AU2021477279A1 - Management of passenger flow with elevator system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling crowding in a transfer floor (TF) with an elevator system (1000), the elevator system (1000) comprising a first group of elevators (110) providing shuttle service and a second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) serving a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor (TF), the method, performed by a control apparatus (150), comprising: determining (210) data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF); comparing (220) the determined data to reference data; and generating (240), upon a detection (230) based on the comparison that the transfer floor (TF) is getting crowded, a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of groups of elevators to request a service to the transfer floor (TF). The invention also relates to a control apparatus (150), and elevator system (1000), and a computer program.

Description

MANAGEMENT OF PASSENGER FLOW WITH ELEVATOR SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of elevator systems. More particularly, the invention concerns controlling of elevator systems to optimize passenger flow.

BACKGROUND

Buildings normally have a lobby at ground level or near the ground, and typically all elevators of all elevator groups have a landing door at the lobby level, for the passengers to enter the elevators. An entrance of the building also exists typically at the ground lobby and, hence, users of the elevator system enters to and exist from the building from the lobby ground. Sometimes, there are arranged several ground floors, or lobbies, to the building so as to enabling the visitors, such as tenants, to enter and exit the building from a plurality of ground floors.

Tall buildings, such as skyscrapers, are typically divided in sections stacked on top of each other when considering the building from an elevator system point of view. The different sections are served by the elevator system so that each section may comprise so-called transfer floor, or a transfer lobby or a sky lobby, so that so-called shuttle elevators may operate between the ground lobby and the transfer floors. In other words, the shuttle elevators are not allowed to stop at any other floors, but the other floors in each section are served by a number of sections-specific local elevators configured to serve the respective section. In other words, the local elevators may travel to each floor in the section in question so as to enable the passengers to access any floor by using a combination of the shuttle elevator and the local elevator wherein the change of the elevators occurs at the transfer floor. With this division to shuttle elevators and local elevators better overall traffic performance is achieved, but passengers need to change from an elevator to another elevator during their journey if it is a long journey.

The change from a shuttle elevator to a local elevator, or vice versa, requires some walking in the transfer lobby because the shuttle elevators and the local elevators are typically placed in separate areas in the transfer lobby. A typical implementation is that the shuttle elevators are in a group which is often placed in a separate hall and the local elevators are also in groups which are in another hall(s). The halls are often connected with corridors. However, in some implementations the transfer lobby can be one large hall containing both shuttle group and local groups. Also in that case, some horizontal movement is required, usually walking, from the passengers.

Due to the described environment it may occur that especially the transfer floors get crowded since the operate as traffic nodes in the buildings. Hence, there is a need to introduce solutions allowing to control crowding of the transfer floors i.e. to control how many passengers reside at the same time in the transfer floor.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.

An object of the invention is to present a method, a control apparatus, an elevator system, and a computer program for controlling crowding at a floor of a building. The objects of the invention are reached by a method, a control apparatus, an elevator system, and a computer program as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, a method for controlling crowding in a transfer floor with an elevator system is provided, the elevator system comprising a first group of elevators configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor and a second group of elevators configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor with an elevator of the second group of elevators, the method, performed by a control apparatus, comprising: determining data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor, comparing the determined data to reference data, and generating, upon a detection based on the comparison that the transfer floor is getting crowded, a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of groups of elevators to request a service to the transfer floor.

A determination of data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor may be performed on a basis of received service calls from one of the groups of elevators, the received service calls from the one of the groups of elevators define the transfer floor as a destination.

For example, the data indicative of passenger flow may be determined at least by one of: based on service calls received from each passenger through a user interface of the elevator system; estimating a number of passengers based on a measurement solution implemented in elevator cars.

The control signal may further comprise a first definition to cause the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor to be set in an enhanced service mode. For example, the enhanced service mode may comprise at least one of the following operations: increase a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the one group from a landing and increasing a deceleration of the elevator cars the one group to the landing; allowing an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the one group to start earlier; increasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the one group and increasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the one group; decreasing an allowable waiting time at least in the transfer floor in the elevator system.

Also, the control signal may further comprise a second definition to cause another group than the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor to be set in a reduced service mode. For example, the reduced service mode may comprise at least one of the following operations: decrease a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the elevator other group; decreasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the elevator other group from a landing and decreasing a deceleration of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to the landing; disabling an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to start earlier; decreasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group and decreasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group; decreasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the other elevator group; increasing an allowable waiting time at least in floors served by the other elevator group.

