Patent Description:
Advances in technology have allowed for elevator systems to become more sophisticated or versatile. For example, destination entry systems allow passengers to enter an intended destination prior to entering an elevator car. An elevator dispatch controller determines which elevator car will most efficiently service each such request and assigns an elevator car for each passenger. The car assignment process usually includes considering whether sufficient room is available in a candidate car based on the number of passengers assigned to that car. Once a suitable car is identified, there are various known techniques to notify the passenger which car has been assigned to travel to the intended destination.

One challenge associated with destination entry systems is that not every individual desiring service will place a call. Instead, for example, if several people intend to travel together in an elevator car oftentimes only one of them will place the call. The dispatch controller typically does not have the ability to determine whether additional passengers will accompany the individual who placed the call. There may not be adequate room on an elevator car that is assigned to several passengers when, in reality, several more intend to board that car. This scenario is particularly challenging in peak traffic situations when many people desire elevator service at or around the same time and passengers may be frustrated that the assigned car fills up before they are able to board.

<CIT> discloses a system and method of assigning an elevator car of an elevator system based on an adjustment parameter, wherein the adjustment parameter includes at least a person to call ratio.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a device is provided according to claim <NUM>.

In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the number of passengers based on the indication from the sound detector indicating a number of unique voice signatures detected by the sound detector, or a number of directions from which voices were detected by the sound detector, or both of the number of unique voice signatures and the number of directions.

In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the number of passengers by interpreting words spoken by at least one of the number of passengers after the call is placed.

In some examples, the words spoken indicate a desire to be included as one of the number of passengers associated with the call.

In some examples, the device includes a dispatch controller configured to assign at least one elevator car to the call, the processor communicates the number of passengers associated with the call to the dispatch controller, and the dispatch controller performs at least one function in response to the number of passengers communicated by the processor.

In some examples, the at least one function comprises at least: determining a number of elevator cars needed to carry the number of passengers in the intended direction or to the intended destination, adjusting a number of elevator cars assigned to arrive at a landing where the number of passengers are expected to board an elevator car, including the number of passengers within an expected number of passengers on an elevator car assigned to the call, or communicating with the processor to cause the elevator passenger interface to provide a notification to the number of passengers that less than all of the number of passengers can be associated with the call.

In some examples, the notification includes instructions to separately enter a call for each of the number of passengers.

In some examples, the processor is configured to determine the number of detected voices between a time that the call is received and occurrence of a preselected event; and the preselected event is one of expiration of specified time period that began when the call was received, another call being received by the passenger interface, an assigned elevator car arriving in response to the call, or the passenger interface providing a response regarding the call.

In some examples, the elevator passenger interface is inside an elevator car, and the processor determines a number of passengers on the elevator car based at least in part on the number of voices detected by the sound detector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a call for elevator service is provided according to claim <NUM>.

In some examples, determining the number of passengers comprises determining from the indication regarding voice detection a detected number of unique voice signatures, or a number of directions from which voices were detected by the sound detector, or both of the number of unique voice signatures and the number of directions.

In some examples, determining the number of passengers comprises interpreting words spoken by at least one of the number of passengers after receiving the call.

In some examples, the method includes assigning at least one elevator car to the call and performing at least one function in response to the determined number of passengers.

In some examples, the at least one function comprises at least: determining a number of elevator cars needed to carry the number of passengers in the intended direction or to the intended destination, adjusting a number of elevator cars assigned to arrive at a landing where the number of passengers are expected to board an elevator car, including the number of passengers within an expected number of passengers on the at least one elevator car assigned to the call, or providing a notification to the number of passengers that less than all of the number of passengers can be associated with the call.

In some examples, the method includes determining the number of detected voices between a time that the call is received and occurrence of a preselected event, and wherein the preselected event is one of expiration of specified time period that began when the call was received, another call being received by the passenger interface, an assigned elevator car arriving in response to the call, or the passenger interface providing a response regarding the call.

In some examples, receiving the call occurs inside an elevator car, and the method includes determining a number of passengers on the elevator car based at least in part on the number of voices detected by the sound detector.

Embodiments of this invention provide the ability to determine how many passengers are likely to board an elevator car to travel to a particular destination even when less than all of the potential passengers have provided an indication of an intended destination prior to entering an elevator car based on detecting a number of voices. The determined number of passengers enhances the ability to accommodate passengers using an appropriate number of elevator cars.

