EP0565865B1 - Method and arrangement to allocate requested hall calls to the cabins of an elevator group - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for carrying out the method for allocating calls entered on the floors to the cabins of an elevator group, solutions for the call allocation being calculated by means of a calculation function and the best solution being used.

In the facilities according to the generic term, the calculation function is to be used to distribute the calls to the cabins according to certain optimization criteria, the optimization criteria or operation goals being, for example, based on a minimum average waiting time of all passengers or the highest possible transport capacity. Another important aspect in the allocation of calls are the prevailing traffic conditions, whereby three, depending on this, traffic categories must be differentiated, namely interstore traffic, upward peak traffic and downward peak traffic.

EP-B-0 032 213 and EP-A-0 356 731, for example, have disclosed group control devices for intermediate storey traffic, in which mathematical formulas are used to calculate a size corresponding to the waiting times of passengers and called service costs. The calculation is mainly based on the waiting times of the passengers on the floors and in the cabins during a stopover, and the travel times of the passengers in the cabins. The operating costs determined for each elevator in the group are compared with one another, the input call being allocated to the cabin which has the lowest operating costs. This is to minimize the average waiting time of all passengers. The calculation formula for this type of control is based on an operationally defined goal from the outset. These facilities are not suitable for achieving another surgical goal, such as minimizing long waiting times.

Elevator group controls of the type described above are, as described for example in DE-A-18 03 648 or EP-B-0 091 554, often equipped with devices for controlling the downward and / or upward peak traffic. By means of such devices, the building can be emptied in a relatively short time in the event of an extreme accumulation of traffic towards a main stop, for example at the end of work in an office building. Here, the devices can be activated by means of a timer or by a measuring device which determines the flow of traffic in the direction of the main stop, and at the same time the operation of calls in the upward direction can be reduced or completely prevented. The control algorithm and / or the calculation formula, especially in the case of the last-mentioned device, are also based on minimizing the waiting time of the passengers and increasing the conveying capacity of the elevator group.

A considerable period of time may elapse before the time switch mentioned above or the measuring device which determines the traffic flow takes effect, during which both the intermediate storey traffic and the downward peak traffic have to be mastered. This can happen, for example, at the beginning of the lunch break, at the end of the office or due to a sudden increase in traffic at the end of a conference on one or more mezzanine floors. Few passengers occupy cabins for upward journeys, so that many passengers who want to go down have to put up with unbearably long waiting times. In addition, the transport capacity is poorly used in such a case.

The invention has for its object to propose a method and a device for performing the method of the type mentioned, by means of which avoidance of the disadvantages described above, behavior of the elevator control system that is adapted to the respective operation goals and traffic conditions is always used, so that an optimal call allocation is made possible.

This object is achieved by the invention characterized in claims 1 and 3. Here, a solution selection device calculates, based on a solution given for the first time, further possible solutions for the call allocation, which are fed to a simulator. A traffic model device connected to the simulator provides information from which the simulator generates factors for the solutions that relate to passengers and / or elevator components. On the output side, the simulator is connected to a calculation module which evaluates optimization criteria contained in it by means of the calculation function using the factors, so that possible solutions corresponding to the optimization criteria and the traffic conditions are found. The calculation module is connected on the output side to the solution selection device, by means of which the best solution for the call allocation is selected.

The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that the elevator control system automatically adapts to the given operation goals or optimization criteria and changes in traffic conditions. The optimization criteria contained in the calculation module can be modified easily and quickly, which has an advantageous effect on special requirements of the operator of the elevator system.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltschema der erfindungsgemässen Einrichtung,

Fig. 2

ein Diagramm der Warte- und Fahrzeiten von Fahrgästen, und

Fig. 3a 3b

zwei Diagramme der Wartezeit in Abhängigkeit von der Anzahl Fahrgäste beim Übergang vom Zwischenstockwerkverkehr zum Abwärtsspitzenverkehr.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

2 shows a block circuit diagram of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a diagram of the waiting and journey times of passengers, and

3a 3b

two diagrams of the waiting time depending on the number of passengers during the transition from intermediate storey traffic to downward peak traffic.

In FIG. 1, 1 denotes a traffic model device that is connected to a simulator 2 that generates factors related to passengers and / or elevator components. On the output side, the simulator 2 is connected to a calculation module 3, which is connected on the input side to an interface, not shown, via which optimization criteria can be entered. On the output side, the calculation module 3 is connected to a solution selection device 4, to which data about the current situation of the booths and entered calls are supplied and which is connected to the simulator 2 on the output side. A situation assessment module 5 is connected to the simulator 2 and to the solution selection device 4.