Additionally, the method may further comprise: detecting a passenger flow in the transfer floor with at least one sensor arrangement, generating, in response to a detection that the passenger flow is from the other elevator group to the one group requested to provide the service to the transfer floor, a control signal to an elevator arrived at the transfer floor to cause opening of elevator doors of the respective elevator. The data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor may be determined from the second group of elevators and the service to the transfer floor is requested from the first group of elevators.

According to a second aspect, a control apparatus for controlling crowding in a transfer floor with an elevator system is provided, the elevator system comprising a first group of elevators configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor and a second group of elevators configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor with an elevator of the second group of elevators, the control apparatus is configured to: determine data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor, compare the determined data to reference data, and generate, upon a detection based on the comparison that the transfer floor is getting crowded, a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of groups of elevators to request a service to the transfer floor.

The control apparatus may be configured to perform a determination of data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor on a basis of received service calls from one of the groups of elevators, the received service calls from the one of the groups of elevators define the transfer floor as a destination.

For example, the control apparatus may be configured to determine the data indicative of passenger flow at least by one of: based on service calls received from each passenger through a user interface of the elevator system; estimating a number of passengers based on a measurement solution implemented in elevator cars.

The control apparatus may be configured to generate the control signal so that it further comprises a first definition to cause the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor to be set in an enhanced service mode. For example, the control apparatus may be configured to cause at least one of the following operations in the enhanced service mode: increase a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the one group from a landing and increasing a deceleration of the elevator cars the one group to the landing; allowing an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the one group to start earlier; increasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the one group and increasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the one group; decreasing an allowable waiting time at least in the transfer floor in the elevator system.

Also, the control apparatus may be configured to generate the control signal so that it further comprises a second definition to cause another group than the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor to be set in a reduced service mode. For example, the control apparatus may be configured to cause at least one of the following operations in the reduced service mode: decrease a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the elevator other group; decreasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the elevator other group from a landing and decreasing a deceleration of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to the landing; disabling an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to start earlier; decreasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group and decreasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group; decreasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the other elevator group; increasing an allowable waiting time at least in floors served by the other elevator group.

The control apparatus may further be configured to: detect a passenger flow in the transfer floor with at least one sensor arrangement, generate, in response to a detection that the passenger flow is from the other elevator group to the one group requested to provide the service to the transfer floor, a control signal to an elevator arrived at the transfer floor to cause opening of elevator doors of the respective elevator.

The control apparatus may also be configured to determine the data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor from the second group of elevators and to request the service to the transfer floor from the first group of elevators.

According to a third aspect, an elevator system for controlling crowding in a transfer floor with an elevator system is provided, the elevator system comprising: a first group of elevators configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor, a second group of elevators configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor with an elevator of the second group of elevators, and a control apparatus according to the second aspect as defined above.

According to a fourth aspect, a computer program is provided, the computer program comprising computer readable program code configured to cause performing of the method according to the first aspect as defined above when the computer readable program code is run on one or more computing apparatuses.

The expression "a number of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from one, e.g. to one, two, or three.

The expression "a plurality of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from two, e.g. to two, three, or four.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an elevator system according to an example.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a method according to an example.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a sensor arrangement in a transfer floor according to an example.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a control apparatus according to an example

