The present application relates to the field of elevator systems .

BACKGROUND

An elevator system may comprise one or more elevators serving a plurality of floors. Depending on the time of the day and floor, each of the floors may be used by passengers a bit differently. Further, if a passenger travels to a floor, for example, late in the evening, the lights at the floor may have already been switched off. The lighting at the floor is normally controlled independently by a lighting control system or a building management system.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a method that comprises obtaining, by a controller of an elevator system, a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator; and causing transmission, by the controller, of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, causing transmission, by the controller, of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event, comprises causing transmission of the message to change the light color of the lighting at the location.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, causing transmission, by the controller, of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event, comprises causing transmission of the message to change the brightness of the lighting at the location.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the trigger event comprises an elevator call to a landing floor at the location.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the trigger event comprises an event associated with an elevator system element.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, he obtaining a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator, comprises obtaining the trigger event associated with the location associated with the at least one elevator from an external entity, the trigger event indicating an event identified based on data provided by a surveillance system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the external entity comprises a cloud service node associated with the elevator system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the external entity comprises the surveillance system.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a controller of an elevator system, the controller comprising means for obtaining of an elevator system, a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator; and means for causing transmission of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event. In an implementation form of the second aspect, the means for causing transmission are configured to cause transmission of the message to change the light color of the lighting at the location.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the means for causing transmission are configured to cause transmission of the message to change the brightness of the lighting at the location.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the trigger event comprises an elevator call to a landing floor at the location.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the trigger event comprises an event associated with an elevator system element.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the means for obtaining are configured to obtain the trigger event associated with the location associated with the at least one elevator from an external entity, the trigger event indicating an event identified based on data provided by a surveillance system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the external entity comprises a cloud service node associated with the elevator system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the external entity comprises the surveillance system.

According to a third aspect, there is provided an elevator system comprising at least one elevator and the controller of the second aspect. According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising program code, which when executed by at least one processing unit, causes the controller of the second aspect to perform the method of the first aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable medium comprising a computer program comprising program code which when executed by at least one processing unit, causes the controller of the second aspect to perform the method of the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a controller of an elevator system. The controller comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor. The at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to obtain a sensor event associated with a location in a building; and change the state of an least one elevator associated with the location from an idle state to an active state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings :

FIG. 1A illustrates a system according to an example embodiment .

FIG. IB illustrates a system according to an example embodiment . FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a controller of an elevator system according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following some example embodiments may illustrate a solution in which a controller of an elevator system, for example, an elevator controller, may obtain a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator, and cause transmission of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event. The expression "lighting at the location" may refer, for example, to at least one light closest to the location, or to one or more lights within a predetermined distance from the location. This may enable a solution in which there is a link between the elevator system and the lighting system, and the elevator system is able to control lighting at locations associated with one more elevators based on various predetermined trigger events.

FIG. 1A illustrates a system according to an example embodiment .

The system comprises three elevator 102A, 102B, 102C.

Each elevator 102A, 102B, 102C is associated with a corresponding signaling device 104A, 104B, 104C. The signaling device 104A, 104B, 104C may allow, for example, up/down calls.

The space around the elevators 102A, 102B, 102C also comprises one or more lights 106A, 106B, 106C, which are controllable, for example, by a lighting system 110 or a building management system. An elevator controller 100 may be connected to the lighting system 110 directly, or alternatively, the connection may be implemented via a cloud service 108.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example embodiment in which the elevator controller 100 has allocated an elevator call to the elevator 102C to transport a passenger to a desired floor. In an example embodiment, the passenger may have given a car call in the elevator 102C. Alternatively, if the elevator is controlled by destination calls, the passenger may have given the call as a destination call to the floor. The elevator controller 100 may use the elevator call as a trigger event associated with a location (i.e. the destination floor of the elevator call). At some point, before or after the elevator car arrives at the destination floor, the elevator controller 100 is configured to cause transmission of a message intended for a lighting system 100 to adapt lighting at the destination floor based on the trigger event. The message may be sent directly to the lighting system 110, or to the cloud service 108 which then instructs the lighting system 110.

In an example embodiment, the message may instruct to change the light color of the lighting at the location. In another example embodiment, the message may instruct to change the brightness (from 50% to 70% in this example) of the lighting at the location. In another example embodiment, the message may instruct to switch on at least one of the lights 106A, 106B, 106C if they are currently switched off. In response to the message, the lighting system 110 is configured to adapt the lighting at the destination floor at a landing area by controlling at least one of the lights 106A, 106B, 106C.

