Abstract: A method monitors a plurality of elevators, in which at least two elevators are set into shuttle mode in which the corresponding elevator travels between two pre-defined floors. The method calculates at least one of an arrival time and a departure time of an elevator car of each of the at least two elevators in shuttle mode at a predetermined floor; determines a time required by a user for reaching each of the at least two elevators in shuttle mode from an operation terminal location; and calculates a preference order of the at least two elevators in shuttle mode on the basis of the time of arrival and/or departure of the elevator car of each of the at least two elevators in shuttle mode and the time required by the user for reaching each of the at least two elevators in the shuttle mode from the operation terminal location.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for monitoring hoisting ropes in an elevator system comprises measuring tension of each hoisting rope, calculating a mean value of the tension in the hoisting ropes, determining if the tension in any rope is significantly higher than the mean value and providing a signal that rope snag has been detected if the tension in any rope is significantly higher than the mean value.

Abstract: An elevator calling operation based on a wrist-wearable smart device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system including a system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to: render a plurality of determinations for effecting elevator service during a lockdown condition, including a first determination that an elevator car is transporting a first passenger to a first floor, a second determination that a lockdown event is occurring at a second floor, a third determination for the elevator car to transport the first passenger to a third floor to avoid travel proximate the second floor, and execute one or more communications including: a first communication to an elevator car controller for the elevator car to effect the third determination.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically generating and populating one or more car floor buttons on a configuration tool display wherein the configuration tool is in communication with an elevator cabin of an elevator system.

Abstract: An arrangement of counting passengers in an elevator using two separate counting mechanisms is disclosed. The elevator car typically has a curtain of light arranged to the door and a load weighing device arranged to measure the weight of the elevator car. From the information recorded by the curtain of light and the load weighing device, it is possible to count the number of passengers. The reliability of the counting results can be improved by processing the counting results for forming a combined counting result that provides a more reliable counting result when the independent counts deviate from each other.

Abstract: A passenger transport system includes a plurality of passenger transporters controlled by a transport system control, and further comprises at least one parameter memory configured to store at least one parameter or parameter set for the function of at least one transport system component, which transport system comprises a first wireless interface. The first interface may input data regarding at least one stored parameter or parameter set for the function of the related transport system component(s). The passenger transport system comprises mobile devices carried by users, which mobile devices may communicate wirelessly with the first interface, which communication is based on a short range transmission. The mobile devices may be prompted by the first interface to transmit data regarding the parameter or parameter set of the correlated transport system component. A passenger system interaction with a user to individual user requirements may be customized.

Abstract: Methods and systems to control access to a predetermined service or area. An access code is read from a portable electronic device of a user using an access terminal at a service site. As a result of reading the access code from the portable electronic device, access-related information is transmitted to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatically entering and leaving a ride apparatus. A method for automatically entering a ride apparatus comprises: establishing a wireless communication connection with a control system of the ride apparatus; sending, via the wireless communication connection, an automatic entering request to the control system, the automatic entering request comprising a ride starting position; receiving, via the wireless communication connection, status information sent by the control system; and determining, according to the status information, that the ride apparatus has arrived at the ride starting position, and automatically entering the ride apparatus.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to a building is provided. The method comprising: receiving visitor contact information for a visitor from a resident device, the visitor contact information identifies a visitor device of the visitor; receiving visitor access permissions for the visitor from the resident device, the visitor access permissions include at least one of a selected elevator car, a selected door, and a selected floor; and granting the visitor device access to at least one of the selected elevator car, the selected door, and the selected floor.

Abstract: A system for allocating elevator use based on an individual request includes a request module that receives a reservation request of an elevator car from a user, an allocation module that identifies a reserved elevator car based on the reservation request; and a mechanical control module that moves the reserved elevator car in response to commands provided by the user and the reservation request.

Abstract: A system and method for priority actuation is provided. The system and method comprise a priority button. An access to the priority button is provided to an authorized user. The authorized user is enabled to initiate a priority actuation trigger for a priority service in at least one automated access system using the priority button. The automated access system is operably coupled to at least one server via a communication gateway. The server comprises a database of all authorized users of a priority service. Triggering the priority button results in initiating the priority actuation trigger for sending an authentication information of the authorized user to the server. The server authenticates the user as the authorized user enabled to access the priority service and provides the user with the priority service for the at least one automated access system.