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an example of an elevator system 1000 suitable for implementing the present invention as described in the forthcoming description. The elevator system 1000 may be implemented in a tall building 160, such as in a skyscraper, as a non-limiting example. From the conveyor system point of view the building may be divided to a plurality of sections referred with A, B, and C in Figure 1 . Serve of the sections A, B, C with the elevator system 1000 may advantageously be implemented so that a first group of elevators 1 10 is arranged to provide so-called shuttle service to the sections A, B, C which means that the shuttle elevators are arranged to carry passengers between the sections A, B, C in such a manner that the shuttle elevators do not stop at every floor in the respective sections A, B, C. In other words, their task is to carry the passengers to the sections A, B, C but they do not offer a full elevator service inside the sections A, B, C. For example, the shuttle elevators belonging to the first group of elevators 1 10 may e.g. arranged to stop at only one floor in each sections A, B, C which in the implementation according to Figure 1 is the bottom floor at each of the sections. The number of the shuttle elevators belonging to the first group of elevators may be one or more preferably adjusted in accordance with the size of the building 160 as well as with a number of passengers, or visitors, in the building 160. In addition to the first group of elevators 1 10 the elevator system 1000 may comprise a number of second group of elevators, aka. elevator sub-groups, referred with 120, 130, and 140 in Figure 1. As derivable from above the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140 may be understood to comprise a number of elevators arranged to serve the floors of the section A, B, C into which the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140 is implemented to, and at least some of the floors are such that the first group of elevators does not provide service to them. For example, in the implementation according to Figure 1 the first section A is served with the second group of elevators referred with 120, the second section B is served with the second group of elevators referred with 130 and the third section C is served with the second group of elevators referred with 140. Each of the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140 may comprise one or more elevators arranged to serve the floors belonging to the respective section A, B, C the second group of elevator 120, 130, 140 is arranged to serve. As depicted in Figure 1 each of the elevator belonging to any group of elevators may comprise at least one elevator car 100 arranged to travel in an elevator shaft so as to carry the passengers to the floors of the building 160. As an example of using the elevator system 1000 as described a passenger willing to travel to a certain floor e.g. in the section C of the building 160, the passenger when entering the building 160 in a ground floor GF first calls an elevator belonging to the first group of elevators 1 10 so as to arrive at a transfer floor TF in the section C and then takes an elevator from the second group of elevators 140 of the section C in order to travel to the floor being a final destination. Similarly, when the passenger wants to travel to a certain floor in the section B, she/he uses the respective transfer floor TF in the section B. Contrary to above if the person is willing to travel a certain floor in the section A, she/he directly takes an elevator belonging to the second group of elevators 120 arranged to serve the section A from the ground floor GF.

The operation of the elevator system 1000 may be controlled by a group control apparatus 150 of the elevator system 1000 at least in part. The group control apparatus 150 may at least be configured to generate control signals by means of which an operation of the elevators belonging to the mentioned groups of elevators may be controlled in a way as described in the forthcoming description. For example, the control signals generated by the group control apparatus 150 may directly be conveyed to an elevator drive system of the elevator under controlling or the control signals may be conveyed to a controller of the respective elevator, or to a controller of the respective elevator group, so as to cause the respective controller in accordance with the data generated by the group control apparatus 150 to generate further control signals to the drive system of the respective elevator. In other words, the group control apparatus 150 and the other controllers form a control system wherein the group control apparatus 150 may be considered to operate as a master device and the other controllers are slave devices to the master device.

Next, at least some aspects of the present invention are described by referring to Figure 2 schematically illustrating a method for controlling crowding in a transfer floor TF of the elevator system 1000 wherein the elevator system 1000 comprises a first group of elevators 1 10 configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor and a second group of elevators 120, 139, 140 configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor TF. The transfer floor TF shall be understood as a floor in which users of the elevator system 1000 may change from the first group of elevators 1 10 to the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140, and vice versa. The method is described from a perspective of a control apparatus, such as from the perspective of the group control apparatus 150.

First, the group control apparatus 150 is arranged to receive input data indicative of passengers arriving at a transfer floor TF with one or more elevators belonging to the first group of elevators 1 10 and the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140. The data indicative of the passengers may be determined in various ways. In accordance with one exemplifying approach the data may be received from each of the elevators belonging to the respective group of elevators 120, 130, 140 configured to carry passengers to and from the respective transfer floor TF wherein the input data is derived based on destination calls of the respective elevators, i.e. if the elevators in question have received service calls having a destination in the transfer floor TF. This kind of approach is especially suitable if each passenger requesting service from the elevators in question provides the destination call individually through any available user interface of the elevator system 1000, i.e. each passenger indicates, e.g. by using her/his mobile terminal device or an operating panel of the elevator system accessible through an identification or any similar, the destination of her/his travel. By combining these pieces of information together, e.g. by summing up the pieces of information together, the group control apparatus 150 determines data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor TF. In some other implementation, and especially if it is not possible to receive individual calls, the data indicative of the passengers arriving at the transfer floor TF may be determined based on any calls given e.g. through a car operating panel in which the destination is the transfer floor TF. In order to improve an accuracy of this kind of approach a measurement solution may be implemented e.g. in elevator cars 100 in order to determine an amount of passengers in the car traveling to the transfer floor TF. Such a measurement solution may e.g. be based on a weight measurement of the load carried by the respective elevator cars 100 or on an image capturing based solution in which an image is captured inside the elevator car 100 and sophisticated pattern recognition technologies may be applied to the image data to determine a number of passengers in the respective elevator cars 100. Advantageously, such measurements are performed when it is recognized that the next floor at which the elevator car 100 is instructed to stop is the transfer floor TF because then it can be confirmed the number of passengers arriving at the transfer floor TF per each of the elevators belonging to the first group of elevators 1 10 and the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140. In other words, the data being indicative of the passenger flow to the transfer floor TF may be considered as a hint, or as a forecast, of a forthcoming situation in the transfer floor TF when the elevator(s) belonging to the mentioned groups of elevators 1 10, 120, 130, 140 associated to the transfer floor TF in question bring the passengers to the transfer floor TF in question.