2, the x-axis is assigned to the waiting time and the y-axis to the travel time of passengers, the passengers being identified by points in a two-dimensional factor space, and the assignments shown being determined in the simulator 2. From these assignments, data relating to traffic density, for example, which is proportional to the number of points, are derived for the calculation. For the detection and detection of the cluster of points, e.g. a neural network can be used that is so adaptable after a learning process that a wide variety of patterns can be recognized. If factors relating to elevator components are required for the calculation, the procedure described above can be followed, for example factors such as energy consumption and number of door openings being projected into a factor space.

3a and 3b, with which some advantages of the inventive device are shown as an example, the The x-axis is assigned to the number of passengers who have entered downward calls and the y-axis has been assigned to the mean waiting time, 100% corresponding to the mean waiting time determined using conventional devices. If there are three passengers with upward calls, an improvement in the mean waiting time of approximately 10% (FIG. 3a) and up to 20% (FIG. 3b) is achieved during the change of the type of traffic (increasing number of passengers with downward calls). The better mezzanine or down-peak traffic program was chosen as a reference in FIG. 3a. In Fig. 3b, the program for the reference is automatically switched when the number of passengers with down calls exceeds five (characteristic curve A) or eight (characteristic curve B).

The device described above works as follows:

In the solution selection device 4, possible solutions for the call allocation are determined depending on the current situation of the cabins and entered calls, starting from a first-time solution calculated according to conventional rules. For this purpose, for example, a method called "alpha pruning" can be used. Here, a "tree" is formed, the branches of which are assigned to the cabins and calls to be operated by them and thus represent the possible solutions sought. The search for solutions to the given situation ends when the latter changes. Probably the best solution is fed to Simulator 2. The simulator 2 receives information from the traffic model device about the probable number of passengers waiting on a floor and estimates regarding their possible destinations. Factors for what is probably the best solution are formed from this information (FIG. 2) and transferred to the calculation module 3. In the calculation module 3, the optimization criteria are evaluated using the calculation function using the factors, so that a solution corresponding to the optimization criteria and the traffic conditions is found. This solution will be the Solution selection device 4 is fed, in which it is checked whether it is the best solution for the call allocation. If it is not the best, then another one is sought from the set of possible solutions.

The situation assessment module 5 analyzes the present situation on the basis of information obtained from the simulator 2, and uses this to conclude the future situation, taking into account the best solution found. If a best solution found for the call allocation would now lead to an extreme situation, such as group formation of cabins (bunching), this solution is rejected on the basis of the assessment of the situation assessment module 5.

The device described above can be used for the allocation of floor calls as well as for the allocation of destination calls, i.e. of calls entered on the floors for the desired destination floors.

Claims (5)

1. Method for the allocation of calls, which are registered at storeys, to cages of a lift group, wherein solutions for the call allocation are completed by means of an equation and the best solution is used,
   characterised in that

   - the instantaneous situation of the cages and registered calls are fed to solution selection equipment (4),

   - the solution selection equipment (4) computes further possible solutions for the call allocation starting from an initially given solution,

   - the possible solutions are fed to a simulator (2),

   - data obtained from a traffic modelling equipment are transferred to the simulator (2),

   - the simulator (2) generates factors, which are referred to passengers and/or lift components, for the respective solutions,

   - the factors are fed to a computing module (3),

   - optimising criteria are input into the computing module (3),

   - the computing module (3) weights the optimising criteria by means of the computing function and with use of the factors so that possible solutions appropriate to the optimising criteria and the traffic conditions are found, and

   - the found possible solutions are delivered to the solution selection equipment (4), by means of which the best solution for the allocation of a call is selected.
2. Method according to patent claim 1, characterised in that

   - data are fed to a situation estimation module (5) from the simulator (2),

   - the situation estimation module (5) analyses the respectively present situation on the basis of the data and estimates the future situation with consideration of the best solution for the call allocation, and

   - in the case of an unfavourable result of the estimation the found best solution is rejected.
3. Equipment for carrying out the method according to patent claim 1, characterised in that the traffic modelling equipment (1) is connected with the simulator (2), which stands in connection at the output side with the computing module (3), and in that the computing module (3) is connected at the output side to the solution selection equipment (4) and at the input side with an interface, and the solution selection equipment (4) stands in connection at the output side with the simulator (2).
4. Equipment for carrying out the method according to patent claim 2, characterised in that the situation estimation module (5) is connected to the simulator (2) and to the solution selection equipment (4).
5. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby that data, which has been obtained from the traffic modelling equipment (1), about passengers probably waiting and estimates about destinations are transferred to the simulator (2) and that the solution selection equipment (4) selects the best solution with consideration of the future situation.

Images