided by the display may be user dependent.

In an example, the first user in the morning may have selected to go to the floor <NUM>. The elevator controller may then filter the floor occupancy information so that it allures also next users to select the same floor, even though there may be plenty of room in each other floor of the building. In the exemplary illustration of floor occupancy in <FIG>, the floor occupancy information may be indicated such that the floors <NUM> to <NUM> are filled throughout the day. Floors <NUM> and <NUM> may be illustrated as restricted floors even though they may actually be completely empty and available. In other words, the floor occupancy information provided by the elevator signalization apparatus 200A may be used to guide the users to fill in the floors so that elevator traffic efficiency may be increased. As users are guided to the floors on a centralized basis, there may not be traffic to the top most floors during the day. This may also enable additional savings as lighting and air-conditioning can be kept off in the respective floors for the day. Other savings may be achieved from reduced cleaning expenses.

<FIG> illustrates an elevator signalization apparatus 200B according to another embodiment. The elevator signalization apparatus 200B may be a destination call panel with a touch-sensitive screen.

In <FIG>, output means 202B may comprise a touch-sensitive screen for indicating floor occupancy information to guide a user decision. For example, the output means 202B may indicate the number of available working spaces in conjunction with floor numbers of a building. In addition, by selecting the floor number from the touch sensitive screen 202B, the user may see a more detailed view of the floor occupancy, for example, as a layout of the floor (as illustrated in <FIG>) or by using other ways to provide floor occupancy information.

In addition, the elevator signalization apparatus 200B comprises second receiving means 204B for receiving an input from the user. The second receiving means 204B may comprise at least one push button or virtual button. In an embodiment, the second receiving means 204B may be integrated with the output means 202B. This means that the touch sensitive screen may act both as input means and as output means. As an example, the user may select a specific workspace he would like to reserve for the day. The selection of the workplace may simultaneously act as the input from the user, and in response to the user input the elevator signalization apparatus 200B may transmit a control signal to an elevator controller to make an elevator call to the respective floor of the reserved workplace with transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to the elevator controller (not shown in <FIG>).

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment. The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may be a remote call giving device, such as a mobile phone or other hand-held device. The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may execute an application with which a user is able to initiate elevator calls.

In <FIG>, the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> has received floor occupancy information associated with a building with first receiving means (not illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>), for example, with a wireless transceiver. The floor occupancy information is indicated by output means <NUM> which may be, for example, a touch-sensitive display of the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM>. The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> comprises also second receiving means <NUM> for receiving input from a user. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second receiving means <NUM> may be integrated with the output means <NUM>. The touch sensitive display <NUM> may further comprise an option section <NUM> with which the user may filter the floor occupancy information according to his preferences by providing an input to the second receiving means <NUM> via selection of one of the provided icons <NUM>.

Alternatively, or in addition, the floor occupancy information may be filtered automatically based on user information or user identification information prior to the floor information been sent to the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM>. Users may want to see the available working spaces according to their personal preferences or according to their needs for the day. For example, if the user has call conferences scheduled for the day, he may want to select a meeting room or a place near a soundproofed booth. In other examples, some users may prefer working next to social areas, in quiet spaces, next to a window or in group working areas. Thus, by enabling the possibility to filter the floor occupancy information provided by the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM>, the user may be able to make the most suitable elevator call to fit his needs.

Providing an indication of the floor occupancy to guide the user decision based on user preferences is further illustrated in <FIG>. The user may have selected filtering available workspaces suitable for having call conferences, as illustrated with framed phone icon <NUM>. In response to the selection, the output means may indicate the floor occupancy by removing the available working spaces without the possibility to have call conferences at the working space or nearby the working space.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the touch sensitive screen may show a different number of available spaces (bolded numbers) than in the unfiltered information shown in <FIG>, and the floor <NUM> may be removed from the available floors because the floor may not have any suitable workplaces to answer the needs of the user. The user may dispatch a floor call simply by selecting the floor in the occupancy section, or by separately confirming the floor call selection in order to cause the elevator signalization apparatus to transmit a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user input.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> according to another embodiment. The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may be, for example, a car call panel inside an elevator car.

The elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> comprises second receiving means <NUM> for receiving an input from a user. The second receiving means <NUM> may comprise at least one push button or virtual button. Output means of the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may comprise a display or a touch-sensitive screen as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>. Alternatively, the output means 402A, 402B may comprise a lighting arrangement. The output means 402A may be, for example, circulating the second receiving means <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Alternatively, the output means 402B may be located, for example, next to the second receiving means <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The lighting arrangement may comprise, for example, light emitting diodes (LED) configured to provide different colors in response to the floor occupancy information received with first receiving means (not shown in <FIG>, <FIG>). Hence, a user in the elevator car may be guided to provide an appropriate user input as the user is able to perceive the occupancy level of each floor at with a single glance.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the floor <NUM> may have red light, as illustrated with solid coloring, to indicate that the floor is fully occupied. Floors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may have another illustrative coloring, such as orange or yellow (illustrated with stripes), to indicate that there are some room left in the respective floors. Floor <NUM> may have green lighting circulating the button (<FIG>) or next to the button (<FIG>) to indicate that there are plenty of available working spaces in the floor. Although in one example the occupancy level of the floors is indicated as traffic lights for the users, also other indications may be used, such as the brightness of the lighting. In another example, only the buttons of floors with available workplaces may be visible to a user making a call.

