BACKGROUND

Elevators may be used in a building construction phase , and traf fic profiles of the elevators may change daily . In the constructions phase , the elevators are used primarily for construction material and equipment transport . In the construction time use ( CTU) , the elevators may be very heavily used and waiting times may increase . In the CTU, the amount of construction material and equipment transported with the elevators may be signi ficant , and loading and unloading of the transported construction material and equipment may take some time .

Further, during the CTU, it may be challenging to transport construction material , equipment and people in an ef ficient manner . During the CTU, i f elevators can be freely used, this causes a large amount of stops at floors and may make the use of elevators inef ficient .

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect , there is provided a method for optimizing construction time use transport capacity of an elevator system, the elevator system serving a plurality of floors in a building and comprising at least one elevator . The method comprises operating the elevator system in a mode that allows the elevator system to serve only a predetermined subset of floors of the plurality of floors . The predetermined subset of floors i s determined based at least partly on at least one construction time use associated parameter .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the method further comprises obtaining a destination call ; associating the destination call with a travel group of a plurality of travel groups based on the destination call ; allocating an elevator car for the travel group ; and causing transmission of travel instructions associated with the destination call .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the at least one construction time use associated parameter comprises at least one of the following : destination floors associated with at least one tool ; weight o f at least one tool ; phase of construction of a construction proj ect ; critical work phases of the construction proj ect ; and materials associated with the construction pro j ect .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the method further comprises causing transmission of travel instructions associated with the destination call via a mobile application associated with a user or a web based user interface .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the method further comprises obtaining wireless connectivity information of passengers associated with at least one floor of the plurality of floors ; and modi fying the predetermined subset of floors based on the wireless connectivity information of passengers .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the method further comprises determining the amount of detected mobile devices of the passengers at at least one floor ; and modi fying the predetermined subset of floors based on the amount of detected mobile devices of the passengers at the at least one floor .

In an implementation form of the first aspect , the method further comprises determining that the amount of detected mobile devices at a floor exceeds a predetermined threshold; and including the floor in the predetermined subset of floors when the amount of detected mobile devices at the floor exceeds the predetermined threshold .

According to a second aspect , there is provided an apparatus for construction time use of at least one elevator car of an elevator system in a building comprises a plurality of floors . The apparatus comprises means for operating the elevator system in a mode that allows the elevator system to serve only a predetermined subset of floors of the plurality of floors . The predetermined subset of floors is determined based at least partly on at least one construction time use associated parameter .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the apparatus further comprises means for obtaining a destination call ; means for associating the destination call with a travel group of a plurality of travel groups based on the destination cal l ; means for allocating an elevator car for the travel group ; and means for caus ing transmission of travel instructions associated with the destination call .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the at least one construction time use associated parameter comprises at least one of the following : destination floors as sociated with at least one tool ; weight o f at least one tool ; phase of construction of a construction proj ect ; critical work phases of the construction proj ect ; and materials associated with the construction pro j ect .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the apparatus further comprises means for causing transmission of travel instructions associated with the destination call via a mobile application associated with a user or a web based user interface .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the apparatus further comprises means for obtaining wireless connectivity information of passengers associated with at least one floor of the plurality of floors ; and means for modi fying the predetermined subset of floors based on the wireless connectivity information of passengers .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the apparatus further comprises means for determining the amount o f detected mobile devices of the passengers at at least one floor ; and means for modi fying the predetermined subset of floors based on the amount of detected mobile devices of the passengers at the at least one floor .

In an implementation form of the second aspect , the apparatus further comprises means for determining that the amount of detected mobi le devices at a floor exceeds a predetermined threshold; and means for including the floor in the predetermined subset of floors when the amount o f detected mobi le devices at the f loor exceeds the predetermined threshold .

According to a third aspect , there is provided an elevator system comprising at least one elevator configured to serve a plurality of floors of a building, and an apparatus of the second aspect .

According to a fourth aspect , there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to carry out the method of the first aspect .

According to a fi fth aspect , there is provided a computer readable medium comprising a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to carry out the method of the first aspect .

