Description

The invention relates to a method, a computer program and a computer-readable medium for configuring an elevator control system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a configuration system for an elevator control system.

Modern elevator systems have a control system that usually comprises many devices interconnected by a communication network. Usually, for saving electrical cable, the communication network is provided by one or more busses. In such a bus, many devices may communicate serially with each other and with a central controller. The control system may have many of the same devices, each one capable of providing the same function. But often, the exact function of the device it provides is based on its physical location and/or inputs or outputs connected to the device. An example for such a device is a push button for calling an elevator, which may be provided as the same physical device on every floor.

This physical device may have to be configured after installation, such it knows its location and possible further configuration data, which may have to be used in the communication with the central controller. Some devices allow a direct configuration, which may be performed with mechanical switches on board of the device.

For example, EP 2 342 152 Al and WO 2014 116 182 Al describe the structure of control systems for elevators.

There may be a need for a less complicated and less time consuming configuration of an elevator control system.

Such a need may be met by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further exemplary embodiments are evident from the dependent claims and the following description.

KU:SY A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for configuring an elevator control system. Usually, an elevator system may be composed of mechanical and electronic devices. The elevator control system may refer to the electronic devices, which control the mechanical devices. The term configuring may relate to a process or method, in which the electronic devices, after installation at their final position, are individualized, reprogrammed and/or adapted for their dedicated functionality.

Usually, the electronic devices are network devices, i.e. devices, which are adapted to communicate with each other via a communication network of the elevator system. During installation, a network device also may be interconnected with the communication network.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises: scanning, with a mobile device, a computer-readable graphical code provided on a network device of the elevator control system; determining a unique identifier for the network device by evaluating the computer-readable graphical code; inputting configuration data for the network device into the mobile device; sending the unique identifier and the

configuration data for the network device to a central controller of the elevator control system; and configuring the network device with the central controller via a fixedly installed communication network interconnecting the network device and the central controller based on the configuration data.

After installation of the network device, a technician may scan a graphical code on the network device and may input configuration data concerning the network device into the mobile device. For example, the network device may be a display, which is attached near an elevator door and which shows the current position of the elevator. It also may be possible that the network device is a device with a push button near an elevator door for calling the elevator. In both cases, the graphical code may be provided on a housing of the device, the technician may scan the graphical code and may input the floor number into the mobile device, where the two devices are located.

The mobile device may be a handheld device such as a smartphone or a tablet computer. It also may be possible that the mobile device is a laptop computer. In general, the mobile device needs a scanner device for scanning the graphical code, such as a bar code scanner or a camera and/or a communication interface, such as a Bluetooth © interface, for communicating with the central controller.

After the graphical code is scanned, the mobile device may evaluate the graphical code and may determine a unique identifier for the network device. The unique identifier may be a number or an alphanumerical code for identifying the network device. Usually, the graphical code may have been attached on the network device already in factory, where also the unique identifier may have been encoded into the graphical code and/or the unique identifier was programmed into the network device.

After one or more network devices have been scanned and configuration data has been input for these network devices into the mobile device, the configuration data for these network devices associated with the unique identifier may be uploaded into the central controller. The central controller may be a controller of the elevator system that is connected to all network devices via a communication network. Furthermore, the central controller also may provide the uppermost control functionality of the elevator system, such as sending elevators to specific floors based on calls received from push buttons at these floors.

For example, an application on a smartphone may be used for scanning and evaluating the graphical code on each network device. It also may be possible that a local database is created by the application from the unique identifiers and the input configuration data. After all network devices have been scanned and configuration data have been entered, the local database may be uploaded from the mobile device into the controller. This may be performed directly via a direct communication link between the mobile device and the central controller. It also may be possible that both the central controller and the mobile device are connected to the Internet and the configuration data with the unique identifiers are sent via Internet from the mobile device to the central controller.

After also the communication network has been installed, the central controller may use the unique identifier and the configuration data stored therewith to configure the corresponding network device. For example, the central controller may use the unique identifier to identify the network device and to upload its configuration data to the network device. The unique identifier may be used to recognize the respective network device on the communication network. It has to be noted that the communication network is fixedly installed, i.e. remains in use after the configuration of the elevator control system. Contrary to this, the communication link between the mobile device and the central controller may be temporary.

