General Information Display (e.g., Store Directories) Patents (Class 187/396)
  • Patent number: 10814231
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying auxiliary content during an idle time in a virtual space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventor: Ziqiang Xu
  • Patent number: 10691779
    Abstract: A service tool credential management system includes a storage medium operable to store a plurality of instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to send a credential request to a networked server to access an equipment controller with a service tool. The at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to receive an access credential responsive to the credential request and utilizing one or more fields of the access credential during interactions with the equipment controller to enable a level of access for the service tool to the equipment controller corresponding to the access credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: David Ginsberg, Mark Olthuis, Fred G. Williams, Jody Phouthavong
  • Patent number: 10662026
    Abstract: A guidance content determining unit which determines first guidance content which is content represented to a user in a car on the basis of a situation in an elevator landing detected by a landing situation detecting unit and determines second guidance content being content represented to a user in the elevator landing on the basis of a situation in the car detected by an in-car situation detecting unit is provided, a guidance presenting unit presents the first guidance content determined by the guidance content determining unit to the user in the car, and a guidance presenting unit presents the second guidance content determined by the guidance content determining unit to the user in the elevator landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eunjin Choi
  • Patent number: 10589960
    Abstract: An elevator control system includes an elevator system with at least one elevator car configured to travel to a plurality of floors. An electronic controller controls the elevator system to deliver the elevator car to a given floor in response to an elevator car request. A mobile user includes a display screen and is installed with a secondary-touch detection system that detects a first touch action applied to the display screen and a second touch action applied to the display screen. The mobile user device launches a full service request user interface in response to detecting the first touch action, and performs at least one of launching a pop-up service request user interface and automatically communicates the elevator car request to the controller in response to detecting the second touch action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Simcik, Emily Baldi, Paul Sieka, Matt Anderson, Chris Sukovich, Staci Weixlmann, Sheryl Brothers, Harrison Daniels, Kelly Martin Dubois
  • Patent number: 10459620
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for presenting captions. A caption rate control interface may be displayed on a touch display device. A user input to adjust a caption rate is received through the caption rate control interface, and the caption rate is adjusted according to the user input. A caption is displayed according to the adjusted caption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: NEDELCO, INC.
    Inventors: Ross C. Norder, Kyle James Ehlers
  • Patent number: 10303744
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating and configuring content of an elevator destination dispatch kiosk. The kiosk includes a display. The method includes creating a kiosk database having kiosk data. The kiosk data outlines a plurality of destination floors associated with the elevator destination dispatch kiosk. The method comprises the step of using a computing structure remote from the elevator destination dispatch kiosk to automatically: (a) access the kiosk data in the kiosk database, and (b) generate a floor button layout. The method includes the step of communicating the floor button layout from the computing structure to the elevator destination dispatch kiosk to cause the floor button layout to be published on the display. An interface of the computing structure allows the floor button layout to be previewed before the floor button layout is communicated from the computing structure to the elevator destination dispatch kiosk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Matthew Muncy, Sean Luis Stecker, Chih Hung King
  • Patent number: 10221039
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an elevator display system which provides the illusion of observing a visual narrative of an elevator trip which is made to appear as if the actual elevator has glass walls and one is observing a fanciful elevator trip. The elevator can have a variety of different fanciful rides which are not restricted by the constraints of time, location or physics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Legends Attractions, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Hettema, Susan Spence, Arthur Derby Ahlstone, Benjamin Lien
  • Patent number: 9864500
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying content on a display device by using a combination of an initial scroll speed set by an explicit action, preferably flicking the screen, and the subsequent change of scroll speed by controlling the difference of the tilt of the device from a reference orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Mayank Sanganeria
  • Patent number: 9701513
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for installing a monitor, which provides various types of information, on a hall door of an elevator, and provides a monitor system for an elevator door, including: a decorative glass plate 10 which is attached to a door surface of an elevator so as to cover the entire door surface; a monitor box MB which is fixed to a rear surface of the elevator door D, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and protrudes to a rear side of the elevator door so as to accommodate a monitor M; the monitor M which is fixed in the monitor box MB; a reinforcing glass plate 20 which is disposed between the glass plate 10 and the monitor M, and has a size that covers the entire monitor so as to protect the monitor M from frontal impact; a reinforcing glass plate fixing member 30 which supports and fixes the reinforcing glass plate 20 so that the reinforcing glass plate 20 has the same height as the surface of the elevator door D; a ventilation member 40 which discharges heat generated from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Il Shik Yoon
  • Patent number: 9580276
    Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a controller that is configured to determine a condition of at least one elevator system component. A message transceiver is coupled with the controller. The message transceiver is configured to send a notification message to a remotely located mobile station that includes an indication of the condition determined by the controller. The message transceiver is configured to receive a response message from the remotely located mobile station that indicates how the controller can address the determined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Mustapha Toutaoui
