Abstract: An elevator system in which an elevator car serves the floors of a building under the direction of a car controller. A hall lantern controller and associated hall lamps are located at each floor served by the elevator car. A serial hall lantern riser extends from the car controller past each floor served by the elevator car, with each hall lantern controller being connected to the serial riser. The car controller prepares serial messages for the riser, with each including a command for an identified hall lantern controller. Each hall lantern controller recognizes its own messages, it responds to the associated command, and it sends a serial acknowledgment signal back to the car controller.

Abstract: An elevator system including an elevator car, a controller for directing the elevator car to serve the floors of a building, lamps at each floor served by the elevator car, and a processor at each floor, including a microcomputer, for energizing and deenergizing the associated lamps. The controller issues illumination commands which indicate the desired illumination status for predetermined lamps, which commands are implemented by the processor associated with the lamp. Each processor includes a detector which determines the actual illumination status of the lamp in question, and a comparator for comparing the actual status and the commanded status, to detect lamp malfunctions. A malfunction detection is stored and used to prevent the associated lamp from subsequently being energized, until service personnel have corrected the problem.