METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMISSIONING OF A COMMUNICATION GATEWAY

Abstract

A method for commissioning a communication gateway with a portable device in a transportation system includes the steps of: establishing a communication connection from the portable device to the communication gateway of the transportation system; transmitting configuration data from the portable device to the communication gateway using the established communication connection, wherein the configuration data includes a gateway identifier identifying the transportation system; establishing a further communication connection from the communication gateway to a server unit using the configuration data; and initiating a communication gateway software deployment from the server unit to the communication gateway using the established further communication connection for commissioning the communication gateway in the transportation system.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for commissioning a communication gateway of a transportation system using a portable device, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a first communication connection from the portable device to the communication gateway of the transportation system; transmitting configuration data from the portable device to the communication gateway using the established first communication connection, wherein the configuration data includes a gateway identifier identifying the transportation system; establishing, using the configuration data, a second communication connection from the communication gateway to a server unit; and initiating a communication gateway software deployment received from a server unit by the established second communication connection to commission the communication gateway in the transportation system.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the transportation system includes at least one of an elevator system and an escalator system.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the portable device is at least one of a personal digital assistant, a laptop, a smartphone and a tablet.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the first communication connection is established as at least one a Wi-Fi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Bluetooth low energy connection, an infrared connection and a near field communication connection.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the established second communication connection is a secured communication connection established with at least one secure communication certificate provided by the server unit.

20. The method according to claim 15 including a step of triggering an end-to-end connectivity test by the portable device for verifying a connectivity between the communication gateway and the transportation system.

21. The method according to claim 15 including updating communication gateway software of the communication gateway using the established second communication connection from the communication gateway to the server unit.

22. The method according to claim 15 including a step establishing a third communication connection from the communication gateway to a transportation system control unit of the transportation system.

23. The method according to claim 22 including using the third communication connection from the communication gateway to the transportation system control unit to at least one of write, change and update technical features of the transportation system control unit through the communication gateway.

24. The method according to claim 22 including using the third communication connection from the communication gateway to the transportation system control unit to at least one of download and update transportation system control unit features through the communication gateway to the transportation system control unit, wherein the transportation system control unit features are at least one of transportation system control unit data, transportation system control unit options and transportation system control unit parameters.

25. A computer program product comprising program code for performing the method according to claim 15 when the program code is executed on the portable device to commission the communication gateway.

26. A system for commissioning a communication gateway of a transportation system using a portable device, the system comprising: a portable device adapted to establish a first communication connection to the communication gateway of the transportation system and to transmit configuration data to the communication gateway using the established first communication connection, wherein the configuration data includes a gateway identifier identifying the transportation system; and a server unit adapted to deploy communication gateway software to the communication gateway for commissioning the communication gateway using a second communication connection established, using the configuration data, between the communication gateway and the server unit.

27. The system according to claim 26 including a transportation system control unit adapted to maintain transportation system control unit features of the transportation system.

28. A communication gateway of a transportation system, the communication gateway comprising: a first communication connection interface adapted to establish a first communication connection to a portable device for receiving configuration data from the portable device, wherein the configuration data includes a gateway identifier identifying the transportation system; a second communication connection interface adapted to establish a second communication connection to a server unit for initiating a communication gateway software deployment from the server unit to the communication gateway; and a central processing unit executing the deployed communication gateway software to commission the communication gateway in the transportation system.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a system for commissioning a communication gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a system for commissioning a communication gateway according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting steps of a method for commissioning a communication gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing elements of a communication gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the communication connection between the components of a system for commissioning a communication gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a system 200 for commissioning a communication gateway 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the system 200 a transportation system 30, e.g. an elevator system or an escalator system for transportation human beings and/or loads may comprise a communication gateway 10.

[0052] A fitter, e.g., an expert in installation of network technology receives data for installation and commissioning the communication gateway 10 via a portable device 20, e.g. a Smartphone. The data can also be provided to another portable device 20 that can be used to display the data and to establish a first communication connection 1 to the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30. The data for installation and commissioning of the communication gateway 10 comprises, for instance, the site location, e.g., GPS coordinates for the installation of the communication gateway 10. The data for installation and commissioning of the communication gateway 10 further comprises a job description that describes the tasks that have to be fulfilled by the fitter, for instance, to install and commission the communication gateway 10. The data further comprise the list of materials needed and instruction and manuals describing the installation and commissioning process of the communication gateway 10 in the transportation system. The data for installation and commissioning of the communication gateway 10 further comprises configuration data. In an embodiment, the configuration data comprise a gateway identifier that identifies the transportation system 30 as a logical group of elevator systems or escalator systems.

