HK1229569B - Configuring terminal devices - Google Patents

Description

Configuring terminal devices

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a configuration terminal device in, for example, an access control system or an elevator system.

Background Art

Electronic systems in buildings or other locations typically include multiple electronic devices connected by a network. In at least some cases, one or more of these devices is configured by inputting configuration information for that particular device. However, configuring a device can be time-consuming and error-prone.

WO2013012409A1 describes a system for controlling the appearance of an elevator passenger interface device. A user can configure an appearance file, which is then used to provide an image file to the passenger interface device. Multiple passenger interface devices can be configured over a network using a server.

US20060265386A1 describes a method for configuring a thin client connected to a communications network. The thin client sends a request for configuration information to a configuration server. The request for configuration information includes information on the thin client. Based on the received thin client information, the configuration server generates a configuration file including the configuration information. The configuration server then transmits the configuration file to the thin client, which then uses the configuration file for configuration.

Summary of the Invention

Other options for configuring the electronic device may be advantageous. This is addressed by at least some embodiments covered by the claims.

An electronic terminal device can be configured using a device identifier input into the device. The terminal device sends the device identifier to a configuration server. The configuration server responds by sending configuration information based on the device identifier to the terminal device.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method includes receiving a device identifier for a terminal device using a terminal device in a building, sending the device identifier from the terminal device to a configuration server, receiving configuration information for the terminal device from the configuration server, and configuring the terminal device based on the configuration information. The configuration information includes a physical location of the terminal device in the building.

In one embodiment, the configuration information includes the orientation of the terminal device relative to the surface of the building. This improves the flexibility of the layout of the electronic system in the building.

In yet another embodiment, the configuration information includes an elevator group to work with the terminal device. And in another embodiment, the terminal device includes a destination call input device for the elevator system. These embodiments allow the terminal device to be used in conjunction with the elevator system.

In one embodiment, the terminal device comprises a lock for a door. This embodiment allows the terminal device to be used in conjunction with an access system.

In one embodiment, the device identifier comprises a string of characters or a number. The string of characters or the number may be used regardless of whether the terminal device is used in conjunction with an elevator system or an access system.

In one embodiment, the device identifier is received by the terminal device via a wireless connection. This also improves the flexibility of the layout of the electronic system in the building.

In another embodiment, the method includes generating configuration information using a computer-based layout tool. The tool can be used to generate a device identifier for the terminal device.

The system includes a configuration server and a terminal device in a building. The terminal device is connected to the configuration server and is programmed to receive a device identifier for the terminal device in the building, send the device identifier to the configuration server, receive configuration information for the terminal device from the configuration server, and configure the terminal device based on the configuration information. The configuration information includes the physical location of the terminal device in the building.

In one embodiment, the system includes a removable storage medium connected to a configuration server, wherein the removable storage medium stores configuration information.

Other embodiments include computer-based apparatus configured to perform one or more of the disclosed methods.

At least some embodiments of the disclosed method can be performed using a computer or computer-based device that performs one or more method operations, and the computer or computer-based device has a read instruction for performing the method operation from one or more computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable storage medium may include, for example, a volatile memory component (such as DRAM or SRAM), a non-volatile memory component (such as a hard drive, an optical disk, a flash memory or a ROM), or both. The computer-readable storage medium does not cover purely transient signals. The method disclosed herein is not specifically performed in a person's mind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to the following drawings, in which:

FIG1 shows a plan view of a building floor.

FIG2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a building system.

FIG3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for configuring a terminal device.

FIG4 shows a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of a method for configuring a terminal device.

FIG5 illustrates an exemplary signal exchange between system components.

FIG. 6 shows an example of an elevator system layout generated using the layout tool.

7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for generating device identifiers using a computer-based layout tool.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a type of support file.

FIG9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG1 shows a plan view of a building floor 100. Floor 100 includes a lobby area 102 accessible through an exterior door 110. From lobby 102, rooms A, B, and C can be accessed through interior doors 120, 122, and 124, respectively. Lobby 102 also provides access to one or more elevators 130, 132, which provide access to other floors in the building. In room A, an additional elevator 134 is also accessible. In some cases, elevators 130, 132 are passenger elevators, while elevator 134 is a service or freight elevator. In other cases, all elevators 130, 132, 134 are passenger elevators, or all of them are service or freight elevators.

