JP7666758B2 - Elevator content output system - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to an elevator content output system.

Patent document 1 discloses an example of a procedure for providing content in an elevator. In the procedure, at least one individual user profile with multimedia content is stored for a user. In the elevator, the identified user is provided with the multimedia content stored in the user profile.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-330963

In the elevator of Patent Document 1, other users may feel uncomfortable with content provided based on the user profile of a certain user. In this way, depending on the usage situation of the elevator, undesirable content may be output.

This disclosure is directed to solving such problems. This disclosure provides a content output system that can suppress the output of undesirable content depending on the elevator usage status.

The elevator content output system according to the present disclosure comprises a reception unit that receives request information representing a call requested by a user of an elevator having a car equipped with an output device from a mobile terminal carried by the user, a user information acquisition unit that acquires user attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information when the reception unit receives the request information, and a selection unit that extracts output allowable content from a plurality of contents that can be output to the output device and are each associated with a non-output attribute, by excluding content that is associated as a non-output attribute with any of the user attributes of one or more users riding in the car, and when one or more output allowable content has been extracted, selects a content to be output by the output device from the one or more output allowable contents.

According to the content output system of the present disclosure, the output of undesirable content can be suppressed depending on the elevator usage status.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator according to a first embodiment. 4 is a table showing an example of information on contents that can be output in the content output system according to the first embodiment; 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content output system according to a first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content output system according to the first embodiment. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a main part of a content output system according to a first embodiment.

The embodiments for implementing the subject matter of this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. Note that the subject matter of this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any of the components of the embodiments may be modified or omitted without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator 1 according to the first embodiment.

The elevator 1 is applied, for example, to a building having multiple floors. A hoistway 2 for the elevator 1 is provided in the building. The hoistway 2 is a long space in the vertical direction that spans the multiple floors. The elevator 1 includes a hoisting machine 3, a main rope 4, a car 5, a counterweight 6, and a control panel 7.

The hoisting machine 3 is arranged, for example, at the upper or lower part of the elevator shaft 2. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 1 is provided above the elevator shaft 2, the hoisting machine 3 may be arranged in the machine room. The hoisting machine 3 includes a motor that generates a driving force and a sheave that rotates by the driving force generated by the motor.

The main rope 4 is wound around the sheave of the hoist 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of the cage 5 on one side of the sheave of the hoist 3. The main rope 4 supports the load of the counterweight 6 on the other side of the sheave of the hoist 3. The main rope 4 moves so as to be wound up into the sheave of the hoist 3 or to be unwound from the sheave of the hoist 3 by the driving force generated by the motor of the hoist 3.

The car 5 is a device that transports elevator 1 users and the like between multiple floors by traveling up and down the hoistway 2. The car 5 is equipped with a car door 8. The car door 8 is a door that separates the interior and exterior of the car 5. The car door 8 opens and closes to allow users to get on and off the car 5 when the car 5 stops at any floor. The counterweight 6 is a device that balances the load applied to both sides of the sheave of the hoisting machine 3 between the car 5 and the counterweight 6. The car 5 and the counterweight 6 travel up and down the hoistway 2 in opposite directions to each other in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 4.

The control panel 7 is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 1. The control panel 7 is arranged, for example, at the top or bottom of the hoistway 2. For example, if a machine room for the elevator 1 is provided above the hoistway 2, the control panel 7 may be arranged in the machine room. The operation of the elevator 1 controlled by the control panel 7 includes, for example, the running of the car 5. The control panel 7 is connected to the hoist 3 and the car 5 so as to be able to output control signals for the elevator 1 and to be able to obtain information on the status of the elevator 1.

A remote monitoring device 9 is applied to the elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is a device used for remotely monitoring the status of the elevator 1. The remote monitoring device 9 is connected to the control panel 7 so as to be able to collect information on the status of the elevator 1 and to be able to output external control signals to the elevator 1. The information collected by the remote monitoring device 9 is transmitted to the central management device 11 via a communication network 10, such as the Internet or a telephone line. The central management device 11 is a device that collects and manages information on the status of the elevator 1. The central management device 11 is provided at a base such as an information center. The central management device 11 is composed of, for example, one or more server devices. Some or all of the functions of the central management device 11 may be implemented by processing and storage resources on a cloud service.