According to a sixth aspect , there is provided an apparatus for construction time use of at least one elevator car of an elevator system in a building comprises a plurality of floors . The apparatus comprises at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions , that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform : operating the elevator system in a mode that allows the elevator system to serve only a predetermined subset of floors of the plurality of floors . The predetermined subset of floors is determined based at least partly on at least one construction time use associated parameter .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings , which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this speci fication, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description help to explain the principles of the invention . In the drawings :

FIG . 1 illustrates a system according to an example embodiment .

FIG . 2 il lustrates an example of a method according to an example embodiment .

FIG . 3 illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus according to an example embodiment .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples and embodiments discussed herein disclose a solution in which an apparatus , for example, a site control ler for constructions site use ( CTU) may be arranged in an elevator system . The apparatus may be configured to control and/or monitor a construction time use of at least one elevator car of the elevator system . The apparatus may be configured to provide a connection to at least one local construction site data source , wherein the at least one local construction site data source is configured to track people and/or material flow during the construction time use . The apparatus may further be configured to provide a connection to at least one site manager application configured to access data provided by the apparatus and to at least one back- end system configured to provide construction proj ect data associated with a construction site . The apparatus may be configured to monitor and/or control a construction time use of at least one elevator car based on data obtained via the first communication interface and the second communication interface .

A term " transportable entity" used herein may re fer to any obj ect , for example , a speci fic material , a batch of material , tool or a person, transported during the CTU using the at least one elevator car .

FIG . 1 illustrates a system according to an example embodiment . The system illustrated in FIG . 1 may be applied, for example , during a construction time use ( CTU) of a building .

The system comprises a site controller 100 ( or a site hub ) which may be connected to an elevator controller 104 via a site application programming interface (API ) 102 . This may enable the site controller 100 to provide instructions to the elevator controller 104 , for example, to allocate elevator calls . In another example embodiment , the functions of the site controller 100 may be implemented by the elevator controller 104 , an elevator group controller or an elevator drive , and thus no API 102 and separate site controller 100 are needed . The site controller 100 in general may refer to an entity that is configured to enable an access or a connection to a variety of di f ferent system elements .

The site controller 100 may be conf igured to provide a connection to at least one local construction site data source 106A, 106B, 106C, wherein the at least one local construction site data source may be configured to track people and/or material flow during the construction time use . In an example embodiment , one or more construction site data sources may be configured to track people flow and one or more construction site data sources may be configured to track material flow . In an example embodiment , one or more construction site data sources may be configured to track both the people flow and the material flow . The connection to the at least one local construction site data source 106A, 106B, 106C may be implemented, for example , using at least one the following techniques : a Wi-Fi connection, a physical Ethernet connection or an loT mesh connection depending on the location . The Wi-Fi connection may be used, for example , when high data throughput is needed . The loT mesh connection may be used, for example , for small , cheap and/or battery powered devices that do not send much data .

In general , the at least one local construction site data source 106A, 106B, 106C may refer to external sensors , automated systems and/or data sources that store and provide information about which tools , materials and people ( i . e . transportable entities ) are about to be , or are currently being transported in the elevator . Di f ferent site data may be arranged in a single data source , for example , a database , or in multiple data sources . Any appropriate tracking and/or identi fication system may be used to track and/or identi fy the tools , material and people , for example , Bluetooth, radio frequency identi fication (RFID) applying RFID tags , wireless positioning etc . The local construction site data source 106A, 106B, 106C and/or back-end systems 112 may comprise identi fication information associated with each transportable entity . The identi fication information may be stored, for example , in a remotely readable device or tag, for example , a radio frequency identi fication (RFID) tag, attached to or otherwise associated with a transportable entity . The construction s ite may then compri se one or more readers that are able to remotely read the identi fication information, when the corresponding transportable entity is loaded/unloaded to/ from an elevator . The readers may be arranged in the elevators or outside the elevators at appropriate locations .

In an example embodiment , the at least one local construction site data source 106A, 106B, 106C may comprise one or more of the following :

- a material and waste tracking system

- a people location and identi fication system

- an asset location and usage rate management system

- a site condition monitoring system .

