Procedure for controlling an elevator group where virtual passenger traffic is generated

• US 6,345,697 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: Siikonen, Marja-Liisa
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/547,054
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 187/380, 187/382, 187/323, 187/386, 187/387, 187/391, 187/392, 187/247
• US Class Current: 187/382
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2458 For elevator systems with multiple shafts and a single car per shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/102 Up or down call input
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/211 Waiting time, i.e. response time
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/222 Taking into account the number of passengers present in the elevator car to be allocated
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/233 Periodic re-allocation of call inputs
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/235 Taking into account predicted future events, e.g. predicted future call inputs
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/402 by historical, statistical or predicted traffic data, e.g. by learning

Abstract

As elevator group including at least two elevator cars is controlled using a group control unit which allocates the calls to different elevators. Based on statistical data and/or statistical forecasts, virtual passenger traffic is generated and used in a simulation that creates events in the virtual passenger traffic, on the basis of which an elevator-specific cost is computed for each call to be allocated. Based on the costs, the best elevator is selected to serve the call. This allocation of a best elevator to answer a specific landing call may be reallocated as the simulation is updated to update the best elevator to answer a specific floor call.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an elevator group including two or more elevators driven by hoisting machines and collectively controlled by a group control that adaptively assigns elevators to calls comprising:

a) receiving a new landing call;

b) simulating probable future landing calls responsive to activating the new landing call;

c) allocating the probable future landing calls to the elevator group on the basis of the simulation of step b); and

d) reallocating the elevator group to one or more old calls based on the simulation if a time period for reserving the one or more old calls has not been exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (c) of allocating generates a statistical simulation of virtual passenger traffic generated on the basis of distribution and intensity of the passenger traffic prevailing at the moment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (c) of allocating generates the statistical simulation including calls, car commands, elevator states and elevator movements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, said simulation further includes that, passengers are generated for different floors in proportion to the arrival intensities and distributions, car commands are generated in accordance with probable intensities of passengers leaving the elevators, an arrival time, arrival floor and destination floor are assigned for each simulated person, the simulated persons give simulated landing calls and car commands, and elevator traffic is simulated according to the next stopping floor used in the simulation, selected by the control system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein for each new landing call is registered in said step (a), simulation is immediately carried out in said step (b) for different elevators and the call is allocated to the one that gives minimum costs.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the allocation is determined on the basis of computed elevator-specific cost for the call including a predicted cost of serving the new landing call and an additional cost due to the virtual traffic.

7. The method of claim 1 further including performing simulation and call reallocation even for old calls that are only going to be served after a certain length of time (T_Lim), and performing simulation of future operation regarding these calls using even calls that, one mode subsequent to a call assignment have to a elevator of said group.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said simulation in said step b) is also based on forecast landing destinations.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step c) of allocating assigns the best car to answer all of the received elevator calls so that said group control produces a reduced average time between elevator call and delivery to destination floor.