While many of the disclosed embodiments are described in the context of a system disposed in a building, other embodiments include systems that are only partially in a building or not in a building.

FIG2 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a building system 200. In general, the system 200 can be used in an environment such as a building floor 100, as well as in other environments. The system 200 includes a configuration server 210 and one or more terminal devices 220, 222. In general, a terminal device is a computer-based component that has an assigned physical location in an area (e.g., in the building floor 100) and communicates with other components in the system 200. Possible examples of terminal devices may include call entry terminals for elevator systems and electronic locks for access control systems. In the specific environment of the floor 100 of FIG1 , the call entry terminals 140, 142, 144 of the elevator system are terminal devices. The electronic locks 150, 152, 154, 156 of FIG1 that control access to the doors 110, 120, 122, 124 are also terminal devices.

Returning to FIG2 , system 200 further includes a data storage component 260 that stores configuration information related to terminal devices 220 and 222. Data storage component 260 may be internal or external to configuration server 210 and may include any computer-readable storage medium. In a specific embodiment, data storage component 260 includes a multimedia card (MMC) or a secure digital (SD) card.

In some cases, the system 200 further includes a program control station 250. In a particular embodiment, the system 200 includes an elevator control unit 230 that manages the operation of one or more elevators. In additional embodiments, the system 200 also includes an access control system 240. The system 200 can include a database 270 that includes user information, other information, or both.

The various components of system 200 may be communicatively connected to each other via a network 280. In various embodiments, network 280 includes wired connections, wireless connections, or both.

FIG3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 300 for configuring a terminal device, such as terminal devices 220 or 222 of FIG2 . In method operation 310 , the terminal device receives a device identifier via an input/output interface. The device identifier includes information that allows the terminal device to be distinguished from one or more other terminal devices in the system. The device identifier can take the form of a number, a string of characters, another type of information, or any combination thereof.

In method operation 320 , the terminal device sends a device identifier to the configuration server.

In response, the terminal device receives configuration information for the terminal device from the server. The configuration information may be sent in XML format or any other suitable format. This occurs in method operation 330. The configuration information allows the terminal device to configure itself for operation with a building system, such as an elevator system or an access control system. The configuration information may specify, for example: the physical location of the terminal device; the orientation of the terminal device relative to another surface (e.g., landscape, portrait); the elevator group with which the terminal device operates; and the type of building (e.g., office building, hospital, hotel, or apartment building).

Based on the configuration information, the end device configures itself at method operation 340. The end device can then operate with the building system.

FIG4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 400 for configuring a terminal device, such as terminal devices 220 or 222 in FIG2 . Typically, method 400 is performed by a configuration server, such as configuration server 210 in FIG2 . In method operation 410 , the configuration server receives a device identifier from the terminal device. In method operation 420 , based on the device identifier, the configuration server determines configuration information for the terminal device. For example, the configuration information may be read by the configuration server from a computer-readable medium, such as data storage component 260 in FIG2 . In method operation 430 , the configuration server sends the configuration information to the terminal device. The terminal device may then use the configuration information to configure itself.

FIG5 illustrates an exemplary signal exchange between components of at least some disclosed embodiments. In signal 510, a device identifier is transmitted from a device identifier source to a terminal device. In some cases, the device identifier source is a person who enters the device identifier into the terminal device through a user interface (e.g., a keypad, a touch screen, or another interface). In other cases, the device identifier source is a computer-readable storage device, and the terminal device reads the device identifier from the computer-readable storage device. This reading can occur in a wired or wireless manner. The storage device may include, for example, an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag, a (near field communication) tag, an optical code, or an MMC or other type of removable storage device.

The terminal device transmits the device identifier to the configuration server in signal 520. Once the configuration information is determined, the server sends the configuration information to the terminal device in signal 530. The terminal device can then use the configuration information to configure itself.

