# US 8,464,840 B2 · Security-based elevator control to address a security violation involving at least one elevator car at a landing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,840 B2 - Document ID: US8464840B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/990,857 - Filed: 2008-06-30 - Published: 2011-03-03 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-30 - Assignees: Otis Elevator Company - Applicants: Michael P. Flynn; Leslie Earl Grey; Jerrold C. Bloom - Inventors: Michael P. Flynn; Leslie Earl Grey; Jerrold C. Bloom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464840B2 ## CPC - B66B 5/0012: {Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system} - B66B 1/468: {Call registering systems} - B66B 2201/4623: Wherein the destination is registered after boarding - B66B 2201/463: Wherein the call is registered through physical contact with the elevator system - B66B 2201/4676: for checking authorization of the passengers - 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 An exemplary method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars includes determining that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing. That elevator car is prevented from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved. The other elevator cars are controlled such that they do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars, comprising the steps of: determining that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing; communicating an indication of the determined security violation condition to a controller associated with each of the other ones of the plurality of elevator cars; preventing the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved; and controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising controlling any other of the elevator cars currently at the landing with an open door to remain at the landing until the condition is resolved. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising controlling any other of the elevator cars not currently at the landing to not stop at the landing until the condition is resolved. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising subsequently communicating an indication that the condition is resolved such that the controllers return to a normal operating state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising disabling a hall call function at the landing responsive to the determined security violation at the landing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising disabling a car call function in each of the other ones of the elevator cars to prevent a call for service at the landing from being placed in each of the other ones of the elevator cars during the determined security violation condition. ### Claim 7 A method of controlling a plurality of elevator cars, comprising the steps of: determining that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing; preventing the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved; controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved; and selectively overriding control of a selected one of the plurality of elevator cars to allow an authorized individual to direct the selected elevator car to the landing during the security violation condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising detecting an unauthorized access of the at least one of the elevator cars at the landing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising receiving an indication of the security violation condition from a manually accessible security device. ### Claim 10 An elevator system, comprising: a plurality of elevator cars; a controller that determines that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing, the controller responsively prevents the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved and provides an indication for controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved; and wherein any other of the elevator cars currently at the landing with an open door remain at the landing until the condition is resolved. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein any other of the elevator cars not currently at the landing are prevented from stopping at the landing until the condition is resolved. ### Claim 12 An elevator system, comprising: a plurality of elevator cars; a controller that determines that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing, the controller responsively prevents the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved and provides an indication for controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved; and a plurality of other controllers, each being associated with one of the elevator cars and wherein the controller provides the indication to the other controllers such that each of the other controllers receives an indication of the determined security violation condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the controllers subsequently communicates an indication that the condition is resolved to at least one other of the controllers; and the at least one other of the controllers responsively returns to a normal operating state. ### Claim 14 An elevator system, comprising: a plurality of elevator cars; a controller that determines that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing, the controller responsively prevents the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved and provides an indication for controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved; and at least one hall call fixture at the landing configured to perform a hall call function for requesting elevator service at the landing and wherein the hall call function of the fixture is disabled responsive to the determined security violation at the landing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, comprising a car operating panel in each of the plurality of elevator cars and wherein a car call function of each car operating panel is disabled to prevent a call for service at the landing from being placed in each of the other ones of the elevator cars during the determined security violation condition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, comprising at least one override switch for selectively overriding control of a selected one of the plurality of elevator cars to allow an authorized individual to direct the selected elevator car to the landing during the security violation condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, comprising at least one sensor that detect an unauthorized access of the at least one of the elevator cars at the landing. ### Claim 18 An elevator system, comprising: a plurality of elevator cars; a controller that determines that there is a security violation condition involving at least one of the elevator cars at a landing, the controller responsively prevents the one of the elevator cars from moving from the landing until the condition is resolved and provides an indication for controlling other ones of the plurality of elevator cars such that the other elevator cars do not provide elevator service to or from the landing until the condition is resolved; and a manually accessible security device that is configured to provide an indication of the security violation condition to the controller.