WO2013038060A1

WO2013038060A1 - User interface

Info

Publication number: WO2013038060A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/050882
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Salmikuukka; Ari HÄNNINEN; Eeva Lempinen; Niklas LÖFBERG; Mirva Nevalainen; Maija Pursiainen; Ilpo Haipus
Original assignee: Kone Corporation
Priority date: 2011-09-13
Filing date: 2012-09-12
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: FI20115897A; FI20115897A0; FI123349B

Abstract

The present invention discloses a solution for the configuration of a user interface (100, 250, 280, 281) installed in conjunction with a transport system (200). The user interface comprises at least one display element (303) having a radio-frequency transponder (302) in conjunction with it. The configuration data for the display element are fed to a terminal device (120) compatible with the transponder manually and/or via a wireless data transfer connection (125, 230). The configuration data are transmitted from the terminal device to the transponder to configure the information presented on the display element.

Description

USER INTERFACE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the configuration of user in- terfaces provided in conjunction with transport systems applicable for passenger transport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Elevators and other corresponding people-moving systems are generally provided with user interfaces, in which the information presented depends, inter alia, on the building containing the transport system and often also on the user categories mainly utilizing the transport system. For example, elevators are generally provided with a call input panel in which the number of call buttons depends on the number of floors in the building. Similarly, if the users of the elevator system belong e.g. to a given language group, then the information in the call input panel must be presented in a language un- derstandable to these users. Consequently, the user interfaces have to be configured specifically for each building and, if necessary, also for each user group. The configuration is generally already performed at the factory before the elevator system or other correspond- ing transport system is delivered to the customer. Configuration performed at factory involves extra logistics costs and the fact that deliveries cannot be carried out using standard compositions or standard components. In addition, making changes afterwards in the user inter- faces of elevator systems already in use may be difficult or even impossible.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to alleviate the above-mentioned drawbacks en- countered in prior-art solutions. A further object of the invention is to achieve one or more of the following advantages :

to make it possible to produce transport systems that can be delivered using standard components and standard compositions to the customer,

to reduce delivery errors and logistics costs to accelerate the delivery process of transport systems,

to facilitate the definition, distribution and maintenance of user interface configuration data to allow alterations relating to user interfaces to be more easily made afterwards by maintenance personnel and / or the customer, and

user interfaces that can be easily installed and configured afterwards in transport systems already in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The method of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 1. The user interface of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 8. The arrangement of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 13. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also presented in the description part and drawings of the present application. The inventive content disclosed in the application can also be defined in other ways than is done in the claims below. The inventive content may also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is considered in the light of explicit or implicit sub-tasks or with respect to advantages or sets of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous from the point of view of separate inventive concepts. The features of different embodiments of the invention can be applied in connection with other embodi- ments within the scope of the basic inventive concept.

The present invention discloses a method for the configuration of a user interface in conjunction with a transport system. The user interface is provided with at least one display element having a radio-frequency transponder in conjunction with it. The configuration data for the display element are fed to a terminal device compatible with the said transponder. The terminal device is brought into the range of operation of the transponder if it is not already there, and the configuration data are sent from the terminal device to the transponder to configure the information presented on the display element.

In this connection, ^transport system' refers to any sys- tern used in a building to transport/guide people, comprising e.g. elevators, escalators, access control gates and / or automatic doors. ^,Radio-frequency transponder' refers e.g. to a transmitter/receiver based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) technology, to/from which it is possible to transmit/read data by radio. The transmission/reading of the data is effected using a terminal device which is compatible with the transponder, in other words, the terminal device is able to send and receive data to/from the transponder. The transponder is prefera- bly a passive RFID, which does not require any battery or corresponding electric power source for operation.

The user interface is e.g. an elevator's call input panel, load plate or a guide board in an elevator lobby or elevator car, a tenant list, or a display for transport system status data, such as a floor number display of an elevator. The display element is preferably a bi- stable display component, which does not consume any electric power in the stable state, i.e. when the information presented on the display element is not changing. The display element may be a display component e.g. in a guide board, or a display component e.g. in conjunction with a user interface button and carrying graphic information indicating the function of the button.

