FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to user guidance systems for providing user guidance in a building or structure. In particular, however not exclusively, the present invention concerns a user guidance system utilized in connection with an elevator system.

BACKGROUND

A person entering a building, especially a large building, for the first time faces the problem of how to reach one’s particular destination inside the building. There may be signs on the wall listing various locations, such as a building tenant list with floor information, however, it might be that the destination is not visible or not at least easily recognizable.

In case of tall buildings having multiple floors, the path to the destination typically includes moving from the entry floor to another floor of the building. Furthermore, this may mean that an elevator of the building can be utilized. As a result, the person can often be lost in new building lobby area and by that way disturbs the elevator traffic especially during the rush hours (mornings, lunch time and evening).

In the known solutions, the person, even if he would get information about the floor number regarding his/her destination, does not get any information about the actual route or path via which he can efficiently reach the destination.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide a user guidance system for providing user guidance in a building or structure, an elevator system, and a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure. Another objective of the present invention is that the user guidance system, the elevator system, and the method provide guidance in a non-contact way to the persons, or users, when they try to find the route to their destination in the building, thus not requiring touching of possibly contaminated surface(s).

The objectives of the invention are reached by a user guidance system for providing user guidance in a building or structure, an elevator system, and a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure as defined by the respective independent claims. According to a first aspect, a user guidance system for providing user guidance, such as to one or several users, in a building, such as a multistorey building, or structure is provided. The user guidance system comprises an elevator system control unit and a user interface unit. The user interface unit comprises a non-contact input device for receiving an input from a user in a non-contact manner, a processing unit configured to identify a user destination based on the input and to determine a guidance action for guiding the user to the user destination, and an output device arranged to provide guidance to the user in a non-contact manner in accordance with the determined guidance action. Furthermore, the user interface unit is connected to the elevator system control unit and is arranged to provide a command signal based on the determined guidance action to the elevator system control unit via said connection between the user interface unit and the elevator system control unit.

Definition “building or structure” refers herein to any location into which a person can enter and may need guidance to reach his/her destination. Term “building” refers to manmade structure, such as a multistorey building, typically having roof and walls etc. However, the “building or structure” can also be more open structure, for example, not having a roof. The user guidance system may thus be utilized in places other than typical buildings. The “building or structure” may also refer to a set of buildings having connection corridor(s) therebetween. On the other hand, the building or structure may be a warehouse or a multistorey car park which may or may not have walls and/or roof in every portion of the exterior thereof.

In various embodiments, the user destination may include address or coordinate information about a location in the building or structure, wherein the user guidance system is arranged to operate in connection with the building or structure to guide users therein. The address or coordinate information may define the location with at least two coordinates, such as with a vertical, and/or one or two horizontal coordinates.

Furthermore, the user destination may, preferably, be external relative to an elevator system and landings thereof, wherein the elevator system is arranged at least functionally in connection with the elevator system control unit. Thus, the user destination may be a space, a room, or an apartment in a floor of the building or structure, preferably, of many spaces, rooms, or apartments in that floor.

In various embodiments, the determining of the guidance action may be based comparing the identified user destination with stored information in a database including address or coordinate information about locations in the building or structure. Alternatively or in addition, the determining of the guidance action may comprise routing a path between a location of the user interface unit and a location of the identified user destination in the building or structure.

The user interface unit may be configured to determine access right granted to the user.

In some embodiments, the determining of the guidance action may comprise determining access restrictions along the path. The access restrictions may include one selected from the group consisting of: no restrictions, an access restriction for the user, a general access restriction due to at least a portion of the path being unavailable, such as due to maintenance work. Furthermore, the determining of the guidance action may comprise re-routing the path in case of the access restriction for the user or the general access restriction.

In various embodiments, the user guidance system may be configured to grant the user access right or rights related to the path. Furthermore, the access right or rights may be provided digitally, such as to a mobile terminal of the user, or physically, such as, as a wirelessly readable tag.

In some embodiments, the user interface unit may be configured to request an authorized entity to provide the access right or rights to the user.

Alternatively or in addition, the determining of the guidance action may comprise out- putting a request to the user by the user interface unit regarding whether an elevator system is to be used for reaching the user destination.

The elevator system control unit may be configured to control operation of one or a plurality of movable units, such as elevator cars, of the elevator system.

