Management of the flow of persons in relation to centers of crowd concentration via wireless corntrol

• US 20040158482A1
• Filed: 10/15/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Stafford, Dale A., Hale, Gregory B., Schwalb, Andrew, Craven, Tom, Schweizer, Kenneth W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for the loading of patrons at multiple attractions at an entertainment includes the first-in first-out line and a priority based line. A cellular telephone is used to obtain and claim priority status. In other forms different priorities are established based on where, when and the number of priority spaces required. Different hierarchies are established for computer controlling the different lines for multiple attractions in the entertainment environment. The system and method also provide for moving people from an area of concentration to other locations.

Claims

1. A method of managing the loading by patrons of multiple attractions in an entertainment environment wherein different patrons are permitted access to the attraction on at least two bases, firstly, a first-in first-out basis, and secondly, on a priority basis established by a prior allocation of a space to the attraction comprising:

a. permitting a patron of an attraction to use a cellular telephone in connection with access to a first attraction;

b. permitting application through an entry of a request on the cellular telephone for an allocation of a space on the first attraction including the steps of;

i. receiving an input from a patron at a remote location, the input being communicated to a central computer for regulating the load of the first attraction;

ii. permitting the receiving of a response by the patron remotely about available return times for the first attraction; and

iii. permitting the patron to effect a selection of one of the available return times; and

C. employing an input, selectively a keying, operation through the cellular telephone to provide access to the first attraction.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the input from the remote location is received from a telephone keypad, selectively a cellular phone keypad.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the input is effected for multiple attractions in the environment, and wherein a keypad of the cellular telephone is used for access to the multiple attractions.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the priority is redeemed through a selected essentially automatic procedure, such procedure being the reading of one of a RF identification, reading of a magnetic code or barcode allocated to the patron.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the priority is redeemed at a time of entry into the environment or the attraction in the environment.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 including a computing process to determine the mix ratio of numbers of accesses granted to the priority access and non-priority access, and feeding back redemptions of the priority accesses such that near real time updates of availability for further granting of accesses may be computed.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the ability to permit at least one of the exchange or return of previously assigned priority access, and whereby such exchange permits for updating the computation of a load of the attraction.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a nonuse of a priority assignment is factored into a computation of loading.

4. A method of managing the loading by patrons of multiple attractions in an entertainment environment, different patrons being permitted access to the attraction on at least bases, firstly, a first in and first out basis, and secondly, on a priority basis established by a prior allocation of a space to the attraction comprising:

a. permitting a patron of an attraction to use a cellular telephone in connection with access to a first attraction;

b. permitting application through a keypad entry of a request for an allocation of a space on the first attraction including the steps of;

i. receiving an input from a remote location, the input, selectively being a keypad input, being communicated to a central computer for regulating the load of the first attraction;

ii. permitting receiving of a response remotely about available return times for the first attraction; and

iii. permitting the patron to effect a choice of a selected available return time; and

c. employing a signal from the cellular telephone to provide access to the first attraction.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the input from the remote location is received from a telephone keypad, selectively a cellular telephone keypad.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the input is effected for multiple attractions in the environment, and wherein a keypad of a cellular telephone is used for access to the multiple attractions.

12. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the priority is redeemed through a selected essentially automatic procedure, such procedure being the reading of one of a RF identification, reading of a magnetic code or barcode allocated to the patron.

13. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the priority is redeemed at a time of entry into the environment or the attraction in the environment.

14. A method as claimed in claim 4 including a computing process to determine the mix ratio of numbers of accesses granted to the priority access and non-priority access, and feeding back redemptions of the priority accesses such that near real time updates of availability for further granting of accesses may be computed.

15. A method as claimed in claim 4 including the ability to permit at least one of the exchange or return of previously assigned priority access, and whereby such exchange permits for updating the computation of a load of the attraction.

16. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein a nonuse of a priority assignment is factored into a computation of loading.

17. A system of managing the loading by patrons of multiple attractions in an entertainment environment wherein different patrons are permitted access to the attraction on at least two bases, firstly, a first-in first-out basis, and secondly, on a priority basis established by a prior allocation of a space to the attraction comprising:

a. access receiving means for permitting a patron of an attraction to use a cellular telephone in connection with access to a first attraction;

b. a keypad for entry of a request on the cellular telephone for an allocation of a space on the first attraction including;

i. a receiver for an input from a patron at a remote location, a connection for transmitting the input being communicated to a central computer for regulating the load of the first attraction;

ii. a receiver with the patron for receiving of a response about available return times for the first attraction; and

iii. keys for permitting the patron to effect a selection of one of the available return times; and

c. a signal transmitter responsive selectively to a keying operation through the cellular telephone to provide access to the first attraction.