Automatic destination entry system with override capability

• US 7,353,915 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Pulling, Richard K. Jr., Meguerdichian, Gary, Stranieri, Paul, Zaharia, Vlad, Mangini, Richard, Montague, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Salata; Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US10/951,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20060065490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 187380-388, 187391-396
• US Class Current: 187/388
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/468 Call registering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4615 Wherein the destination is registered before boarding
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4676 for checking authorization of the passengers

Abstract

An elevator system (20) utilizes destination entry dispatching techniques. A controller (28) receives an automated destination request that includes a prestored, primary destination. This allows for seamlessly integrating building access and destination entry for the elevator system. A passenger interface (40) allows a passenger to override a prestored destination. The elevator controller (28) allows for override or secondary destination requests to be made at various intervals between receipt of the initial request and arrival of an initially assigned car at an appropriate level to let the passenger board the elevator car.

Claims

1. A system for managing elevator traffic, comprising:

a building access device that allows an individual to gain access to a building space;

an input receiver device associated with the building access device for receiving credential verification to allow an individual to access the building space and for receiving an indication of a preset, primary destination;

a passenger interface positioned near the building access device; and

a controller that is responsive to the destination request that includes the preset, primary destination, the controller assigns an elevator car to travel to a secondary destination responsive to a secondary destination selection made at the passenger interface, the controller otherwise assigns a car to travel to the primary destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger interface provides an indication of the primary destination from the destination request.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of primary destinations, the interface indicates the plurality of primary destinations and the controller assigns the car to travel to a selected one of the indicated primary destinations responsive to a selection made by an individual.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the destination request includes at least one preset, secondary destination, the interface provides an indication of the secondary destination and the controller assigns the car to travel to a selected one of the primary destination or the secondary destination.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the input receiving device receives identification information associated with the destination request that includes the preset, primary destination, the input receiving device being positioned to be encountered by an elevator passenger prior to the passenger encountering the passenger interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input receiving device is integrated with the building access device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger interface is positioned in the vicinity of the initial input receiving device and remotely from the elevator car and including at least one other interface positioned in the vicinity of the elevator car, the controller being responsive to a destination request made at either one of the interfaces.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller associates the destination request with a passenger identifier and the controller requires an indication of the passenger identifier at the passenger interface to change the car assignment or the destination.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller makes an initial car assignment to travel to the primary destination responsive to the destination request and then overrides the initial car assignment responsive to a destination request made subsequent to the initial car assignment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the input receiver device is supported on the building access device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger interface is positioned near an exit from the building access device.