IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,661,307
Granted Patent B2
US 11,661,307 · App. 16/371,369 · Granted May 30, 2023

Crowd sensing for elevator systems

Inventors: Sandeep Sudi (Farmington, CT); Bradley Armand Scoville (Farmington, CT)
Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
B66B1/3407B66B1/2408B66B1/3476B66B1/468B66B3/00B66B2201/211B66B2201/215B66B2201/222B66B2201/234B66B2201/243B66B2201/402B66B2201/403
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,661,307
App. No.
16/371,369
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aspect includes capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system. A dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is adjusted based on the crowd data. A notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule is output.

Claims (35)

1. A method comprising:

capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system;

providing a priority request to schedule an empty elevator car targeting a selected user;

adjusting a dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system based on the crowd data, wherein adjusting the dispatching schedule incorporates the priority request; and

outputting a notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the crowd data is captured by a sensing system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled on-demand in response to an enable command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled based on one or more of a predetermined schedule and an artificial intelligence algorithm configured to predict formation of a crowd.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled based on verification of an active subscription to a crowd control service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule comprises a message transmitted to one or more mobile devices associated with one or more targeted users.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a travel impact on a user based on the crowd data; and

outputting a notification of a travel plan adjustment for the user based on the travel plan.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the travel impact comprises an estimated delay for crowd reduction at the lobby area, and the notification of the travel plan adjustment comprises a message indicating that a subsequent notification will be sent based on a crowd size reduction dropping below a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the notification of the travel plan adjustment comprises an identification of a priority elevator car dispatched for the user.

10. A system comprising:

a sensing system configured to capture crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system; and

a dispatching system configured to provide a priority request to schedule an empty elevator car targeting a selected user, adjust a dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system based on the crowd data and output a notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule, wherein adjustment of the dispatching schedule incorporates the priority request.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein adjustment of the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled on-demand in response to an enable command.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein adjustment of the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled based on one or more of a predetermined schedule and an artificial intelligence algorithm configured to predict formation of a crowd.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein adjustment of the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled based on verification of an active subscription to a crowd control service.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule comprises a message transmitted to one or more mobile devices associated with one or more targeted users.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the dispatching system is configured to determine a travel impact on a user based on the crowd data and output a notification of a travel plan adjustment for the user based on the travel plan.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the travel impact comprises an estimated delay for crowd reduction at the lobby area, and the notification of the travel plan adjustment comprises a message indicating that a subsequent notification will be sent based on a crowd size reduction dropping below a predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the notification of the travel plan adjustment comprises an identification of a priority elevator car dispatched for the user.

18. A method comprising:

capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system;

adjusting a dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system based on the crowd data, wherein adjusting the dispatching schedule is selectively enabled based on verification of an active subscription to a crowd control service; and

outputting a notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule.

19. A method comprising:

capturing crowd data associated with a lobby area of an elevator system;

adjusting a dispatching schedule of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system based on the crowd data;

outputting a notification of the adjustment to the dispatching schedule;

determining a travel impact on a user based on the crowd data, wherein the travel impact comprises an estimated delay for crowd reduction at the lobby area; and

outputting a notification of a travel plan adjustment for the user based on the travel plan, wherein the notification of the travel plan adjustment comprises a message indicating that a subsequent notification will be sent based on a crowd size reduction dropping below a predetermined threshold.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2019
From: SUDI, SANDEEP; SCOVILLE, BRADLEY ARMAND
To: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 048753/0972 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200307950A1 · Oct 1, 2020