Abstract: An elevator system of this disclosure includes: a personal information terminal, which is carried by an elevator user and includes a display unit configured to represent a plurality of available services and a selecting unit by which it is possible to select a service by the display unit; and an elevator control device, which assigns a car of an elevator group according to call registration information from the personal information terminal and transmits information on the assigned car to the personal information terminal, wherein in a case where assigned car is changed due to the situation of the elevator group, the elevator control device changes the assigned car of the elevator group and displays a reassigned car for the user on the display unit of the personal information terminal.

Abstract: A method includes determining an altitude of a mobile device, determining a floor coinciding with the altitude, and requesting elevator service specific to the floor mapped to the mobile device location. An apparatus includes a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the apparatus to: determine an altitude of the apparatus within a building, determine a floor within the building coinciding with the altitude, and request an elevator car to arrive at the floor.

Abstract: A method for automatically dispatching an elevator 110 based on a user's location is provided. The method includes querying a device 104 to determine a user's source floor and confirming the user's source floor. The method also includes querying the device to suggest the user's destination floor based on a history of destination floors traveled to by the user; and confirming the user's destination floor.

Abstract: A method for unlocking a door for an authorized user of a vehicle via a door unlocking system of the vehicle includes providing a control at the vehicle, providing a near field communication device at the vehicle, and wirelessly communicating, via the near field communication device of the vehicle, with a near field communication-enabled smartphone when the smartphone is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. Responsive to the near field communication device of the vehicle communicating with the smartphone, it is determined whether or not the smartphone is an authorized device. The smartphone is authenticated as an authorized device for communication with the near field communication device of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to the smartphone being authenticated as an authorized device, the locking mechanism is actuated, at least in part via the control, to unlock the vehicle door for the user of the authorized device.

Abstract: A system and method for interfacing a destination entry system with existing security infrastructure of a space. The destination entry system may include at least one destination entry device configured to receive a destination request from a user and an interface device to facilitate communication between the destination entry system and a security system). The interface device may be configured to receive credentials of the user from the security system, co-relate the credentials with areas within a space that the user is authorized to access, identify which one of the at least one destination entry device originated the destination request from the user and communicate the authorized areas and the identified one of the at least one destination entry device to the destination entry system.

Abstract: An automated elevator control system using facial recognition. The system is capable of recognizing an elevator passenger's face in a field of view of an imaging device in close proximity to the elevator car, capturing the elevator passenger's facial image using video data output from the imaging device, and comparing the captured facial image to pre-registered facial image data in a database storing corresponding authorized floor destination data for each passenger. Upon determining a match between the captured facial image and a stored facial image, the system is capable of sending a signal to the elevator control system to move the elevator car to the elevator passenger's authorized floor destination.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a computing device including a processor, a handwriting input including a selection of a destination floor associated with an elevator system, determining, by the computing device, that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, presenting, by the computing device, a message that requests confirmation that the input selection is interpreted correctly based on determining that the handwriting input selection is recognizable, receiving, by the computing device, a response to the message that confirms the input selection, and causing, by the computing device, the elevator system to provide access to the destination floor based on the response.

Abstract: A method for evacuating people with an elevator system. The method including identifying an evacuation mode in the elevator system; determining the amount of people in each building floor to be evacuated by a normal evacuation service of the elevator system and whether there exists at least one person to be evacuated who is entitled to a prioritized evacuation service; calculating an estimated evacuation waiting time for each floor to be evacuated by the normal evacuation service, wherein the calculation takes into account that the at least one person allowed to the prioritized evacuation service is evacuated first; and causing display of the estimated evacuation waiting time iii each building floor to be evacuated by the normal evacuation service.

Abstract: An elevator system of this disclosure includes: a personal information terminal, which is carried by an elevator user and includes a display unit configured to represent a plurality of available services and a selecting unit by which it is possible to select a service by the display unit; and an elevator control device, which assigns a car of an elevator group according to call registration information from the personal information terminal and transmits information on the assigned car to the personal information terminal, wherein in a case where assigned car is changed due to the situation of the elevator group, the elevator control device changes the assigned car of the elevator group and displays a reassigned car for the user on the display unit of the personal information terminal.

