SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUEUE MANAGEMENT

• US 20100250612A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Q.Nomy
• Original Assignee: Q.Nomy
• Inventors: Reuveni, Eran, Silberstein, Assaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,454,736 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/799
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A system and method for managing a queue may receive a selection of an image, symbol, or avatar from a user. The user may be associated with the selected image, which may provide an anonymous connection to the user. The selected image may be used to display a status of the queue and to summon the user to receive a service. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a selection of an image from a user, the user waiting in a queue;

associating the image with the user;

displaying a user'"'"'s queue status on a display using the image; and

summoning the user when the user reaches the front of the queue by displaying the image.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying a plurality of images associated with a respective plurality of users waiting in the queue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said summoning comprises displaying said image differently than said plurality of images.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of images associated with the users each differ from one another.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said queue is a queue for a service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said image is associated with an audio content and wherein displaying said image comprises sounding said audio content.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising, prior to receiving a selection for said image, presenting a plurality of free images to said user, none of the free images associated with a user currently in the queue.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising printing on a ticket the image.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

associating said user and said service with an identification parameter;

providing said user with a printed ticket, said ticket having printed thereon said identification parameter; and

upon summoning said user to receive said service, displaying said identification parameter.

10. A system comprising:

a controller to;

receive a selection of an image from a user, the user waiting in a queue; and

associate said image with said user; and

a display to;

display a queue status using said image; and

summon said user when said user reaches the front of said queue by displaying said image.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said display is to display a plurality of images associated with a respective plurality of users waiting in the queue.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said summoning comprises displaying said image differently than said plurality of images.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of images associated with the users each differ from one another.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said queue is a queue for a service.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein prior to receiving a selection for said image, said controller is to cause a presentation of a plurality of free images to said user, none of the free images associated with a user currently in the queue.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is to cause a printing of said image on a ticket.

17. A method of managing a queue comprising:

displaying to a user desiring to enter the queue a plurality of images;

receiving from the user a selection of an image of the plurality of images;

displaying to the user the place the user has in the queue using the image, wherein the queue is a queue to meet with a person providing a service, and wherein the image does not provide identification information for the user, the queue comprising a plurality of users, each user associated with a different image.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising storing a plurality of images, and wherein the images presented to the user are a subset of the stored images.