Optimized 'up-peak' elevator channeling system with predicted traffic

Abstract

An elevator system containing a group of elevator cars (1-4) and a group controller (32) having signal processing means (CPU) for controlling the dispatching of the cars from a main floor or lobby (L) in relation to different group parameters. During up-peak conditions, each car is dispatched from the main floor to an individual plurality of contiguous floors, defining a 'sector' (SN). Sectors are contiguous, and the number of sectors may be less than the number of cars, and a floor can be assigned to more than one sector. Floors that constitute a sector assigned exclusively to a car are displayed on an indicator (SI) at the lobby. Cars are selected for assignment by grouping floors into sectors and appropriately selecting sectors, so that each elevator car handles more or less an equal predicted traffic volume during varying traffic conditions, resulting in the queue length and waiting time at the lobby being decreased, and the handling capacity of the elevator system increased. Estimation of future traffic flow levels for the various floors for, for example, each five (5) minute interval, are made using traffic levels measured during the past few time intervals on the given day as real time predictors, using a linear exponential smoothing model, and traffic levels measured during similar time intervals on previous days as historic traffic predictors, using a single exonential smoothing model. The combined estimated traffic is then used to group floors into sectors ideally having at least nearly equal traffic volume for each time interval.