# US 11,993,486 B2 · Apparatus and method for controlling passenger transportation device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,486 B2 - Document ID: US11993486B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/945,478 - Filed: 2022-09-15 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-17 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Lifei Cheng; Zhaoxia Hu; Xinwei Gong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993486B2 ## CPC - B66B 25/00: Control of escalators or moving walkways (walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05) - B66B 25/003: {Methods or algorithms therefor} - B66B 25/006: {Monitoring for maintenance or repair (for security reasons B66B29/005)} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract The present application relates to a control system and a method for controlling a passenger conveying apparatus, and a computer-readable storage medium for implementing the method. A control apparatus for a passenger conveying apparatus according to an aspect of the present application comprises: a processor; a memory coupled with the processor; a communication module coupled with the processor; and a computer program stored on the memory and running on the processor, the running of the computer program causes: in response to an internal control command of the control apparatus or an external control command outside the control apparatus, determining whether there is a passenger boarding signal in the passenger conveying apparatus within a specified time interval, wherein the internal control command and the external control command comprise commands for starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus; and manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control apparatus for a passenger conveying apparatus, comprising: a processor; a memory coupled with the processor; and a computer program stored on the memory and running on the processor, the running of the computer program causes: in response to an internal control command of the control apparatus or an external control command outside the control apparatus, determining whether there is a passenger boarding signal in the passenger conveying apparatus within a specified time interval, wherein the internal control command and the external control command comprise commands for starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus; and manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining; wherein, when the internal control command or the external control command is one for starting the passenger conveying apparatus, the specified time interval is a time interval between a previous stopping of the passenger conveying apparatus and generation of the internal control command or the receipt of the external control command for starting the passenger conveying apparatus; upon determining that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is not to be started. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified time interval is a time interval of a set length before the internal control command is generated or the external control command is received. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timer, and the running of the computer program also causes the internal control command to be periodically generated based on a timing signal of the timer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed near an entrance of the passenger conveying apparatus, which is coupled with the memory and configured to generate the passenger boarding signal when it detects that an object enters the passenger conveying apparatus, and the running of the computer program also causes the generation time of the passenger boarding signal to be recorded in the memory. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the running of the computer program causes corresponding operating instructions on the passenger conveying apparatus to be generated in the following manner: if the determining is that there is no passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus and sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in a normal state to an external device; if the determining is that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in an abnormal state to the external device. ### Claim 6 A control system, comprising: a central control unit configured to generate external control commands for one or more passenger conveying apparatuses; and one or more control apparatuses, each of the one or more control apparatuses is adapted to be disposed near or integrated in a respective passenger conveying apparatuses and comprises: a processor; a memory coupled with the processor; and a computer program stored on the memory and running on the processor, the running of the computer program causes: in response to an internal control command of the one or more control apparatuses or an external control command outside the one or more control apparatuses, determining whether there is a passenger boarding signal in the passenger conveying apparatus within a specified time interval, wherein the internal control command and the external control command comprise commands for starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus; and manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining; wherein, when the internal control command or the external control command is one for starting the passenger conveying apparatus, the specified time interval is a time interval between a previous stopping of the passenger conveying apparatus and generation of the internal control command or the receipt of the external control command for starting the passenger conveying apparatus; upon determining that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is not to be started. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, wherein the central control unit is configured to generate the external control command in response to an operation request, the operation request specifies a device identification and an operation type of the passenger conveying apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, wherein the central control unit is configured to generate the external control command periodically. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, wherein the specified time interval is a time interval of a set length before the internal control command is generated or the external control command is received. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, further comprising a timer, and the running of the computer program also causes the internal control command to be periodically generated based on a timing signal of the timer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, further comprising a sensor disposed near an entrance of the passenger conveying apparatus, which is coupled with the memory and configured to generate the passenger boarding signal when it detects that an object enters the passenger conveying apparatus, and the running of the computer program also causes the generation time of the passenger boarding signal to be recorded in the memory. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The control system according to claim 6, wherein the running of the computer program causes corresponding operating instructions on the passenger conveying apparatus to be generated in the following manner: if the determining is that there is no passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus and sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in a normal state to the central control unit; if the determining is that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in an abnormal state to the central control unit. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling a passenger conveying apparatus, comprising following steps performed by a control apparatus: in response to an internal control command of the control apparatus or an external control command outside the control apparatus, determining whether there is a passenger boarding signal in the passenger conveying apparatus within a specified time interval, wherein the internal control command and the external control command comprise commands for starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus; and manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining; wherein, when the internal control command or the external control command is one for starting the passenger conveying apparatus, the specified time interval is a time interval between a previous stopping of the passenger conveying apparatus and generation of the internal control command or the receipt of the external control command for starting the passenger conveying apparatus; upon determining that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is not to be started. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein, when the internal control command or the external control command is a command for starting the passenger conveying apparatus, the specified time interval is a time interval between a previous stopping of the passenger conveying apparatus and generation of the internal control command or the receipt of the external control command. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the specified time interval is a time interval of a set length before the internal control command is generated or the external control command is received. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the internal control command is generated periodically. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining further comprises: if the determining is that there is no passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus and sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in a normal state to an external device; if the determining is that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is in an abnormal state to the external device. ### Claim 18 A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium, when the instructions are executed by a processor, the processor is caused to execute a method comprising: in response to an internal control command of the control apparatus or an external control command outside the control apparatus, determining whether there is a passenger boarding signal in the passenger conveying apparatus within a specified time interval, wherein the internal control command and the external control command comprise commands for starting or stopping the passenger conveying apparatus; and manipulating the passenger conveying apparatus based on the determining; wherein, when the internal control command or the external control command is one for starting the passenger conveying apparatus, the specified time interval is a time interval between a previous stopping of the passenger conveying apparatus and generation of the internal control command or the receipt of the external control command for starting the passenger conveying apparatus; upon determining that there is a passenger boarding signal within the specified time interval, sending a message that the passenger conveying apparatus is not to be started.