`P.O. BOX 1450
`ALEXANDRIA, VA 22313-1450
`
`IOOl~ll~lml~JHm
`27299
`
`PATENT :fRAOEMAAK OfFICE
`
`PATENT
`Attorney Docket No. RFG.008ClDV1DVlC3C2C3
`Date: February 24, 2012
`Page 1
`
`CERTIFICATE OF ELECTRONIC
`(EFS-WEB) TRANSMISSION
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being
`transmitted via the Office electronic tiling system in
`accordance with 37 C.F.R. § l.8(a)(i)(C) from the
`Pacific Time Zone of the United States on the local
`date shown below.
`
`Dated: February 24, 2012
`
`By:~
`Robert F. Gazdzinski, Reg. No. 39,990
`
`U.S. CONTINUATION APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL AND
`REQUEST FOR PRIORITIZED EXAMINATION (TRACK I)
`
`Sir:
`
`Transmitted herewith for filing is the patent application of
`
`Inventor(s): Robert F. Gazdzinski, residing in San Diego, California, a U.S. Citizen
`
`For: COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS
`
`Enclosed are:
`
`(X)
`
`Certification and Request for Prioritized Examination (Track I) (1 Page).
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`Specification, including forty (40) claims and abstract, in forty-two (42) sheets.
`
`Twenty-four (24) sheet(s) of fonnal drawings including twenty-five (25) figures.
`
`This application is a continuation of and claims priority to co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent
`Application Serial No. 13/357,487 filed January 24, 2012 and entitled "ELECTRONIC fNFORMATION
`ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHODS", which is a continuation of and claims priority to co-owned and co(cid:173)
`pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/711,692 filed February 24, 2010 and entitled "ADAPTIVE
`INFORMATION PRESENTATfON APPARATUS AND METHODS", now U.S. Patent No. 8,117,037,
`which is a continuation of and claims priority to co-owned and co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial
`No. I 1/506,975 filed August 17, 2006 and entitled "SMART ELEVATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD",
`now U.S. Patent No. 7,711,565, which is a divisional of and claims priority to co-owned U.S. Patent
`Application Serial No. 10/935,957 filed Sept. 7, 2004 and entitled "ELEVATOR ACCESS CONTROL
`SYSTEM AND METHOD", now U.S. Patent No. 7,093,693, which is a divisional of co-owned U.S. Patent
`Application Serial No. 10/651,451 filed Aug. 29, 2003 and entitled "SMART ELEV ATOR SYSTEM AND
`METHOD", now U.S. Patent No. 6,988,071, which is a continuation of co-owned U.S. Patent Application
`Serial No. 09/330, I 0 l filed June I 0, 1999 and entitled "SMART ELEV ATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD'',
`now U.S. Patent No. 6,615,175.
`
`Applicant claims small entity status. (See 37 CFR 1.27)
`
`Declaration and Power of Attorney (2 Pages).
`
`Preliminary Amendment and Request for Prioritized Examination (Tract I) (18 Pages).
`
`Information Disclosure Statement citing seventy-one (71) references (2 Pages), and Fonn PT0-1449 {3
`Pages).
`
`(X)
`
`Application Data Sheet (4 Pages).
`
`
`
`PATENT
`Attorney Docket No. RFG.OO&ClDV1DVIC3C2C3
`Date: February 24, 2012
`Page 2
`
`FOR
`
`NUMBER
`FILED
`
`NUMBER
`EXTRA
`
`RATE
`
`FEE
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`Basic Filing Fee
`
`Utility Search Fee
`
`Utility Examination Fee
`
`Publication Fee
`
`Tract I Processing Fee
`
`$ 95
`
`$310
`
`$125
`
`$300
`
`$130
`
`$95
`
`$310
`
`$125
`
`$300
`
`$130
`
`Tract I Prioritized Examination Fee
`
`$2400
`
`$2400
`
`Total Claims
`
`Independent Claims
`
`27 - 20""
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`4 - 3""
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`7 x
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`1 x
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`If application contains any multiple dependent claims(s), then add
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`$ 30
`
`$125
`
`$225
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`$210
`
`$125
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`$0
`
`TOT AL FILING FEE:
`
`$3,695.00
`
`(X)
`
`(X)
`
`Cancel in this application original Claims 1-40 of the prior application, and add new Claims 41-67 as
`provided in the Preliminary Amendment submitted herewith before calculating the filing fee.
