Elevator system and method of controlling the same

Abstract

An elevator system is disclosed. The elevator system includes multiple elevator machines, each of which includes one or more elevator cars. When a new call is initiated by a passenger, if the door of the elevator car has been open for a certain period of time, the corresponding elevator machine is assigned an allocation suppression weight, or the elevator machine is excluded from allocation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to elevator systems and their control methods. Background Technology

[0002] An elevator includes an elevator car that moves along a vertically formed elevator shaft within a building, a traction machine that generates power to move the elevator car up and down, and a transmission component that transmits the power of the traction machine to the car.

[0003] An elevator car moves along a vertically oriented elevator shaft within a building. It is equipped with a motor, traction unit, and other components to move the elevator car up and down. One or more elevators installed within a building can be centrally controlled and managed.

[0004] Elevators enable the vertical movement of people, goods, animals, plants, and other non-robot and / or robotic objects within buildings. In recent years, services provided by robots have been actively developing. To enable robots to move between floors within buildings using elevators, various linkage and control technologies between robots and elevators are being developed.

[0005] In existing technical literature patent No. 10-1998-0009076, a group management control technology is disclosed. Based on predetermined allocation rules, this technology controls multiple elevators installed in a building to ensure their organic operation. Accordingly, for a hall call, a comprehensive evaluation value for allocation is calculated using the status information and prediction information of each elevator. A position evaluation value is then calculated using a priority table of hall call buttons and elevator allocation. These two evaluation values ​​are then combined to select the optimal elevator number. Alternatively, a comprehensive evaluation value is calculated using the elevator status information and prediction information, the position of the hall call button, and the elevator position evaluation value to allocate the optimal elevator number.

[0006] <Prior art documents>

[0007] <Patent Documents>

[0008] Patent No. 10-1998-0009076 Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] The present invention aims to provide an elevator system and its control method for improving traffic flow.

[0011] Technical solution

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, an elevator system is provided to achieve the above objectives, comprising a plurality of elevator machines, each of which includes one or more elevator cars. In the event of a new call initiated by a passenger, if the door of the elevator car is open for a certain period of time, an allocation suppression weight is assigned to the corresponding elevator machine, or the elevator machine is allocated exclusion.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a control method for an elevator system is provided to achieve the above objectives. The control method for the elevator system includes: 1) a new call generation step; 2) a step of calculating and summing (T) the door opening elapsed time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger; and 3) a step of selecting a threshold.

[0014] Between step 1) and step 2), the following step may also be included: 1-1) calculating the allocation of a temporary evaluation value (X) for the target number of the new call.

[0015] Between step 1-1) and step 6), the following steps may be included: 5-1) determining the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) of the operational target number for the new call as the final allocation evaluation value (Y); and 5-2) selecting the number with the smallest final allocation evaluation value (Y) from the allocation candidate number group as the best number.

[0016] Between step 1) and step 2), the following step may be included: 1-2) determining whether the time when the new call occurs is during a peak period. If the time when the new call occurs is during a peak period in step 1-2), in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the expected arrival time of the registered calling passenger can be calculated and summed (T).

[0017] Between step 1) and step 2), the following steps may be included: 1-3) determining whether the elevator car is currently stopped at the passenger floor. In step 1-3), when the elevator car is currently stopped at the passenger floor, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers can be calculated and summed (T).

[0018] Between step 1) and step 2), the following steps may be included: 1-4) determining whether the expected direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call. In step 1-4), if the expected direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the expected arrival time of the registered calling passenger can be calculated and summed (T).

[0019] Between step 1) and step 2), the following steps may be included: 1-5) determining whether the elevator car door is in an open state, and in step 1-5), if the elevator car door is in an open state, in step 2), the time elapsed since the elevator car door opened and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers may be calculated and summed (T).

[0020] Between step 1) and step 2), the following steps may be included: 1-6) determining whether a call outside the lobby on another floor is in a registered state; and, in step 1-6), if a call outside the lobby on another floor is in a registered state, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the expected arrival time of the registered caller can be calculated and summed (T).

[0021] Between step 1) and step 2), the following step may be included: 1-7) determining whether there are passengers in the elevator car. In step 1-7), if there are passengers in the elevator car, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers can be calculated and summed (T).

