Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6561319
-
Patent Number
6,561,319
-
Date Filed
Thursday, June 27, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 13, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Leydig, Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 187 281
- 187 282
- 187 247
- 187 248
- 340 8532
- 340 501
- 340 502
- 340 503
- 340 504
- 340 81578
- 340 81579
- 340 82506
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An elevator information communication system in which communication cables are reduced in number with a simple configuration to make it possible to efficiently perform at a low cost can be obtained. The elevator information communication system includes a notification device arranged in the elevator system, an information input device for forming notification data to the notification device to input the notification data, and an elevator control device connected to the notification device to output a notification command and having a relay unit connected to the information input device to relay the notification data input from the information input device to the notification device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elevator information communication system for notifying an elevator entrance or the cage of an elevator of information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in an elevator information communication system, two types of data are communicated. One of them is information-system data communication, i.e., notification data, such as a message, and the other is control-system data for communicating a notification command for selecting notification data depending on the state of an elevator, to supply the notification data at a good timing. Since the information-system data includes a message or the like, the information-system data is large in amount, and the time required to change the information-system data may be relatively long. The control-system data consists of predetermined code data or the like. The control-system data is small in amount, and the control-system data is allowed to be delayed slightly.
For this reason, in a conventional elevator information communication system, two types of cables, i.e., a control-system data communication cable and an information-system data communication cable extending to an elevator entrance or the cage of an elevator are arranged according to data which are different in quality, and the different data are communicated through these cables.
A conventional elevator information communication system will be described below with reference to FIG.
33
and
FIGS. 34A and 34B
.
FIG. 33
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of the elevator information communication system, and
FIGS. 34A and 34B
are time charts of communication path data of a control-system cable
6
and an information-system cable
5
of the conventional elevator information communication system. Here, an information input device
1
is constituted by a notebook computer or the like. Data can be input with a keyboard or the like (e.g., a CE connects the personal computer to the information-system cable
5
to perform updating or the like of notification data).
In
FIG. 33
, notification data
200
input by the information input device
1
is input to notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
n
through the information-system cable
5
and stored by storage means
31
-
1
to
31
-
n
. In
FIG. 41
, the notification data
200
consists of a selector
210
for selecting the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
, a command
220
for message updating, time correction, and the like, and data
230
. The data
230
in message updating consists of a message number
231
, a text length
232
, and text data
233
. A serial communication scheme using a start-stop transmission scheme is used as a communication scheme to add BCC data or the like for checking the rationality of communication data.
With respect to a notification command, for example, it is assumed that a message number
3
is defined as a crowded condition notification (corresponding to the message number
231
and the concrete example thereof), an elevator control device
2
detects a crowded condition to output a notification command
100
in which the selector
101
, the command
102
, and the data
103
, are defined as the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage, a message display, and the message number
3
, respectively. This notification command
100
is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the control-system cable
6
. Since the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage is defined as the selector
101
, the message of the message number
3
is displayed by a display means
32
-
1
. On the other hand, the notification command
100
is also input to the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
of the elevator entrance. However, since each of the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
do not correspond to the selector
101
, the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
neglect the notification command
100
and do no t perform any operation.
Here, when the information input device
1
and each of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
are connected to each other at a ratio of 1 : 1, the selector
210
is not necessary, and each of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
returns a reply representing whether reception is normally performed. Data is generally re-output from the information input device
1
to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
in which reception is not normally performed. However, in the configuration in
FIG. 40
, when replies are given by the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
n
, a plurality of replies conflict with each other. For this reason, the replies cannot be identified by the information input device
1
.
In the conflict of replies, a method of changing the response timings of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
from each other or a method of selecting one of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
from the information input device
1
to check them may be used. However, a cumbersome setting must be performed, and a long communication time is disadvantageously required. For this reason, the replies from the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
are eliminated, and data is repeatedly output from the information input device
1
twice, so that the reliability is assured.
An example of the system in which a serial transmission cable in an elevator way is eliminated will be introduced. As described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-87580, a packet transmission control device is installed, notification data from an information input device is stored in the packet transmission control device, and the notification data is transmitted from the packet transmission control device to a notification device when the operation of the elevator is idle. As described in Japanese Patent No. 2700404, fixed information is transmitted as the first series of data, and a block of arbitrary information divided into a plurality of fixed-length blocks is transmitted as the second series of data.