Abstract: A controller includes a processor configured to, receive, via an input/output (I/O) device, a first destination call having a first departure floor and a first destination floor of a first passenger associated therewith, allocate the first destination call to one of the plurality of elevators, receive, via the I/O device, at least a second destination call having one or more of a second destination floor and a second departure floor of a second passenger associated therewith, and allocate the second destination call to one of the plurality of elevators such that the controller assigns the second destination call to a same one of the plurality of elevators as the first destination call, if a group allocation request associated with the first destination call and the second destination call is received from the link.

Abstract: A system and method for priority actuation is provided. The system and method comprise a priority button. An access to the priority button is provided to an authorized user. The authorized user is enabled to initiate a priority actuation trigger for a priority service in the at least one automated access system using the priority button. The automated access system is operably coupled to at least one server via a communication gateway. The server comprises a database of all authorized users of a priority service. Triggering the priority button results in initiating the priority actuation trigger for sending an authentication information of the authorized user to the server. The server authenticates the user as the authorized user enabled to access the priority service; and provides the user with the priority service for the at least one automated access system.

Abstract: A connection management system and method manages connections between a vehicle telematics unit and a call center. A connection is established between the vehicle telematics unit and the call center over a wireless network. A first service is provided to the vehicle telematics unit during which a request for a second service is recognized for the vehicle telematics unit. A connection between the vehicle telematics unit and the call center is provided in response to the request for the second service after completion of the first service. This can include maintaining the established connection to carry out the second service or initiating a new connection after the first one is terminated.

Abstract: A method for giving destination calls to an elevator system using a destination operating panel that includes a keypad for giving the destination calls, including identifying a call giving phase and activating buttons of the keypad on the basis of the call giving phase.

Abstract: A method for controlling elevator cars of an elevator system according to one example includes assigning free elevator cars of the elevator system to one of either general service or express priority service (EPS). A destination dispatch controller receives an express priority service (EPS) call. The EPS call can indicate a request for priority service from an EPS call originating location to an EPS call final destination. The controller can determine whether any active EPS assigned car can service the EPS call. A particular elevator car can be an active EPS car when the particular car is carrying out EPS service. When a specific active EPS car can service the EPS call, the controller assigns the specific EPS car to the EPS call. Upon completion of the EPS call, the controller unassigns the EPS car to a free car.

Abstract: A method for giving a destination call to the control system of an elevator system is provided, in which method one or more predetermined departure floor-destination floor pairs are presented on the touch-sensitive display of a destination call-giving device having a touch-sensitive display, in which each pair identifies for the user one predetermined departure floor and one predetermined destination floor, and the departure floor-destination floor pair selected by the user is determined on the basis of a touch detected with the touch-sensitive display, and a destination call signal is sent to the control system of the elevator system, which signal identifies the departure floor and the destination floor of the departure floor-destination floor pair selected by the user. A call-giving device, an elevator system and a computer program product are provided to implement the aforementioned method.

Abstract: A system and method for an access control system for an elevator system that overrides landing matrices that define the access to the floors in the elevator system. The system overrides the landing matrices of the access control system in response to conditions defined by security system operators, such as emergency situations, and sends the landing matrices to elevator controllers for controlling the access to the floors. In examples, the system supports configuration of vendor-neutral landing matrix objects sent to the access control system over a security network for creating new landing matrices, and overriding the contents of the existing landing matrices.

Abstract: Using a position detection device, a position of a user in a building area outside of an elevator system is detected. It is determined, after the user has entered an elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel to a destination floor designated by a destination for the user. As a result of the determination, the elevator car is moved to an area other than the destination floor.

Abstract: Dock leveler safety systems for vertically storing dock levelers are disclosed herein. An example method for sensing a body present within an area of a pit at a loading dock includes monitoring the area of the pit via a sensor system by capturing an image of the area, comparing the captured image to a reference image to determine whether a body is present in the area of the pit, and commanding a deck of a dock leveler to not lower relative to the pit if the body is present.

Abstract: A personal authentication device provided in a destination call registration device adapted to obtain authentication information from a user. The device includes an access control device adapted to, when the personal authentication device obtains the authentication information, obtain verification information including a plurality of pieces of permitted floor information corresponding to the authentication information and position information of the destination call registration device; and a supervisory controller adapted to determine, based on the verification information, whether a destination floor inputted into the destination call registration device is a permitted floor, and, based on the registration, control an elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator control device includes a control device body controlling operation of one or more elevators operated between plural floors of a building, and carries out emergency evacuation operation for evacuating people by using an elevator when the building suffers from fire, earthquake, or the like. The elevator control device includes a damage detector that detects damage due to disaster at each floor and outputs the detected damage as damage information of each floor; and a person detector that detects the number and positions of persons present at each floor and outputs these data as person number and position information, and in the emergency evacuation operation, the elevator control device body develops an elevator evacuation operation plan based on the position of the elevator car, the damage information, and the person number and position information, and controls the operation of elevator based on the developed evacuation operation plan.