[0022] Between step 2) and step 3), the following step may be included: 2-1) determining whether there is a registered call in the operand number machine that is the same as the originating layer and destination layer of the new call.

[0023] In step 3), the threshold may include a first threshold (A) and a second threshold (B). In step 2-1), if there is no registered call in the target machine that has the same departure and destination floors as the new call, in step 3), after selecting the first threshold (A), in step 4), it can be determined whether the sum of the elevator car door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered caller (T) is greater than the first threshold (A). In step 2-1), if there is a registered call in the target machine that has the same departure and destination floors as the new call, in step 3), after selecting the second threshold (B), in step 4), it can be determined whether the sum of the elevator car door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered caller (T) is greater than the second threshold (B).

[0024] It may also include: 4) determining whether the sum of the elevator car door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the threshold; 5) assigning a suppression weight to the assignment provisional evaluation value (X) of the computing machine for the new call to calculate the final assignment evaluation value (Y), or excluding the computing machine for the new call from the assignment candidate machine group; and 6) assigning the new call to the best machine, wherein in step 4), if the sum of the elevator car door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the threshold, in step 5), a suppression weight may be assigned to the assignment provisional evaluation value (X) of the computing machine for the new call to calculate the final assignment evaluation value (Y), or the computing machine for the new call may be excluded from the assignment candidate machine group.

[0025] If the information of the passenger who registered the new call can be confirmed, different thresholds can be applied according to the passenger type.

[0026] The types of passengers may include robots, preferential passengers, and regular passengers. The threshold applicable to robots may be greater than the threshold applicable to regular passengers, and the threshold applicable to preferential passengers may be greater than the threshold applicable to regular passengers.

[0027] Technical effect

[0028] According to the present invention, the concentration of new calls on specific elevator numbers can be alleviated. Passenger waiting times can be shortened. Traffic flow across multiple elevators can be streamlined. Energy conservation is also achieved. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram that briefly illustrates the state of robots and non-robots riding in the elevator car included in the elevator system of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a simplified flowchart of an elevator system control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram that briefly shows the distance between passengers and the elevator number on the floor they are boarding;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram that briefly shows the distance between the security gate and the elevator number on the boarding floor. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The above-mentioned objectives, other objectives, advantages, features, and implementation methods of the present invention will become clear from the accompanying drawings and the specific embodiments described in conjunction with the drawings.

[0034] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention can be widely applied in the fields of robot control and elevator control. Furthermore, the following embodiments can be modified into various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram that briefly illustrates the state of the robot (310) and non-robots (320) such as humans inside the elevator car EC included in the elevator system of the present invention.

[0036] See Figure 1 In the elevator system of the present invention, the elevator car EC can be used not only by non-robots (320) such as people, goods, animals, and plants, but also by robots (310). In this specification, "robot (310)" is used in a broad sense to include autonomous mobile bodies, unmanned mobile bodies, and other mechanical devices that automatically move and / or operate or perform tasks under external control. The robot (310) can be a service robot that provides services on at least one floor of a building.

[0037] According to the elevator system and control method of the present invention, when a new call is initiated by a passenger, if the elevator car door is opened relative to normal conditions and remains open for a certain period of time, a corresponding elevator number is assigned a suppression weight, or the corresponding elevator number is excluded from allocation. This is examined in detail below.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a simplified flowchart of an elevator system control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] See Figure 2The elevator system control method of this embodiment may include one or more of the following: a new call generation step (S110), a step of calculating the temporary evaluation value (X) of the calculation target machine for the new call (S120), a step of determining whether it is a peak period (S130), a step of determining whether the elevator car is currently stopped at the boarding floor (S140), a step of determining whether the expected running direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call (S150), a step of determining whether the elevator car door is open (S160), a step of determining whether a call outside the lobby on another floor is already registered (S170), a step of determining whether there are passengers riding in the elevator car (S180), a step of calculating and summing (T) the door opening elapsed time and the expected arrival time of the registered call passengers (S190), a step of determining whether a registered call with the same departure and destination floors as the new call exists in the calculation target machine (S200), and a step of selecting a first threshold (A). The steps are as follows: (S210) selecting a second threshold (B); (S220) determining whether the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the expected arrival time of the registered calling passenger (T) is greater than the first threshold (A); (S230) determining whether the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the expected arrival time of the registered calling passenger (T) is greater than the second threshold (B); (S240) assigning a suppression weight to the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) of the computing target number for the new call to calculate the final allocation evaluation value (Y); (S250) excluding the computing target number for the new call from the allocation candidate number group; (S260) determining the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) of the computing target number for the new call as the final allocation evaluation value (Y); (S270) selecting the number with the smallest final allocation evaluation value (Y) from the allocation candidate number group as the best number; and (S280) allocating the new call to the best number.

