The invention relates to a method for generating an elevator call. The method comprises: obtaining (202) image data representing at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b) illustrated on a symbol representing device (320) from at least one image sensing device (112), identifying (204) the at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b) from the obtained image data, and generating (206) the elevator call in accordance with the identified at least one symbol (310, 310a, 310b). The invention relates also to an elevator control unit (108) and an elevator system (100) performing at least partly the method.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a destination entry device configured to allow a passenger to indicate an intended destination prior to entering an elevator car and at least one detector configured to detect a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination. A controller is configured to determine whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual likely is associated with the passenger, will board an elevator car with the passenger, and will travel to the intended destination with the passenger. The controller is configured to assign an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion.

A method for elevator passenger detection including: capturing an image of an elevator passenger approaching an elevator bank to board an elevator car; determining that the elevator passenger is pregnant or disabled in response to the image of the elevator passenger; registering a priority elevator call for the elevator passenger that is pregnant or disabled; and moving the elevator car to the floor landing where the elevator passenger that is pregnant or disabled is located.

An elevator communication system includes a first elevator controller; a second elevator controller; and a first ethernet bus portion connected to the first elevator controller, the first ethernet bus portion having sequential bus segments interconnected by at least one switch. The first ethernet bus portion is arranged in a first elevator shaft. A second ethernet bus portion is connected to the second elevator controller and includes sequential bus segments interconnected by at least one switch. The second ethernet bus portion is arranged in a second elevator shaft. A switch of the first ethernet bus portion and a switch of the second ethernet bus portion are interconnected to enable data transmission between the switch of the first ethernet bus portion and the switch of the second ethernet bus portion. The first elevator controller is communicatively connected to the second elevator controller.

An exercise necessity degree determination unit (13) determines an exercise necessity degree being a degree to which an elevator user needs to exercise, who uses an elevator (50) provided in a building provided with an inter-floor travel means other than the elevator. A floor decision unit (14) changes based on the exercise necessity degree of the elevator user determined by the exercise necessity degree determination unit (13), at least one of a boarding floor and an alighting floor of the elevator (50) from a floor that the elevator user prefers to another floor so as to let the elevator user use the inter-floor travel means before the elevator user reaches a destination floor to which the elevator user intends to go.

A passenger conveyor system has a controller and a safety device monitoring a safety-relevant system function. The safety device is in a “configured” state monitoring the safety-relevant function according to specifications when a target configuration parameter is stored. A system operating method includes: the controller receiving a first configuration parameter and a second configuration parameter created independently of the first parameter; transmitting the first and second parameters to the safety device; wherein the parameters relate to the same target configuration parameter; comparing the first and second parameters in the safety device and, when the parameters match within a prespecified tolerance, storing the corresponding target configuration parameter in the safety device and transmitting the target configuration parameter and/or a “configured” signal from the safety device to the controller. The controller controls the functionalities of the passenger conveyor system according to whether it received the target configuration parameter and/or the “configured” signal.

A method and system for controlling elevator dispatch is provided. User data, including user behavior, is collected from a number of users over a specified time period. Elevator use data for a number of elevators in a building is also collected over the specified time period. Applying the user data and elevator use data, an elevator dispatch model is constructed that predicts future elevator use according to predicted user needs. An elevator control system dispatches the elevators according to the dispatch model. The elevator dispatch model is refined according to feedback data collected from users over a subsequent time period.

A method of operating a building elevator system within a building having a plurality of floors including: controlling a building elevator system comprising a first elevator system having a first elevator car and a second elevator system having a second elevator car; determining one or more sectors for the plurality of floors in response to at least one of a time of day, manual input, a density of the down peak traffic, and whether there is simultaneous up peak or inter-floor traffic, the one or more sectors comprising a first sector having a first plurality of floors and a second sector having a second plurality of floors; assigning the first elevator car to the first sector; and assigning the second elevator car to the second sector.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for managing elevator cars in a multi-car elevator shaft system. The method comprises determining, by an elevator control entity, the optimum number of elevator cars for a given time of a day in the multi-car elevator shaft system; and commanding, by the elevator control entity, at least one elevator car into at least one elevator car storage or back to service from the at least one elevator car storage based on the determination, wherein elevator cars in the at least one elevator car storage act as standby elevator cars for the multi-car elevator shaft system.

A method of operating an elevator call control system comprising: receiving a first elevator call from a first individual carrying a first mobile device, the first elevator call including a destination request to travel from a first boarding floor to a first destination floor; determining that the first individual carrying the first mobile device is traveling with a second individual, wherein the second individual is traveling to a second destination floor; assigning an elevator car to the first elevator call; and scheduling the elevator car to transport the first individual carrying the first mobile device and the second individual together to at least one of a first destination floor and the second destination floor.