`
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any additional fees under 37 CFR I.16 and 1.17 which
`may be required to Deposit Account No. 501423.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`GAZDZINSKI & ASSOCIATES, PC
`
`Dated: February 24, 2012
`
`By:
`
`Robert F. Gazdzinski
`Registration No. 39,990
`Attorney of Record
`16644 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 201
`San Diego, CA 92127
`Telephone No.: (858) 675-1670
`Facsimile No.: (858) 675-1674
`
`
`
`Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt
`
`EFSID:
`
`Application Number:
`
`12157926
`
`13404980
`
`International Application Number:
`
`Confirmation Number:
`
`3345
`
`Title of Invention:
`
`COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS
`
`First Named Inventor/Applicant Name:
`
`Robert F. Gazdzinski
`
`Customer Number:
`
`27299
`
`Filer:
`
`Robert F. Gazdzinski/Rebecca Beach
`
`Filer Authorized By:
`
`Robert F. Gazdzinski
`
`Attorney Docket Number:
`
`RFG.008Cl DVl DVl C3C2C3
`
`Receipt Date:
`
`24-FEB-2012
`
`Filing Date:
`
`Time Stamp:
`
`17:44:49
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`Application Type:
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`Utility under 35 USC 111 (a)
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`Payment information:
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`Submitted with Payment
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`Payment Type
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`Payment was successfully received in RAM
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`RAM confirmation Number
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`Deposit Account
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`Authorized User
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`yes
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`Deposit Account
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`$3695
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`4914
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`501423
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`The Director of the USPTO is hereby authorized to charge indicated fees and credit any overpayment as follows:
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`Charge any Additional Fees required under 37 C.F.R. Section 1.16 (National application filing, search, and examination fees)
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`File Listing:
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`Document
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`Document Description
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`File Size( Bytes)/
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`Multi
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`Prel_Amendment.pdf
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`36
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`41
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`This Acknowledgement Receipt evidences receipt on the noted date by the USPTO of the indicated documents,
`characterized by the applicant, and including page counts, where applicable. It serves as evidence of receipt similar to a
`Post Card, as described in MPEP 503.
`
`New A~~lications Under 35 U.S.C. 111
`If a new application is being filed and the application includes the necessary components for a filing date (see 37 CFR
`1.53(b)-(d) and MPEP 506), a Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) will be issued in due course and the date shown on this
`Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the filing date of the application.
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`National Stage of an International A~~lication under 35 U.S.C. 371
`If a timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35
`U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements a Form PCT/DO/E0/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a
`national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt, in due course.
`
`New International A~~lication Filed with the USPTO as a Receiving Office
`If a new international application is being filed and the international application includes the necessary components for
`an international filing date (see PCT Article 11 and MPEP 181 O), a Notification of the International Application Number
`and of the International Filing Date (Form PCT/R0/1 OS) will be issued in due course, subject to prescriptions concerning
`national security, and the date shown on this Acknowledgement Receipt will establish the international filing date of
`the application.
`
`
`
`RFG.008A
`
`PATENT
`
`"SMART" ELEV ATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`5
`
`1.
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to the field of personnel transport apparatus, and specifically to
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`elevators and similar devices for transporting people from one location to another which incorporate
`
`Io
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`various information technologies.
`
`2.
`
`Description of Related Technology
`
`Elevators and similar personnel transport devices (such as moving walkways or shuttles) are
`
`15
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`important aspects of modem urban life. Commonly used in office buildings, airports, shopping
`
`malls, and other large structures, these devices transport large numbers of people and equipment
`
`between two locations on a routine basis. Elevators in particular are widely used throughout the
`
`world.
`
`Depending on loading, a person may spend up to several minutes on an elevator during
`
`20
`
`travel between floors. Significant amounts of time may also be spent waiting for the elevator to
`
`arrive when called. This time is usually "dead" from the standpoint that very little can be
`
`accomplished or very few tasks undertaken duriqg these few minutes. However, often times an
`
`individual may require information which will be of use after leaving the elevator. For example, the
`
`person may wish to obtain travel information such as directions to the nearest airport or public
`
`25
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`transportation node, or the location of a nearby restaurant. Weather-related information or traffic
`
`reports may also be useful. A plethora of different types of information, including financial data,
`
`breaking news headlines, sports scores and the like may also be of interest to one waiting for or
`
`riding on an elevator or other transport device.