Next, as the group control apparatus 150 has determined 210 the data, such as one or more values, indicative of the passenger flow to the transfer floor TF the group control apparatus 150 may be configured to process it further in order to implement the method according to the present invention. As described the data, or information, indicative of the passenger flow may be a value descriptive of the number of passengers arriving at the transfer floor TF, or any similar value. In response to having determined 210 the data the group control apparatus 150 may be arranged to perform a comparison 220 between the data indicative of the passenger flow to the transfer floor TF and a reference data. The reference data is advantageously defined so that it describes the same parameter as the data indicative of the passenger flow and in the same terms. For example, if the data indicative of the passenger flow is a number or persons arriving at the transfer floor TF with the elevators belonging to the first and the second group of elevators, the reference data is expressed as a number of persons in the transfer floor TF. The reference data is defined so that it expresses an applicable limit to decide if the transfer floor TF gets crowded or not. The reference data, i.e. the data value(s), may be stored in data storage accessible to the group control apparatus 150 wherefrom the group control apparatus 150 may inquire the reference data for the comparison 220.

Upon the comparison 220 is made the group control apparatus 150 is configured to perform a detection based on a comparison result if the transfer floor TF is getting crowded or not. The detection step is referred with 230 in Figure 2. For example, if the comparison result expresses that the data indicative of the passenger flow exceeds the reference data, it may be considered as an indication that the transfer floor TF gets crowded more than is acceptable. On the other hand, if the detection result expresses that the data indicative of the passenger flow is below the reference data, it may be judged that the situation remains acceptable at the transfer floor TF in terms of passenger flow. If the compared values are equal, it may be arranged that the detection result is one of the mentioned alternatives.

In case the detection result indicates that the transfer floor TF is not getting crowded even if the passengers are carried to the floor with the elevators the process may be continued by monitoring the passenger flow situation in the described manner. On the other hand, if the detection result indicates that the transfer floor TF is getting crowded on the basis an analysis of the detection result of the comparison 220, the group control apparatus 150 is configured to generate 240 a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of the groups of elevators, i.e. either the first group of elevators 1 10 or to the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140 to serve the transfer floor TF on which the detection of the overcrowding is made. In other words, the aim of the operation achieved with the generation of the control signal is that one or more elevators belonging to either group of elevators 110 are instructed to travel to the crowded transfer floor TF so as to reduce the overcrowding by serving the passengers in the transfer floor TF in effective manner. As a result at least some of the passengers, and visitors of the building, are carried away from the transfer floor TF to other transfers floors TF or to the ground floor GF which may be considered as a special case of the transfer floor TF.

The selection of the group into which the control signal is generated may be dependent on one or more predetermined criteria. For example, the control apparatus 150 may be configured to determine service situation in both groups and select an elevator from a group whose service situation is lower which corresponds to that there is more resources available to serve the transfer floor TF for the time being. Such information may e.g. be derived from pending service calls per the group and in some implementations an availability to provide service is derived by comparing the pending service calls to resources of the respective groups so as to generate a comparative value for the selection of the elevator group 1 10, 120, 130, 140 and at least one elevator therein. In some other embodiments the control signal is always given primarily to the first group of elevators 1 10 and this is because it may be assumed that passengers entering to the transfer floor TF at the higher floors intend to exit the building 160, and in order to reduce the crowding in the building 160 and in the specific transfer floor TF it is important to guarantee that passenger flow outwards from the building 160 is arranged in an efficient way.

