Lift assembly for transporting lift users in a building area

The invention relates to a method of operating an elevator installation for transporting elevator users within a building area. Furthermore, the invention relates to the installation of an elevator for carrying out the above method.

[0002] From EP 0 699 617 B1, an elevator installation with a recognition device is known, in which the elevator user carries with him a source of information that receives inquiries from recognition devices that are attached at the entrance to the elevators. The data stored in the information source is forwarded to the elevator control to control the elevator according to the saved data.

[0003] EP 1 295 838 A1 describes a control device for transporting persons / goods by means of user profiles. In the user profiles of the control device, individual transport preferences of persons / goods are saved. A device is provided which recognizes the identification code

A user profile for transporting a person / good is provided for each identified identification code. The lift installation is controlled by a control device. This control is based in part on the user profile and contains various elevator-specific information such as the embarkation floor and the destination floor for transporting the person / goods. However, it is not possible to determine whether the person / goods to be transported is also actually transported in accordance with the user profile.

[0004] Users of the elevator installation may be both persons and goods and are hereinafter referred to as

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EP 2 033 926 B1 elevator users.

[0005] In areas of the building that have a large number of elevators, the destination paging is often assigned a lift to individual elevator users. Elevator users no longer have to make any cabin calls. It is known to install access control at the entrance to such areas of the building so that such elevator users who can identify themselves, grant access and other elevator users who cannot identify themselves, deny access. However, building areas often have public and private or internal areas for the company, so that both elevator users who have access to private areas in the elevator area are admitted at the entrance of the building area, and elevator users who have only access to public areas are admitted . Checking and checking access permissions in building areas is therefore not easy to implement.

[0006] The continued presence or movement of elevator users in a given area of ​​the building can only be monitored with great effort. Thus, it is possible, for example, that an unauthorized user of an elevator enters the elevator cabin, which goes to the private area and thus gains access to the private areas. Securing these private areas for such cases is hitherto only possible by costly monitoring or by further access controls in private areas. Such security requires a trained, often armed security service as well as special and massive devices. This is all intimidating and unsightly.

[0007] The object of the invention is to specify in an area of ​​a building that has areas with different access rights

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The installation of the elevator and the method by which the presence of the elevator users in the building area can be monitored and checked without much effort to enable the efficient operation of the elevator installation or the intervention of the security service.

[0008] To achieve this goal, a method of operating an elevator installation according to claim 1 and an elevator installation according to claim 15 is proposed.

[0009] Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims.

[0010] An elevator user intended for transportation in a building area can initiate either a paging call or a combination of an elevator call with a cabin call to start transport using the elevator installation. Elevator paging is a paging in which only the boarding place for elevator control is forwarded. The elevator control assigns the elevator cabin to the respective elevator user. After entering the cabin, the elevator user calls the cabin. The cabin call is forwarded to the elevator control and the cabin then transports the elevator user from the place of embarking to a given floor which corresponds to the destination of the cabin call. The destination paging is a paging in which not only the embarkation point but also the destination is passed to the elevator control. The elevator control assigns the elevator user to the elevator user that transports that elevator user from the boarding position to the given floor which corresponds to the destination of the destination paging, without the need for the elevator user to trigger the next cabin paging.

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[0011] The essence of the invention is the registration of position by elevator users in the building area. When a registered call or elevator call is triggered by a registered elevator user, when this destination call or elevator call is served by the assigned elevator cabin, the position of the registered elevator user who entered the elevator cabin is compared with the position of the elevator user who triggered the destination call or calling the elevator. If the elevator user has triggered the elevator call, he calls the cabin call. In addition, the invention is based on granting elevator users access to building areas. Thus, it is checked in the elevator cabin whether the registered elevator user has access permission for the destination that corresponds to the destination call or the cabin call.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to check whether all users transported in the elevator car, elevator who are also called a destination paging or elevator paging.