The user guidance system may comprise an access gate arranged between the user interface unit and an elevator landing, wherein the user interface unit is connected to the access gate.

Alternatively or in addition, the elevator system control unit may be configured to control access to or through various devices, such as to an elevator car and/or through an access gate, at the site of the elevator system.

In various embodiments, the user guidance system may comprise the database including information, such as address or coordinate information, about one or a plurality of locations of in the building or structure. The database may be a local database or on an external server, such as a cloud server. Furthermore, the information may include information about a floor number of the location or locations, and a further location information outside the elevator system and landings thereof. Still further, the information may include information about a position of the location or locations relative to the elevator system, such as a direction and/or distance.

The non-contact input device may comprise an audio sensor. The audio sensor may be a microphone. Alternatively or in addition, the non-contact input device may comprise an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be a camera or a motion detector. Thus, the input may be received, for example, as spoken words via a microphone, or as gestures or the like being recorded by an optical sensor, such as a camera. The latter is especially useful for persons with mutism.

The user interface unit may be arranged at a landing floor of the elevator system. Preferably, the user interface unit is arranged at a lobby or entry floor of a multistorey building.

Alternatively or in addition, the user interface unit may be arranged to a car operator panel, a landing operator panel, a destination operator panel, a destination control system, or a landing call station of the elevator system.

The output device may comprise a speaker. Alternatively or in addition, the output device may comprise a display.

In some embodiments, the guidance may include information about an alternative route to the destination with respect to the use of the elevator system to the one or the plurality of locations. Furthermore, the guidance may include information about one or more escalators, or one or more stairs providing the alternative route.

According to a second aspect, an elevator system is provided. The elevator system comprises one or a plurality of movable units, such as elevator cars, movable in one or a plurality of elevator shafts, and a user guidance system in accordance with the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure is provided. The method comprises: receiving an input from a user in a non-contact manner by a user interface unit, identifying a user destination related to a location of the building or structure based on the input by the user interface unit, determining a guidance action based on the identified user destination, and providing guidance to the user in a non-contact manner in accordance with the guidance action.

The present invention provides a user guidance system for providing user guidance in a building or structure, an elevator system, and a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure. The present invention provides advantages over known solutions in that it smoothens user’s experience and reduces stress and hassle from newcomers and visitors when they try to find correct route to their destination from the entry point of the building, such as from elevator lobby area or nearby that. The system can be configured for various use cases. The user interface unit can be separate device or integrated to existing elevator call giving devices.

Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.

The expression "a plurality of’ may refer to any positive integer starting from two (2), that is being two, at least two, three, or at least three, etc.

The terms “first”, “second” and “third” are herein used to distinguish one element from other element, and not to specially prioritize or order them, if not otherwise explicitly stated.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 illustrates schematically a user guidance system in connection with an elevator system.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a user interface unit of the user guidance system.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a user interface unit of the user guidance system at an elevator landing or just adjacent thereto.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a user interface unit of the user guidance system receiving an input from a user in a non-contact manner, namely by the user speaking out loud.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate schematically examples of a user interface unit of the user guidance system providing guidance to a user in a non-contact manner.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a user guidance system 100 in connection with an elevator system 200. 1. The user guidance system 100 comprises at least a communication connection with an elevator system control unit 10. The user guidance system 100 further comprises a user interface unit 20. The user interface unit 20 comprises a non-con- tact input device, which may be a microphone and/or a camera, for receiving an input from a user 5 in a non-contact manner, and an output device, such as a speaker and/or a display screen, arranged to provide guidance to the user 5 in a non-contact manner in accordance with the determined guidance action. Furthermore, the user guidance system 100 comprises a processing unit, such as in the user interface unit 20 or outside thereof, configured to identify a user destination based on the input and to determine a guidance action for guiding the user 5 to the user destination. Further still, the user interface unit 20 is connected to the elevator system control unit 10 and is arranged to provide a command signal based on the determined guidance action to the elevator system control unit 10 via said connection between the user interface unit 20 and the elevator system control unit 10.

The user destination preferably includes address or coordinate information about a location in the building or structure, with which the user guidance system is arranged to operate in connection with to guide users therein. The user destination may preferably be external relative to an elevator system 200 and landings 15 thereof, such as being is a space, a room, or an apartment in a floor within the building.