The present invention also discloses a user interface in conjunction with a transport system. The user interface comprises at least one display element having a radio- frequency transponder in conjunction with it. The transponder is adapted to receive display element configuration data from a terminal device compatible with the transponder, and to configure the information presented on the display element on the basis of said configuration data .

The present invention also discloses an arrangement for the configuration of a user interface installed in conjunction with a transport system. The user interface comprises at least one display element having a radio- frequency transponder in conjunction with it. The arrangement further comprises a terminal device, which is provided with means for feeding configuration data to the terminal device and means for transmitting configuration data to the transponder within whose operating range the terminal device is located and which sets the information to be displayed on the display element in accordance with said configuration data.

In an embodiment of the invention, the configuration data are fed manually to the terminal device. In another embodiment of the invention, the configuration data are transmitted to the terminal device via a wireless data transfer network either from a remote maintenance center or from a control system comprised in the transport sys- tern. The data transfer network is e.g. a public mobile telephone network, a wireless local network in the building or some other wireless data transfer network applicable to the purpose. The remote maintenance center is any service center separate from the transport system, where at least part of the configuration data for the user interfaces is stored.

The terminal device is e.g. a mobile telephone or a mo- bile telephone-type personal device. The terminal device has e.g. a keypad, by means of which e.g. a serviceman can input to the terminal device the configuration data for the display element to be configured, which data the terminal device sends further to that transponder within whose operating range the terminal device is located. The terminal device may also be a device^' permanently installed in the transport system, so that the display elements of desired user interfaces can be configured via the terminal device e.g. while the transport system is in normal transport operation.

In an embodiment of the invention, individual ID data (identification data) of the transponder is read by the terminal device, on the basis of which data the terminal device can choose the configuration data for the display element corresponding to the transponder. This embodiment makes it possible to store in the terminal device the configuration data of a plurality of display elements, identify the transponder in the operating range on the basis of the ID data, select the correct configuration data based on the ID data and send the configuration data to the transponder to configure the information to be presented on the display element . In another embodiment of the invention, identification data identifying either directly or indirectly one or more display elements to be configured is sent from the terminal device to a remote maintenance center. Based on the identification data, the configuration data for the display elements are sent from the remote maintenance center to the terminal device, which receives the con- figuration data and transmits them further to each one of said transponders when the terminal device is brought into the operating range of the transponder. The identification data sent to the remote maintenance center is at least one of the following: ID data of the transponder of a display element, ID data (e.g. project number or other corresponding delivery code) of the transport system, ID data (e.g. serial number) of a transport device comprised in the transport system. The ID data of the transponder identifies one display element directly, whereas the other aforesaid identification data (ID data of the transport system, ID data of the transport device) may indirectly identify one or more display elements. The data are preferably transmitted between the terminal device and the remote maintenance center via a wireless data transfer connection. By virtue of this embodiment, the management of display element configuration data can be centralized and automated in the remote maintenance center, whereby the generation, distribution and maintenance of configuration data are facilitated and the num- ber of configuration errors is reduced.

In an embodiment of the invention, tenant information concerning one or more tenants, e.g. the tenant's name and the floor where he/she lives, is configured in the display element. By virtue of this embodiment, tenant information can be easily updated for example when tenants move into/out of the building.

The solution of the invention allows several advantages to be achieved as compared to prior-art solutions. By employing the solution of the invention, the user interfaces of transport systems, such as elevators, can be easily and reliably configured in connection with the commissioning of the transport system and even later if necessary. The configuring can easily be done e.g. by a person authorized by the client. As no configuring need be done at factory, it is possible to deliver the transport system provided with user interfaces containing standard components and modules, and consequently the logistics costs and delivery errors are reduced and the efficiency of the overall delivery process is improved. By centralizing the generation, distribution and maintenance of configuration data in remote maintenance centers, the task of configuring can be facilitated and the costs reduced. The invention also has the advantage that, if necessary, the generation of configuration data can be de- layed up to the moment of commissioning, which reduces needless configuring work. User interfaces according to the invention can easily be installed in existing transport systems e.g. in conjunction with modernizations to accelerate the modernization work.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following, the invention is described in detail by referring to embodiment examples, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a user interface according to the in^¬ vention, Fig. 2 represents a transport system in which user interfaces according to the invention are applied,