Abstract: A method for enabling the use of an elevator system by disabled persons includes detecting at least one position change of a user using at least one sensor, said position change being in the form of at least one signal and at least one reference signal. The signal is then compared to the reference signal. At lease one signal status change is generated when at least one predefined comparison result is fulfilled. For the generated signal state change, the elevator system is at least partially brought to an operating mode enabling the use thereof by disabled persons.

Abstract: A method of controlling an elevator installation with several elevator cages per elevator shaft, wherein a destination call to a desired destination story is actuated on a call input story by at least one passenger and at least one most favorable call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story, is determined for the destination call by at least one destination call control. If at least one disadvantage parameter is set, at least one disadvantage-free call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story is determined by the destination call control, in which it is possible the start story and call input story or the destination story and desired destination correspond.

Abstract: Method for handling erroneous calls in an elevator system, which comprises at least one elevator, call-giving devices for registering calls on the floor levels and/or in the elevator car, and also a control system that responds to the aforementioned calls one or more calls given by a passenger are registered, it is assessed on the basis of at least one criterion whether some call is erroneous, and at least one corrective action is performed for removing a call, or for rectifying the call data of a call, if the call is ascertained to be erroneous on the basis of the aforementioned criterion.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator destination entry system includes a passenger interface device that presents a visual representation of at least one item that will accompany a passenger on an elevator car. The passenger interface allows the passenger to select the visual representation. A controller is configured to receive indications of passenger requests for elevator service and an indication from the passenger interface device regarding a selected visual representation. The controller determines an amount of space within an elevator car required to accommodate the item based on predetermined space information corresponding to the selected visual representation. The controller assigns a car to a passenger request based on a determination that the assigned car will have adequate space to accommodate the passenger and the item.

Abstract: A person is detected before entering an elevator in a building, and a destination floor desired by the person is detected. When the person leaves the elevator, the floor on which the person leaves the elevator is detected using a further detecting device. An action is triggered if the floor on which the person leaves the elevator and the destination floor do not match.

Abstract: A method of controlling a elevator installation with several elevator cages per elevator shaft, wherein a destination call to a desired destination story is actuated on a call input story by at least one passenger and at least one most favorable call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story is determined for the destination call by at least one destination call control. If at least one disadvantage parameter is set, at least one disadvantage-free call allocation for transport of the passenger by the elevator cage from a start story to a destination story is determined by the destination call control, in which it is possible the start story and call input story or the destination story and desired destination correspond.

Abstract: An elevator system in which plural elevator banks are present in a building, and a security gate through which a user should pass is defined for each bank, appropriate guidance can be given to the user without reducing the elevator operating efficiency. The elevator system includes a notifying device for notifying the user who passes through the security gate of information; an identifying mechanism determining, based on the identification information inputted from an inputting device when the user passes through the security gate, whether or not the user is a pre-registered person; and a determining mechanism determining whether or not the security gate through which the user, who is determined to be a pre-registered person by the identifying mechanism, passes is a normal gate for the user.

Abstract: An elevator access control system monitors a secure area, including an elevator landing, and controls an elevator system with at least one elevator car that is accessible from the elevator landing. Each elevator car of the elevator system has a door at the landing that provides access between the elevator car and the landing. The system includes an access monitoring device that detects the presence of non-authorized individuals within the secure area and produces a breach signal upon detecting one or more non-authorized individuals within or entering the secure area. Upon receiving the breach signal, an access system controller in communication with the access monitoring device initiates a security alert phase.

Abstract: A method, a computer-readable data storage device and a system include determining a starting floor level in a building based on a received movement signal for a building door in the building, identifying a lighting unit along a path in the starting level floor between the building door and an elevator door on the starting floor level, and activating the identified lighting unit. The movement signal can be based upon a building door on the starting floor has been opened for a person and in response sending an elevator cabin to the elevator door at the starting floor to receive the person.