In the conventional elevator information communication system, an information-system cable for transmitting a large amount of notification data such as image data, character data, and audio data and a control-system cable for transmitting a notification command having a small amount of data must be installed in the elevator way. For this reason, the system is very expensive, disadvantageously. In order to output notification data from the information input device to each notification device, the notification data must be repeatedly output twice in vain although transmission error rate is very low.
The scheme described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-87580 is expensive because a packet transmission control device must be additionally installed, and disadvantageously requires a long time to input notification data output from an information input device to notification devices. In a scheme in Japanese Patent No. 2700404, a notification command and notification data are transmitted in a fixed length. For this reason, even if the notification command is not required to be output, the notification data cannot be efficiently transmitted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to obtain an elevator information communication system in which the number of communication cables can be reduced with a simple configuration without arranging a dedicated device such as a packet transmission control device to efficiently perform communication at a low cost.
In consideration of the object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system including a notification device arranged in the elevator system, an information input device for forming notification data to the notification device to input the notification data, and an elevator control device connected to the notification device to output a notification command and having relay means connected to the information input device to relay the notification data input from the information input device to the notification device.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to the first aspect wherein the elevator control device includes switching means for adding non-transmission time and identification data to data and outputting the data in order to identify a notification command from the elevator control device and the notification data from the information input device by the information device.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to the first or second aspect wherein the elevator device includes command means for, when a notification command is generated during outputting of notification data from the information input means, interrupting the outputting of the notification data.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to one of the first to third aspects wherein the elevator control device changes notification data into a packet to output the packet, and the notification device includes restoration means for restoring interrupted notification data into original notification data.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to one of the first to fourth aspects wherein the notification device includes reply means for generating a resending request when input notification data is abnormal, and the information input device includes resending means for resending the notification data according to the resending request.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to one of the first to fifth aspects wherein the information input device includes scanning means for checking a notification device which is powered off and broken, and the notification device includes response means for making a check response to the check.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to the sixth aspect wherein the information input device detects the notification device added by the scanning means, and includes re-output means for further outputting un-output notification data to set necessary notification data in the added notification device.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system including a notification device arranged in the elevator system, an elevator control device connected to the notification device to output a notification command, and an information input device connected to the notification device to form notification data for the notification device and to input the notification, wherein the notification device includes relay means for generating a resending request when the input notification data is abnormal, and the information input device includes resending means for resending the notification data according to the resending request.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system according to the eighth aspect wherein the information input device includes scanning means for checking a notification device which is powered off and broken, and the notification device includes response means for making a check response to the check.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the information input device detects the notification device added by the scanning means, and includes re-output means for further outputting un-output notification data to set necessary notification data in the added notification device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an elevator information communication system according to first, second, third, and fourth embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a flow chart showing the operation of a relay means of an elevator control device according to first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a flow chart showing the operation of a switching means of the elevator control device according to first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a flow chart showing the operation of a identification means of a notification device according to first and third embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a flow chart showing the operation of a switching means of th elevator control device according to second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a flow chart showing the operation of a identification means of a notification device according to second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9
a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11
is a flow chart showing the operation of a command means of an elevator control device according to third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12
is a flow chart showing the operation of a switching means of the elevator control device according to third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15
is a flow chart showing the operation of a relay means of an elevator control device according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16
is a flow chart showing the operation of a switching means of the elevator control device according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17
is a flow chart showing the operation of a identification means of a notification device according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18
is a flow chart showing the operation of a restoration means of the notification device according to fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21
is a time chart of the communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 22
is a flow chart showing the operation of a reply means of a notification device according to fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23
is a flow chart showing the operation of a resending means of a information input device according to fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 25
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to sixth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG
26
is a flow chart showing the operation of a scanning means of an information input device according to sixth and seventh embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 27
is a flow chart showing the operation of a response means of notification device according to sixth and seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 28
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system according to seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 29
is a time chart of communication path data of the elevator information communication system according to seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 30
is a flow chart showing the operation of a recording means of an information input device according to seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 31
is a flow chart showing the operation of a re-output means of an information input device according to seventh embodiment.
FIG. 32
is hows tables of notification data output records of the information input device according to seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 33
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of a conventional elevator information communication system.