A content output system 12 is applied to the elevator 1. The content output system 12 is a system that outputs content to be provided to users of the elevator 1. The content is, for example, video or audio, or a combination thereof. The content output system 12 may be an internal system of the elevator 1, or an external system applied to the elevator 1 from the outside. The content output system 12 includes an output device 13 and an output control unit 14. The output device 13 is a device that provides content to users, for example, by video and audio. In this example, the output device 13 provides content to users by displaying video. The output device 13 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. The output device 13 is provided inside the car 5. The output control unit 14 is a part that has a function of controlling the output of the output device 13. The output control unit 14 is, for example, a display controller. The output control unit 14 is connected to, for example, a control panel 7 or a remote monitoring device 9.

In the elevator 1, one or more transmitters 15 are provided. The transmitter 15 is a device that transmits a wireless signal. The transmitter 15 is, for example, a wireless beacon. The wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter 15 is, for example, a wireless signal such as a short-range wireless communication signal. In this example, the transmitter 15 is disposed at the elevator 1 landing of each floor.

A user of the elevator 1 carries a mobile terminal 16. The mobile terminal 16 is, for example, a portable general-purpose information processing terminal such as a smartphone. The mobile terminal 16 connects to the communication network 10 via wireless communication. The mobile terminal 16 may be equipped with functions such as short-range wireless communication.

In this example, the user registers usage information for the elevator 1 through the mobile terminal 16. The usage information includes information such as the user's destination floor. The registered usage information may be stored in the mobile terminal 16, or may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11, for example, together with identification information that identifies the user. At this time, the usage information is stored in the central management device 11, for example, in association with the identification information that identifies the user. The identification information that identifies the user is stored in advance in the mobile terminal 16, for example. The user may be identified by the identification information of the mobile terminal 16 that the user possesses.

When the mobile terminal 16 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 15, for example, the mobile terminal 16 transmits request information representing a call requested by a user carrying the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11. The mobile terminal 16 may transmit request information of a call requested by the user to the central management device 11, for example, based on the user's operation. At this time, the central management device 11 acquires call information based on the request information. The call information includes, for example, information such as the user's departure floor and destination floor. The call information may be included in the request information, or may be read from the usage information registered based on the identification information transmitted by the mobile terminal 16 together with the request information. Based on the acquired call information, the central management device 11 outputs a control signal to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 through the remote monitoring device 9 to register the call requested by the user. The control panel 7 registers the requested call based on the input control signal. The control panel 7 controls the running of the car 5 to respond to the registered call.

The user may also register the user's own user attributes through the mobile terminal 16. The user attributes are information that represents the attributes of the user, such as, for example, "the user is an adult," "the user is a child," or "a parent with a child." The registered user attributes may be stored in the mobile terminal 16, or may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 16 to the central management device 11, for example, together with identification information that identifies the user. At this time, the user attributes are stored in the central management device 11, for example, in association with the identification information that identifies the user.

Figure 2 is a table showing an example of information on content that can be output in the content output system 12 relating to embodiment 1.

The content output system 12 manages information on each piece of content that can be output to the output device 13, for example, as a content list as shown in FIG. 2. The content list includes information such as the title, output time, content attributes, and non-output attributes for each piece of content. The output time of a piece of content is the time required to output the piece of content. If the content is video, the output time is the display time of the video, for example. The content attribute is information that represents the attribute of the content, for example, "anime" or "mathematics". The content attribute may include user attributes of users that the content targets, for example, "the user is an adult", "the user is a child", or "a parent with a child". The non-output attribute is user attributes of users that the content does not target, for example, "the user is an adult" or "the user is a child".

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a content output system 12 relating to embodiment 1.