With this method, a network device does not need any hardware that is used for configuring it. Also, a technician does not have to have special knowledge about configuring a specific network device. Furthermore, a technician does not need to pay attention, which one of nearly identical devices has to be installed at a specific location.

This will save time and hardware cost.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer-readable graphical code was applied to the network device, before the installation of the network device. For example, the computer-readable graphical code was applied to the network device during manufacturing. It may be that devices identical in hardware are provided with different unique identifiers already during manufacturing. These unique identifiers may be encoded into a graphical code, which also may contain further information about the network device, such as configuration possibilities.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer-readable graphical code is a QR © code or a bar code. In general, every possible graphical code may be used for encoding the unique identifier. According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique identifier is unique at least for the elevator control system. One possibility is that the unique identifiers are unique only for the elevator control system. For example, when an elevator system with 10 displays has to be installed, the displays may be provided with 10 different unique IDs and it is not important at which floor a specific display is installed. In the end, the central controller will receive the unique identifiers for the 10 displays and will inform the displays about their position based on the configuration data received from the mobile device.

Another possibility is that the unique identifier is unique with respect to a large number of elevator systems. For example, the unique identifier may be worldwide unique. For example, the unique identifier may comprise a type and a serial number of the network device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the configuration data comprises a floor number of the network device. As already mentioned, the configuration data may encode a position of the network device. This may be a floor number, a relative position to an elevator door (such as left, right, above, etc.) and/or a specific elevator, when the elevator system has more than one elevator. In general, there may be one or more devices on each floor of the building in which the elevator system is installed, all connected to the same communication network.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the configuration data comprises information of the electrical interconnection of the network device with further devices. Another type of configuration data is the hardware configuration of the network device. For example, a network device may provide interconnections to other devices (not necessarily connected to the communication network). An example may be a controller to which two or more different push buttons may be connected.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises: reading device data for the network device from a device information database based on the unique identifier. For example, the device data may contain information about configuration possibilities of the network device. Furthermore, the device data may comprise information on identifying the network device on the communication network, such as an Ethernet address. Also, other device related information such as a name, a manufacturing data, a type number, etc. may be contained in the device data.

The device data may be read by the mobile device and/or the central controller.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises: configuring the network device based on the device data. For example, the central controller may read a network identifier for the network device from the device information database based on the unique identifier. Furthermore, the central controller may receive information about configuration needs and/or possibilities from the device information database, and/or how the network device may be configured. According to an embodiment of the invention, the device information database stores device data for devices of a plurality of elevator systems. The device information database may be remote from the elevator system and the mobile device and/or the central controller may access the device information database via Internet. The device data in the device information database may have been included into the device information database by a manufacture of the network device. For example, when the network device is manufactured and provided with the unique identifier, also the corresponding device data may be sent to the device information database.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the network device is identified by the central controller in the fixedly installed communication network based on the unique identifier and/or device data received from a device information database based on the unique identifier. A network identifier or network address may be directly encoded into the unique identifier, the graphical code and/or may be received from the device information database.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique identifier and the associated configuration data for the network device is sent from the mobile device to the central controller. For example, the central controller and the mobile device may be connected via a further communication network like the Internet. It also may be possible that the mobile device stores the configuration data in the device information database and that the central controller receives the configuration data from the device information database.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fixedly installed communication network comprises at least one communication bus to which at least two network devices are connected. For example, a communication bus may be installed in one or some elevator shafts. The central controller and the network devices then may be connected to these communication busses. For example, such a communication bus may be a CAN bus or may be based on Ethernet. The communication bus and/or the communication network may be based on wires. According to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of network devices are interconnected via at least one fixedly installed communication network with the central controller, wherein a computer-readable graphical code is scanned and evaluated for each of the network devices for determining a unique identifier for each of the network devices, wherein configuration data is input for each of the network devices, associated with the respective unique identifier and sent to the central controller, and wherein each of the network devices is configured by the central controller based on the configuration data. The scanning an inputting of configuration data of all network devices may be performed before, the complete data is sent to the central controller and all network devices are configured.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program for configuring an elevator control system, which, when being executed by at least one processor, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method as described in the above and in the following. This computer program may be executed by the mobile device and/or the central controller.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer program comprises an application for a mobile device adapted for: scanning a computer-readable graphical code provided on a network device of the elevator control system; determining a unique identifier for the network device by evaluating the computer-readable graphical code; and receiving configuration data for the network device input by a user into the mobile device.

