Elevator Travel Time Comparison Across Building Lift Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to account for the impact of varying elevator structures on traveler movement times within buildings, making it difficult to evaluate and optimize travel conditions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A traveler travel condition output device that calculates and displays travel time statistics based on elevator operation records, considering different elevator structures such as multi-bank and sky-lobby systems, to provide detailed travel flow analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple types of information (travel route, travel schedule, accommodation information, attraction information) are provided through conventional methods, then information completeness is improved, but information management complexity and user burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple types of travel information (route, schedule, accommodation, attraction) into a single integrated output device that displays all information together with the travel condition assessment, eliminating the need for separate information sources and reducing management complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The output device serves multiple functions by simultaneously displaying travel condition assessment, route information, schedule details, accommodation data, and attraction information, making it a universal information hub for travelers rather than requiring multiple specialized devices

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

2Loss of information

If detailed travel information is provided through multiple channels, then information availability is improved, but time consumption for information processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidinformation processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and integrates all travel information (route, schedule, accommodation, attraction) and travel condition assessment before the traveler needs it, so that upon output device activation, all information is immediately available in one consolidated display without requiring sequential processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By merging all information types into a single output device display, the system eliminates the time required to switch between multiple devices or sources, allowing travelers to access complete information simultaneously in one location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If environmental factors (temperature, humidity, air quality) are monitored continuously, then health safety is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth safetyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs periodic environmental monitoring and travel condition assessment at key decision points (route selection, schedule planning, accommodation choice, attraction visiting) rather than continuous monitoring, maintaining health safety while reducing energy consumption through interval-based measurements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3521230B1Traveler travel condition output device and method
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 HITACHI LTD
  • EP3521230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3521230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3521230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is difficult to evaluate how the time taken for travelers to move within a building changes depending on the elevator structure. Thus, a traveler travel condition output device (100) according to the present invention includes: a travel time calculation unit (101, 103) that obtains, for each user, a first travel time taken for the user to move from entering the building to arriving at the elevator hall, a waiting time in the elevator hall from when the user arrives at the elevator hall to when the user gets on an elevator, and a second travel time taken for the user to move from getting on the elevator to arriving at the destination floor, and collects the information of the first travel time, the waiting time, and the second travel time, to calculate the travel time statistical information of the user from entering the building to arriving at the destination floor; and a display unit (105) for displaying the travel times. The travel time calculation unit calculates travel time statistical information in a first elevator structure, as well as travel time statistical information in a second elevator structure. The display unit displays the travel time statistical information in the first elevator structure, together with the travel time statistical information in the second elevator structure.