Moreover, the control apparatus 150 may be configured to increase passenger flow away from the transfer floor TF in question in various further ways by enhancing a number of operations of the respective elevator group 110, 120, 130, 140 by setting the elevator group selected to carry the passengers away from the transfer floor TF to an enhanced service mode with a control signal, which may be the same as the one generated to request the service to the transfer floor TF or a separate control signal to that. In other words, the respective control signal may comprise a definition, called as a first definition, which may be a piece of data indicating that the enhanced service mode is needed from the one group of elevators in question. In the enhanced service mode various approaches may be implemented. Such approaches may e.g. be that operational efficiency of the elevators being involved in the carrying passengers away from the transfer floor TF are increased. This may correspond to that an allowed travel speed of the elevator cars is increased and the same may be performed to an acceleration and a deceleration of the elevator cars. This may e.g. be applicable to the first group of elevators 1 10 providing mainly the shuttle service. Also the control apparatus 150 may be configured to adjust the advance door opening function so that the door opening starting point is allowed to be earlier than in normal operation. Furthermore, the elevator door opening and closing speeds as well as acceleration and deceleration may be increased so that the door operation occurs faster than in the normal operation. Additionally, the allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars 100 may be increased e.g. by re-defining the maximum load of the elevator cars 100 accordingly. Similarly, maximum waiting times at least in the transfer floor TF, but possibly also in other floors, allowed in the elevator system may be decreased which causes the elevator system to apply an enhanced allocation scheme of the elevators. Additionally, the control apparatus 150 may be arranged to allocate more elevators simultaneously to the transfer floor TF which elevators are those which are mainly detected to carry passengers away from the transfer floor TF in question.

Alternatively or in addition to the above described way of enhancing the passenger flow away from the transfer floor TF it may be arranged that the elevators indicated to bring passengers to the transfer floor TF in question may also be controlled in order to control crowding in the transfer floor TF in question. This may be achieved by setting the other group than the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor TF with the generated 230 control signal to a reduced service mode. In other words, the respective control signal may comprise a definition, called as a second definition, which may be a piece of data indicating that the reduced service mode is needed from the one group of elevators in question. In the reduced service mode various approaches may be implemented. For example, the control apparatus 150 may be configured to generate control signals to the one or more elevators from which it has received information indicative of the passenger flow to the transfer floor TF in question. Such control signals may cause slowing of a service provision of at least some elevators which has an effect that the passengers do not enter the transfer floor TF as soon as originally interpreted. Actions to cause the slowing in the service provision may be such that the respective control signals orders the elevators to travel slower than normally. Additionally an acceleration and the deceleration from and to the landings may be decreased. Further, it may be instructed that the respective elevators stay at the landing longer than normally. Still further, by controlling an opening and closing speeds as well as acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors but also by delaying an instant of starting the door opening and closing the time of the travel may be increased. As an additional example, so-called advance door opening function may be reduced or disabled so that such actions may be initiated when the elevator car has fully landed. Additional measure may be to re-define a by-pass limit of at least some elevator cars, especially those which are detected to bring the passengers to the transfer floor TF, which helps in decreasing a number of passengers allowed to be allocated into the respective elevator cars. Moreover, an allowable waiting time in the floors served by the other elevator group may be increased. The approaches described above may be applied either alone or together with at least some others to slow down the passenger flow to the transfer floor TF.

