Patent Description:
A position of a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance systems, such as, for example, elevator systems, escalator systems, and moving walkways may typically be difficult to determine when performing maintenance.

<CIT> describes an elevator system with a controller that is configured to determine a condition of an elevator system component. A message transceiver is coupled with the controller and is configured to send a notification message to a mobile station that includes an indication of the condition determined by the controller. The message transceiver can receive a response message which indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a method of monitoring a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>. The method including: obtaining a health level of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location; determining that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of a threshold operating range; activating an alert on a mobile device indicating that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; and receiving a selection input on the mobile device, the selection input indicating a mechanic feedback regarding the health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location, and adjusting the threshold operating range in response to the mechanic feedback.

Further embodiments may include: displaying the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location on a display device of the mobile device.

Further embodiments may include that receiving the selection input on the mobile device further includes: displaying a plurality of mechanic feedback options; and receiving a selection input on the mobile device selecting one of the plurality of mechanic feedback options indicating the mechanic feedback.

Further embodiments may include: adjusting the alert in response to the mechanic feedback.

Further embodiments may include: identifying a root cause that caused the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location to be outside of the threshold operating range.

Further embodiments may include: the mechanic feedback identifies a root cause that caused the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location to be outside of the threshold operating range.

Further embodiments may include: the mechanic feedback confirms the root cause that was identified.

Further embodiments may include that the mechanic feedback rejects the root cause that was identified.

Further embodiments may include: obtaining the health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location further includes: detecting, using a sensing apparatus, at the first conveyance apparatus location an acceleration of the conveyance apparatus, temperature data of the conveyance system, and pressure data proximate the conveyance apparatus; and determining a health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location in response to at least one of the acceleration of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature data of the conveyance system, and the pressure data proximate the conveyance apparatus.

Further embodiments may include: determining a first identifier for the first conveyance apparatus location; and displaying first identifier for the first conveyance apparatus location on a display device.

Further embodiments may include: determining a current location of an individual within the conveyance system; and displaying the location of the individual within the conveyance system on a display device.

Further embodiments may include that prior to displaying the first identifier for the first conveyance apparatus location on a display device, the method further includes: normalizing the first identifier for the first conveyance apparatus location to a standard value.

Further embodiments may include that determining the current location of the individual within the conveyance system, further includes: detecting an ambient air pressure proximate the individual; and determining an elevation in response to the ambient air pressure.

Further embodiments may include that determining the current location of the individual within the conveyance system, further includes: detecting a wireless signal of a mobile device being carried by the individual; and determining received signal strength of the mobile device; and determining an elevation of the individual in response to the received signal strength of the mobile device.

Further embodiments may include that determining the current location of the individual within the conveyance system, further includes: determining that the individual is currently located within the conveyance apparatus; determining a current location of the conveyance apparatus; and determining that the current location of the individual is equivalent to the current location of the conveyance apparatus.

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

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for monitoring a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system is provided in accordance with claim <NUM>. The system including: a processor; and a memory including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations including: obtaining a health level of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location; determining that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; activating an alert on a mobile device indicating that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; and receiving a selection input on the mobile device, the selection input indicating a mechanic feedback regarding the health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location, and adjusting the threshold operating range in response to the mechanic feedback.

The method may be computer-implemented. A non-transitory computer-readable medium may comprise instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method outlined hereinabove. Thus, the embodiments of the disclosure described above extend to a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out a method comprising: obtaining a health level of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location; determining that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; activating an alert on a mobile device indicating that the health level for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location is outside of the threshold operating range; and receiving a selection input on the mobile device, the selection input indicating a mechanic feedback regarding the health level of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location, and adjusting the threshold operating range in response to the mechanic feedback.

Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include determining a health level of a conveyance system and utilizing feedback from a mechanic to determine whether or not the health level may be problematic.

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>, temperature 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. The pressure data <NUM> may include atmospheric air pressure within the elevator shaft <NUM>. The temperature data <NUM> may include atmospheric air temperature within the elevator shaft <NUM> or temperature of specific components of the elevator system <NUM>. Sensor data <NUM> may also include light, sound, humidity, and, or any other desired data parameter. 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, component degradation, 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. In an embodiment, the AI may be self-learning and fed by conditions detected by a sensor and a feedback loop provided (e.g. mechanic or human in the loop). In an embodiment, the remote device <NUM> may be a cloud based AI computing system capable of machine learning, human in the loop machine learning, principal component analysis (PCA), and/or any processing algorithm known to one of skill in the art. 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, Bluetooth low energy, 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, SigFox, or weightless.