The elevator system 200 may in various embodiments be arranged at least functionally in connection with the elevator system control unit 10 so that the elevator system control unit 10 may provide commands or even directly control the operation of the elevator system 200. Thus, in some embodiments, the elevator system control unit 10 may be part of the elevator system 200 also.

Figure 1 also illustrate an optional access control device or system 30. The control access device or system 30, such as comprising information about access restriction in the building, may be utilized in the user guidance system 100.

Fig. 1 shows, as a matter of fact, two examples which may be alternative implementations or may be both implemented. The first example is a local user guidance system 100. In this case, the user interface unit 20 may also comprise the processing unit, for instance. Furthermore, the user interface unit 20 may also comprise the database having location information about the building or structure. Still further, the user interface unit 20 may be locally connected to the elevator system control unit 10 as well as the optional access control system 30, if any.

The second example is the upper path marked with dashed line. In the second example, the user interface unit 20 may be connected to an optional external server 50, such as a cloud server. The external server 50 may comprise the processing unit. Alternatively or in addition, the external server 50 may be configured to identify a user destination based on the input, for instance, such as based on speech recognition algorithm or the like. Furthermore, the optional access control system 30 may also reside or be executed/run on a second external server, such as a cloud server. Still further, there may be an external elevator system controller 40, such as a cloud server, in which elevator system specific data is stored. The external elevator system controller 40 may be configured to identify a user destination based on the input, such as by speech recognition algorithm, and to determine a guidance action for guiding the user to the user destination, since there is sufficient information stored therein. The external elevator system controller 40 may be connected to the elevator system control unit 10 via an optional connectivity interface or device 45.

Thus, in view of the first and second examples as described hereinabove, the user guidance system 100 may be local, external relative to the elevator system 200 and the building, and a combination thereof. For example, the speech recognition may be performed on an external server 50, and the result thereof transmitted back to the local user interface unit 20. Then the process may be continued locally, such as including determination of the guidance action, and providing the guidance. On the other hand, only the database having location information about the building may be on an external server 50 or the external elevator system controller 40, however, other features are performed locally.

As further shown in Fig. 1, the elevator system control unit 10 may comprise or be configured to operate one or several elevator controllers 12. In case of several elevator controllers 12, the controllers 12 may themselves control operation of individual elevators, or elevator cars 14, of an elevator group. Also, some other elevator components, such as traction sheaves 17, hoisting ropes 18, and counterweights 19 are shown which are known to a skilled person in the art. It is hereby noted that the elevator system 200 may alternatively be based on hydraulics or linear motor instead of components shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a user interface unit 20 of the user guidance system 100. There may be a non-contact input device which may comprise an audio sensor 24. The audio sensor may be a microphone. Alternatively or in addition, the non-contact input device may comprise an optical sensor 26. The optical sensor may be a camera or a motion detector. There may also be an output device which may comprise a speaker 22. Alternatively or in addition, the output device may comprise a display 28.

The user interface unit 20 may be arranged at a landing floor of the elevator system 200. The landing floor refers to the whole floor served by the elevator system 200. Preferably, the user interface unit 20 is arranged at a lobby or entry floor of a multistorey building.

In various embodiments, the determining of the guidance action may be based a comparison of the identified user destination with stored information in a database including address or coordinate information about locations in the building or structure. The database may be a local database, such as run on the user interface unit 20 or the user guidance system 100. On the other hand, the database may be run on an external server, such as a cloud server, to which the user guidance system 100 is arranged in connection with.

In addition or alternatively, the determining of the guidance action may comprises routing a path between a location of the user interface unit 20 and a location of the identified user destination in the building or structure. The path may be visually shown, such as by the display screen as a kind of a map of the building. Alternatively or in addition, the path may be communicated visually or audibly by the display screen outputting instructions by text, and/or by a speaker outputting the path instructions spoken words. For example, there may be a text shown or a voice saying “use the elevator to go to the second floor and then walk 50 meters to the right”. Thus, in addition to the vertical information concerning the floor number, there is additional information indicating direction and distance from the landing of the elevator at that floor.

The information may thus, in various embodiments, include information about a floor number of the location or locations, and a further location information outside the elevator system and landings thereof. Alternatively or in addition, the information may include information about a position of the location or locations relative to the elevator system 200, such as a direction and/or distance.