In some embodiments, the device identifiers for the terminal devices in the system are generated using a computer-based layout tool such as a computer-aided design (CAD) tool. The CAD tool can be run, for example, on a program control station 250. CAD tools are generally known in many industries; an example of a CAD tool for elevator system layout is Leegoo Builder from EAS Engineering Automation Systems GmbH of Germany. FIG6 shows an example of an elevator system layout 600 generated using a layout tool. Layout 600 illustrates the second floor of a ten-story elevator installation. This floor is served by passenger elevators A, B, and C and a service elevator S. The layout includes three destination call terminals 610, 612, and 614. In this particular layout, the terminals 610, 612, and 614 are PORT terminals available from the Schindler Group of Switzerland. In addition, layout 600 illustrates the physical locations of the elevators and terminals on the building floors.

FIG7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method 700 for generating device identifiers using a computer-based layout tool. In method operation 710, a layout of an elevator system is generated. The layout may include, for example, information regarding the location of walls, doors, and other building structures; the location of elevator shafts, doors, call entry devices, and other elevator system components; how the elevator system components are connected to each other, including wiring information; other information; or any combination of these items. The layout may be generated using manual input, automated techniques, or both.

At method operation 720, device identifiers are generated for one or more terminal devices and associated with corresponding configuration information. In some cases, the device identifiers are based on manual input from a user (e.g., a user selects an identifier). In other cases, the device identifiers are generated according to a randomly generated or pseudo-randomly generated pattern. FIG6 illustrates examples of possible device identifiers, in this case illustrated using layout 600. In this depiction, callout box 620 shows that terminal 610 has been assigned the device identifier "EGUBNP." (In this particular embodiment, the device identifier is referred to as "ID.") Callout boxes 622 and 624 show the device identifiers for terminals 612 and 614, respectively. In this particular embodiment, callout boxes 620, 622, and 624 also show additional information about the respective terminals, namely: the name of the terminal (e.g., "P+2/1"); the type designation of the terminal (e.g., "PORT1.1"); the color of the terminal (e.g., "white"); and the mounting method of the terminal (e.g., "W" for wall mounting, "P" for pedestal mounting).

The device identifier and configuration information are written to a computer-readable storage device in method operation 730. Using the storage device, the device identifier and configuration information may then be transmitted directly or indirectly to a configuration server.

In some embodiments, support files for the system layout are generated in method operation 740. Generally, a "support file" refers to a file that can be used to install or otherwise execute at least a portion of a planned elevator system. FIG8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of one possible type of support file, a terminal detail list 800. List 800 includes information about the terminal devices in the elevator installation. Column 810 indicates the floor number for a given terminal device. Column 820 indicates the floor name for a given terminal device. (In this particular example, the floor name is the same as the floor index, but this is not always the case.) Column 830 indicates the device identifier for the terminal device. Column 840 indicates the terminal descriptor (name) for the terminal device. Columns 850 and 860 indicate the X and Y coordinates, respectively, of the terminal device on its particular floor. Other embodiments of the terminal detail list 800 may include other types of information.

In other embodiments, the support file includes a list of components for the planned installation. The list of components may include prices for one or more components.

In an additional embodiment, the support files include wiring schematics that illustrate, for example, how to connect terminal devices, configuration servers, elevator control units, and other components.

In some embodiments, the supporting files include a layout diagram that shows the locations of various system components in a floor. The diagram may be similar to those shown in FIG6 .

FIG9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a computer 900 (e.g., a component of a terminal device, a component of a configuration server, a component of an access control system, a component of an elevator control unit, a component of a reader, a component of a database, or a component of a programmable control station) that can be used with one or more of the techniques disclosed herein. Computer 900 includes one or more processors 910. Processor 910 is connected to memory 920, which includes one or more computer-readable storage media storing software instructions 930. When executed by processor 910, software instructions 930 cause processor 910 to perform one or more method operations disclosed herein. Other embodiments of computer 900 may include one or more additional components. In at least some embodiments, computer 900 can be connected to other computers or electronic devices via a network 940. In specific embodiments, computer 900 operates in conjunction with one or more other computers located locally, remotely, or both. Thus, one or more disclosed methods can be performed using a distributed computing system. Computer 900 may also include input/output devices (I/O devices) 940 to allow computer 900 to exchange information with a person or another electronic device.