Abstract: An elevator system capable of an efficient evacuation using an elevator in case of a fire, and capable of confirming an evacuee remaining status in a case that an evacuation operation using the elevator is discontinued. An evacuation-call response-order setting section sets a priority order of a response to an evacuation special call registered in an evacuation special call registration section, based on fire occurrence information received by a fire situation reception section. A responding floor is selected based on the priority order. The evacuation operation running section controls an operation of the elevator so as to direct a car to the responding floor selected in this manner. In a case that the evacuation operation availability determination section determines that the evacuation operation is not available, the evacuation operation terminating section causes an evacuation special call remaining floor display section to display a remaining evacuation special call registration floor.

Abstract: The present invention presents a solution for limiting access rights in a building, which building contains a conveying system, an access control system connected to the conveying system, which access control system comprises at least one short-range identification point and at least one long-range identification point and in which access control system passengers have a personal terminal device for giving service requests to the conveying system. A terminal device is taken into the operating area of a short-range identification point, the access rights connected to the service requests of the terminal device are activated, the terminal device is taken into the operating area of a long-range identification point and a service request generated with the terminal device is transmitted to the conveying system, if the access right connected to the service request is valid on the basis of the activation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an elevator system for allocating elevators to passenger groups. Passengers have access cards, the identification data of which is read, a passenger group is formed on the basis of the identification data, the destination calls to be connected to the passenger group are registered and an elevator is allocated for the use of the passenger group.

Abstract: An elevator controller which enables a stop to be made at the nearest floor in the event of a disaster and can prevent users from being shut up in an emergency landing entrance floor. The elevator controller includes an operation mode controller, a door open/close controller which causes the elevator to open the elevator door at the nearest emergency landing entrance floor for a given time when the operation mode controller has returned an operation mode from an emergency operation mode to a normal operation mode, and an informing controller which causes an informing device, which is provided in a hall of an emergency landing entrance floor for which the door open/close controller causes the door to be opened for a given time or provided in the car, to provide information to the effect that the elevator can be used when the operation mode-controller has returned the operation mode from the emergency operation mode to the normal operation mode.

Abstract: An access control system for a people conveyor control system, includes an authentication proving device adapted to communicate with a people conveyor control system. The authentication proving device has a central processor unit and a read protected memory protected from read and write access by external applications. The authentication proving device stores in its read protected memory program code to carry out a verification procedure in response to a verification request from the people conveyor control system, and sends a verification signal to the people conveyor control system. The people conveyor control system in response to the verification signal selectively allows or denies access to at least one of specific sections of said people conveyor control system or specific functions implemented in the people conveyor control system.

Abstract: In a method, an evacuation state is activated, and the number of people awaiting evacuation on specific floors is determined. At least one of a number of elevator cars and of evacuation times needed for the evacuation of specific floors is calculated based on the capacity of the aforementioned one or more elevator cars and of the number of people awaiting evacuation, and floor-specific evacuation is controlled to one or more exit floors.

Abstract: An exemplary method of controlling an elevator system includes determining that a new passenger requests elevator service a departure floor to a destination floor. Any candidate elevator cars are ranked. A number of stops for each assigned passenger for a ranked candidate elevator car is determined if the new passenger were assigned to that car. A determination is made whether any ranked candidate elevator car is a qualified car that can accept the new passenger and limit a number of stops for each passenger assigned to that car to a desired maximum number of stops. The new passenger is assigned to a qualified car that has a most favorable ranking of any qualified cars.

Abstract: A method of allocating calls of a lift installation with at least one lift and at least one car per lift to move passengers in a journey from at least one input floor to at least one destination floor, a system for executing the method and a computer readable memory with instructions for executing the method. The method includes receiving input calls from passengers travelling from an input floor to a destination floor, each call identifying at least one floor as an input floor or a destination floor. A start zone with identified input floors and a destination zone with identified destination floors are determined from the input calls and destination calls. Each identified floor within a corresponding zone is considered using at least one selection criterion and a stopping floor is selected which satisfies the criterion. The car is caused to stop at fewer than all the identified input floors and identified destination floors during the journey.

Abstract: Using a position detection device, a position of a person in a building area outside of an elevator system is detected. It is determined that the person has not actuated a destination call for the elevator system within a preset period of time. As a result of the determination, a security measure is activated.