Patent Application
20060065490
This invention generally relates to elevator systems. More particularly, this invention relates to making elevator car assignments in a destination entry elevator dispatching system.
Elevator systems are in widespread use throughout the world. Various system configurations and strategies are known for controlling passenger traffic and efficiently operating an elevator system.
Traditionally, hall call buttons allowed passengers to place a call to go up or down within a building and then to select a destination floor from a car operating panel located within an elevator car. While such arrangements are useful for many situations, elevator systems within larger buildings that handle more traffic volume have been shown to benefit from other control techniques. One example technique is known as destination entry.
In a destination entry system, a passenger provides a desired destination using a destination entry device outside of an elevator car. A controller then uses known techniques for assigning that passenger's travel to a particular elevator car. The destination entry device typically is located a fixed distance from the location of the elevator car. Various techniques for directing passengers to the appropriate car are known.
More recently, destination entry systems have been proposed that include prestored destinations that are communicated to the elevator system controller in an at least somewhat automated fashion. For example, it has been proposed to provide an individual with a building access card that they use to enter or access a building space. That card may include a prestored, preferred destination that is communicated to the elevator system controller when the individual uses the card to gain access to the building space. Such arrangements can increase the efficiency of handling traffic into a building space and onto an elevator system.
One shortcoming associated with such an arrangement is that traveling to a different floor other than the prestored destination requires an individual to locate the elevator group serving the appropriate floor and then use a destination entry device at that location to enter a request different than the prestored request. Under such circumstances, that individual does not benefit from the efficiencies otherwise available from that system. Moreover, the elevator system does not operate as efficiently because a car is needlessly dispatched to service the undesired, prestored destination.
There is a need for an arrangement that addresses a situation where an individual desires to travel to a floor other than a prestored, primary destination floor. It would be beneficial to have such an arrangement that can be seamlessly integrated into a building access (i.e., security) system. This invention addresses those needs.
An exemplary disclosed system for managing elevator traffic includes a controller that responds to a destination request that includes a preset, primary destination. The controller overrides the primary destination request responsive to a secondary destination request.
In one example, the controller receives the destination request from a device that reads a building access card, for example. That device also provides an indication to the controller of the preset, primary destination. In that example, the control of the elevator system can be seamlessly integrated with the building access or security system.
In one example, an interface allows a passenger to select a secondary destination. The controller assigns a car responsive to the secondary destination request in place of assigning a car to the primary destination request. In one example, the interface is located in the immediate vicinity of the building access device that includes the receiver of the preset, primary destination request. In one example, the interface that allows the passenger to place the secondary destination request is located near the exit of a turnstile that provides an individual access to the building space.
In one example, the controller continues to monitor for an override destination request until an assigned car is dispatched to the appropriate level for a passenger to board the elevator. When an override request is received, the controller cancels the earlier car assignment and makes a car assignment appropriately responsive to the later-entered request.
The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
The input receiver device 26 also receives an indication of a preset, primary destination to which the individual will be carried by the elevator system 20. The input receiver device functions as a destination entry device that does not require manual input from any individual to identify their desired destination. The example arrangement facilitates seamless integration of a building access system and a destination entry elevator dispatching system.
A controller 28 receives the automated destination request and eventually assigns an elevator car to service that request. In the example of
It is possible that one or more individuals on any given day will prefer to travel to a building level or destination that is different than the preset, primary destination associated with their building access card. The illustrated arrangement accommodates such a situation by allowing an individual to make a modification to the destination request in an efficient manner. A passenger interface 40 preferably is positioned near the building access device 24. In one example, the passenger interface 40 is near the exit from a turnstile that provides entrance to the building space. The passenger interface 40 allows an individual to override the primary, prestored destination so that the controller 28 assigns a car to carry them to a different destination. In the example of
In one example, an individual's access card will include identification information. A database relates the identification information to the primary, prestored destination and a plurality of authorized secondary destinations. In such an example, the display 42 shows options for the primary destination, the secondary destinations or both. In some examples, the primary destination is always displayed to provide the individual with confirmation that their automated destination request was entered.