Fig. 3 represents a display provided with a display element and a radio-frequency transponder according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 represents a user interface 100 according to the invention and an arrangement for the configuration of the user interface. The user interface 100 is a call input panel in an elevator car and has four call buttons 101 (101a, 101b, 101c and lOld) and a floor number display 110, which indicates to the passengers in the elevator car the floor at which the car is currently lo- cated or moving. The call buttons 101 are mechanical press-buttons with display elements 303 (display elements are shown in Fig. 3.) integrated in them. The display elements 303 are preferably bistable displays based on electric ink technology, which are manufactured by several enterprises, e.g. E-Inc Corporation. Bistable displays have the advantage that they only consume electric power when the information presented on the display is changing. Provided in conjunction with each display element 303 is a radio-frequency transponder 302 (the transponder is depicted in Fig. 3.) . The transponder 302 is e.g. a RFID technology-based transponder, for example a NFC (Near Field Communication) transponder, from which data can be read wirelessly and to which data can be sent wirelessly. The transponder also comprises control and connection electronics for setting the information to be presented on the display element in accordance with the configuration data received by the transponder. Stored in the transponders is individual identification data (ID data) , which can be read from the transponder by radio. In Fig. 1, reference number 120 designates a terminal device, which comprises means 121 for sending and receiving data to/from the transponder when the terminal device has been brought to within the operating range of the transponder, for example to a distance of a few centimeters from the transponder 302 of the display element 303 to be configured. The terminal device 120 also has a keypad 122, a display 123 and means 124 for transmitting/receiving data wirelessly via a data transfer connection 125. The user of the terminal device, e.g. the commissioner of the elevator system, a serviceman or a person authorized by the client, can input the configuration data for one or more display elements 303 via the keypad 122 into the terminal device 120. When the user brings the terminal device to within the operating range of the transponder 302, the terminal device 120 sends the configuration data to the transponder 302. Via the control and connection electronics 302b (shown in Fig. 3) , the transponder changes the graphics presented on the display according to the configuration data received by the transponder. If the configuration data for a plurality of display elements are fed into the terminal device 120, the ID data of the transponder corresponding to each display element can be added to the configuration data. The terminal device can then read the transponder' s ID data, select the correct configuration data in the memory of the terminal device on the basis of the ID data in question and transmit the configuration data thus selected to the transponder.

In Fig. 1, reference number 150 indicates a remote maintenance center, which comprises a database 151 contain- ing pre-stored configuration data for the user interfaces and/or transport devices of different transport systems. Along with the configuration data is stored the ID data of the transponder of each display element to be configured. The remote maintenance center is provided with means 152 for receiving the identification data transmitted via the data transfer connection 125, for selecting the configuration data from the database 151 on the basis of the identification data received and for transmitting the configuration data thus selected via the data transfer connection 125 to the terminal device 120. In an embodiment of the invention, when the user brings the terminal device 120 to within the operating range of the transponder 302 of the display element 303 to be configured, the terminal device 120 reads the ID data of the transponder 302 and automatically sends it to the remote maintenance center 150 via the data transfer connection 125. The remote maintenance center 150 .receives the ID data sent by the terminal device, selects the configuration data corresponding to the ID data from the database 151 and sends them to the terminal device 120 via the data transfer connection 125. The terminal device 120 receives the configuration data sent from the remote maintenance center and transmits them further to the transponder 302 whose ID data the terminal device sent to the remote maintenance center 150 as described above .