The sensing apparatus <NUM> may be configured to detect sensor data <NUM> including acceleration <NUM> in any number of directions. In an embodiment, the sensing apparatus may detect 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. The vibratory signatures may be utilized to determine a location of the elevator car <NUM> and/or a health level of the elevator system <NUM>.

Also shown in <FIG> is a mobile device <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> may belong to an elevator mechanic/technician working on the elevator system <NUM>. The mobile device <NUM> may be a mobile computing device that is typically carried by a person, such as, for example a smart phone, PDA, smart watch, tablet, laptop, etc. The mobile device <NUM> may include a display device <NUM> (see <FIG>). The mobile device <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, and an application <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The processor <NUM> can be any type or combination of computer processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, application specific integrated circuit, programmable logic device, and/or field programmable gate array. The memory <NUM> is an example of a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodied in the mobile device <NUM> including executable instructions stored therein, for instance, as firmware. The communication module <NUM> may implement one or more communication protocols, such as, for example, short-range wireless protocols <NUM> and long-range wireless protocols <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> may be in communication with at least one of the controller <NUM>, the sensing apparatus <NUM>, the network <NUM>, and the remote device <NUM>. The communication module <NUM> is configured to receive a health level of the elevator system <NUM> from at least one of the controller <NUM>, the sensing apparatus <NUM>, the network <NUM>, and the remote device <NUM>. In an embodiment, the communication module <NUM> is configured to receive a health level from the remote device <NUM>. The application <NUM> is configured to generate a graphical user interface on the mobile device <NUM>. The application <NUM> may be computer software installed directly on the memory <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM> and/or installed remotely and accessible through the mobile device <NUM> (e.g., software as a service).

The mobile device <NUM> may also include a pressure sensor <NUM> configured to detect an ambient air pressure local to the mobile device <NUM>, such as, for example, atmospheric air pressure. 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 processor <NUM> and the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine a height or elevation of the mobile device <NUM> in response to the ambient air pressure detected local to the mobile device <NUM>. A height or elevation of the mobile device <NUM> may be determined using other location determination methods, including, but not limited to, cell triangulation, a global positioning system (GPS) and/or detection of wireless signal strength (e.g., received signal strength (RSS) using Bluetooth, Wi-FI,.

<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> 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 data <NUM>. 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. In an embodiment, the controller <NUM> may use edge processing to pre-process the accelerations <NUM>, the pressure data <NUM>, and temperature data <NUM>, then transmit the accelerations <NUM>, the pressure data <NUM>, and temperature data <NUM> that has been edge pre-processed to the remote device <NUM> to determine a health level.

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 neuromorphic processor unit (NPU), 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 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>.

In an embodiment, health determination module <NUM> of the sensing apparatus <NUM> may edge process or remote device <NUM> may process the sound detected by the microphone <NUM>, the light detected by the light sensor <NUM>, the humidity detected by the humidity sensor <NUM>, the temperature data <NUM> detected by the temperature sensor <NUM>, the accelerations <NUM> detected by the IM sensor <NUM>, and/or the pressure data <NUM> detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> in order to determine a health level <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the elevator system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the remote device <NUM> may process the temperature data <NUM> detected by the temperature sensor <NUM>, the accelerations <NUM> detected by the IMU sensor <NUM>, and the pressure data <NUM> detected by the pressure sensor <NUM> in order to determine a health level <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the elevator system <NUM>. The health level may be a graded scale indicating the health of the elevator system <NUM> and/or components of the elevator system. In a non-limiting example, the health level may be graded on a scale of one-to-ten with a health level equivalent to one being the lowest health level and a health level equivalent to ten being the highest health level. In another non-limiting example, the health level may be graded on a scale of one-to-one-hundred percent with a health level equivalent to one percent being the lowest health level and a health level equivalent to one-hundred percent being the highest health level. In another non-limiting example, the health level may be graded on a scale of colors with a health level equivalent to red being the lowest health level and a health level equivalent to green being the highest health level. The health level may be determined in response to at least one of the accelerations <NUM>, the pressure data <NUM>, and/or the temperature data <NUM>. For example, accelerations <NUM> above a threshold acceleration (e.g., normal operating acceleration) in any one of the X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis may be indicative of a low health level. In another example, elevated temperature data <NUM> above a threshold temperature for components may be indicative of a low health level.

