# US 2019/0168997 A1 · Elevator group management for occupant evacuation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168997 A1 - Document ID: US20190168997A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/830,070 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Otis Elevator Company - Inventors: Tarique Faruki; Bennie J. Murah - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168997A1 ## CPC - B66B 5/021: {the abnormal operating conditions being independent of the system (alarm systems in general G08B)} - B66B 1/28: electrical (detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 {; control of electrical motor H02P}) - B66B 5/022: {where the abnormal operating condition is caused by a natural event, e.g. earthquake} - B66B 5/024: {where the abnormal operating condition is caused by an accident, e.g. fire} - B66B 2201/40: Details of the change of control mode - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract A method of operating a building elevator system includes determining that an evacuation call is active for an evacuation floor serviced by a first elevator group. A transfer floor serviced by the first elevator group is set as an evacuation discharge floor of the first elevator group. A second elevator group is requested to enter an evacuation mode of operation. The second elevator group is operable to service the transfer floor and a discharge floor. The transfer floor is set as the evacuation floor of the second elevator group. Control of the first elevator group and the second elevator group is coordinated to evacuate one or more occupants from the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group to the discharge floor serviced by the second elevator group. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a building elevator system, the method comprising: determining that an evacuation call is active for an evacuation floor serviced by a first elevator group; setting a transfer floor serviced by the first elevator group as an evacuation discharge floor of the first elevator group; requesting a second elevator group to enter an evacuation mode of operation, the second elevator group operable to service the transfer floor and a discharge floor; setting the transfer floor as the evacuation floor of the second elevator group; and coordinating control of the first elevator group and the second elevator group to evacuate one or more occupants from the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group to the discharge floor serviced by the second elevator group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group is unreachable by the second elevator group. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein requesting the second elevator group to enter the evacuation mode of operation is performed based on determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor is based on detecting a degraded hoistway condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring one or more conditions of the discharge floor; setting the evacuation discharge floor of the second elevator group to an alternate discharge floor based on detecting one or more degraded conditions at the discharge floor; and restricting travel of the second elevator group between the alternate discharge floor and the discharge floor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing the evacuation discharge floor of one or more elevator cars of the first elevator group to a secondary transfer floor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the evacuation mode of operation prioritizes travel between the transfer floor and the discharge floor over one or more requests received from one or more elevator call buttons between the transfer floor and the discharge. ### Claim 8 A control system of a building elevator system, the control system comprising: a processor; and a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising: determining that an evacuation call is active for an evacuation floor serviced by a first elevator group; setting a transfer floor serviced by the first elevator group as an evacuation discharge floor of the first elevator group; requesting a second elevator group to enter an evacuation mode of operation, the second elevator group operable to service the transfer floor and a discharge floor; setting the transfer floor as the evacuation floor of the second elevator group; and coordinating control of the first elevator group and the second elevator group to evacuate one or more occupants from the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group to the discharge floor serviced by the second elevator group. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group is unreachable by the second elevator group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein requesting the second elevator group to enter the evacuation mode of operation is performed based on determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control system of claim 10, wherein determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor is based on detecting a degraded hoistway condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: monitoring one or more conditions of the discharge floor; setting the evacuation discharge floor of the second elevator group to an alternate discharge floor based on detecting one or more degraded conditions at the discharge floor; and restricting travel of the second elevator group between the alternate discharge floor and the discharge floor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: changing the evacuation discharge floor of one or more elevator cars of the first elevator group to a secondary transfer floor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The control system of claim 8, wherein the evacuation mode of operation prioritizes travel between the transfer floor and the discharge floor over one or more requests received from one or more elevator call buttons between the transfer floor and the discharge. ### Claim 15 A computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: determining that an evacuation call is active for an evacuation floor serviced by a first elevator group; setting a transfer floor serviced by the first elevator group as an evacuation discharge floor of the first elevator group; requesting a second elevator group to enter an evacuation mode of operation, the second elevator group operable to service the transfer floor and a discharge floor; setting the transfer floor as the evacuation floor of the second elevator group; and coordinating control of the first elevator group and the second elevator group to evacuate one or more occupants from the evacuation floor serviced by the first elevator group to the discharge floor serviced by the second elevator group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program of claim 15, wherein requesting the second elevator group to enter the evacuation mode of operation is performed based on determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer program of claim 16, wherein determining that the first elevator group is inhibited from traveling to the discharge floor is based on detecting a degraded hoistway condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer program of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: monitoring one or more conditions of the discharge floor; setting the evacuation discharge floor of the second elevator group to an alternate discharge floor based on detecting one or more degraded conditions at the discharge floor; and restricting travel of the second elevator group between the alternate discharge floor and the discharge floor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computer program of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: changing the evacuation discharge floor of one or more elevator cars of the first elevator group to a secondary transfer floor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer program of claim 15, wherein the evacuation mode of operation prioritizes travel between the transfer floor and the discharge floor over one or more requests received from one or more elevator call buttons between the transfer floor and the discharge.