  • Patent number: 9463955
    Abstract: An elevator activation system provides virtual activation of one or more buttons by passengers. An optical sensor or time-of-flight camera is positioned near buttons of the elevator and projects an optical curtain over buttons of the elevator. Disturbances in the optical curtain are detected and an exact location of a disturbance in the optical curtain is communicated to a sensor controller which then virtually activates a button correlated to the particular location of the disturbance. The sensor controller communicates with an elevator controller such that the elevator is controlled based on the particular function activated in response to virtual activation of the button. The elevator activation system may further include a user feedback feature configured to signify to a passenger that a button has been virtually activated without physically contacting the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Preston
  • Patent number: 9174824
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a group control device controlling a plurality of elevators as a group, a security gate mounted with a personal identification device that identifies a passing user and issues identification information, an access control device that issues validation information based on the information about the user included in the identification information, a communication device transmitting a service floor call registration request for each user to the group control device based on the validation information, an assignment controlling function that is provided on the group control device to determine the elevator assigned pursuant to the service floor call registration request for each user, and issue assigned elevator information for each user, and an assigned elevator notification device installed on the security gate to notify each user of the assigned elevator information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Sakurako Tokura
  • Patent number: 8988244
    Abstract: An article transfer system that allows the operator to easily notice that abnormality occurs in an abnormality detecting sensor for detecting abnormality and perform remedial work is provided. The article transfer system is adapted to display information indicating that the abnormality occurs on a display device as abnormality occurrence information, receive input of a result of determination by the operator on whether or not the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information occurs, and display information indicating that the detecting information received from the abnormality detecting sensor is incorrect on the display device when the operator inputs the result of determination that the abnormality indicated by the abnormality occurrence information does not occur with the abnormality detecting sensor detecting the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yagawa
  • Publication number: 20150027816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for installing a monitor, which provides various types of information, on a hall door of an elevator, and provides a monitor system for an elevator door, including: a decorative glass plate 10 which is attached to a door surface of an elevator so as to cover the entire door surface; a monitor box MB which is fixed to a rear surface of the elevator door D, has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and protrudes to a rear side of the elevator door so as to accommodate a monitor M the monitor M Which is fixed in the monitor box MB; a reinforcing glass plate 20 which is disposed between the glass plate 10 and the monitor M, and has a size that covers the entire monitor so as to protect the monitor M from frontal impact; a reinforcing glass plate fixing means 30 which supports and fixes the reinforcing glass plate 20 so that the reinforcing glass plate 20 has the same height as the surface of the elevator door D; a ventilation means 40 which discharges heat generated from th
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: IL SHIK YOON
  • Patent number: 8939263
    Abstract: In an elevator system having a destination call registration device with which a user registers a destination call before boarding the elevator car and an assigned car confirming device with which a user makes sure of an assigned car by inputting his or her personal information when an elevator has been assigned to a destination call registered from the destination call registration device, information on an assigned car and personal information of a user are stored by associating these pieces of information with each other. An assigned car confirming device provides information on the assigned car to the user on the basis of the stored personal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Sakurako Tokura
  • Patent number: 8910752
    Abstract: An elevator system in which plural elevator banks are present in a building, and a security gate through which a user should pass is defined for each bank, appropriate guidance can be given to the user without reducing the elevator operating efficiency. The elevator system includes a notifying device for notifying the user who passes through the security gate of information; an identifying mechanism determining, based on the identification information inputted from an inputting device when the user passes through the security gate, whether or not the user is a pre-registered person; and a determining mechanism determining whether or not the security gate through which the user, who is determined to be a pre-registered person by the identifying mechanism, passes is a normal gate for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiro Furutani
  • Patent number: 8880200
    Abstract: A user can be detected and identified at or near an elevator installation. A record for the user can be read from a database, and based on information in the record, a personalized building action can be performed for the user. A portion of the building can thus be “prepared” for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Edward Nowel
  • Patent number: 8776954
    Abstract: There is provided a car destination floor indication device which can indicate all registered destination floors even when a large number of destination floors have been registered, and enables a user to easily grasp how the registration condition of destination floors has changed. For this purpose, a car destination floor indication device which is provided in a hall or car of an elevator and indicates destination floors of the elevator to users includes an indication section which indicates registered destination floors, and an indication control section which controls indication contents of the indication section and controls switching of a plurality of indication layouts for indicating the indication contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Wu, Masayuki Inata
  • Patent number: 8763762