The material and waste tracking system may provide information, for example , where material and/or tools are being located, and how much waste is accumulated during the construction phase . The people location and identi fication system may provide information, for example , on personnel location and identity of the personnel at the location . The asset location and usage rate management system may provide information, for example , on one or more as sets that can be used in the construction site and their associated location . An asset may refer, for example, to a material, a tool, an employee etc. The asset location and usage rate management system may also track usage rate of the one or more assets, for example, when, where and/or how long an asset was used during the construction phase, where and/or how long a specific employee has worked in the constructions site during the construction phase etc. This may then provide management information, for example, to a back-end system 112. The site condition monitoring system may provide information, for example, on a status associated with the construction site. The status may refer, for example, to a degree of readiness of the construction site, safety and health issues (for example, the number of reported accidents, the number of accident-free days) , temperature, humidity, particulate matter levels etc.

The site controller 100 may further be configured to provide a connection, for example, via an application programming interface (API) , to at least one client application 110 configured to access data provided by the site controller 100 and to at least one back-end system 112 configured to provide construction project data associated with a construction site. The site controller 100 may connect to external systems and external systems or clients to connect to the site controller 100 via the API 108. For example, elevator calls may be allocated from a mobile device of a person working at the site. Additionally or alternatively, an elevator call may be scheduled and allocated automatically, for example, by a cloud-based managing entity, for example, the back-end system 112. In general, the back-end system or systems 112 may refer to automated systems and data sources that provide information about costs and/or priority of different materials, tools and people to be transferred with the at least one elevator. In an example embodiment, the local construction site data sources 106A, 106B, 106B and/or the back-end systems 112 may store information associated with one or more transportable entities. A transportable entity may refer, for example, to at least one of a material, a tool, a batch of material, a person etc. Further, one or more properties may be associated with a transportable entity and may be known beforehand, for example, a weight, dimensions, a priority, a time window when the transportable entity is needed at a specific location, a destination floor, an identifier etc. Different transportable entities may have different priorities. In other words, the local construction site data sources 106A, 106B, 106B and/or the back-end systems 112 may include any information that somehow characterizes a transportable entity. Then, based on the information stored in the site data sources 106A, 106B, 106B and/or the back-end systems 112, the site controller 100 may be able to optimize the use of the elevators during the CTU.

In an example embodiment, the client application 110 may be executed in a device, for example, a mobile device of a user. The client application 110 may be used, for example, to place elevator calls, track material, tools and/or people.

In an example embodiment, the back-end system 112 may refer to one or more external project planning systems from which data indicating where items should be going may be obtained. The project planning system may comprise, for example, a cloud based construction project planning tool providing APIs to read data to other systems. In an example embodiment , the back-end system 112 may refer to one or more logistics systems to obtain identi fication information of di f ferent materials , for example , to cloud based systems for tracking material deliveries and supply lines . The logistics systems may provide API s to access logistics information that can be used by the site controller 100 for decision making .

In an example embodiment , the back-end system 112 may refer to one or more tool rental systems to obtain information of what kind of tools are being used, how they are used, and for what work tasks they are used during the CTU . The tool rental systems may refer to cloud based systems providing API s with tool rental information that can be used by the site controller 100 for decision making .

In an example embodiment , the site controller 100 may be configured to obtain a request for an elevator call from a mobile device via the second communication interface 110 , and allocate the elevator call based on the request . For example , the site controller 100 may of fer the user of the mobile device information originating from the back-end systems 112 and/or site data sources 106A, 106B, 106C, and the user may make an elevator call through the site controller 100 with appropriate tools , material and/or personnel at an appropriate time .