[0040] (1) New call generation step (S110)

[0041] A new call is initiated by the new call originator inputting the 'destination layer' it wishes to go to. In this specification, the new call originator, including both the robot (310) and the non-robot (320), will be referred to as a 'passenger'.

[0042] A new call can be initiated either by the passenger entering the destination floor through a call device installed at the floor station, or remotely by entering the destination floor through an application installed on a smartphone. Furthermore, if the robot (310) is the passenger, the call can also be initiated by the robot (310) or the robot management system sending a destination floor input signal.

[0043] When a passenger enters their destination floor into the call device installed at the floor level, the floor where the call device is installed, i.e. the floor where the new call originates, can become the 'boarding floor' where the passenger wants to take the elevator.

[0044] When a passenger remotely enters their destination floor, the passenger's current floor can be set as the boarding floor (if the passenger's location can be confirmed through smartphone location tracking, etc.), or the passenger can directly enter the boarding floor.

[0045] When the passenger is a robot (310), the floor where the robot (310) is located can be set as the boarding floor, or the boarding floor information can be sent by the robot (310) or the robot management system.

[0046] When a new call occurs (S110), a temporary evaluation value (X) for the assigned number of the new call can be calculated (S120).

[0047] (2) Step (S120) to calculate the temporary evaluation value (X) assigned to the machine number of the new call.

[0048] When a new call occurs, the assignment provisional evaluation value (X) of the target number is calculated. The assignment provisional evaluation value (X) is the value calculated in the previous step to determine the assignment final evaluation value (Y), and the number with the smallest assignment final evaluation value (Y) is selected as the best number.

[0049] The temporary evaluation value (X) is calculated using factors such as the estimated arrival time of the target elevator number in the direction of the new call and the estimated arrival time of the target elevator number in the direction of the registered call. The lower the temporary evaluation value (X), the more suitable the elevator number is for allocation. The 'target elevator number' can be all elevator numbers installed in the building, and the temporary evaluation value (X) can be calculated and assigned separately for each elevator number.

[0050] In this specification, "elevator number machine" refers to the identifier assigned to each elevator shaft. Typically, one elevator number machine is configured with one elevator car EC, but this invention is not limited to this, and multiple elevator car ECs can be configured in one elevator number machine.

[0051] (3) Steps to determine whether it is a peak period (S130)

[0052] To improve traffic flow during peak hours when congestion is a concern, it is possible to determine whether a new call occurs during a peak period.

[0053] Whether it is a peak period can be determined by whether the current traffic volume is greater than or equal to a baseline value. To identify the current traffic volume and determine the baseline value, machine learning methods can be used.

[0054] If the new call occurs during a peak period (S130 'Yes'), it can be determined whether the elevator car (EC) is currently stopped at the boarding floor. If the new call does not occur during a peak period (S130 'No'), the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) for the operator number of the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0055] (4) Steps to determine whether the elevator car is stopped at the boarding floor (S140)

[0056] If the elevator car EC is not stopped at the boarding floor, the passenger cannot enter the elevator car EC at the boarding floor, or the door of the elevator car EC cannot be open at the boarding floor. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the elevator car EC is stopped at the boarding floor where the passenger wants to take the elevator.