The above described measures are described for the two groups of elevators i.e. the one bringing passengers to the transfer floor TF and the other one dispatching passengers from the transfer floor TF. In addition to the above described measures some common operations may be performed with respect to both groups of elevators. First, a communication to the passengers on the transport arrangement may be maintained and even enhanced in case an overcrowding is detected. This kind of communication may be implemented through signalization devices at landings, displays at halls, and in the building 160, displays of destination operation panels, and any call giving devices, such as any personal device like mobile terminal. Also, it may be arranged the elevator system 1000 is configured to prevent a provision of new service calls in which the destination is the transfer call TF in question. This may be configured e.g. on floor-by-floor basis, on elevator-by-elevator basis, on call type per call type basis, but also based on passengers. The passenger specific approach may be arranged so that only some passengers, e.g. based on a priority rating, may be allowed to travel to the transfer floor TF and the passengers are identified with applicable identification mechanism, such as biometric identification, user ID based identification, or any similar.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically a further approach for managing the passenger flow in a situation in which a possibility to overcrowding in the transfer floor TF is detected. Figure 3 illustrates schematically an exemplified layout of the transfer floor TF wherein a landing hall is divided so that a first group of elevators 110 configured to perform a shuttle service is arranged to land at a first side of the landing hall and the second group of elevators configured to perform local service is arranged to land at a second side of the landing hall. This means that at least part of the passengers arriving e.g. with the second group of elevators 120, 130, 140 at the transfer floor TF need to walk from those elevator cars to the elevator cars of the first group of elevators 1 10. In accordance with the further approach a sensor arrangement 310 may be arranged in an applicable location in at the transfer floor TF so as to enable a detection of the passenger stream towards the first group of elevators 1 10 for optimizing at least some operations of the elevators belonging to the first group 1 10. In other words, the sensor arrangement 310 may be such that it generates a detection when an object enters in an operational area of sensors. In a sophisticated implementation the sensor arrangement 310 may be such it also provides measurement data based on which it is possible to detect the direction the object passes by the sensor arrangement 310. In accordance with an example embodiment the detection of the object(s), i.e. a number of passengers, may be indicated to the control apparatus 150 with a signal from the sensor arrangement 310 to the control apparatus 150 which, in turn, may generate a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to the first group of elevators 1 10 for optimizing the at least some operations of the respective elevator(s). The optimized operation may e.g. be that elevator doors of the respective elevator of the first group 1 10 are opened so that the passenger(s) may directly walk in the elevator car. This enhances the traveling since the passenger(s) need not to wait the opening of the doors and/or they need to perform any operations to open the doors. The location of the sensor arrangement 310 may be selected so that the doors may be opened at an optimal instant of time for the passenger(s). The detections received with the sensor arrangement 310 may also be used for determining if there is a need to call further elevators belonging to the first group 1 10 to serve passengers e.g. in a situation that a number of detections of passengers heading to the right direction is high, and such a call is given if the number of detection exceeds a predefined limit, e.g. such that one elevator cannot handle the situation. Naturally, the above provided approach to enhance the operation, e.g. by opening the elevator doors at optimal instant of time, may be implemented vice versa, i.e. the groups of elevators are operating vice versa and the passenger stream is to other direction than described above. For sake of clarity it is worthwhile to mention that the term passenger stream herein refers to a flow of passengers at the transfer floor and it does not necessarily correspond to the previously mentioned passenger from with one group of elevators to the transfer floor, since some passengers may stay at the transfer floor TF or head to other directions that the location of the sensor arrangement. Further, some passengers already residing in the transfer floor TF who the head to the group of elevators dispatching passengers from the transfer floor TF.

The solution according to the present invention as described herein may be run in the elevator system 1000 on a permanent basis or it may be activated at predefined instants of time. The time-based scheduling may be determined e.g. statistically based on history data i.e. the time windows when one or more transfer floors TF have been overcrowded may be determined that the described mechanism to solve the situation may be activated only for those time windows.

The invention may also be associated to other data possibly available, such as data indicating as accurately as possible a degree of crowding in the transfer floor TF in question and that piece of information is taken into account with the information derivable from the elevator system 1000 in predicting the overall situation and in deciding if the mechanism according to the present invention shall be activated. This kind of approach may also be based on a statistical analysis and the prediction on the development of the situation may be performed by extrapolation and curve fitting approaches. For example, the number of passengers in the transfer floor TF may be periodically measured and a certain amount of the latest measurements are stored as a function of time. Then, near-future value may be estimated, using extrapolation with existing values over time, or fitting a curve to existing values over time, and estimating future value with the curve.

An example of an apparatus configurable to take a role of a control apparatus 150 is schematically illustrated in Figure 4. For sake of clarity, it is worthwhile to mention that the block diagram of Figure 4 depicts some components of an entity that may be employed to implement a functionality of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a processor 410 and a memory 420. The memory 420 may store data, such pieces of data as described but also computer program code 425 causing the operation in the described manner. The apparatus may further comprise a communication interface 430, such as a wireless communication interface or a communication interface 430 for wired communication, or both. The communication interface 430 may thus comprise one or more modems, antennas, and any other hardware and software for enabling an execution of the communication e.g. under control of the processor 410. Furthermore, I/O (input/output) components may be arranged, together with the processor 410 and a portion of the computer program code 425, to provide a user interface for receiving input from a user, such as from a technician, and/or providing output to the user of the apparatus when necessary. In particular, the user I/O components may include user input means, such as one or more keys or buttons, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or a touchpad, etc. The user I/O components may include output means, such as a loudspeaker, a display, or a touchscreen. The components of the apparatus may be communicatively connected to each other via data bus that enables transfer of data and control information between the components.