In another example embodiment, the trigger event may refer to some other event than the elevator call. Some sensor or sensors (for example, an elevator door sensor) associated with the elevator system may provide an indication about an abnormal situation (for example, someone is staying too near to the landing door). The elevator controller 100 may be configured to send a message to the lighting system 110 to change the coloring of at least one light and/or temporary flashing at least one light at the location to increase other users' attention. In another example embodiment, someone may be touching a destination operating panel multiple times without an intention to make a destination call. Again, the elevator controller 100 may be configured to send a message to the lighting system 110 to change the coloring of at least one light and/or temporary flashing at least one light at the location to increase other users' attention.

FIG. IB illustrates a system according to another example embodiment.

In the example illustrated in FIG. IB, a controller, for example, an elevator controller 100, may obtain a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator 102A, 102B, 102C. The trigger event may be based, for example, on image data recorded by at least one camera 116. The image data from the camera 116 may be analyzed by a surveillance system 116. The analysis may indicate, for example, an abnormal situation by a passenger 118 between landing doors of the elevator 102A or that a passenger is touching one of the destination operating panels 112A, 112B, 112C too many times. The trigger event may be received, for example, from a cloud service 108 connected to the surveillance system 114, or directly from the surveillance system 114. Based on the trigger event, the controller 100 may be configured to cause transmission of a message to a lighting system 110 to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event using at least one light 106A, 106B. The message may cause the lighting system to change the coloring of the light 106A and/or temporary flashing the light 106A to increase the other users' attention.

The surveillance system 114 may be a built-in element of the elevator system or an external system connected to the elevator system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method according to an example embodiment.

At 200, the method may comprise obtaining, by a controller of an elevator system, a trigger event associated with a location associated with at least one elevator .

At 202, the method may comprise causing transmission, by the controller, of a message intended for a lighting system to adapt lighting at the location based on the trigger event.

The method may be implemented, for example, by the elevator controller 100 of FIGS. 1A-1B.

FIG. 3 illustrates a controller 300 of an elevator system according to an example embodiment. The controller 300 may be, for example, an elevator controller of an elevator system. The controller 300 may comprise at least one processor 302. The controller 300 may further comprise at least one memory 304. The memory 304 may comprise program code 306 which, when executed by the processor 302 causes the controller 300 to perform at least one example embodiment. The exemplary embodiments and aspects of the subject-matter can be included within any suitable device, for example, including, servers, elevator controllers, workstations, capable of performing the processes of the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments may also store information relating to various processes described herein. Although the controller 300 is illustrated as a single device it is appreciated that, wherever applicable, functions of the controller 300 may be distributed to a plurality of devices.

Example embodiments may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic. The example embodiments can store information relating to various methods described herein. This information can be stored in one or more memories 304, such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, and the like. One or more databases can store the information used to implement the example embodiments. The databases can be organized using data structures (e.g., records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, and the like) included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein. The methods described with respect to the example embodiments can include appropriate data structures for storing data collected and/or generated by the methods of the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments in one or more databases.

The processor 302 may comprise one or more general purpose processors, microprocessors, digital signal processors, micro-controllers, and the like, programmed according to the teachings of the example embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the computer and/or software art(s). Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinary skill based on the teachings of the example embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the software art. In addition, the example embodiments may be implemented by the preparation of application-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the electrical art(s). Thus, the examples are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and/or software. Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media, the examples can include software for controlling the components of the example embodiments, for driving the components of the example embodiments, for enabling the components of the example embodiments to interact with a human user, and the like. Such computer readable media further can include a computer program for performing all or a portion (if processing is distributed) of the processing performed in implementing the example embodiments. Computer code devices of the examples may include any suitable interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Java classes and applets, complete executable programs, and the like.

As stated above, the components of the example embodiments may include computer readable medium or memories 304 for holding instructions programmed according to the teachings and for holding data structures, tables, records, and/or other data described herein. In an example embodiment, the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. A computer-readable medium may include a computer- readable storage medium that may be any media or means that can contain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. A computer readable medium can include any suitable medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a medium can take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, and the like.

The controller 300 may comprise a communication interface 308 configured to enable the controller 300 to transmit and/or receive information, to/from other apparatuses and/or elements associated with an elevator system.

The controller 300 may comprise means for performing at least one method discussed herein. In one example, the means may comprise the at least one processor 302, the at least one memory 304 including program code 306 configured to, when executed by the at least one processor 302, cause the controller 300 to perform the method discussed hereon.

At least some of the examples and example embodiments may enable to a solution in which elevator system energy efficiency is improved. Further, at least some of the examples and example embodiments may enable to a solution in which passenger flow is improved as an elevator or elevators can be activated when a passenger approaching the elevator is detected.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the claims. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiments may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus- function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures .

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features, to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole, in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims. The applicant indicates that the disclosed aspects/embodiments may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.