FIG . 2 illustrates an example of a method for optimi zing construction time use transport capacity of an elevator system serving a plurality of floors in a bui lding and comprising at least one elevator, according to an example embodiment . The method may be implemented by an apparatus , for example , a site controller 100 , an elevator controller, or an elevator controller implementing functions of the site controller 100 . At 200 the elevator system may be operated in a mode that allows the elevator system to serve only a predetermined subset of floors of the plurality of floors. The predetermined subset of floors may be determined based at least partly on at least one construction time use associated parameter. For example, the building may have 30 floors, but only floors 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 may be served by the at least one elevator of the elevator system. If a passenger is heading, for example, to the floor 22, the passenger may be instructed to use a specific elevator to travel first to the floor 20 and then take stairs to the floor 22.

The subset of floors may be determined at least partly based on at least one criterion, for example, one or more of the following:

- Destination floors associated with at least one tool. For example, certain tools used in the construction site may be expensive rental tools and they may be needed at certain floors. This information can be used when determining the subset of floors.

- Weight of at least one tool and/or material. Different tools and materials used in the construction site may have different weights, and the weight of some tool or material may be so high that it is not reasonable or possible to transport the tool/material in the stairs. Due to this, if a destination of some tool or material is known, this information can be used when determining the subset of floors.

- Size of at least one tool and/material . Different tools and materials used in the construction site may have different sizes, and the size of some tool or material may be so large that it is not reasonable or possible to transport the tool/material in the stairs. Due to this, if a destination of some tool or material is known, this information can be used when determining the subset of floors.

- Phase of construction of a construction project. Different phases of the construction project may burden travelled floors of a building differently. This information can be used when determining the subset of floors.

- Critical work phases of the construction project. Some work phases may be more critical than others during the construction project. Personnel, materials and/or tools associated with the critical work phases can be used as criteria when determining the subset of floors.

- Materials associated with the construction project. Some materials may be more critical than others during various phases of the construction project. The need of materials can be used as criteria when determining the subset of floors.

In an example embodiment, a destination call may be obtained. The destination call may be associated with a travel group of a plurality of travel groups based on the destination call, for example, based on a source floor, a destination floor, the number of passenger and/or a time of travel. In an example embodiment, passengers traveling to the same floor or nearly the same floor may be grouped to the same group. An elevator car may be allocated for the travel group and travel instructions associated with the destination call may be transmitted. For example, if a passenger who made the destination call, is using a mobile application with his/her mobile device, the mobile application may be used to provide the travel instructions for the passenger. In another example embodiment, the user may be using a web based user interface via a browser of the mobile device. For example, if the passenger is travelling to the floor 22, and elevator of a building is enabled to travel only to floors 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25, the passenger may be provided via the mobile application or the web based user interface an instruction "Destination floor: 22, join group B, exit in floor 20 and continue two floors by stairs". Additionally or alternatively to the mobile application, some other means for providing information to the passenger may be used, for example, voice announcements or a display provided at a lobby area.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus may be configured to obtain wireless connectivity information of passengers associated with at least one floor of the plurality of floors, and modify the predetermined subset of floors based on the wireless connectivity information of passengers. For example, the elevator system may provide wireless connectivity, for example, via Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi, in connection with each floor. The apparatus may be configured to determine the amount of detected passengers, i.e. the amount of detected mobile devices of the passengers. This information may then be used to determine whether to modify the predetermined subset of floors. For example, if the amount of detected mobile devices at a floor exceeds a predetermined threshold, the floor may be included in the subset of floors. This enables, for example, a dynamic zoning based on the amount of passengers at floors of the building. FIG . 3 il lustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 300 according to an example embodiment . The apparatus 300 may be , for example , a computer or a server computer, and it may be configured to implement the functions of a site controller 100 . In an example embodiment , the apparatus 300 may be integrated to be part of an elevator controller, an elevator group controller or an elevator drive as a separate circuit board/module or as an integrated hardware . In another example embodiment, the apparatus 300 may be implemented, for example , with an additional software module in the elevator controller, elevator group controller or elevator drive . In other words , the apparatus 300 may refer, for example , to an elevator controller, an elevator group controller or an elevator drive that is configured to implement the discussed features .

The apparatus 300 comprises one or more processors 302 , and one or more memories 304 that comprise computer program code . The apparatus 300 may also include at least one communication interface 308 configured to provide wireless and/or wired connectivity . Although the apparatus 300 is depicted to include only one processor 302 , the apparatus 300 may include more than one processor . In an example embodiment , the memory 304 is capable of storing instructions , such as an operating system and/or various applications .