    Abstract: A lift system comprises a call input device and at least one touchscreen for inputting a call for a lift. The touchscreen has at least one functional identifier. When a functional identifier is touched, at least one input signal is generated. The call input device converts into a special input mode for a time-specific or location-specific generation of several input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Lukas Finschi
  • Patent number: 8719037
    Abstract: Transport apparatus which includes computerized apparatus useful for obtaining and displaying information. In one embodiment, the computerized apparatus includes a network interface, display device, and speech recognition apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks via a remote entity, such as obtaining desired information relating to maps or directions, or any number of other topics. The downloaded data may also, in one variant, be displayed with contextually related advertising or other content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: West View Research, LLC
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8712777
    Abstract: Methods for obtaining and displaying information, such as directions to a desires entity or organization. In one embodiment, the method makes use of a computerized apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks, such as obtaining desired information relating to indoor entities, maps or directions, or any number of other topics. The obtained data may also, in one variant, be displayed with contextually related advertising or other content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: West View Research, LLC
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8688664
    Abstract: A method for updating floor information for display by an elevator in a remote property includes receiving, from a property server, data indicative of a floor for which the elevator lacks floor information, receiving, from a remotely executing process, new floor information for the floor; storing the new floor information in a floor information database; receiving, from the property server, a request identifying the remote property and requesting updated floor information for the remote property; and retrieving updated floor information from the floor-information database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Captivate, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Pineau, Erik Barron, Michael Lynch
  • Patent number: 8651242
    Abstract: In a method for adapting control functions in elevator systems using portable call terminals for providing calls, values of the control parameters are set and then used in the control of the elevator system. The values of the control parameters are dependent on the location of the call terminals. An elevator system includes: at least one elevator; at least one freely locatable call terminal; and a control system responsive to the call terminal. The control system is configured to control the elevator system based on at least one control parameter. A value of the control parameter is determined based on a location of the call terminal within a building after the portable call terminal is arranged at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jukka-Pekka Sarjanen, Tuomas Susi, Niko Elomaa
  • Patent number: 8646581
    Abstract: An elevator group management system capable of appropriately performing car assignment processing without leaving any one behind and enabling a passenger to recognize a car to board without fail. A fellow passenger group assignment section assigns fellow passenger groups to respective passengers based on the contents of hall call registration for each floor received from a hall operation panel, and causes the hall operation panel that has sent the hall call registration to display names of the assigned fellow passenger. A fellow passenger group car assignment section executes, on the fellow passenger groups assigned by the fellow passenger group assignment section, car assignment processing of assigning any of a plurality of cars as an assigned car and, in a case of determining the assigned car, provides car control sections with a passenger guide command containing at least combination information on this assigned car that has been determined and the fellow passenger group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Iwata, Naohiko Suzuki, Shingo Kobori, Sakurako Tokura, Yoshimasa Koba, Kouji Takeshima, Masayuki Mitsuda, Yoshinori Nonami
  • Patent number: 8640831
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method and an arrangement for modernizing an elevator group, in which method the elevators of the elevator group are modernized in turn such that both modernized elevators and unmodernized elevators can be simultaneously in use in the elevator group, of which elevators the modernized elevators are each provided with individualized identification marks while the old unmodernized elevators in use in the elevator group are each provided with a similar identification mark to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Tapani Talonen
  • Patent number: 8584813
    Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one elevator serving at least one floor having a collective call panel and at least one second floor having a destination call panel. A plurality of views to be presented in a car panel are recorded in the elevator system, and a view to be presented in the car panel at any given time is selected based on the floor data of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Tapani Talonen, Niko Rusanen, Vesa Poutiainen
  • Publication number: 20130248301
    Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator system and also to a method for presenting information during a run with an elevator. In the method, the interior lighting of an elevator car is dimmed during a run sequence of the elevator car, and also information is presented inside on an illuminated display in the elevator car when the interior lighting of the elevator car has been dimmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventor: Ari HÄRKÖNEN
  • Patent number: 8496091
    Abstract: An elevator car layout information editing system 1000 includes a riding car display device 300 and a car layout information editing device 400. The riding car display device 300 stores at least one piece of car layout information showing planar layout of plural elevator cars at a transverse section of a building, displays the above car layout information, and as well carries out an editing process of the displayed car layout information according to an edition instructing signal to instruct the editing process of the above car layout information. The car layout information editing device 400 receives an editing operation for the above car layout information displayed by the riding car display device 300, generates the edition instructing signal to instruct the editing process corresponding to the received editing operation, and sends the generated edition instructing signal to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 8485317