`
`An associated problem relates to determining the location of a person, firm, or store within a
`
`30 building when unfamiliar. Building directories are often posted in the lobby of the building, yet
`
`these require the user to manually or visually locate the name of the person, firm, or store which
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`-1-
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`
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`they are looking for, and remember the location information associated therewith. Additionally,
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`such directories often do not provide precise location information, but rather merely a floor number
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`and/or suite number. The user often times does not have a graphical representation of the desired
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`location in relation to the elevators, thereby resulting in additional wasted time in finding the
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`5
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`location once off of the elevator. Even if a graphical display is provided, it often requires the user to
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`spatially orient themselves to determine relative location.
`
`Security is also a concern when riding elevators late at night or to remote locations. Many
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`elevator systems are used partly or entirely within parking garages, which often may be sparsely
`
`populated at off hours. People are all too frequently assaulted or robbed when departing from
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`1 O elevators under such conditions. Unfortunately, existing elevator systems do not have the facility to
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`provide the occupant(s) with the ability to selectively observe the area immediately surrounding the
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`elevator doors on one or more destination floors, or otherwise take precautions to enhance their
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`security.
`
`Another problem associated with existing elevator systems relates to their loading capacity.
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`15 Often, especially at peak use hours such as during the noon hour, the call buttons for several
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`different floors within a building will be activated, and elevator cars which are at or near their
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`loading capacity will respond. With no additional room available in the elevator, the person
`
`depressing the call button on a given floor is left to wait for the elevator doors to close, depress the
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`call button again, and wait for another (hopefully partially vacant) car to arrive. This process not
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`20 only delays the person waiting for the car, but also those on the elevator car(s), and those waiting on
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`other floors.
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`In addition to the foregoing, many elevators must have a means of restricting access to
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`certain floors during certain time periods while not interfering with other operations. These
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`elevators generally also include means by which certain users may gain access to the restricted
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`25
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`floors, such as a magnetic striped card which is inserted into a card reader on the elevator. However,
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`such card readers are prone to wear and having to re-swipe the card several times in order to obtain
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`access. Furthermore, as the card wears due to repeated swiping or bending (such as when left in the
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`pocket of the individual carrying the card), the card will be more prone to failure and will eventually
`
`require replacement. Also, such cards are prone to unauthorized use. Someone stealing or finding
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`30
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`the lost card can simply insert it into the card reader of the elevator and gain access to the restricted
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`-2-
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`
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`floor(s).
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`It is also noted that since access is restricted to certain floors twically during late-night or
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`weekend hours, HV AC and lighting systems are typically turned off or dormant in order to conserve
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`energy. Hence, when the user arrives at one of tliese restricted access floors~ several minutes are
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`typically spent turning on the HV AC, lights, and any other number of electrical devices. Some
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`5
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`systems require the user to insert their magnetic strip card in a separate reader, such as in the control
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`room for the HVAC (which is twically located on a different floor), in order to initiate equipment
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`operation. This is obviously time consuming and cumbersome.
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`Lastly, there is often an element of discomfort associated with riding an elevator car,
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`especially when several individuals are present in the car. Due in part to minimal space within the
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`1 O car and nothing to occupy the occupants attention visually, there is a natural tendency for one to
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`stare up, down, or forward at the door of the elevator, or at the visual floor indicators so as to avoid
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`prolonged eye contact with the other occupants.
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`Heretofore, many of the technologies necessary to address the aforementioned issues have
`
`not been available or, alternatively, have been cost or space prohibitive to implement. However,
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`15
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`recent advances in data networking, thin or flat panel display technology, personal electronics, and
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`speech recognition and compression algorithms and processing have enhanced the viability of such
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`features from both technological and commercial perspectives.
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`Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an improved elevator system and method of
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`operation which will reduce the time spent waiting for and travelling on the elevator car, reduce the
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`20
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`frustration associated with repeated stops at different floors, and allow the occupants of the elevator
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`(as well as those waiting for the car) to use their time more efficiently and obtain needed
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`information. Additionally, such an elevator system would enhance the security of the occupants
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`upon egress, and allow for automatic recognition of an individual in order to provide access to
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`certain restricted locations and initiation of cert~in functions such as lighting and HV AC.
