Systems and methods for a smart virtual queue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024338617-A1
Application number	US-202418747074-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2024
Priority date	Jun 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a virtual queue controller configured to receive an indication of a reduced capacity event from an amusement park attraction, determine a reduction in capacity of the attraction, identify each guest having a return time in a virtual queue of the attraction that is affected by the reduced capacity event, remove guests having affected return times from the virtual queue, and generate a reaccommodation time slot for the guests removed from the virtual queue, select two or more updated return times within the reaccommodation time slot for each of the guests removed from the virtual queue, provide a notification to each guest removed from the virtual queue requesting guest input to select a single updated return time from the two or more updated return times, and return each guest to the virtual queue upon receiving a corresponding selection of the single updated return time.

First claim

1 . A virtual queue system, comprising:
a virtual queue controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions accessed from the memory to cause the virtual queue controller to: receive an indication of a reduced capacity event from an attraction; determine a reduction in capacity of the attraction associated with the reduced capacity event; identify guest groups affected by the reduced capacity event based on having a return time in a virtual queue of the attraction during the reduced capacity event and the reduction in capacity of the attraction; select a subset of the identified guest groups to remove from the virtual queue during the reduced capacity event; generate a reaccommodation time slot for the guest groups in the subset removed from the virtual queue, wherein a length of the reaccommodation time slot is based on a total number of affected return times of the guest groups in the subset removed from the virtual queue, and wherein the reaccommodation time slot is subsequent to an end of the reduced capacity event; select two or more updated return times within the reaccommodation time slot for each guest groups in the subset removed from the virtual queue; generate a notification on one or more guest devices associated with each guest groups in the subset, wherein the notification causes display of a user interface on the one or more guest devices requesting guest input to select a single updated return time from the two or more updated return times; and return an individual guest group in the subset to the virtual queue upon receiving a corresponding selection of the single updated return time.

2 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced capacity event comprises a partial shutdown of the attraction, wherein the partial shutdown comprises shutting down one or more ride vehicles.

3 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the identified guest groups to remove from the virtual queue during the reduced capacity event is selected based on group size.

4 . The virtual queue system of claim 3 , wherein the subset of guest groups removed from the virtual queue comprises smaller guest groups than another subset of guest groups retained in the virtual queue during the reduced capacity event.

5 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual queue controller is configured to determine the reaccommodation time slot based at least in part on an amount of predicted no-shows for the attraction.

6 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual queue controller is configured to not accept virtual queue requests from new guests for return times in the reaccommodation time slot.

7 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , comprising an entry portal configured to detect entry to the attraction.

8 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual queue controller outputs a signal to other guest associated devices indicating that the attraction is unavailable during the reaccommodation time slot to new guests.

9 . The virtual queue system of claim 1 , wherein the reduction in capacity is based on a number of seats in at least one ride vehicle.

10 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, an indication of a reduced capacity event from an attraction; determining, by the processor, a reduction in capacity of the attraction associated with the reduced capacity event; identifying guest groups affected by the reduced capacity event based on having a return time in a virtual queue of the attraction during the reduced capacity event; selecting a subset of the identified guest groups to remove from the virtual queue during the reduced capacity event, wherein the subset is selected based on group size and the reduction in capacity of the attraction; generating, by the processor, a reaccommodation time slot for the selected subset removed from the virtual queue, wherein a length of the reaccommodation time slot is based on a total number of affected return times of the subset of guest groups removed from the virtual queue; selecting, by the processor, one or more updated return times within the reaccommodation time slot for a guest group of the subset removed from the virtual queue; generating, by the processor, a notification on a guest device associated with the guest group removed from the virtual queue, wherein the notification causes display of a user interface on the guest device requesting guest input to select one of one or more updated return times; and returning, by the processor, the guest group to the virtual queue upon receiving the guest input.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the number of affected return times is based on a number of seats in a ride vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the reduced capacity event comprises shutting down at least one ride vehicle, ride seat, or a combination thereof.

13 . The method of claim 10 , comprising selecting a second subset of the identified guest groups and retaining the second subset in the virtual queue.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second subset comprises larger guest groups than a first subset.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more updated return times comprise at least two updated return times.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the reaccommodation time slot is subsequent to an end of the reduced capacity event.

17 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, by the processor, an indication of a reduced capacity event from an attraction; determining, by the processor, a reduction in capacity of the attraction associated with the reduced capacity event; identifying, by the processor, guest groups affected by the reduced capacity event based on having a return time in a virtual queue of the attraction; removing, by the processor, a subset of the identified guest groups affected by the reduced event, wherein the subset is removed based on group size; generating, by the processor, a reaccommodation time slot for the subset removed from the virtual queue, wherein a length of the reaccommodation time slot is based on a total number of affected return times of the guest groups in the subset removed from the virtual queue; selecting, by the processor, two or more updated return times within the reaccommodation time slot for each guest group in the subset removed from the virtual queue; generating, by the processor, a notification, wherein the notification causes display of a user interface on a guest device of a guest in a guest group of the subset requesting guest input to select a single updated return time from the two or more updated return times; and returning, by the processor, the guest group to the virtual queue upon receiving a corresponding selection of the single updated return time.

18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the subset of the identified guest groups comprises guest groups smaller in size than other guest groups retained in the virtual queue.

19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 17 , comprising retaining a second subset of the identified guest groups in the virtual queue.

20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the retaining is based on the identified guest groups in the second subset being larger t

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Linguanti Nicholas
• Barreto Casey
• Kelly William Austin
• Hanley Kyle P
• Traynor Mark James

Classifications

• A63G21/18

  Water-chutes · CPC title

• A63G27/00

  Russian swings; Great wheels, e.g. Ferris wheels · CPC title

• A63G21/00 Primary

  Chutes; Helter-skelters · CPC title

• A63G7/00

  Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks · CPC title

• A63G4/00 Primary

  Accessories for roundabouts not restricted to one of groups A63G1/00 or A63G3/00 · CPC title