Abstract: A method for controlling the dispatching of elevator cars, and apparatus for accomplishing the method. The method includes the steps of (a) receiving a hall call from a floor landing; (b) determining a current passenger load of an elevator car; (c) determining if a crowd signal is generated for the floor landing; and, if it is determined that a crowd signal is generated for the floor landing, (d) determining, from the current passenger load, if the elevator car is EMPTY. If it is determined that the elevator car is EMPTY, the method further includes the steps of (e) assigning an Empty Car Bonus to the elevator car; and (f) employing the Empty Car Bonus value in determining a Relative System Response for the elevator car. The Relative System Response is a function of a plurality of bonuses and penalties.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for operating an elevator system that includes a group of elevator cars servicing a plurality of floor landings divided into Sectors. The method includes the steps of, with a controller associated with each elevator car of the group, (a) determining when the elevator car has reached a Turn Around Point for returning the elevator car to a lobby; (b) initiating travel to the lobby; and (c) determining when the elevator car has reached a predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point. After reaching the predetermined Sector Assignment Fixation Point, the method further includes the steps of (d) communicating Sector-related information with other controller of other elevator cars of the group; and (e) based upon the communication, assigning to the elevator car a next Sector to be serviced after arrival at the lobby. A round-robin arbitration technique is disclosed for assigning Sectors among the elevator cars.

Abstract: Disclosed are me and apparatus for establishing a Door Dwell Time for an elevator car. The method includes the steps of (a) accumulating, over a first interval of time, a total amount of time that expires between a time when a hall call is received to when an elevator door of the elevator car opens in response to the hall call; and, at the end of the interval of time, (b) determining an Average Waiting Time (AWT) by dividing the total amount of time by a number of hall calls that occurred during the first interval of time. The method further includes the steps of (c) comparing the AWT to a first AWT threshold value; and, if the AWT exceeds the first AWT threshold value, (d) decreasing the elevator car Door Dwell Time (DDT) by a time increment so as to obtain a revised DDT for use during a second time interval.

Abstract: A computer controlled elevator system (FIG. 1 ) using prediction methodology to enhance the system's elevator service, having "learning" capabilities to adapt the system to changing building operational characteristics, including signal processing means for computing the "best" prediction model to be used for prediction, the best factoring coefficients for combining real time and historic predictors associated with the best prediction model, the best data and prediction time interval lengths to be used, and the optimal number of look-ahead intervals or steps (for real time predictions) or look-back days (for historic predictions) to the extent applicable to the prediction model, etc. Using the algorithm(s) of the invention the best prediction methodology and associated parameters are selected by running on site simulations based on exemplary values and comparing the prediction results to recorded data indicative of the actual events that have occurred in the system over a past appropriate period of time.