It may be possible that the mobile device application is aware of different types of network devices and/or provides different user interfaces for different network devices. In such a case, different sets of configuration data may be input into the mobile device for different network devices.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the computer program comprises an application for a central controller adapted for: receiving the unique identifier and the configuration data for the network device; and configuring the network device via a fixedly installed communication network interconnecting the network device and the central controller based on the configuration data. The application for the central controller may be a software module of the controller. A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, in which such a computer program is stored. A computer-readable medium may be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an USB (Universal Serial Bus) storage device, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a FLASH memory. A computer-readable medium may also be a communication network, e.g. the Internet, which allows downloading a program code. In general, the computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory or transitory medium.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a configuration system for an elevator control system, which comprises a mobile device, a central controller of the elevator control system, and optionally a device information database. The mobile device and the central controller may be adapted for performing the method as described in the above and in the following and/or may comprise the computer program as described in the above and in the following.

It has to be understood that features of the method as described in the above and in the following may be features of the computer program and/or the configuration system as described in the above and in the following, and vice versa.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Below, embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 schematically shows an elevator system with a configuration system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram with data transmitted in the elevator system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram for a method for configuring an elevator control system according to an embodiment of the invention. The reference symbols used in the drawings, and their meanings, are listed in summary form in the list of reference symbols. In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows an elevator system 10 comprising two elevator shafts 12, in which two elevator cabins 14 are moved by drives 16. In every floor 18, the elevator system 10 comprises an elevator door 20 for each elevator cabin 14. The drives 16 and doors 20 are controlled by a central controller 22.

The central controller 22 is part of an elevator control system 24, which comprises further network devices 26, which are connected via a communication network 28 with the central controller 22. Also controllers of the drives 16 and the doors may be seen as network devices 26. As examples for network devices 26, floor displays 26a and floor push button devices 26b are shown.

The communication network 28 comprises several communication busses 30. The network devices 26 are connected in series to the busses 30.

Furthermore, every network device 26 carries a computer-readable graphical code 32, such as a QR code or bar code that may be scanned and evaluated by a mobile device 34, such as a smartphone, tablet computer or laptop.

As will be explained in more detail with respect to Fig. 3, after installation of a network device 26, a technician may scan the graphical code 32 with the mobile device 34, which then evaluates the graphical code 32 and determines a unique identifier 42 from the graphical code 32 (see Fig. 2). The technician then inputs configuration data 44 of the network device 26 into the mobile device 34, which is stored together with the unique identifier 42.

After the technician has scanned and described all network devices 26 in this manner, he may send the unique identifiers 42 together with the configuration data 44 to the central controller 22, which then configures the corresponding network devices 26 accordingly. The central controller 22 and the mobile device 34 may be communicatively

interconnected with a communication connection different from the communication network 28, for example via Bluetooth © and/or Internet.

It may be possible that the central controller 22 and/or the mobile device 34 loads device data 46 (see Fig. 2) for one or more of the network device 26 from a remote device information database 36. The central controller 22 and/or the mobile device 34 may be communicatively interconnected with the device information database 36 via Internet. For example, the unique identifier 42, the configuration data 44 and the device data 46 may be stored in a local database 48, that may be provided in the mobile device 34 and/or the central controller 22.

The scanning and evaluation of the graphical codes 32 as well as a user interface for receiving input for the configuration data 44 may be performed by an application 38 executed in the mobile device 34. The application 38 may be adapted to communicate with an application 40 or software module 40 executed in the central controller 22, which application 40 then may perform the configuration of the network devices 26.

Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram for a method for configuring an elevator control system 24. The method may be performed by the mobile device 34 and the central controller 22. Thus, the mobile device 34 and the central controller 22 may be seen as a configuration system of the elevator system 10. Also, the device information database 36 may be part of this configuration system.

Step S10 of the method concerns the manufacturing of the network devices 26. In step S10, a network device 26 is provided with a unique identifier 42 that for example may be world-wide unique. For example, the unique identifier 42 may be based on a type and/or a series number of the network device 26.

However, it also may be possible that the unique identifier 42 is provided to the network device 26 during packaging. For example, it may be possible that the unique identifier 42 is only unique for the network devices 26 dedicated for a specific elevator system 10. Additionally, the network device 26 is provided with a graphical code 32, in which the unique identifier 42 is encoded. For example, such a graphical code 32 may be attached via a sticker to the network device 26 or may be printed directly on a housing of the network device 26.