Furthermore , the processor 302 is capable of executing the stored instructions . In an example embodiment , the processor 302 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single core processors . For example , the processor 302 may be embodied as one or more of various process ing devices , such as a coprocessor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor ( DSP ) , a processing circuitry with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits such as , for example , an application speci fic integrated circuit (AS IC ) , a field programmable gate array ( FPGA) , a microcontroller unit (MCU) , a hardware accelerator, a special-purpose computer chip, or the like . In an example embodiment, the processor 302 may be configured to execute hard-coded functionality . In an example embodiment , the processor 302 is embodied as an executor of software instructions , wherein the instructions may speci fically configure the processor 302 to perform the algorithms and/or operations described herein when the instructions are executed .

The memory 304 may be embodied as one or more volatile memory devices , one or more non-volatile memory devices , and/or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices . For example , the memory 304 may be embodied as semiconductor memories ( such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM) , EPROM ( erasable PROM) , flash ROM, RAM ( random access memory) , etc . ) .

In an embodiment , the at least one memory 304 may store program instructions 306 that , when executed by the at least one processor 302 , cause the apparatus 300 to perform the functionality of the various embodiments discussed herein . Further, in an embodiment , at least one of the processor 302 and the memory 304 may constitute means for implementing the discussed functionality . The apparatus 300 may be configured to operate an elevator system in a mode that allows the elevator system to serve only a predetermined subset of floors of the plurality of floors , wherein the predetermined subset of floors is determined based at least partly on at least one construction time use associated parameter . One or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution to optimi ze usage of elevator during the CTU phase . Further , one or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution that signi ficantly helps to increase capacity without any additional material costs . Reducing unnecessary stops which would only serve a few people will improve the overall elevator capacity . This means that more people and material may be moved during the day and the overall flow of construction site improves . Further, one or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution in which people will reach their destination faster during, for example , the morning rush . Further, one or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution that saves energy, time , elevator hardware and downtime by reducing unnecessary stops . Further, one or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution in which unnecessary ( and usually also short ) trips to floors are avoided thus freeing capacity for more important trips . Further, one or more of the examples and example embodiments discussed above may enable a solution in which less maintenance of elevators during the construction time use is needed as unnecessary stops are avoided .

Example embodiments may be implemented in software , hardware , application logic or a combination of software , hardware and application logic . The example embodiments can store information relating to various methods described herein . This information can be stored in one or more memories , such as a hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, and the like . One or more databases can store the information used to implement the example embodiments . The databases can be organi zed using data structures ( e . g . , records , tables , arrays , fields , graphs , trees , lists , and the like ) included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein . The methods described with respect to the example embodiments can include appropriate data structures for storing data collected and/or generated by the methods of the devices and subsystems of the example embodiments in one or more databases .

The components of the example embodiments may include computer readable medium or memories for holding instructions programmed according to the teachings and for holding data structures , tables , records , and/or other data described herein . In an example embodiment , the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media . In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can contain, store , communicate , propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus , or device , such as a computer . A computer- readable medium may include a computer-readable storage medium that may be any media or means that can contain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus , or device , such as a computer . A computer readable medium can include any suitable medium that participates in providing instructions to a processor for execution . Such a medium can take many forms , including but not limited to , non-volatile media, volatile media, transmission media, and the like .

While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features as applied to preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit o f the disclosure . For example , it is expres sly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the disclosure . Moreover, it should be recogni zed that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiments may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice . Furthermore , means-plus- function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents , but also equivalent structures .

The applicant hereby discloses in isolation each individual feature described herein and any combination of two or more such features , to the extent that such features or combinations are capable of being carried out based on the present speci fication as a whole , in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art , irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein, and without limitation to the scope of the claims . The applicant indicates that the disclosed aspects/embodiments may consist of any such individual feature or combination of features . In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modi fications may be made within the scope of the disclosure .