The remote device <NUM> is configured to assign a determined health level to locations along the elevator shaft <NUM> where the health level was determined. The health level may then be communicated to the mobile device <NUM> where it is visible to a user of the mobile device <NUM>. The health level of the elevator system <NUM> may be determined at various location along the elevator shaft <NUM>. In one example, the health level of the elevator system <NUM> may be determined equidistantly along the elevator shaft <NUM>. In another example, the health level of the elevator system <NUM> may be determined at each landing <NUM> along the elevator shaft <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>. <FIG> shows a flow chart of a method <NUM> of monitoring a conveyance system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> and the conveyance apparatus is an elevator car <NUM>. In another embodiment, the method <NUM> may be performed by the remote device <NUM> and/or the application <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate a mobile device <NUM> generating a graphical user interface <NUM> via display device <NUM> for viewing and interacting with the application <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The mobile device <NUM> may be a laptop computer, smart phone, tablet computer, smart watch, or any other mobile computing device known to one of skill in the art. In the example shown in <FIG>, the mobile device <NUM> is a touchscreen smart phone. The mobile device <NUM> includes an input device <NUM>, such as, example, a mouse, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a scroll ball, a stylus pen, a microphone, a camera, etc. In the example shown in <FIG>, since the mobile device <NUM> is a touchscreen smart phone, then the display device <NUM> also functions as an input device <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a graphical user interface <NUM> generated on the display device <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>. A user may interact with the graphical user interface <NUM> through a selection input, such as, for example, a "click", "touch", verbal command, gesture recognition, or any other input to the user interface <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location 730a is obtained. The the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be obtained by detecting, using a sensing apparatus <NUM>, at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a an acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus is detected using a sensing apparatus <NUM>. The health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be may be determined in response to at least one of the acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and the pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus. The health level <NUM> may be the health level of any component of the conveyance system or the overall conveyance system. For example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> then the health level <NUM> may be the health level of an elevator door <NUM> or the elevator system <NUM>.

The health level <NUM> may be obtained at a plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM>, including the first conveyance apparatus location 730a, during normal operation of the conveyance system and/or a specific run of the conveyance apparatus. The plurality of conveyance apparatus location <NUM> may be equidistantly spaced apart along the conveyance system. For example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> then the plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> may be equidistantly spaced apart along the elevator shaft <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>. The first conveyance apparatus location 730a and the second conveyance apparatus location 730b are two of the plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> that are equidistantly spaced apart along the conveyance system. In another example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> then the plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> may be landings <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In another example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> then the plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> may be or include locations between landings <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The health level <NUM> may include a first health level 710a determined at a first time and a second health level 710b determined at a second time. For example, the first health level 710a may be determined prior to maintenance being performed on the conveyance system and a second health level 710b may be determined after the maintenance is performed on the conveyance system.

The health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be displayed on a display device <NUM> of the mobile device <NUM>. The health level <NUM> may be displayed as a circular display indicating a percentage of full health, as shown in <FIG> or a linear display indicating a percentage a full health, as shown in <FIG>.

At block <NUM> it may be determined that the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a is outside of a threshold operating range, which may indicate that there is a component of the conveyance apparatus that needs to be evaluated by a mechanic or the overall conveyance system may need to be evaluated by a mechanic.

At block <NUM>, an alert <NUM> may be activated on a mobile device <NUM> (e.g., a smart phone of a mechanic) indicating that the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 530a is outside of the threshold operating range. The alert <NUM> may be audible, visual, and/or vibratory. The alert <NUM> may be displayed on the display device <NUM>. The alert <NUM> may identify the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a that is outside of the threshold operating range.

At block <NUM>, a selection input on the mobile device <NUM> is received. The selection input may indicate a mechanic feedback regarding the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a. The mechanic feedback may be utilized help improve the algorithms utilized by the application <NUM> and the remote device <NUM> through human in the loop machine learning. The mechanic feedback may be provided from the mechanic to the application <NUM> and the remote device <NUM> through a variety of different methods, as discussed hereinafter.