[0057] If the elevator car EC is stopped at the passenger floor (S140 'Yes'), it can be determined whether the expected running direction of the elevator car EC is the same as the direction of the new call (S150). If the elevator car EC is not stopped at the passenger floor (S140 'No'), the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) for the operator number of the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0058] (5) Step to determine whether the expected direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call (S150)

[0059] If the elevator car EC currently stopped on the boarding floor has a different expected direction of travel than the direction of the new call, the elevator car EC will not move to the floor the new caller wishes to reach. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the expected direction of travel of the elevator car EC currently stopped on the boarding floor is the same as the direction of the new call. For example, if the boarding floor of the new call is the 3rd floor and the destination floor of the new call is the 10th floor, it is necessary to determine whether the elevator car EC currently stopped on the boarding floor of the 3rd floor is expected to move upwards.

[0060] If the expected running direction of the elevator car EC is the same as the direction of the new call (S150 'Yes'), it can be determined whether the door of the elevator car EC is open (S160). If the expected running direction of the elevator car EC is not the same as the direction of the new call (S150 'No'), the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) for the calculation object number of the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0061] (6) Steps to determine whether the elevator car door is open (S160)

[0062] To measure the door opening elapsed time when the elevator car door is open (including during closing), it is determined whether the door of the elevator car EC currently stopped at the boarding floor is open (including during closing). If the door of the elevator car EC is open (S160 'Yes'), it can be determined whether a call from outside the hall on another floor is already registered (S170). If the door of the elevator car EC is closed (S160 'No'), the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) for the operator number of the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0063] (7) Step to determine whether a call made outside the lobby on another floor is in a registered state (S170)

[0064] Determine whether hall calls have been registered on floors other than the boarding floor. If no hall calls have been registered on floors other than the boarding floor, and there are no passengers in the elevator car (EC), even if the door opening time is longer, it is not necessary to consider the door opening time because there are no other passengers who would feel inconvenienced.

[0065] Hall call refers to a passenger outside the elevator car (EC) calling the elevator number to the floor they are going to, while car call refers to a passenger inside the elevator car (EC) entering their destination floor.

[0066] However, by pre-entering the destination floor through a call device installed at the floor station or a smartphone, and registering the call outside the elevator car EC, and when the car is in a state consistent with the call direction (i.e., when the car arrives at the floor where the passenger is waiting in a state consistent with the call direction), the group management system automatically registers the passenger's destination floor to the car side without requiring the passenger who has already boarded the car to take any additional action, thereby causing the car to travel to the destination floor.

[0067] If a call from outside the lobby on another floor is not in a registered state (S170 'No'), it can be determined whether there is a passenger in the elevator car EC (S180). If a call from outside the lobby on another floor is in a registered state (S170 'Yes'), the door opening time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger can be calculated and summed (T) (S190).

[0068] (8) Steps for determining whether there are passengers in the elevator car (S180)

[0069] Determine if there are passengers inside the elevator car EC that is currently stopped on the boarding floor. If no hall call has been registered on floors other than the boarding floor and there are no passengers inside the elevator car EC, even if the door opening time is longer, it may not be necessary to specifically consider the door opening time since there are no other passengers who would feel inconvenienced.

[0070] To determine whether there are passengers inside the elevator car EC, an imaging device or weight sensor installed inside the elevator car EC can be used.

[0071] If there are passengers in the elevator car EC that is currently stopped at the boarding floor (S180 'Yes'), the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers can be calculated and summed (T) (S190). If there are no passengers in the elevator car EC that is currently stopped at the boarding floor (S180 'No'), the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) for the operator number of the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0072] (9) Step (S190) Calculate the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers and sum them (T).

[0073] To compare the sum of the door opening time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) with the thresholds (A, B), the door opening time of the elevator car EC currently stopped at the boarding floor and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers are calculated and summed (T).

[0074] If new calls continue to be registered for that elevator car EC even as the time it takes for the elevator car EC door to open increases, the delay time for that elevator car EC may become longer.

[0075] Furthermore, if a passenger registers a new call while the passenger is far from the elevator machine, it may take longer for the passenger to reach the elevator car EC on the floor they are going to.

[0076] Even in this situation, if passengers already in elevator car EC still have to wait, the inconvenience and dissatisfaction will be exacerbated not only for passengers currently in elevator car BC, but also for passengers waiting on other floors. Furthermore, prolonged waiting times in elevator car EC can negatively impact overall traffic flow.