FIGS. 34A and 34B
are time charts of communication path data of the conventional elevator information communication system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
First embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 1
to
6
.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system,
FIG. 2
is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the system, and
FIG. 3
is a time chart of communication path data.
FIGS. 4
,
5
, and
6
are flow charts showing the operations in a relay means
20
and a switching means
21
of an elevator control device
2
and an operation in identification means
30
-
1
to
30
-
n
of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
, respectively.
In first embodiment, a 7-bit coding system in which the MSBs (most significant bits) are used as identifiers of a notification command
100
and notification data
200
is used. MBS=1 is satisfied in the notification command
100
, and MBS=0 is satisfied in the notification data
200
. The same reference numerals as in the conventional configuration denote the same parts in the configuration of First embodiment.
In
FIG. 2
, CPUs
10
-
0
to
10
-
n
are central processing units, ROMs
11
-
0
to
11
-
n
are read-only memories in which programs are stored, and RAMs
12
-
0
to
12
-
n
are programmable memories in which operation results or the like are temporarily stored. Input/output I/Fs
13
-
01
to
13
-
n
2
are input/output interfaces for performing voltage level conversion, analog/digital conversion, serial/parallel conversion, and the like, buses
14
-
0
to
14
-
n
are bus (signal lines) groups such as control buses, address buses, and data buses, and displays
15
-
1
to
15
n
are displays for displaying information.
An operation performed when a notification command is transmitted will be described below. When the elevator control device
2
detects a crowded condition (notification condition for a cage, and message number is set to be 3), in
FIG. 1
, the notification command
100
representing “selector
101
=cage, command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” (see
FIG. 34
) is given to the switching means
21
. In S
10
in
FIG. 5
, the notification condition is established (Yes is set), the notification command
100
is output instep S
14
. The notification command
100
is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, an information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
shown in FIG.
2
and then input to the identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
in FIG.
1
.
In the identification means
30
-
1
of the notification device
3
-
1
in the cage, the start selector of received data is of the identification means
30
-
1
in step S
21
in
FIG. 6
, and the MSBs of the second and subsequent bytes are 1 (Yes is set) in step S
22
in FIG.
6
. For this reason, “command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” of the second and subsequent bytes is input as a notification command in step S
23
. This notification command is given to the display means
32
-
1
in
FIG. 1
to display “crowded” on the display
15
-
1
(see FIG.
2
). Although the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
of the elevator entrance receive the same notification command
100
, the selector of the received data is not of the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
in step S
21
in
FIG. 6
(No is determined in step S
21
). For this reason, N (No) is determined in step S
2
-
1
, so that the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
neglect the notification command
100
without any operation.
An operation performed when notification data is transmitted will be described below. A case in which the message number
3
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage is changed into “A parson who lately got into, please get out of the cage” will be described below. In
FIG. 1
, notification data
200
representing “selector
210
=cage, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=3, text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” (see
FIG. 34
) is given to the relay means
20
of the elevator control device
2
.
In the relay means
20
, the received data is stored in a reception buffer (not especially shown) in step S
1
in
FIG. 4
, and the completion of reception of all data is checked by the text length or the like in step S
2
. Upon completion of reception of all the data, the presence/absence of stored data is checked in step S
3
. If there is no stored data, the data of the reception buffer is stored as stored data in a memory (not especially shown) in step S
4
, and the reception buffer is cleared in step S
5
.
In the switching means
21
, since a notification condition is not established (N is set) in step S
10
in
FIG. 5
, and stored data are present (Y is set) in step S
11
, the stored data are sequentially output in step S
12
. Upon completion of the outputting, the stored data are cleared in step S
13
. In
FIG. 2
, the stored data (=notification data) output is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
. As in the notification command
100
described above, in the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage, in
FIG. 6
, Yes is determined in step S
21
, No is determined in step S
22
, and the received data is input as notification data in step S
24
.
FIG. 3
shows the manner of the notification command
100
and the notification data
200
which flow on the information/control-system cable
4
at once. The condition of the notification command after all the notification data from the information input device
1
are stored is not established in the elevator control device
2
, outputting of the notification data is performed. When a notification command is generated during the outputting of the notification data, the notification command is rapidly output after the notification data are output.
As described above, in the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, notification data transmitted from the information input device to the notification device is relayed by the relay means arranged in the elevator control device, so that a dedicated information-system cable for connecting the information input device and the notification device to each other can be omitted.