The content output system 12 includes a content management unit 17, a user information storage unit 18, a reception unit 19, a user information acquisition unit 20, a call registration unit 21, a number of people detection unit 22, a required time calculation unit 23, and a selection unit 24. The content management unit 17, the user information storage unit 18, the reception unit 19, the user information acquisition unit 20, the call registration unit 21, the number of people detection unit 22, the required time calculation unit 23, and the selection unit 24 are mounted on, for example, the central management device 11.

The content management unit 17 is a part equipped with a function for managing the content to be output. The content management unit 17 manages, for example, content information as a content list. In this example, the content management unit 17 manages information on each piece of content itself on the content list. The content management unit 17 may also manage information on external resources, such as the source from which each piece of content itself on the content list is obtained.

The user information storage unit 18 is a part that has a function of storing information. The user information storage unit 18 stores, for example, the usage information of a user of the elevator 1 in association with the identification information of the user. The user information storage unit 18 also stores the user attributes of the user in association with the identification information of the user. In this example, the user information storage unit 18 stores the output refusal attribute, output desired attribute, and confidentiality desired attribute of the user in association with the identification information of the user. The output refusal attribute of the user is information representing the attribute of the content that the user does not like to be output to the output device 13. The output desired attribute of the user is information representing the attribute of the content that the user wishes to output to the output device 13. The confidentiality desired attribute of the user is information representing the attribute of the content that the user wishes to conceal from others as the output desired attribute of the user, among the output desired attributes of the user. Information such as the user attribute, output refusal attribute, output desired attribute, and confidentiality desired attribute is, for example, registered in advance by the user through the mobile terminal 16, similar to the usage information.

The reception unit 19 is a part that has the function of receiving request information representing a call requested by a user from the mobile terminal 16 carried by the user.

The user information acquisition unit 20 is a part equipped with a function for acquiring user attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information when the reception unit 19 receives the request information. The user information acquisition unit 20, for example, reads identification information included in the request information. Using the read identification information as a key, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires information such as the usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes that are associated with the identification information and stored in the user information storage unit 18. Note that when the request information includes information such as the user's usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes, the user information acquisition unit 20 may read the information from the request information.

The call registration unit 21 is a part equipped with a function of outputting a control signal for registering a call requested by a user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the call registration unit 21 acquires call information represented by the request information. The call registration unit 21 acquires call information, for example, using usage information acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 based on identification information included in the request information. Based on the acquired call information, the call registration unit 21 outputs a control signal for registering a call requested by a user to the control panel 7 of the elevator 1 via the remote monitoring device 9.

The number of people detection unit 22 is a part equipped with a function to detect the number of users riding in the car 5 of the elevator 1. The number of people detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5, for example, based on call information registered by the call registration unit 21. The required time calculation unit 23 is a part equipped with a function to calculate the running time required for the car 5 from when the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 closes until it opens again. The required time calculation unit 23 calculates the running time required for the car 5, for example, based on call information registered by the call registration unit 21. The number of people detection unit 22 and the required time calculation unit 23 may obtain the position of the car 5, the running speed of the car 5, the response status of the car 5 to calls, or other necessary information from the elevator 1, for example, via the remote monitoring device 9.

The selection unit 24 is a part that has a function of selecting content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 selects content to be output by the output device 13 from multiple contents managed by the content management unit 17, for example, in the following manner.

The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13, for example, after the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 is closed. The selection unit 24 collects information on user attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. Here, the user information acquisition unit 20 may determine whether the user is currently riding in the car 5 based on, for example, information on the user's call and the response status to the call of the car 5. The selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed content by excluding content managed by the content management unit 17 to which the user attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 are associated as non-output attributes. For example, when a user with the user attribute "adult" is riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed content excluding content for which the attribute "adult" is set as a non-output attribute. When collecting multiple user attributes, the selection unit 24 excludes content for which the attribute is set as a non-output attribute for each user attribute from the output-allowed content to be extracted.

When extracting output-allowed content, the selection unit 24 may collect information on output refusal attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. For each collected output refusal attribute, the selection unit 24 excludes content for which the attribute is set as a content attribute from the output-allowed content to be extracted. For example, when a user who has registered the output refusal attribute "child" is riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed content excluding content for which the attribute "child" is set as a content attribute.

