Weighting sensor data with environmental data in a system for transportation of passengers

Abstract

A method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers includes the steps of: receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; receiving environmental data of the system, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on the equipment and/or the condition sensor; weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

Claims

1. A method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers, the method comprising the steps of: receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; receiving environmental data of the system, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on at least one of the equipment and the condition sensor, wherein the environmental data is forecast data generated by an environmental data provider, and determining physical conditions of the environment of the system based on the forecast data; weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the forecast data includes at least one of weather forecast data, traffic information data, traffic schedule data and public holiday data.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the environmental data includes sensor data generated by an environmental sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of the environment of the system and the environmental sensor is located outside of the system.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the environmental data provided by the environmental sensor is transmitted via an Internet connection to a sensor data evaluator for the weighting the condition data.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein an environmental sensor is at least one of a microphone, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a current sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the condition sensor is at least one of a microphone, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a current sensor.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the condition data is weighted such that condition data is discarded when the environment data indicates an influence of the environment on the condition data higher than a predetermined threshold.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the condition data is weighted such that condition data is provided with a weight value indicative of the influence of the environment on the condition data.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the condition data is weighted and the state of the equipment is determined by a controller of the system, the system being at least one of an elevator system and an escalator system.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the condition data is weighted and the state of the equipment is determined by a server connected via an Internet connection with the condition sensor.

11. A computer program product comprising a stored non-transitory computer program means, which, when executed on at least one processor, performs the method according to claim 1.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11 including a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which the computer program is stored.

13. A state determining device for a system for transportation of passengers, the state determining device comprising: a sensor data evaluator adapted for receiving condition data of the system, the condition data being generated by a condition sensor adapted for sensing physical conditions of an equipment of the system; the sensor data evaluator being adapted for receiving environmental data of the system, wherein the environmental data is forecast data generated by an environmental data provider, the environmental data containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on at least one of the equipment and the condition sensor, the sensor data evaluator weighting the condition data with the environmental data; and a state detector adapted for determining a state of the equipment based on the weighted condition data.

14. A system for transportation of passengers including the state determining device according to claim 13.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a system for transportation of passengers in form of an elevator system according to an embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 schematically shows a system for transportation of passengers in form of an escalator system according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for a method for determining a state of a system for transportation of passengers according to an embodiment of the invention.

(4) The figures are only schematic and not to scale. Same reference signs refer to same or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows an elevator system 10 comprising an elevator 12, which may have a car 16 that may be moved vertically in an elevator shaft 14 by a drive 18. The elevator system comprises several mechanical and/or electrical equipment 20, such as the drive 18, the car 16, a rope, doors, rails, etc.

(6) The elevator system 10 comprises one or more condition sensors 22, which, for example, are situated in the elevator shaft 14. In general, a condition sensor 22 is placed, such that it is adapted for monitoring a physical condition of the equipment 20 of the elevator system 10, such as a temperature, vibrations, sounds, currents, etc. The condition sensor 22 generates condition data 24 of the equipment 20, which indicates the current physical condition of the equipment 20.

(7) Furthermore, the elevator system 10 comprises one or more environmental sensors 26, which, for example, may be placed outside of the elevator shaft 14. An environmental sensor 26 may be placed, such that it is adapted for monitoring environmental conditions of the environment of the elevator system 10. The environmental sensor 26 may be part of the system 10, for example for sensing physical conditions of another equipment of the system 10. Alternatively, the environmental sensor 26 may be an external sensor, for example of a building automation system. The environmental sensor 26 generates environmental sensor data 28 of the elevator system 10.

(8) The condition data 24 of the equipment 20 and/or the environmental data may be sent via an electrical bus or otherwise to a controller 30 of the elevator system 10 and/or may be collected by the controller 30. For example, the controller 30 may be adapted for controlling the drive 18 and/or other equipment 20 of the elevator system 10. The controller 30 comprises a sensor data evaluator 31, which receives the condition data 24 and the environmental data 28 and weights the condition data 24 with the environmental data 28. In a simple case, the condition data is discarded, when the environmental data indicates a high influence of the environment on the condition data 24.

(9) The controller 30 furthermore comprises a state detector 33, which receives the weighted condition data 24, and which determines a state of the equipment 20 based on the weighted condition data 24. The state of the equipment 20 may indicate, whether the equipment is operating properly or has a malfunction and/or may indicate a wear of the equipment. For example, a maintenance of the equipment 20 may be triggered, when a wear is higher than a threshold or when a malfunction is detected.

(10) Additionally, the controller 30 also may receive environmental forecast data 32 via the Internet 34. The forecast data 32 may be provided by an environmental data provider 36, which, for example, may be a weather data provider or a provider of traffic data. Alternatively or additionally, the environmental forecast data 32 may be used for weighting the condition data 24.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an escalator system 10′, which comprises a movable staircase 16′ that is driven by a drive 18. The escalator system 10′ comprises equipment 20, which may include the drive 18, the movable stairs, handrails, etc. As the system of FIG. 1, the escalator system 10′ may comprise condition sensors 22 and optionally environmental sensors 26. In the example of FIG. 2, an environmental sensor 26 is provided by a smartphone 38, which may be carried by a person using the escalator system 10′. When the smartphone 38 comes in the vicinity of the escalator system 10′, it may start to acquire environmental data 28 that may be sent to a sensor data evaluator 31, for example via the Internet 34. Also the system of FIG. 1 may receive environmental data 28 in such a way.