Second Embodiment
Second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 1
,
2
,
4
,
7
, and
8
.
FIG. 7
is a flow chart showing the operation of a switching means
21
of an elevator control device
2
.
FIG. 8
is a flow chart showing the operation of identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
of notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n.
When the elevator control device
2
detects a crowded condition (notification condition for a cage, and message number is set to be 3), in
FIG. 1
, the notification command representing “selector
101
=cage, command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” is given to the switching means
21
. In the switching means
21
, the notification condition is established in step S
10
in
FIG. 7
, no transmission for a predetermined period of time is determined in step S
17
, identifier
1
is output in step S
18
, and a notification command
100
is output in step S
14
.
The notification command
100
is input to notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through an input/output I/F
13
-
02
, an information/control-system cable
4
, and input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
and then input to the identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
in FIG.
1
.
In the identification means
30
-
1
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage, in
FIG. 8
, a period of no-transmission time is a predetermined period of time or longer in step S
31
, the selector of the second byte is of the identification means
30
-
1
in step S
32
, and the first byte is identifier
1
(Y is set) in step S
33
. For this reason, “command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” of the third and subsequent bytes is input as a notification command in step S
36
. This notification command is given to the display means
32
-
1
in
FIG. 1
, “crowded” is displayed on a display
15
-
1
(see FIG.
2
). Although the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
of the elevator entrance receive the same notification command
100
the selector of the received data is not of the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
in step S
32
in
FIG. 8
(No is determined in step S
32
). For this reason, the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
neglect the notification command
100
without any operation.
A case in which the message number
3
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage is changed into “A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” will be described below. In
FIG. 1
, notification data
200
representing “selector
210
=cage, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=3, text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” (see
FIG. 34
) is given to the relay means
20
of the elevator control device
2
.
In the relay means
20
, the received data is stored in a reception buffer in step S
1
in
FIG. 4
, and the completion of reception of all data is checked by the text length or the like in step S
2
. Upon completion of reception of all the data, the presence/absence of stored data is checked in step S
3
. If there is no stored data, the data of the reception buffer is stored as stored data in a memory in step S
4
, and the reception buffer
1
is cleared in step S
5
.
In the switching means
21
, since a notification condition is not established (N is set) in step S
10
in
FIG. 7
, and stored data are present (Y is set) in step S
11
, no transmission for a predetermined period of time is determined in step S
15
. Identifier
2
is output in step
516
, the stored data are sequentially output in step S
12
. Upon completion of the outputting, the stored data are cleared in step S
13
. In
FIG. 2
, the stored data (=notification data) output is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
. As in the notification command
100
described above, in the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage, in
FIG. 8
, Yes is determined in step S
32
, No is determined in step S
32
, Yes is determined in step S
34
, and the received data is input as notification data in step S
35
.
In the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, in order to perform a switching operation between a notification command and notification data which are transmitted from the elevator control device to the notification device, a period of no-transmission time and identification data are added. For this reason, both the notification command and the notification data can be easily identified.
Third Embodiment
Third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 2
,
4
,
6
,
9
to
12
.
FIG. 9
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system,
FIG. 10
is a time chart of communication path data, and
FIGS. 11 and 12
are flow charts showing operations of a command means.
22
and a switching means of an elevator control device
2
. In third embodiment, a 7-bit coding system in which the MSBs (most significant bits) are used as identifiers of a notification command
100
and notification data
200
is used. MBS=1 is satisfied in the notification command
100
, and MBS=0 is satisfied in the notification data
200
.
When the elevator control device
2
detects a crowded condition (notification condition for a cage, and message number is set to be 3), in
FIG. 9
, the notification command
100
representing “selector
101
=cage, command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” (see
FIG. 34
) is given to the command means
22
. When the notification command
100
is given to the command means
22
, interruption is made to save the present operation state in a stack in step S
41
in
FIG. 11
, a notification command is output in step S
42
, and the original operation state is restored from the stack in step S
43
.
In this manner, in the switching means
21
, when the notification condition is satisfied while the notification data
200
is being output in step S
10
in
FIG. 12
, and the outputting of the notification data
200
is stopped in step S
10
a
. An interruption process for the command means
22
in
FIG. 11
is performed in step S
14
, and the subsequent notification data
200
are output.