A mechanic may provide mechanic feedback by selecting a feedback entry icon <NUM> through a selection input, as shown in <FIG>. Selecting the feedback entry icon <NUM> through a selection input may generate a plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> that are displayed on the display device <NUM> along with a status of the mechanic repair from an issue icon 770a to a completed icon 770b. The issue icon 770a may depict an alert for the elevator system <NUM> at a location and the completed icon 770b may indicate that the location is now OK, such as, for example, after maintenance was performed, thus providing up-to-date feedback for maintenance being performed in real-time. The plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> may be a list of probable options that the remote device <NUM> has determined may be the mechanic feedback. For example, the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> may state: "No problem", "Can't repair", or "Adjustment Required". For elevator door <NUM> related problems, the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> may state: "door contact failure caused by dirt or mechanical, electrical problem", "mechanical adjustment after vandalism impact", "track/gib" "door lock", "counterweight spring", "door operator/ encoder", "roller", "detection device"; For elevator car <NUM> related problems, the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> may state: "Guide shoes/rollers", Rails change", "Rail Adjustment", or "Can't repair". A selection input a selection input on the mobile device <NUM> selecting one of the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> indicating the mechanic feedback may be received. Alternatively, the mechanic may manually enter feedback through typing a response or entering a response via a voice memo.

Mechanic may select one or more of the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> and then select a feedback report submit icon <NUM> through a selection input to provide the mechanic feedback to the application. The alert <NUM> may be adjusted in response to the mechanic feedback received. For example, adjusting the alert <NUM> may mean that the alert <NUM> is canceled or silenced if the mechanic feedback indicates that there is "no problem". Additionally, the threshold operating range may be adjusted in response to the mechanic feedback. For example, a level of vibrations may have triggered health level <NUM> outside of the threshold operating range that prompted activation of the alert <NUM> and the threshold operating range may be adjusted if the mechanic feedback indicates that after review the component is OK with having this level of vibrations or that this level of vibrations should not indicate a health level <NUM> outside of the threshold operating range. The mechanic feedback may help improve the algorithms utilized by the application <NUM> and the remote device <NUM> to more correctly provide the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> in the future through human in the loop machine learning.

If a health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a is not outside of threshold operating range at block <NUM> then an alert <NUM> may not be activated on a mobile device <NUM>; however a mechanic may still provide feedback to adjust the health level <NUM> when the mechanic see something that should have generated a health level <NUM> outside of the threshold operating range and activated an alert <NUM>. For example, the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at a first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be determined and displayed on a display device <NUM> of a mobile device <NUM>, then the mechanic could provide mechanic feedback regarding whether the health level <NUM> is correct. The mechanic feedback may be provided by the mobile device <NUM> receiving a selection input, which indicates a mechanic feedback regarding the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a. The health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be adjusted in response to the mechanic feedback.

The method <NUM> may also include identifying a root cause that caused the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a to be outside of the threshold operating range. One or more root causes may be identified and presented as the plurality of mechanic feedback options <NUM> for a mechanic to select one. The root cause may be a component of the conveyance system or a specific condition with a component of the conveyance system. For example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM>, then the root cause may be a guide rail <NUM> of the elevator system <NUM> and the specific condition may be a worn guide rail <NUM> generating excessive vibrations in the elevator system <NUM>, which results in the health <NUM> level being outside of a threshold operating range. The mechanic feedback provided may confirm the root cause or reject the root cause suggested by the application <NUM> and the remote device <NUM>. The mechanic feedback provided may also identify a root cause (e.g., component, or a specific condition of a component) that caused the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a to be outside of a threshold operating range. The mechanic feedback may help improve the algorithms utilized by the application <NUM> and the remote device <NUM> to more correctly identify the root cause in the future through human in the loop machine learning.

The method <NUM> may include that a remote device <NUM>, receives from the sensing apparatus <NUM> the acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and the pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus. Then the remote device <NUM> determines the health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a in response to at least one of the acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and the pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus. The sensing apparatus <NUM> may use edge processing to pre-process the acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature <NUM> data proximate the conveyance apparatus, and the pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus prior to being received by the remote device <NUM>.

