Patent Publication Number: US-11383954-B2

Title: Super group architecture with advanced building wide dispatching logic

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the field of elevator systems, and specifically to a method and apparatus for coordinating the operation of multiple elevator cars. 
     Commonly, elevator cars are organized into elevator groups serving range of landings of a building rather than each elevator car serving the overall length of an elevator shaft to service every floor of a building. Once established, range of landings typically remain unchanged due to physical constraints in the elevator system. In conventional elevator systems, elevator calls may be served by elevator cars in multiple different groups, however the decision of which group would serve the elevator call is based on group wide operating conditions and not on the elevator call destination, which may lead to a non-optimal elevator car being sent to serve the elevator call. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a method of operating a building elevator system having a plurality of elevator systems organized into multiple elevator groups is provided. The method including: receiving an elevator call from a destination entry device in communication with the building elevator system; obtaining a favorability score from each of the multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system; determining an elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score; and routing the elevator call to the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: obtaining a best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that a dispatcher of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score is configured to determine the best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that obtaining a favorability score from multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system further comprises: transmitting to a dispatcher of each elevator group a favorability score query in response to the elevator call; and receiving a favorability score from each elevator group in response the favorability score query and the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that obtaining a favorability score from multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system further comprises: continuously requesting a favorability score query to a dispatch of each elevator group of the multiple elevator groups; receiving potential favorability scores from each elevator group for potential elevator calls; and determining a favorability score from the potential favorability scores in response to the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: displaying the best elevator car on the destination entry device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the multiple elevator groups comprises a first elevator group serving a first range of landings and a second elevator group serving a second range of landings, wherein the second range of landings includes at least one landing not included in the first range of landings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the multiple elevator groups further comprises a third elevator group serving a third range of landings, wherein the third range of landings includes at least one landing included in the first range of landings and at least one landing included in the second range of landings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: obtaining a best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that a dispatcher of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score is configured to determine the best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     According to another embodiment, a building elevator system having a plurality of elevator systems organized into multiple elevator groups is provided. The building elevator system including: a processor; a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving an elevator call from a destination entry device in communication with the building elevator system; obtaining a favorability score from each of the multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system; determining an elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score; and routing the elevator call to the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprise: obtaining a best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that a dispatcher of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score is configured to determine the best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that obtaining a favorability score from multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system further comprises: transmitting to a dispatcher of each elevator group a favorability score query in response to the elevator call; and receiving a favorability score from each elevator group in response the favorability score query and the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that obtaining a favorability score from multiple elevator groups of the building elevator system further comprises: continuously requesting a favorability score query to a dispatch of each elevator group of the multiple elevator groups; receiving potential favorability scores from each elevator group for potential elevator calls; and determining a favorability score from the potential favorability scores in response to the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprise: displaying the best elevator car on the destination entry device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the multiple elevator groups comprises a first elevator group serving a first range of landings and a second elevator group serving a second range of landings, wherein the second range of landings includes at least one landing not included in the first range of landings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the multiple elevator groups further comprises a third elevator group serving a third range of landings, wherein the third range of landings includes at least one landing included in the first range of landings and at least one landing included in the second range of landings. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further comprise: obtaining a best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that a dispatcher of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score is configured to determine the best elevator car of the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups with the highest favorability score to answer the elevator call. 
     Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include organizing elevator systems into groups serving a range of landings and determining the optimal elevator car and elevator group to serve the elevator call in response to the destination of the elevator call. 
     The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an elevator system that may employ various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of a building elevator system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of method of operating a building elevator system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elevator system  101  including an elevator car  103 , a counterweight  105 , a tension member  107 , a guide rail  109 , a machine  111 , a position reference system  113 , and a controller  115 . The elevator car  103  and counterweight  105  are connected to each other by the tension member  107 . The tension member  107  may include or be configured as, for example, ropes, steel cables, and/or coated-steel belts. The counterweight  105  is configured to balance a load of the elevator car  103  and is configured to facilitate movement of the elevator car  103  concurrently and in an opposite direction with respect to the counterweight  105  within an elevator shaft  117  and along the guide rail  109 . 
     The tension member  107  engages the machine  111 , which is part of an overhead structure of the elevator system  101 . The machine  111  is configured to control movement between the elevator car  103  and the counterweight  105 . The position reference system  113  may be mounted on a fixed part at the top of the elevator shaft  117 , such as on a support or guide rail, and may be configured to provide position signals related to a position of the elevator car  103  within the elevator shaft  117 . In other embodiments, the position reference system  113  may be directly mounted to a moving component of the machine  111 , or may be located in other positions and/or configurations as known in the art. The position reference system  113  can be any device or mechanism for monitoring a position of an elevator car and/or counter weight, as known in the art. For example, without limitation, the position reference system  113  can be an encoder, sensor, or other system and can include velocity sensing, absolute position sensing, etc., as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. 