The scheme for performing interruption by establishing the notification condition has been described above. However, a multi-task configuration in which the task of the command means
22
takes priority over the task of the switching means
21
may be used.
The notification command
100
is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
which are shown in
FIG. 2
, and input to the identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
in FIG.
9
.
In the identification means
30
-
1
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage, since Yes is set in each of steps S
21
and S
22
in
FIG. 6
, “command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” of the second and subsequent bytes is input as a notification command in step S
23
. This notification command is given to the display means
32
-
1
in
FIG. 9
, “crowded” is displayed on a display
15
-
1
. The notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
of the elevator entrance receive the same notification command
100
. However, N is determined in step S
21
in
FIG. 6
, the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
neglect the notification command
100
without any operation.
A case in which the message number
3
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage is changed into “A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” will be described below. In
FIG. 9
, notification data
200
representing “selector
210
=cage, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=3, text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” (see
FIG. 34
) is given to the relay means
20
of the elevator control device
2
.
In the relay means
20
, the received data is stored in a reception buffer in step S
1
in
FIG. 4
, and the completion of reception of all data is checked by the text length or the like in step S
2
. Upon completion of reception of all the data, the presence/absence of stored data is checked in step S
3
. If there is no stored data, the data of the reception buffer is stored in a memory in step S
4
, and the reception buffer is cleared in step S
5
.
In the switching means
21
, since Y is determined in step S
11
while the notification condition is not established in step S
10
in
FIG. 12
, stored data are sequentially output in step S
12
. Upon completion of the outputting, the stored data are cleared in step S
13
. In
FIG. 2
, the stored data (=notification data) output is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
. As in the notification command
100
described above, in
FIG. 6
, Y is determined in step S
32
, N is determined in step S
21
, Yes is determined in step S
22
, and the received data is input as notification data in step S
24
.
FIG. 10
shows the manner of the notification command
100
and the notification data
200
which flow on the information/control-system cable
4
at once. In
FIG. 3
of first embodiment, in the elevator control device
2
, if the condition of the notification command is not satisfied after all notification data from the information input device
1
are stored, outputting of the notification data is performed. Once the notification data begin to be output, even if a notification command is received, the notification command temporarily waits until the outputting of the notification data is finished. In this embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 10
, the notification command
100
is interrupted to be output.
As described above, in the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, when a notification command is present while notification data is being output from the elevator control device, the outputting of the notification data is stopped by the command means to output a notification command. For this reason, outputting of the notification command can be prevented being delayed.
Fourth Embodiment
Fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 2
,
13
to
18
.
FIG. 13
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system, and
FIG. 14
is a time chart of a communication path data.
FIG. 4
shows a case in which notification data
200
is divided into three packets.
FIGS. 15
,
16
,
17
, and
18
are flow charts showing the operations of a relay means
20
and a switching means
21
of an elevator control device
2
and the operations of identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
and restoration means
33
-
1
to
33
-
n
of notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n.
When the elevator control device
2
detects a crowded condition (notification condition for a cage, and message number is set to be 3), in
FIG. 13
, the notification command
100
representing “selector
101
=cage, command
102
=message display, data
103
=3” is given to the switching means
21
. Y is determined in step S
10
in
FIG. 16
, and the notification command
100
is output in step S
14
. The notification command
100
is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
, and the input/output I/Fs
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
which are shown in
FIG. 2
, and input to the identification means
30
-
1
to
30
n
in FIG.
13
.
In the identification means
30
-
1
of the notification device
3
-
1
, in
FIG. 17
, the start of received data is a packet header (N is set) in step S
20
, and the selector of the received data is of the identification means
30
-
1
(Y is set) in step S
21
. For this reason, “command
102
=message display, data
103
=3”of the second and subsequent bytes is input as a notification command in step S
23
. This notification command is given to the display means
32
-
1
in
FIG. 13
, “crowded” is displayed on a display
15
-
1
. The notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
of the elevator entrance receive the same notification command
100
. However, N is determined in step S
21
in
FIG. 17
, the notification devices
3
-
2
to
3
-
n
neglect the notification command
100
without any operation.
A case in which the message number
3
of the notification device
3
-
1
of the cage is changed into “A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” will be described below. In
FIG. 13
, notification data
200
representing “selector
210
=cage, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=3, text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” is given to the relay means
20
of the elevator control device
2
.