<FIG> schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system <NUM>. Elevator cars <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to carry passengers among various building levels, for example. A dispatch controller <NUM> is configured to assign one of the elevator cars <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> to a request for elevator service.

Passenger interfaces <NUM> allow passengers to place calls for elevator service. The illustrated arrangement includes a passenger interface 32A that is a destination entry interface situated in an elevator lobby a selected distance from the elevator cars <NUM>-<NUM>. The destination entry passenger interface 32A includes a sound detector <NUM> that is configured to detect sounds, such as human voices, in a near vicinity of the passenger interface 32A. In the illustrated example embodiment, the sound detector <NUM> includes a microphone and the destination entry passenger interface is capable of receiving audible, spoken calls requesting elevator service. A call placed at the passenger interface 32A includes an indication of an intended destination of the passenger.

A processor <NUM> determines information regarding the call including the intended destination. The dispatch controller <NUM> processes the information determined by the processor <NUM> regarding the call and assigns an appropriate elevator car <NUM>-<NUM> to the call. The passenger interface 32A provides an indication of the assigned elevator car to the passenger so the passenger knows which of the elevator cars to board to be carried to the intended destination.

The illustrated example arrangement includes passenger interfaces 32B and 32C closer to the entrances to the elevator cars. The passenger interfaces 32B and 32C also include a respective sound detector <NUM>, such as a microphone, and a processor <NUM>. In this example embodiment, the passenger interfaces 32B and 32C allow a passenger to place a call for elevator service by indicating an intended destination, such as a specific floor, or an intended direction of travel, such as up or down. The passenger interfaces 32B and 32C are capable of receiving audible, spoken calls requesting elevator service.

In the illustrated example the elevator cars <NUM>-<NUM> each include a sound detector <NUM>. The dispatch controller <NUM> uses information regarding detected voices in the elevator cars to assist the dispatch controller in having an accurate count of the number of passengers in each elevator car.

<FIG> is a flow chart diagram <NUM> summarizing an example technique for processing passenger calls. At <NUM>, a passenger interface <NUM> receives a call for elevator service indicating at least an intended destination or an intended direction of travel. At <NUM>, the sound detector <NUM> of the corresponding passenger interface <NUM> detects voices in a vicinity or proximity of the passenger interface <NUM>. The sound detector <NUM> in some embodiments is configured to detect different or distinct voices, such as by voice signature, and to provide an indication of a number of distinct, detected voices. In some embodiments the sound detector <NUM> is configured to detect voices based on a direction between the detector <NUM> and an individual whose voice is detected. Different detection directions are interpreted by the processor <NUM> as different voices belonging to different passengers. The number of detection directions is used as a number of detected voices in such embodiments. Some embodiments include a sound detector <NUM> and processor <NUM> that use a combination of the distinctiveness or uniqueness of a detected voice and directions that voices travel along toward the detector for detecting voices.

The sound detector <NUM> in the illustrated example embodiment will continue to detect voices within a selected period of time. For example, when a call is placed the sound detector <NUM> detects any number of voices for a few seconds following the call or a response provided by the passenger interface <NUM> in response to the call.

At <NUM>, the processor <NUM> determines a number of passengers desiring to travel to the intended destination or in the intended direction based on voices detected by the sound detector <NUM>, whether based on voice signature or detection direction. The determined number of passengers is not necessarily an exact number. In some situations, the processor <NUM> has sufficient information to determine an exact number of passengers based on detected voices but in other situations, the processor <NUM> determines an estimated number of passengers. At <NUM>, the processor <NUM> associates a number of passengers with the call based at least in part on the detection of voices. Determining the number of passengers may be based on additional information available to or determined by the processor <NUM>.

In one example embodiment, the processor <NUM> initiates the number of passengers associated with a call at a value of one when the call is recognized as having been received. When the call is audible, such as being spoken by the passenger, the processor <NUM> at least temporarily stores an indication of the requesting passenger's voice in memory. If at least one other voice or direction is detected by the sound detector <NUM> within a few seconds of the call being placed, the other voice or direction is used to increase the number of passengers associated with that call. For example, if two additional voices are detected, the processor <NUM> increments the number of passenger to a value of three and associates three passengers with the call.

Once a predetermined event occurs, the processor <NUM> stops determining if any additional voices were detected and communicates the call with the associated number of passengers to the dispatch controller <NUM>. The predetermined event may be, for example, the expiration of specified time period that began when the call was received such as five seconds, another call being received by the passenger interface <NUM>, the assigned elevator car arriving at the landing that is the origination floor of the requested service, or the passenger interface providing a response to the passenger regarding the call such as an indication of which elevator car <NUM>-<NUM> is assigned to the call. Other criteria defining an event at which the processor <NUM> stops considering whether to add another passenger to a request may be used.