    Abstract: A method of controlling a lift installation with at least one lift car, at least one lift control and at least one mobile apparatus, and a control system for a controlling a lift installation. A reporting device near the lift installation receives at least one activation signal from a transmitting/receiving device of a mobile apparatus. The reporting device activates in response to the received activation signal. At least one network address of a recognition device of a lift control of the lift installation is transmitted from the activated reporting device to the transmitting/receiving device of the mobile apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Gerstenkorn, Andreas Oyrer, Josef Langer
  • Patent number: 8403113
    Abstract: Provided is a destination floor indication device of an elevator which is excellent in the viewability of destination floor indications and can rapidly indicate destination floors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Nobukazu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8370158
    Abstract: An adaptive information presentation system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server apparatus with processor, network interface, and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a digital representation of speech input received from a user (such as at a location remote to the server), the speech input relating to an organization or entity which the user wishes to locate. Based at least in part on the digital representation, the program identifies a location associated with the organization or entity, and enables generation of a graphical or visual representation of the location in order to aid the user in finding the organization or entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8348021
    Abstract: A method, an elevator system control unit, computer-readable media and an elevator installation for allocation of a user to the elevator installation, which is provided with a plurality of elevator cars and with a destination call control unit, wherein the user lodges a destination call at the destination control unit using a communications unit. The destination call control unit determines a group of elevator cars for serving the destination call and makes the group known to the user by the communications unit. The user selects an elevator car from the group by the communications unit. In addition, information for guiding the user to the selected elevator car is communicated to the user by the communications unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Lukas Finschi
  • Patent number: 8348018
    Abstract: A display device for a lift system with at least one lift shaft, in which several lift cabins travel. The device includes an allocation manager that allocates an identifier to a lift cabin carrying out a transport job and a display at a boarding location that outputs an identifier of a lift cabin. The display can simultaneously display the identifier for several lift cabins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Miroslav Kostka
  • Patent number: 8336678
    Abstract: The present invention presents a call panel of an elevator or of an elevator system including one or more display elements, a front plate covering the call panel, in connection with which front plate a touch sensor is fitted, and also a control unit to which the display elements and also the touch sensor are connected. The detection area of the touch sensor covers both an active area, and a passive area, where the active area additionally utilizes display elements, while the passive area lacks display capability and remains outside at least some of the aforementioned active area, in which one or more touch-sensitive pushbuttons are disposed in the passive area. The control unit is arranged to react to a touch of the touch-sensitive pushbuttons specified for the aforementioned detection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Vesa Poutiainen, Niko Rusanen
  • Patent number: 8296146
    Abstract: A computerized information system and computer readable apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured for use in a transport apparatus and comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to provide the user with requested information (such as for example directions to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8290778
    Abstract: A computerized information apparatus useful for providing directions and other information to a user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a speech input from the user regarding an organization or entities, and provide a graphic or visual representation of the organization or entity to aid them in finding the organization or entity. At least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8290781
    Abstract: A computerized information system useful for providing directions and other information to a user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive inputs from the user regarding locations or entities, and provide directions and/or advertising related content. At least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8285551
    Abstract: A network apparatus useful for providing directions and other information to a user of a client device in wireless communication therewith. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more wireless interfaces and a network interface for communication with a server. User speech inputs in the form of digitized representations are received by the apparatus and used by the server as the basis for retrieving information including graphical representations of location or entities that the user wishes to find.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8285553
    Abstract: A computerized information system and computer readable apparatus for use in a transport apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to facilitate ad hoc communication with a personal electronic device of a user, and provide the user with requested information (such as for example direction to a desired business or other entity). At least a portion of the information is obtained via a wireless link with a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8230981
    Abstract: A method of providing video information to a display monitor within an elevator located in a building, which includes receiving first data defining a category of video information, receiving second data, associated with the category of video information and defining at least one source of the video information; and retrieving from the source, over a data communications path and on the basis of the first data and the second data, the video information to be displayed on the monitor within the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Newville, Shawn W. Duarte
  • Patent number: 8177036
