Elevator Call Network Layout for Low-Delay Multi-Floor Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator calling systems experience significant signal delays due to the cascading nature of wireless communication between floors, especially in high-rise buildings, leading to unacceptable delays exceeding 1 second.

Innovation Solution

Implement a communication system where wireless modules are grouped into lead and ordinary nodes, forming a star network structure within each group, with direct connections between lead nodes and ordinary nodes within the group and between adjacent groups, reducing the number of nodes involved in signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wireless modules are connected in cascade through multiple nodes to enable communication between floors, then communication coverage is extended, but transmission delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverageVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides wireless modules into multiple groups, with each group having a lead node that directly communicates with the controller. This segmentation allows signals to be transmitted through fewer intermediate nodes, reducing accumulated delay while maintaining extended communication coverage across multiple floors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lead nodes serve as intermediaries between ordinary nodes and the controller. Ordinary nodes communicate with their group's lead node, which then communicates directly with the controller, reducing the number of hops and transmission delay compared to cascaded communication through every node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of stationary object

If more wireless nodes are deployed to extend communication distance, then coverage is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication distanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments wireless modules into groups with designated lead nodes, simplifying the overall network structure. Each group operates semi-independently with its lead node managing communications with the controller, reducing the complexity of managing individual node connections across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple ordinary nodes within a group are merged under a single lead node for communication purposes. This consolidation reduces the number of direct connections required to the controller, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining the ability to communicate with all nodes across extended distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If cascade connection is used to connect all wireless modules, then complete network coverage is achieved, but the number of transmission nodes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidnumber of transmission nodes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple groups, each with a lead node that provides direct communication path to the controller. This segmentation ensures complete coverage of all wireless modules while reducing the effective number of transmission nodes in the critical communication path between any node and the controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Lead nodes act as intermediaries that aggregate communications from multiple ordinary nodes. This intermediary structure maintains comprehensive network coverage while reducing the total number of nodes that need to maintain direct communication links with the controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4197952B1Communication system and method for elevator system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP4197952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4197952B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4197952B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present application relates to elevator technology, and in particular, to a communication system (10; 20) for an elevator system, a communication method for an elevator calling system, and a computer-readable storage medium for implementing the method. A communication system according to an aspect of the present application comprises at least two communication node groups(120A-120D; 220A-220D), each of the communication node group comprising wireless modules (1201-1220; 2201-2220) deployed at a plurality of locations of the elevator system, wherein one of the wireless module in each of the communication node group is set as the first node (1205, 1210, 1215, 1220; 2205, 2210, 2215, 2220) and the other wireless modules are set as the second node; a master node (110; 220), which can be configured to establish a communication connection with one of the first nodes as designed, wherein the first node in each of the communication node group can be configured to establish a wireless communication connection with the second node belonging to the same communication node group and establish a wireless communication connection with the first node in the adjacent communication node group, so as to realize communication between the master node and the wireless modules in any communication node group or between a pair of wireless modules.