In another embodiment of the invention, the user sends e.g. the serial number of an elevator or some other code identifying the transport system from the terminal device to the remote maintenance center. In response to the code, the remote maintenance center sends all the configuration data for the user interfaces associated with the transport device or delivery/project (the con- figuration data for the display elements) to the terminal device. After the terminal device has received the required configuration data, the user brings the terminal device to within the operating range of the transponder of each display element to be configured. In the operating range, the terminal device reads the ID data of the transponder, selects from among the received configuration data the configuration data corresponding to the ID data of the transponder and sends them to the transponder in question for the configuration of the in- formation to be presented on the display element. Fig. 2 illustrates another arrangement wherein the user interfaces of an elevator group 200 can be configured. In this example, the terminal device 210 is permanently installed on the elevator car 220 of an elevator com- prised in the elevator group, so it moves with the elevator car 220 from floor to floor when the elevator is in transport operation. The terminal device 210 is connected via a wireless local network 230 to the group control center 260 of the elevator group 200. Placed e.g. above each elevator door at the floor landings Fl - F4 are displays 250 having display elements 303 according to the invention and transponders 302 in conjunction with them. The information presented on the display elements 303 may be e.g. status data regarding the elevator or elevator group. For example, if the elevators in the elevator group 200 serve different floor zones, the floors served by each elevator can be shown on the displays 250 to the elevator passengers waiting in the elevator lobbies. If the floor zoning is changed e.g. on the basis of the time of the day, the information (floor zone) to be shown on the displays 250 can be set e.g. as follows: each elevator car 201 runs automatically from floor to floor so that the terminal device 210 comes into the operating range of the transponder 302 of the display 250 at the landing, whereupon the terminal device sends to the transponder the data regarding the changed floor zoning. The group control center 260 generates the required operating commands to the elevators and sends the configuration data defining the floor zones to the transponder 210 on the elevator car wire- lessly via the local network 230 or alternatively via a data transfer cable (the so-called car cable) (not shown in Fig. 2) connecting the elevator car and the elevator control system.

In Fig. 2, reference number 280 indicates a display placed in the elevator car 220 and comprising a display element 303 and a transponder 302, which can be used e.g. to display guidance information in exceptional situations. During normal transport operation of the elevator, the display 280 is blank, but when an excep- tional situation is detected in the elevator or in the building, advice regarding exceptional situations is presented on the display. The display element 303 of the display 280 is configured e.g. via the terminal device 210 of the elevator car on the basis of information sent by the group control center 260. Reference number 281 in Fig. 2 designates a load plate placed in the elevator car, comprising a display element 303 according to the invention and a transponder 302 in conjunction with it. Basic information as required by the elevator provisions is configured in the load plate either at installation time or already in factory during manufacture of the elevator.

Fig. 3 presents a display 301 which can be applied in user interfaces according to the invention. The display 301 comprises a display element 303 and a radio- frequency transponder 302. The transponder 302 comprises an antenna 302a and control and connection electronics 302b. Via the control and connection electronics 302b, the transponder can configure the graphics presented on the display element 303 in accordance with the configuration data received by the transponder. The ID data of the transponder is stored e.g. in a storage memory (not shown in Fig. 3) in conjunction with the control and connection electronics 302b.

The user interface of the invention, e.g. a call input panel, may also be a touch-screen display, in which the display element 303 is provided with a touch-sensitive film. For example, graphics representing touch buttons according to the number of floors in the building are configured to be presented on the display element. When a user touches one of said touch buttons, a call to the destination floor indicated by the touch button is registered. One or more display elements 303 can also be configured to present a tenant list or some other corre- sponding list e.g. by a maintenance firm responsible for the management of the building. By touching the name of a tenant on the list, a person using the elevator system can register a call to the floor where the tenant's apartment is located.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to user interfaces of elevator systems as examples, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention are not ex- clusively limited to the examples described above, but that they may be varied within the scope of the claims presented hereinafter.

Claims

1. A method for the configuration of a user in^¬ terface in conjunction with a transport system applica- ble for passenger transport, charact e ri z ed in that the method comprises the steps of:

providing the user interface with at least one dis^¬ play element having a radio-frequency transponder in conjunction with it;

feeding configuration data for the display element into a terminal device compatible with the said transponder;

bringing the terminal device into the range of operation of the transponder, unless the terminal device is not already within said operating range, and

sending the display element configuration data from the terminal device to the said transponder to configure the information presented on the display element.

