Queue management system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11004290-B2
Application number	US-201916417287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A queue management system in accordance with present embodiments may include a data server system including a processor and memory. The queue management system may include an interface system of the data server system configured to receive a reservation request including an indication of a general time period of arrival of a guest to an area. Additionally, the queue management system may include a reservation right allotment system of the data server system configured to correlate a reservation slot for accessing an attraction to identification information for the guest. Further, the queue management system may include a detection system of the data server system configured to determine when a portable identification feature associated with the identification information has arrived to the area, and a reservation assignment system of the data server system configured to establish a reservation to access the attraction at a specific time window.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A queue management system, comprising:
a detection system configured to detect a portable identification feature associated with a guest at an entrance into an amusement park comprising a plurality of attractions therein to automatically identify that the guest has arrived at the amusement park, wherein the detection system is configured to output an entry signal when the detection system detects the portable identification feature at the entrance into the amusement park; and
a central queue control system comprising tangible, machine-readable media storing one or more instructions configured to be executed by a processor, wherein the one or more instructions are configured to:
receive attraction preference data comprising an attraction list having two or more attractions of the plurality of attractions selected by the guest and a guest-designated level of interest in each attraction of the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
receive the entry signal indicating that the guest has arrived at the amusement park;
receive, in response to receiving the entry signal, operational status data for the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
generate, in response to receiving the operational status data, a proposed itinerary for the guest based at least on the attraction preference data and the operational status data; and
display the proposed itinerary on the portable identification feature.

2. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions are configured to generate the proposed itinerary based on wait times for the two or more attractions selected by the guest, locations of the two or more attractions selected by the guest, and historic park data.

3. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a tracking system configured to ping the portable identification feature to detect the portable identification feature at the entrance into the amusement park.

4. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a scanner configured to scan a code from a screen of the portable identification feature to detect the portable identification feature at the entrance into the amusement park.

5. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a plurality of device monitors disposed within the amusement park, wherein the device monitors are configured to detect the portable identification feature within the amusement park to identify a guest location of the guest within the amusement park, and wherein the one or more instructions are configured to modify the proposed itinerary based on the guest location.

6. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the portable identification feature comprises a cellular telephone.

7. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the portable identification feature comprises a wearable feature comprising integral circuitry.

8. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions are configured to receive the entry signal by polling the detection system at predetermined intervals to retrieve information indicative of detection of the portable identification feature.

9. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the operational status data is indicative of whether each attraction of the two or more attractions selected by the guest is available or unavailable due to technical difficulties.

10. The queue management system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions are configured to:
receive updated operational status data for the two or more attractions selected by the guest; and
modify the proposed itinerary based on the updated operational status data.

11. A method, comprising:
receiving attraction preference data via a central queue control system before a guest enters an amusement park comprising a plurality of attractions therein, wherein the attraction preference data comprises an attraction list having two or more attractions of the plurality of attractions selected by the guest and a guest-designated level of interest in each attraction of the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
electronically detecting a portable identification feature associated with the guest at an entrance of the amusement park using a detection system, wherein the detection system is configured to output an entry signal when the detection system detects the portable identification feature at the entrance of the amusement park;
receiving the entry signal via the central queue control system;
receiving, via the central queue control system and in response to receiving the entry signal, operational status data for the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
generating, via the central queue control system and in response to receiving the operational status data, a proposed itinerary for the guest based on the attraction preference data and the operational status data; and
displaying the proposed itinerary on the portable identification feature to the guest.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein generating the proposed itinerary is further based on wait times for the two or more attractions selected by the guest, locations of the two or more attractions selected by the guest, and historic park data.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein electronically detecting the portable identification feature comprises polling the detection system at predetermined intervals to retrieve information indicative of detection of the portable identification feature to automatically identify that the guest has arrived at the amusement park.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the attraction preference data comprises rankings for the guest-designated level of interest.

15. A queue management system, comprising:
a portable identification feature associated with a guest of an amusement park comprising a plurality of attractions therein;
a detection system configured to detect the portable identification feature at an entrance of the amusement park to automatically identify that the guest has arrived at the amusement park, wherein the detection system is configured to output an entry signal when the detection system detects the portable identification feature at the entrance of the amusement park; and
a central queue control system comprising tangible, machine-readable media storing one or more instructions configured to be executed by a processor, wherein the one or more instructions are configured to:
receive attraction preference data before the guest enters the amusement park, wherein the attraction preference data comprises an attraction list having two or more attractions of the plurality of attractions selected by the guest and a guest-designated level of interest in each attraction of the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
receive the entry signal indicating that the guest has arrived at the amusement park;
receive, in response to receiving the entry signal, operational status data for the two or more attractions selected by the guest;
generate, in response to receiving the operational status data, a proposed itinerary for the guest based on the attraction preference data and the operational status data, wherein the proposed itinerary comprises at least one reservation for the guest to experience at least one attraction of the two or more attractions selected by the guest; and
output the proposed itinerary to the portable identification feature;

wherein the portable identification feature is configured to display the proposed itinerary for the guest to confirm, modify, or cancel the

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Schwartz Justin Michael
• Osterman Ross Alan
• Polk Jeffrey Lamar

Classifications

• G07C2011/04

  related to queuing systems · CPC title

• G07C2011/02

  related to amusement parks · CPC title

• G07C11/00 Primary

  Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere · CPC title

• G07C9/00896

  specially adapted for particular uses · CPC title

• G07C9/00571

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title