The occupancy information corresponding to the reality may be provided to the users, or the occupancy information received from the elevator controller may be processed by the controller in such a way that the users are guided to fill in the floors efficiently. For example, the floor <NUM> may be illustrated as fully occupied even when it is completely empty. This enables that the users may be guided to fill in the available workspaces in a guided order for efficient usage of the flexible work spaces. For example, the elevator controller may have recognized that eight people has entered the elevator car. In response to this, the elevator controller may transmit floor occupancy information to the first receiving means of the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> so that the output means 402A, 403B of the elevator signalization apparatus <NUM> may induce the group inside the elevator car to choose the same floor with enough space for each arrival.

<FIG> illustrates a method for utilizing floor occupancy information associated with a building. The method may be performed by an elevator signalization apparatus, for example, a destination call panel located in an elevator lobby, a car call panel inside an elevator car or a remote call giving device, for example, a mobile device or a mobile phone operated by a user. The apparatus may also comprise an application executed in it that enables elevator call signalization.

At <NUM>, floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building is received. The floor information may be received, for example, from an elevator controller or a floor occupancy monitoring system associated with the building.

At <NUM>, the floor occupancy is indicated to a user. The floor occupancy may be indicated, for example, a display, a touch-sensitive screen or a lighting arrangement associated with the elevator signalization device.

At <NUM>, user associated information is received. The user associated information may comprise, for example, an input from the user. The input may be with, for example, at least one push button, virtual button, a touch-sensitive screen and/or gesture recognition means associated with the elevator signalization device. The input may comprise, for example, a destination call, a car call or a seat selection in a specific floor of the building. In another example, the user may be identified based on the user associated information. The user identification may refer, for example, to facial recognition performed using a camera and associated face recognition software, an RFID reader based identification arranged in an elevator signalization apparatus or by an entrance door, or to a touch-sensitive display based solution via which the user may input his personal identifier, for example, a person identification number.

At <NUM>, a control signal is transmitted to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information. The control signal may comprise a floor selection from the user. In another embodiment, the control signal may additionally comprise information about a seat or seat area selection.

<FIG> illustrates a method for controlling an elevator according to an embodiment. The method may be performed by an elevator controller of an elevator system.

At <NUM>, floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building is received. The floor information may be received from a floor occupancy information system. The floor occupancy information system may be an internal system of an elevator system or an external system connected to the elevator system.

At <NUM>, the floor information is sent to an elevator signalization apparatus. The elevator signalization apparatus may be, for example, a destination call panel located in an elevator lobby, a car call panel inside an elevator car or a remote call giving device, for example, a mobile device or a mobile phone operated by a user.

At <NUM>, a control signal is received from the elevator signalization apparatus. The control signal may comprise a floor selection from the user. In another embodiment, the control signal may additionally comprise information about a seat selection.

At <NUM>, operation of an elevator car is controlled according to the control signal. The control may comprise, for example, allocating an elevator car for the user. Additionally, if the control signal comprises a seat selection, the seat selection may be sent to the floor occupancy information system.

<FIG> illustrates a controller <NUM> of an elevator system according to an embodiment.

The controller <NUM> comprises at least one processor <NUM> and at least one memory <NUM>, the at least one memory <NUM> comprising program instructions which when executed by the at least one processor <NUM>, causes the controller <NUM> to receive floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building; send the floor occupancy information to an elevator signalization apparatus; receive a control signal from the elevator signalization apparatus; and control operation of an elevator car according to the control signal.

In an embodiment, the at least one memory <NUM> stores program instructions that, when executed on the at least one processing unit <NUM>, causes the controller <NUM> to receive user information; filter the floor information based on the user information; and send the filtered floor information to the elevator signalization apparatus.

The exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention can be included within any suitable device, for example, including, servers, workstations, capable of performing the processes of the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments may also store information relating to various processes described herein.

Example embodiments may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic. The example embodiments can store information relating to various methods described herein. This information can be stored in one or more memories, such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, and the like. One or more databases can store the information used to implement the example embodiments. The databases can be organized using data structures (e.g., records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, and the like) included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein. The methods described with respect to the example embodiments can include appropriate data structures for storing data collected and/or generated by the methods of the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments in one or more databases.

All or a portion of the example embodiments can be conveniently implemented using one or more general purpose processors, microprocessors, digital signal processors, micro-controllers, and the like, programmed according to the teachings of the example embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the computer and/or software art(s). Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinary skill based on the teachings of the example embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the software art. In addition, the example embodiments can be implemented by the preparation of application-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the electrical art(s). Thus, the examples are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and/or software. Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media, the examples can include software for controlling the components of the example embodiments, for driving the components of the example embodiments, for enabling the components of the example embodiments to interact with a human user, and the like. Such computer readable media further can include a computer program for performing all or a portion (if processing is distributed) of the processing performed in implementing the example embodiments. Computer code devices of the examples may include any suitable interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Java classes and applets, complete executable programs, and the like.

Claim 1:
An elevator signalization apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
first receiving means (<NUM>) for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building, the floor occupancy information indicating the level of occupancy at each floor of a plurality of floors of the building;
output means (<NUM>) for indicating the floor occupancy information to a user;
second receiving means (<NUM>) for receiving user associated information, the user associated information comprising a seat or a seat area selection in a specific floor of the building; and
first transmitting means (<NUM>) for transmitting a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information, the control signal comprising floor information associated with the selected seat or seat area.