When extracting the output-allowed content, the selection unit 24 may collect information on the confidentiality attribute acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. At this time, the selection unit 24 acquires information on the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22. When the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22 is multiple, the selection unit 24 excludes content from the output-allowed content based on the confidentiality attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 excludes, for each of the collected confidentiality attributes, content for which the attribute is set as a content attribute from the output-allowed content to be extracted. For example, when multiple users, including a user who has registered the confidentiality attribute "anime", are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts the output-allowed content excluding content for which the attribute "anime" is set as a content attribute. Here, when the number of people detected by the number of people detection unit 22 is one, the selection unit 24 does not exclude content based on the confidentiality attribute. For example, when only users who have registered the confidentiality-desired attribute "anime" are riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 does not exclude content for which the attribute "anime" is set as a content attribute from output-allowed content based only on the confidentiality-desired attribute.

When one or more output-allowed contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects from the one or more output-allowed contents a content to be output to the output device 13. For example, from the extracted output-allowed contents, the selection unit 24 selects a content to be output to the output device 13 by giving priority to a content for which the user attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 are associated as a content attribute.

When selecting content to be output by the output device 13, the selection unit 24 may collect information on the desired output attributes acquired by the user information acquisition unit 20 for each user currently riding in the car 5. The selection unit 24, for example, from among the extracted output-allowed contents, selects content to be output by the output device 13 by giving priority to content for which the desired output attributes collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 are associated as content attributes. The selection unit 24 may, for example, select content based on the desired output attributes more preferentially than content based only on user attributes.

The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output to the output device 13 by, for example, scoring the extracted output-allowed content. For example, the selection unit 24 adds a score for the number of users of the user attribute to the content to which the user attribute collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. For example, the selection unit 24 adds a score for the number of users who have registered the output-desired attribute to the content to which the output-desired attribute collected for each user currently riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. The score based on the output-desired attribute may be set higher than the score based on the user attribute. The selection unit 24 selects the content with the highest score from the extracted output-allowed content as the content to be output to the output device 13. The selection unit 24 may also select the content using the travel time calculated by the travel time calculation unit 23. For example, the selection unit 24 selects, from the extracted output-permitted contents, the content with the highest score among the contents whose output time is within the required driving time, as the content to be output by the output device 13. Note that the selection unit 24 may select content from the extracted output-permitted contents by using another method.

When there is no selectable content, the selection unit 24 sets a preset default content as the content to be output by the output device 13. Here, when there is no selectable content, this corresponds to a case where no output-allowed content is extracted, or when there are multiple contents with the highest scores among the extracted output-allowed contents and they compete with each other. The default content is, for example, a scenic image or weather information, which is unlikely to cause discomfort to many users.

The selection unit 24 transmits information on the selected content to the output control unit 14, for example, via the remote monitoring device 9. The selection unit 24 may transmit information on the selected content itself to the output control unit 14, or may transmit information on an external resource such as the acquisition destination of the selected content itself to the output control unit 14. The output control unit 14 outputs the selected content to the output device 13 based on the information transmitted from the selection unit 24. The output control unit 14 may previously acquire information on the content that can be output to the output device 13 from the acquisition destination. The previously acquired content is stored, for example, in a storage device inside the output control unit 14. At this time, the selection unit 24 transmits information identifying the selected content to the output control unit 14. The output control unit 14 reads out the content identified by the information transmitted from the selection unit 24, for example, from an internal storage device, and outputs it to the output device 13. If the content identified by the information transmitted from the selection unit 24 is not stored in the internal storage device, the output control unit 14 may acquire the content from the acquisition destination.

More specifically, for example, in the content list shown in Figure 2, content is selected as follows: User A's user attributes are "adult" and "adult with no children," and user A has registered "anime" and "mathematics" as attributes he wishes to output, and has registered "anime" as an attribute he wishes to keep secret. User B's user attribute is "child," and user B has registered "mathematics" as an attribute he wishes to refuse to output. User C's user attributes are "adult" and "parent with a child in junior high school."

