METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMISSIONING A PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for commissioning a passenger transportation system includes a mobile device that is computer-controlled from an application and which is configured to exchange data both with a programmable controller controlling the passenger transportation system and with an external database in which configuration information regarding configurations of a plurality of passenger transportation systems is stored. The method steps are: retrieving, from the external database by the computer-controlled mobile device, configuration information that details information regarding a configuration of the passenger transportation system; requesting, by the computer-controlled mobile device under consideration of the configuration information, commissioning information which details information regarding parameters that must be set within the scope of a commissioning of the passenger transportation system; and transmitting the commissioning information to the controller controlling the passenger transportation system. As a result, a commissioning process can be significantly simplified and is less susceptible to faults.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A method for commissioning a passenger transportation system supported by a mobile device that is computer-controlled from an application and is configured to exchange data both with a programmable controller controlling the passenger transportation system and with an external database in which database configuration information regarding configurations of a plurality of passenger transportation systems is stored, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving from the external database by the computer-controlled mobile device configuration information that details information regarding a configuration of the passenger transportation system; requesting by the computer-controlled mobile device, under consideration of the configuration information, commissioning information that details information regarding parameters that must be set within a scope of a commissioning of the passenger transportation system; and transmitting the commissioning information to the controller controlling the passenger transportation system.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the configuration information details which components have been ordered to construct the passenger transportation system, and wherein, during the requesting of the commissioning information, the computer-controlled mobile device only requests commissioning information regarding which of the ordered components must be set within the scope of the commissioning of the passenger transportation system.

18. The method according to claim 16 including at least one of determining the commissioning information to be requested and determining a type of output of the requested commissioning information depending on an identity of a technician carrying out the commissioning.

19. The method according to claim 16 including selecting which commissioning information is requested depending on an identity of a technician carrying out the commissioning.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the computer-controlled mobile device is a personalized device of a technician carrying out the commissioning.

21. The method according to claim 16 including determining an identity of a technician carrying out the commissioning by requesting a person-specific authentication.

22. The method according to claim 16 including outputting request information via the computer-controlled mobile device when requesting the commissioning information, the request information detailing as to how the commissioning information to be requested must be determined.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein a type of the request information depends on an identity of a technician carrying out the commissioning.

24. The method according to claim 16 including determining identity information regarding an identity of the passenger transportation system based on an operational plan for a technician carrying out the commissioning, and wherein the configuration information is retrieved under consideration of the identity information.

25. The method according to claim 16 including storing execution information that contains at least one piece of information regarding which commissioning information was requested, at what time the commissioning information was requested, at what time the commissioning information was transmitted to the controller, which technician requested the commissioning information, and how many repetitions were carried out when the commissioning information was requested.

26. The method according to claim 16 including determining component information regarding a component actually installed in the passenger transportation system and comparing the component information with configuration information regarding the component.

27. A commissioning arrangement for commissioning a passenger transportation system, wherein the commissioning arrangement comprises: a programmable controller controlling the passenger transportation system; a computer having an external database stored therein, the external database containing configuration information regarding configurations of a plurality of passenger transportation systems; a mobile device computer-controlled from an application; and wherein the commissioning arrangement is adapted to carry out or control the method according to claim 16.

28. A computer program product having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the computer-controlled commissioning arrangement according to claim 27, prompt the commissioning arrangement to carry out or control the method for commissioning.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having the computer program product according to claim 28 stored therein.

30. A computer program product having computer-readable instructions that, when executed on a computer-controlled mobile device, prompt the mobile device to carry out or control the method according to claim 16 in cooperation with a programmable controller controlling the passenger transportation system and a computer having an external database stored therein, the external database containing configuration information regarding configurations of a plurality of passenger transportation systems.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having the computer program product according to claim 30 stored therein.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] FIG. 1 shows an elevator system having a commissioning arrangement for carrying out a commissioning method according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0072] The FIGURE is merely schematic and not to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a passenger transportation system 1 in the form of an elevator system. The elevator system has a multiplicity of components, for example, an elevator car 5, a counterweight 7, belt-like suspension elements 9, a drive machine 11, elevator doors 13, etc. Some of the components of the elevator system 1 are controllable and are controlled by a controller 15, wherein a manner in which the controller 15 controls the components individually can depend on properties of these components and/or other components present in the passenger transportation system 1.

[0074] In order to adapt the elevator system to the prevailing conditions in a building accommodating said elevator system and to implement the desired functionalities, the elevator system was suitably configured in a planning phase. Among other things, suitable components were selected for this purpose. Corresponding configuration information was stored in an external database 19 in a computer 17. The computer 17 can be arranged remotely from the elevator system, for example, at a manufacturer of the elevator system or as part of a cloud 18.

[0075] After the elevator system has been installed and before it can be put into operation, it must be commissioned. For this purpose, commissioning information must be entered into the controller 15, in particular in order to enable the controller 15 to control the components of the elevator system in accordance with the specific conditions in the building and the desired functional requirements.