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`25
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`2. Summary of the Invention
`
`The present invention satisfies the aforementioned needs by providing an improved elevator
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`information and control system and method of operating the same
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`-3-
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`
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`In a first aspect, the present invention provides an improved elevator information and
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`control system which enables an user to rapidly locate a desired firm or individual. In a first
`
`embodiment, the system includes an interactive building directory having a speech recognition
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`system and other input device such as a touch pad. The user utilizes the input device to activate the
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`5
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`system, and then speaks the name of the firm or individual whose location is desired. A speech
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`generation algorithm and processor generates speech (and/or a graphical representation via a
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`minimum profile flat panel display) based on data retrieved from a database per the user's request.
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`The user is also prompted to determine if they desire to select the floor of the firm or individual that
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`they were trying to locate. The user then may use the speech recognition system, or alternatively the
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`10
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`aforementioned input device, to respond. The database also maintains data on other nearby
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`buildings in case the user is at the wrong location.
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`In a second aspect of the invention, the information and control system further includes a
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`network interface that is coupled to the aforementioned input and display devices. In one
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`embodiment, the network (e.g., Internet) interface is configured to provide rapid access to a variety
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`15 of web sites or URLs of interest, such as those providing local weather, directions from the elevator
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`to local points of interest, stock market quotations, breaking news headlines, etc. Preset functions
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`are provided which enable the user to access, download, and display the desired information with a
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`single actuation of the input device. A plurality of different input/display devices are disposed
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`within the smart elevator to allow multiple occupants to obtain information simultaneously.
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`20
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`In a third aspect of the invention, the smart elevator includes one or more data terminals
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`which are compatible with personal electronic devices (PEDs) so as to allow an occupant of the
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`elevator to download a predetermined or adaptively determined '"package" of data for later retrieval
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`or use. Such data may include news, weather, financial data, listings of building tenants, firm
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`resumes, parking rates, hours of operation, and the like. In one embodiment, the download of data
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`25
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`is initiated automatically upon the insertion of the PED into the data terminal, thereby reducing the
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`time necessary to download to a minimum.
`
`In a fourth aspect of the invention, the information and control system includes a sensor
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`array and logic which detects the loading of the elevator car and selectively bypasses floors when
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`the car's capacity is met, unless the floor is selected by one of the occupants of the car. In one
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`30
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`embodiment, the flooring of the elevator car is equipped with piezoelectric sensors that generate
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`-4-
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`
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`signals based on the pressure applied to them. This pressure is correlated to the weight and location
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`of the occupants in the car, and with the number of different floors selected, to derive an estimate of
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`the occupancy. When the capacity of the elevator is reached as determined by this estimate, any
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`subsequent call signals received by the system are routed to another available car.
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`5
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`In a fifth aspect of the invention, the aforementioned display device within the car may be
`
`configured to provide a video display of the area immediately surrounding access to the elevator on
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`certain floors, such as parking garages. The user can over~ride the car stopping at that floor if
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`desired, contact security, and/or initiate temporary additional lighting in the area via a series of fixed
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`or "soft" function keys. A motion sensor is also optionally used to provide the elevator user with
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`IO
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`information regarding the presence of moving objects in areas adjacent to but out of view of the
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`video units. When accessing a parking garage or structure, the user may also input the location of
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`their car using additional function keys; lighting and security monitoring of the path between the
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`elevator and the car is then initiated to enhance user safety.
`
`In a sixth aspect of the invention, an RFID tag and reader system is employed to uniquely
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`15
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`identify occupants and provide them access to certain floors. RFID monitors with limited ranges are
`
`placed in certain locations near the elevator access points. These monitors interrogate the RFID tags
`
`and initiate a call signal for specific floor during after-hours operation. The user is then required to
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`authenticate via a password input via the input device located inside elevator. The elevator system
`
`can optionally notify security (and/or the destination floor) of the individual's destination and
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`20
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`identity, and maintain a record of access. The user may also optionally perform other functions such
`
`as lighting and environmental control from the elevator. The user's RFID tag may also be
`
`programmed to interface with the aforementioned PED data download device such that the tag pre(cid:173)
`
`configures the system for download.
`
`In an seventh aspect of the invention, the aforementioned display devices and information
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`25
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`and control system are programmed to provide adaptive advertising or information display. In one
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`embodiment, the speech recognition system previously described is used to select and display
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`infonnation based on one or more parameters including statistical or anecdotal sampling of the
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`speech patterns of the occupants. Alternatively, information entered via the aforementioned input
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`device (and network interface) may be used as a determinant in the adaptive advertising system.
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`30
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`-5-
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`
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the information and control system of the
`
`invention} showing those components local to each elevator car.