[0077] Therefore, the door opening time of the elevator car EC currently stopped at the boarding floor and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers are summed, and this value is used as a factor influencing the selection of the best elevator number.

[0078] To calculate the estimated arrival time for registered call passengers, the estimated arrival time can be derived using existing passenger data.

[0079] Figure 3 This is a simplified diagram illustrating the distance between passengers and the elevator machine on the floor they are boarding. See also... Figure 3 The estimated arrival time of a passenger can be calculated based on the distance (d) between the passenger (310, 320) and the elevator number machine (340) on the floor they are boarding. To calculate the estimated arrival time of a passenger, communication with a smart terminal, images recognized by an image device (330), etc., can be used.

[0080] Figure 4 This is a simplified diagram showing the distance between the security gate and the elevator number on the boarding floor. See also... Figure 4 The estimated arrival time of a passenger can be calculated based on the distance (d') between the security gate (350) that identifies the passenger's security information (employee ID, smart device, etc.) and the elevator number machine (340) on the boarding floor. In the case of a robot (310), permission can be obtained to pass through the security gate (350) by communicating with a security system linked to the security gate (350). To calculate the estimated arrival time of a passenger, an image recognized by an image recognition device (330) can be used.

[0081] In cases where the passenger's arrival time can be predicted in real time (such as when the passenger's location can be tracked via a smartphone, or when the passenger is a robot (310)), the passenger's real-time estimated arrival time can be utilized.

[0082] (10) The steps of determining whether there is a registered call with the same origin and destination layers as the new call in the target machine (S200), selecting the first threshold (A) (S210), and selecting the second threshold (B) (S220)

[0083] In order to select a first threshold (A) or a second threshold (B) based on whether there is a registered call, it is determined (S120) in the operation object number machine that has been calculated and assigned a temporary evaluation value (X) for the new call, whether there is a registered call with the same origin and destination layers as the new call.

[0084] If there is no registered call with the same origin and destination layer as the new call in the operand number machine (No in S200), the first threshold (A) can be selected (S210). If there is a registered call with the same origin and destination layer as the new call in the operand number machine (Yes in S200), a second threshold (B) greater than the first threshold (A) can be selected (S220).

[0085] In cases where there are already registered calls with the same departure and destination floors as the new call, assigning the new call to that elevator number might be more efficient from an overall traffic flow perspective than excluding it from that elevator. Even if passengers already in elevator car EC experience slightly longer waiting times. Therefore, in such cases, a second threshold (B) larger than the first threshold (A) can be selected, thereby further expanding the registration scope of the new call.

[0086] (11) Step (S230) to determine whether the sum of the door opening time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger (T) is greater than the first threshold (A).

[0087] If the first threshold (A) is selected (S210), it can be determined whether the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the first threshold (A) (S220). If the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the first threshold (A), it can be determined that the delay time of the elevator number is too long, and new calls can be restricted or excluded from being assigned to the elevator number.

[0088] When the sum of the elapsed time of the door opening and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the first threshold (A) (S230 'Yes'), a suppression weight can be assigned to the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) of the target number for the new call to calculate the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S250), or the target number for the new call can be excluded from the allocation candidate number group (S260). When the sum of the elapsed time of the door opening and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is less than or equal to the first threshold (A) (S230 'No'), the temporary allocation evaluation value (X) of the target number for the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0089] (12) Step (S240) to determine whether the sum of the door opening time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger (T) is greater than the second threshold (B).

[0090] If the second threshold (B) is selected (S220), it can be determined whether the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the second threshold (B) (S240). When the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the second threshold (B), it is determined that the delay time of the elevator number is too long, and new calls can be restricted or excluded from being assigned to the elevator number.

[0091] When the sum of the elapsed time of the door opening and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the second threshold (B) (S240 'Yes'), a suppression weight can be assigned to the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) of the target number for the new call to calculate the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S250), or the target number for the new call can be excluded from the allocation candidate number group (S260). When the sum of the elapsed time of the door opening and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is less than or equal to the second threshold (B) (S240 'No'), the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) of the target number for the new call can be determined as the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S270).

[0092] (13) Step (S250) to assign a suppression weight to the provisional evaluation value (X) of the allocation target number for the new call to calculate the final evaluation value (Y), and step (S260) to exclude the allocation target number for the new call from the allocation candidate number group.

