Elevator Call Reassignment Based on Relative Car Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems inefficiently reassign calls based on mechanical or electrical failures, leading to dispatching cars at near or full capacity, which increases wait times and decreases traffic flow.

Innovation Solution

A dispatch system that includes motion, call, counter, and dispatch controllers to determine the relative occupant capacity of elevator cars, allowing for dynamic reassignment of calls to cars with maximum available capacity, optimizing traffic flow and reducing wait times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If elevator cars are reassigned based solely on travel time or location, then response speed to call requests is improved, but elevator cars are dispatched at near or full capacity, causing passenger wait times to increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidpassenger wait time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dispatch controller dynamically changes the dispatch parameters by considering real-time occupant capacity data alongside travel time and location. The system monitors the actual number of occupants in each elevator car and uses this information to determine optimal dispatch decisions, transitioning from static travel-time-based dispatch to dynamic capacity-aware dispatch

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where counter devices continuously monitor and report occupant capacity information back to the dispatch controller. This feedback loop enables the dispatch controller to make informed reassignment decisions based on real-time occupancy status, ensuring that call requests are directed to elevator cars with available capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If elevator cars are reassigned based on error detection, then system reliability is improved, but traffic flow decreases due to dispatching full cars

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidtraffic flow
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the dispatch parameters by integrating real-time occupant capacity monitoring into the error-based reassignment process. When errors or failures occur, the dispatch controller uses current occupancy data to determine alternative elevator cars that can accommodate call requests, rather than simply reassigning based on error location or travel time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The counter devices provide continuous feedback on elevator car occupancy status to the dispatch controller. This feedback enables the system to maintain high reliability through error-based reassignment while simultaneously optimizing traffic flow by directing calls to elevator cars with available capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4269307B1Systems and methods for dispatching elevators
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 APPANA IND LLC
  • EP4269307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4269307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4269307B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for reassigning a first elevator car of a plurality of elevator cars that includes dispatching the first elevator car from a current location to a first destination location to pick up an occupant at the first destination location. The method includes determining the first elevator car stopped at an intermediate location positioned between the current location and the first destination location. The method further includes determining a number of occupants within the first elevator car is greater than at least a second elevator car of a plurality of elevator cars after the first elevator car stopped at the intermediate location, and directing the first elevator car to a second destination location different from the first destination location.