In the relay means
20
, the received data is stored in a reception buffer (not especially shown) in step SI in
FIG. 15
, and the completion of reception of all data is checked by the text length or the like in step S
2
. Upon completion of reception of all the data, the presence/absence of stored data is checked instep S
6
. If there is no stored data, the data in the reception buffer is divided into packets in step S
7
, packet headers are added to the packets, respectively, and the packets are stored in a memory (not especially shown) as storage packet data, and the reception buffer is cleared in step S
5
.
In the switching means
21
, since N is determined in step S
10
, and Y is determined in step S
27
in
FIG. 16
, one packet of unoutput stored packet data is output. Until Y is determined in step S
28
, N is determined in step S
10
, and Y is determined in step S
26
, and the process in step S
27
is repeated. When all of stored packet data is Output completely in step S
28
, the stored data is cleared in step S
29
.
In
FIG. 2
, the stored packet data outputted as described above is input to the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
through the input/output I/F
13
-
02
, the information/control-system cable
4
and the input/output I/F
13
-
12
to
13
-
n
2
. Then, in
FIG. 17
, Y is determined in step S
20
, the stored packet data is input as the packet data, as is the case with the notification command
100
.
FIG. 14
shows the manner of the notification command
100
and the packet data which flow on the information/control-system cable
4
at once.
In the restoration means
33
-
1
to
33
-
n
, in
FIG. 18
, since Y is determined in step S
51
, the data portion of the packet data is added to a reception buffer (not especially shown) in step S
52
, and completion of notification data buffering (inputting) is checked by a text length or the like in step S
53
. Upon completion of the notification data buffering, in the restoration means
33
-
1
of the notification device
3
-
1
, since Y is determined in step S
54
, data is input as notification data in step S
24
. The reception buffer is cleared in step S
55
.
As described above, in the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, even if outputting of notification data is stopped by the command means such that notification data output from the elevator control device is divided into packets, restoration means for restoring the original notification data can be easily constituted in the notification device.
Fifth Embodiment
Fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 19
to
23
.
FIG. 19
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system,
FIGS. 20 and 21
are time charts of communication path data,
FIGS. 22 and 23
are flow charts showing the operation of reply means
34
-
1
to
34
n
of notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
and a resending means
40
of an information input device
1
. In the following embodiment, an information-system cable
5
and a control-system cable
6
are independently arranged.
A case in which the message numbers
3
of all the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
are changed into “A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” will be described below. In
FIG. 19
, notification data
200
representing “selector
210
=all, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=3, text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” is given to the reply means
34
-
1
to
34
n
of the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n.
In the reply means
34
-
1
to
34
-
n
, when communication is normally performed, in
FIG. 22
, Y is determined in steps S
61
, S
63
, and S
21
, N is determined in step S
64
, and Y is determined in step S
65
. For this reason, data is input as notification data in step S
24
. When communication is not normally performed, N is determined in step S
61
in
FIG. 22
, and a reception abnormal flag is turned on in step S
62
in FIG.
22
. Upon completion of reception of all data, Y is determined in steps S
63
, S
21
, and S
64
, and a resending request flag is turned on in step S
71
. A resending request
300
(see
FIG. 20
) representing “selector
301
=output source, command
302
=resending request” is output, the reception abnormal flag is turned off in step S
70
.
In a normal state, since data are normally communicated to all the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
, any data is not returned to the information input device
1
. For this reason, when transmission is performed once, the communication is completed. When communication is not normally performed in only one notification device, in this notification device, a resending request
300
is output in step S
69
in
FIG. 22
as described above. The resending request
300
is input to the resending means
40
of the information input device
1
.
In the resending means
40
, since Y is determined in step S
81
and S
82
, notification data is re-output to only one notification device which performs abnormal communication in step S
83
.
FIG. 20
shows a manner of the notification data
200
and the resending request
300
which flow on the information-system cable
5
at once. When communication is not normally performed in a plurality of notification devices, the plurality of notification devices output resending requests in step S
69
in
FIG. 22
as described above. For this reason, data on the information-system cable
5
conflict with each other to be broken (see FIG.
22
).
The resending means
40
of the information input device
1
sequentially selects data in step S
84
since N is determined in step S
81
, and the resending means
40
outputs a check request
400
representing “selector
401
=output destination, command
402
=resending request”. A notification device which does not normally perform communication outputs a resending request
300
in step S
69
in
FIG. 22
as described above, and the resending means
40
of the information input device
1
determines Y in steps S
85
and S
86
in FIG.
