WO2013012409A1

WO2013012409A1 - Customizable elevator system fixtures

Info

Publication number: WO2013012409A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/044184
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Joyce; Ashley CHAPMAN; Osamu Sakai; Baudelaire St. Louis; Jannah A. Stanley
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 2011-07-15
Filing date: 2011-07-15
Publication date: 2013-01-24

Abstract

An exemplary system for controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device includes a configuration module that allows a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device. A processor uses the information from the appearance file to provide an image file to the passenger interface device so that a display of the device corresponds to the image file.

Description

CUSTOMIZABLE ELEVATOR SYSTEM FIXTURES

BACKGROUND

[oooi] Elevator systems include various types of fixtures for allowing passengers to provide an indication of a desired request for elevator service. Fixtures also provide feedback to the passengers regarding their requests. Traditionally, elevator system fixtures included hall call buttons allowing a passenger to request to be carried up or down from a building level where the passenger accesses the hall call button. Car operating panels have also been traditionally provided within elevator cars allowing passengers to make selections regarding a particular floor to which they desire to be carried.

[0002] More recently, destination entry systems have been employed. Such systems include destination entry devices that allow passengers to request to be carried to a particular destination before the passenger enters an elevator car. Destination entry fixtures typically provide a passenger with the ability to enter a request and provide feedback to the passenger to direct them to an appropriate elevator car, for example.

[0003] With advances in technology, building owners and elevator passengers have come to expect increasing capabilities from elevator fixtures. Additionally, advances in technology tend to make a particular configuration of an elevator fixture seem outdated within a relatively short period of time. A significant challenge is presented when attempting to update elevator system fixtures because each individual fixture has to have appropriate updates installed. It is not typically economically feasible to simply replace many destination entry type fixtures because each of them has its own processor and other components that render it economically unfeasible to make wholesale replacements of such devices.

SUMMARY

[0004] An exemplary system for controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device includes a configuration module that allows a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device. A processor uses the information from the appearance file to provide an image file to the passenger interface device so that a display of the device corresponds to the image file.

[0005] An exemplary method of controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device includes a allowing a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device. The information is then used to provide an image file to the passenger interface device so that a display of the device corresponds to the image file.

[0006] An exemplary elevator passenger interface device includes a configuration module that allows a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device. A processor uses the information from the file to provide an image file. A display of the device has an appearance that corresponds to the image file.

[0007] The various features and advantages of the disclosed example will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a system for controlling the appearance of an elevator passenger interface device designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is a flowchart diagram summarizing an example approach useful in an embodiment of this invention.

[oooio] Figure 3 schematically illustrates an example system designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[oooii] Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of system 20 for controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device display 22. The passenger interface device is useful for communicating with elevator passengers to receive passenger input regarding desired elevator service and to provide information to passengers to facilitate their use of the associated elevator system. In one example, the display 22 is part of an elevator passenger interface device that comprises a destination entry device that allows a passenger to provide an indication of a desired destination before the passenger enters an elevator car. In such examples, the interface device is located outside of an elevator car. In other examples, the interface device is located inside of an elevator car. Given this description, those skilled in the art will realize how to implement the features of the disclosed example with a variety of elevator system fixtures (i.e., passenger interface devices) to meet the needs of their particular situation.

[00012] A configuration module 24 allows a user, which may be a building owner or tenant for example, to customize the appearance of the display 22. The configuration module 24 receives user input and generates a corresponding appearance file 26 that contains information regarding the desired appearance of the display 22. In one example, the appearance file has an XML format file. Other examples include other file formats or types.

[00013] A processor 28 receives the appearance file 26 from the configuration module 24 and provides an image file 30 based on the information from the appearance file 26. The image file 30 may be a JPEG file, for example. Other examples include other image file types.

[00014] The appearance of the passenger interface display 22 is controlled by or based on the image file 30 so that the appearance of the display 22 corresponds to the user's desired appearance. One feature of the illustrated example is that a user can customize or change the appearance of the display 22 in a manner that does not require any changes to the hardware or software that is responsible for driving the display 22 or generating the display contents. The appearance file 26 provides information that results in an image file that is used to control the appearance of the display 22. Changing the appearance in this example can readily be accomplished based on a substitution of new appearance and corresponding image files for those that previously established the display appearance. The illustrated example, therefore, opens up wide possibilities for building owners, managers and tenants, for example, to customize elevator passenger interface displays.

