Elevator Controller Reassignment for Mobile Users

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional destination dispatch control systems for elevators often assign cars that do not align with user preferences regarding occupancy and wait time, leading to reassignment issues when initial cars become unavailable, requiring users to manually select new cars or floors.

Innovation Solution

An electronic elevator controller automatically reassigned a different elevator car to a user's mobile device upon detecting an unavailable initial car, with push notifications and alerts to inform the user of the change, allowing seamless reassignment without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional destination dispatch control systems assign elevator cars based on predetermined parameters, then car assignment efficiency is improved, but user preference alignment (occupancy, wait time, travel time) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecar assignment efficiencyVSAvoiduser preference alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts car assignment by continuously monitoring real-time elevator car status, user preferences, and demand patterns. The controller updates assignments on-the-fly rather than using static predetermined parameters, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where user preferences, wait times, and occupancy requirements are continuously monitored and fed back to the controller. This feedback enables the controller to refine car assignments to better align with user preferences while maintaining system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the system provides calculated optimal car assignment based on predetermined parameters, then system efficiency is improved, but reassignment complexity increases when cars become unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidreassignment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating alternative car assignments and maintaining a ready list of backup options. When the initially assigned car becomes unavailable, the system can immediately execute a pre-planned reassignment without complex real-time calculations, reducing reassignment complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by adjusting assignment criteria dynamically. When reassignment is needed, the controller modifies the selection parameters to choose from alternative cars based on updated conditions, simplifying the reassignment process while maintaining system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If manual selection is required when initial car assignments become unavailable, then user control is improved, but user interaction time and wait time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoiduser interaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically detecting when the initial car becomes unavailable and autonomously performing the reassignment. The user does not need to manually select a new car or interact with the system, eliminating user interaction time while maintaining user control through automatic notification of the reassignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of information

If the system automatically notifies users of reassignment, then user information awareness is improved, but communication system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser information awarenessVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies universality by using the existing mobile device application as a multi-functional communication channel. The same app used for car selection and monitoring also handles reassignment notifications, eliminating the need for separate communication infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity while improving user information awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3412615B1Reassignment of elevators for mobile device users
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3412615B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3412615B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3412615B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

An elevator system includes an elevator car drive assembly configured to drive at least one elevator car to a plurality of floors serviced by the elevator system. A mobile electronic device inputs a ride request to deliver an available elevator car among the at least one elevator car to a floor location containing the mobile electronic device. An electronic elevator controller is in signal communication with the elevator drive assembly and the mobile electronic device. The electronic elevator controller is configured to determine an unavailability of an originally assigned elevator car selected to perform the ride request, and to transmit reassignment information to the mobile electronic device indicating modification of the ride request.