Abstract: A method of calling an elevator car for an elevator system including: transmitting, using a first beacon, a first poll wireless signal, the first poll wireless signal having a first poll transmission speed; receiving, using the first beacon, a first response wireless signal from a passenger mobile device in response to the first poll wireless signal, the first response wireless signal having a first response transmission speed; determining a first time of flight between transmission of the first poll wireless signal from the first beacon and receipt of the first response wireless signal at the first beacon; calculating a first distance between the first beacon and the passenger mobile device based on the first time of flight, the first poll transmission speed, and the first response transmission speed; and determining a location of the passenger mobile device based on at least the first distance.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a beacon for an elevator call system including: determining when a calibrator mobile device is located at a desired distance away from the beacon on a specific landing, the beacon being associated with one or more specific elevator systems at a specific elevator bank on the specific landing; detecting a wireless signal emitted by the beacon using a communication device of the calibrator mobile device when the calibrator mobile device is located at the desired distance; and establishing the desired distance as a selected range of the beacon for locating a passenger device for an elevator call received from the passenger device. The elevator call system is configured to assign future elevator calls received from the passenger mobile device detected to be within the selected range of the beacon to the one or more specific elevator systems at the specific elevator bank on the specific landing.

Abstract: A method of operating a building elevator system within a building having a plurality of floors is provided. The method including: controlling a building elevator system comprising a first elevator system having a first elevator car, a second elevator system having a second elevator car, and a third elevator system having a third elevator car, the first elevator car is configured to serve a plurality of floors within a first sector, the second elevator car is configured to serve a plurality of floors within a second sector, and the third elevator car is configured to serve a plurality of floors within the first sector and the second sector; detecting at least one of a time of day, an intensity of traffic between the first sector and the second sector, and an intensity of traffic within each sector; and assigning the third elevator car to the first sector or second sector.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups including a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request including a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups including a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request including a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, determine a best group to service the request from the plurality of elevator groups based on information stored in the redirector, wherein the group controller of the determined best group is configured to determine a best car from the plurality of elevator cars in the determined best group.

Abstract: An exemplary method of fire suppression includes introducing a fire suppression fluid into an area by directing the fire suppression fluid along a primary trajectory that is aimed directly at a generally horizontal surface in the area.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a first controller configured to recognize a hall call signal that indicates a passenger's desire to board an elevator car at a particular landing. The first controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a hall call request to that elevator car. A second controller is configured to recognize a destination request that indicates a passenger's desire to be carried to a particular level. The destination request originates outside of an elevator car. The second controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a destination request to that elevator car. The second controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition will be satisfied if a received destination request is serviced by an elevator car associated with the second controller. The second controller handles the received destination request in that manner if the condition will be satisfied.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, determine a best group to service the request from the plurality of elevator groups based on information stored in the redirector, wherein the group controller of the determined best group is configured to determine a best car from the plurality of elevator cars in the determined best group.

Abstract: An exemplary method of assigning calls to elevator cars includes ensuring that a passenger separation requirement is satisfied. The passenger separation requirement is satisfied when a passenger belonging to one service group is not carried in the same elevator car simultaneously with another passenger belonging to a different service group, for example. A call is assigned to an elevator car to carry a passenger belonging to the one service group while the elevator car is assigned to carry or is already carrying another passenger belonging to the different service group.

Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups comprising a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request comprising a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.

Abstract: Elevator reassignment information is communicated to passengers in a group elevator system (10). The group elevator system (10) includes a group of elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) that is operable to transport each of the passengers to one of a plurality of floors (L, F2, F3, F4, F5). A destination entry input device (30, 35) at each floor permits each passenger to enter destination input information. A dispatch controller (20) assigns an elevator to each passenger based on the destination input information. When service of a dispatched elevator is terminated, a communication device (46, 50) communicates elevator reassignment instructions to passengers assigned to or located in the dispatched elevator.

Abstract: A destination entry input device (30, 35) is commissioned in a group elevator system (10). The destination entry input device (30, 35) is connected to a dispatch controller (20). A network address is input into the destination entry input device (30, 35) corresponding to an installation location of the destination entry input device (30, 35). When the network address is input, installation location information related to the installation location of the destination entry input device is downloaded to the destination entry input device (30, 35) and verified.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes a first controller configured to recognize a hall call signal that indicates a passenger's desire to board an elevator car at a particular landing. The first controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a hall call request to that elevator car. A second controller is configured to recognize a destination request that indicates a passenger's desire to be carried to a particular level. The destination request originates outside of an elevator car. The second controller is associated with at least one elevator car for assigning a destination request to that elevator car. The second controller is configured to determine whether a selected condition will be satisfied if a received destination request is serviced by an elevator car associated with the second controller. The second controller handles the received destination request in that manner if the condition will be satisfied.

Abstract: An exemplary method of assigning calls to elevator cars includes ensuring that a passenger separation requirement is satisfied. The passenger separation requirement is satisfied when a passenger belonging to one service group is not carried in the same elevator car simultaneously with another passenger belonging to a different service group, for example. A call is assigned to an elevator car to carry a passenger belonging to the one service group while the elevator car is assigned to carry or is already carrying another passenger belonging to the different service group.

Abstract: Elevator reassignment information is communicated to passengers in a group elevator system (10). The group elevator system (10) includes a group of elevators (14a, 14b, 14c) that is operable to transport each of the passengers to one of a plurality of floors (L, F2, F3, F4, F5). A destination entry input device (30, 35) at each floor permits each passenger to enter destination input information. A dispatch controller (20) assigns an elevator to each passenger based on the destination input information. When service of a dispatched elevator is terminated, a communication device (46, 50) communicates elevator reassignment instructions to passengers assigned to or located in the dispatched elevator.

Abstract: A destination entry input device (30, 35) is commissioned in a group elevator system (10). The destination entry input device (30, 35) is connected to a dispatch controller (20). A network address is input into the destination entry input device (30, 35) corresponding to an installation location of the destination entry input device (30, 35). When the network address is input, installation location information related to the installation location of the destination entry input device is downloaded to the destination entry input device (30, 35) and verified.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) utilizes destination entry dispatching techniques. A controller (28) receives an automated destination request that includes a prestored, primary destination. This allows for seamlessly integrating building access and destination entry for the elevator system. A passenger interface (40) allows a passenger to override a prestored destination. The elevator controller (28) allows for override or secondary destination requests to be made at various intervals between receipt of the initial request and arrival of an initially assigned car at an appropriate level to let the passenger board the elevator car.

Abstract: An elevator system utilizes a destination entry control technique and delays indicating which car is assigned to a request to allow an individual to arrive near an elevator lobby. An elevator group assignment is made responsive to a destination request. An indication regarding the group assignment is provided to a passenger within a first time from the receipt of the request. A second indication regarding a car assigned to carry that passenger to the desired destination is provided at a second, later time from the request. Separating out the group assignment indication and the car assignment indication is accomplished in one example by providing separate interfaces at different locations within a building.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) utilizes destination entry dispatching techniques. A controller (28) receives an automated destination request that includes a prestored, primary destination. This allows for seamlessly integrating building access and destination entry for the elevator system. A passenger interface (40) allows a passenger to override a prestored destination. The elevator controller (28) allows for override or secondary destination requests to be made at various intervals between receipt of the initial request and arrival of an initially assigned car at an appropriate level to let the passenger board the elevator car.