     The controller  115  is located, as shown, in a controller room  121  of the elevator shaft  117  and is configured to control the operation of the elevator system  101 , and particularly the elevator car  103 . For example, the controller  115  may provide drive signals to the machine  111  to control the acceleration, deceleration, leveling, stopping, etc. of the elevator car  103 . The controller  115  may also be configured to receive position signals from the position reference system  113  or any other desired position reference device. When moving up or down within the elevator shaft  117  along guide rail  109 , the elevator car  103  may stop at one or more landings  125  as controlled by the controller  115 . Although shown in a controller room  121 , those of skill in the art will appreciate that the controller  115  can be located and/or configured in other locations or positions within the elevator system  101 . In one embodiment, the controller may be located remotely or in the cloud. 
     The machine  111  may include a motor or similar driving mechanism. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, the machine  111  is configured to include an electrically driven motor. The power supply for the motor may be any power source, including a power grid, which, in combination with other components, is supplied to the motor. The machine  111  may include a traction sheave that imparts force to tension member  107  to move the elevator car  103  within elevator shaft  117 . 
     Although shown and described with a roping system including tension member  107 , elevator systems that employ other methods and mechanisms of moving an elevator car within an elevator shaft may employ embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, embodiments may be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a linear motor to impart motion to an elevator car. Embodiments may also be employed in ropeless elevator systems using a hydraulic lift to impart motion to an elevator car.  FIG. 1  is merely a non-limiting example presented for illustrative and explanatory purposes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  with continued reference to  FIG. 1 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , a building elevator system  100  within a building  102  may include multiple different individual elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  organized in elevator groups  112   a - 112   c . It is understood that while six elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  are utilized for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to building elevator systems  100  having two or more elevator systems  101 . It is also understood that while nine floors  80   a - 80   i  are utilized for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to building elevator systems  100  having any number of floors. 
     Further, the elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is organized in to three elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  for ease of explanation but it is understood that the elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  organized into one or more elevator groups. Each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  may contain one or more elevator systems  101 . During normal operation, a first elevator group  112   a  serves a first range of landings  250   a  (i.e., a lower range of landing) comprising floors  80   a - 80   e . During normal operation, a second elevator group  112   b  serves a second range of landings  250   b  (i.e., a higher range of landings) comprising floors  80   e - 80   i  and floor  80   a . During normal operation, a third elevator group  112   c  serves a third range of landings  250   c  (i.e., an entire building range of landings) comprising floors  80   a - 80   i . It is understood that while each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  serves only one range of landings  250  for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may include elevator groups having multiple elevator systems where each elevator system in a single elevator group serves a different range of landings. 
     Each floor  80   a - 80   i  in the building  102  of  FIG. 2  may have a destination entry device  89   a - 89   i . The elevator destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  sends an elevator call  310  to the redirector  110  including the source of the elevator call  310  and the destination of the elevator call  310 . The destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  may serve one or more elevator groups  112   a - 112   c . The destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  may be a push button and/or a touch screen and may be activated manually or automatically. For example, the elevator call  310  may be sent by an individual entering the elevator call  310  via the destination entry device  89   a - 89   i . The destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  may also be activated to send an elevator call  310  by voice recognition or a passenger detection mechanism in the hallway, such as, for example a weight sensing device, a visual recognition device, and a laser detection device. The destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  may be activated to send an elevator call  310  through an automatic elevator call system that automatically initiates an elevator call  310  when an individual is determined to be moving towards the elevator system in order to call an elevator or when an individual is scheduled to activate the destination entry device  89   a - 89   i . The destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  may also be a mobile device configured to transmit and elevator call  310 . The mobile device may be a smart phone, smart watch, laptop, or any other mobile device known to one of skill in the art. 
     The redirector  110  is in communication with the controller  115   a - 115   f  of each elevator system  101   a - 101   f  through a dispatcher  210   a - 210   c  and a server  212   a - 212   c , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The dispatchers  210   a - 210   c  may be a ‘group’ software that is configured to select the best elevator car  103  within the range of landings  250  assigned to the dispatcher  210   a - 210   c . The servers  212   a - 212   c  are similar to a redirector  110  being that the servers  212   a - 212   c  manage the destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i  related to a particular group  112   a - 112   c  (e.g., the redirector  110  interfaces with destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i  that are shared between groups  112   a - 112   c ). In an embodiment, the servers  212   a - 212   c  may be configured to operate as a pass through between the redirector  110  and the dispatcher  210   a - 210   c  associated with the server  212   a - 212   c.    
     The controllers  115   a - 115   f  can be combined, local, remote, cloud, etc. The redirector  110  is configured to control and coordinate operation of multiple elevator systems  101   a - 101   f . The redirector  110  may be an electronic controller including a processor and an associated memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform various operations. The processor may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. 