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`5
`
`Fig. 2
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`is a plan view of a first embodiment of the interface panel of the information and
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`control system of Fig. 1, including the touch keypad and the display device.
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`Fig. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the information and control system network
`
`architecture.
`
`Fig. 4 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of one embodiment of the building
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`10
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`directory sub-system of the invention.
`
`Fig. 5 is a plan view of one embodiment of a building directory sub-system graphic location
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`file, as shown on the display device of the information and control system.
`
`Fig. 6a is a plan view of one embodiment of a network input device having dedicated
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`function keys thereon.
`
`15
`
`Figs. 6b and 6c illustrate one embodiment of an exemplary coordinated graphic weather
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`display according to the present invention.
`
`Fig. 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of the PED data download terminal of the
`
`invention.
`
`Fig. 8 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the capacity sensing sub-system according
`
`20
`
`to the present invention.
`
`Fig. 9 is a plan view of one embodiment of the elevator floor sensor array used in
`
`conjunction with the capacity sensing sub-system of Fig. 8.
`
`Fig. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating the method of operation of the capacity sensing sub(cid:173)
`
`system of Fig. 8.
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`25
`
`Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the monitoring and security sub-
`
`system of the present invention.
`
`Fig. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the elevator car touch panel used in conjunction with
`
`the monitoring and security sub-system of Fig. 11.
`
`Fig. 13 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the monitoring and security sub-
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`30
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`system of the present invention.
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`-6-
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`
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`Figs. 14a and l 4b are plan views of one embodiment of the parking and video monitoring
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`displays, respectively, of the monitoring and security sub-system of Fig. 11.
`
`Fig. 15 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the identification and access sub(cid:173)
`
`system of the present invention.
`
`s
`
`Fig. 16 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of the identification and access sub-
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`system of Fig. 15.
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`Fig. 17 is a plan view of one embodiment of a utility services selection display associated
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`with the identification and access sub-system of Fig. 15.
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`Fig. 18a is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a first embodiment of the prompt
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`10 mode of the adaptive advertising sub-system of the invention.
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`Fig. 18b illustrates the library data file structure used in conjunction with the advertising
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`sub-system of the invention.
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`Fig. 18c is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a second embodiment of the
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`advertising sub-system of the invention.
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`Fig. 18d is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a third embodiment of the adaptive
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`advertising sub-system of the invention.
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`Fig. 19 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a fourth embodiment of the adaptive
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`advertising sub-system of the invention.
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`Description of the Invention
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`Reference is now made to the drawings listed above; wherein like numerals refer to like
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`parts throughout.
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`It is noted that while the system and methods of the invention disclosed herein are described
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`primarily with respect to an elevator car, certain aspects of the invention may be useful in other
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`applications, including, without limitation, other types of personnel transport devices such as trams
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`or shuttles or moving walkways, or stationary devices such as kiosks within the lobby or elevator
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`waiting areas of a building. As used herein, the term "building" is meant to encompass any
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`structure, whether above ground or underground, permanent or temporary, used for any function.
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`-7-
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`General Description
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`Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, one embodiment of an improved elevator information
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`system is generally described. As shown in Fig, 1, the system 100 includes an input device 102,
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`speech recognition (SR) module 104, central processor 106 with associated motherboard 121, video
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`5 RAM 107, non-volatile storage device 108 containing a database (not shown), graphics co(cid:173)
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`processor 109, volatile or dynamic storage device 110 with associated DMA module·139, audio
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`amplifier and speaker module 111, speech synthesis module I 12, micro-controller 123, PCI slots
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`147, and display device 113. The system also includes a serial bus with universal asynchronous
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`receiver transmitter (UART) 117 or alternatively universal serial bus (USB), as described in greater
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`IO
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`detail below with respect to Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 2, the input device 102 of the present
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`embodiment is a touch-sensitive keypad and/or display screen of the type well known in the
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`electrical arts. The input device 102 includes a variety of different functional keys 114 on a keypad
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`116 (and/or on a touch-sensitive display screen 113, as described below) which allow the user to
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`initiate a query of the database either manually via the keypad 116, display device 113, or audibly
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`through the speech recognition module 104.
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`As shown in Fig. 1, the speech recognition module 104 of the present invention includes a
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`high quality, high SNR audio microphone 118, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 141, and linear
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`predictive coding (LPC)-based spectral analysis algorithm run on a digital signal processor 125
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`having associated SR module RAM 127. It will be recognized that other forms of spectral analysis,
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`such as MFCC (Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients) or cochlea modeling, may be used.