[0093] If the sum of the elapsed time of the door opening and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the first threshold (A) or the second threshold (B) ('Yes' in S230 or S240), a suppression weight may be assigned to the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) of the machine number to be used for the new call to calculate the final allocation evaluation value (Y) (S250), or the machine number to be used for the new call may be excluded from the allocation candidate machine group (S260).

[0094] If the sum of the door opening time and the estimated arrival time of registered calling passengers (T) is greater than a threshold (A or B), it means that the waiting time for passengers already in elevator car EC or waiting on other floors will be longer. Therefore, in this case, fewer new calls will be assigned to that elevator car EC, or no new calls will be assigned.

[0095] In calculating the final allocation evaluation value (Y) of the elevator number to be assigned a temporary evaluation value (X) for a new call (S250), a suppression weight is assigned to an elevator number whose summation (T) of door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of registered calling passengers is greater than a first threshold (A) or a second threshold (B), thereby increasing the final allocation evaluation value (Y). Since this elevator number is not excluded from allocation, it is possible that another elevator number may be selected as the optimal elevator number if other factors cause the final allocation evaluation value (Y) of another elevator number to be higher.

[0096] If an elevator number is excluded from the candidate elevator group for a new call, it will not be selected as the best elevator number because the sum of the door opening elapsed time and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the first threshold (A) or the second threshold (B).

[0097] Whether to assign a suppressive weight to the provisional evaluation value (X) for the allocation of the machine number to the new call in order to calculate the final evaluation value (Y) (S250), or whether to exclude the machine number to the new call from the allocation candidate machine group (S260), can be chosen by the customer or by the elevator management system as appropriate.

[0098] (14) Step (S270) to determine the provisional evaluation value (X) for the operation target number of the new call as the final evaluation value (Y).

[0099] The provisional evaluation value (X) of the assigned number of the new call, which was calculated in the previous step (S120), is determined as the final evaluation value (Y) of the assigned number, which serves as the basis for selecting the best number.

[0100] (15) The step of selecting the number with the smallest final evaluation value (Y) from the candidate number group as the best number (S280), and the step of assigning a new call to the best number (S290).

[0101] Select the number with the smallest final evaluation value (Y) from the candidate number group as the best number (S280), and assign the new call to the selected best number (S290).

[0102] According to the present invention, when the information of a passenger registering for a new call can be confirmed, the values ​​of the thresholds (S210, S220) can be applied differently depending on the type of passenger. For example, when the passenger is a robot (310), when a new call is automatically generated when the passenger touches their employee ID card to a turnstile, when the passenger registers for a new call after proving their identity through a call device, or when the passenger provides their information in a smartphone application, the information of the passenger registering for a new call can be confirmed. Furthermore, the information of a passenger registering for a new call can also be confirmed using an image device. Using an image device, wheelchairs, strollers, etc., can be identified, and corresponding customized services can be provided to these passengers.

[0103] For example, passengers can be categorized into robots (310), priority passengers, and regular passengers. Since the movement speed and boarding conditions of robots (310) may differ from those of non-robots (320), such as humans, a threshold suitable for robots (310) can be set separately. For robots (310), the threshold can be set higher than that for regular passengers. Priority passengers may include, for example, passengers with relatively slow movement speeds such as disabled persons or the elderly, or passengers requiring assistance such as VIPs or staff. For priority passengers, the threshold can be set higher than that for regular passengers. Regular passengers can be any passengers other than robots (310) and priority passengers.

[0104] The threshold can be adjusted manually or automatically according to preset conditions.

[0105] According to the present invention, in a system operating multiple elevators, the concentration of new calls on a specific elevator number can be alleviated. Accordingly, passenger waiting times can be shortened, traffic flow in a system with multiple elevators can be smoothed, and energy conservation can be achieved by improving elevator utilization efficiency.

[0106] This invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications or variations can be made without departing from the technical spirit of this invention, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0107] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0108] EC: Elevator Car 310: Robot

[0109] 320: Non-robot 330: Image device

[0110] 340: Elevator gate; 350: Security gate.

