Patent ID: 8020668
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars operating in a single hoistway servicing a plurality of floors in a building characterized by: periodically transmitting from each one of said cars over a first communication channel, either directly or through a common controller, a communication check code to each other of said cars; transmitting over said first communications channel, in response to receipt of said communication check code, from each of said other cars that receives said communication check code, to said one of said cars which has sent said communication check code, a communication response code; determining, in a car which has sent a communication check code to one of said other cars, that a communication response code has not been received from said one of said other cars within a predetermined time; sending a failure mode command over a second communications channel, from a car which has sent a communication check code but has not received a corresponding one of said communication response codes, to at least said one of said other cars; moving said at least one of said other cars to a respective parking position out of the way of travel by at least another one of said cars between substantially all of said floors; and causing said at least another one of said cars to serve said substantially all of said floors.