Centralized Elevator Control for Route-Based Facility Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for guiding individuals through buildings and controlling facilities like elevators are inefficient, leading to increased travel time and energy consumption, as they require manual interaction and lack centralized control for optimizing resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enables group calls for elevators and other facilities, using indoor positioning systems to automatically request and allocate resources based on computed routes for multiple individuals with common destinations, optimizing the use of resources and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual interaction is required for facility requests, then individual control flexibility is maintained, but travel time increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically requesting facilities (elevators, doors, lighting) in advance based on computed routes before users arrive at facility locations. This eliminates waiting time and ensures facilities are ready for immediate use, directly reducing travel time without requiring manual interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by autonomously handling facility requests based on user routes and preferences. The automated system monitors user positions and automatically calls elevators, activates doors, and adjusts lighting without user intervention, reducing both travel time and energy consumption through optimized resource allocation.
2Productivity
If individual facility requests are processed separately, then user-specific preferences are accommodated, but resource allocation efficiency decreases and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple individual facility requests into consolidated group calls. When multiple users require the same facility (e.g., elevator to the same floor), the system combines these requests into a single automated call, optimizing resource allocation efficiency and reducing energy consumption by eliminating redundant trips and operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from user positions, route information, and facility status to dynamically optimize resource allocation. By continuously monitoring user movements and facility availability, the system adjusts facility activation and grouping strategies to maximize allocation efficiency and minimize energy waste while still accommodating user preferences.
3Ease of operation
If facilities are activated in advance along computed routes, then user convenience and speed are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates facilities in advance along pre-computed user routes before users arrive at facility locations. Elevators are called, doors are unlocked, and lighting is adjusted automatically based on predicted user needs, significantly improving user convenience and speed while the centralized system manages the complexity of coordinating multiple facilities.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Elevators (17) and other facilities in buildings and other constructed environments can be controlled remotely. In an advanced controlling method at least one person (A, B) is guided through constructed environment along a predetermined route. When the route is known, facilities, such as elevators (17), may be called or activated in advance so that the person guided along the route does not need to do it when arriving at the area of influence of the facility. When there are more than one person (A, B) travelling, the routes may be combined such that the central system (12) controlling allocations of facilities may call or activate resources for more than one person.