[0076] For this purpose, the controller 15, together with the external database 19 and a computer-controlled mobile device 21 on which an application designed for this purpose has been set up, forms a commissioning arrangement 3. By means of this commissioning arrangement 3, the commissioning of the elevator system can be carried out by a technician 23 simply, quickly and/or with a low risk of faults.

[0077] In this case, configuration information regarding the specific passenger transportation system 1 can first be retrieved from the external database 19 by means of the mobile device 21. Said configuration information can optionally be temporarily stored in the mobile device 21.

[0078] Taking into account this configuration information, the mobile device with the application running on said mobile device can then request commissioning information. For this purpose, for example, a display of the mobile device can show which commissioning information must currently be requested.

[0079] The application can act to the effect that only those pieces of configuration information are requested that are required for the specific passenger transportation system 1, as it is characterized by the configuration information, whereas other configuration information required for other passenger transportation systems but not relevant for the specific passenger transportation system to be commissioned 1 is not requested.

[0080] In order to support the technician 23 in determining the commissioning information, request information can additionally be output which can inform said technician regarding the manner in which the commissioning information to be requested can be determined.

[0081] Furthermore, information regarding the identity of the technician 23 can be used in the commissioning method, for example, in order to be able to transmit information to the technician 23, which is adapted to the person, in particular the qualification, language, etc., of said technician.

[0082] In addition and partly with a choice of words deviating from the wording previously used herein, possible properties, details and/or advantages of embodiments of the invention can be described as follows:

[0083] An underlying problem can be seen in the fact that until now, a very complex and old-fashioned process has been used for commissioning an elevator. In this case, the elevator had a unique configuration as ordered by a user. In particular, the introduction of a so-called scalable controller with a very different user interface and a different interaction paradigm, when compared to those which most technicians were used to, required considerable effort and training and also increased the likelihood of faults and thus costly quality problems.

[0084] It is therefore proposed to use a mobile device with an application specifically developed for this purpose, which is preferably wirelessly connected (for example, using BLE) to an elevator control system in order to initiate and carry out a commissioning using a user interface that is similar to an installation wizard. The mobile application has information (ordered hardware parts and options regarding the BOM configuration, ordered services) regarding the elevator to be commissioned, for example, from the order. It receives this information, for example, from a cloud in which, for example, details regarding the order are stored in an SAP database. Before the commissioning, the information is synchronized to the mobile device, so that it is available if network connectivity is only limited. However, it can also be received or updated on site, provided that network connectivity is available. The application intelligently guides the technician through the commissioning process and displays, for example, only steps or activities that are relevant for the specific elevator, whereas steps are skipped, for example, if a special option and thus hardware is not present, wherein alternatives depending, for example, on the presence of a special door or a special drive, are displayed. In this way, order and configuration details stored in a cloud are used advantageously. A status regarding hardware connected to a control security chain is also requested by the application from the controller and used advantageously to provide specific information and guidance. The application also highlights when components differ from what was ordered or are missing. The technician can then update the original order details and/or request delivery of the missing parts using the application. Instead of relying on the technician to know specific parameters and manually keying in items such as calibration values, data automation can be used (for example, calculating correct values in the application using time data in the mobile device, etc.). The technician will recognize how many steps have already been completed and, if allowed to do so, will carry out phases of the entire process according to the preferences of said technician. Individual method steps can also differ depending on the country in which the technician is located, the experience of the technician with elevator systems, etc.

[0085] A record can be kept of what was done during the commissioning process (for example, passed/failed), which parameters were changed, etc., so that there is evidence thereof, but also to update information in the cloud regarding the specific installation (to have current/correct information). If a problem occurs during commissioning (for example, a non-functioning piece of hardware is detected or is incorrect, etc.), the application can provide instructions on how this can be checked and resolved. This can be done, for example, by means of images with regions highlighted therein (for example, where a connection cable can be found, buttons to be pressed, etc.) or with short animations/videos. The rules for the commissioning process can be maintained in the cloud and updated regularly (in the event that problems have been identified or new hardware components have been used, etc.).

[0086] In the future, the user interface on the controller can preferably be completely eliminated and a mobile device, on which software for commissioning, configuring, diagnosing and/or problem solving, etc., is provided, can be relied on. Based on the users or even licensing models (in case of third party providers), the software can be updated more frequently, and a set of features can be limited.

[0087] With conventional systems, well-trained technicians had to carry out complex sequences of steps, as documented in commissioning documentation, using minimalistic and relatively cryptic user interfaces (LCD with a few lines and hardware buttons) on the controller. There was no specific adaptation of commissioning steps based on specific elevator configurations and/or ordered functionalities. A time-consuming and error-prone process was carried out that relied on existing expert resources and required intensive training to ensure qualitative results and avoid errors. A configuration was programmed on a chip card. In the event of errors or losses, a new chip card had to be ordered, updated and sent back to the location of the elevator system, which resulted in delays and additional costs.

[0088] By contrast, the approach presented herein allows for a significant reduction in the time required, for example, to commission an elevator. Furthermore, possibilities for making mistakes are reduced and/or faster solutions are offered. In addition, training costs and a dependency on well-trained resources can be reduced.

[0089] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0090] 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.