Wireless communication in an elevator
AssigneeKone Corporation
InventorsJukka Salmikuukka, Aki Parviainen, Kenneth Kronkvist, Ari Väistö
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Abstract
A data communication arrangement for elevators is disclosed. In the arrangement a directional antenna is used for transmitting data from elevator car. Correspondingly, the counterpart antenna in the end of the elevator shaft is transmitting with a directional antenna. In the elevator a further omnidirectional antenna is used to communicate with the terminal devices belonging to passengers. The properties of antennas may be adjusted based on the speed and location of the elevator car. In addition to the properties of antennas also other transmission characteristics may be adjusted based on the same information.
Claims12
A method for providing a local area wireless network in an elevator car comprising:
- communicating with at least one terminal device using a wireless local area network connection by using at least one wireless base station in said elevator car;
- transceiving said communication between said at least one terminal device and said at least one wireless base station by using a directional antenna at the elevator with a transceiver located in an end of a shaft of the elevator opposing the directional antenna;
- determining a plurality of destination floors for the elevator car;
- predetermining when to switch between the directional antenna and an omnidirectional antenna at the elevator,
- wherein the omnidirectional antenna communicates with a transceiver located in a vicinity of one of the plurality of destination floors;
- switching said transceiving from said directional antenna to the omnidirectional antenna communicating with the transceiver located in the vicinity of a particular destination floor of the plurality of destination floors where the elevator car stops;
- and
- switching said transceiving back to said directional antenna after the elevator car starts moving again from the particular destination floor.
A system for providing a local area wireless network in an elevator car, which system further comprises:
- at least one wireless local area base station configured to communicate with at least one terminal device in said elevator car;
- and
- a directional antenna configured to transceive said communication between said at least one terminal device and said at least one wireless base station by using the directional antenna at the elevator with a transceiver located in an end of a shaft of the elevator opposing the directional antenna,
- an elevator controlling system;
- and
- a controller configured to
- adjust transmitting properties,
- determine a plurality of destination floors for the elevator car,
- predetermine when to switch between the directional antenna and an omnidirectional antenna at the elevator,
- wherein the omnidirectional antenna communicates with a transceiver located in a vicinity of one of the plurality of destination floors;
- switch said transceiving from said directional antenna to the omnidirectional antenna communicating with the transceiver located in the vicinity of a particular destination floor of the plurality floors where the elevator car stops;
- and
- switching said transceiving back to said directional antenna after the elevator car starts moving again from the particular destination floor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.