In another example, multiple primary destinations may be prestored and the individual may need to use the passenger interface 40 to select one of those so that the controller 28 knows which destination is the desired destination. In such an example, at least one of the primary destinations is set as a default destination in the event that the individual cannot or does not enter a choice on the passenger interface 40.
In one example where a plurality of primary destinations are prestored, the passenger interface 40 displays each of them in a manner that is recognizable by the individual. For example, different floor numbers may be presented. In some situations, for security reasons, the alternatives available to that individual may be labeled in a manner that is recognized by that individual but would not necessarily be understood by somebody else who could see the display screen 42 of the interface 40.
In another example, hot buttons are presented on the display screen 42 for popular alternative destinations such as a building cafeteria or exercise facility.
In another example, the passenger interface 40 comprises a display and does not receive passenger input. The interfaces 40′, which may be located on destination entry kiosks, allow an individual to use the same building access card to place an override request. This example arrangement may be most useful, for example, in buildings where the distance between the building access device 24 and the entrances to the elevator cars is relatively short. One advantage to such an arrangement is that the passenger interface 40 may be less expensive than one that allows for passenger input at that location.
One example controller 28 waits a preselected time (five seconds in one example) for an individual to enter a secondary or overriding destination request using the passenger interface 40. If that time expires without the individual making such a request, the controller 28 proceeds with assigning a car to service the preset, primary destination. If an individual enters a secondary destination request, the controller 28 assigns a car to service that request.
In one example, the controller 28 does not make the car assignment until after a preselected time period that allows an individual to make a secondary request has expired. In another example, the controller 28 assigns a car to travel to the primary, prestored destination responsive to receipt of the initial request at the device 26 and there is no preset waiting time to watch for a secondary destination request.
The controller 28 also monitors for an override request that a passenger would enter using the interface 40 or another passenger interface 40′, which in the illustrated example is located near the entrances to the elevator cars. The dashed line 46 schematically illustrates a fixed distance between the building access device and the entrances to the elevator cars. The illustrated example provides an individual the ability to override a primary destination request immediately after passing through the building access device 24 or at a later time when near an elevator group. In either event, the controller 28 acknowledges the override request by making an appropriate car assignment.
At 58, the controller causes the interface 40 to display the primary destination from the received request and to display any prestored other options such as secondary options or alternative primary destinations.
The controller 28 waits a preselected time to see whether an individual will place a request different than the prestored, primary destination of the automated request at 60. If no secondary request is made, then the controller 28 assigns a car to travel to the prestored, primary destination at 62. In the example of
At 64, the controller 28 assigns an elevator car to travel to a secondary destination if one is selected.
After making the appropriate car assignment, the controller 28 in this example continues to monitor for an override request at 66. In one example, this process continues after making a car assignment until the assigned car arrives at the appropriate level to allow the passenger to board the elevator car. In one example, an override request is recognized by the controller 28 only when the same building access device (i.e., an access card) provides an identification of the individual so that the request can be correlated with a previous request made by that individual whether automated, by manual override or selection of a secondary destination. When an override request is made, the controller 28 cancels the existing destination request and the associated car assignment at 70. A new car assignment is made at 72.
The disclosed arrangement allows an individual to make an initial destination request for an elevator system to use destination entry dispatching techniques in a manner that can be seamlessly integrated into a building access or security system. The disclosed arrangement also handles alternative selections made by an individual or override selections while still maintaining the seamless integration feature.
Another advantage to the disclosed arrangement is that it eliminates unnecessary car dispatches by assigning an elevator car to travel to a destination responsive to an individual's daily preferences even though an automated preset, primary destination entry occurs upon an individual entering a building, for example. The disclosed example may operate in parallel with a destination entry system that receives requests in a known manner from destination entry devices near an elevator entrance, for example.
The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
