Patents by Inventor Niko Elomaa

Niko Elomaa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12077411
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator signalization apparatus. The elevator signalization apparatus comprises first receiving means for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building; output means for indicating floor occupancy to a user; second receiving means for receiving user associated information; and transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa, Jouni Ratia, Sampo Mäkilaurila, Timo Mertanen, Harri Länsiö
  • Patent number: 11261053
    Abstract: A method for generating a control signal to a conveyor system, the conveyor system configured to serve at least a plurality of robots, includes receiving, in a control entity, a service call for a first robot, the service call being associated with a priority of the first robot; determining, by the control entity, the priority of the first robot; and generating, by the control entity, a control signal to the conveyor system to serve the service call for the first robot in accordance with the determined priority of the first robot. A control entity, a robot and a system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20200180903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an elevator. In the method at least one control signal is generated for instructing the at least one mobile robot to a predetermined position. The at least one mobile robot generates at least one control signal to the elevator controller for controlling an elevator in response to an interaction with at least one user in the predetermined position. The invention also relates to an elevator system and a mobile robot implementing at least portions of the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Janne ABERG, Niko ELOMAA, Jukka SALMIKUUKKA
  • Publication number: 20200062541
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator signalization apparatus. The elevator signalization apparatus comprises first receiving means for receiving floor information representing floor occupancy information associated with a building; output means for indicating floor occupancy to a user; second receiving means for receiving user associated information; and transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to an elevator controller based on the received user associated information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa, Jouni Ratia, Sampo Mäkilaurila, Timo Mertanen, Harri Länsiö
  • Publication number: 20200039754
    Abstract: A method for generating a control signal to a conveyor system, the conveyor system configured to serve at least a plurality of robots, includes receiving, in a control entity, a service call for a first robot, the service call being associated with a priority of the first robot; determining, by the control entity, the priority of the first robot; and generating, by the control entity, a control signal to the conveyor system to serve the service call for the first robot in accordance with the determined priority of the first robot. A control entity, a robot and a system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa
  • Patent number: 10501285
    Abstract: Modern elevators are computer controlled and a computer program sending service requests to an elevator system may be implemented in a mobile device. An API-manager is used in a mobile device for providing a common programming interface for all elevator related applications in the mobile device. The API-manager has a certificate that is used for identifying the person using the mobile device. Thus, it is possible to execute service requests that require authorization or access rights. When the identification is provided at the API-manager third party applications executed in the mobile device do not need own certificates. Furthermore, as the API-manager has a certificate service requests can be trusted also when the mobile application is provided by a third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Koivisto, Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa
  • Patent number: 10361867
    Abstract: The invention allows verification of authenticity of a maintenance means connectable to a controller of a passenger transportation/access device of a building. A digitally signed license key including a public asymmetric cryptography key of the maintenance means and optionally a one-way hash of a unique identifier of the maintenance means is used for this verification. Furthermore, an asymmetric cryptography key pair of the maintenance means and a symmetric cryptography key created by the controller are utilized in this verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sampo Ahokas, Niko Elomaa, Antti Hovi, Ferenc Staengler, Jani Kirmanen, Mikko Niemelä
  • Patent number: 10336573
    Abstract: A method for allowing pre-allocation of an elevator call in an elevator system with destination control is provided. A first signal is received at an elevator group controller of an elevator system with destination control. The first signal indicates that a passenger including a passenger is detected to be approaching the elevator system at one of multiple floors associated with the elevator system. In response, allocation of an elevator call for the detected passenger is initiated, wherein the one of the multiple floors is assigned as the departure floor for the elevator call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antti Hovi, Claus Ingman, Jari Kallio, Jukka-Pekka Sarjanen, Niko Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20190193993
    Abstract: An elevator system includes: an elevator entity; and a mobile robot. In response to a detection that the mobile robot shall provide electrical energy to the elevator entity, the mobile robot is configured to: receive an instruction to provide electrical energy to the elevator entity; couple to a coupling station of the elevator entity; and provide electrical energy to the elevator entity via the coupling station of the elevator entity. A method to transfer electrical energy in an elevator environment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Niko ELOMAA, Jere VUORENALA, Ari HÄNNINEN
  • Patent number: 10207893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus. In the method a determining a first position of a user of a mobile node is determined at a first time instant. A second position of the user of the mobile node is determined at a second time instant. A time difference is determined between the first time instant and the second time instant. A walking speed of the user is determined using the time difference, the first position and the second position. A third position of the user of the mobile node is determined. A walking time required for the user to reach at least one elevator is determined from the third position based on the walking speed of the user. An elevator call and the walking time are transmitted to an elevator call control node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Niko Elomaa, Jukka-Pekka Sarjanen, Kenneth Kronkvist
  • Patent number: 10131518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in allocation of an elevator for a passenger of an elevator system, including a step of allocating an elevator for a passenger in a lobby of the elevator system, and thereafter a step of signaling the allocated elevator to the passenger before the arrival of the car of the allocated elevator at said lobby. The method includes the steps of obtaining traffic data describing traffic in said elevator lobby, and determining the signaling moment based on said traffic data, and thereafter signaling the allocated elevator to the passenger at the determined moment. The invention relates also to an elevator system implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa, Tuomas Susi, Johan Grönholm
