Patent ID: 7357226

Claim:
An elevator system comprising at least one elevator shaft, and an elevator control system, wherein said elevator shaft having a plurality of elevator units and at least one interlocking means, wherein said elevator unit including an elevator car and its guide means, a counterweight and its guide means, and a drive means, wherein said drive means including a motor, hoist cables, a traction sheave, a brake mechanism, said interlocking means including a coupling mechanism and a bi-directional clutch mechanism, wherein said bi-directional clutch mechanism allows said elevator cars in said shaft to travel only in same direction at a time, said elevator control system including a plurality of car computers, at least one shaft computer, at least one schedule control computer wherein said car computer controlling said elevator car unit, said shaft computer controlling said interlocking means, said schedule control computer controls floor stopping policy, and said car computer computes its speed, acceleration rate.