The method <NUM> may also include that a first identifier 740a for the first conveyance apparatus location 730a is determined. For example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> the first identifier 740a may be a formal floor number of a landing <NUM>. The method <NUM> may further comprise: normalizing the first identifier 740a for the first conveyance apparatus location 730a to a standard value. For example, the bottom floor may be referred to as the first floor however may later be normalized to floor zero, which may be the standard value. In another example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> that has skipped numbering a <NUM>th floor in naming conventions due to superstition, then the first identifier 740a may indicate that the elevator car <NUM> is at the <NUM>th floor of the elevator system <NUM> and the <NUM>th floor may be normalized to the <NUM>th floor. In another example, if the conveyance system is an elevator system <NUM> that has skipped a number of landings <NUM> in a building to make the building appear larger, then the identifier <NUM> of each landing <NUM> may be normalized by starting from the bottom floor at zero and moving up counting each landing <NUM> and assigning the appropriate sequential (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>,. etc.) identifier <NUM> to each landing <NUM>. If the health level <NUM> is obtained at a plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> then the identifier <NUM> of each of the plurality of conveyance apparatus locations <NUM> may be normalized. The first identifier 740a may also be displayed on the display device <NUM>.

The method <NUM> may also include that a current location of an individual <NUM> within the conveyance system is determined. In an embodiment, the current location of the individual <NUM> within the conveyance system may be determined by: detecting an ambient air pressure proximate the individual; and determining an elevation in response to the ambient air pressure. In an embodiment, the ambient air pressure proximate the individual may be determined using a pressure sensor <NUM> of a mobile device <NUM> carried by the individual.

In another embodiment, the current location of the individual <NUM> within the conveyance system may be determined by: determining that the individual is currently located within the conveyance apparatus; determining a current location of the conveyance apparatus; and determining that the current location of the individual <NUM> is equivalent to the current location of the conveyance apparatus. In an embodiment, the individual may be determined to be within the conveyance apparatus by tracking a location of a mobile device <NUM> carried by the individual. The location of the mobile device <NUM> may be tracked through a height calculation using air pressure sensor data of the mobile device <NUM>, GPS, cell triangulation, and/or RSS. In another embodiment, the current location of the individual <NUM> within the conveyance system may be determined by: detecting a wireless signal of a mobile device <NUM> being carried by an individual; and determining RSS of the mobile device <NUM>; and determining an elevation of the individual in response to the RSS of the mobile device <NUM>.

The method <NUM> may also include that the location of the individual <NUM> within the conveyance system is displayed on the display device <NUM>. The location of the individual <NUM> is displayed relative to the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a. The current location of the conveyance apparatus <NUM> may also be determined and displayed on the display device <NUM>. The health levels <NUM> may be displayed in detail as time series data in selectable time periods.

The method <NUM> may further comprise: at a second conveyance apparatus location 730b an acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus is detected using a sensing apparatus <NUM>. A health level <NUM> of the conveyance system at the second conveyance apparatus location 730b is determined in response to at least one of the acceleration <NUM> of the conveyance apparatus, the temperature data <NUM> of the conveyance system, and the pressure data <NUM> proximate the conveyance apparatus. Then the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the second conveyance apparatus location 730b may be displayed on a display device <NUM>.

The method <NUM> may also include that a second identifier 740b for the second conveyance apparatus location 730b is determined. The second identifier 740b may also be displayed on the display device <NUM>. The health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the second conveyance apparatus location 730b and the second identifier 740b for the second conveyance apparatus location may be displayed simultaneously with the health level <NUM> for the conveyance system at the first conveyance apparatus location 730a and the first identifier 740a for the first conveyance apparatus location 730a may be displayed on a display device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The method <NUM> may further comprise: normalizing the second identifier 740b for the first conveyance apparatus location 730a to a standard value. The first identifier 740a and the second identifier 740b may be normalized before each are displayed.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of monitoring a conveyance apparatus within a conveyance system (<NUM>), the method comprising:
obtaining a health level (<NUM>) of the conveyance system (<NUM>) at a first conveyance apparatus location (730a);
determining that the health level (<NUM>) for the conveyance system (<NUM>) at the first conveyance (730a) apparatus location is outside of a threshold operating range;
activating an alert (<NUM>) on a mobile device (<NUM>) indicating that the health level (<NUM>) for the conveyance system (<NUM>) at the first conveyance apparatus location (730a) is outside of the threshold operating range;
receiving a selection input on the mobile device (<NUM>), the selection input indicating a mechanic feedback regarding the health level (<NUM>) of the conveyance system (<NUM>) at the first conveyance apparatus location (730a); and
characterised by:
adjusting the threshold operating range in response to the mechanic feedback.