If the elevator user does not have the appropriate access permission for the destination, a security action can be triggered. And if it is determined that there is an elevator user in the elevator cabin who has not triggered a destination paging or elevator paging, a safety action is also triggered.

[0013] In particular, it is beneficial if the elevator user who triggers the target paging or elevator paging must identify himself. This can for example be done via the entry keyboard through which the code is entered. Alternatively it can be made wirelessly via a chip card. Identification is

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EP 2 033 926 B1 is also possible by entering the password through the input terminal. In addition, authentication is also possible for identification. This opposite checking or authentication increases security in the building area. For example, authentication occurs through biometric face, iris, fingerprint, speech recognition systems, etc. It is particularly advantageous if the elevator user who triggers the target paging or paging the elevator is subjected to both identification and authentication. Alternatively, identification and authentication can occur in one step.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous in a further embodiment of the invention that it is determined when the number of elevator users who have called a destination call or an elevator call and has been registered in terms of position, and is compared with the number of elevator users who entered the elevator car. Thus, it can be checked whether there is a difference in number. If the number of elevator users who called up a destination call or elevator call or were registered deviates from the number of elevator users who entered the elevator car, there is an increased security risk.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if, in the event of non-compliance of the position of the elevator user who has entered the elevator car with the position of triggering the target paging or paging of the elevator user elevator which is operated by the elevator car, the safety action is implemented. This security action can, for example, cause corridor data to be monitored by installed security cameras. Another option is to personally check the corridors given by forces

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EP 2 033 926 B1 finds possible security.

[0016] Further possibilities consist in influencing the elevator control and possibly not going to areas in the building area that have a high level of safety. Thus, it is effectively prevented that unauthorized elevator users get into these high security areas.

[0017] When the position of the elevator users is registered, both the spatial position and the temporal position of the elevator user in the building area can be recorded. The spatial position may have a different resolution. So in the simplest case it can contain information on which level the elevator user is at. However, it is also to divide the level into several sectors and, in addition to the level information, also add sector information. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the spatial position, the elevator user's time position may be recorded. Thus, it can be determined, for example, if the elevator user has entered the building area at a given moment and after a fixed period of time has not activated the target call or the elevator paging, the elevator user may be staying in an unauthorized way somewhere else in the building. Furthermore, it is possible that elevator users who are only allowed access to building sections in a specific time window are subject to increased monitoring at times when they normally do not have access to the building area.

[0018] Elevator users may be persons or goods. Goods are preferably transported by people. By monitoring the transported goods can be ensured

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The fact that the corresponding goods are only transported to the building levels provided for this purpose.

[0019] The object is also achieved by installing an elevator that includes several elevator cabins. In addition, the position recording device is located at the entrance to the building and / or in the building area and / or in the elevator cabins. The elevator installation includes input terminals for entering the elevator call. In addition, elevator control is provided for controlling individual elevator cabins. The main control unit is connected to both the recording and identifying units, the access allocation unit, the entrance terminals for elevator calls and the elevator cabins.

[0020] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments which are schematically represented in the drawings. The figures show:

Figure 1 in a schematic illustration of an elevator installation according to the present invention.

Figure 2 flow diagram for the method of the present invention.

[0021] The elevator installation according to the invention is located in the building area. The building area is either a building with several levels such as an office building, hospital, shopping center etc., or is a complex consisting of several such buildings as a factory area, sports complex etc. The elevator installation includes several elevators with one or several A1 cabins for A6 elevator for elevator shaft. The elevator shaft runs through several levels 30, 40 of the building area. There are elevator shafts at various levels of the building area. In Figure 1, access to cabins A1 to A3 of the elevator is located on the second level 30 and accesses are to the cabins A4 and A6 of the elevator are located

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EP 2 033 926 B1 at the first level 40. The individual levels are, for example, also connected to each other via movable ramps 41 and staircases.