[0053] After receiving the data for installation and commissioning of the communication gateway 10, the fitter installs and physically connects the communication gateway 10 to a transportation system control unit 50 (see FIG. 2) of the transportation system 30. When the communication gateway 10 is physically connected to the transportation system control unit 50 of the transportation system 30, the fitter powers up the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 for commissioning the communication gateway 10 in the transportation system 30.

[0054] In FIG. 1 the communication gateway 10 is in communication with a portable device 20, e.g. a PDA, a Laptop, a Smartphone, and/or a Tablet using a first communication connection 1. The first communication connection 1 between the communication gateway 10 and the portable device 20 may be established by a fitter of the communication gateway using, for instance, a Smartphone. The first communication connection 1 comprises, for instance, a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared, Bluetooth low energy, and/or near field communication connection. The communication connection 1 may be used for transmitting configuration data from the portable device 20 to the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30. The transfer of the configuration data from the portable device 20 to the communication gateway 10 is triggered by the portable device 20. In a further step, a second communication connection 2 is established by the portable device 20 using the configuration data between the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 and a server unit 40. The second communication connection 2 can be established as a Wi-Fi connection or as a LAN connection. The server unit 40 may be a personal computer or a workstation in a computer network. In a further embodiment, the server unit 40 may also consist of a plurality of server units connected to each other and defining logical connections in a cloud infrastructure. The server unit 40 may execute a database for storing registration data from the communication gateway 40 that can be registered after commissioning in the transportation system 30. The database can comprise a distributed database stored in different server units.

[0055] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a system 200 for commissioning a communication gateway 10 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] In FIG. 2, the embodiment of the system 200 further comprises a transportation system control unit 50. The transportation system control unit 50 is in communication with the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 via a third communication connection 3. The communication connection 3 is established by the portable device 20. In an embodiment, the transportation system control unit 50 is a computer system being in communication with the transportation system 30 over the communication gateway 10 that controls the functionalities of the transportation system 30. The transportation system control unit 50 can be connected by a Wi-Fi connection to the transportation system 30 via the communication gateway 10. In a preferred embodiment, the transportation system control unit 50 may be connected by a LAN connection to the transportation system 30 via the communication gateway 10.

[0057] The third communication connection 3 from the transportation system 30 to the transportation control unit 50 is established through the communication gateway 10 to the transportation system control unit 50. In this way, for instance, the operation system of the transportation system control unit 50 or the software for administration and maintenance of the transportation system control unit 50 can be downloaded and installed as well as updated if newer versions of the operation system and/or software for administration and maintenance are available.

[0058] The third communication connection 3 from the communication gateway 10 to the transportation system control unit 50 is established to download or update transportation system control unit features through the communication gateway 10 to the transportation system control unit 50. In an embodiment the transportation system control unit features comprise transportation system control unit data, options, and/or parameters.

[0059] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting steps of a method for commissioning 100 a communication gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] The method 100 comprises in the illustrated exemplary embodiment several main steps. In a first step S1, a communication connection 1 from the portable device 20 to the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 is established.

[0061] In a further step S2, configuration data from the portable device 20 to the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 using the established communication connection 1 are transmitted.

[0062] In a further step S3, a second communication connection 2 from the communication gateway 10 to a server unit 40 using the configuration data is established.

[0063] In a further step S4, a communication gateway software deployment from the server unit 40 to the communication gateway 10 is initiated by using the established second communication connection 2 for commissioning the communication gateway 10 in the transportation system 30.

[0064] The method steps depicted in FIG. 3 can be executed by the portable device 20. Further, monitoring of the execution is available. For instance, a software application on a portable device 20 may be executed to perform and monitor the method steps.

[0065] FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing elements of a communication gateway 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication gateway 10 comprises a first communication connection interface 11. The communication connection interface 11 is configured to establish a communication connection 1 to a portable device 20 for receiving configuration data from the portable device 20. The communication connection interface 11 provides at least one interface to connect to at least a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared, Bluetooth low energy, or Near field communication connection.