  • Patent number: 10131519
    Abstract: A mechanism for generating information about passenger flows. Mobile devices of passengers are used for providing information about other devices in the vicinity. The location of the device providing information detects other devices in the vicinity and transmits the information to a central system. Then, the central system associates this information with a location of a person when this person is identified by using an identification device attached to a gate, elevator or other transportation device. When the location of the person identified is known, the location persons having mobile devices in the vicinity can be estimated. Based on this continuously collected information passenger flows can be estimated and based on passenger flows control information for controlling transportation devices can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Niko Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20180208430
    Abstract: Modern elevators are computer controlled and a computer program sending service requests to an elevator system may be implemented in a mobile device. An API-manager is used in a mobile device for providing a common programming interface for all elevator related applications in the mobile device. The API-manager has a certificate that is used for identifying the person using the mobile device. Thus, it is possible to execute service requests that require authorization or access rights. When the identification is provided at the API-manager third party applications executed in the mobile device do not need own certificates. Furthermore, as the API-manager has a certificate service requests can be trusted also when the mobile application is provided by a third party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Koivisto, Jere Vuorenala, Niko Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20170297864
    Abstract: There is provided cancelling elevator calls via a touch screen. An elevator operating panel comprises a touch screen for displaying destination floor information and receiving input from a user. A selection of a destination floor for an elevator call is obtained from the user. The selected destination floor is displayed. A swiping gesture is obtained from the user. The elevator call is cancelled when the swiping gesture is applied to the displayed selected destination floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Ari KOIVISTO, Juuso AUVINEN, Niko ELOMAA, Jere VUORENALA
  • Patent number: 9617115
    Abstract: A method for determining the parameters connected to the run times of elevators and for using said parameters in the control of the elevators in an elevator system includes selecting a plurality of floor pairs from a plurality of floors served by the elevators; measuring runs between the selected floor pairs with one or more elevators; registering run events connected to the measured runs; determining, on the basis of the run events, a plurality of run time parameters connected to the run times; and controlling the elevators based on the aforementioned run time parameters when the elevators are in transport operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jukka-Pekka Sarjanen, Niko Elomaa
  • Patent number: 9561932
    Abstract: A method for identifying an elevator allocated by an elevator system for a user of the elevator system is provided, which elevator system includes a plurality of elevators, and an apparatus that communicates with the elevator system, more particularly with the control system of it, and that is available to a user, which apparatus includes a display. In the method a real-time view of the landscape behind the display is transmitted via the display to the front of the display to the user, and predetermined graphics are presented to the user on the display at a point that transmits to the user a real-time view of the allocated elevator, or in the immediate proximity of said point. An arrangement for identifying an elevator allocated by an elevator system for a user of the elevator system, and also to an elevator arrangement is provided, which implement the aforementioned method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jukka Salmikuukka, Niko Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20160344554
    Abstract: The invention allows verification of authenticity of a maintenance means connectable to a controller of a passenger transportation/access device of a building. A digitally signed license key including a public asymmetric cryptography key of the maintenance means and optionally a one-way hash of a unique identifier of the maintenance means is used for this verification. Furthermore, an asymmetric cryptography key pair of the maintenance means and a symmetric cryptography key created by the controller are utilized in this verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sampo AHOKAS, Niko ELOMAA, Antti HOVI, Ferenc STAENGLER, Jani KIRMANEN, Mikko NIEMELÄ
  • Publication number: 20160275276
    Abstract: The invention allows checking the validity of a license of a maintenance unit for accessing a controller of a passenger transportation/access device of a building, without a need for an online connection to a service center or the like. An expiration time of the license is read from an encrypted license file stored in the maintenance unit in response to detecting the maintenance unit being connected to the controller. A manufacturing time and a current usage time of the controller, both stored in a secure memory of the controller, are read. A total of the manufacturing time and the current usage time of the controller are compared to the expiration time of the license. In response to the total not exceeding the expiration time, the license is determined to be valid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Antti HOVI, Ferenc STAENGLER, Niko ELOMAA, Sampo AHOKAS
  • Publication number: 20160207735
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus. In the method a determining a first position of a user of a mobile node is determined at a first time instant. A second position of the user of the mobile node is determined at a second time instant. A time difference is determined between the first time instant and the second time instant. A walking speed of the user is determined using the time difference, the first position and the second position. A third position of the user of the mobile node is determined. A walking time required for the user to reach at least one elevator is determined from the third position based on the walking speed of the user. An elevator call and the walking time are transmitted to an elevator call control node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Niko ELOMAA, Jukka-Pekka SARJANEN, Kenneth KRONKVIST
  • Publication number: 20160083218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in allocation of an elevator for a passenger of an elevator system, comprising a step of allocating an elevator for a passenger in a lobby of the elevator system, and thereafter a step of signaling the allocated elevator to the passenger before the arrival of the car of the allocated elevator at said lobby. The method comprises the steps of obtaining traffic data describing traffic in said elevator lobby, and determining the signaling moment based on said traffic data, and thereafter signaling the allocated elevator to the passenger at the determined moment. The invention relates also to an elevator system implementing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jere VUORENALA, Niko ELOMAA, Tuomas SUSI, Johan GRÕNHOLM