Elevator Access Control Using Origin-to-Floor Authorization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems lack an efficient method to control access to specific floors within a building based on passenger authorization, leading to potential security vulnerabilities and inefficiencies in managing access levels.

Innovation Solution

An elevator system that utilizes a stored database to determine if access to a desired destination floor is allowed by comparing the passenger's origin floor with stored data, allowing or denying access based on authorization, and controlling elevator operation accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional elevator systems are used without access control, then elevator operation is simple and fast, but security vulnerability increases and unauthorized access occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess securityVSAvoidaccess control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by checking access authorization before the elevator reaches the destination floor. The controller determines whether the passenger is authorized to access the desired floor based on stored data, and only then allows the elevator to proceed. This prevents unauthorized access attempts from blocking legitimate trips.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a controller that mediates between the passenger's elevator call and the actual elevator movement. This controller checks authorization data and acts as a gatekeeper, allowing or blocking the elevator's destination call based on the passenger's authorization status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If access control checks are performed at every floor, then access security improves, but elevator operation time increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess control reliabilityVSAvoidelevator operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the access control check in advance, before the elevator reaches the destination floor. By determining authorization status beforehand and storing it in a database, the system avoids repeated checks during the elevator's movement, reducing time loss while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses stored data to enable self-service access control. Once a passenger's authorization status is determined and stored in the database, the system can automatically retrieve and use this information without requiring repeated manual verification or passenger intervention during the elevator ride.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the elevator stops at every floor to check access, then access control accuracy improves, but productivity decreases and elevator throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess authorization accuracyVSAvoidelevator throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The access authorization determination is performed as a preliminary action before the elevator reaches the destination floor. The controller checks the stored data to determine if the passenger is authorized, and this determination is made in advance rather than requiring the elevator to stop and check at each floor, thus maintaining accuracy without sacrificing throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of stopping the elevator at every floor to check access with an automated control system. The controller electronically checks authorization data stored in a database, substituting physical stops and manual checks with automated digital verification that occurs without interrupting elevator movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2512967B1Elevator security system
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP2512967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2512967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2512967B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of controlling access to floor within a building via elevator. The method includes receiving a passenger input indicating a desired destination floor a passenger seeks to travel to in an elevator, accessing a stored database containing data about which floors passengers are allowed to access via elevator when coming from the floor of the passenger input, determining if access is allowed based upon the desired destination floor and the data, and controlling operation of the elevator to deliver the passenger to the desired destination floor if access is allowed.