[00015] Figure 2 is a flow chart diagram 40 illustrating an example approach for customizing the appearance of a display 22. At 42 a user selects an appearance feature. The selected feature may be a displayed feature such as a background, a virtual key or keypad on a touch screen display embodiment, a video to be shown on the display or a theme for some or all of the display, for example. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description will realize what types of features a user may be able to customize using a configuration module consistent with the configuration module 24 of the illustrate example.

[00016] The user in some examples has the freedom to modify how a selected feature appears by selecting its color, size, shape, contrast, brightness, etc. The appearance file resulting from the user's choices contains information regarding the selected feature including any particular attributes chosen by the user.

[00017] One example facilitates the user choices by including a known drag and drop technique by which the user can place a selected feature in a particular location of the display. Known display manipulation techniques such as those used in commercially available programs that allow individuals to prepare visual works on a computer are included as part of the configuration module 24 in some examples to facilitate a user selecting and arranging the content to be presented on the display 22.

[00018] At 44, the configuration module also determines the position or location of the feature in the desired display. This step includes determining relative positions of different features including overlap and shadowing (if any), for example.

[00019] At 46, the configuration module determines the meaning of the selected feature. Some features will be essentially only for aesthetic purposes (e.g., background, color, video inserts) and there is no particular meaning relative to elevator system operation. Other features, on the other hand, will have a particular meaning that is important for the display 22 to fulfill its intended purpose within an elevator system. The keys of a virtual keypad, for example, have a meaning corresponding to passenger input to select or indicate a desired destination. The configuration module 24 in one example prompts the user to enter information or select from a menu to provide an indication of the meaning of the feature.

[00020] At 48, the configuration module 24 determines any operative characteristics of the feature selected by the user. Operative characteristics include how the feature should appear responsive to a passenger making a selection at the corresponding passenger interface device. For example, the keys of a virtual keypad on a touch screen should appear to be pressed responsive to a passenger touching the corresponding portion of the display screen. Another example operative characteristic is how the keypads may be used such as in combination to indicate a floor level having multiple digits. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description will realize what operative characteristics will be useful for their particular implementation. [00021] The manner in which the operative characteristics are used by an elevator dispatcher or controller in some examples is realized based on the processor 28 communicating with the elevator dispatcher or controller responsive to user input at the interface device 20. Known communications and protocols are used in the illustrated example. The processor 28 is programmed or otherwise configured to provide appropriate information to the associated elevator system so that the elevator system operation is consistent with a passenger's use of the passenger interface device 20.

[00022] At 50, the configuration module 24 stores the information regarding the feature in the appearance file 26 including its appearance attributes, location on the display, meaning and any operative characteristics. At 52 a determination is made whether the user is done customizing the appearance of the display. If not, then the next feature selected by the user is handled by following the process outlined at 42- 50. Once the user is finished, the appearance file 26 is provided to the processor 28 as shown at 54.

[00023] At 56 the processor 28 uses information from the appearance file to generate a corresponding image file 30. The information regarding the display features and how they are to appear on the display allows the processor 28 to arrange the content of the image file 30 so that which is shown on the display 22 is consistent with the user's desires. At 58 the image file 30 is provided to the display 22 so that the appearance of the display is consistent with the user's intended customization as indicated by the information from the appearance file 26.

[00024] The illustrated example allows a user to view how the display will look in real time as the user creates or arranges the contents of the displayed image(s). In one example, the configuration module 24, the processor 28 and the display 22 are all incorporated into a passenger interface device. In that example, the user may enter a special access code and be permitted to use the configuration module 24 to customize the display while seeing the resulting appearance on the display 22. In another example, the configuration module 24 facilitates the user observing the resulting appearance on a display screen of another device such as a notebook computer or a tablet device.