The unique identifier 42 may be stored and/or programmed into the network device 26 already during manufacturing and/or packaging. Also, the graphical code 32 may be attached to the network device 26 during manufacturing and/or packaging. In summary, the unique identifier 42 may be generated and/or the graphical code 32 may be applied to the network device 26, before the installation of the network device 26 in the elevator system 10.

Furthermore, the unique identifier 42 together with further device data 46 may be stored into the device information database 36. For example, the further device data may comprise a name, a type, a series number, a manufacturing date and/or configuration possibilities of the network device 26. It has to be noted that the device information database 36 may store device data 46 for network devices 26 of a plurality of elevator systems 10, for example, for all network devices 10 manufactured.

In step SI 2, the network devices 26 of the elevator system 10 are installed. For example, a technician may install identical displays 26a and identical button devices 26b, where needed. It also may be possible that the communication network 28 is installed and that the network devices 26 are physically connected with the lines of the communication network 28.

In step SI 4, the graphical codes 32 of the installed network devices 26 are scanned with the mobile device 34. The mobile device 34 may comprise a camera or a bar code scanner for scanning the graphical code 32. The scanning of a graphical code 32 may be performed directly after the installation of the corresponding network device 26.

However, it also may be possible that the scanning is performed after all network devices 26 have been installed, for example by a different service technician.

After the scanning, the mobile device 34 determines the unique identifier 42 for the network device 26 by evaluating the computer-readable graphical code 32. It also may be possible that the mobile device 34 then connects to the device information database 36 and downloads further device data 46 from the device information database 36 with the aid of the determined unique identifier 42. In step SI 6, configuration data 44 for the scanned network device 26 is input into the mobile device 34. Like the scanning, the inputting of configuration data 44 may be performed directly after the installation of the corresponding network device 26.

However, it also may be possible that the inputting of configuration data 44 is performed after all network devices 26 have been installed, for example by a different service technician.

The mobile device 34 may provide a user interface for inputting the configuration data 44. The mobile device 34 may provide different user interfaces for different types of network devices 26, which may have different configuration properties. Such configuration properties may be requested from the device information database 36.

For example, in the case of a display 26a, the configuration data 44 may comprise a floor number of the display 26a and optionally an elevator cabin 14, the display 26a is associated with.

It also may be possible that the configuration data 44 comprises information of the electrical interconnection of the network device 26 with further devices. For example, in the case of a button device 26b, different buttons may be connected to the button device and the configuration data 44 may describe which button (such as "up", "down", "call", etc.) is connected with which input of the button device 26b.

In step SI 8, the mobile device 34 sends the unique identifier 42 and the configuration data 44 for the network device 26 to the central controller 22. It may be possible that the configuration data 44 and the unique identifier 42 of a network device 26 is immediately sent to the central controller 22 after the inputting of configuration data 44.

However, it also may be possible that the mobile device 34 creates a local database 48 from all unique identifiers 42 and all configuration data 44 of the already scanned network devices 26. After all network devices 26 have been processed by the technician, the complete content of the local database 48 may be sent to the central controller 22.

After receiving of the configuration data 44 of a network device, also the central controller 22 may read device data 46 for the network device 26 from the device information database 36 based on the unique identifier 42. For example, the central controller may retrieve a network identification of the network device 26, such as an Ethernet address.

In step S20, the network device 26 is configured by the central controller 22 via the communication network 28 based on the configuration data 44. The network device 26 may be identified by the central controller 22 in the communication network 28 based on the unique identifier 42 and/or device data 46 received from the device information database 36 based on the unique identifier 42.

For example, the central controller 22 may identify and connect to a display 26a and may tell the display 26a the floor number that was input by the technician into the mobile device 34, when generating the configuration data 44 of the display 26a. Also, the central controller 22 may identify and connect to a button device 26b. The central controller 22 then may program into the button device 26b, which type of button is connected with its respective input.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or controller or other unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope. List of reference symbols

10 elevator system

12 elevator shaft

14 elevator cabin

16 drive

18 floor

20 elevator door

22 central controller

24 elevator control system

26 network device

28 communication network

30 communication bus

32 graphical code

34 mobile device

36 device information database

38 application in mobile device

40 application in central controller

42 unique identifier

44 configuration data

46 device data

48 local database