While at least some of the embodiments described herein are described in the context of an elevator device, the embodiments are also generally applicable to access control systems using electronic locks. For example, any of the locks 150, 152, 154, 156 of FIG. 1 can be used as a terminal device. Thus, for example, the lock 150 can be configured using a device identifier that the lock 150 sends to a configuration server. The lock 150 can then be configured to work with an access control system, an additional device (e.g., an elevator control unit), or both.

In one non-limiting example, a technician installs a destination call terminal on a building floor. In this case, the destination call terminal is a PORT terminal. After connecting the terminal to the elevator system network, the technician uses the touchscreen on the PORT terminal to enter a device identifier ("EFAD5H"). The terminal sends the device identifier to a configuration server, which is also connected to the elevator system network. In this case, the configuration server is the PORT Technology Gateway (PTG) from the Schindler Group of Switzerland. Based on the device identifier, the configuration server determines the configuration information for that specific destination call terminal. Specifically, the configuration server reads the configuration information from an MMC connected to the server. The configuration server then sends the configuration information to the destination call terminal. The destination call terminal then uses this information to configure itself. In this example, the terminal configures itself to operate with the first of two elevator groups in the building (for example, to place a destination call with the first elevator group). The terminal also configures itself to operate its touch-sensitive display in a horizontal direction. Thus, the terminal is properly configured by entering only one piece of information (i.e., the device identifier).

At least some disclosed embodiments allow for configuring a terminal device for operation on a network without entering detailed configuration information for the device. Alternatively, the device can be configured by entering only a device identifier. It is not necessary for each terminal device to be individually configured prior to installation (e.g., at the factory where the terminal device is manufactured). Installation of the terminal device can thus be performed more quickly, with a lower error rate, or both. Installation can thus be less expensive than other methods. Because installation of the terminal device is easier than other processes, installation technicians require less time and less training.

Although some embodiments of a plurality of methods disclosed herein are described as including some method operations, other embodiments providing method may include more or less method operations than the method operations clearly disclosed herein. In additional embodiments, method operations are performed in an order other than disclosed herein. In some cases, two or more method operations may be combined into a method operation. In some cases, a method operation may be divided into two or more method operations.

While the principles of the disclosed technology have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be varied in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may be applied, the illustrated embodiments should be considered merely as examples of the technology and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and their equivalents. All inventions falling within the scope of these claims are hereby claimed.

Claims (10)

1. A method for configuring terminal devices (220, 222) in a building, comprising the following steps: After the terminal device is located in the building, the terminal device (220, 222) receives a device identifier for the terminal device. The device identifier is sent directly from the terminal device (220, 222) to the configuration server (210) via the terminal device (220, 222); The terminal devices (220, 222) directly receive configuration information for themselves from the configuration server (210), the configuration information including the physical location of the terminal devices (220, 222) within the building; and The terminal devices (220, 222) are configured automatically based on the configuration information. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information further includes the orientation of the terminal device (220, 222) relative to the surface of the building. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information further includes an elevator unit that works with the terminal device (220, 222). 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device (220, 222) includes a destination call input device for the elevator system (130, 132, 134). 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device (220, 222) includes a lock (150, 152, 154) for the door (120, 122, 124). 6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device identifier comprises a string or a number. 7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device identifier is received by the terminal device (220, 222) via a wireless connection. 8. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising generating configuration information using a computer-based layout tool. 9. A building system comprising: Configure server (210); and Terminal devices (220, 222) in the building, the terminal devices (220, 222) being connected to a configuration server (210), the terminal devices (220, 222) comprising: processor; and Memory, connected to the processor, wherein the memory includes processor-executable instructions, so as to After the terminal device is located in the building, a device identifier for the terminal devices (220, 222) in the building is received. Send the device identifier directly to the configuration server (210). The configuration information for the terminal devices (220, 222) is received directly from the configuration server (210). This configuration information includes the physical location of the terminal devices (220, 222) within the building, and... Configure terminal devices (220, 222) based on configuration information. 10. The building system of claim 9, further comprising: A removable storage medium (260) is connected to a configuration server (210) and stores configuration information.