Claims

1. An elevator system, comprising: Multiple elevator number machines, The multiple elevator units each include one or more elevator cars. In the event of a new call initiated by a passenger, if the elevator car door remains open for a certain period of time, the corresponding elevator number will be assigned a suppression weight, or the elevator number will be excluded from allocation.

2. A control method for an elevator system, comprising the control method for the elevator system as described in claim 1, including: 1) New call initiation steps; 2) The steps to calculate the time elapsed since the elevator car doors opened and the estimated arrival times of registered calling passengers, and to sum (T); as well as 3) Steps for selecting a threshold.

3. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-1) The step of calculating the temporary evaluation value (X) assigned to the machine number of the new call.

4. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 3, wherein: Between step 1-1) and step 6), the following is also included: 5-1) The step of determining the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) for the operational target number of the new call as the final allocation evaluation value (Y); and 5-2) The step of selecting the machine with the smallest final evaluation value (Y) from the candidate machine group as the best machine.

5. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-2) The step of determining whether the new call occurred during a peak period. In steps 1-2), if the new call occurs during a peak period, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger are calculated and summed (T).

6. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-3) The step of determining whether the elevator car is currently stopped at the passenger floor. In steps 1-3), if the elevator car is stopped at the boarding floor, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers are calculated and summed (T).

7. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-4) The step of determining whether the expected direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call. In steps 1-4), if the expected direction of the elevator car is the same as the direction of the new call, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the expected arrival time of the registered calling passenger are calculated and summed (T).

8. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the method further includes: 1-5) The step of determining whether the elevator car door is in the open state. In steps 1-5), when the elevator car door is open, in step 2), the time elapsed since the elevator car door opened and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers are calculated and summed (T).

9. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-6) Steps to determine whether a call made outside on other floors is already registered. In steps 1-6), if the call from outside the other floor is already registered, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered caller are calculated and summed (T).

10. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 1) and step 2), the following is also included: 1-7) The steps to determine whether there are passengers riding in the elevator car. In steps 1-7), if there are passengers in the elevator car, in step 2), the door opening time of the elevator car and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers are calculated and summed (T).

11. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 2, wherein: Between step 2) and step 3), the following is also included: 2-1) The step of determining whether a registered call with the same originating and destination layers as the new call exists in the operation object number machine.

12. The control method for an elevator system according to claim 11, wherein: In step 3), the threshold includes a first threshold (A) and a second threshold (B). In step 2-1), if there are no registered calls in the calculation object machine that have the same departure and destination floors as the new call, in step 3), after selecting the first threshold (A), in step 4), it is determined whether the sum of the time elapsed since the elevator car door opened and the estimated arrival time of the registered call passenger (T) is greater than the first threshold (A). In step 2-1), if there is a registered call in the calculation object machine that has the same departure and destination floors as the new call, in step 3), after selecting the second threshold (B), in step 4), it is determined whether the sum of the door opening time of the elevator car and the expected arrival time of the registered call passenger (T) is greater than the second threshold (B).

13. The control method for an elevator system according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein, Also includes: 4) The step of determining whether the sum of the time elapsed since the elevator car door opened and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passengers (T) is greater than the threshold; 5) The step of assigning a suppression weight to the provisional allocation evaluation value (X) of the target number for the new call to calculate the final allocation evaluation value (Y), or excluding the target number for the new call from the allocation candidate number group; and 6) The step of assigning the new call to the best available number. In step 4), if the sum of the time elapsed since the elevator car door opened and the estimated arrival time of the registered calling passenger (T) is greater than the threshold, in step 5), a suppression weight is assigned to the provisional evaluation value (X) for the allocation of the target machine number for the new call to calculate the final evaluation value (Y), or the target machine number for the new call is excluded from the group of candidate machines for allocation.

14. The control method for the elevator system according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein: When the information of the passenger who registered the new call can be confirmed, the threshold value is applied differently depending on the passenger type.

15. The control method for the elevator system according to claim 14, wherein: The types of passengers include robots, priority passengers, and regular passengers. The threshold applicable to the robot is greater than the threshold applicable to the ordinary passenger. The threshold applicable to the preferential passengers is greater than the threshold applicable to the regular passengers.

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