When user A and user B are riding in the car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the user attribute of user A, "adult with no children". The selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the user attribute of user B, "child". The selection unit 24 excludes the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the output refusal attribute of user B, "mathematics". At this time, since no output-permitted content is extracted, the selection unit 24 transmits default content to the output control unit 14. As a result, user A, who is an adult, is not provided with content targeted at children, and is therefore unlikely to feel discomfort. Furthermore, user B is not provided with mathematics content that he does not want to see, and is therefore unlikely to feel discomfort.

When user A and user C are riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the user attribute "adult without children" of user A. Since two users are riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the output-permitted content to be extracted based on the confidentiality-desired attribute "anime" of user B. The selection unit 24 extracts the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" as the output-permitted content. The selection unit 24 selects the content "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" from the extracted output-permitted content based on the output-desired attribute "mathematics" of user A and the output-desired attribute "parent with junior high school children" of user C. As a result, the anime content based on user A's preferences is not output when another user C is riding in the car at the request of user A, so that user A's preferences are concealed from others.

When only user A is riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 excludes the content "Anime rankings popular with children" from the output allowable content to be extracted based on user A's user attribute "adult without children". Since there is only one user riding in car 5, the selection unit 24 extracts the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" and "Junior high school mathematics problems and answers" as output allowable content. In this example, the required time calculation unit 23 calculates the travel time to be 15 seconds. At this time, the selection unit 24 selects the content "Anime rankings popular with adults" from the extracted output allowable content based on the required travel time and user A's output desired attribute "anime". As a result, the anime content according to user A's preferences is output according to user A's wishes, so user A can spend his or her time using elevator 1 comfortably.

Next, an example of the operation of the content output system 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

In step S101, the content output system 12 determines whether the reception unit 19 has received request information from the user's mobile terminal 16. If the determination result is No, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S101 again. If the determination result is Yes, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires information such as the usage information, user attributes, output refusal attributes, output desired attributes, and confidentiality desired attributes of the user who requested the requested information accepted by the acceptance unit 19. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S103.

In step S103, the selection unit 24 reads the content list managed by the content management unit 17. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S104.

In step S104, the selection unit 24 extracts the output-allowed content from the content on the content list. The output-allowed content may be extracted, for example, after the car door 8 of the car 5 of the elevator 1 has closed and the user riding in the car 5 has been confirmed. After the output-allowed content has been extracted, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the selection unit 24 determines whether there is any extracted output-allowed content. If the determination result is No, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. If the determination result is Yes, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S107.

In step S106, the selection unit 24 transmits the default content to the output control unit 14. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

In step S107, the selection unit 24 determines whether there are multiple pieces of extracted output-allowed content. If the determination result is No, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S108. If the determination result is Yes, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S109.

In step S108, the selection unit 24 selects only one of the extracted output-permitted contents as the content to be output by the output device 13. The selection unit 24 transmits the selected output-permitted content to the output control unit 14. Thereafter, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

In step S109, the selection unit 24 performs a process of selecting a content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted plurality of output-permitted contents. Then, the process of the content output system 12 ends.

In step S110, the selection unit 24 determines whether there is any selectable output-allowed content. The selection unit 24 determines that there is no selectable output-allowed content when, for example, the number of selectable output-allowed contents cannot be narrowed down to one due to conflicting user preferences. If there is no selectable output-allowed content, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S106. If there is selectable output-allowed content, the selection unit 24 selects that content. Thereafter, the processing of the content output system 12 proceeds to step S111.

In step S111, the selection unit 24 transmits the selected output-allowed content to the output control unit 14. Then, the processing of the content output system 12 ends.

