Elevator Traffic Forecasting With Bayesian Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator group control systems face inaccuracies in passenger traffic forecasting due to reliance on long-term historical statistics, which fail to adapt to unexpected changes, leading to suboptimal dispatching decisions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that combine historical traffic information with current cycle data, using a statistical traffic model trained with timestamped origin-destination passenger counts, and employ Bayesian filtering to generate real-time forecasts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If long-term historical traffic statistics are used for forecasting, then the forecast is stable and consistent, but it fails to adapt to unexpected changes in passenger traffic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforecast stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to unexpected changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines long-term historical traffic statistics with short-term observed traffic data to create a hybrid forecasting approach. The controller integrates both data sources, using the stable historical patterns as a baseline while incorporating real-time deviations to adapt to unexpected changes, thus resolving the contradiction between forecast stability and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The forecasting system transitions from a static historical model to a dynamic adaptive model. The controller continuously updates the forecast by comparing observed traffic with predicted traffic and adjusting subsequent forecasts based on the deviations, enabling the system to adapt dynamically to changing traffic conditions while maintaining the stabilizing influence of historical data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If only historical traffic statistics are used, then the forecasting system is simple to implement, but it results in incorrect forecasts when unexpected changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforecasting system complexityVSAvoidforecast accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously compares observed traffic with predicted traffic, calculates deviations, and uses this feedback to adjust subsequent forecasts. This feedback loop improves forecast accuracy in response to unexpected changes without requiring a complete redesign of the forecasting system, maintaining relative simplicity while enhancing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the statistical traffic model is retrained with current cycle data, then the forecast adapts to short-term variations, but the computational requirements and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to short-term variationsVSAvoidmodel retraining time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely retraining the statistical traffic model with all current cycle data, the patent applies partial updates by incorporating only the necessary adjustments based on observed deviations. This partial action approach enables the system to adapt to short-term variations while minimizing the time and computational resources required for model updates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3505473B1Forecasting elevator passenger traffic
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 KONE OYJ
  • EP3505473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3505473B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for forecasting elevator passenger traffic of an elevator group. The method comprises training (100) a statistical traffic model describing a traffic profile for a specific cycle with historical timestamped origin-destination passenger counts, obtaining (102) timestamped origin-destination passenger counts for a current cycle, generating (104) an elevator passenger traffic forecast based on the trained statistical traffic model and the timestamped origin-destination passenger counts for the current cycle, and outputting (106) the elevator passenger traffic forecast for use by an elevator group control.