Apparatus and method for acoustic command input to an elevator installation

A system for inputting an elevator command to an elevator installation comprising:

• an elevator control for controlling an elevator installation;
• a portable input means for receiving, storing and transmitting data in a plurality of acoustic elevator commands for said elevator control;
• an audio unit included in said input means for reception and conversion of each of said acoustic elevator commands to related elevator command data;
• a first transmitter/receiver unit in said input means for non-acoustic communication of said elevator command data to said elevator control;
• and
• a first control unit included in said input means and connected to said audio unit and said first transmitter/receiver unit for controlling inputting of said acoustic elevator commands when said input means is located remote from said elevator control and storing the related elevator command data for later non-acoustic communication to said elevator control when said input means is within communication range of said elevator control said control unit being responsive to an interrogation communication received by said transmitter/receiver unit for generating said non-acoustic communication to the elevator control.

A method for remotely inputting an elevator command to an elevator installation having an elevator control comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving an acoustic elevator command at a location remote from an associated elevator control of an elevator installation;
• b. storing the acoustic elevator command in a portable input means for later non-acoustic communication to the elevator control;
• and
• c. automatically communicating the stored acoustic elevator command to the elevator control by wireless non-acoustic communication when the portable input means is within communication range of the elevator control and in response to receiving an interrogation communication.