Elevator system with dynamic traffic profile solutions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481547-B2
Application number	US-201114342838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2011
Priority date	Sep 8, 2011
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

An exemplary method of controlling an elevator system includes determining that a temporary heavy traffic condition exists that includes a plurality of passengers requiring elevator service from an originating floor in the building that is distinct from a lobby floor. At least one elevator car out of a plurality of elevator cars within the building is temporarily dedicated to carry the passengers from the originating floor. A peak travel scheduling strategy is temporarily used for controlling the dedicated elevator car or cars for a selected period of time.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of controlling an elevator system that includes a plurality of elevator cars within a building, comprising the steps of:
determining that a temporary heavy traffic condition exists that includes a plurality of passengers requiring elevator service from an originating floor in the building that is distinct from a lobby floor;
temporarily dedicating a plurality of elevator cars to carry the passengers from the originating floor; and
temporarily using a peak travel scheduling strategy for controlling the plurality of elevator cars for a selected period of time including
using a first scheduling strategy for controlling a first one of the elevator cars; and
using a second, different scheduling strategy for controlling a second one of the elevator cars.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to an indication from an authorized individual.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the authorized individual is a building manager.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to a number of requests for elevator service registered at the originating floor exceeding a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to a load in at least one elevator car departing from the originating floor exceeding a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first scheduling strategy comprises at least one of
using the first elevator car to carry passengers in only a first direction from the originating floor; or
using the first elevator car to carry passengers to only a first destination floor from the originating floor.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second scheduling strategy comprises at least one of
using the second elevator car to carry passengers in only a second direction from the originating floor, the second direction being different than the first direction; or
using the second elevator car to carry passengers to only a second destination floor from the originating floor, the second destination floor being different than the first destination floor.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising
determining a number of elevator cars to control using the peak travel scheduling strategy based on information regarding the temporary heavy traffic condition.

9. An elevator system, comprising:
a plurality of elevator cars situated within a building; and
a controller configured to
determine that a temporary heavy traffic condition exists that includes a plurality of passengers requiring elevator service from an originating floor in the building that is distinct from a lobby floor;
temporarily dedicate more than one of the plurality of the elevator cars to carry the passengers from the originating floor; and

temporarily use a peak travel scheduling strategy for controlling the more than one of the plurality of the elevator cars for a selected period of time including
using a first scheduling strategy for controlling a first one of the elevator cars; and
using a second, different scheduling strategy for controlling a second one of the elevator cars.

10. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to
determine that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to an indication from an authorized individual.

11. The elevator system of claim 10 , wherein the authorized individual is a building manager.

12. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to
determine that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to a number of requests for elevator service registered at the originating floor exceeding a predetermined threshold.

13. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to
determine that the temporary heavy traffic condition exists responsive to a load in at least one elevator car departing from the originating floor exceeding a predetermined threshold.

14. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the first scheduling strategy comprises at least one of
using the first elevator car to carry passengers in only a first direction from the originating floor; or
using the first elevator car to carry passengers to only a first destination floor from the originating floor.

15. The elevator system of claim 14 , wherein the second scheduling strategy comprises at least one of
using the second elevator car to carry passengers in only a second direction from the originating floor, the second direction being different than the first direction; or
using the second elevator car to carry passengers to only a second destination floor from the originating floor, the second destination floor being different than the first destination floor.

16. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to
determine a number of the elevator cars to control using the peak travel scheduling strategy based on information regarding the temporary heavy traffic condition.

17. The elevator system of claim 9 , wherein
the first scheduling strategy comprises allowing the first elevator car to only stop at the originating floor and a first destination floor; and
the second scheduling strategy comprises allowing the second elevator car to stop at the originating floor and more than one destination floor.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein
the first scheduling strategy comprises allowing the first elevator car to only stop at the originating floor and a first destination floor; and
the second scheduling strategy comprises allowing the second elevator car to stop at the originating floor and more than one destination floor.

Assignees

• Flynn Michael P
• Hanvey Dennis
• Patenaude Allen
• Stanley Jannah A
• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Flynn Michael P
• Hanvey Dennis
• Patenaude Allen
• Stanley Jannah A

Classifications

• B66B1/2458 Primary

  For elevator systems with multiple shafts and a single car per shaft · CPC title

• B66B2201/406

  by input of human supervisor · CPC title

• B66B2201/404

  by cost function evaluation · CPC title

• B66B1/18 Primary

  with means for storing pulses controlling the movements of several cars or cages {(B66B1/2458 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B66B2201/401

  by time of the day · CPC title