(12) The system 10′ comprises a state determining device in the form of a cloud server 40. The sensor data evaluator 31 and the state detector 33 may be computer programs executed in the cloud server 40. However, it also may be possible that it comprises a state determining device in the form of a controller 30 as the system 10 of FIG. 1. The condition data 24 and the environmental data 28, 32 may be received via the Internet 34. Additionally, it may be possible that the system 10 of FIG. 1 comprises a state determining device in the form of a cloud server 40 of FIG. 2.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a method that may be performed by a state determining device, for example the controller 30 or the cloud server 40. In the following, the method will be explained with respect to sound as physical condition, i.e. the condition sensor 22 and the environmental sensor 26 may be microphones. However, the method may be applicable to any kind of physical condition, such as temperature, pressure, vibration, current, voltage, etc.

(14) In step S10, the sensor data evaluator 31 receives condition data 24 of an equipment 20 of the system 10, 10′, the condition data 24 being generated by a condition sensor 22 adapted for sensing physical conditions of the equipment 20. For example, a sound sensor or microphone 22, which is placed near the equipment, may record sound emanations of the equipment 20, which may be a mechanical equipment, which may produce different sound, when it has a malfunction or when it is worn.

(15) However, the condition sensor 22 may not only sense the physical condition of the equipment 20 (i.e. the sound of the equipment 20) but also physical conditions of the environment (i.e. sound from the environment). For example, persons passing the system, rain, traffic, thunder, etc. may generate additional sound that is also recorded by the microphone 22 near the equipment.

(16) The condition data 24 in the form of digitized sound signals may be sent to the sensor data evaluator 31 i.e. via the Internet or a bus communication.

(17) In step S12, the sensor data evaluator 31 receives environmental data 28, 32 of the system 10, 10′, the environmental data 28, 32 containing information on an influence of an environment of the system on the equipment 20 and/or the condition sensor 22. The environmental data may contain environmental sensor data 28 or environmental forecast data 32, which both may be used for determining, whether the environment has influenced the condition data more or less.

(18) Environmental sensor data 28 may be generated by an environmental sensor 26 adapted for sensing physical conditions of the environment of the system 10, 10′. The environmental sensor 26 may be placed, such that it is adapted to acquire the physical conditions of the environment stronger than the physical conditions of the equipment 20.

(19) For example, the environmental sensor 26 may be placed outside of the building, in which the system 10, 10′ is situated or at least outside of a room or space, in which the system 10, 10′ is situated. The environmental sensor 26 may be of the same type as the condition sensor 22. In the case of sound as physical condition, the environmental sensor 26 may be a microphone that is placed more remote to the equipment 20 than the condition sensor 22. This microphone then may record sound that is generated by the environment of the system 10, 10′. As the condition data 24, the environmental sensor data 28 may be sent to the sensor data evaluator 31 via the Internet 34.

(20) It also may be possible that the environmental sensor 26 is not a part of the system 10, 10′ but is provided by another system, such as a building automation system or by a smartphone or other mobile devices.

(21) Alternatively or in combination with the environmental sensor data 28, the sensor data evaluator 31 may receive environmental forecast data 32, which may be generated by an environmental data provider 36. For example, the environmental forecast data 32 may comprise weather data, traffic data, trains schedules, etc.

(22) The sensor data evaluator 31 may determine physical conditions of an environment of the system 10, 10′ based on the forecast data 32. For example, the sensor data evaluator 31 may determine from weather data that during a specific time interval, there was rain in the vicinity of the system 10, 10′, which caused environmental sound. It also may be possible that the sensor data evaluator 31 determines that a train passed in the vicinity of the system 10, 10′ causing environmental sound.

(23) In step S14, the sensor data evaluator 31 weights the condition data 24 with the environmental data 28, 32. In a simple case, the condition data 24 is weighted, such that the condition data 24 is discarded, when the environment data 28, 32 indicates an influence of the environment on the condition data higher than a threshold. For example, the condition data 24 is discarded, when the environmental sound indicated by the environmental sensor data 32 is higher than a threshold. Also, the condition data 24 may be discarded, when it has been determined that it rained or that there was a thunderstorm during the recording of the condition data 24.

(24) In another possibility, the condition data 24 is weighted, such that condition data 24 is provided with a weight value indicative of an influence of the environment on the condition data 24. For example, the condition data 24 may be weighted with the sound intensity of the environmental sound recorded by a microphone as environmental sensor 26. When there is no environmental sound, then the condition data 24 may have a high weight value, indicating that the condition data 24 is reliable. When there is high environmental sound, the weight value may be low or zero, indicating that the condition data is not very reliable.

(25) In step S16, the state detector 33 determines a state of the equipment 20 based on the weighted condition data 24. For example, the state detector may compare the condition data 24 with older and/or with standard condition data. A deviation of the actual condition data 24 from the older/standard condition data may be a measure for a wear or a malfunction of the equipment. For example, when the sound (in a specific frequency range) produced by an equipment 20 is higher than a threshold, then a malfunction of the equipment may be assumed.

(26) Here, the weight value may be used for determining the state. For example, only condition data with a weight value higher than a threshold may be used. Also the weight value may enter statistical evaluations of the condition data 24.

(27) Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

(28) 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.