Elevator Service Resource Allocation via Preliminary Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyance devices like elevators often create bottlenecks in traffic flow due to significant time delays between exiting the elevator and receiving related services, such as ground transportation, as users wait for service requests to be fulfilled.

Innovation Solution

A computing system that integrates with conveyance devices to obtain passenger information in advance, allowing for the scheduling of elevator and other service resources, such as ground transportation, by using controllers connected to networks that communicate with user devices to allocate resources and provide timely service access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If users request services after exiting the elevator, then service requests can be processed, but substantial time delays occur from exit to service fulfillment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaiting timeVSAvoidservice fulfillment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting users inside the elevator and pre-arranging services before the elevator even reaches the destination. Service requests are processed in advance based on user detection, eliminating the traditional sequence where users must wait after exiting. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by shifting service arrangement to occur during the elevator ride itself, reducing waiting time while improving service fulfillment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If service requests are processed after elevator arrival, then service coordination can occur, but time delays increase due to sequential processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coordinationVSAvoiddelay from exit to service fulfillment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Service coordination is performed in advance while users are still in the elevator. The system detects users, determines their service needs, and coordinates service providers before the elevator arrives at the destination. This eliminates the sequential processing bottleneck where coordination must wait for elevator arrival and user exit, thereby maintaining ease of operation while dramatically reducing time delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary computing platform that acts as a mediator between the elevator system and service providers. This intermediary processes service requests, coordinates with multiple service providers, and manages fulfillment independently of the elevator's physical arrival and user exit timing. The intermediary enables parallel processing of coordination tasks, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If traditional elevator service processing is used, then simple request handling occurs, but bottleneck effects reduce overall traffic flow efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice processing systemVSAvoidtraffic flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing platform performs multiple functions: detecting users in the elevator, processing service requests, coordinating with service providers, and managing fulfillment. This multi-functional system replaces multiple separate systems (elevator control, service request processing, provider coordination) with a single universal platform, maintaining manageable complexity while dramatically improving traffic flow efficiency by eliminating sequential bottlenecks.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs service processing activities in advance of traditional timing. User detection, request processing, and provider coordination all occur while the elevator is in transit, converting what would be post-arrival sequential processing into pre-arrival parallel processing. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same computing infrastructure handles multiple functions efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3080025B1Conveyance system traffic flow information
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 OTIS ELEVATOR CO
  • EP3080025B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3080025B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3080025B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments are directed to an apparatus comprising: at least one processor, and memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive a request for elevator service, and cause at least one resource associated with a service unrelated to the use of the elevator itself to be assigned responsive to receiving the request for elevator service.