2. A method according to claim 1, chara c- t e ri z ed in that the configuration data for one or more display elements are fed into the terminal device by manual input .

3. A method according to claim 1, charact eri z ed in that the configuration data for one or more display elements are fed into the terminal device via a wireless data transfer connection.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 -

3, charact e ri z ed in that the method comprises the steps of: reading the ID data of the transponder of the display element by means of the terminal device; and selecting the configuration data to be sent to the transponder on the basis of said ID data.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 -

4, charact e ri z ed in that at least one identifi- cation data identifying one or more aforesaid display elements is sent from the terminal device to a remote maintenance center; the configuration data relating to the display elements are selected in the remote maintenance center on the basis of said identification data; and the configuration data thus selected are transmitted from the remote maintenance center to the terminal de- vice via a wireless data transfer connection.

6. A method according to claim 5, cha ract e ri z ed in that the aforesaid identification data is the ID data of the transponder of the display element and/or the ID data of the transport system and/or the ID data of a transport device comprised in the transport system.

7. A method according to any one of claims 1- 6, charact e ri z ed in that the configuration data comprise at least one of the following data items: sym- bol data for a user interface button; transport system status data; tenant data; elevator load plate data; guide data.

8. A user interface (100, 250, 280, 281) in conjunction with a transport system (200) applicable for passenger transport, chara ct e r i z ed in that the user interface comprises at least one display element (303) , a radio-frequency transponder (302) in conjunction with the display element (303) , said transponder being fitted to: receive display element configuration data from a terminal device (120) compatible with the transponder (302) ; and configure the information presented on the display element (303) on the basis of said configuration data.

9. A user interface according to claim 8, characte ri zed in that the display element (303) is a bistable display component.

10. A user interface according to claim 8 or 9, charact e ri z ed in that the transponder (302) comprises individual ID data readable by the said termi- nal device (120) .

11. A user interface according to any one of claims 8 - 10, charact e r i zed in that the user interface is one of the following: call input panel (100) of an elevator; guide board (280) ; elevator status data display (250); load plate (281) of an elevator.

12. A user interface according to any one of claims 8 - 11, chara ct e r i z ed in that the user interface (100) comprises at least one button (101) with the aforesaid display element (303) in conjunction with it.

13. An arrangement for the configuration of a user interface (100, 250, 280, 281) in conjunction with a transport system applicable for passenger transport, characte ri zed in that the arrangement comprises: at least one display element (303) in conjunction with the user interface; a radio-frequency trans- ponder (302) in conjunction with the said display element; a terminal device (120, 210) comprising means (122, 124) for inputting configuration data for the configuration of the display element into the terminal device; and means (121) for sending the configuration data to the transponder (302) within whose operating range the terminal device (120) is located, said transponder (302) being fitted to configure the information presented on the display element (303) in accordance with the said configuration data.

14. An arrangement for according to claim 13, charact e ri zed in that the means (122) of the terminal device are fitted to receive the configuration data as manual input.

15. An arrangement for according to claim 13, cha ract eri zed in that the means (122) of the terminal device are fitted to receive the configuration data via a wireless data transfer connection (125, 230) .

16. An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 - 15, cha ract e r i z ed in that the ter- minal device (120) comprises means (121) for reading the ID data of the transponder, and that the terminal device uses the said ID data for the selection of the configuration data to be sent to the transponder.

1 . An arrangement according to any one of claims 13 - 16, ch a r a c t e r i z e d in that the ar- rangement comprises a remote maintenance center (150) , which further comprises: a database (151) in which the configuration data for a number of display elements (303) are stored; means (152) for receiving identification data sent by the terminal device (120) , said iden- tification data identifying one or more display elements (303) ; means (152) for selecting said configuration data from the database (151) on the basis of said identification data; and means (152) for sending the selected configuration data to the terminal device (120) via a wire- less data transfer connection (125) .

18. An arrangement according to claim 17, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the said identification data is at least one of the following: ID data of the transponder in conjunction with a display element (303) ; ID data of the transport system (200) ; ID data of a transport device (220) comprised in the transport system.