23
and resends notification data to a start (selector) designation destination of the reception data.
FIG. 21
shows a manner of the notification data
200
, the resending request
300
, and the check request
400
which flow on the information-system cable
5
.
As described above, in the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, since a resending request is made only when notification data input to the notification device is abnormal, the number of times of outputting of notification data can be set to be only one in a normal state. Even if a communication error is generated, notification data can be reliably transmitted.
Sixth Embodiment
Sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 24
to
27
.
FIG. 24
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system,
FIG. 25
is a time chart of communication path data, and
FIGS. 26 and 27
are flow charts showing the operations of a scanning means
41
of an information input device
1
and response means
35
-
1
to
35
n
of notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
, respectively.
When a predetermined condition is established in the information input device
1
, the scanning means
41
outputs a check request
400
representing “selector
401
=cage
1
, command
402
=check request” in step S
84
in
FIG. 26
, and the check request
400
is given to the response means
35
-
1
to
35
n
in FIG.
24
.
In the response means
35
-
1
to
35
-
n
, Y is determined (e.g., the response means
35
-
1
at the beginning) in step S
21
in
FIG. 27
, N is determined in step S
65
, and Y is determined in step S
66
. For this reason, a check response
500
representing “selector
501
=cage
1
, command
502
=check response” is output in step S
72
, and the check response
500
is given to the scanning means
41
in FIG.
24
.
In the scanning means
41
, when Y is determined in steps S
85
and S
89
in
FIG. 26
, cage
1
is stored as a connection notification device in step S
90
. The processes in steps S
84
, S
85
, S
89
, and S
90
are repeated until the check request
400
is output to all the notification devices
3
-
1
to
3
-
n
, and Y is determined in step S
88
to end the processes.
FIG. 25
shows a manner of the check request
400
and the check response
500
which flow on a information-system cable
5
.
In the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, when notification devices include a notification device which is in an OFF state or is broken, the notification devices are scanned by the scanning means of the information input device one by one to check the OFF notification device or broken notification device, thereby automatically detect the OFF notification device or the broken notification device.
Seventh Embodiment
Seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 28
to
32
.
FIG. 28
is a block diagram showing the entire configuration of an elevator information communication system,
FIG. 29
is a time chart of communication path data, and
FIGS. 30 and 31
are flow charts showing a recording means
42
and a re-output means
43
of the information input device
1
, respectively.
FIG. 32
shows tables of notification data output records M of an information input device.
A case in which notification data representing “selector
210
=all elevator entrances, command
220
=message updating, number
231
=1 text length
232
=15 characters, text data
233
=A person who lately got into, please get out of the cage” is output, and an entrance notification device
1
(el) is newly additionally installed will be described below.
Transmission and return (see
FIG. 29
) of the check request
400
and the check response
500
between the scanning means
41
and the response means
35
-
1
to
35
n
in
FIG. 28
are the same as those in sixth embodiment (see FIG.
25
), and a description thereof will be omitted. Before the entrance notification device
1
(el) is installed, in the recording means
42
, Y is set in step S
91
in
FIG. 30
, and N is set in step S
95
in FIG.
30
. For this reason, a change state of notification data is represented by x in step S
95
. Since N is determined in step S
96
, connection of a notification device is represented by x (see FIG.
32
).
After the entrance notification device
1
(el) is newly installed, Y is determined in step S
91
in
FIG. 30
, and N is determined in step S
95
in FIG.
30
. For this reason, a change state of notification data is represented by x instep S
95
. Since Y is determined in step S
96
, connection of the entrance notification device
1
(el) newly installed is represented by o (see FIG.
32
).
In the re-output means
43
, since Y is determined in step S
101
in
FIG. 31
, and N is determined in step S
102
in
FIG. 31
, the notification data
200
is output in step S
104
. The notification data is input to a response means
35
-(
1
—
1
) in
FIG. 28
, and the data is input as notification data in the response means
35
-(
1
—
1
) in step S
24
because Y is set in steps S
21
and S
65
in
FIG. 27
(see sixth embodiment). The change state of the notification data of the entrance notification device
1
(el) is represented by o in the processes of the recording means
42
in
FIG. 30
when the next notification data is output.