The processor <NUM> communicates the call with the associated number of passengers to the dispatch controller <NUM> and, at <NUM>, the dispatch controller <NUM> performs at least one dispatching function based on the number of passengers associated with the call. The dispatching function may vary depending on the circumstances. In most situations, the dispatch controller includes the number of associated passengers in the total number of passengers expected in an assigned elevator car. Including the associated number of passengers contributes to assigning elevator cars to calls in a manner that includes allocating adequate room in the car to accommodate the passengers expected to board that car.

The dispatch controller <NUM> performs a dispatching function under some circumstances that includes determining a number of elevator cars needed to carry the number of passengers in the intended direction or to the intended destination. In some situations, the dispatch controller <NUM> adjusts a number of elevator cars assigned to arrive at a landing where the number of passengers associated with at least one call are expected to board an elevator car. Sometimes, when necessary, the dispatch controller <NUM> communicates with the processor <NUM> to cause the elevator passenger interface <NUM> to provide a notification to the number of passengers that less than all of the number of passengers can be associated with the call. For example, if a car assigned to the call can accommodate two passengers and the processor associated four passengers with that call, the passengers should be notified that not all of them can be considered part of that call. In some embodiments, the passenger interface <NUM> then provides a suggestion for at least some of the passengers to separately enter a call to request elevator service.

<FIG> illustrates several example situations in which the dispatch controller <NUM> uses the determined number of passengers associated with a call, which may be an exact number or an estimated number as mentioned above. A passenger <NUM> places a call at the passenger interface 32A. Another passenger <NUM> speaks toward the sound detector <NUM> and indicates a desire to be included in that call. The sound detector <NUM> in this instance not only recognizes the difference in the voices of the passengers <NUM> and <NUM> but also captures the intentional, audible indication from the passenger <NUM> of the desire to travel with the passenger <NUM>. The processor <NUM> in this instance determines that the number of passengers associated with that call is two.

In some embodiments, each processor <NUM> has access to information indicating which passenger voices already have a car assigned to an elevator car or are associated with a call. The processors <NUM> use such information to avoid associating a passenger with more than one call based on the voice of a passenger being detected after that passenger has already placed a call. In an example embodiment, all of the processors <NUM> have access to memory that at least temporarily stores information regarding voice signatures of voices that have been detected and associated with a call.

Another passenger <NUM> places a call through the passenger interface 32B. The sound detector <NUM> detects voices of additional passengers <NUM> and <NUM>. The processor <NUM> determines that the voices of the passengers <NUM> and <NUM> were not associated with any other calls based on a comparison with voice signatures in the memory and associates them with the call placed by the passenger <NUM>.

A passenger <NUM> places a call using the passenger interface 32C. The sound detector <NUM> of that interface detects the voices of the passenger <NUM> and another passenger <NUM>. The passenger <NUM> had recently placed a call and the processor <NUM> determines that the voice of the passenger <NUM> is already associated with a call based on the information currently in the memory so the passenger <NUM> is not added to or associated with the call placed by the passenger <NUM>.

In addition to detected voice information, some embodiments include utilizing other known characteristics of individuals to determine whether they are likely associated and will travel on the same elevator car to the same destination as an individual that actively places a call. For example, the processors <NUM> may have access to a database that includes associations and default destinations of individuals, such as employees of a particular business and the floor where each works. A voice signature of such individuals may be stored for comparison with that of a detected voice to assist in determining if a passenger who's voice has been detected is likely to desire to be included in a particular call. Such additional information is used in some embodiments as part of the process of determining whether an individual who did not place a call should be assigned to the same elevator car of another passenger.

Claim 1:
A device, comprising:
an elevator passenger interface (32A, 32B, 32C) configured to allow a passenger (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to place a call for elevator service by indicating at least an intended destination or an intended direction, and at least one sound detector (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to
determine a number of passengers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) intending to travel to the intended destination or in the intended direction based on at least an indication from the sound detector (<NUM>) regarding voice detection, and
associate the determined number of passengers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with the call;
characterized in that:
the elevator passenger interface (32A, 32B, 32C) includes the at least one sound detector (<NUM>); and
the elevator passenger interface (32A, 32B, 32C) receives the call through the at least one sound detector (<NUM>).