Passenger Traffic Group Control via Preference-Guided Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger traffic group control systems face challenges in simultaneously optimizing multiple performance criteria such as waiting time, transit time, energy consumption, and journey time, as stakeholders struggle to input preferences in a format usable by the optimizer, and there is a lack of intuitive interfaces for configuring these systems.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that elicit user preferences through a graphical user interface, determine candidate control parameters, simulate system operations, and display representative results, allowing users to iteratively adjust preferences until acceptance, thereby enabling informed decision-making for passenger traffic group control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple performance criteria are optimized simultaneously in a passenger traffic group control system, then system performance improves, but the complexity of configuring and inputting preferences increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a simulation-based intermediary layer between user preferences and system optimization. Instead of directly optimizing multiple criteria, the system simulates different call allocation strategies based on user-defined preferences and performance indicators, then presents representative outcomes to users for feedback. This intermediary simulation process translates complex multi-criteria optimization into an interactive, user-friendly configuration experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements iterative feedback loops where users provide preferences, the system simulates outcomes, users evaluate representative results, and preferences are refined based on feedback. This feedback mechanism allows users to gradually converge on optimal configuration without needing to understand the underlying complex optimization mathematics, thereby improving system performance while managing configuration complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If detailed simulation results are provided to users, then user understanding of system behavior improves, but the time and computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser understandingVSAvoidsimulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and presents only the most relevant representative results from comprehensive simulations. Instead of displaying all simulation data, the system identifies and shows key performance indicators and typical scenarios that best represent system behavior under given preferences. This selective extraction provides users with sufficient understanding while significantly reducing the time and computational resources needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial simulation actions by focusing computational effort on generating representative outcomes rather than exhaustive analysis of all possible scenarios. By simulating only the necessary portion of system behavior that provides meaningful user insight, the system achieves adequate user understanding without the prohibitive time and resource costs of complete simulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If users can iteratively adjust preferences until acceptance, then configuration accuracy improves, but the number of iterations and time required increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary simulations with default or pre-configured preferences before user interaction. This preliminary action provides users with an initial baseline configuration that is already optimized to some extent, reducing the number of iterative adjustments needed. Users start from a reasonable default position rather than from scratch, thereby improving configuration accuracy while minimizing total configuration time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4104115B1Eliciting preferences for passenger traffic group control
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 KONE OYJ
  • EP4104115B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4104115B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4104115B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Various example embodiments relate to control of passenger traffic group systems. In particular, some example embodiments relate to eliciting user preferences for call allocations for the passenger traffic group system. At least one user preference may be considered when determining a set of candidate control parameters for the passenger traffic group system. Furthermore, at least one representative of the operation of the passenger traffic group system may be displayed to the user based on a simulation of the passenger traffic group system. The user may be enable to accept the candidate control parameters or modify the user preferences to generate a further set of candidate control parameters. Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs are disclosed.