METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATORS

• US 20090020370A1
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory Jensen, Waters, Timothy Moffett, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Dawson, Christopher James
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/247
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/468 Call registering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4661 for priority users
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

An elevator control method and system. The system comprises a control unit and a memory unit. The memory unit comprises user data segments associated with users for elevators within the system and transponder identification data segments associated with transponders. The method comprises receiving by the control unit, ID signals from the transponders. The control unit associates the user data segments with the ID signals and determines priority levels for the users.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an elevator control unit within an elevator system, user data segments associated with users for elevators within said elevator system, each user data segment of said user data segments associated with a different user of said users, said elevator system comprising a memory unit;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, transponder identification data segments associated with a plurality of transponders, each transponder identification data segment of said transponder identification data segments associated with a different transponder of said plurality of transponders, each transponder of said plurality of transponders associated with and possessed by a different user of said users;

storing said user data segments and said transponder identification data segments in said memory unit;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a first identification signal from a first transponder of said plurality of transponders, said first transponder possessed by a first user of said users;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a second identification signal from a second transponder of said plurality of transponders, said second transponder possessed by a second user of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said first identification signal, a first user data segment of said user data segments stored in said memory unit, said first user data segment associated with said first user;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said second identification signal, a second user data segment of said user data segments stored in said memory unit, said second user data segment associated said second user;

determining, by said elevator control unit, a first priority level for said first user based on said first user data segment; and

determining, by said elevator control unit, a second priority level for said second user based on said second user data segment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said elevator system comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location;

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a second location in accordance with said first priority level;

sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said first location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a third location in accordance with said second priority level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said elevator system comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver, a plurality of identification signals from a group of transponders of said plurality of transponders, said group of transponders possessed by a plurality of users of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver in response to said plurality of identification signals, a plurality of user data segments of said user data segments in said memory unit, said plurality of user data segments associated with said plurality of users; and

sending, by said elevator control unit, a specified number of said elevators to said first location, said specified number based on the number of users comprising said plurality of users.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said specified number of said elevators is two elevators, and wherein said method further comprises:

transporting, by a first elevator of said two elevators, said first user and a first group of said plurality of users to a second location in accordance with said first user data segment and said user data segments associated with said first group; and

transporting, by a second elevator of said two elevators, said second user and a second group of said plurality of users to a third location in accordance with said second user data segment and said user data segments associated with said second group.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first user and a first group in combination comprises a first number of users, wherein a fourth location comprises a third group of said plurality of users, wherein said third group comprises a second number of users, wherein said first number of users in combination with said second number of users exceeds a maximum specified number of users for said first elevator, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said elevator control unit, a group of user data segments of said user data segments, said group of user data segments associated with said third group of said plurality of users; and

skipping, by said first elevator, said fourth location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said elevator system comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is located at a first location, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said second identification signal comprises receiving through a second transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said second transceiver is located at a second location, wherein said first location is different from said second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

comparing, by said elevator control unit, said first priority level to said second priority level to determine that said first priority level comprises a higher priority level than said second priority level; and

first sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location based on said comparing; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a third location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, said first elevator to said second location; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said second location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of transponders comprises an RFID tag.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said transponder identification data segments comprises a serial number for a different RFID tag of said RFID tags.

11. An elevator control system comprising an elevator control unit, said elevator control unit comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the processor implement an elevator control method, said method comprising:

receiving, by said elevator control unit, user data segments associated with users for elevators within said elevator system, each user data segment of said user data segments associated with a different user of said users;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, transponder identification data segments associated with a plurality of transponders, each transponder identification data segment of said transponder identification data segments associated with a different transponder of said plurality of transponders, each transponder of said plurality of transponders associated with and possessed by a different user of said users;

storing said user data segments and said transponder identification data segments on said computer-readable memory unit;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a first identification signal from a first transponder of said plurality of transponders, said first transponder possessed by a first user of said users;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a second identification signal from a second transponder of said plurality of transponders, said second transponder possessed by a second user of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said first identification signal, a first user data segment of said user data segments in said memory unit, said first user data segment associated with said first user;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said second identification signal, a second user data segment of said user data segments in said memory unit, said second user data segment associated said second user;

determining, by said elevator control unit, a first priority level for said first user based on said first user data segment; and

determining, by said elevator control unit, a second priority level for said second user based on said second user data segment.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location;