FIG. 29
shows the notification data
200
, the check request
400
, and the check response
500
which flow on the information-system cable
5
.
FIG. 32
shows notification data output records M stored in the information input device
1
, and, more particularly, a change in record before and after the entrance notification device
1
(el) is newly installed.
As described above, in the elevator information communication system according to this embodiment, when a notification device is added sometime, the added notification device is detected by the scanning means of the information input device, and un-output notification data is output by the re-output means. For this reason, notification data required for the added notification device can be automatically set.
In each of the inventions of fifth to seventh embodiments described above, one cable to each notification device is arranged as in each of first to fourth embodiments, transmission/reception can be performed. In addition, the inventions of the embodiments described above can be appropriately combined to each other as needed.
As has been described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system including a notification device arranged in the elevator system, an information input device for forming notification data to the notification device to input the notification data, and an elevator control device connected to the notification device to output a notification command and having relay means connected to the information input device to relay the notification data input from the information input device to the notification device. For this reason, the notification data transmitted from the information input device to the notification device is relayed by the relay means arranged in the elevator control device, so that a dedicated information-system cable for connecting the information input device and the notification device to each other is not necessary. A simple configuration can be obtained, and a system which can efficiently perform communication at a low cost can be provided.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the elevator control device includes switching means for adding non-transmission time and identification data to data and outputting the data in order to identify a notification command from the elevator control device and the notification data from the information input device by the information device. For this reason, since the non-transmission time and the identification data are added when the notification command and the notification data transmitted to the notification device are switched to each other, identification can be performed by the notification device.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the elevator device includes command means for, when a notification command is generated during outputting of notification data from the information input means, interrupting the outputting of the notification data. For this reason, when the notification command is present during outputting of the notification data from the elevator control device, the outputting of the notification data is stopped by the command means to output the notification command, so that the outputting of the notification command can be prevented from being delayed.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the elevator control device changes notification data into a packet to output the packet, and the notification device includes restoration means for restoring interrupted notification data into original notification data. For this reason, when the notification data output from the elevator control device is changed into a packet to stop outputting of the notification data, the notification data can be easily restored into the original notification data by the notification device.
According to the fifth and eighth aspects of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the notification device includes reply means for generating a resending request when input notification data is abnormal, and the information input device includes resending means for resending the notification data according to the resending request. For this reason, the number of times of outputting of notification data can be set to be one in a normal state, and the notification can be reliably transmitted if a communication error is generated.
According to the sixth and ninth aspects of the present invention, there is Provided an elevator information communication system wherein the information input device includes scanning means for checking a notification device which is powered off and broken and the notification device includes response means for making a check response to the check. For this reason, when notification devices include a notification device which is in an OFF state or is broken, the notification devices are scanned by the scanning means of the information input device one by one to check the OFF notification device or broken notification device, thereby automatically detect the OFF notification device or the broken notification device.
According to the seventh and tenth aspects of the present invention, there is provided an elevator information communication system wherein the information input device detects the notification device added by the scanning means, and includes re-output means for further outputting un-output notification data to set necessary notification data in the added notification device. For this reason, when a notification device is added sometime, the added notification device is detected by the scanning means of the information input device, and un-output notification data is output by the re-output means. For this reason, notification data required for the added notification device can be automatically set.
Claims
- 1. An elevator information communication system comprising:a notification device in an elevator system for supplying information to an elevator user; an information input device connected to the notification device for supplying notification data to the notification device for supplying the information to the elevator user; and an elevator control device connected to the notification device and outputting notification commands to the notification device for controlling the elevator system, wherein the notification device includes reply means for sending a resending request to the information input device when the notification device detects an abnormal communication received from the information input device, and the information input device includes resending means, responding to a resending request from the notification device, for resending to the notification device a communication previously sent.
- 2. The elevator information communication system according to claim 1, including a plurality of notification devices, a first cable connecting the information input device to the plurality of notification devices, and a second cable connecting the elevator control device to the plurality of notification devices.
- 3. The elevator information communication system according to claim 2, wherein each notification device includes the reply means, identification means for identifying notification data and notification commands directed to the respective notification device, and display means for displaying the notification data.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-20388 |
Jan 2000 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
6-87580 |
Mar 1994 |
JP |
2-239078 |
Oct 1997 |
JP |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/624621 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/180022 |
|
US |