     The redirector  110  is in communication with each of the elevator destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i  of the building elevator system  100 , which are shared by more than one group  112   a - 112   c . The redirector  110  is configured to receive each elevator call  310  transmitted from the elevator destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i . The redirector  110  is configured to manage the elevators calls  310  coming in from each destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  and allow any elevator systems  101  to respond to elevator calls  310 . Conventional destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i  may be assigned to specific elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  however, the redirector  110  of the present disclosure is configured to allow destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i  to transmit elevator calls  310  to any group  112   a - 112   c.    
     When an elevator call  310  is received from any of the destination entry devices  89   a - 89   i , which are shared by more than one group  112   a - 112   c , the redirector  110  is configured to obtain a favorability score  330  of each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  for the specific elevator call  310 . In an embodiment, the redirector  110  may obtain the favorability scores  330  by transmitting a favorability score query  320  to a dispatcher  210   a - 210   c  of each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  in response to each elevator call  310  received. The favorability score query  320  may be transmitted from the redirector  110  to the dispatcher  210   a - 210   c  through the server  212   a - 212   c  of each elevator group  112   a - 112   c . In another embodiment, the redirector  110  may obtain the favorability scores  330  by continuously collecting data from all elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  regarding the favorability score  330  for all possible elevator calls  310  (each elevator call including a destination request) for each elevator group  112   a - 112   c . A favorability score  330  represents how well the best elevator car for this elevator call  310  in the elevator group could serve the demand. A favorability score  330  can consist of multiple pieces of data (i.e., variables) that can contribute to the favorability score  330 , which may include but is not limited to a spare capacity of a group  112   a - 112   c  (i.e., how busy the group currently is), the source floor&#39;s waiting time, if there is an elevator car  103  available to serve this elevator call  310  immediately, if the source/destination elevator call  130  is already assigned to an elevator car  103  in this group (e.g., coincident call), if the destination is part of a group of destinations already assigned to this group (e.g., sectoring), building management preferences (e.g., time of day, external sensors detecting crowds), a current position of the elevator car  103 , current commitments of the elevator car  103 , a number of stops each passenger assigned to the elevator car  103  will make prior to reaching their destination, how long it will take the elevator car  103  to serve the elevator call  310 , and the impact of adding this elevator call  310  to this elevator car  103  on the other elevator call  310  already assigned to the wait time of the elevator car  103  Once the favorability scores  330  from each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  are obtained, the redirector  110  will route the elevator call  310  to the elevator group  112   a - 112   c  with the best favorability score  330  and the elevator group  112   a - 112   c  will return to the redirector  110  which elevator car  103  in the elevator group  112   a - 112   c  is assigned to the request so that the redirector can display this information for the passenger. The information may be displayed on the destination entry device  89   a - 89   i.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , while referencing components of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of method  400  of operating a building elevator system  100  having a plurality of elevator systems  101   a - 101   f  organized into multiple elevator groups  112   a - 112   c , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the method  400  may be performed by the redirector  110 . At block  404 , an elevator call  310  is received from a destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  in communication with the building elevator system  100 . 
     At block  406 , a favorability score  330  is obtained from each of the multiple elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  of the building elevator system  100 . At block  408 , an elevator group of the multiple elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  with the highest favorability score  330  is obtained. For example, the elevator group of the multiple elevator groups  112   a - 112   c  with the highest favorability score  330  may be the second elevator group  112   b . It is understood that the elevator group  112   a - 112   c  with the highest favorability score  330  may vary depending on the elevator call  310  and is not limited to the second elevator group  112   b  but may also be the first elevator group  112   a  or the third elevator group  112   c.    
     The highest favorability score  330  may be obtained by: transmitting to a dispatcher  210   a - 210   c  of each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  a favorability score query  320  in response to the elevator call  320 ; and receiving a favorability score  330  from each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  in response the favorability score query  320  and the elevator call  310 . The highest favorability score  330  may also be obtained by: continuously requesting a favorability score query  320  to a dispatch  210   a - 210   c  of each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  of the multiple elevator groups  112   a - 112   c ; receiving potential favorability scores  330  from each elevator group  112   a - 112   c  for potential elevator calls  310 ; and determining a favorability score  330  from the potential favorability scores in response to the elevator call. The potential favorability scores are continuously trying to predict what a favorability score  330  may be for different elevator calls  310  that include different destinations. 
     At block  410 , the elevator call  310  is routed to the elevator group with the highest favorability score  330 . Once the elevator call  310  is routed to the elevator group with the highest favorability score  330 , a best elevator car  103  of the elevator group with the highest favorability score  330  to answer the elevator call  310  may be obtained by the redirector  110 . A dispatcher  210   b  of the elevator group with the highest favorability score  330  is configured to determine the best elevator car  103  of the elevator group with the highest favorability score  330  to answer the elevator call  310 . The method  400  may further comprise that the best elevator car  103  may be displayed on the destination entry device  89   a - 89   i  so that the passenger may see which elevator car  103   a - 103   f  of each group  112   a - 112   c  they will be boarding. 
     While the above description has described the flow process of  FIG. 3  in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied. 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity and/or manufacturing tolerances based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.