Elevator Dispatch System Using SMS Notifications for Legacy Devices
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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, and may require reassignment due to unavailability, necessitating additional steps for users, especially those with legacy mobile phones that cannot use smart device apps.
Innovation Solution
An elevator dispatch control system that uses SMS text messages to notify users of initial and reassignment of elevator cars, allowing users to receive car assignment information without needing a smart device app, and automatically reassigning users to available cars if the initial car becomes unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If destination dispatch control systems assign cars based on predetermined parameters, then elevator system efficiency is improved, but user preferences regarding occupancy and wait time are not aligned
Solution Approach 1:
The system sends elevator assignment notifications to user mobile devices before the user needs to board the elevator. This preliminary notification allows users to know their assigned elevator in advance, reducing wait time and allowing them to prepare for the ride without needing to return to a central kiosk.
Solution Approach 2:
A mobile device notification system acts as an intermediary between the elevator dispatch control system and the user. This intermediary delivers assignment information directly to users' personal devices, bridging the gap between system efficiency requirements and user information needs without requiring users to physically return to the building or use a central kiosk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users with legacy mobile phones cannot use smart device apps, then additional steps are required for car assignment, but requiring app installation increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is designed to work with multiple types of mobile devices including both smart devices with apps and legacy devices with SMS capability. By supporting multiple communication methods (app notifications and SMS text messages), the system achieves universality and can serve all users regardless of their device type without requiring everyone to install a specific application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses SMS text messages as a simple, widely-compatible notification method for legacy devices. SMS is a basic, universally-supported communication protocol that doesn't require complex applications or sophisticated devices, providing a low-barrier solution for users with older phones while maintaining the same core functionality of delivering elevator assignment information.
3Reliability
If the initial assigned elevator car becomes unavailable, then reassignment is necessary, but requiring users to revisit a central kiosk increases user wait time
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback by monitoring elevator car availability and automatically sending reassignment notifications to users whose originally assigned elevators become unavailable. This closed-loop feedback system detects changes in elevator status and proactively communicates reassignment information to users without requiring them to check or return to a central kiosk, significantly reducing wait time and improving the user experience.
4Ease of operation
If SMS text messages are used for notification, then users can receive information without launching a software application, but the system must support multiple message formats
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system dynamically changes its communication parameters based on the user's device type. For smart devices, it uses app-based notifications with rich formatting and interaction capabilities. For legacy devices, it switches to simple SMS text messages. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize for ease of operation on each device type while managing complexity through conditional logic that selects the appropriate message format.
Data Source
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AI summary
An elevator dispatch control system includes an electronic UserID detection device that detects a UserID device and extracts a device identifier associated with the UserID device. An electronic ride request unit detects a ride request of a user. An electronic elevator controller is in communication with the UserID device and the ride request unit. The elevator controller determines contact information of the user based on a comparison between the extracted device identifier and a plurality of stored device identifiers stored in a database. The elevator controller transmits elevator car assignment information to the user device associated with the UserID device based on the determined contact information.