Elevator Dispatching With Passenger Preference Grouping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator systems lack passenger control over multimedia content and passenger grouping, leading to negative ride experiences due to mismatched interests and content preferences.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent building system uses passenger identification to select and provide multimedia content and group passengers based on their preferences derived from social network data, optimizing content relevance and passenger pairing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If destination dispatching systems optimize service speed by assigning passengers to elevators using algorithms, then service efficiency is improved, but passenger choice and content relevance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice efficiencyVSAvoidpassenger choice
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elevator dispatching system dynamically adjusts between two modes: a first mode that optimizes for service efficiency using traditional algorithms, and a second mode that optimizes for passenger preference matching. The system can switch between modes based on real-time conditions such as elevator availability, passenger load, and time of day, allowing it to adapt the degree of optimization applied to different situations rather than using a fixed algorithmic approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the optimization parameters used for elevator assignment based on the selected mode. In the first mode, parameters include waiting time, round trip time, and number of stops. In the second mode, parameters are shifted to prioritize passenger preference matching and content relevance. This parameter switching allows the system to balance efficiency and adaptability without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If pre-selected content is provided in elevators without regard to passenger identity, then system complexity is reduced, but content relevance and passenger satisfaction deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidcontent relevance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses passenger identification data and preference profiles stored in the database to automatically select and provide relevant content without requiring manual intervention from building operators or complex real-time analysis. The elevator controller autonomously queries the database using passenger IDs and retrieves pre-configured content preferences, allowing the system to provide personalized content while maintaining relatively simple architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A database acts as an intermediary between the elevator control system and content delivery mechanism. The database stores passenger preference profiles and content metadata, allowing the controller to efficiently query and retrieve relevant content without direct complex processing. This intermediary layer simplifies the control logic while enabling personalized content delivery based on passenger identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If passengers are assigned to elevators based on optimization algorithms, then waiting time is reduced, but passenger grouping by preference deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaiting timeVSAvoidpassenger grouping
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dispatching system dynamically adjusts between optimizing for service efficiency (reducing waiting time) and optimizing for passenger preference matching (grouping likeminded passengers). The system can switch between these optimization goals based on real-time conditions such as peak hours, elevator availability, and passenger load, allowing flexible balancing of time efficiency and social preferences without being locked into a single algorithmic approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3309100B1Method for controlling elevator operation based on passenger preference
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3309100B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3309100B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3309100B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure herein includes a method (200) for controlling elevators by an intelligent building system. The method (200) includes receiving, by the intelligent building system, elevator calls initiated by passengers (210). Each elevator call can include a passenger identification corresponding to a passenger initiating the elevator call. The method further includes procuring passenger preference information based on the passenger identifications in response to the elevator calls (220) and grouping the passengers with respect to the passenger preference information to produce passenger groups (233). The method further includes controlling the elevators to collect the passenger groups (240).