[0022] At each level 30, 40, at least one entrance terminal 49, 50 is provided for entering elevator calls. These input terminals 49, 50 include, for example, an entry keyboard and a display for displaying an assigned, serving the target call or elevator call, elevator cabin. The entrance terminals are preferably located near the access to elevators. The input terminals 49, 59 are connected via electronic data cables to the main control unit 31 of the elevator installation. Thus, the lift calls to the main control unit 31 are transmitted.

[0023] Furthermore, a position recording device is located in the building area, which in the simplest case is implemented by the camera 42 in the entrance area of ​​the building area. Normally, the position recording device consists of many cameras that are located everywhere in the building area. Preferably, cameras are registered with all lifts accessible to users in the area of ​​the road building. Each camera has a specific recording area. Adjacent cameras are positioned such that their recording area overlaps at least over a certain area. The elevator user who moves from the first recording area to the adjacent second recording area is thus first registered only by the first camera as soon as he passes the overlap area, it is recorded by both cameras and then only by the second camera. The cameras are preferably connected to an evaluation unit and a storage medium.

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The registered positions of the elevator users are evaluated by the evaluation unit and are stored in the storage medium as spatial and temporal position data. By evaluating camera signals it is possible to continuously control where the elevator user is in the building area. Typical digital cameras with a liquid crystal display (LCD) are suitable for registering elevator users, but motion detectors such as infrared (IR) detectors or radar and ultrasonic sensors can also be used. The evaluation unit can be a standard calculation unit with a program for recognizing camera signals in the form of digital images. Such a recognition program allows, for example, to distinguish between different elevator users in the camera image. The criteria for distinguishing are the color, size and shape of elevator users, or the differences that can be determined by image comparisons between images of different cameras, or between images that were recorded at different times. Thus, the number of elevator users per camera image can be determined. This recognition program also allows you to determine the direction of movement and speed of elevator users in the camera images. Several such recognition programs are commercially available.

[0024] The identification unit includes, for example, an input terminal 45 with a numeric keypad or card reader 44. An alternative embodiment includes a wireless 43 chip card reader that, for example, can read codes stored on radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips that are worn by elevator users. The elevator user is identified by these codes that are either entered or read from the RFID card or chip. After

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Identification unit by means of the identification unit is granted access to the building area through the open door or the rotating gates released 46. When identifying or after the elevator user has gained access to the building area, he is granted access permission by means of an access authorization unit.

[0025] Furthermore, the elevator installation comprises a main control unit 31 to which all components of the elevator installation are connected. The main control unit can also be implemented by the interaction of several arranged control units. The main control unit 31 is coupled to the safety unit 32, which has several monitors 33, 34 loudspeaker units and 35 camera systems. Camera and loudspeaker systems 34, 35 can be arranged on levels 30 and 40 or on subsequent levels in the building area.

[0026] In addition, a detailed view is schematically shown in Figure 1 of the elevator cabin A1-A6. The elevator cabin 36 is coupled to the main control unit 31. The elevator cabin 36 also has an entrance terminal 39 with a numeric keypad and a display. An alternative is the 38 RFID chip reader. The elevator cabin 36 is controlled by the elevator control 37, with the elevator control 37 also receiving its commands via the main control unit 31. The main control unit 31 leads to each elevator a transport profile with all necessary data for the operation of the elevator. Thus, the transport profile contains continuously updated information on the number of elevator calls that are assigned to the elevator cabin 36. For each lift call, the transport profile reports the boarding level and destination level as well as when it was left

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EP 2 033 926 B1 triggered target call or elevator call. The transport profile also gives the order in which the goals are achieved by the elevator cabin 36. It is therefore particularly advantageous when also the position data and the granting of access for each elevator user is transferred to the main control unit 31 and is saved in the transport profile. The main control unit 31 can thus assign to each destination call or elevator call to exactly one time-valid position of the elevator user and access permission of the elevator user. For this purpose, the position recording device and the main control unit 31 are connected to each other via an electronic data cable, for example a bus system or a network.