As described above, the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment includes a reception unit 19, a user information acquisition unit 20, and a selection unit 24. The elevator 1 has a car 5. The output device 13 is provided in the car 5. The output device 13 outputs a plurality of contents. A non-output attribute is associated with each of the contents. A user of the elevator 1 carries a mobile terminal 16. The reception unit 19 receives request information representing a call requested by the user from the mobile terminal 16 of the user. When the reception unit 19 receives the request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the user attributes of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. The selection unit 24 extracts output-allowed contents from the plurality of contents by excluding contents to which the user attributes of any of the users riding in the car 5 are associated as non-output attributes. When one or more output-allowed contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects a content to be output by the output device 13 from the one or more output-allowed contents.

With this configuration, output-allowed content is extracted according to the user attributes of the user riding in the car 5 and the non-output attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content. As a result, the content is not output to users with user attributes that are not targeted by the content. This makes it possible to suppress the output of undesirable content according to the usage status of the elevator 1. As a result, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with.

In addition, a content attribute is associated with each piece of content. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the output refusal attribute of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. The selection unit 24 does not extract, as output permitted content, content to which the output refusal attribute of any of the users riding in car 5 is associated as a content attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 extracts, as output permitted content, content to which the output refusal attribute of any of the users riding in car 5 is not associated as a content attribute.

With this configuration, output-allowed content is extracted according to the output refusal attributes of the user riding in the car 5 and the content attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content. As a result, content that users of the elevator 1 do not wish to be provided is not provided. This makes it less likely that the content output system 12 will cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with. Furthermore, since the output refusal attributes can reflect the preferences of individual users, content that takes into consideration each individual user is output.

In addition, content attributes are associated with each piece of content. When the reception unit 19 receives request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the output desired attributes of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. When one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a piece of content whose content attribute is associated with the output desired attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5, as the piece of content to be output by the output device 13.

With this configuration, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content according to the output desired attributes of the user riding in the car 5 and the content attributes of the content. This allows users of the elevator 1 to be provided with their desired content while taking into consideration other users. Furthermore, the output desired attributes can reflect the preferences of each individual user, allowing each user to enjoy a more comfortable experience while using the elevator 1.

The content output system 12 also includes a number-of-users detection unit 22. The number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5. When the reception unit 19 receives the request information, the user information acquisition unit 20 acquires the confidentiality preference attribute of the user who requested the call represented by the request information. When the number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5 as one person, if one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output-permitted contents, a content to which the output-permitted attribute of the user riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute, as a content to be output by the output device 13. When the number-of-users detection unit 22 detects the number of users riding in the car 5 as multiple people, the selection unit 24 does not extract, as an output-permitted content, a content to which the confidentiality preference attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5 is associated as a content attribute. At this time, the selection unit 24 extracts, as output-permitted content, content whose content attribute is not associated with the confidentiality preference attribute of any of the users riding in the car 5.

With this configuration, when multiple users are in car 5, output-allowed content is extracted according to the confidentiality desired attributes of the users in car 5 and the content attributes of the content. The selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 from the extracted output-allowed content. As a result, content based on the preferences of any one user is not output when other users are on board at the request of that user. Therefore, the preferences of a user are kept confidential from other users at the request of that user. Therefore, content is output with consideration given to the privacy of users.

The content output system 12 also includes a required time calculation unit 23. The required time calculation unit 23 calculates the time required for the cage 5 to run from when the cage door 8 of the cage 5 closes until it opens again. When one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit 24 selects, from the one or more output-permitted contents, a content whose output time is within the required running time calculated by the required time calculation unit 23, as the content to be output by the output device 13.

With this configuration, the output of the content selected by the selection unit 24 is completed within the time required for the car 5 to travel. Therefore, since content is not output while users are getting on or off the car 5, the content output system 12 is less likely to cause discomfort to users of the elevator 1 getting on or off the car 5 due to unintentionally receiving content that they do not want to be provided with.

In addition, the selection unit 24 selects the content to be output by the output device 13 after the car door 8 is closed.

With this configuration, content is selected after the user riding in car 5 is confirmed, making it possible to more reliably suppress the output of undesirable content depending on the usage status of elevator 1.

In addition, the content selected in the content output system 12 may be a character displayed on the output device 13, or a costume for that character, etc.

