Management of the flow of persons and advertisement distribution via wireless media

• US 20070203763A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• 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: Ackley, Jonathan, Schweizer, Kenneth, Hale, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment is disclosed. A patron can register with the entertainment environment utilizing a wireless device owned by the patron. An electronic entry ticket for the attraction is allocated to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket includes a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format. The electronic entry ticket can also be provided in multimedia messaging service format. The patron can be provided with promotional information through the wireless device, wherein the promotional information can be related to the attraction. Finally, the patron can redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket and allow the patron to enter the attraction utilizing the patron identifier.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

allocating an electronic entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the electronic entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in short messaging service format, the entry ticket corresponding to the attraction;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patron is permitted to register the wireless device only at the entertainment environment.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the patron is further permitted to register the wireless device anywhere, including away from the entertainment environment, if the hierarchy level to which the patron belongs has a high priority.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the patron is permitted to register the wireless device using the wireless device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the patron is permitted to register the wireless device through a website.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising allowing the patron to request the entry ticket for a second attraction depending on the hierarchy level to which the patron belongs.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising allowing the patron to make a plurality of requests for entry tickets for a plurality of attractions depending on the hierarchy level to which the patron belongs.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time provided in the allocated entry ticket is a specific time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time provided in the allocated entry ticket is a specified period of time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the allocating of the entry ticket to the patron is performed on a lottery basis.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the patron has a higher probability to receive the entry ticket if the patron belongs to a high probability.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is an identification number corresponding to the wireless device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is a biometric feature.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is a pass code composed of a sequence of characters valid for a predetermined amount of time.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entry ticket allocated to the patron through the wireless device is accompanied by promotional information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information comprises advertisement information.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to the attraction.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to merchandise located in stores nearby the attraction within the entertainment environment.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted food coupons.

21. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information comprises a second entry ticket for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

22. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information comprises an attraction schedule for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

23. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the promotional information is redeemable for a predetermined amount of time.

24. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment, the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

permitting the patron to make a request for an entry ticket to the attraction in the entertainment environment;

allocating the entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in multimedia messaging service format;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the patron identifier.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the patron identifier includes an image corresponding to a theme of the attraction.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the patron identifier includes an image corresponding to a theme of the attraction.

27. A method of wirelessly managing the loading of patrons to an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment;

the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons;

permitting the patron to make a request for an entry ticket to the attraction in the entertainment environment;

allocating the entry ticket to the patron through the wireless device, the entry ticket comprising a time and a patron identifier in multimedia messaging service format;

transmitting promotional information through the wireless device;

permitting the patron to redeem the entry ticket at the time provided for the allocated entry ticket; and

allowing the patron to enter the attraction using the identifier.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises advertisement information for goods related to the theme of the attraction.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons for goods related to the theme of the attraction.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to the attraction.

31. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons are related to merchandise located in stores nearby the attraction within the entertainment environment.

32. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted merchandise coupons for goods related to the theme of any attraction in the entertainment environment.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the discounted merchandise coupons have a greater discount for patrons belonging to a hierarchy level in the hierarchy of patron which is high.

34. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises discounted food coupons.

35. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises a second entry ticket for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

36. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the promotional information comprises an attraction schedule for a second attraction in the entertainment environment.

37. A system for managing admission to an attraction comprising:

a first queue by which patrons may access the attraction by waiting in line;

a second queue by which patrons may access the attraction in a manner which avoids the first queue;

a television unit that permits a patron to enter a request to be added to the second queue, the television unit being remote from the attraction;

a first validator program operably connected with the television unit, the first validator establishing an entitlement of a customer to make the request;

a controller for generating an assigned time at which said customer may access the attraction, said assigned time comprising a next available time as determined by an algorithm performed by said controller, thereby adding the patron to the second queue;

a distributor for distributing an electronic admission pass to the patron added to the second queue, the electronic admission pass being distributed to a wireless device, wherein the electronic admission pass includes an assigned time at which the patron may enter the attraction, and informational material generated specifically for at least one of the customer based upon an identification of that customer or to influence pedestrian traffic patterns and

a second validator for permitting said customer to access said attraction at said assigned time.

38. A system for managing admission to an attraction comprising:

a first queue by which patrons may access the attraction by waiting in line;

a second queue by which patrons may access the attraction in a manner which avoids the first queue;

a computing device that permits a patron to enter a request to be added to the second queue, the computing device being remote from the attraction;

a first validator program operably connected with the computing device, the first validator establishing an entitlement of a customer to make the request;

a controller for generating an assigned time at which said customer may access the attraction, said assigned time comprising a next available time as determined by an algorithm performed by said controller, thereby adding the patron to the second queue;

a distributor for distributing an electronic admission pass to the patron added to the second queue, the electronic admission pass being distributed to a wireless device, wherein the electronic admission pass includes an assigned time at which the patron may enter the attraction, and informational material generated specifically for at least one of the customer based upon an identification of that customer or to influence pedestrian traffic patterns; and

a second validator for permitting said customer to access said attraction at said assigned time.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, where the second validator is a computer program that resides in a cell-phone of a cast member.

40. A system for managing admission to an attraction comprising:

a first queue by which patrons may access the attraction by waiting in line;

a second queue by which patrons may access the attraction in a manner which avoids the first queue;

a cellular phone that permits a patron to enter a request to be added to the second queue, the computing device being remote from the attraction;

a first validator program operably connected with the cellular phone, the first validator establishing an entitlement of a customer to make the request;

a controller for generating an assigned time at which said customer may access the attraction, said assigned time comprising a next available time as determined by an algorithm performed by said controller, thereby adding the patron to the second queue;

a distributor for distributing an electronic admission pass to the patron added to the second queue, the electronic admission pass being distributed to the cellular phone, wherein the electronic admission pass includes an assigned time at which the patron may enter the attraction, and informational material generated specifically for at least one of the customer based upon an identification of that customer or to influence pedestrian traffic patterns; and

a second validator for permitting said customer to access said attraction at said assigned time.

41. A method of wirelessly distributing promotional information to patrons of an attraction in an entertainment environment, comprising:

permitting a patron to register a wireless device owned by the patron with the entertainment environment;

the patron belonging to a hierarchy level in a hierarchy of patrons; and

transmitting promotional information through the wireless device in accordance to the hierarchy level of the patron in the hierarchy of patrons.