[0027] The method according to the invention of Figure 2 is explained below. After the elevator user in the form of a person or transported goods has entered the building area or has been delivered to the building area S10, the position of the elevator user is recorded in step S11. After, for example, position S11 is registered by camera 42, the elevator user is identified or authenticated S12. This identification or authentication takes place, for example, via an input terminal 45, via a chip card reader 44 or via a wireless interface 43 RFID chips. For the authentication of the elevator user, for example, the biometric recognition system registers the face of the elevator user, iris, fingerprint, speech, etc. In step S13, it is checked whether the elevator user has correctly identified or authenticated, and whether his position has been registered. In the event that the elevator user himself does not

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EP 2 033 926 B1 identified or not authenticated or his position was not registered, action S21 is initiated

Safety S21 can entry door or recall numeric keypad and control unit 31.

safety. This operation, for example, includes that the turnstiles 46 or other barriers are blocked or remain blocked to prevent the intrusion of an unauthorized elevator user. After the elevator user has correctly identified or authenticated and his position has been registered, he is granted access permission in step S14. It can be in the simplest case that the door is opened or the turnstile 46 is released.

[0028] After the elevator user has correctly entered the building area, he can, for example, proceed from the first level 40 via the escalator 41 to another level, for example to the second level 30. The current position of the elevator user is continuously recorded by position recording device. Depending on which level 30, 40 the elevator user is at, he can enter a destination call or elevator call at step S15 at the input terminal 49, 50 at a given level. This destination call or elevator is, for example, entered by being forwarded to the main. The main control unit 31 then allocates to the elevator user in step S16 an elevator cabin which is at a given level and is for example represented by an input terminal 49 or 50 on the display.

[0029] In step S17, a registered elevator user enters the assigned elevator cabin.

[0030] If the elevator user has not triggered the paging

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At the destination but elevator call, the elevator user triggers the cabin call at step S18 in the elevator cabin. [0031] Advantageously, in step S19 the number or position of registered elevator users in the elevator car is checked. This is preferably done by the position recognition program. For example, if the number of elevator users who are in the elevator cabin does not match the number of elevator users who have been assigned to this elevator cabin, safety action S21 may be triggered. Alternatively or additionally, a safety action can be triggered in step S19 if the position of the elevator users in the elevator car does not match the position of the user of the elevator who called the destination paging or paging the elevator. In the event of safety operation, the security department is informed by, for example, that the monitors 33 in the security department are switched directly to the given levels and a noticeable message is issued in the security department. [0032] In step S20, it is checked that all registered elevator users who are transported in the elevator cabin also have access authorization for the destination. If one of the elevator users does not have this access permission, then safety action S21 can be triggered. Alternatively or in addition to the operation of safety S21, it is possible to influence elevator control 37 by the main control unit 31 so that elevator cabin 36 does not go to levels of high safety. Another option is to either lock the elevator cabin so that the elevator users in that elevator cabin cannot get off. Another option is to direct the elevator car directly from

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EP 2 033 926 B1 back to the public area and to allow elevator users to disembark. Another option is for the elevator car to go to a safety stand, where it can be checked by security personnel.

[0033] In step S22, so registered and checked elevator users are transported by elevator cabin 36 to destinations.

[0034] By the present invention it is possible to increase security in building areas. In particular, it is possible to prevent unauthorized movement of elevator users from public to private areas. By being able to affect elevator cabs, security forces can intervene in a timely and effective manner and thus prevent unauthorized users of elevator access to areas of high security.

[0035] Furthermore, it is possible to deliberately influence the elevator control 37 by the main control unit 31 that exactly the control data that corresponds to the elevator users in the cabin is taken into account. Thus, it is possible, for example, to enable improved operation of the elevator, if not all elevator users assigned to the elevator have entered the elevator, by, for example, going only for purposes that correspond to the actually transported elevator users.

Inventio AG

Proxy

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EP 2 033 926 B1