Some or all of the content management unit 17, user information storage unit 18, reception unit 19, user information acquisition unit 20, call registration unit 21, number of people detection unit 22, required time calculation unit 23, and selection unit 24 of the content output system 12 may be mounted on the control panel 7, remote monitoring device 9, or other equipment of the elevator 1. Some or all of these components of the content output system 12 may be provided integrally with the output control unit 14 or the output device 13.

Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the content output system 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the main part of the content output system 12 according to the first embodiment.

Each function of the processing in the content output system 12 may be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may include at least one dedicated hardware 200 in addition to or in place of the processor 100a and memory 100b.

When the processing circuit includes a processor 100a and a memory 100b, each function of the content output system 12 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a realizes each function of the content output system 12 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b.

The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), processing device, arithmetic device, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 100b is composed of non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM.

When the processing circuitry comprises dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuitry may be realized, for example, as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

Each processing function in the content output system 12 can be realized by a processing circuit. Alternatively, each function of the content output system 12 can be realized collectively by a processing circuit. Some of the functions of the content output system 12 may be realized by dedicated hardware 200, and other parts may be realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit realizes each function of the content output system 12 by dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination of these.

The content output system disclosed herein can be applied to elevators.

1 elevator, 2 hoistway, 3 hoist, 4 main rope, 5 cage, 6 counterweight, 7 control panel, 8 cage door, 9 remote monitoring device, 10 communication network, 11 central management device, 12 content output system, 13 output device, 14 output control unit, 15 transmitter, 16 mobile terminal, 17 content management unit, 18 user information storage unit, 19 reception unit, 20 user information acquisition unit, 21 call registration unit, 22 number of people detection unit, 23 required time calculation unit, 24 selection unit, 100a processor, 100b memory, 200 dedicated hardware

Claims (6)

a reception unit that receives request information representing a call requested by a user of an elevator having a car provided with an output device from a mobile terminal carried by the user;
a user information acquisition unit that acquires user attributes of a user who has requested a call represented by the request information when the request information is received by the reception unit;
a selection unit that extracts output-permitted contents by excluding contents that are associated as a non-output attribute with any of user attributes of one or more users riding in the car from among a plurality of contents that can be output to the output device and are each associated with a non-output attribute, and when one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, selects a content to be output to the output device from the one or more output-permitted contents;
A content output system for an elevator comprising: A content attribute is associated with each of the plurality of contents;
the user information acquisition unit, when the reception unit receives the request information, acquires an output refusal attribute of a user who has requested the call represented by the request information;
the selection unit does not extract, as an output permitted content, a content to which an output refusal attribute of any one of the one or more users riding in the car is associated as a content attribute.
The elevator content output system according to claim 1 . A content attribute is associated with each of the plurality of contents;
the user information acquisition unit acquires, when the reception unit receives the request information, desired output attributes of the user who has requested the call represented by the request information;
when one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content having an output desired attribute of one or more users riding in the car associated as a content attribute, as a content to be output by the output device;
The elevator content output system according to claim 1 . A number of passengers detection unit detects the number of passengers riding in the car,
the user information acquisition unit acquires, when the reception unit receives the request information, a confidentiality preference attribute of a user who has requested a call represented by the request information;
The selection unit is
when the number-of-users detection unit detects the number of users riding in the car as one person, if one or more output-permitted contents are extracted, a content having a content attribute corresponding to an output desired attribute of the user riding in the car as a content attribute is selected from the one or more output-permitted contents as a content to be output by the output device;
When the number of users detection unit detects the number of users riding in the car as a plurality of users, a content having a confidentiality desire attribute of any of the plurality of users riding in the car as a content attribute is not extracted as an output permitted content.
The elevator content output system according to claim 3. a required time calculation unit that calculates a travel time required for the car from when the car door of the car is closed to when the car door is opened again,
when one or more output permitted contents are extracted, the selection unit selects, from the one or more output permitted contents, a content whose output time is within the required running time calculated by the required running time calculation unit, as a content to be output by the output device.
The elevator content output system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The selection unit selects the content to be output by the output device after the car door is closed.
The elevator content output system according to claim 5.

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