Queue management system and method

• US 20040100390A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guest Technologies
• Original Assignee: Safetzone Technologies
• Inventors: Woo, Mark, Couch, Eric, Giraldin, Patrick W., Giraldin, Timothy W., Crowley, Martin F., Kelly, Regan E., Gross, Y-Tin
• Application Number:
  US10/717,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system of communication for a confined area of a facility. Personal identification information is received in at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area. Attraction reservation information is received relating to at least one attraction to request at least one reservation for a guest. The reservation information is stored.

Claims

1. A method of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

receiving personal identification information of a guest into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

receiving attraction reservation information relating to at least one attraction to request at leasst one reservation for the guest; and

storing said reservation information.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including receiving registration information relating to a member or a group of members.

3. A method according to claim 2, further including determining whether the guest is registered in response to the personal identification information.

4. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying the length of time for waiting for at least one attraction of the facility.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying the length of time associated with the use of at least one attraction of the facility.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying the distance to an attraction and the distance between attractions.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including varying the available attraction time slots for the starting and ending times for attractions.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying attraction reservation information, and receiving information to change the attraction reservation information at one or more of the stations.

9. A method according to claim 1, further including creating a message that an attraction is no longer available and assigning another attraction or starting time.

10. A method according to claim 1, further including permitting reservation information to be received only a set number of times for a certain number of attractions.

11. A method according to claim 1, further including receiving the personal identification information at a separate entrance to the reserved attraction.

12. A method according to claim 2, further including monitoring the length of time the guest waits in a queue for a reserved attraction.

13. A method according to claim 2, further including receiving personal identification information at the end of a queue, and determining whether the person entering the information is registered.

14. A method according to claim 13, further including receiving personal identification information at the beginning of the queue, and determining whether a person should be admitted to the attraction.

15. A method according to claim 1, further including generating line management system reports, said reports including a line management account for a given guest or group member.

16. A method according to claim 1, further including monitoring whether the guest attends the reserved attraction.

17. A software system of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

a module for receiving personal identification information of a guest into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

a module for receiving attraction reservation information relating to at least one attraction to request at leasst one reservation for the guest; and

a module for storing said reservation information.

18. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for receiving registration information relating to a member or a group of members.

19. A software system according to claim 18, further including a module for determining whether the guest is registered in response to the personal identification information.

20. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for displaying the length of time for waiting for at least one attraction of the facility.

21. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for displaying the length of time associated with the use of at least one attraction of the facility.

22. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for displaying the distance to an attraction and the distance between attractions.

23. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for varying the available attraction time slots for the starting and ending times for attractions.

24. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for displaying attraction reservation information, and receiving information to change the attraction reservation information at one or more of the stations.

25. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for creating a message that an attraction is no longer available and assigning another attraction or starting time.

26. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for permitting reservation information to be received only a set number of times for a certain number of attractions.

27. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for receiving the personal identification information at a separate entrance to the reserved attraction.

28. A software system according to claim 18, further including a module for monitoring the length of time the guest waits in a queue for a reserved attraction.

29. A software system according to claim 28, further including a module for receiving personal identification information at the end of a queue, and a module for determining whether the person entering the information is registered.

30. A software system according to claim 29, further including a module for receiving personal identification information at the beginning of the queue, and determining whether a person should be admitted to the attraction.

31. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for generating line management system reports, said reports including a line management account for a given guest or group member.

32. A software system according to claim 17, further including a module for monitoring whether the guest attends the reserved attraction.

33. A system of communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

means for receiving personal identification information of a guest into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

means for receiving attraction reservation information relating to at least one attraction to request at leasst one reservation for the guest; and

means for storing said reservation information.

34. A system according to claim 33, further including means for receiving registration information relating to a member or a group of members.

35. A system according to claim 34, further including means for determining whether the guest is registered in response to the personal identification information.

36. A system according to claim 33, further including means for displaying the length of time for waiting for at least one attraction of the facility.

37. A system according to claim 33, further including means for displaying the length of time associated with the use of at least one attraction of the facility.

38. A system according to claim 33, further including means for displaying the distance to an attraction and the distance between attractions.

39. A system according to claim 33, further including means for varying the available attraction time slots for the starting and ending times for attractions.

40. A system according to claim 33, further including means for displaying attraction reservation information, and receiving information to change the attraction reservation information at one or more of the stations.

41. A system according to claim 33, further including means for creating a message that an attraction is no longer available and assigning another attraction or starting time.

42. A system according to claim 33, further including means for permitting reservation information to be received only a set number of times for a certain number of attractions.

43. A system according to claim 33, further including means for receiving the personal identification information at a separate entrance to the reserved attraction.

44. A system according to claim 34, further including means for monitoring the length of time the guest waits in a queue for a reserved attraction.

45. A system according to claim 44, further including means for receiving personal identification information at the end of a queue, and means for determining whether the person entering the information is registered.

46. A system according to claim 45, further including means for receiving personal identification information at the beginning of the queue, and determining whether a person should be admitted to the attraction.

47. A system according to claim 33, further including means for generating line management system reports, said reports including a line management account for a given guest or group member.

48. A system according to claim 33, further including means for monitoring whether the guest attends the reserved attraction.