Elevator Trip Planning with Activity Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation technologies in multi-story buildings, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,836,580, primarily focus on guiding users from a starting point to a destination, failing to provide additional assistance or information, especially in complex layouts with both vertical and horizontal extensions, which can confuse visitors.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an elevator controller, a storage device for building plan data, and a route planning computer that receives user inquiries for desired destinations and activity parameters, calculates route proposals, and communicates these to users, allowing for elevator control to facilitate navigation while considering fitness goals and traffic situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If basic navigation guidance is provided from starting point to destination, then users can reach their destination, but users require additional assistance and information especially in complex building layouts
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator control system is enhanced with multiple functions beyond basic floor-to-floor transport. It now integrates route planning, activity parameter optimization (fitness, time, traffic avoidance), real-time traffic monitoring, and multi-modal navigation guidance. This multi-functional approach allows the single system to serve diverse user needs without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer between the user's destination request and the elevator control. This intermediary analyzes building layout data, user preferences, activity parameters, and real-time traffic conditions to generate optimized route proposals. It acts as a mediator that translates simple destination inputs into comprehensive navigation solutions including elevator selection, floor sequencing, and alternative route suggestions.
2Speed
If elevator installation provides vertical transportation in multi-story buildings, then users can move between floors, but orientation becomes difficult in buildings with substantial horizontal and vertical extensions
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional floor-to-floor elevator control to three-dimensional route planning that incorporates horizontal building layout, vertical floor sequences, and multiple transportation modes. By adding the horizontal dimension and integrating building layout data with vertical elevator movements, the system provides comprehensive spatial orientation assistance that helps users navigate complex multi-story buildings with substantial both horizontal and vertical extensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the building layout, user destination, and activity parameters before generating route proposals. It pre-calculates optimal elevator sequences, identifies alternative routes (including stairways and walkways), and prepares navigation guidance information in advance. This preliminary action enables the system to provide immediate, well-thought-out orientation assistance when users request navigation, rather than reacting after confusion occurs.
3Loss of information
If route proposals are calculated based on current location and destination, then users receive navigation guidance, but system complexity increases with multiple data processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple data processing functions into a unified route planning module. It combines building layout data storage, user location tracking, destination processing, activity parameter analysis, real-time traffic monitoring, and route optimization algorithms into a single integrated system. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each function while still providing comprehensive route information.
4Reliability
If elevator controller monitors and processes elevator calls, then elevator operation is controlled, but additional navigation assistance requires integrated system coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The elevator control system is transformed into a universal navigation platform that maintains its core reliable elevator monitoring and control functions while adding versatile navigation assistance capabilities. The same controller that processes elevator calls now also handles route planning, traffic optimization, and multi-modal navigation guidance, allowing a single system to reliably perform multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator trip based on destinations and activity parameters of a user is planned by a system having an elevator controller of an elevator installation, a storage device storing building plan data and a route planning computer. The user's trip inquiry, including a desired destination and a desired activity parameter, is received by the planning computer. Building plan data is read from the storage device by the planning computer. The current location of the user is determined by the planning computer, which calculates at least one route proposal based on the user's location, the destination and the activity parameter. The route proposal is communicated to the user. Upon receipt of a confirmation that the user selected the route proposal, a control signal identifying a boarding floor and a destination floor is transmitted by the planning computer to the elevator controller. The elevator installation is controlled according to the control signal.