Elevator access control system and method

A method of operating an elevator operable to move between a first location and a second location, the access to said second location being authorized for only a limited number of persons, the method comprising:

• emitting electromagnetic energy at said first location, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data relating to at least one person;
• receiving said electromagnetic energy including said first data;
• accessing a first database containing second data relating to said limited number of persons;
• analyzing at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said at least one person is authorized to access said second location;
• and
• if said at least one person is authorized access, downloading data to a personal electronic device (PED) of said at least one person, said downloaded data comprising content-related information selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) news;
• (ii) weather, (iii) sports, and (iv) financial information.

A method of operating an elevator so as to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the method comprising:

• receiving electromagnetic energy encoding first data identifying the source of said energy;
• accessing a first database containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• analyzing at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• if access should be granted, selectively actuating associated services selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) HVAC equipment, and (ii) lighting.

A method of operating an elevator so as to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the method comprising:

• receiving electromagnetic energy encoding first data identifying the source of said energy;
• accessing a first database containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• analyzing at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• if access should be granted, selectively downloading data to a personal electronic device (PED) of at least one person.

Apparatus configured to control the operation of an elevator so as to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the apparatus comprising:

• receiver apparatus configured to receive, via electromagnetic energy, first data identifying the source of said data;
• processing apparatus in signal communication with said receiver apparatus and adapted to:
• access a first database containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• and
• analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• a controller which, if access should be granted, selectively actuates at least one of (i) HVAC equipment and (ii) lighting.

Apparatus associated with an elevator adapted to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the apparatus comprising:

• receiver apparatus comprising an antenna, said receiver apparatus operative to receive electromagnetic energy encoding first data identifying the source of said energy;
• processing apparatus operative to access a first database containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• apparatus in signal communication with said receiver apparatus and said processing apparatus and configured to analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• controller apparatus operative such that if access should be granted, said controller apparatus enables selective downloading of data to a personal electronic device (PED) of at least one person.

Apparatus configured to control the operation of an elevator so as to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving electromagnetic energy encoding first data identifying the source of said energy;
• means for access of a first database containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• means for analyzing at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• a controller which, if access should be granted, selectively actuates services selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) HVAC equipment, and (ii) lighting.

Apparatus associated with an elevator so adapted to selectively restrict access to one or more locations and to control associated services, the apparatus comprising:

• receiver means operative for receiving electromagnetic energy encoding first data identifying the source of said energy;
• apparatus operative to access a first database means containing second data relating to a limited number of persons;
• apparatus in signal communication with said receiver means and configured to analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine whether to grant access to at least one of said one or more locations;
• and
• controller means operative such that if access should be granted, said controller means enables selective downloading of data to a personal electronic device (PED) of at least one person.

A method of operating an information system associated with an elevator, said elevator operable to move between a first location and a second location, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only certain persons, the method comprising:

• receiving electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person;
• accessing a first database containing second data relating to said certain persons;
• analyzing at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said at least one person is authorized to access said information;
• and
• if said at least one person is authorized access, downloading said information to a personal electronic device (PED);
• wherein said information comprises content-related information.

An information system associated with an elevator, said elevator operable to move between a first location and a second location, the access to information of said information system being authorized for only certain persons, the system comprising:

• an antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic energy, said electromagnetic energy encoding first data associated with at least one person;
• and
• processing apparatus in signal communication with said antenna, said processing apparatus configured to:
• access a first database containing second data relating to said certain persons;
• analyze at least portions of said first data and said second data to determine if said at least one person is authorized to access said information;
• and
• if said at least one person is authorized access, facilitate download said information to a personal electronic device (PED) of said at least one person.