In various embodiments, the user interface unit 20 may be configured to determine access right granted to the user 5. In case the user 5 is identified, for example, based on an identification (ID) card, wirelessly readable tag, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, a facial recognition, a near-field communication (NFC) device on a mobile terminal, etc., the determining of the guidance action may then comprise determining access restrictions along the path, such as including one selected from the group consisting of: no restrictions, an access restriction for the user, a general access restriction due to at least a portion of the path being unavailable. Of course, the user interface unit 20 may taken into account paths subject to no restrictions and general access restrictions even without identifying the user 5.

Furthermore, the determining of the guidance action may comprise re-routing the path in case of the access restriction for the user 5 or the general access restriction.

On the other hand, the user guidance system may be configured to grant the user 5 access right or rights related to the path. Thus, the access right or rights may be provided digitally, such as to a mobile terminal of the user (e.g. a QR code, or relative to user’ s 5 NFC device or RFID tag), or physically, for example, as a wirelessly readable tag, which may be RFID tag or a card having microchip, QR code, barcode, or the like.

In some embodiments, the user interface unit may be configured to request an authorized entity to provide the access right or rights to the user 5. Thus, a janitor or the like may bring the wirelessly readable tag to the user 5, or add rights digitally for the user 5.

In various embodiments, the determining of the guidance action may comprise outputting a request to the user 5 by the user interface unit 20, such as by a display screen or a speaker, regarding whether an elevator system 200 is desired to be used for reaching the user destination. Notwithstanding the user's 5 answer, the guidance may include information about an alternative route to the destination with respect to the use of the elevator system to the one or the plurality of locations. Thus, the user interface unit 20 may recommend using stairs or escalators for reaching the destination. This may be especially useful if there is currently a high demand for the elevator system 200. If the destination is one or two or floors above or below, the user 5 may be able to more quickly reach the destination compared to waiting for an elevator car.

The elevator system control unit 10 is, preferably, configured to control operation of one or a plurality of movable units, such as elevator cars, of the elevator system 200. Thus, the elevator system control unit 10 may be configured to receive an elevator command from the user interface unit 20 so that an elevator car is requested to be moved or is in fact being moved to a landing of the floor at which the user 5 is currently located.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a user interface unit 20 of the user guidance system 100 at an elevator landing 15 or just adjacent thereto. In various embodiments, the user interface unit 20 may be arranged to a car operator panel, a landing operator panel, a destination operator panel, a destination control system, or a landing call station of the elevator system, such as visible in Fig. 3. The car operator panel, landing operator panel, destination operator panel, destination control system, and/or the landing call station may also comprise buttons operable by pressing them, that is being user interface elements of the contact type. There may be signs 7 on the wall listing various locations in the building.

In addition, the user guidance system 100 may also an access gate 32 is arranged between the user interface unit 20 and an elevator landing 15, or the elevators, wherein the user interface unit 20 is at least functionally connected to the access gate 32.

Furthermore, the elevator system control unit 10 may be configured to control access to or through various devices, such as to an elevator car 14 and/or through an access gate 32, or turnstile, at the site of the elevator system 200. The access gate 32 may necessarily not reside close to the elevator system 200 but may be arranged anywhere in the building or structure.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a user interface unit 20 of the user guidance system 100 receiving an input from a user in a non-contact manner, namely by the user 5 speaking out loud. There may, as shown in Fig. 4, be instructions provided, such as shown on a display screen or spoken out loud via a speaker, by the user interface unit 20 even before the user 5 gives the input. Figures 5A and 5B illustrate schematically examples of a user interface unit 20 of the user guidance system 100 providing guidance to a user 5 in a non-contact manner. In Fig. 5A, the guidance is given by speech via a speaker. In Fig. 5B, the guidance is outputted by text on a display screen. Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a method for providing user guidance in a building or structure.

Item, or “step”, 600 refers to optional start-up phase of the method. Suitable equipment and components are obtained and systems assembled and configured for operation.

Item 610 refers to receiving an input from a user 5 in a non-contact manner by a user interface unit 20.

Item 620 refers to identifying, by a processing unit, such as comprising a processor and a memory device, a user destination related to a location of the building or structure based on the input, such as comparing to a information of the location in the building being stored in a database. Item 630 refers to determining a guidance action based on the identified user destination.

Item 640 refers to providing, by the user interface unit 20, guidance to the user 5 in a non-contact manner in accordance with the guidance action.

Method execution may be stopped at step 699.