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`Phoneme/word recognition in the present embodiment is based on HMM (hidden Markov
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`modeling), although other processes such as, without limitation, DTW (Dynamic Time Warping)
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`or NNs (Neural Networks) may be used. Myriad speech recognition systems and algorithms are
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`available, all considered within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.
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`In the present embodiment, CELP-based voice data compression 1s also utilized for
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`transmission and storage of voice data. CELP algorithms in general are useful for converting analog
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`speech to a compressed digital format which is more rapidly and easily manipulated and stored
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`within a digital system using less bandwidth and memory. CELP algorithms and low bit rate
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`vocoder technology are well known in the signal processing art, and accordingly will not be
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`30 described further herein. Note that as used herein, the term CELP is meant to include any and all
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`-8-
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`variants of the CELP family such as, but not limited to, ACELP, VCELP, and QCELP. It is also
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`noted that while CELP is used as the basis of compression within the system 100, other types of
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`compression algorithms and techniques, whether based on companding or otherwise, may be used.
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`For example, PCM (pulse code modulation) or AD PCM (adaptive delta PCM) may be employed, as
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`5 may other forms oflinear predictive coding (LPC).
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`As illustrated in Fig. 1, signals generated by the microphone 118 are digitized by the ADC
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`141 and processed using the aforementioned speech recognition algorithm and the DSP 125 to
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`produce digital representations of the user's speech. The speech library or dictionary stored within
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`the SR module memory 127 is used by the DSP 125 to match phenome strings resulting from the
`Io LPC analysis with known words. Once a '"match" is identified, the central processor 106 and/or
`micro-controller 123· implement the desired functionality, such as retrieving one or more data files
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`from the storage device I 08 for display on the display device 113.
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`The DSP 125 of the present embodiment is a Texas Instruments TMS320C6x VLIW digital
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`signal processor or equivalent, although it will be recognized that other types of processors may be
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`used. The 'C6x DSP is chosen for its speed and capability, thereby allowing for real-time speech
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`recognition. The central processor 106 and associated motherboard architecture (e.g., northbridge,
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`southbridge, etc.) is optimally an Intel Pentium II®-based design, although others, such as the
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`AMD K600-series processors, may be used in place of the Pentium II®. The aforementioned USB
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`is also advantageously used with the Pentium architecture.
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`The information and control system keypads 116 and displays 113 (Fig. 2) are placed at
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`waist and eye level, respectively, within the elevator car 180 to facilitate easy access and viewing by
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`the user, and limit the amount of incidental contact by passengers in the elevator. A plurality of
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`different input/display devices are optimally disposed within the smart elevator to allow multiple
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`occupants to obtain information simultaneously. A capacitive "touch keypad" is used as the input
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`device 102 in the present embodiment to increase input device longevity and thwart vandalism.
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`Specifically, since the function keys 114 on the keypad 116 do not have a mechanical actuating
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`device (such as a spring and set of electrical contacts) which will wear with time, they will as a
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`general rule last longer. Additionally, since the keypad 1 l 6 has no openings in the vicinity of the
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`individual keys, any incidental contact with deleterious substances such as cleaning fluids will not
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`30
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`affect the operation of the system or degrade its longevity. Similarly, vandalism is discouraged,
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`
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`since there are no openings or other access points present within the interior of the elevator car. The
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`keypad 116 may also be covered with a protective coating of the type well known in the art without
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`affecting the operation of the panel, since, if properly chosen, such a coating merely acts as a
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`dielectric for the capacitor formed between the underlying contacts and the user. It will be
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`5
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`recognized, however, that any number of input devices, including "mechanical" keypads, trackballs,
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`light pens, pressure sensitive "touch" keypads, or the like may be used in conjunction with the
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`present invention if so desired. The touch keypads 116 are, in the present embodiment, mounted
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`flush with the· vertical wall surfaces 177 of the elevator car so as to make them as physically
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`unobtrusive as possible.
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`The touch-screen display 113 generates a variety of different messages or display formats
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`based on the user's input and query. These messages and formats are stored as digital data on the
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`storage device 108 (and temporarily in video RAM 107) which is accessed by the processor 106.
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`The display devices 113 of the present embodiment are low profile capacitive LCD touch screen
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`devices of the type