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a second location in accordance with said first priority level;

sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said first location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a third location in accordance with said second priority level.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver, a plurality of identification signals from a group of transponders of said plurality of transponders, said group of transponders possessed by a plurality of users of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver in response to said plurality of identification signals, a plurality of user data segments of said user data segments in said memory unit, said plurality of user data segments associated with said plurality of users; and

sending, by said elevator control unit, a specified number of said elevators to said first location, said specified number based on the number of users comprising said plurality of users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said specified number of said elevators is two elevators, and wherein said method further comprises:

transporting, by a first elevator of said two elevators, said first user and a first group of said plurality of users to a second location in accordance with said first user data segment and said user data segments associated with said first group; and

transporting, by a second elevator of said two elevators, said second user and a second group of said plurality of users to a third location in accordance with said second user data segment and said user data segments associated with said second group.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first user and a first group in combination comprises a first number of users, wherein a fourth location comprises a third group of said plurality of users, wherein said third group comprises a second number of users, wherein said first number of users in combination with said second number of users exceeds a specified maximum number of users for said first elevator, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said elevator control unit, a group of user data segments of said user data segments, said group of user data segments associated with said third group of said plurality of users; and

skipping, by said first elevator, said fourth location.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is located at a first location, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said second identification signal comprises receiving through a second transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said second transceiver is located a second location, wherein said first location is different from said second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

comparing, by said elevator control unit, said first priority level to said second priority level to determine that said first priority level comprises a higher priority level than said second priority level; and

first sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location based on said comparing; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a third location.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, said first elevator to said second location; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said second location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of transponders comprises an RFID tag.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of said transponder identification data segments comprises a serial number for a different RFID tag of said RFID tags.

21. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code comprising an algorithm adapted to implement an elevator control method within an elevator control system comprising an elevator control unit, said method comprising:

receiving, by said elevator control unit, user data segments associated with users for elevators within said elevator system, each user data segment of said user data segments associated with a different user of said users;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, transponder identification data segments associated with a plurality of transponders, each transponder identification data segment of said transponder identification data segments associated with a different transponder of said plurality of transponders, each transponder of said plurality of transponders associated with and possessed by a different user of said users;

storing said user data segments and said transponder identification data segments in said computer-readable memory unit;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a first identification signal from a first transponder of said plurality of transponders, said first transponder possessed by a first user of said users;

receiving, by said elevator control unit, a second identification signal from a second transponder of said plurality of transponders, said second transponder possessed by a second user of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said first identification signal, a first user data segment of said user data segments in said computer-readable memory unit, said first user data segment associated with said first user;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit in response to said second identification signal, a second user data segment of said user data segments in said computer-readable memory unit, said second user data segment associated said second user;

determining, by said elevator control unit, a first priority level for said first user based on said first user data segment; and

determining, by said elevator control unit, a second priority level for said second user based on said second user data segment.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said elevator control system further comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location;

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a second location in accordance with said first priority level;

sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said first location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a third location in accordance with said second priority level.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said elevator control system further comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein each of said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal and said second identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is at a first location, and wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver, a plurality of identification signals from a group of transponders of said plurality of transponders, said group of transponders possessed by a plurality of users of said users;

retrieving, by said elevator control unit through said first transceiver in response to said plurality of identification signals, a plurality of user data segments of said user data segments in said computer-readable memory unit, said plurality of user data segments associated with said plurality of users; and

sending, by said elevator control unit, a specified number of said elevators to said first location, said specified number based on the number of users comprising said plurality of users.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein said specified number of said elevators is two elevators, and wherein said method further comprises:

transporting, by a first elevator of said two elevators, said first user and a first group of said plurality of users to a second location in accordance with said first user data segment and said user data segments associated with said first group; and

transporting, by a second elevator of said two elevators, said second user and a second group of said plurality of users to a third location in accordance with said second user data segment and said user data segments associated with said second group.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said first user and a first group in combination comprises a first number of users, wherein a fourth location comprises a third group of said plurality of users, wherein said third group comprises a second number of users, wherein said first number of users in combination with said second number of users exceeds a specified maximum number of users for said first elevator, and wherein said method further comprises:

retrieving, by said elevator control unit, a group of user data segments of said user data segments, said group of user data segments associated with said third group of said plurality of users; and

skipping, by said first elevator, said fourth location.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein said elevator control system further comprises a plurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver of said plurality of transceivers is electrically connected to said elevator control unit, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said first identification signal comprises receiving through a first transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said first transceiver is located at a first location, wherein said receiving by said elevator control unit said second identification signal comprises receiving through a second transceiver of said plurality of transceivers, wherein said second transceiver is located a second location, wherein said first location is different from said second location, and wherein said method further comprises:

comparing, by said elevator control unit, said first priority level to said second priority level to determine that said first priority level comprises a higher priority level than said second priority level; and

first sending, by said elevator control unit, a first elevator of said elevators to said first location based on said comparing; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said first user to a third location.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, said first elevator to said second location; and

transporting, by said first elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein said method further comprises:

second sending after said first sending, by said elevator control unit, a second elevator of said elevators to said second location; and

transporting, by said second elevator, said second user to a fourth location.

29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of transponders comprises an RFID tag.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein each of said transponder identification data segments comprises a serial number for a different RFID tag of said RFID tags.