Abstract: Elevator hall call devices have a programmable touch screen which can be programmed to display (a) ten-key destination call buttons, (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons, or (c) N-key destination buttons, as well as buttons which identify utilization of major floors of the building, including functions such as cafeteria, sky lobby, parking, public transport, and lobby, as well as tenants. A controller programs the touch screen in dependence on (d) traffic volume, (e) time of day, (f) floor of the building where the touch screen is disposed or (g) identity of a particular passenger (VIP) in the vicinity of a touch screen.

Abstract: Elevator call devices (41, 41a, 66, 75) have a programmable touch screen (42, 66, 74) which can be programmed to display (a) ten-key destination call buttons (46), (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons (58), or (c) N-key destination buttons (65), as well as buttons (50-53, 60, 63) which identify utilization of major floors of the building, including functions such as cafeteria, sky lobby, parking, public transport, and lobby, as well as tenants. A controller (78) programs the touch screen in dependence on (d) traffic volume, (e) time of day, (f) floor of the building where the touch screen is disposed or (g) identity of a particular passenger (VIP) in the vicinity of a touch screen.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes a controller (22) that communicates with a portable device (30) that is adapted to be carried about by a passenger (32). The system provides a color indication (28A-28E) associated with an elevator car (26A-26E) that will travel to a passenger's intended destination floor. In one example, the portable device (30) provides a color indication that corresponds to the color indication (28A-28E) associated with the car. Providing the color indication (34) on the portable device (30) assists a passenger (32) in locating the correct car and provides piece of mind to the passenger that they are entering the correct car and will be carried to their intended destination floor.

Abstract: A conveyor passenger interface system is described. The system includes a passenger reception area (10) having a mechanism (14) for receiving a voice request from a passenger. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the voice request receiving mechanism (14) is a sound dome. The system further includes a device (18) responsive to the voice request for identifying a conveyor for transporting the passenger to a desired location and for identifying the conveyor to the passenger. The system of the present invention has utility in elevator systems as well as other transportation systems.

Abstract: When an average wait time is low (23, 24) an elevator car (31-34) is parked (39), unable to answer calls, or if a parameter (45) is low (46), the car is shut-down. If wait time is high, a parked car is assigned the call. If no cars are parked, a shut-down car may be assigned based on RRT. If up running cars can answer the call, the down running cars are excluded.

Abstract: In down peak, floors of the building are divided into sectors (38), empty cars (50) are assigned (63, 64) to the sector and assigned (65) the highest down call in the sector provided the highest down call is above the committable floor of any car already assigned in the sector, or there is no car assigned in the sector. If a car is not full (52), it will be assigned additional calls (56). If there are no calls in the sector below a car sector which is not full, a long calls routine (67) determines if there is a down call (75), that is in danger of becoming a long-waiting call, ahead of a car (69) and if so, assigns that call to the car (76).

Abstract: A control device for a double-deck elevator system having an upper deck and a lower deck, includes a group control device for assigning the upper and lower decks to respond to car calls from the upper and lower decks and boarding hall calls from a plurality of floors. The control device further includes an assignment control device for determining whether a plurality of the car calls and boarding hall calls can be responded to simultaneously and for directing said group control device to reassign the upper and lower decks to respond to the plurality of car calls and boarding hall calls simultaneously.

Abstract: In a control device for double-deck elevator systems equipped with a plurality of elevators that have an upper deck and a lower deck that are conveyed simultaneously to two adjacent floors and that assign elevator decks to respond to boarding hall calls from each floor, to select the optimal deck for responding to boarding hall calls is selected from among all of the aforementioned decks to make elevator travel and passenger transport more efficient.