[0066] The communication gateway 10 further comprises a second communication connection interface 12. The communication connection interface 12 is configured to establish a second communication connection 2 to a server system 40 for initiating a communication gateway software deployment from the server unit 40. The communication connection interface 12 provides at least one interface to connect to at least a Wi-Fi or LAN connection. The deployed communication gateway software is stored in a memory 15 and executed by a central processing unit (CPU) 14 of the communication gateway 10.

[0067] In a further embodiment, the communication gateway 10 comprises a further third communication connection interface 13 that is configured to establish a communication connection 3 to a transportation system control unit 50. This communication connection is established by the portable device 20. The communication connection can be used to download, change or update transportation system control unit features, such as data, options, and/or parameter.

[0068] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the communication connection between the components of a system 200 for commissioning a communication gateway 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] A portable device 20, for instance, a Smartphone establishes in a first step S1 a communication connection 1 (FIG. 2) between the portable device 20 and a communication gateway 10 of a transportation system 30. The communication gateway 10 provides a remote network with connectivity to a host network. The communication connection 1 is established, for instance, via Wi-Fi. The transportation system 30 (not shown) is, for instance, an elevator system or an escalator system.

[0070] In a second step S2, a transmitting of configuration data from the mobile device 20 to the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 using the established communication connection 1 is triggered by the portable device 20. The transmitted configuration data comprise a gateway identifier identifying a logical group of elevator systems or escalator systems.

[0071] In a third step S3, a second communication connection 2 (FIG. 2) between the communication gateway 10 and the server unit 40 of the transportation system 30 is established using the transmitted configuration data. The third step S3 is triggered T.sub.1 by the portable device 20. The server unit 40 may be a personal computer or workstation in a computer network. In an embodiment, the server unit 40 may also consist of a plurality of server units connected to each other and defining logical connections in a cloud infrastructure. The server unit 40 may execute a database for storing registration data from the registered communication gateway. The server unit 40 further stores communication gateway software and/or software, such as, firmware software for a transportation system control unit 50 of the transportation system 30. The server unit 40 may be connected to the communication gateway wirelessly via Wi-Fi using a wireless network infrastructure or via a local area network (LAN).

[0072] In a fourth step S4, a communication gateway software deployment from the server unit 40 to the communication gateway 10 using the established second communication connection 2 for commissioning the communication gateway 10 in the transportation system 30 is initiated automatically by the server unit 40. In an embodiment of the present invention, the software deployed has been selected according to the transmitted configuration data.

[0073] In an alternative embodiment, the established second communication connection 2 between the communication gateway 10 of the transportation system 30 and the transportation system 30, respectively the server unit 40 can be verified in an end-to-end connectivity test before deploying the communication gateway software. The end-to-end connectivity test is triggered in a further step S5 by the portable device 20 for verifying V the connectivity between the communication gateway 10 and the transportation system 30, respectively the transportation system control unit 50 of the transportation system 30.

[0074] In a further step S6, the portable device 20 can trigger T.sub.2 establishing a third communication connection 3 (FIG. 2) from the communication gateway 10 to the transportation system control unit 50 of the transportation system 30. In an alternative embodiment, the third communication connection 3 can be verified V in an end-to-end connectivity test triggered T.sub.3 by the portable device 20.

[0075] The established second communication connection 2 between the communication gateway 10 and the server unit 40 may be used to deploy D.sub.1 new software from the server unit 40 to the communication gateway 10. In a further embodiment, the second communication connection 2 between the communication gateway 10 and the server unit 40 can be used to update existing software of the communication gateway 10. An up-date-process may be triggered by the server unit 40 after the second communication connection 2 is established automatically or triggered by the portable device 20. The server unit 40 may be verifying the current software version executed by the communication gateway 10 in a configured and random interval.

[0076] The established third communication connection 3 between the communication gateway 10 and the transportation system control unit 50 may be used for writing or changing as well as updating communication server control unit features. The transfer D.sub.2 of communication server control unit features from the server unit 40 to the transportation system control unit 50 is forwarded by the communication gateway 10. The communication server control unit features comprise data, options and/or parameters.

[0077] While the current invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is for illustrative purposes only. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

[0078] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.