The memory 420 and a portion of the computer program code 425 stored therein may further be arranged, with the processor 410, to cause the apparatus to perform at least a portion of a method for controlling crowding in a transfer floor TF with an elevator system comprising a plurality of elevator groups as is described herein. The processor 410 may be configured to read from and write to the memory 420. Although the processor 410 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate processing components. Similarly, although the memory 420 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate components, some, or all of which may be integrated I removable and/or may provide permanent I semi-permanent I dynamic I cached storage.

The computer program code 425 may comprise computer-executable instructions that implement functions that correspond to steps of the method when the computer program code 425 is loaded into the processor 410 of the control apparatus 150 and executed therein. As an example, the computer program code 425 may include a computer program consisting of one or more sequences of one or more instructions. The processor 410 is able to load and execute the computer program by reading the one or more sequences of one or more instructions included therein from the memory 420. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions may be configured to, when executed by the processor 410, cause the apparatus to perform at least part of the method as explicitly described in the description herein. Hence, the apparatus may comprise at least one processor 410 and at least one memory 420 including the computer program 425 for one or more programs, the at least one memory 420 and the computer program 425 configured to, with the at least one processor 410, cause the apparatus to perform at least part the method.

The computer program 425 may be provided e.g. a computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable non-transitory medium having the computer program code stored thereon, which computer program 425, when executed by the processor 410 causes the apparatus to perform at least part of the method. The computer-readable non-transitory medium may comprise a memory device or a record medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, or another article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program. As another example, the computer program may be provided as a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program.

Still further, the computer program code 425 may comprise a proprietary application, such as computer program code for causing an execution at least part of the method in the manner as described in the description herein.

Any of the programmed functions mentioned may also be performed in firmware or hardware adapted to or programmed to perform the necessary tasks.

The entity performing the method may also be implemented with a plurality of apparatuses, such as the one schematically illustrated in Figure 4, as a distributed computing environment as already described in the foregoing description. For example, one of the apparatuses may be an elevator system level control apparatus 150 for the whole elevator system 1000 whereas other apparatuses may be control apparatuses of the elevators, or the groups the elevators belong to. Hence, the control apparatuses may be communicatively connected with other apparatuses, and e.g. share at least part of the data of the method, to cause another apparatus to perform at least one other portion of the method. As a result, the method performed in the distributed computing environment generates the operation in the elevator system in the manner as described.

For sake of completeness it is worthwhile to mention that the present invention is not dedicated to any specific elevator type as long as they are controllable in the manner as described herein and as long as data is obtainable from and providable to the elevators, and at least some entities of them. The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Claims (20)

23 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A method for controlling crowding in a transfer floor (TF) with an elevator system (1000), the elevator system (1000) comprising a first group of elevators (1 10) configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor (TF) and a second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor (TF) with an elevator of the second group of elevators (120, 130, 140), the method, performed by a control apparatus (150), comprising: determining (210) data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF), comparing (220) the determined data to reference data, and generating (240), upon a detection (230) based on the comparison that the transfer floor (TF) is getting crowded, a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of groups of elevators to request a service to the transfer floor (TF).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a determination (210) of data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF) is performed on a basis of received service calls from one of the groups of elevators, the received service calls from the one of the groups of elevators define the transfer floor (TF) as a destination.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the data indicative of passenger flow is determined at least by one of: based on service calls received from each passenger through a user interface of the elevator system (1000); estimating a number of passengers based on a measurement solution implemented in elevator cars.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the control signal further comprises a first definition to cause the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor (TF) to be set in an enhanced service mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the enhanced service mode comprises at least one of the following operations: increase a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the one group from a landing and increasing a deceleration of the elevator cars the one group to the landing; allowing an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the one group to start earlier; increasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the one group and increasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the one group; decreasing an allowable waiting time at least in the transfer floor (TF) in the elevator system (1000).

6. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the control signal further comprises a second definition to cause another group than the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor (TF) to be set in a reduced service mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reduced service mode comprises at least one of the following operations: decrease a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the elevator other group; decreasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the elevator other group from a landing and decreasing a deceleration of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to the landing; disabling an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to start earlier; decreasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group and decreasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group; decreasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the other elevator group; increasing an allowable waiting time at least in floors served by the other elevator group.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, the method further comprises: detecting a passenger stream in the transfer floor (TF) with at least one sensor arrangement (310), generating, in response to a detection that the passenger stream is from the other elevator group to the one group requested to provide the service to the transfer floor (TF), a control signal to an elevator arrived at the transfer floor (TF) to cause opening of elevator doors of the respective elevator.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF) is determined (210) from the second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) and the service to the transfer floor (TF) is requested from the first group of elevators (110).

10. A control apparatus for controlling crowding in a transfer floor (TF) with an elevator system (1000), the elevator system (1000) comprising a first group of elevators (1 10) configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor (TF) and a second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor (TF) with an elevator of the second group of elevators (120, 130, 140), the control apparatus (150) is configured to: determine (210) data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF), compare (220) the determined data to reference data, and generate (240), upon a detection (230) based on the comparison that the transfer floor (TF) is getting crowded, a control signal to at least one elevator belonging to one of groups of elevators to request a service to the transfer floor (TF).

1 1. The control apparatus (150) of claim 10, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to perform a determination (210) of data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF) on a basis of received service calls from one of the groups of elevators, the received service calls from the one of the groups of elevators define the transfer floor (TF) as a destination. 26

12. The control apparatus (150) of claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to determine the data indicative of passenger flow at least by one of: based on service calls received from each passenger through a user interface of the elevator system (1000); estimating a number of passengers based on a measurement solution implemented in elevator cars.

13. The control apparatus (150) of any of the preceding claims 10 to 12, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to generate the control signal so that it further comprises a first definition to cause the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor (TF) to be set in an enhanced service mode.

14. The control apparatus (150) of claim 13, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to cause at least one of the following operations in the enhanced service mode: increase a travel speed of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the one group from a landing and increasing a deceleration of the elevator cars the one group to the landing; allowing an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the one group to start earlier; increasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the one group and increasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators belonging to the one group; increasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the one group; decreasing an allowable waiting time at least in the transfer floor (TF) in the elevator system (1000).

15. The control apparatus (150) of any of the preceding claims 10 to 14, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to generate the control signal so that it further comprises a second definition to cause another group than the one group of elevators requested to serve the transfer floor (TF) to be set in a reduced service mode.

16. The control apparatus (150) of claim 15, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to cause at least one of the following operations in the reduced service mode: decrease a travel speed of the elevators belonging to 27 the elevator other group; decreasing an acceleration of the elevator cars of the elevator other group from a landing and decreasing a deceleration of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to the landing; disabling an advance door opening function of the elevator cars of the other elevator group to start earlier; decreasing opening and closing speeds of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group and decreasing acceleration and deceleration of the elevator doors of the elevators of the other elevator group; decreasing an allowed number of passengers in the elevator cars of the other elevator group; increasing an allowable waiting time at least in floors served by the other elevator group.

17. The control apparatus (150) of any of the preceding claims 10 to 16, the control apparatus (150) is further configured to: detect a passenger stream in the transfer floor (TF) with at least one sensor arrangement (310), generate, in response to a detection that the passenger stream is from the other elevator group to the one group requested to provide the service to the transfer floor (TF), a control signal to an elevator arrived at the transfer floor (TF) to cause opening of elevator doors of the respective elevator.

18. The control apparatus (150) of any of the preceding claims 10 to 17, wherein the control apparatus (150) is configured to determine (210) the data indicative of passenger flow to the transfer floor (TF) from the second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) and to request the service to the transfer floor (TF) from the first group of elevators (1 10).

19. An elevator system (1000) for controlling crowding in a transfer floor (TF) with an elevator system (1000), the elevator system (1000) comprising: a first group of elevators (1 10) configured to provide shuttle service to the transfer floor (TF), 28 a second group of elevators (120, 130, 140) configured to serve a number of floors accessible from the transfer floor (TF) with an elevator of the second group of elevators (120, 130, 140), and a control apparatus (150) according to any of claims 10 to 18.

20. A computer program comprising computer readable program code configured to cause performing of the method according to any of claims 1 to 9 when the computer readable program code is run on one or more computing apparatuses.