    Abstract: Elevator reassignment information is communicated to passengers in a group elevator system (10). The group elevator system (10) includes a group of elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) that is operable to transport each of the passengers to one of a plurality of floors (L, F2, F3, F4, F5). A destination entry input device (30, 35) at each floor permits each passenger to enter destination input information. A dispatch controller (20) assigns an elevator to each passenger based on the destination input information. When service of a dispatched elevator is terminated, a communication device (46, 50) communicates elevator reassignment instructions to passengers assigned to or located in the dispatched elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jannah Stanley, Paul A. Stranieri, Richard K Pulling, Jr., Vlad Zaharia, Daniel Williams, Richard Mangini, Wade Montague
  • Patent number: 8157059
    Abstract: A destination floor indication device that enables elevator users to get to know destination floors that have already been registered easily and in a short time. For this purpose, a destination floor indication device installed in a hall or car of the elevator is includes an indication part that indicates registered destination floors to elevator users, and indication contents of this indication part are controlled by an indication control part. It is ensured through the control by the indication control part that when the number of indications of registered destination floors exceeds a prescribed specified value, the size of indications of destination floors is made smaller than when the specified value is not exceeded, whereby all registered destination floors are caused to be indicated in the indication part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobukazu Takeuchi, Kazuya Izuta
  • Patent number: 8136636
    Abstract: Elevator hall call devices have a programmable touch screen which can be programmed to display (a) ten-key destination call buttons, (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons, or (c) N-key destination buttons, as well as buttons which identify utilization of major floors of the building, including functions such as cafeteria, sky lobby, parking, public transport, and lobby, as well as tenants. A controller programs the touch screen in dependence on (d) traffic volume, (e) time of day, (f) floor of the building where the touch screen is disposed or (g) identity of a particular passenger (VIP) in the vicinity of a touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Zuhair Bahjat, Frank Sansevero, Harry Terry, Richard Pulling, Daniel Stillion, Kate Schreiber, Gregg Draudt, Jared A. Judson
  • Patent number: 8117037
    Abstract: An adaptive advertising apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display) advertising-related content (e.g., audio, video, images, etc.) that is contextually related to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8096388
    Abstract: An elevator system has a data receiving unit that receives service state data transmitted from a control device of an elevator. A pulse modulation unit separates the service state data received by the data receiving unit into first information data and second information data, pulse-modulates the first information data by using the second information data, and creates an LED blinking pattern. An LED drive unit drives a visible light LED placed in a cage of the elevator or on a platform of the elevator in response to the LED blinking pattern created by the pulse modulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kuniko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120000734
    Abstract: The invention features a system for displaying video information to passengers of an elevator in accordance with a play list defining a sequence of messages. The video information messages can include combinations of digital advertising, “real-time” general information, as well as, building-related information. The system includes an elevator display unit having a display monitor for displaying video information to the passengers, and a local server which, receives scheduling information associated with the video information over a data communication path and, in accordance with the scheduling information, generates a play list used to display at the elevator display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GANNETT SATELLITE INFORMATION NETWORK, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. DiFranza, Todd A. Newville
  • Patent number: 8065156
    Abstract: An adaptive information presentation apparatus and associated methods. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to adaptively present (e.g., display or play out via an audio system) information that is related or in response to inputs provided via an input device such as a for example touch-screen display device. In one variant, the at least one program analyzes user input to determine a context of the input, and selects advertising related to the context for presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert F. Gazdzinski
  • Patent number: 8047333
    Abstract: A method for allocation of a user to a elevator installation, which is provided with a plurality of elevator cars and with a destination call control unit, wherein the user lodges a destination call at the destination control unit using a communications unit. The destination call control unit determines a group of elevator cars for serving the destination call and makes the group known to the user by the communications unit. The user selects an elevator car from the group by the communications unit. In addition, information for guiding the user to the selected elevator car is communicated to the user by the communications unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Lukas Finschi
  • Patent number: 7958971
    Abstract: A wireless, portable call request entry kiosk (14) has a control panel (19) with keys (20, 21) and a display panel for entering calls and informing passengers of the responding elevator. The kiosk has wireless communication (42, 56) with a building (43) where the kiosk is located, to transmit call requests to a dispatching controller (48). The kiosk operates on a rechargeable source such as a battery (51). A sensor (52) determines a lull in traffic, causing the kiosk to operate in a low power consumption mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Mangini, Richard J. Pulling, Paul Stranieri
  • Patent number: 7926621
    Abstract: In a building, a service zone including a plurality of floors is set. The building is provided with an elevator that is assigned to the floors in the service zone as service floors. In an event of a fire in the building, an evacuation support apparatus for the elevator controls the operation of the elevator to convey those stranded in the building to an evacuation floor. The evacuation support apparatus has an emergency control device and an evacuation guidance device. The emergency control device has a rescue floor setting portion for setting at least a predetermined one of the service floors as a rescue floor, and an evacuation operation command portion for controlling the elevator such that evacuation operation is performed to vertically reciprocate a car between the rescue floor and the evacuation floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoji Kawai, Masahiko Konishi