[00025] The example of Figure 3 illustrates how an embodiment of this invention may be used with a plurality of elevator passenger interface devices. In this example the processor 28 comprises a server that is responsible for managing and providing respective image files to each of a plurality of displays 22. Each of the displays 22 in Figure 3 are part of a distinct passenger interface device. In some examples, the displays 22 are all in the same building and part of the same elevator system. In other examples, the displays 22 are in different buildings or associated with different elevator systems. The processor 28 acts as a server on behalf of any number of displays 22 and only six are illustrated for discussion purposes.

[00026] In Figure 3, the configuration module 24 is schematically shown at a device separate from the server or processor 28. The configuration module 24 in one such example is a software program residing or stored on a user device that is distinct from the processor 28. That device may be in the same building as the processor 28 or geographically remote from the server.

[00027] The communication links schematically shown in Figure 3 may be hardwire connections or wireless links, for example. The example of Figure 3 allows a user in some examples to access the customization module remotely over the Internet using known communication techniques.

[00028] The processor 28 in one such example is responsible for processing all of the input and output at each of the interface devices. The interface devices, themselves, are not required to have sufficient processing capacity to operate independent of the server or processor 28. The illustrated example, therefore, centralizes all of the processing required for handling passenger input at any of the interface devices and providing passenger information at any of the interface devices at the location of the processor 28. Such an example include passenger interface devices that can be considered thin client devices that only require an image file to provide the desired appearance of the display 22. In other examples, the individual passenger interface devices have additional processing capabilities, communication capabilities or both.

[00029] The disclosed examples have various features that may be interchanged to realize even more example configurations. In other words, one or more features of one example may be utilized in combination with one or more features of another disclosed example.

[00030] The disclosed examples provide various advantages including cost reduction through vendor competition and reduced device requirements, simplified customization of interface devices by installers and customers, simplicity of new device integration features and the ability to support multiple device platforms. [00031] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. A system for controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device, comprises:

a configuration module that allows a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device; and

a processor that uses the information from the appearance file to provide an image file to the passenger interface device so that a display of the device corresponds to the image file.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration module is configured to permit a user to select at least one feature of the display, to place the selected feature in a desired location on the display and to select appearance characteristics of the feature.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the configuration module is configured to determine a meaning of the selected feature, the meaning indicating a corresponding elevator system operation based on a passenger interacting with the interface device in a manner that involves the selected feature.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the configuration module is configured to determine any operative characteristics of the selected feature, the operative characteristics corresponding to how the feature appears during operation of the passenger interface device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is part of the passenger interface device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is a separate component distinct from the passenger interface device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor provides respective image files to a plurality of passenger interface displays.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration module facilitates a user customizing the appearance of the display from a location that is remote from the passenger interface device and the processor.

9. An elevator passenger interface device, comprising:

a display;

a configuration module that allows a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the display; and

a processor that uses the information from the file to provide an image file to the display so that the display has an appearance that corresponds to the image file.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the configuration module is configured to permit a user to select at least one feature of the display, to place the selected feature in a desired location on the display and to select appearance characteristics of the feature.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the configuration module is configured to determine a meaning of the selected feature, the meaning indicating a corresponding elevator system operation based on a passenger interacting with the interface device in a manner that involves the selected feature.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the configuration module is configured to determine any operative characteristics of the selected feature, the operative characteristics corresponding to how the feature appears during operation of the passenger interface device.

13. A method of controlling an appearance of an elevator passenger interface device, comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to configure an appearance file that contains information regarding a desired appearance of the passenger interface device;

using the information to provide an image file to the passenger interface device; and

producing a display on the device that corresponds to the image file.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising allowing the user

to select at least one feature of the display,

to place the selected feature in a desired location on the display and to select appearance characteristics of the feature.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising determining a meaning of the selected feature, the meaning indicating a corresponding elevator system operation based on a passenger interacting with the interface device in a manner that involves the selected feature.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising determining any operative characteristics of the selected feature, the operative characteristics corresponding to how the feature appears during operation of the passenger interface device.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising providing respective image files to a plurality of passenger interface displays.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising facilitating a user customizing the appearance of the display from a location that is remote from the passenger interface device and the processor.